For them… September 21, 2006

She was one of the many friends I had who were in love. A senior in college who happened to comment to a classmate that she was pretty. Girls being girls and the hostel being the grapevine headquarters, the news reached her before tea that evening. I still remember her comment: “Who? That bearded fool? What makes him think I will be interested in HIM?” And hence the episode was closed. Or so it seemed.

A month later, there were rumors in the local tea shop that these two were seen kissing in the college corridor. How did the tea shop crowd get to know this? One side of our college building faced it and half the senior citizens in that village had nothing better to do than see what we are upto and more important, who is kissing whom. So the rumor spread and she vehemently denied any such incident. But she did not deny the fact that she was beginning to take a fancy to the ‘bearded fool’.

After struggling to get a summer project in the city, I finally managed one in a not so bad company. Since I had had enough of troubling my folks I decided to stay with friends and share the cost of living for the three months I was there. That’s how I happened to share that tiny two room house with her. The ‘bearded fool’ was making constant visits and sleeping over most of the days. I was amazed and surprised at how the relationship had grown. She was totally in love and they were together for sure. Always holding hands and whispering and laughing together. I was happy for her and felt amazed at the fact that she was ready to face her parents who were sure to oppose this relationship. She seemed mentally prepared to take their questions and make them agree. “if not, I will just move in with him and I will be with him through thick and thin. I can never leave my guy”. Good, I thought.

The phone call came when I was going for a friend’s birthday party. I was in the auto with two other friends and we were stuck in the merciless Hyderabad traffic. We exchanged the normal hi and how are you and where are you, after which she said she had something to say. Its marriage! I was so happy and said wow! When is it? Her reply was “its not with bearded fool”. I didn’t speak for the next three minutes or so. I think she gave me an explanation stating the reason and even said I know the groom. He is one of the many strangers I know. I know him as a stranger. She met him through the same means as I did. I didn’t take it forward whereas she did. And look where it ended up! I clearly said I won’t be coming for the marriage. But definitely I wish her all happiness. I really do.

Do all relationships end like this? What about all those years? All those things they shared? Gone? What was the point then? Though I have never been in a relationship, I have always reveled in the presence of love. I thought that when I was around them. Guess I was wrong. Why is this so difficult for me to take? I was just a by stander. I felt I owed that wasted love atleast a post in this blog. I am sure her diary pages are torn out where it talks about ‘them’ and I don’t blame her. So here is to ‘them’ and a relationship that was never meant to be.