"Friends, one of our batchmates got married this month, we wish her all the best & happiness of this world."
Someone from my WhatsApp contact had messaged this in our school group and had posted a few pictures of her.
I was busy with my office work at that time. Taking out a few minutes, I stole a glance at those pictures.
And there SHE was.
Draped in red, the color of LOVE.
Every inch of her body was covered with jewellery.
Her hands dyed in "Mehandi", the symbol of "Suhaagan".
She no more looked like my girl whom I met for the last time, which was only a year ago.
She appeared graceful and poised.
She appeared WOMAN. A woman, who would be of someone's else in a few hours, forever.
I couldn't help but notice her smile, that kiddish smile which never failed to make me forget all my miseries for a while.
Looking at that picture, I quite unknowingly went down the memory lane.
It was only last year when I had met her for the last time.
Yes, LAST TIME.
I left no stone unturned to convince her parents. They couldn't trust the fact that their little princess would have been the happiest with me.
She beautifully fulfilled the duties of an ideal daughter, sacrificing OUR love.
It seems only yesterday when we talked for the last time.
I still remember my last words, "I Love You".
I cried my heart out that day, not worrying about how people were going to react about it.
She hung up.
To my utter disappointment, she didn't retaliate.
I expected her to say that no matter what, our love would never fade. It'll always be ME in her dreams and no one would ever replace my place in her heart.
But she didn't. The last thing that I remember about that phone call was her sobs.
Even to this day, I don't know why.
May be she wanted me to forget her, to move on in my life.
I found tear drops in my eyes.
But why?
It has already been a year WE ended.
Yes, seeing her in that bridal wear did hurt a part of me.
She was supposed to wear that for me.
Her mehandi should have said my name.
She was smiling, but I was no more the reason behind it. :')
That red veil covering her head, none but I was supposed to remove that, to have a glimpse of her beautiful, refreshing face.
But destiny had something else for US.
Everything was same, just like our dream.
The only difference was, I WAS REPLACED.
That thought, it hurt.
I looked at that picture again.
The sindoor and the mangalsootra was missing.
She was yet to get married!
I still had a chance.
"Oh No! This picture, is already a few days old. Right now, she already belongs to someone else, she's HIS, forever. I cannot think about her, she is someone else's wife now", thinking this, I took one last glimpse of that picture.
I sighed.
I have already moved on, as she wished.
Her wishes were always a command for me.
Smiling, I closed my eyes and prayed,
"Dear god, bless her with all the happiness of this world. Let those beautiful glittering eyes never tear. She may appear a woman, but she'll always be a kid at heart.
Take care of her please."
And I deleted that picture.
-Apurba Mandal
Someone from my WhatsApp contact had messaged this in our school group and had posted a few pictures of her.
I was busy with my office work at that time. Taking out a few minutes, I stole a glance at those pictures.
And there SHE was.
Draped in red, the color of LOVE.
Every inch of her body was covered with jewellery.
Her hands dyed in "Mehandi", the symbol of "Suhaagan".
She no more looked like my girl whom I met for the last time, which was only a year ago.
She appeared graceful and poised.
She appeared WOMAN. A woman, who would be of someone's else in a few hours, forever.
I couldn't help but notice her smile, that kiddish smile which never failed to make me forget all my miseries for a while.
Looking at that picture, I quite unknowingly went down the memory lane.
It was only last year when I had met her for the last time.
Yes, LAST TIME.
I left no stone unturned to convince her parents. They couldn't trust the fact that their little princess would have been the happiest with me.
She beautifully fulfilled the duties of an ideal daughter, sacrificing OUR love.
It seems only yesterday when we talked for the last time.
I still remember my last words, "I Love You".
I cried my heart out that day, not worrying about how people were going to react about it.
She hung up.
To my utter disappointment, she didn't retaliate.
I expected her to say that no matter what, our love would never fade. It'll always be ME in her dreams and no one would ever replace my place in her heart.
But she didn't. The last thing that I remember about that phone call was her sobs.
Even to this day, I don't know why.
May be she wanted me to forget her, to move on in my life.
I found tear drops in my eyes.
But why?
It has already been a year WE ended.
Yes, seeing her in that bridal wear did hurt a part of me.
She was supposed to wear that for me.
Her mehandi should have said my name.
She was smiling, but I was no more the reason behind it. :')
That red veil covering her head, none but I was supposed to remove that, to have a glimpse of her beautiful, refreshing face.
But destiny had something else for US.
Everything was same, just like our dream.
The only difference was, I WAS REPLACED.
That thought, it hurt.
I looked at that picture again.
The sindoor and the mangalsootra was missing.
She was yet to get married!
I still had a chance.
"Oh No! This picture, is already a few days old. Right now, she already belongs to someone else, she's HIS, forever. I cannot think about her, she is someone else's wife now", thinking this, I took one last glimpse of that picture.
I sighed.
I have already moved on, as she wished.
Her wishes were always a command for me.
Smiling, I closed my eyes and prayed,
"Dear god, bless her with all the happiness of this world. Let those beautiful glittering eyes never tear. She may appear a woman, but she'll always be a kid at heart.
Take care of her please."
And I deleted that picture.
-Apurba Mandal
Awesome mz :*
ReplyDeleteNice work...keep writing!!!
ReplyDelete