The Journey of Love

Life moves in flexible hours with several surprising U-turns. The question is whether these U-turns are acceptable or are they leading us to total downfall…. My story is about such beneficial turning point in the life of Radhika , the focus younger of my story…
“Radhika, where are you , beta?” “Aaschi, Ma” came the sweet reply of the ever charming girl of 22. Radhika-yes- a heart full of love, eyes full of dreams and hopes for the life. She is the elder child of the Chatterjee family. Ricky is the one, a 12 year old school-going boy. Radhika is the pearl of her parents, support of the grey hairs and umbrella of the young ones. She not only could feel the unfavourable circumstances of her family, but also knew the ways to overcome them. Yet she had great expectations from Life…..
Radhika was in her 1st year of University studies, pursuing her M.A in English. Carelessly dressed she entered the University campus with lots of excitement for the coming days.
“Radhika, you are such a wonderful personality, but you need some polishing.” “why don’t you wear fitting dresses and change your hair style and specs?” It was the usual comment of her friends. But who cares? Radhika was just made of some different clay. Making herself so-called happening in father’s money or attracting boys was not the phenomenon of her life. And Love? It was to be kept miles away. Loving someone and going against parents was not acceptable in her norms of life. But you never know when the spell of Love will take you in its arms. And Radhika was not an exception…….
“Uff, this long line and rats running in stomach..”The corridor was full of chaos of students standing in queue for the railway concession form. The officer was harassing the students making the process late. Radhika was in the girls’ queue. Some staring eyes from the opposite Queue diverted her from the present situation. An unfamiliar breeze touched Radhika. It was Ashwin, a tall guy of her class. First time she noticed him as her classmate. Ashwin, a flirty guy came close to her & tried to converse in the present situation. Being friendly and without attitude, Radhika fell in mutual friendship with him from that day.
“Hi, darling! Why so late? I was waitng for you.” Ashwin smiled with these words as Radhika entered the class. Being an expert in ruling the hearts of girls , Ashwin was sitting amidst several girls. “You seem to be quite interested on her” commented the girls , pointing towards Radhika. “ya , she is toh my sweetheart” , Ashwin replied with a flirtatious smile. Radhika was not provoked by his flirt yet she enjoyed it.
“Hey , let’s go for a movie .” “Can I invite my friends too?” Radhika was bit uncomfortable in accompanying Ashwin for a movie alone. “Hey, look , I just want you as my special friend. Why bother about others?” Yet the poor girl was scared of enjoying her life , fearing it would break her parents’ heart and take her away from her culture. But you know you must be good to a limit, not more than that.
Ashwin used to wait for Radhika till she entered the class everyday. There was a silent greeting from each side. They used to find opportunities to be with each other. There was gossips among friends. Although they denied, yet they couldn’t run away from the truth….
It was the last day of the University. An emotional spell consumed the blooming friendz circle. “Radhika , lets have some party yaar. It’s our last day”. Snacks ,tea, coffee, cigarettes and lots of high-volumed endless gossips filled the atmosphere of the canteen. “Hey, that’s Ashwin see”. Ashwin entered with something in his heart as his eyes could speak.
“Hey , you know I am going to celebrate the day. It’s so special. Guess what?” Guys were dumbstruck at the new enthusiasm in Ashwin. “What’s going on , Ashwin?”
“I am going to propose someone”. Radhika tried to hide her face in embarrassment at such a confession of Ashwin. People around could smell the hidden affair between the two.
It was end of the memorable day; departing time for friends. Hugging, tears , lovely snaps coloured the gloomy moment. Waving a hopeful hand for the departing friends, Ashwin and Radhika hired a rickshaw for the station. Taking the long route seemed to be the need of the hour. Ashwin sat closely with arms around Radhika as if to support her. “ I want to say something”. The heartbeat of Radhika could be felt faster. A chilled spell moved in her soul. She knew what Ashwin wanted to confess. She looked hesitatingly at him.
“ I love you, Radhika”. Radhika had not learnt yet to express the right emotion at the right time. She tried to deny. Ashwin repeated the words several times until Radhika said “Yes”.
“But only as friend”. Radhika couldn’t express her feelings. The reply changed the situation. “ya, you are my most special friend”. Ashwin replied with a smile. It was not welcoming for Radhika. She felt an insecurity at her own mistake. Station arrived. She wanted to hold him back and spend time with him. But he had to go for his private coaching.
At the platform they departed with a heavy heart. Radhika was unable to leave, staring him back. After the train left, Sms in cell phones took the hours. This continued for few days.
Surprisingly, there was a sudden silence after that day. No meeting, no phone calls , nothing connected the two confused souls. Exam time came. Busy preparation, tensed hours took the days. Seats of Radhika and Ashwin in the exam hall were nearby. Hardly they had time to speak, yet Small flirting words and eye shots were enough to keep up the flame. After the exam too , the connection lost again. Slowly the days went away. Radhika got a job in a small school. Ashwin too was engaged in a high school near his house. New job took the focus of the two.
