Okay, writing is something I usually do to relax myself. This past week i've been so busy with exams, so just for relaxation, i ended up writing this OS, since I had anyway promised Smriti to write an OS on AY. So here goes people. And please do bear with me if it isn't good enough. You know how annoying exams could get, so thus the lack of creativity. But I hope you all will like it, never the less.
My Idea of Heaven
"I never thought I'd get here, I was so far away; I didn't believe in love, thought it was just a game, people play; everything changed when I met you'"
For someone as practical and rational as Miss Anvesha Banerjee Ray, whose life seemed almost perfect, these words couldn't have been truer. She may have come a long way, established a name for herself, earned herself the deserved respect, but yet, somewhere, her life wasn't complete. Or rather, didn't feel complete.
She had many acquaintances, but not one best friend with whom she could share all her secrets, fears, happiness and sadness with. She saw couples in love, going for long romantic walks on beaches, and inwardly sighed, looking at them. Love could really feel like heaven on earth.
She walked over to the beach, and sat down on the sand. She picked up some sand in her hand, and dropped it down slowly from her hands, observing each crystal as it fell. What had she actually achieved? A job, money, respect, dignity but no love, no friends. Money couldn't buy her back the happiness she once had. Money couldn't buy her that love she once had. Money couldn't bring back the life she had, years ago.
Yuvraj Dev. He was the reason of her existence, at one point of time.
She had loved him with all her heart, given him all that she had, and expected nothing but just love in return. He even gave that back to her. He gave her a sense of security, he gave her a feeling, a promise, that he would always be with her, no matter what. In Yuvraj, Anvesha had always seen a best friend and a lover. He was the perfect boyfriend a girl could ever have. He was passionate about his music, and never got distracted from his goal to become a professional lead guitarist in a rock band. Anvesha had always supported him in his dreams, and never questioned him, even once.
Everything had been so perfect. They were happy together. Anvesha had a job, and though Yuvraj was still struggling, since his dad and mom had cut off relations with him, she never left his side. Their love was their strength, which no one could break. Well, that's at least what Anvesha thought. Never had she imagined that for the sake of his career, he would leave her, just like that.
Past:
"But why do you want to leave me? Yuvi, you know I don't mind you going on outings with your friends. I have never doubted you. I trust you blindly. I tried every single thing to make our love perfect. So, what exactly went wrong?" Ashi questioned.
"Everything seems wrong Ashi. You fell in love with me, when I did have money, and a name." Yuvi sighed.
"What do you mean?" Ashi asked, confused.
"Ashi, you don't get it. I just think our relationship wouldn't work." Yuvi said suddenly.
Ashi blinked in surprise. "Why not?"
"Because, well, I don't think I love you anymore." Yuvi said, devoid of any expression.
Ashi stood still. Her feet were frozen to the ground. She was falling, and no one was there to hold her.
"You don't love me anymore?" Ashi repeated. "Why didn't you mention earlier that your love came with a deadline, Mr. Yuvraj Dev?"
And saying so, Ashi stormed off from there. And that was the last she had seen of him.
Present:
Ashi silently got up, and dusted her dress, to throw off the sand crystals that stuck to her dress. Ever since that fateful day, Ashi had made it a point to come to the beach every single day, and just sit idle, doing nothing.
Till she had met Yuvi, Ashi had always been a rebel. She never bothered about others' feelings. She had the rebellious streak within her. And love was the last thing she believed in.
But as they say, love changes everything. And so it was with her. She softened down, began to care about others' feelings so much so, that in the end, she ended up hurting herself.
She slowly walked up to her house, and as she opened the door, she immediately ran off to her bedroom, sat down in one corner, and began crying.
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"Ashi, let's go to this concert." Vrinda insisted.
"Vrinda, you know I cannot stand rock music. There's no way I'm attending this rock concert. And which band is it anyway? I haven't heard of them at all. Give me a ticket to Greenday's concert, and I'd go. I mean, 'R.E.B.E.L'? What sorta band is it anyway?"
"Ashi, you loved rock music at one point of time. It was Yuvi's'" Vrinda began, but cut short immediately. "Well, you really need a break from work, you know."
"I hate rock music. And I am definitely not attending that stupid concert."
"Please, Ashi; for me?" Vrinda pleaded.
"Vrinda cut the emotional blackmailing!" Ashi said indignantly.
"Fine then!" Vrinda said angrily and stormed off from there.
Ashi sighed and shook her head. "Vrinda!" she called out to her.
Vrinda immediately stopped and turned around to look at Ashi.
"What time is that darn concert of yours?"
"You be ready by 8. I'll pick you up! And Ashi, I love you!" Vrinda said excitedly, and then walked away from there.
Ashi just smiled and shook her head in amusement. Vrinda was a real darling, but since she was in a way a part of her past life, she kind of distanced herself from Vrinda. She had kind of distanced herself from her entire past life, including the one person; she now pretended to loathe- Yuvraj Dev.
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Vrinda was busy cheering up for the band as it played its rock music, while Ashi was lost in her own thoughts. Songs began and ended, but she just wasn't aware of a thing. Her eyes suddenly flickered to the stage, and her eyes widened in shock as she saw one particular person. Yuvraj Dev?
Ashi rubbed her eyes in disbelief, hoping it to be her worst nightmare, but there he was, on stage, performing as the lead guitarist. He was the lead guitarist of 'R.E.B.E.L' which was now apparently a popular rock band. This had been his dream. He was living his dream.
