"Shravan and I go a long way back Seher. We met while we were still in school" said Sumo with a dreamy smile on her face, like I could literally see her gliding down her memory lane.
Then she began to narrate their story, a story that mesmerised me to the skies , a reality that moved me beyond.
I was told how years back Shravan and Sumo coming from the opposite sides of a corridor, one day at school, collided against each other, how they grew closer and finally became the best of friends, how she bullied him, mocked him, annoyed him, ordered him around and ignored him. I was told how they understood each other so well, played together, shared their plans, how she discussed her wedding dreams with him , how proud she was of his intelligence, how naive she found him.
Suman took me through this roller coaster ride of emotions , her ridiculing him in front of the whole school when he had gone to share the most devastating news of his life, him leaving for London, Suman pining for him, adding trinkets to her memory box to keep herself sane till she meets him again, him coming back after 10 long years, staying back after two attempts to leave, them coming closer, and him trying to be aloof.
She then took the tale further from Nirmala aunty's return and Ramnath uncle's attempt at separating them to Suman almost marrying Aditya and him forcing himself on her hours before the wedding. I gasped at that. Suman was digging her nails into the flesh of her hand , while narrating that part and I gulped back a sob that threatened to escape my lips.
Suman went on, taking me along with her in her trip back to the noxious days that followed, her court marriage to Shravan, the only soul she loved, with her soul, except that this was not the marriage she dreamt of. This was not the Shravan she loved. I could feel my tears on my cheeks simultaneously as I saw hers flowing down.
This was categorically clear by now that their love had cost both Shravan and Sumo a great deal of their happiness and normalcy. I could sense, that they were never really settled in the true sense of the word. There was always this disquiet in both their lives, an unease that they carried within their hearts, an ache that constantly gnawed in their hearts.
We were silent for a few moments, before I asked her "So today are you celebrating the anniversary of the day, he finally got you back?"
"Oh no, there's more to it" A clink could be heard with Suman's laughter as she said that.
"Nanu decided that this time, Shravan would have to marry me with all the rituals , and take me away with him with all honours. I was asked to move back to Tiwari Killa till the wedding. Shravan got so unnerved at that, and so did I. We tried our best to wriggle out of the situation but Nanu wouldn't budge. So I had to go back with him. Shravan looked so shocked back then.
The very next evening Shravan whisked me away to this beautiful restaurant on the outskirts of Delhi. He had booked the entire place and there was a band playing my favourite music. He had arranged for our favorite Kulfi wala to come there with his stand, and also my favourite Sevanand halwaayi s samosas were served as starters."
"Really ?" I asked laughing and Suman joined me.
"Seher, I swear, Shravan had planned that evening extremely meticulously. He knew that I was his now, but I still found him so nervous. It was that evening exactly one year ago that he formally proposed me for marriage. We spoke a lot that day. It was the first of the many beautiful evenings Shravan gave me Seher.
We got married exactly two weeks later, with all the pomp and ardour that Papa could manage."
"Have you truly forgiven Ramnath uncle Suman?" I somehow wanted to know that.
"Oh yes Seher, I always knew that he whatever he did was due to the immense love he had for Shravan. Anyway, I am his daughter now. I rule his heart and Malhotra mansion. He is so scared of me, it's not funny.
Papa suffered a mild heart attack last month and I panicked like hell. Now there's a diet chart that I have made for him. He needs to follow it, and he does follow religiously, albeit with a scowl. I have my Papa wrapped around my fingers." Suman had a gleam in her eyes when she said that.
I smiled at Suman's excitement on being a Daddy's girl. I wept inwardly for all that I had conveniently taken for granted in life while this girl might have so badly longed for them.
There was silence between us again.
If only I had known, I thought, I would never fall for Shravan like that.
"Not your fault Seher" Suman read me again.
"Shravan never spoke to you about me, because he didn't want to acknowledge my presence in his life after what I did. Nafrat karta tha woh mujh se, mere wajood tak ko nahi pehchanana chahta tha.
Toh phir tum hi batao Seher, kaise batata tumhe ki tumhe law padhate waqt usse jis ki yaad aati thi, woh main thi. Woh tumhe door rakhta tha kyonki main uske saath hi thi har waqt. Woh mera chehra tha, jise uski nazar talaashti thi.
