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Umang saw her for the very first time that day. He was the
one to pledge a half-smile & persevered with it in the hope of getting the
other half in return. But the resolute grin slowly became glazed when the hope
of getting the same in return turned out to be gloomy. Two days later, Umang came to know the name
of the girl, who he had fallen in love at the very first sight with. “Tamanna”
was the first girl; he had given some thoughtfulness to, though he had always
been the cynosure of all eyes himself. But Tamanna was something different. Out
of this world. Referring her a fairy sounded a bit like a cliché to him, still
he was captivated by her beauty.
Four more days and Umang got to talk to her for the first
time. Though it was far from a heart-to-heart, it felt like music to his ears. Friends were pressing him to talk to his dream
girl for all those days, but glimpses valued more for him than conversations. It
was not long when Tamanna started appreciating Umang’s company. Of course, it
was apparent for Umang to charm a girl over. It was a dream literally coming
true for him though. Steadily, Tamanna started owning those moments, those
conversations, those long phone-chats & eventually him.
On that fateful day for Umang, She gave him a red rose. It
was not a ceremonial proposal but as they say “Something is better left
unspoken.” Umang loved the uneasiness he was going through. But he could now
officially pronounce of being in a relationship with Tamanna. They were frantically
in love with each other.
They did what all lovers do. They loved each other. They
enjoyed everyone else’s envy. They cared not a bit about what others had to
say. They fought. They parted. They lamented. They got back. They got even
closer. They loved each other even more. This went on for as long as 8 years. Umang’s
love for Tamanna had not abridged even vaguely. But, for Tamanna, the whole world
had changed. She did not appreciate those phone conversations any more. She did
not adore meeting him any longer. She did not care for him any further.
Umang was losing his mind all this while. He had started tarnishing
his own life by himself. He could not fathom this unexpected transformation in Tamanna’s
assertiveness. He thought, one day, she would get back, hold & put the
broken pieces of his heart together with her affection & care. But this was
just another illusion; Umang was expecting to come true. That moment never came
by. He kept on worsening & ruining his life.
One fine day, Umang’s phone rang with Tamanna’s name
flashing on it. Without delay, he answered. Tamanna wanted to meet up. Umang
could feel his heart start beating again. He went to a nearby shop, bought the
most dazzling gown; he could place his eyes on & left for the meeting
place.
When he arrived at the meeting place, which happened to be a
local railway station, Tamanna had already got there, in her white Punjabi
salwaar suit & with a red envelope in her hands. Just for a moment Umang
mistook that for a red rose & reached out for her hands. Tamanna in
response took a step back & handed over the envelope to him. Umang, opened
the outer cover, took out the inner page & before he could finish reading
it, collapsed with absolute tremor. It was Tamanna’s marriage invitation card.
The day he had to deal with. The day it actually transpired.
The day it troubled him no more. The day history echoed itself. That day had
always been nigh. That day had come by.
A super-fast outstation train’s hooter like noise made him
recollect his sanity (insanity rather). Without much a do, he started running
towards the track & jumped on to it. A few Nano-seconds later, the train
crushed & shattered his body; with it left behind his traumatized parents,
grieved friends & a shaken Tamanna. The train rushed off & Umang’s
mortal remains were there for everyone to witness. Umang had left the bag with
the gown; he had bought for Tamanna, on the platform they were standing on. A
small teardrop flashed from her left eye, rolled down her cheeks, touched both
her lips & finally kissed the gown resting on the ground. She could do
nothing more.
When Umang reached the station, Tamanna was standing right
there. When he left, she was still standing right there.
This pretty much summed up their relationship. Umang did
everything to keep Tamanna happy & in return never got anything. He had to
be contented with that last teardrop of her.
