Once Upon a Miracle- AR Short Story

I never believed in miracles after the inner turbulence I went in life…until last week where destiny seemed to cast its magic once again on two wandering souls by bringing them face-to-face with one another. A very famous historian once said, ""Miracles happen to those who believe in them." I was one of the people who stopped believing in miracles, but I guess sometimes God plays his own games with his creatures. God sure has surprises in store for its devotees.

As I plopped myself down on the sofa in my posh apartment after coming home from work, I took a deep breath and settled myself in deeper into the sofa. It had been a long week and the week wasn't getting by any better. I sighed to myself and recollected the events of the week as I threw my head back, closing my eyes, and leaned into the soft cushion of the sofa.

The intricate features of his face kept on flashing in my mind. His dimpled, killer smile, his deep-blue eyes you would just want to swim in, his muscular jawline, and his beautifully carved nose….

Why, oh why had Armaan Mallik made his way back into my life after deserting me four years back? I still hadn't overcome the initial shock even after these four long years. Maybe, somewhere deep down I held a strong belief that he would come back and swipe me of my feet and make me his forever…but now that I was finally moving on in life, and engaged to Rahul Grewal, he had to make a sudden reappearance in my life…Just when I thought that there would be no going back into my past… God sure does play weird games with us at times which are really difficult to comprehend…

I had finally let go of the hope that Armaan would come back to my life after all these years and all hard work Rahul had put in wooing me into marrying him. Rahul proposed to me just a couple of days ago and look who just had to come knocking on my doorstep. Isn't Armaan's entry, or should I say "re-entry" in my life, at the wrong timing or is it the right timing…My life was beginning to seem like a jigsaw puzzle…

Was Armaan coming back into my life really a miracle...right when I was ready to be engaged to Rahul? Was it a sign? I mean, Rahul isn't a bad guy or anything. He is the most-sought after bachelor in New York and the owner of Verve Fashion Magazine, but the only problem is that I am not in love with him. But that's okay right, I mean…Love develops over time right?

I ran my hand through my silky hair as I went back a couple of days in my mind and recalled the day Rahul proposed to me….

*Flashback Mode*

As I made myself comfortable on my seat outside on one of the vacant tables in the very busy HardRock Cafe, I opened the novel I had been meaning to finish up for some time now. Ordering a cup of steaming cappuccino, I flipped to the page I had kept a bookmark on while the calm breeze of air soothed my face as it blew by. It was the perfect summer day; The sun glittered it's sunshine over the city, yet the moderate windy breeze instilled a wonderful ambiance all throughout.

This was my favorite thing to do…It was an outlet to get away from all the tensions of my stressful work-life. I loved to just sit outdoors at the Cafe and indulge in my favorite pastime---reading HIS novels. Working as a co editor-in-chief for a Fashion magazine sure took a toll on your health every now and then…and somehow reading "Abhi Modi's" novels made me feel at ease during tension-striken days.

There was definitely something to his novels that made one grow closer to them…He managed to capture a reader with his amazing storylines and his way with words. It felt as if he didn't even need to try hard to make his pieces of work flawless…It just came naturally to him. I somehow felt a sense of connection when I read his novels..I felt as if I was one of his leading characters in the novel. I felt a strong bond with the novels he wrote…It was as if it was my life story…Was it just me?

I spent my two hours at the Cafe, sipping on my cappuccino and finishing up the novel titled "Unattainable Love" It was about a love story in which two lovers weren't able to reunite at the end. Sounds very cliched right? But trust me, Abhi Modi's novels have some invisible force which draws me to them…I am able to put myself in the character's shoes…It's like the novel has been written keeping my own tragic love story in mind which I was trying to still forget and move on in life. How long could you keep on waiting for someone right? Someone that left you forever, without giving you a reason why, and shut you completely from his world. It was definitely time to move on in life…The sad truth to my life was that Armaan Mallik wasn't going to come back…It was time for me to erase him from my heart and mind.