Woh pyar nahi kar paaya tummhe kyonki mai ne uske pyar ko kabhi samjha hi nahi, woh auraton ke pyar ka mazaak udata tha, kyonki main ne uske pyaar ko mazaak bana diya tha.
He was fighting a battle Seher, with himself. His mind wanted to move on while his heart still carried me. I, on the contrary was very clear about my feelings. I knew that I loved him when I cried myself to sleep every night hoping that he forgives me, my longing for him had seeped through my veins."
I closed my eyes for a while. There was a certain respite that Suman's words held for me. The relief that they gave finally relieved me from that last thread that had held me to Shravan. He was right. He never loved me. He could never love me. His heart could never learn to beat for anyone else but Suman.
I was never short changed. My love was never disrespected . A man who had suffered so much when his own love was mocked at, could never laugh at mine. The fact that he had discussed me with Suman proved that he did feel guilty of never giving me my closure.
And that rang a bell in my head and I opened my eyes with a start.
"Tum yahan yun hi tehlte hue nahi aayi thi na Suman?
It wasn't by chance that we met at this poolside right? You came here looking for me."
Suman smirked "Lawyers" she said shaking her head.
"Actually Seher, remember the evening Shravan proposed me?
I had known about you the same evening. Shravan was very guilty that he left you crying at the airport . But he couldn't tell you about me, because he himself didn't want to acknowledge my presence in his life.
As a woman I knew, that you would carry this rejection or at least a semblance of it with you in your heart, irrespective of whether someone else had claimed your heart or not.
You deserved a closure Seher. Everyone does. No one can understand the importance of a closure more than I and Shravan. The most painful good bye is the one that is not explained.
We spent 10 years of our lives, hanging on the extremes of hope and despair, with no peace. So I wanted to give you that cessation. You deserved that respect.
Plus, we would be meeting a lot more socially now. Sharavan has taken up a case that Rishabh's party is fighting with against some unscrupulous builders in Rishabh's area. They have become very close during the various meetings related to the case. Rishabh might have told you?"
"He did" I said still impressed with her maturity and the calm with which she handled the whole situation.
"Shravan told me that they would have to make a 3 weeks long trip to Bangalore sometime next month."
I paled at that. Rishabh was going away for 3 long weeks? Why didn't he tell me that? And what was I supposed to do without him? I was annoyed enough to go and demand my answers from him that very moment.
Rishabh had passingly referred to Shravan, the best lawyer in the vicinity, working in close quarters with him and that had triggered my whole chain of thoughts about Shravan since morning.
That's when we saw Shravan walking towards us with a smile.
"Shravan is coming. It's a miracle he allowed me this one hour away from himself" Suman said with a certain glee.
"Really. .is he the clingy and possessive types?"
"Oh you have no clue Seher, the guy is jealous of the air I breathe" Suman said dramatically and we both chuckled.
"Must be tough staying with him then?" I was thanking Rishabh mentally for always allowing me my space.
"To each his own I guess Seher, I have never had anyone fighting for my attention. So I am grateful for the undivided heed that Shravan pays me. It does a tad too much to handle at times, but I manage. Kya kare, tedha hai, par mera hai." Suman was with those filmy expressions again.
This time, we giggled really loud.
Shravan was stopped in between by Judge Sinha and they started chatting.
As Suman got up getting ready to meet him, she turned to.me and said "Honestly Seher, I was pretty nervous while I came down here to meet you. I was mentally prepared to receive some high handedness. I must admit, you are very graceful in your demeanour. Not once did you pursue Shravan after that initial email or blame him for your heartbreak. You were extremely sweet to me as well. We connected from the word go , didn't we?" Suman asked smilingly.
"We sure did Suman and we should meet more. It was fun knowing you. And , let me tell you Suman, I don't pursue denials. I did think of taking it with him, once he would have come back just to know why he could not foresee a relationship with me. I never meant to stick on to him for my answers.
Shravan had made his denial clear and firm, and as they say, the meaning is unclear only when there's no meaning. Shravan's eyes showed that he meant every word of what he said at the airport that day.
There was darkness for a while, but I was determined to find my dawn Suman.
That's when Rishabh came and brought along with him my share of brightness . He has given me immense happiness, and I want to give it back to him as much."
"More reasons now to respect you Seher. Listen I run a cafe called Priya's in South Delhi. Drop in someday and we will chat to our heart's content. Got to go now. My Qutub Minar is not a handsome sight anymore when he sulks, as gorgeous as he may look otherwise" Suman had a short laugh there.
