Sorry I couldn't comment earlier first due to my sprained hand and second I waited the story to unfold. I'm sorry I couldn't connect with the Nidhi but the characters you tried to portray where etched and embedded well...the story was superbly narrated... I felt the angst that was cogent, the pain that was eloquent, the hope that can't be reached, the dream that couldn't turn to reality...Kudos to you my dear friend for narrating this so beautifully! 👏
The story and Ashutosh here reminded me of famous ghazal ...
"Ask me not, my love, for the passions of yore...
I had believed that with you, the world (would be) luminous;
(that) with the pain of your love, there (would be) no issue with worldly sorrows;
(that) your beauty (would) lend permanence to the spring;
(that) save your eyes, nothing else matters in the world;
(that) if I could win you, destiny (itself) would supplicate before me...
but it wasn't so, i had merely wanted that it be so;
there are other sorrows in the world, beyond those of love;
and forms of relief other than the comfort of Union...
Ask me not, my love, for the passions of yore...