Entwined Lives

XIV

He was there at her window. All the lights were out, in the entire village. Even the one in Ms.Mytla's room was. But Gapo would rather spend the rest of his life with the girl he loved than enjoy watching her sleep for the last time. Discrete and unalarmingly, he pounded on her metal grilled glass window, hissing meow. She woke from either a terrible nightmare or just sadness from the previous day that she woke with eyes veined red. It was dark, but she could manage to figure that a silhouette of a person lingered by her window. In no time, she realized it was Gapo.

'What are you doing here?'
'I couldn't go back. Not, knowing I would probably never see you again.'
'But why couldn't you say something when you were here then? You were standing the whole time I was crying my soul out trying to clear a path for 'US'.'
'It wasn't like that, I'm sorry. They are your parents and I just thought that it would be more suitable and better for our chances if you were the one speaking. They could have got unnecessarily instigated if I was talking to them like I knew what was better for their daughter, even though I did and do.'
'Okay, that's makes sense, I guess. But what now? We don't have any more chances... You still should have said something at least. Tried a little. It almost felt like you weren't even there.'
'I realized once I walked out. I'm sorry. I know I should've. I'm really sorry.'
'......What's done is done and nothing can be done about it. What we should be talking about now is how to move forward..And oh, yes, I wanted to ask you something. Your parents are dead? You were orphaned? You never said anything.'
'Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just... didn't want to look pitiful and weak, who could score your sympathy.'
'How could you even think I would think that? It seemed too strange to find out about such an integral influence on your personality, indirectly. I'm so sorry though.'
'Sorry? For what? They died. I moved on. Anyway it was a long time ago. It happened when I was 8.'
'Oh.. So where do you stay?'
'Orphanage. Have you seen the Jawaharlal Nehru Orphanage near my school?'
'Oh yes. I've seen it a couple of times.'
'Thats where. Can you come out?'
'Wait. Let me check.'

'My parents and brothers are fast asleep. Let me try to sneak out through the back door.'
'Okay. You know what, I'll meet you by the next to next house. We don't want anyone to see you exiting your house at this time meeting someone.'
'Okay.'

'Mytla. There's only one possible way that is circling in my mind. Will you run away with me? Elope with me?'
'What!'
'It seems like the only option we have, to be together... But first. Your family... or me...?'
'See...My family has given me a lot that other girls generally haven't gotten. My father has worked very hard to bring up my brothers and me. My mother pitched in whenever there was a need which was almost like always. My brothers have taken good care of me, protected me. But then you.You have made me happy like nobody has. You have loved me. Made me feel like no one could ever be as special as me. And I love you.... But I love my mother, father and brothers too... How can I really choose? They have made me who I am and you have been my friend for who I am.'
'I know it's hard. But it's the only way. You have got to imagine yourself a future and see what you want it to be like, WHOM you want it to be with.'

'I've never met someone like you... I can't imagine anyone being where you are. With me. I don't know if I'm saying all this because our love has just begun blooming and hasn't dealt with rocky roads. But I have to take the risk. My family to me is just as important too. But sometimes it feels like even though they love me I am only an object that they can use for their own profit. It's hard. They've given me all they could. But they have got to realize I am an individual and respect, name of family in society are not even the least important. And I don't know what I'd be able to do without you. You've become a habit. I need you. You complete me in a way only perfection realizes. I can't make my mind say no to you, even if it means I say no to my family. Gapo, I love you. And I choose you.'