Vansh speaks…

I could see the moon from the window of my room as I tossed and turned on my bed. It was 2 a.m and I was not able to sleep till then.
The happenings of the whole day were running like a movie in my mind.

Today evening, Preet came to me and told me something which I never expected. She told me that she loves me and she wants to marry me. I did not have anything to say. I was blank and was out of words. How could I marry her?

I gathered courage and told her that I was not ready to marry her. She asked me if her past bothers me. Yes! The past bothers me! But not hers! It’s mine!

A year ago,my parents,whom I regarded as my world left me alone in this cruel world. They had met with a fatal accident and before I could reach the venue,everything was over.
I was mentally shaken. My whole world,which was so happy the previous day had turned upside down in a few hours. It was very hard for me to believe that I have nobody to love me in this world. My relatives returned as soon as the funeral was over. The loneliness killed me like hell.

Thankfully,I had a career which helped me to distract from my sorrow. I worked hard for weeks but still whenever I come home,I cannot help myself from feeling lonely and crying staring at my parents’ picture.

Slowly,I began drinking alcohol,as my friends have told me that it gives relief from mental pain for sometime. This became a regular habit which could not be given up. I had to drink even during work hours. One day,I shouted at my higher official as I was drunk. And you might have guessed that I would have got fired by him.

Now,my job which distracted me was no more. So I took drinking as my full time job. Alcohol became my breakfast,lunch and dinner. I shout and cry at nights thinking about my parents which annoyed my neighbours. They warned me a few times but I was not listening to them. Finally,the house owner threw me out of the house.

Now,I had lost my job as well as home. I had little money which my parents had saved for me. Do you think I would have used it in a useful way? Not at all. I spent all the money for drinking. I would drink all night and sleep in roads. I lived the life of a gypsy. When I had no money,I began asking people for money to drink. To be frank,I begged to get me a drink.

For months,I roamed like a stray dog in the streets. People would get scared on seeing me with dirty clothes and messy hair. Later, I came to know that I had become mad too. I attacked the people who did not give money to drink. One day,when I hit a man who refused to give money,all the people gathered and I was beaten up cruelly. I lost consciousness and was lying on the road.

Preeti,the guardian angel,who came along the roadside had seen me. Thanks to her. Basically,she is very kind like her mother. She had brought me to this asylum where her mother Dr.Meera works as a psychiatrist. Dr.Meera is very kind and caring. She treated me for nearly six months and she is the sole reason for my existence today. If she had not been there,I would have died and become dust.

Even today,I have never seen her getting angry at her patients. Last week too,Geetha di,who was mentally affected, threw a stone at Dr.Meera when she went to treat her. Meera ma did not become angry. She did not care about her bleeding forehead,still she went to Geetha di and spoke to her with love and made her understand her mistake. Geetha di admitted her mistake and apologized like a kid.

Meera ma,is the God to me. She gave me life for the second time. When I call her Meera ma,I mean it. She is the second mother to me. My Mumma gave me life for the first time. Meera ma brought me back to life. I don’t know how I am going to pay her back. I told her that I would work in the asylum for the rest of my days helping her. She agreed with a smile which is always pasted in her face.

Before two months,I saw Preeti for the first time. She came and talked to me by herself. But I could not recognise her. How could I? I have not even seen her face as I was unconscious when she rescued me.
Later,Meera ma told that she was the one who rescued me. I thanked her for which she replied with a smile.

From then on,Preeti visited the asylum frequently whenever she was free. We talk for hours and a friendship developed between us. I really loved spending time with her.

Today,she told me that she loves me. How could I marry Preeti? What will Meera ma think of me? I cannot match Preeti in any aspect. I don’t even have a job. And I have a very bitter past. Preeti deserves a better person.

Preeti is a simple,kind,easy going and a free spirited girl. She is an aspiring film director. Yes! She has shot many short films and soon she will be doing a feature film. She has lost her father when she was little and Meera ma had brought her up alone. She may have dreams for her only daughter’s marriage. How could I destroy her dreams?

I know that Meera ma will say yes to whatever Preeti says. I have heard from people that before a year,Meera ma had arranged for preeti’s marriage with a rich guy. But Preeti had stopped it saying that he does not suit him. So now too,if Preeti tells that she loves me,Meera ma will say yes. But,inside she would feel bad. How could I make her feel bad!? No way!

Thinking all these,I told a big NO to Preeti. She was disappointed. But she did not blame me. She acted in a mature way. Above all she was brought up by Meera ma! How could she not be mature?

