You are the ONE ! ...Part 3

Part one --->Part One Link

Part Two --->Part Two Link


I opened the door and was surprised to find the room to be EMPTY. I called her name but no response. I heard some noise and I turned to that direction; she opened the bathroom door and came out. I smiled at her and she responded with an artificial smile.

Me: Here!!! Your coffee Maya!!

Maya: Thanks!!

Me: I thought not to disturb you. So I made coffee myself. Please bare it J

(Silence…………….no response from her)

Me: are you ok??

Maya: yeah!!!

 I understood that she is not comfortable talking to me. So I left her alone in the room. I sat on my balcony, sipping my coffee and listen to the song playing on TV in the hall. I was wondering about the way she behaved last night. The person she has turned to be, opposite of MY MAYA. After some time she came towards me.

Maya: Thanks and sorry for yesterday!!

Me: That’s ok Maya!!

(“What had happened??” was the question running in my mind. I hesitated to ask her, but it was now or never)

Me: Why??

Maya: What does that mean??

Me: I mean why this change Maya?? You are totally changed and from when you started consuming alcohol? Which you hated the most

Maya: It’s my second time.

I expected that she will talk ahead but she stopped with that. I didn’t want to annoy her anymore by asking questions so I moved on. I prepared breakfast for us and placed it on the dining. I prepared bread omelet, which is her favorite breakfast dish. We started eating but still none of us said anything. After a while she broken the silence,

Maya: He cheated on me. It was on our anniversary last year, when I came to know that. I asked him and he replied that he and Shruthi were in relationship since one and half year. I saw them together yesterday near my home, they both were happy together. He didn’t love me; it’s the money all he wanted.  We both got divorced last month. I am all broken now.

Tears dropped from her eyes as she was telling all these to me. Even I felt like killing him for cheating a woman, but already they both got separated and ended up the issue, so there was no point in digging it further.

I consoled her as much as I could until she stopped crying. It answered all my questions. Of course, she had stopped expressing her feelings, but I could make out deep within she was suffering. After few minutes, she said “Am leaving. Thanks and sorry again”. Her dress was so dirty and spoiled, so I asked her to change it before she goes out. I offered her the saree, which she ignored when I gifted her during my proposal. But what else I can give; I only had that dress in my home which a gal can wear. She didn’t replied for a minute and then she said

Maya: its ok I can manage, bye.

She ignored it once again. I don’t want to compel her, so said bye and she left hiring a taxi to her home.

Days passed by and again the pain inside me has increased and I was totally disturbed in everything. It was only MAYA running in my mind. I started searching for her in that big city. I got to know that she is staying in her guest house all alone and its only 30mins from my place. What else I want?? JI didn’t get her phone number, as she recently changed her number to avoid unnecessary contacts (not me but her ex-husband). Though I knew where she is staying, I didn’t wish to disturb her going in there.

After 1 week, we met in our common friend’s reception. I had insisted Gautam to invite her. I knew that she would not refuse his invitation as both of them had brother-sister relation. She came after some half an hour late as per the scheduled timing. I was again out of my mind lost in her beauty. The lights in that hotel were not as shining as the glow on her face. She looked gorgeous and stunning in green saree. Meanwhile Varun took me aside. When I came back, she was not there, I started searching for her and at last found her walking towards the lift and as usual I ran behind her. We both headed into the lift and this time it was not crowded but she looked more tensed than I saw her on lift in college. She was keeping on pressing a button and getting more tensed. I looked at that and started laughing.

Maya: what makes you to laugh now??

I interrupted her and pressed G button. Later she realized that she was pressing the same floor numbered button that’s why it wasn’t working. She just smiled at her act. “OH, God”, I said to myself. It was her smile for which I would even choose death, just to have one glimpse.  Then we walked to the parking area. It was few distant from the hotel. The path was empty, since there was no one around. It had trees on both sides designed with some blue lights on it. We didn’t have any conversation for five minutes. I couldn’t resist this time and broke the silence.

Me: why were you so tensed then??

Maya: Someone told me that they (ex and Shruthi) are getting married next month. I couldn’t bear that so I left. I don’t want to hear anything about him anymore but it’s happening in the other way round. I just hate to come out of my room. I don’t like anyone. I just got frustrated with all these bull shits!!!(She stopped shouting all these and seemed so tensed and depressed)

I went near her, took her hands and covered it with mine. Looking into her eyes I said,

Me: Maya listen to me; He doesn’t deserve your love. I could say he is really unlucky for losing you from his life.  You are unique Maya. You are YOU!!!  Don’t lose that. I loved you because of that. People liked you because of that. Don’t change yourself for the one who don’t even deserve your happiness. Then why are you grieving about him.

