The Girl I loved - Part 9
Sunday, June 05, 2016Rahul
”Where do you think you’re going?” Ajit asked, his hands crossed against his chest as I tried to sneak out of the house.
He had been a true friend throughout this week staying by my side whenever it was possible for him to do so. My parents wouldn't be returning from their religious tour for another week and I didn't know how I would have managed to drag along this week without him.
The whole week passed with me being with myself, the only solace being Ajit’s frequent visits. Not to mention, there’s my broken heart that never showed any signs of mending.
“Uhm…….I don’t know. I just need to…..,” I trailed off trying to fetch for an appropriate answer as I tried to limp in his direction.
But I knew exactly where I was going, Priya’s house.
The decorations that adorned the house, the lightings that intensified the glow, the rhythmic music that swept away the silence of the evening hinted the fact that the love of my life getting engaged to a guy who’s not me.
“You’re going to Priya’s place aren't you? You won’t change right? Why man? Why do you love her so much? You’re only going to get hurt by going there. You need to forget her. You just can’t keep running after her at every single opportunity you get. She has forgotten you. She’s gonna marry some other guy and lead a happy life and probably doesn't even want to see your face. Even you know that she didn't even bother to hand over the invitation herself. Two rich families getting together and leaving the poor lover boy here alone and you’re still breathing after her. I don’t even know what to say or how to make you understand,” he said as he closed his eyes, running his hands through his hair in frustration.
By this time, I limped my way to him in spite of the pain shooting through it with every step I took. He shrugged my hand off as I placed it on his shoulder.
“Ajit, I don’t know why I'm doing this. But I just know I need to,” I said pleading him to let me go with my eyes.
“What you need to? Go over there and bawl your eyes out when you see her placing the ring on his finger? Or watch him place the ring on hers? Then what? Get back to your room and sob your heart out for days? What do you think you’re gonna get out of this?” he asked scrutinizing my face.
“Probably that will help me to move on. Maybe watching her getting engaged to him will feed me the fuel to overcome her. I just want to go there. Please Ajit,” I said placing my hand again on his shoulder to which he let out a deep sigh.
He wrapped his right hand around my backside and helped me lean on to him before we slowly started walking in the direction of Priya’s house.
The melodious music emerging from her house might probably seemed to enthral all those who were listening to it but to me, it felt like a arrow head aimed right at my heart.
The decorations and those lightings added the spicing over the cake for the heaviness of my heart.
“Rahul, are you sure?” Ajit asked, his gaze fixated on me as we reached the main door to her house.
I wasn't, but I nodded indicating for him to help me get in. As we stepped in together, we were greeted by the vast number of guests indulged in their discussions with people of their similar or higher status, a cup of wine in their hands, their suits probably worth more than the whole outfit we were graced with.
We both seemed so out of place as we caught almost five to six people giving us disgusting stares as in why people like us were here at the first place.
“Rahul, let’s go back man. We’re so out of place here. Look at everyone,” Ajit almost pleaded but I caught hold of his shoulder and squeezed it a bit in assurance.
Just then the announcement was made for the soon to be engaged couple to come forward onto the centre of the room.
Arjun walked in through the adjoining room first trailed by his parents as everyone started to clap followed by Priya with her parents beside her.
My jaw literally dropped on taking in her appearance as she walked in elegance which could only be earned by someone like her.
The ankle length gown she wore hung to her perfectly as the diamond necklace that was wrapped around her neck dazzled in the bright lights that reflected on it. It was as if I was in a mode of unconsciousness as I took in her presence from head to toe. One of the many things I loved about her is that she prefers to be simple yet she rocks the look in that simplicity.
I just kept staring at her beautiful face until someone nudged me by the shoulder.
I turned around to find Ajit staring at me with an unfamiliar look and I raised my eyebrows in question.
“You better not see this. Let’s go outside,” he said gesturing for me to walk with him.
But I turned around to find Arjun and Priya facing each other with the rings in their hands and the graveness of the situation sunk in. I was so lost in her beautiful face that I didn't take notice of the proceedings.
I could feel my heart beating at uncontrollable speed and the blood rushing through my veins at thousand miles per hour. Sweat formed on my forehead as Ajit caught hold of my hand and literally dragged me through the crowd and out the door.
I couldn't do anything but follow him. It was as if my life wasn't in my hands. It seemed as if my countdown has begun. My thoughts were blurred as we reached the gate. It was as if I was a part of the walking dead.
He finally stopped dragging me once we crossed the gate and I jerked to a sudden halt beside him which brought me out of my stupor.
I could feel the weight of the ring in my pocket that was supposed to be on her hand instead of the one she might be wearing now. She’s probably his now. What was supposed to be mine, I couldn't get it.
I felt a sudden rage engulfing me as I clutched hold of the ring and pulled it out of my pocket. Fisting my palm tightly around it, I started to limp towards the end of the road in a steady anticipation to get rid of it.
It bared no purpose now and I wouldn't want it to be at least a hundred metres in my vicinity. As I reached the road’s end, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Then I pulled my arm back as far as possible and was just about to swing it with all of my might which I could possess when I heard a familiar cry piercing my ears.
“Rahul wait!”.........to be continued.
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