One Glance
Meera gingerly fingered the duppata that was draped over her head. Her emotions seemed to have calmed since last week. Coming home drenched from the rain she refused to say anything while her mother pleaded with her to tell her what was wrong. In desperation, her mother had called in her friends to find out what was wrong, but even having gone through hours of interrogation led by Shifali, Meera remained quiet, numb to the bone.
~~~
Prem leaned against the poles outside her house, watching people walk inside in droves, murmuring n excitement over the prospect of one of the richest man's son's marriage to Meera, a girl who had received far too many proposals in a very short span of time. His fingers grazed over the shrubs whom too seemed to be celebrating the union of Ajay and Meera. Shoulders slumped, he walked in.
~~~
Led downstairs, amidst awed silence among all the guests, Meera could feel all of her friends stiffen at her side, all of them unhappy. None of them knew what had happened between her and Prem, and Meera couldn't bare to tell them. All that mattered was Prem was happy. And in his happiness lay her happiness. She lowered her eyes as Ajay approached.
~~~
He watched from afar as Ajay took Meera's hand into his, their fingers intertwining. Leading the way, Ajay guided her to the magnificently decorated mandap. Prem's heart ached, and he was surprised to find there was still harsh, sharp jabs of his broken heart left to scratch at him from the inside. His eyes sought Meera's. Her eyes should have been the brightest of all the lights in the place as she was the bride, but her eyes were slumped, resigned in defeat. He recognized the same look in his eyes.
~~~
Meera demurely took her place next to Ajay as the pandit began to chant the mantras. For years it had seemed she had dreamt of this day. Her dreams seemed to be coming true. The grand place, the lavish decorations, everyone who loved her there to witness her union to her soul mate. But that was what was missing from reality. Her soul mate.
~~~
He was jostled aside by an overbearing man, eager to get good photographs to capture moments from the wedding. Moments in Meera's life which Prem would no longer be a part of. He had always thought of her as a part of him and him as a part of her. But from today onwards both separated their own ways, as seperate people. The journey of life both had dreamt of living together would not be fulfilled alone.
~~~
Meera's hands trembled as her father placed her hand into Ajay's symbolizing he had given her away. Leaving her parents house, her maayka, was one thing, to leave it to go with a man she had no feelings for whatsoever was another. With Ajay all there was was polite conversation and only a strong feeling of cordiality. With Prem, Meera felt respect, joy, happiness, hunger, dreams, desire, peace and excitement which was all built on the base of love.
~~~
Prem's fists clenched at his sides as Meera's mother moved her maang tikka aside, as to give room to Ajay's fingers to fill her part with sindoor. The bright red stood in great contrast to her dark hair. To Prem, it was as if the room was getting bigger or he was shrinking. All of a sudden, breathing had become an obstacle.
~~~
Following Ajay; her eyes downcast, Meera faced the challenge of completing saath phere without breaking down in front of everyone. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as she shuddered, taking in deep breaths, willing herself to keep. Physically she was following Ajay, emotionally her heart was who she had left it with; Prem.
~~~
He watched as she slowly stepped in front of Ajay to complete the phere. Now he had a proper view of her, as she wasn't been overshadowed. He smiled sadly, taking in her simplicity that shone, dimming everyone around her in. He noticed with a start, she had on the delicate bracelet he had given her weeks ago, telling her alongside to wear them whenever she missed him the most and he would appear in front of her. He shook his head now at the irony of his words.
~~~
Meera and Ajay stood up, to take the blessings from their elders. As Meera straightened, she caught glimpse of a movement behind the poles outlining the room. To get a better look, she leaned forward in embrace with her sobbing mother. With a start she saw Prem, who making eye contact with her, stopped in his tracks. Meeting his eyes, Meera could feel her body shaking and was grateful for having her mother's frame to hold on too.
He smiled at her, struggling to keep the tears from falling. But there was no pretending. Tears fell from both her eyes and his, tracing patterns down their cheeks. Prem knew he had to leave. He waved an hand halfway, signaling his departure. As he stepped out on the threshold, Meera felt something rip inside and she knew. Knew that Prem had taken her heart along with him.
***
OK, this is for everyone that asked for a second part. :) Please don't ask me to write a third part because I have nothing else to write for this concept. Nothing happened in this part as well. Come to think of it, I don't know why I'm bothering to put it up.
Comments or the like button?
--shabz
Edited by shabo24 - 16 years ago
