A Young Love Story...

Part 22 - A Union Without Intersection

In the next few days, Ananya tried to keep her distance from Vishesh. He messaged her a hundred times in a day, which she ignored. He tried calling her a few times, she did not pick up the calls. She tried her best to keep away. Not because she hated him, but because she loved him too much. She knew if she continued talking to him, she would never get over him, and would never be able to establish a new connection with Rishi. 

Rishi tried his best to connect with Ananya on a deeper level. He was sure it will take her time to get over Vishesh. He tried to never ever bring up college discussions or anything that would even remotely remind her of him. 

Rishi spoke a few times to Vishesh, but slowly realized this was not a good thing to do, because he realized by the way Vishesh spoke to him, that it must hurt him a lot. He did not want to cause any more pain. He always tried to keep Ananya happy, and the good thing is, she did respond well to him, though deep down only she knew she was living a two-faced life. 

Vishesh finally gave up trying after a good 7 months. One fine day, his messages stopped. He stopped calling. He had not moved on really, he had just lost hopes. 

It was the month of March-April again. The days that had started off the entire love story! The last days of college, that celebration week! These memories hurt both Ananya and Vishesh endlessly, but what was not to be should not be held on to. Ananya walked to her room, and shut it close. She took out each of those memories - the rose, the card, the show piece... every memory from 3 years ago! She decided she should throw it away from her life. She almost kept them all ready to be lit! But something inside her moved ferociously, and she just could not get herself to do it. She took it all one by one, and kissed it. She cried and cried, till all the salt in her had flown out, and put her down to sleep. 

Vishesh, though completely immersed in his work, and assisting his father, was a completely changed person ever since Ananya moved out of his life. He had given up fish forever! He spoke very little, to anyone - including his parents! He kept busy with work, and hardly looked at his phone, or for that matter, anything that would cause him to remember or think of Ananya, his Anu! But this month, the memories could not be contained, and they kept nudging him time and again. Finally, after many days of internal conflict, he dialed the number which was once the first in his list of dialed numbers but, was now not even showing up in his call log. He had to go to his contact list, and dial her number. 

A few rings went by, and Ananya finally decided to pick up the call. "Hello?" she said softly. There was complete silence on the other end. After a few seconds, Ananya spoke again, "Hello!" but was met with no response. Finally, a little exasperated, she said, "Hullo!!!" a little loudly. Finally, she spoke a little more than that, "Have you called by mistake?" Then she heard that voice, after one year or so! "How are you Anu?" Tears started flowing from Ananya's eyes. She was crying within herself at first, but within no time, she gave herself away and broke into many small sobs. Vishesh spoke, "Anu! I could not speak at all. I was hearing your voice after so long! But the way you are crying now tells me I should not have called! I am sorry!" Ananya spoke immediately, "No! Don't hang up. Please!" There was silence for over a minute, on both ends. 

Finally, Ananya spoke, "I am fine Vishu. I am living, I am working, I am helping mom, and I am getting married to Rishi next month. I am fine. And you?" she asked. 

"I am living too, Anu. Helping dad, learning business. But I am not getting married to anyone, not next month and not ever! If it was not meant to be you, it can't be anyone else either!" he said plainly. 

"Don't say that, Vishu. You must move on. Please! I will never be able to move on if you don't" she said, almost pleading. 

"Well, you already have moved on, haven't you?" he was quite accusative. 

"Well, if you think so, you can continue to. But if I have to be honest, Vishu, Rishi can never be you. He is a friend, undoubtedly. But he can never move up, he can never be my love, he can never be my husband, he can never be my soul... All this was you, is you! Will always be you. But, for the sake of my parents, your parents, the world... he is going to be all that. In my heart, in my mind, no one will ever match up, no one will ever matter. Love cannot be forced. I tried to make myself love Rishi, but I failed. I think I used up all my love on you, now I am left with nothing. So, I have not, will not and can not move on. Not without you!" she said. 

"Hmmm! So, if I get married, and move on, then you will accept Rishi? Is that what you are trying to tell me?"asked Vishesh. 

"No, if you get married, I will only be assured that there is someone close to you, who is taking care of my Vishu! Because honestly, I don't trust you to be a good care-taker, so I want that someone else comes in for that." she spoke, deeply. 

Vishesh said, "Anu.. thanks for talking to me today. I am glad you thought I deserved that much. Because when you stopped taking my calls, and stopped responding to my messages, I almost thought you hated me! And I felt terribly sick about it." 

"Vishu, I can never hate you. Never! Yes I did cut you out completely, but that was not out of hatred. But I had to do it for my own sanity. I am sorry. But I also think if we keep talking to each other, we will both have difficulty in moving on, and also you will be disturbed with Rishi and my association. So, I believe it is better to be far, yet close in the mind. Don't you agree?" she asked.

"Anu, to be honest, I have no thoughts at all. Not on this, not on anything. You tell me what is it that you want. I will do it. My mind has stopped working, ever since someone made it their permanent residence. Now, there is complete occupancy. It disallows any thoughts at all." reasoned Vishesh. 

"Really? Who is that someone?" asked Ananya, intrigued, and a little hopeful that Vishesh had someone special. 

"Uhhmm. There is this girl, who I fell in love with in this very same season. There is this chirpy bubbly girl, who made my world go round. There is this girl, who chattered all the while about a future with me... There is this girl, who one fine day suddenly gave up on me! There is this girl, who has already moved on so far, I can never lay my hands on her! There is this girl who I will always love, no matter where she is!! There is this girl I wanted to age with, but will now not even get to see for years together! There is this girl, Anu... there is...", and tears followed, not allowing him to complete his words. 

Ananya was crying, at the sound of Vishesh's crying too... They both cried on each end, for a good quarter hour. Finally, Vishesh spoke, "Anu...stay blessed always. And no matter what happens, and no matter when you want, always remember I love you. You can fall back on me, for anything. Love you, Anu. Love you!" He hung up immediately after this. He knew Anu wanted to keep the distance. He decided he should respect her decision. 

The next month, the month of May, on the 16th day was Rishi's and Ananya's big fat wedding. Both the parties involved were very excited to have a gala celebration. Rishi too, did not mind it, because despite all the hitches, he loved Ananya, and was elated to make her his wife. The shopping was done with a lot of excitement too. Except, Ananya was faking it. She had made peace with it. The wedding day saw as many as 800+ guests. The reception also was held at a grand scale. Vishesh was invited by neither of his two friends who were getting married. He thanked them both in his heart. 

After reception, Ananya and Rishi were sent for their "first-night" at a posh five star hotel. As soon as Ananya saw Rishi enter the room, she said, "Rishi, it has been a tiring few days, and today was a back-breaker. I want some sleep. Please, don't mind." She turned off the light, and turned to the side, and slept. Pretended to sleep. 

Rishi knew he would take a long time to get truly accepted, body, mind and soul, by Ananya. But, he was hurt that in the process of getting a wife, he had lost a friend. He would have so much liked it, if Ananya had told him the truth, that she would need time. He slept next to Ananya, but turned to the opposite side, and slept. Pretended to sleep. 

Vishesh, was not actively crying, but his eyes and heart were bleeding pain. He tossed and turned, for the fact that he had lost his love, for ever today! She was now a Mrs. and unfortunately not Mrs. Roy! 

That night, yet again, three pillows were burdened with the wetness of broken dreams.