She asked me whether her past bothers me. She also told me that the guy whom Meera ma had fixed her marriage with belonged to a rich family. He had also asked Preeti to leave her profession and be a house wife. He had also offered that if she wishes to work,she could take care of his business. So,he had told her not to be in the film industry. That was the reason she called off the marriage.

I listened to her patiently and then I made her understand that her past does not matter to me. But I did not tell her the reason for my hesitation. She composed herself and told me that we shall remain friends like before. I nodded.

But now,after returning home,I feel guilty for hurting her feelings.

“Everything is for her good”,I told myself. At last,sleep evaded me.

***********************************

A week later…

It has been a week since that incident happened. Preeti,now rarely comes here. I could see her trying hard to act normal in front of others.

I feel guilty. I want to do something which would take me away from her. I have asked for a job through Meera ma. She was happy that I have decided to work. Let us see what I am gonna get!

************************************

After a few days…

I have got a job in an IT company. It has been an year since I worked. I got ready and went to Meera ma to get her blessings.

I came out and was waiting for the bus in the bus stop.

“ Vansh!”

I turned as I heard my name. Preeti was standing there with her scooty.

“ First day for work?”,she asked with a smile.

I nodded not looking into her eyes.

“ Mumma told. I came here to wish you. All the best”,she forwarded her hand.

I shook it,”Thank you Preeti”.

“ Waiting for the bus?”,she raised her eyebrows and asked.

I nodded. She parked her scooty in a corner and stood next to me.

“ Preeti.. you may have work. You go. I will go when the bus comes”,I told her hoping that she would go.

“I am free Vansh. I will send you and leave”,she replied. Such an adamant girl she is!

We waited for sometime but the bus did not come. I was getting nervous and looked at my watch.

“ It is getting late,isn’t it Vansh?”,she asked me putting her long hair into a bun.

“Yes. You leave Preeti. I will go by auto”,I told her.

“ Auto? He will make you reach at 10 o clock only”,she said.

“That is true too”,I murmured.

“ Ok come! I will drop you”,she put on her helmet.

I hesitated.

“Believe me. I will make you reach there on time. I know all the shortcuts”,she said starting her scooty.

I had no other option and I sat in the back seat. In a few minutes,we reached my office. I got down.

“Vansh! Don’t think that I took advantage of the situation. I did all these as your best friend only”,she told me looking into my eyes.

“ No. I did not think so,Preeti”,I lied. “Thank you”.

She smiled.

By then,a man got down from his BMW. I have seen him on my interview day. He might be working in the office too. He saw us and he waved. “ Is he waving at me? Have I become such a big shot in the company even before joining?”,I thought.

He came towards us. Now,I could say that he was not waving at me. He was waving at Preeti. As he approached her,I slowly moved as I was late.

From a distance,I saw the man and Preeti talking. At first,she was tensed but later she became free. “Vansh! They are going to fire you on the first day itself for coming late”,I told myself and went inside.

************************************

After a few days..

Today I saw Preeti with my GM Aditya (the one who had a chat with Preeti on my first day. Later I learnt that he is my GM) in my office. They were happily talking. I was staring them from my cabin. Aditya got a call,might be important,he excused from Preeti and went to his cabin.

Preeti could have felt my eyes staring at her for a long time,she saw me and smiled. She came towards me.

“ Hey Vansh! How are you? Long time no see”,she said sitting next to me.

“ I am good. How are you? Seems like you have become busy”,I replied.

“ Yeah. A little busy”,she said with a wink.

“ You? Here?”,I wanted to know what was going on between Aditya and Preeti.

“I came to see you only”,she said and on seeing my reaction she continued,” Your GM Aditya is the reason. He called me and I came to meet him”.

“ Any business deals?”,I won’t stop poking my nose until I know it completely.

“ No. It’s personal. I told you about the groom whom Mumma chose for me? He is Aditya”,she told calmly.

“ Is it he who asked you to give up your profession for him?”,I asked even if I know the answer.

She nodded.

“ What happened now?”,I asked out of curiosity.

“ He wants to get back. He told that he will give me complete freedom in whatever I had to do”,she said.

“ What have you decided?”,I asked in anxiety.

“ I don’t know. I want to talk to Mumma”,she said.

“Oh!”,I had nothing more to say.

After hearing this news,I could not concentrate on anything. What is that idiot Aditya thinking of himself? Why does he want to get back with her? I wanted to kill him.

What if Meera ma says ‘yes’ to this? What if she gets married to this stupid Aditya?

I wanted to meet Meera ma as soon as possible.