"Hey Ridzie," said a voice from behind my chair, giving me a peck on the cheek.

"Hey Rahul," I said, flashing him a smile as I shut my book after reading the last page.

The next thing he said came as a complete surprise to me.

"Riddhima…I've been meaning to say something to you," said Rahul hesitantly, "I…I…I.."

"I what Rahul," I said chuckling. "Why are you stuttering so much…Just spill it out." I flashed him a smile, encouraging him to go on.

He grabbed my hands, kneeling down on his knees, and held them in his as he adorned my finger with a beautiful diamond ring, as I sat in my chair, numb from shock.

"Riddhima, I love you…Would you do the honor or marrying me?" He stated, his eyes expressing a want for answers.

I sat there, at a loss for words. Rahul's attempts to impress me hadn't gone unnoticed in these past 2 years I had been working with him for Verve Magazine. Then why was I surprised at his sudden proposal. He was good-looking and charming indeed. According to me, he was perfect husband material. And to top it off, he was in love with me…Wasn't that all the assurance I needed to know that he would keep me happy forever?

"Yes Rahul, I would," I managed to say, with a smile on my face, as I held on to his hands.

He jumped with joy, bringing attention to our table at the Caf. Everyone present at the caf started clapping for us while Rahul embraced me in a hug. I decided that I made the right choice indeed. Rahul would keep me happy forever..So what if I wasn't in love with him… love isn't always at first sight…I would learn to love Rahul…

***

"I have a surprise for you Riddhima," said Rahul as he drove through the busy streets of New York.

"Another surprise?" I stated with my eyebrows raised and a slight smile on my face.

"I'm sure you'll love it," he said as he parked his car in the parking lot of Borders (a bookstore) and opened the door for Riddhima.

"Let's see." I said teasingly as I got out of the car. "Is your surprise bringing me to a bookstore?"

"Just wait Riddhima," said Rahul, holding her hand and leading her inside the bookstore.

"Here it is," said Rahul, taking his hands off my eyes.

I opened my eyes and got the shock of my life. There he stood, right infront of me, signing autographs for a line of people. I felt the ground shake underneath me as I stood glued to my spot. My eyes widened and my pulse raced inside my body as he finished signing the rest of the autographs and made eye-contact with me. His deep blue eyes made intense eye contact with mine and wouldn't seem to let go. I felt myself go numb as I gazed into his mesmerizing eyes after the gap of four long years. Oh how I missed seeing his beautiful eyes! A slight smile crept on the corners of his lips as he walked towards us. A million questions surrounded my mind. Did he ever miss me in these four years…Why did he even leave me…and WAIT, I put a stop on the questions as my eyes made their way to a poster on the wall with his picture. Armaan Mallik was the author Abhi Modi?!?!?!

"Meet your favorite author and my best buddy..my childhood friend, Armaan Mallik AKA Abhi Modi," said Rahul patting Armaan's back, making me jump out of confused and restless state.

Armaan extended his hand forward to greet mine. "Hey"

*Flashback Mode Over*

*BUZZ BUZZ*

I jumped out of my thoughts and went to open the door as the doorbell rang. The pizza I had ordered just came and I walked, with my preoccupied mind, to the kitchen and grabbed a plate out of the dishwasher.

Apparently Rahul and Armaan turned out to be childhood friends. Rahul knew my fascination for Abhi Modi's novels and kaboom…Rahul, being the sweetheart that he is, organized a meeting for me after finding out that Armaan was moving back to New York. But how was Rahul to know that his small, sweet gesture would be causing my life to turn havoc. And how was I to know that author Abhi Modi was ARMAAN?!?! No wonder I felt a deep connection to the novels he wrote…It was Armaan writing them!!! Armaan was writing about our love story…Now I completely understand everything! Armaan and I were mere characters in the novel…No wonder I was able to relate to the characters so much!