Result was going to be put in the notice board. Cloud of students gathered at the campus. Good and bad scores gave a scenario mixed emotions in the faces. Radhika was as usual not satisfied with her result, yet she was relieved to get the eligible marks for NET & higher studies. “Congrats, yaar” Ashwin held her hand lovingly. “Same to you, Ashwin” “ Let’s go to the Canteen”. Old flavour of love renewed among friends, particularly between the two. After long hours of gossips with coffee and snacks, time was for departing again. Ashwin and Radhika , as usual , went together. This time they were trying to come out with real feelings from each side. Yet words were not there, till, to clear the confusion.
“I want you to be always beside me”. Radhika’s life took a new turn with these words of Ashwin. He had got chance in B.Ed college and wanted to have Radhika in the same college. But misfortune separated them. Failed to get admission in B.Ed, Radhika continued her school job.
“The girl, I told you that day, is trying to be close to me”. Ashwin never stopped to share his such events, particularly with girls, with Radhika. “ So what shall I do? It’s your life. You manage”. Radhika replied with a naughty smile. “Why isn’t it yours’? Your life is toh mine”. An essence of something new took spell in the life of Radhika with such moving words of Ashwin. She started dreaming of a new life . Was it Love?
Hardly she got the answer to this question, when everything changed all of a sudden.
“Hey , where are you these days”? Radhika was disturbed at the sudden silence from the other side. “You denied my love”. Radhika was shocked at his words. She tried to convince him, but of no use. Why this happened? No one could say. Tears rolled from the eyes of Radhika. She began to curse herself for believing in love and let herself in that path.
Few months went. Life was in its way trying to invite new turns. “ I have passed the Staff Selection Exam and have got a job as Section-Officer in Goa”. “ Congrats, Ashwin! Happy to get such news. Enjoy your life”. There was nothing more left to believe in the past flame of love between the two. The Change completely broke the heart of Radhika as well as made her determined to forget everything.
Life again moved in its way. Time passed and Radhika got her admission in B.Ed in Loreto College. The tough course didn’t give her time even to have peaceful sleep. It was the exam time when Ashwin again called her suddenly for encouraging her for the exam. Radhika was bit formal this time which surprised him. He blamed her at deep conversations for breaking the friendship and love. Was it a defence mechanism on his Part?
Time rolled. Radhika got a good job in a School at Haldia. She was there for one year. Some sudden Phone calls from him in months used to give nothing more than pain to her. Ashwin was as if enjoying all these. He neither came as flashback in the old relation nor did he allow her to keep up the detachment. It’s good to be emotional but not an emotional fool like Radhika.
It’s believed, whatever God decides, it happens for good. Radhika had completed her one year job at Haldia. She was in a new school in Kharagpur. At a boring place, some uninvited old faith makes a person weak. Ashwin’s tried to renew the old so-called friendship or love, whatever you say. Solitary existence is an enemy of a person. It uses a person’s weakness to fall in crazy hours. Ashwin’s sympathetic flirts were well acceptable to Radhika. She started dreaming afresh. Her expectations grew. Moreover her Parents were on the way of searching for a groom for her. But she couldn’t forget the old familiar face. Taking enough courage, being a shy girl, She directly asked Ashwin for marriage. Ashwin confessed his love for her but was not sure of marriage; still blaming her for denying him earlier. “I will reply at this weekend. Let me think about this matter. My parents are also looking for my bride” With this words the topic ended then and there.
After two days, Radhika came to Kolkata and joined a new school near her house. Parents of Radhika got a wonderful opportunity to settle down her life. On the other hand, Radhika was impatiently waitng for Ashwin’s reply. One torturing week went.,no reply came. Ultimately, she called him back and asked for the reply.
“See, you know I love you. But marriage…..” It was enough. No more drama could be tolerated. Radhika firmly asked for the last time-“Yes or No? simply tell me.” “ No” came the painful reply. “okay, fine bye!” With these words Radhika closed her this chapter of life. Her upset face were enough to convey her parents her pain. She told them everything. She was blessed with wonderful parents. They encouraged her to wait for the best in life…
It’s said, pairs are made in heaven. And it proved true for Radhika.
One month rolled since that disappointing turn of her life. It was the day, a groom’s family came to see her. Radhika was nervous. She had just seen the guy’s photo. After all formalities, she and the guy, Dhruv were allowed to converse in a separate room. Radhika could hardly look at Dhruv in embarrassment. But something was in that personality. She was very comfortable with some stranger for the first time and that too at such a situation. They went on talking for an hour or more.
“ So if everything goes right, we can talk in phones”. Radhika accepted the proposal with a “yes”, and again started talking on some other topic. Dhruv repeated the words again and Radhika had the same response. At the third time, the stupid girl understood Dhruv’s focus on phone number. “oho, we need to exchange our phone numbers. How silly I am.” Dhruv smiled appreciatingly at her innocence. He had made his decision……
After two days, Dhruv sent a friendly sms to Radhika in the morning hours. Radhika too replied in the same genre. Slowly sms-gossips started. It was followed by frequent phone calls. Next what? Morning seemed unfair without the sweet essence of Radhika through sms and calls; night couldn’t end up without the soulful words of Dhruv. Romantic gossips continued till late night . One week almost passed in a romantic era. Life gave a new chance to live to Radhika. In the meantime their horoscopes were given to the astrologer to make a suitable match.