After the office was over,I got a bus and almost ran to Meera ma’s cabin. Florence sister told me that she has gone to see the patients. I waited for fifteen minutes. Meera ma came.

“Vansh! You are so early today? How was your day?”,she asked removing her coat.

“It was good ma”, I replied.

“Do you have to say something?”,she asked as if reading my mind.

“No ma”,I lied. How could I tell her this?

She smiled and I got up to leave.

“Vansh! Talk to her! You won’t get a better chance”,my heart told me.

I turned towards her.

“ Ma.. Do you know?? Aditya and Preeti are talking again”,I told her.

“Hmm”,she said,”Preeti told”.

“ Seems like he wants to get back with her. What have you decided ma?”, thank god! Finally I got courage to ask her.

“ I have to think about it. He is a good guy. Suitable match for Preeti”,she told smiling.

“ Ma.. But you have given him chance before itself. He did not use it. He had told Preeti that he would not let her work in film industry.Now he is saying that he would give freedom to her. What if he changes his mind after marriage?”,I told without a pause.

“So? What do you want me to say Vansh?”,she asked.

“ Ma! Better say ‘No’ to him. He does not deserve a second chance”,I told without hesitation.

“ Hmm… You love Preeti. Am I right?”,she asked with a smile.

I don’t know how to react. I was dumbfounded.

“ Ma! I .. I mean..”,I stuttered.

“ She loves you,isn’t it?”,she asked.

I did not answer.

“ I know everything. Preeti told me. She loved you and you rejected her proposal. She told me that you did not tell her the reason. Will you tell me?”

“Ma! It is not like that”,I hesitated.

“ You call me ‘ma’,isn’t it? Won’t you share it with your ma?”,she asked me.

“ Ma.. The love and respect I have for you is the reason. I thought if I accept her proposal,you would take me wrong. Moreover,I have a bitter past and I am not a suitable match for Preeti”,I broke down.

She held my hands.

“ Vansh! I would have been happy if you had accepted her proposal”,she said.

“Ma! But…”

“ Vansh! I used to talk a lot about you to her when I started treating you. I used to tell her that she has brought a diamond from the roadside. She used to get jealous and fight with me for praising you all the time. And that made her curious to know about you and she came to meet. You became friends. Later she began talking about you all the time. One day,she came and told me that she loves you. I asked her to talk to you. She came and told that you rejected her proposal. That was a bit disappointing for me too. Later,when you came to me and asked for a job,I came to know that you are also disturbed. I knew that you too love her. I wanted you to admit that. Now you have agreed that you too love her”.

I didn’t speak even a word.

“ My daughter means the world to me. And I will do anything for her happiness. I am so friendly with her and she too treats me like a friend. And what you said? You are not a suitable match for her? You are a suitable match for her by heart. Money,lifestyle all these are material things and does not matter. Both of you are connected by hearts. What is needed more than this? Don’t think about me. My children’s happiness is mine too. Both of you are my children and I am very happy to get Preethi married to you. Above all,she still loves you. When she talked about Aditya to me,I told her that I would agree with her whatever her decision may be. She told me that she could not forget you. So don’t make it complicated anymore beta! You both are destined to be together. My blessings are always there for you”,she told wiping her tears.

I held her hand and cried. I heard someone coming from outside.

“I think it’s Preeti. Go”,Meera ma told me.

I went out.

Preeti greeted me.

“ I want to talk to you”,I said.

“Yes?”,she said confused about what I am gonna ask her.

“You don’t have to talk with Aditya anymore. What is he thinking? Anytime,he comes and talks to you and then hurt you. He does not deserve a second chance. Don’t talk to him”,I said casually.

“Why are you saying that? Are you trying to control me? Don’t take advantage. Do you think I will go and marry him if he apologized to me? And who are you to control me?”,she shouted in anger. I did not expect this.

“Cool down Preeti. May be I am the one who are going to marry you”.

“What?”,she asked in disbelief. She saw her mumma’s face who was standing behind me. Meera ma smiled.

“ Preeti, I am very sorry for rejecting your proposal. I must be mad to have done so. I thought I am not a suitable match for you. Now,Meera ma made me understand everything. I am sorry. And you are the light of my life. If you had not rescued me,I would have died. You are the reason for my living. You are my SUNSHINE. And I am the SUNFLOWER. I can live only when you are with me. Please accept me. Love you”,I went on my knees.

She was surprised by my act and she hugged me and we cried.

“I love you too Vansh!”,she said as she cried. And we lived happily thereafter.

***THE END***