Part 2 – Closure or New Journey?

“You’re beautiful!”, Rishi proclaimed looking at the photographs he had taken of the past few days.

“I know”, she replied confidently. Her chin popped high and looking up at him. He gave a tap to her nose and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Your class starts next week, right? You are going to be a busy bee soon. MBA can be demanding”, Rishi said trying to make sense of his feelings for her in such a short time.

For the past 10 days, he has been feeling like he never had before. Feelings that he thought existed only in books or in the Yash Raj movies, but for him. For him, these past few days have been just – Magical. Unreal.

They had been traveling together. Taking photographs. Late night conversations. And chai, there was always that. Apart from the mutual love for chai, Rishi realized they had nothing in common.

She was ambitious, focused and headstrong; she had her next 5 years planned. While he was more of a going-with-the-flow person and want to take life as it happens. He had no idea of what the future holds out for them. However, he had realized one thing – he was head over heels for her. And he wasn’t sure how she felt about him.

“Yes. I would be. But how does that affect you? Us? Just because I am busy with my studies doesn’t mean we cannot continue and see where things go.” She paused for a moment looked at him and continued.

“I like you, too, Rishi. I know how you feel and your hesitation. However, what I do not understand is why do you not want to take things between us as you take your life? Take it as it happens!”, she questioned.

Rishi was speechless. She had completely taken him by surprise with her short speech. It was as if she had read his mind.

“Because… Because…”, he stammered.

Meera kept staring at him.

“Because I don’t want to risk us. Risk losing you just because the timing was bad.”

“How can you be sure of it when you don’t give it a try?”, she questioned.

“Try? Try? Relationships don’t come with a trial period, Meera!”, he replied exasperated by her.

He had not been able to explain the turmoil inside him. Meera had seen it and wanted to calm him down, but soon realized that she was making it worse.

She took the camera from his hand and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I know that, Rishi. Even I am not sure of how the long-distance could work. However, I do know that if it is going to work, then it would be with you. I understand your fears because I feel the same.”, she told him as he held onto her.

“But I can’t, Meera.”, Rishi replied.

She placed her hand on his one cheek and kissed on the another. She hugged him once more before letting go of him.

“Then I guess, it’s a goodbye”, Meera resigned, “I don’t want to keep you waiting any longer. Your train is here. I will take the bus back to Delhi. Take care, Rishi”, saying that she picked up her bag before he could see the tears coming.

“Meeraaa…. Wait!”, he cried holding her hand.

“No, Rishi. This is goodbye.”, Meera said firmly and left.

Rishi watched her leave. He wanted to call her back. But deep down he knew she was doing the right thing. For both of their sakes. However, he was troubled with one thought: Will he ever fall in love again?

***

They say, often heartbreak can lead to making one a cynical or a pessimist or plain sad. It can make one lose their faith in finding love, ever again. However, there are bigger things at play hidden from our naked eyes. And you can start feeling things that you have not in a long, long time.

He had decided to take this trip in the hope of finding some kind of closure. He had been feeling lost and uncertain for a few months and the feelings continued. He hadn’t felt this anxiety since the day Meera had left. As he sat waiting, yet again for the train to start, it felt like deja vu to him.

“Chai, chai!”, Rishi’s thought was interrupted. He had not touched chai, since the day he last saw Meera leaving the station. He looked up at the vendor. It was then when he saw a girl dragging her luggage. She was wearing blue pants with a white shirt and a pair of strapped sandals. Her hair was cut short with streaks of brown in them. There was something familiar about her that made him to continuously stare at her. She was talking on the phone as she dragged her bag. The chai vendor was in between them. As she came near and stood a few feet away from him, he couldn’t believe it. It was HER. His heart called out her name out loud – Meera. She caught his eye just then as if she had heard him.

“Chai!” was the first thing they both said looking at each other.

At that moment, the train whistled indicating the start of the Journey!

 

Read the first part of this story here.