“ Let’s meet, Radhika.” Dhruv planned to know each other closely. “But how can we, without our parent’s permission”? Radhika was as usual scared to enjoy her life. “That I don’t know. I just want to meet You.” “ ok, I will manage somehow.” There was excitement and a new charm in the hearts.
The very next day of this , Life again gave a shock to Radhika. Her family’s known astrologer informed her about the mismatch of the horoscopes. Even he warned her of terrific after-effects of such a match. Radhika was shattered and, this time to a great extent. “Am I a toy? Why such horoscopes were not examined earlier? Why you let me meet my happiness, when you have to snatch that away from me? Why? Why?” Radhika’s parents had no answer to her painful queries. Even they were sad to see her in such condition once again.
“What happened, Radhika? Why you were so silent the whole day? No sms , no calls. I was scared. Is everything alright?” Dhruv was unaware of the sudden twist in their life. He was busy the whole day in a seminar in his office. “Dhruv, you better ask your parents.” “ No, you tell me.” “Dhruv, please , talk to your parents first.” With much tension in heart, Dhruv called up his parents, as he was out of home for an official tour. Dhruv’s parents were equally worried and feared to unfold the truth to him. They knew that their only son was proceeding towards his new life after lots of denial. They didn’t want to give him any shock.
Failed to get any information from his parents, Dhruv rang back to Radhika.
“ See… the matter is….” Radhika didn’t know what to say and how to say. “Don’t panic me”. Dhruv was getting tensed.
“The astrologer informed us today that our horoscopes are not matching..” Radhika replied in one breath.
“oh, that means we can no more continue the relation. Right? Ok, its fine”. With these painful words Dhruv cut off the line. A pall of silence overshadowed Radhika’s life. Whom to curse? What to do? She felt an end of something she had just began in life. Love had bonded the two hearts. They could realize the very fact at this turn of their life.
Next day the world seemed lifeless.No sms, no phone calls. As if life has stopped completely. The very next day a sudden sms from Dhruv broke the silence. “ Thanks for sparing your valuable time with me. And sorry, if I have crossed my limit in any way. Hope you will get what you deserve. Wish you a very happy life ahead. Goodbye forever.” Radhika was speechless . She replied him back immediately consoling him that he would have a better life with a better girl. These words irritated Dhruv more. He wouldn’t accept such nuisance…
Radhika had lost all hope. She was trying to console herself with the rude fortune. Dhruv had unfriended her from facebook account.
“you have seen his updates?” Radhika’s cousin, Mira informed her. Dhruv had given sadistic updates of his sudden break up in his Timeline. Break up? Did they ever confess each other about their feelings. Radhika couldn’t imagine of getting so much importance in someone’s life. But how tragically Fate was playing with her. She couldn’t even enjoy this special feeling…….
“Just for you. I was born the day you met me. Lived a while with you. And died when you parted from me.” Nothing more can give such a peace to a lonely and hopeless heart than these words of Dhruv. Tears held the moment. First time Radhika could find her worth in someone’s heart; a feeling of being special for someone. She couldn’t let it go. They continued such conversation , very often , through sms.
Dad, he has wished all of you in Diwali.” This was Radhika’s general habbit of disclosing everything with her friendly parents. “ That’s good. The guy is really nice , cultured & broadminded.” Radhika’s father was quite updated. Nothing kept him back from fetching his children’s happiness.He started thinking about any possibility in this detached alliance.
“You know your father came to our house this evening. Both the fathers have decided to consult with an astrologer to come with a solution about our mismatched horoscopes.” Radhika couldn’t believe her eyes as she saw Dhruv’s sms. “Yipee, That’s unbelievable.” An alarming ecstasy rang in both hearts. They got their breath back.
“Listen na. Let’s meet.” Dhruv couldn’t lose the chance to hold his life back. Radhika’s train stopped at the station. She had gone to give some exam. As her feet touched the platform, her eyes rolled madly to pursue the other’s. He was standing at a distance, enjoying the impatient search. Radhika’s cheeks blushed as eyes met. A chill of romantic sensation curved down the nerves. Dhruv smiled at her and offered a box of chocolates-girls’ all time favorites. A bike ride could make the evening and Radhika didn’t hesitate to accept the offer. After all she was with her better half.
The evening they spent near the beautiful riverside of the Ganga.Hand in hand they sat for hours regaining their lost hours of joy & love. That day heaven blessed them for a very soulful journey of life preceeded by a memorable marriage after five months.
It’s said whatever happens, happens for good .Like Radhika & Dhruv, perfect matches are only made in heaven. So ……
BELIEVE IN THE GOD, BELIEVE IN THE BEST……..