"You are what?" I couldn't believe my ears. The one, I called my finance was breaking up with me! That too, just a week prior to our wedding!
"Yes. I don't think I love you enough to get married to you." Again I couldn't believe my ears. Was it that easy?
"You don't love me?" I took a step ahead, "And you realise this, just seven days before our wedding?"
"I. . . I mean . . ."
"You mean nothing! You are nothing but a whimsical, stupid . . ." I shook my head, trying to wrap my head around what just happened, "I mean, the invites have been sent, the venue has been booked . . .What about the reputation of my family?"
"Before thinking about all of these, tell me something truthfully. Do you love me? Or am I just a figment of something or rather someone you couldn't have?"
I closed my eyes, "What do you mean?"
"Again shutting your eyes to reality? Put your hand on your heart, for once. Do you still not love her? Do you still not wish to be with her? Tell me Shravan, tell me." Manyata sighed loudly, "I can't spend my life with a lie, Shravan. I don't love you enough to bear the pain of 'you loving someone else' . . . I don't love you enough that I would be okay if you can't reciprocate the love I have for you." She patted her cheeks, "I am sorry Shravan. But I don't think I can ever take that place in your heart, where 'your' Sumo still rules like a queen. I am not that big-hearted!"
I kept looking at her; her words kept slicing my heart, still, I had no courage to say, 'no Manyata you are wrong . . . I love you... .'; because somewhere deep down, I knew, what she was saying was absolutely true. Manyata's retreating figure mingled with the shadow of the last rays of the sun, and I was left alone once again with the thoughts of 'my Sumo.'
I drove back to my home when the big grandfather clock ticked towards midnight. While dragging myself towards my room, I halted in front of my brother's room. The door was ajar; he was sitting on his bed, with shoulders hunched, frown marring his calm face. "You haven't slept yet!?" I walked inside to sit beside him.
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"How can I Bhaiya? When my brother is left heartbroken, yet again?" Pushkar shook his head, "Manyata's father called Bade papa. You should have seen his face Bhaiya. God, he still blames himself for what happened with Sumo, and now this . . ." He turned in his place and faced me, "But I am contemplating one thing. Manyata always knew about Sumo, so why suddenly . . . I mean after eight years, why?"
I was too tired to reply, my head was hurting, "I have no idea Pushkar." My voice choked, "But I really wish Sumo would have been still here, with me . . . in my life."
Sleeping proved to be a huge task for me. I had bid goodnight to Pushkar half an hour ago, I wished I could just go back and stay there with him. This sudden feeling of being lonely, loveless was not something new to me. Manyata's presence in my life was nothing but my attempt at saving myself from getting ruined. She was nothing but a friend to me, she knew everything about Sumo and I. Sumo left me when I needed her the most. Once, at least once she could have come and told me about my father's offer to leave me, just to save Preety and Pushkar's marriage.
