A Young Love Story...

Part 28 - When Destiny Decides... (II)

Rishi took Ananya to the counselor. The counselor was a middle-aged lady named Samantha. She shook hands with Rishi and extended her hand to Ananya as well. But Ananya was staring blankly at something, and did not respond. After a few seconds, Samantha shook Ananya by holding both her hands and nudging at her. Ananya looked up, and stared at Samantha. Samantha said, "Hi Ananya.. I am Sam, your friend. Will you talk to me?" Ananya replied plainly, "Hi Sam. Yes. Sure." Then the conversation began... 

Sam: So tell me about yourself. 

Samantha signaled for Rishi to stay outside, and shut the door. 

Ananya: I am Ananya. What else do you want to know?

Sam: Anything. Lets start from the beginning... Tell me everything about you... Childhood, adulthood, your likes, dislikes, anything...

Ananya: I am Ananya. I loved playing with cars. But my mother always scolded me, saying cars were not meant for girls. She always gave me dolls. I hated that. My father loved me a lot. He still does. Always lets me do what I want. Except that one time. I loved Vishu. He did not allow me to marry him. Instead married me off to Rishi. But I could never love him. He is not my love, he is only my husband. But when I wanted to make my love my husband, my husband tried to kill himself. So I had to forget my dreams. Again. I tried to make my marriage work. I am still trying. I also decided to have a baby. But God took away the baby too. I am unlucky. My life is jinxed. I always have to go through pain and heartache. I will never find happiness Sam. Are you happy? You got all that you wanted?

Sam: Ananya, we all seek happiness but at all wrong places... I am happy by making others happy. 

Ananya: But I have never been happy.. Just before my turn for happiness comes, God changes his plan and starts distributing pain instead... I don't want to live.. I want to die. 

Sam: Don't say that. Tell me, what is it right now that will make you happy?

Ananya was thinking. 

Sam: Baby... you want a baby? Will that make you happy? Or a job? Or a family wedding? What?

Ananya: A baby... with Vishesh. Wow. That will make me happy... 

Sam: Super. You know what you want. Now tell me how would you go about achieving that?

Ananya: That is what I don't know. I don't want to hurt Rishi, so I will never be able to break-free. So, I must compromise on my dreams and wishes and desires... 

Sam: Ananya, staying depressed has never helped anyone. You will need to take a decision. Whatever it is. Making your husband your love, or making your love your husband. One of these will have to be done. Then you will be fine. But going on self-pitying, my dear, will take you nowhere... 

Ananya: I... I am so lost... I feel suffocated. 

Sam: Would you like to cry it out?

Ananya: What??? How?? Crying does not solve problems...

Sam: So, you know! Crying won't help, but it will calm you down. I assure you. And then you can sit and think what you really want. 

Ananya: I want ... she started crying, because she realized yet again what she wanted was way beyond her. 

She cried for a long time, and Samantha let her. After a few minutes, Ananya composed herself. "Sam, you know what! Destiny has decided that Vishu and Anu can never unite. Yet the bitch that life is, time and again I come face-to-face with him, and all my efforts at forgetting him are wasted. I can never get over him. But neither Rishi understands nor do I want any issues now. I will just need to motivate myself all over again, to work it out with Rishi. But I am so sad because Vishu is all alone. If he gets married, and is happy, I will at least feel a little better. Or may be I won't. I would never be able to imagine him with someone else. I am just so... confused. Or messed up. Sam, you started off normally, talking to me. And I opened up. But whatever I told you, please do not ever let it out. Please."