„Are you upset at me, again? “ Ananya asked lovingly.
“Look, Rohan, I don’t like to be late on purpose you know that. Now stop looking at me like that with a sullen face please.” She said pushing the bunch of yellow lilies towards him.
One of the lilies moved with the breeze and touched his face. She picked it, kissed it and kept it back again.
He always called her in this garden when the world would want to meet for movies, coffee or restaurants. She felt it was their time together where she could always talk at length, free without being nudged by anyone.
“Did I tell you about my dream…of course it was our dream?” He remained silent looking at her radiant face and a strand of hair constantly flowing from her cheek and getting stuck to her lips as she spoke. As the zephyr played with her hair, she pulled the strand and neatly tucked it behind her ear and it playfully flew on her cheek again. She let it be.
Rohan looked affectionately, this dream came in as a harbingerof the same story she repeated every time they met.
She started,” We were sitting in this same park, talking sweet nothings to each other. Planning the way we would want our parents to know about us. You did suggest you being the only child of your parents; they should come and talk to mine.”
A ball came and hit Rohan’s leg. Ananya playfully picked it up and threw it towards the child and continued. “My brother came and asked me to reach home urgently as Ma had fallen off the stairs. You immediately asked me to rush and promised me to come back and meet you in this park.”
“Rohan, since that day I have been coming here to meet you and ask you what happened and you have just chosen to not respond.”
He said nothing and sat in deadening stillness.
She too sat there in silence, whining and coaxing to get an answer but in vain. The ingénue Ananya as always picked up the flowers left it near him and left with a promise to meet the next day.
मज़ार -ए -कैस पर जब रूहे लैला इक दिन आयी
तोह अरमानों के मुरझाए कुछ फूल भी लायी
लगी जब फूल वह रखने तोह कब्र से आवाज़ आयी
चढ़ाना फूल जानेमन मगर आहिस्ता आहिस्ता।
Beautiful and poignant…. I am slow or am in much hurry these days that I have to read it twice to grab it…. And then it was Ahah moment! Its so simple and beautiful…. ethereal …just like the zephyr which plays with Ananya’s hair…. and the sher in the end is good but in juxtaposition with your story gained heights and depths ek-saath!
i had this feeling that though it is poignant and sad but its not gloomy .. its sweet 🙂 loved it.
Thank you Kokila, no you are not slow my any means my friend. The twist comes subtle and late and references of Anupam make it tricky for readers to know he is not there. Am realllllyyyy happy you loved it.
So pure in thought that induces the love hidden. Feels like the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. Takes a form at end even. Just loved it.
Thank you Durga, am happy you liked it.
Ur words help me paint the picture of Ananya n Rohan 🙂
Great post again !
Thank you Ananya, happy you liked it.
Am I sensing a deadlock here with no future ahead and yet holding on to hopes? Your writing of course is beautiful and emotive.
Where has love seen logic, it just flows and gives, love is hopeful though.
Hey Shweta.. Does your story represent later phase of life or is it like this only these days??? I absolutely loved Hindi lines 🙂
May be I missed your question. She lost him but still cannot move on. Love is not time bound 🙂
Great story, Shweta!
And awesome hindi lines..
Shukriya Amit ji, the urdu verse is from Jagjit Singhji’s ghazal Ahista Ashista.
They should talk more often, seem to have some differences still. In which post would they be resolved, if you know? 😛
Didn’t get you Alok, they don’t have differences.
Looked to me there is a disconnect between the two, they seem to need more of verbal conversation first. Don’t you think so?
Oh! Oh oh! That I did not see coming. I thought maybe he’s not really there, but then he smiled at her, and then I had to read that bit again!
yes he is there and will always be in her heart, in her mind and in her memories, wish he could be in her moments too.
I feel the sadness there. Beautifully written.
Thanks Parul, happy you liked it.
Poignant and emotive! I’ll read it again to enjoy it better!
ji Uppalji, glad it touched you.
🙁 Some waits are endless…poignant and touching…
Thank you bestie.
Some love stories are endless…waits are just another way of love…loved it
Yes Datta, so rightly said it so beautifully wait is a way to love, a way of hope.
Quite emotive Shweta! I read to twice to feel the essence of the zephyr b/w the two. Very touching! :’)
Thank you Maitreni, it served its purpose if you felt the emotions between them.
That ‘Wait’ is the saddest part! Touching!
Agree Deepa, and when its never ending its impossible to move on in life.
Those verses added more depth. Love stories without pain are empty. What say?
Heer Ranjha, Laila Majnu who had a happy ending? you said it so right Saru.
Very nice… I think you will write the next part of it too to reveal the reason behind his silence…
Loved the concluding lines…
No Ashish, the post ends in one part and thus its a never ending wait.
Oh my!
A response she’ll never ever get, huh?!
That’s correct, it’s for people who do not believe in moving on.
Poignant and beautiful..loved it !
Thank you Renu.
A short but a very well penned story. It never ends
Absolutely Shamsud, you said it.
You made me stand there again …. Strangely, it still hurts …
Loss of loved ones bestie…can’t be less painful.
A telling tale!
Thanks Lata 🙂
bahut badhia
Shukriya Chirag 🙂
Beautiful story, its so sad,she talking and he silent!