Last Stop: Love

15. Last stop, literally

As the woman left, Meetha slumped in a chair. Her legs felt weak. She could not believe that Irfan would lie to her.

He didn't exactly lie to her, her mind chimed in unhelpfully. He just didn't tell the whole truth.

‘Well, what reason did he have to tell a stranger about his family status?’

As much as she liked to deny it, they were essentially strangers who met on a train yesterday. Just because he was nice to her doesn't mean he cared about her.

‘But.. his words.. the sincerity with which he said them.. Didn't it feel like he had feelings for us too? If he didn't tell us about his life, how serious would he have been about our relationship? Is it even okay to call it a relationship?’

Things became suddenly clear. She felt foolish for mistaking his empathy and courtesy as something else. She was in a bad place, and he helped her out of it. That was the entirety of their interaction.

‘He must have seen us like a charity case. And we made a big deal out of it.’

She felt like she's just a distraction for him. A small, insignificant part in his huge life.

‘Am I even worthy of his time?’

Meetha's doubts swirled, like a vortex pulling her under. A blunt pain pierced her heart as the notion grew, stirring the cauldron of self-pity within her. The question festered like an open wound. 'How audacious of me to think that he loved me, when he's from a world so far removed from mine?’

Something burst inside her, and tears flooded her eyes. She began to run, her feet trying their best to carry her away from the chaos of her emotions. Leaving the studio's stifling air behind, she dashed across the road and stumbled upon a children's park. She sought haven in the secluded area, and collapsed onto a bench.

Minutes melted into hours. Meetha was lost in deep thoughts. Her eyes were fixed without focus, her mind elsewhere from the noise around her.

“Meetha!! Thank God you're safe! You scared me for a minute there!”

She stiffened suddenly as she heard his voice.

“The audition went great! I was selected!!” His words brimmed with enthusiasm as he approached her.

She turned to him with a look of utter betrayal. He halted in his tracks. He could sense something was wrong.

“What happened?”

She drew a long breath. “Why didn't you tell me the truth?”

Irfan looked confused for a moment. He pieced some things in his mind, and made out what could have happened.

“By any chance, are you talking about my family?”

Her silence spoke volumes. She looked at him with apparent hurt in her expression.

He quickly neared her. “Meetha, I never willingly tell anyone about my family's economic status, because I'm not proud of it. My dad is rich, not me. I admit I have privileges, but I would rather live without it. I don't want to live under my father's shadow. I want to make a name for myself. That's what I've been struggling for. That's what this trip is for.”

“You don't understand, Irfan. This changes everything!”

“This changes nothing! I can assure you, I've been truthful to you about everything else. Don't let this one insignificant detail spoil it, Meetha.”

Irfan's pleading gaze pierced her. She felt indecisive and confused.

“Do you really like me, or were you just being nice because I've been cheated on? Were I an opportunity for you to show your charity?”

Irfan looked appalled. His face fell sullen. He sniffled and cleared his throat.

“It pains me to see you think about me like that. I'm not that cheap, and you don't require my sympathy or charity. When I helped you, it wasn't out of pity or obligation. It was because I wanted to be there for you, to support you, to help you heal. I was honoured to be the one you turned to for solace. And I wonder... would you see my actions differently if I wasn't from a wealthy family? Would you believe my intentions were pure if I didn't have this privileged background? How can I be judged on something entirely out of my control?”

He took her hands in his.
“Please don't define me by my status.”

Meetha felt ashamed.
“I'm.. I'm really sorry..”

She could see the pain she inflicted on him. She cursed herself for doubting his pure intentions out of her self-pity.

He sniffled again.

“No, I'm sorry for not telling you everything. I promise, I won't keep secrets from you anymore. Please Meetha, are we good?”

She shook her head determinedly.

“I'm not good enough for you, Irfan. I'm really not.” Tears streamed down her face as she looked at him. “You are such a great guy. You deserve so much more than a pathetic person like me.”

“You could not be more wrong.” He asserted fiercely. “Is that how you see yourself? Meetha, you are a wonderful person. You are brave, beautiful and lovely.”

“I'm emotional and impulsive. I'll misunderstand every single thing. Just like now.”

“Hey, it happens. You're human, I'm human. To err is human, right? We'll talk it through.”

“I'm not completely healed from Ajith. I may have trust issues.”

“We will find closure. And I'll try my best to earn your trust. Okay?”

She still wasn't convinced. She slowly refused with a headshake.

“I'm afraid I'll just hurt you.”

“Meetha, you could never ever hurt me. I love you.”

Her breath hitched as she realised what he'd said out loud. She looked at him, astonished and aghast. She couldn't fathom why his words resonated so deeply in her heart, as if reiterating something she'd known for a lifetime. Fresh tears streamed unchecked down her cheeks. Her astonishment melted into amusement.

“Well, good news, Qureshi. I love you too!”

Irfan smiled with tears as he let out a sigh. His heart raced frantically, and his breaths were shallow. That was his first time being in love, and it showed. Meetha laughed as she wiped his tears as well as her own.

“This is what I wanted to say when you came back.”

“Well, you took your time with that!”

She laughed again. Irfan took her by surprise as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into him.

“So, what do you say, scientist? You ready to give it a chance?”

Meetha looked at him with unreadable eyes. With a delicate rise onto her tiptoes, she placed a whisper-light peck on his lips and smiled triumphantly as he watched in wonder.

Without missing a beat, he returned the favour with interest, as his lips captured hers in an all-consuming kiss. Meetha's smile melted into the kiss, her eyes fluttering closed as she lost herself in him. The butterflies in her stomach were new, yet strangely likeable. Her smile grew, and its contagious joy reached him, making him grin too.

The warm autumn air of Hyderabad embraced them as their hearts filled with hope, love and the promise of a new beginning.

The end.

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Happy Diwali everyone!! Do celebrate responsibly. Thanks for traveling along Meetha and Irfan's journey. But do not alight yet.. they have something interesting for you!!! Keep following this space (story) for more exciting updates!

Love, Madhu