Resigned to destiny contd..

“She had been hiding there behind a book with puffy eyes and red nose. She had been crying in one of the corners of the library, as destiny would have, in my favorite section. As soon our eyes met, she hastily lowered her eyes, picked up her bag and dashed towards the exit. I still have to know why I blocked the way and stood firm when all she did was trying to escape from an embarrassing situation. I coaxed her into telling me her problem.

After much persuasion she complied. Sheena had been nasty to her. Both of them working at the same place and Sheena being her senior, she could do nothing about it. I was somehow not surprised at this revelation. Knowing Sheena I could sympathize with her. She gradually relaxed in my company though later she sure mentioned I must be a back-biter. We moved on to other topics like favorite books, authors, music, current affairs. We were so engrossed in our animated discussion that the librarian had to remind us of the ultimate code of conduct of a library, silence.

After this first encounter in library, we kept on bumping into each other many times, initially due to co-incidence and later because I waited for her there. I am not sure when it happened so, but I was living out the entire day so that I could talk to her in the evening. We had not yet exchanged phone numbers. I felt shy to ask and she never offered.

Then this other day, after almost three months, she invited me to dinner with her and Viplav. I had heard her telling so much about him, but not until I met him that I believed them all true. She loved him loads and he loved her with his existence. I could sense that from the first moment I saw them together. Till today, my observation is no different.

That day, Viplav insisted us to exchange mobile numbers. All three of us together went out many times after this and many a times we were joined by our friends. During other occasions we would walk out of the library together to the nearest coffee outlet and sit there discussing everything between the sky and the bottom of the ocean. We had outings and loads of fun. It had become a ritual for both of us to talk for around 15 minutes before she talked to Viplav and went off to sleep.

And somewhere amidst all this I fell in love with her, without knowing it. When she announced the date of her engagement and then told me that since Viplav has been transferred from the city, she will be moving out few days before the wedding, I realized it was not possible for me to let her go away. I tried talking her out of leaving the city, after all Viplav has to go on-site within this year. She is determined.

I love her and want her for myself. But she loves Viplav and he in turn her. I am the one out of place and will have to move. I just pray she will be happy in her new life and live life to the fullest,” he finished hurriedly and managed to keep the tears at bay.

“You are behaving like Devdas. Come on bro, maybe she loves you as well. But can’t say it because of Viplav and because you never mentioned love to her. Give it a try man. Try and steal her. We’ll back you up.”

“Ah! Friends, of course. But they have said already that loving someone means doesn’t mean keeping them for yourself, it means letting them do whatever will keep them happy. I know Viplav is perfect for her; that is my first hand information. I will not cause chaos and even though I can’t have her as a lover, I want her as a friend in my life always.”

“So that you will always be reminded of what you could have and didn’t.”

“No, because I treasure that friendship more than anything to lose it over something I can’t have.”

“Ok. Whatever you decide. Now complete your drink. Its late already and there is office to be attended tomorrow.”

“I can’t drink. I am not Devdas in that sense. Let’s leave.”

He walked all the way to his home, some 5 km. He needed to think. He needed to know why God would do this to him. He had been an ideal person all his life. He also had another food for thought. Even though he vehemently refused to admit his love to her, what would happen if he dropped a hint or two? Did she love him, just a little bit? Would she in her wildest dreams ever agree? Damn it, she got engaged today, he thought bitterly. But he should give it a try. After all he would be with her the entire next day. He was supposed to go shopping with her to find a gift for Viplav and then she was giving him a treat of a movie and dinner for her beautiful arrangement. Maybe he should try tomorrow. Maybe he will, he thought as he entered his apartment.