Ashi didn't know whether to be happy that Yuvi had finally achieved his goal, or sad that he was the one who had ditched her years back. Ashi seemed confused. She was entangled in many different emotions.
Vrinda looked over at Ashi and her confused expression, and smiled. She had known all along that Yuvi was the lead guitarist in this particular rock band. And when she heard that this band was to perform in Mumbai, she grabbed the opportunity and took Ashi along with her. She knew it was wrong, but she had no other way. This was the only chance she would get to make Ashi and Yuvi sort out their misunderstandings.
The concert ended, and Ashi was desperate to leave. She forced Vrinda to come along with her. "Let's go Vrinda."
"No. I have backstage passes, and you're going to come with me."
"Vrinda, I am NOT." Ashi retaliated.
"Yes you are." Vrinda said calmly.
"You knew it all along, didn't you?" Ashi asked her.
Vrinda nodded her head. "I knew it really well. And I found out something else as well, which would be better if Yuvi told you about it."
"I do not want to meet him, Vrinda." Ashi pleaded.
"You have to, Ashi. I'm doing all of it for you. I know how much you still love him, and how much he still loves you."
"He doesn't love me Vrinda. I do not wish to be under the impression that he still does." Ashi spoke.
"Well, you just come with me." Vrinda ordered and pulled Ashi by her hand.
-----------------
"Yuvi?" Vrinda called out to the man who was busy practicing on his guitar.
Yuvi looked up from his guitar and was shocked as hell to see Ashi standing there, along side Vrinda.
"Ashi?"
"You two need to talk." Vrinda announced, and then left the two alone.
"Yuvi, I'" Ashi began, but found no words to continue.
"Come with me." Yuvi held Ashi by her hand and took her outside, towards his car. He made her get inside, and drove up to a particular place, where he finally stopped the car.
Ashi got out of the car and looked around. "Beach? Why are we here?"
"Because it's really calm out here." Yuvi replied.
"Yuvi, listen'"
"No, you listen to me. Whatever happened between us was a huge misunderstanding. You see, that day, when we sort of broke up our relationship, just before meeting you, I had received a call from dad. Dad was insulting me on the phone. He also said that I did not deserve you. You had attained so much respect, and money, and I had nothing at all. I was still struggling. I had nothing to give you. I gave a thought to what dad said. That broke my morale. I realized that I didn't deserve you, indeed. You were way too good for me. You had so much faith that I would become a professional lead guitarist, when I myself was unsure about it. I didn't want to hurt you, or give you any false hopes, and so I thought it was best if we broke up, and you moved on in life. You deserved someone better. But somewhere, I had a hope that once I became successful, I would come back to you and proudly ask for your hand. But all these years, that never happened."
"I know, Ashi, I hurt you a lot. I didn't mean it one percent when I said I didn't love you anymore. I loved you like crazy. And I still do. Believe me, Ashi, please." Yuvi slowly took Ashi's hands in his and looked at her pleadingly.
"You thought I'd leave you because you didn't have anything to give me? And you still have the audacity to tell me that you love me, Psycho!" Ashi snapped.
Yuvi smiled. He knew, the moment Ashi called him Psycho, things were back to normal.
"Stop smiling!" Ashi snapped.
"So things are finally back to normal." Yuvi said, sounding pleased.
"How can you be so sure?" Ashi challenged.
"Because you just called me Psycho." Yuvi replied, having a smug look on his face.
"Do you have any idea what I went through in these past years?" Ashi asked.
"I do. And I am really very sorry." Yuvi said earnestly.
"I hate you Psycho!" Ashi said and broke down.
Yuvi came closer to her and hugged her tightly. "I know that, Wacko."
Ashi held on to him tightly, as she tried to stop crying. All these years, she had only dreamed of hugging him, holding him so close to her. And now, she finally had him in her arms, like old times. She suddenly got back her old happiness. Her old life, and her only love.
Yuvi slowly broke out of the hug and looked at Ashi. He then sat down on the sand, and indicated Ashi to do the same. Ashi slowly sat down beside him, and laid her head on his shoulder.
"You know Ashi, even though you weren't with me all these years, I always felt your presence." Yuvi said.
"In your heart?" Ashi asked.
Yuvi shook his head. "In my band."
"That is so unromantic!" Ashi complained.
"Well, it may be unromantic, but it's true. I named R.E.B.E.L after you." Yuvi said.
Ashi suddenly raised her head up and looked at him. "After me?"
"Yeah, 'cause I always saw a rebel in you. And R.E.B.E.L was the closest I could get to you during these years." Yuvi answered.
"And I was wrong." Ashi said. Yuvi gave her a questioning look. "This is the most romantic thing I've ever heard."
Yuvi smiled, and then lay down on the sand, with Ashi lying down beside him. He slowly took his hand in hers, and closed his eyes, trying to feel the moment completely. Now he knew why his life had seemed like hell. 'Cause all these years, his heaven had been missing, and today, he had finally found it back.
Ashi had similar thoughts in mind. And she wasn't wrong when she said that love was indeed heaven on earth.
"And you led me to a better place, just the two of us, in the dark. This is my idea of heaven, lying here with you."
Song: My Idea of Heaven by Leigh Nash.
Hope you liked it. Please do comment and press the liketab :)
Shiv Shakti
