The Fragrance of Love
"Excuse me sir, are you paying for that? none of those words registered in Yash's mind who for the past minute or two was staring at the figure two aisles down, slowly pushing a shopping cart. A fragrance committed to memory had called out to him, had made him turn in the direction of a figure. The figure that from the moment he saw her side profile at a time he was but a high schooler, had been imprinted permanently on his mind. A figure he could never forget, but one he was resigned never to have.
Her hair was longer now then it was in eighth grade, she was taller by an inch or so as well. But now, the frivolity of youth was replaced by a maturity that seemed to wear her down. Once upon a time she pranced in the hallways of high school with an easy gait, yet now it looked like the world was pressing heavily down on her shoulders. A face once brilliant with the ignorance of youth now looked dull and jaded. Her eyes once sparkled with the excitement of dreams untold, now had lost their light...
Just what had happened with her? He left her side resigned never to have her, but at peace assured of her happiness. Nothing else would have made him leave her side otherwise. He knew her heart had chosen, leaving not a single spot for him to occupy, how could he force his way in? All he could do was trust she would find happiness, and live a wonderful life.
Not a day passed she did not cross his mind, dreams he had only of her; the only place in which she could ever be his. Still with life he moved on, building an existence without her. But anyone who knew of his heart would find traces of her existence in every little thing. Even the home he built was a home she once dreamed of owning.
A simple two bedroom home with a big garden, flowers of all shades and shapes spread out within. She loved plants, but flowers were her absolute favorite. They added a fragrance to life, and life had to have fragrance, a beauty incomparably soft, light, delicate, and veritably colorful. The sunlight dazzling on its petals, the soft breeze creating a beat to which it dances. She would sit on the bench and relax with a book as the colors splayed around her. What a picture. So many times he imagined it as he stood in his garden.
Yet now, she was a far cry from the picture he had in his mind. Still she made his heart thrum painfully, an ache more potent than it was six years ago. The last day he ever saw her during his senior year. "Yash, I will see you when semester starts she naturally assumed that they'd be attending the same college. He never corrected her assumption, he did not know how to say goodbye. All he knew was the longer he stayed, the harder it would be to say goodbye; to leave her side, to not go crazy with yearning, and to watch.
To watch as another called her his, to watch as another enjoyed her smiles, the feel of her delicate skin, her warmth, her heart racing for them... He could not stand it, but he wanted her to be happy. Anything she wanted, he would give her. And she wanted Prashant. She loved only Prashant. For her he was only ever her best friend. The one in whom she confided all her troubles. As much as it hurt, that was all he ever could be for her.
She was so nervous for her final exam for her senior year, she was feeling very anxious. He sat up nights studying, researching approaches to questions... after all that trouble, so how could he not be her hero? Only, he never did take credit for it, he never took credit for anything he did for her. He gave the books to Prashant and watched as her love for him grew deeper. The pain was unbearable, but her happiness made it worthwhile.
Whatever whim she had, he would fulfill, but Prashant would bear the credit. If she craved for cake, Prashant would have Yash "bring one for her. If anyone picks on her, Yash would step in on "Prashant's behalf to protect her. After all, Prashant did not attend their school so he had his best friend "watch out for his girlfriend.
Prashant and he did always like the same things, liking the same girl was not surprising. But only one of them could have her, she chose Prashant so he had to step back. Prashant knew how he felt. It was a mark of how deep their friendship ran that they did not fall out because of it. He allowed him to love her in the small ways that he could. But they both knew it could never work out long term. And as painful as it was, even their friendship ended when they left senior high school...
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"Excuse me, sir! the cashier called out, bringing Yash out of his reverie. "Uhm, yes, yes he responded absentmindedly. The cashier frowned impatiently and he reluctantly pulled his gaze away from her to pay for the goods. But just as quickly, his eyes returned to where they were a second ago. His restless heart was reluctant to have her out of sight now that she was back in his presence once again.
As if of own accord, his feet started to move in her direction as the impatient cashier called after him, her call falling on deaf ears. All of his focus was on her, the only reason for his existence. He came to a stop before her but her dull gaze was averted from him, gazing at items on the shelf. He stood and drank in her appearance, relearning the familiar, and committing the changes to memory.
But he could not help but frown at the obvious heavy air that lingered around her. He could not help but want to restore her to her former easy air. The chirpy girl who loved to nag him, asking him about the girl he loved. "Why won't you tell me! she would pout when he would refuse to tell her whom he loved. How can I tell you when you are so obviously blind to the love in my eyes? He would think only to divert her question.
He longed to call out her name, for her to look at him, to see him, and to see his heart. And that feeling was stronger as he stood looking at her now. Years later, her focus was still not on him as he stood pitifully breathing in her fragrance.
His already racing heart galloped even faster as she seemed to sense him and turned around to face him. At first her eyes were dull before a spark of recognition came into them. Then she froze in place staring at him as if she could not believe that he really stood in front of her.
"Ya-Yash she called out in a throaty tone.
Oh how he missed that voice, a sweet melody evoking his senses, forming a seduction all on its own.
"Aarti, long time no see was that his voice? Where did that lump come from?
Well he should be happy that something other than dullness was sparking in her eyes as she glared at him. "And whose fault is that? she accused.