"One last thing Suman, do you trust me around Shravan? I mean will it be awkward?"
Suman had her trademark smile on again as she stopped in her tracks and turned back to me.
"Hmmm...Rishabh ko yahan khade ho kar ghoore jaa rahi ho, us model ka ab tak mentally 2 baar dissection ho chuka hai, apne purane heart break ko discuss karte waqt mai ne tumhare chehre par ek halki si shiqan bhi nahi dekhi, starters ke dher main mushrooms ko dekhkar aise jaan atki tumhari, jaise kisi bhoot ko dekh liya ho.
Your eyes turn dreamy while talking about Rishabh and the remembering all the fun you had with him, your face has pride written on it while you think how handsome and successful he is, the thought of him going away for just 3 weeks made you go white, and right now your face broke into this Amazon river long grin because you spotted him walking up here with Shravan and you ask if I would trust you around Shravan? I have nothing to fear my dear, because Seher Khurana is deeply in love with her husband.
Like I said, there was a lot of mist shrouded around the premature exit of Shravan in your life, and perhaps that kept him still in your thoughts.
You have clearly moved on Seher, and this is my verdict on you." Suman said that with a slight press on my hands.
She was right , she could see what I couldn't decipher. I couldn't stop smiling at Rishabh as he was walking towards me.
The guys had reached us by now.
"Kya yaar Biwi...kab se wait kar raha hoon". Shravan literally pounced on Suman complaining before pulling her gently to him and giving her a peck on her forehead.
Rishabh came with a big smile to me and said "What's been up girl? Missed me?"
"Found you" I smiled blinking back the sudden tears.
Rishabh just gave me a side hug at that looking amused.
Shravan then looked at us and said "Sorry guys, will have to call it a day. I have a hearing coming up, need to prepare. We won't be able to wait for dinner."
I thought Suman looked a little surprised at that but she played along and then the Malhotra couple moved away from us.
"Shravan" Sumo looked up to him as he took her hands in his and was looking out for the host couple to ask them for leave.
"Hmm...bolo Sumo" Shravan looked exasperated by now.
"Kaunsa case? Tumhari hearing toh agle hafte hain."
"Tum par mukaddama thok raha hoon biwi, poore ek ghante 10 minute door thi tum mujhse. Mera bahut nuksaan hua hain. Mujhe bhari compensation chahiye. I propose 2 nights and the whole weekend in the farmhouse bedroom in my affidavit." said Shravan sounding dangerously husky.
"I decline" Suman giggled.
"Soch lo biwi, don't want to sound narcissistic, but I am a damn good lawyer. Maan jaao."
"Arrgh. ..kya karoon main tumhara Shravan?"
"Tumhara nahi Sumo, bolo, kya kya karoon main tumhare saath Shravan? I can give you a list of to do' s Sumo. I have been reading this new book of various mmmph" Shravan couldn't continue since Sumo had placed her palm on his lips.
"Besharam" she could only laugh at her husband who looked too excited at the prospect of their time later in the night , and that certainly wasn't good news for Sumo.
The band started playing soft music now.
Rishabh found Seher still leaning on to his chest.
" Seher, care for a dance sweetheart?" he whispered.
She looked up to him and looked deeply into his eyes letting out a long sigh.
"What?" Rishabh smirked.
"You are looking gorgeous tonight hubby. Black really suits you. Oh, the ideas I am getting right now" Seher digged closer into her husband chest.
"Patience, honey, patience."Rishabh laughed as he bent down to place a soft kiss on her hair. Seher hugged him with all the love she knew, and the bit that she had recently discovered as well.
She could see Suman playfully hitting Shravan on his hand, as he was nudging her towards their car. He made her sit on the passenger side and while he moved to the driver's seat, his eyes met with Seher.
He stopped for a second, and smiled while waving her goodbye before he proceeded.
"Goodbye Shravan" Seher smiled as she waved back at him.
I did fall for you once, but now I know we were never meant for each other.
You were important, but never mine.
You have met your soulmate, I have met mine.
Suman was right, your goodbye was painful because you never explained it to me.
Now, that my picture is clear, I don't find you anywhere in the frame.
You are with the one you belong to and I am with the one, to whose love I surrender.
You have found your peace, I have found mine.
Good bye Shravan.
Note: Dedicated to the undying love of Shraman😳
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Bindi