Armaan met me several times during this week, however things were just awkward. Here I was engaged to be married to Rahul Grewal---his best friend. Nor did he feel the need to tell me why he left, nor did I initiate the conversation to why he left…Although, my heart and mind wanted answers to these questions.

I took a huge bite out of my pizza topped with vegetables and sighed deeply while chewing on it.

Why had Armaan left without telling me…This question still pieced my heart like a thousand knives. Most importantly, why was he writing about our love story publicly? Did he still love me…He has to still love me…He's the one writing about our love story in "Unattainable Love." If he did, then why did he leave me all alone? I wanted answers for my questions…but I wasn't going to make the first move…I was the one who was hurt in this relationship, not Armaan!

*BUZZ BUZZ*

My mobile vibrated against the glass table. "One New Message"

Meet me at Central park at 8: 00 pm

Love, Armaan

It was as if God were listening to my pleas. Armaan wanted to meet me…Maybe I was going to get answers to my questions today. I was going thorough too much of emotional turmoil and couldn't take it anymore..I loved Armaan and still do to this day.

***

"Riddhima…I don't know how to tell you this," said Armaan, sitting on the bench, dressed in a white collared shirt, with his top few buttons undone, accentuating his well-toned chest as he grabbed my hands and held it in his.

I gulped my saliva out of tension and nervousness...Was I going to get my answers today? He gently caressed my hands, causing the same old effect to happen as did back four years ago---a chill climbed up my spine.

"Riddhima…the truth is that I have never stopped loving you…I did back then and I still do now…I know you have millions of questions roaming around in your head that you have been wanting to ask me ever since we met again at the bookstore…and I know you've been wanting to ask me everytime we met this week, but you have stopped yourself each time…" He took a pause and started talking once again while my hearbeat raced as I sat beside him, in too much of a close proximity.

"Riddhima…It's your right to ask me why I left you…but trust me, I didn't leave you for any dumb or stupid reason…I cared for you and left exactly for this reason…I didn't want you to get hurt or want tears to come to your eyes..I left cause I didn't want to cause you any pain Riddhima…I wouldn't stand causing you any pain!"

I looked towards his eyes, which were slightly welling up with tears. I raised my eyebrows up, in confusion.

"You left cause you didn't want to cause me pain," I asked slowly, puzzled.

"Riddhima, I found out that I had CANCER!"

I felt my insides go numb and felt as someone had just kicked me hard in the stomach as Armaan's words rang in my ears.

He sat there, narrating in depth of how he went to a doctor check-up one day and found out he had Stage two cancer. The doctor told him that undergoing chemotherapy would be able to save his life, but it would be a risk he would be taking. Armaan didn't want to live in false hopes..Maybe the chemotherapy wouldn't have worked after all..maybe it would…It was all luck! Armaan didn't want to see me distress myself once I found out he had cancer…He would much rather die before causing me any pain…He decided to leave me one day, just step out of my life just like that, without telling me why. He felt that that was the best option.

"This is why I left you Riddhima," stated Armaan with tears brimming in his eyes, " I love you too much and didn't want to see any tears come to your eyes…I underwent chemotherapy in London for two years after leaving New York and after the last traces of cancer disappeared from my body…I just settled down in London with my cousin Nikita…" He hadn't told anyone about his cancer back then…except Nikita..Not even Rahul knew…

He continued with a soft tone as I sobbed silently, but listened attentively. "I thought you might have moved on in these four years…I thought you probably already got married and would have had a couple of cute kids by now…but coming back here, I've realized that you're still stuck at the same position I left you in…"

"Armaan," I said sobbing, tears flowing down my eyes. "Why didn't you tell me before…Didn't you trust our love…Do you know what pain you put me through by not telling me…All these years I've lived a distressed life…I've tried to keep myself busy with my job and career, but somehow, I never got over you…You just left me in the spin of a second without bothering to tell me why…Armaan, you should have told me about your illness…couldn't you confide in me…Wasn't it my duty as your life partner to support you and lend you a hand when you weren't well..." I started sobbing uncontrollably. " You hid such a big truth from me…You put my welfare before your own…I feel guilty for thinking all the bad I did about you in these four years…I can't believe you did that Armaan…What if something had happened to you…I would have never forgived myself!"