She stopped crying and she took her eyes from mine, started looking far away. I realized that am holding her hands still; I took mine from her telling “Sorry if I told something wrong”. She didn’t reply a word and left the place, driving her car.

Next day morning I got a message from an unknown number stated,

“Hi Rohan, Thanks for your advice last night and AM ME from NOW ON!!J”

I was so surprised to see the message. I was so happy, to be frank it’s not only her who changed but even I got back all my hopes on her.

We again started chatting, stepped to overnight calls and this time she agreed to hang out with me whenever I ask. Initially she used to resist but eventually she become close. We became so close and by the way my love on her started increasing too. She had actually started sharing everything with me. We used to talk everything but apart from our past.

Six months passed…..

She had started smiling. She had started to mingle among people. We usually used to meet on weekends. She had stopped thinking about her past. She was alive now. Once she insisted me to take her to her village (where she had born and bought up). Maya was happy now, so was I.

I wasn’t happy because I loved Maya, but she was happy because of me.

My love on Maya was unconditional now. I never dared to speak about it with her. But one fine day she asked me,

Maya: Do you still Love me?

(I was totally confused what to answer. What if my answer spoils our friendship?)

Me: I was silent.

Maya: Rohan, I don’t know your answer. But please don’t have any feelings for me. I am having wonderful moments with you. My life is already ruined. Don’t let that happen with you. I like you, I care for you.

Maya’s words tortured me for few days. “Does she mean, she care for me but doesn’t love me”, was the thought bothering me.

Few days passed…..

I had decided what so ever this time I am not going to lose her. I had stopped thinking and decided to be her friend forever. It was her 1^st July evening, next day was her birthday. I had arranged for a surprise for her. I insisted her to come to disco.

Maya had realized the surprise and was happy. She came late purposely so that I can arrange everything for her.

We danced, celebrated her birthday. Gautam (along with his wife), varun, Priya (Maya’s friend) and few more close friends were present. All of us enjoyed the night.

Maya had consumed Whisky. This time no body stopped her from drinking as she was drinking in happiness. So even I didn’t have any problem. After some four pegs, she lost her senses. Everyone else was not as buzzed as Maya. All departed from the place.

Maya: Can you escort me till my home, Rohan?

Even if she had not asked, I wound accompany her.

We both left to her house. I parked my car near the Pub and making her comfortable in front seat I drove her car.

Maya: I am happy Rohan, I am great full to you. Without you I could never be happy the way I am.

She was completely buzzed now. She was repeating the same words. I tried to fall her asleep but she refused. She would just say “I am Fine!”  I knew the exact meaning of that word. Courtesy to my alcohol addicted friends. I was used to it.

Finally we reached her society area. I parked her car and supported her arms around my shoulder. Holding my left arm around her hip, we reached her apartment.

The room was dark and without switching on the lights, we went to her room. It was more messed than a guy’s room. Everything was placed on her bed. Clothes, shoes, laptop!

It took me five minutes to clean it up. I laid her down and was about to cover her with blanket, suddenly she grabbed my hand.

Maya: I am sorry, Rohan. I didn’t realize your love in College.

Me: It’s okay. Now sleep.

Maya: Please don’t leave me this time. I need you.

Silence for few moments…

I took her hands in mine and said, “I would never-ever leave her!”

She came close me. So close that she hugged me and said, Thank you.

Suddenly the power went off. She had inverter which provided orange colored brightness. The roof was glowing because of the Fluorescent star stickers. I was sitting on her bed facing her face. Though we were in her room, the surrounding seamed romantic.  I was again lost in her beauty. Though she was drunk she was looking gorgeous.

She was smiling meanwhile; she closed her eyes and leaned towards me. I realized she wanted to KISS ME. Now I could sense her breath. My heart had stopped. I was feeling as if the earth has stopped revolving. I had never imagined this moment, not even in my dreams. Too many things were bothering me. I was confused.

“The other day she had mentioned she didn’t have any feelings for me.”

“When she has no feelings for me, what was this?”

She suddenly tilted her head to the right and came much closer. I was inhaling her breath, which had strange fragrance. Her lips touched mine. I could taste the strawberry (flavored lipstick). I hated strawberry but feeling it from her lips, I started to have second thoughts about strawberry. My mouth had completely filled water now. I closed my eyes…….

Continued …….
Final Part Link--->Click here