"Riddhima," he stated gently, wiping the huge, bulky tears flowing out of my eyes. " I didn't want to cause you any pain…"

"You would much rather cause yourself pain? And who tells you that you didn't cause me any pain…Do you realized how I have lived my life these four years?!?" I said looking straight into his deep-blue eyes. " I would much rather have lived through less pain and would have been more happy if you hadn't hidden such a big truth from me…At least I would have been more closer to you and by your side Armaan!"

Armaan grabbed me from the side of my waist, pulling me closer, while I dropped my head on his chest as I sobbed. My last few words rang through his ears," I would much rather have lived through less pain and would have been more happy if you hadn't hidden such a big truth from me…At least I would have been more closer to you and by your side Armaan!" At least he knew that I still loved him as much as he loved me! Writing the novel, "Unattainable Love" was a way to let his guilt from hiding such a big truth from me off his shoulders. He was retelling our love story through the characters in his novel.

"I understand Riddhima…but at that moment, when the doctor broke the news to me…your innocent face came into mind…I couldn't dare tell you, the person who was happily indulged in getting wedding preparations completed for our wedding, the bad news…You were so happy and excited for our wedding…Breaking the news to you would have broken and shattered you completely..I thought it would be less painful for you if I had just left Riddhima…I'm very sorry for all I did!"

I clutched onto his shirt as the tears wouldn't stop and he held onto me tighter and rubbed his hands on my arm, in attempt to calm me down.

"This is why I wrote "Unattainable Love"…I wanted to get rid of the guilt of leaving you..I can imagine the suffering you went through..I suffered just as much Riddhima..Going away from you was hard for me aswell.."

"You know Armaan," I said, smiling weakly as I wiped my tears, " I always felt a strong bond with that novel…Somehow I felt connected to it…and now I know why…"

Armaan caressed his hands on my face, reliving the smooth texture of my skin on his hands once again while I stayed embraced in his hug.

***

Armaan and I decided to tell Rahul the complete truth. Rahul was such an understanding guy and that's one thing I loved about him. He hid his sorrow on leaving me for mine and Armaan's happiness. He would much rather see us together and happy than him and I married and miserable..He was such a sweet guy! He played on as if he wasn't hurt at all…but we three know how hurt he was when we told him the truth and I returned his ring back to him.

" Rahul…You will get a much better life partner than me in this world…just wait and watch!" I said as I placed the ring in the palm of his hand and closed it.

Rahul smiled wide and offered us both best wishes for our life together.

Just the day later, a new girl named Muskaan made her way into our Fashion magazine office and Rahul fell head over heels for her! God plays his cards well, doesn't he? He listened to my wish for Rahul so easily!

***

Armaan and I got married within a week and Armaan shifted into my posh flat as I loved my flat! He didn't whine or anything and just listened to my wishes so easily. I think the distance brought us more closer to each other than ever before.

He continued writing with his fiction name "Abhi Modi" but for me he was still my Armaan. Our story finally had a happy ending! I continued working as co-editor at Verve Fashion Magazine.

As the rays of sun entered our bedroom after our wedding night, I opened my eyes and smiled as I found myself in Armaan's arms. My head was laying on his bare chest while his arms embraced me as if protecting me and claiming me as his own…

" I love you Armaan." I stated as I sighed in happiness and gave him a peck on his cheek.

"I love you too Riddhima," said Armaan as he tightened his grip around me and kissed me on my forehead.

Armaan grabbed the chance and started tickling me on my waist while I giggled, resisting him.

Whoever said "Where there is great love there are always miracles," is entirely correct…

THE END