He turned sheepish as guilt ate at his heart at her words. A heavy silence lingered and soon turned awkward as they stood staring at each other. But none of them seemed to know how to get passed it. How easy was it to converse in the past? Ever the chatterbox, she would carry the conversation along.
At the thought, a frown formed on his face. "Aarti, what happened to you? he was the first one to break the silence. She averted her gaze at the question as she started fidgeting with the shopping cart handle. "It's nothing. You should probably get back to your shopping she did not address his query. Did the years turn them into strangers?
His heart ached at the thought. "Aarti his voice softened as his hand moved to hover above hers. It was so close but did he dare touch her? If he did, would he bear to let go? He did once and it tore his heart into shreds.
But then he saw a dewy drop forming at her eyelid and any reservations he had melted. He did not know who moved first, just that she ended up in his arms, sobbing. Curious eyes peered at them but in that moment only she existed in his thoughts. Her sobs were piercing his heart as is own eyes grew wet thinking of her pain. She may just be crying in the arms of her best friend, but he was holding his darling, soothing her pain as much as he could.
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Aarti felt embarrassed as she slowly pulled away from Yash. She could not believe her meltdown just now. But she had been holding it all in for so long, he was the first person to show concern to her in so long too. What could she do? She had missed his warmth and comfort so much, longed to have him by her side to fight her troubles just like he used to.
It had taken her a long time to understand, but once she did it was too late. He had left her side and she had no way of finding him at first. And she had Prashant by her side, how could she ever break his heart. She did love him, although it took her long to understand that that love was not what she should have for a life partner.
Once the thrill and the excitement wore off, once the adventures did not appeal as much anymore, it was Yash she missed. The skiing trips, the hiking, and the bungee jumping: she and Prashant loved the thrill of it all; she confused that with soul connection. But her soul had long connected to another without her realization.
The gentle care he bestowed as he took care of her on Prashant's behalf. The patience he had for her unreasonable whims. The soft fragrance that lingered in the air around him as they strolled in gardens and parks. The gentle streams that danced around their feet suspended in the river as they sat on the bridge talking about life. Her love for plants, especially flowers and how she could never tire of them.
"Then I will build you gardens the world over she thought he was joking at the time and chuckled at his silliness. "Your future wife will not like that at all she teased and watched as his face grew serious. Only years later did she learn that he became a landscape architect: flowers were his specialty. And he was famous all over India because of it.
And she watched from afar as she imagined him building gardens for another. Because he kept a low profile she had no way of knowing if he was married or not. But he was so good, he deserved to have someone, even as her heart broke at the very thought. She chose wrong, but she had already ruined their friendship, how could she leave Prashant for him too?
So she stayed, and she was happy for the most part, until a year ago. How could she have known that fate would be so cruel, that it would snatch her happiness without warning? Was it because deep down she knew she was not true to her heart? Prashant was on his way from a late work function, only, he never arrived home. A drunk driver crushed into him and ended his life.
How could she not blame herself? Had she loved him enough, perhaps he would have lived longer. In her heart it was not his success for which she prayed, her heart prayed for Yash. She reckoned Prashant had her so Yash should have her prayers. In that small way she felt closer to him. Now she had become a widow, and deep down the guilt ate at her.
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Yash let the tears fall as he stood watching his friend's photo draped with a garland. After he managed to calm her down, Aarti had brought him to her home. No words were necessary for the rest...
Never would he have thought that they would never meet again. He had entrusted the woman they both loved to him, had trusted that he would keep her happy and well. How could he ever think that life would be this cruel?
He had imagined all sorts of scenarios, of him playing with his and Aarti's children, of them all going one their none-ending adventures with their brood. Or perhaps, of meeting in old age and reminiscing on their youth. But never this, and never that his Aarti had been carrying around this pain all by herself.
The two of them were all the family life had ever given her. They were all orphans brought together by fate. The difference was that he was the heir to the Scindhia fortune whilst Prashant and Aarti grew up in the same orphanage. But he and Prashant attended the same primary school: Prashant on a grant paid for by his family. They became instant friends, inseparable until that point...
That same fate made it so that Prashant ended up at a different high school to him and Aarti. He loved her on sight but did not know that she was the same girl his best friend loved ever since they were little. His world turned dark the day Prashant brought Aarti along to the carnival and introduced them to each other. "Hey, aren't you the heartthrob all the girls are gaga for at our school?
All the girls except for you apparently, he thought as he smiled gently back at her. How could Prashant not notice the changes in him? It was then that they reached a tacit understanding never to address it, to each love her in their own way. Sadly it was also the beginning to an ending of their wonderful friendship.
And now they would never ever get to make up again. Don't worry buddy, I will take care of her for the both of us. He promised in his heart as he stared back at the face that would never laugh back at him again.
He slowly turned to Aarti as he gave her that same gentle smile like the first time. No words were necessary as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze and tugged her closer to him. Even as a piercing pain lingered in their hearts, one they had to heal. They both knew that life had granted them a new beginning.
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Yash could never get enough of this image he at one time thought would only ever be a dream: his Aarti sitting on the bench in their garden surrounded by flowers whose fragrance hung in the air. Her hair was dancing along to the gentle breeze that kissed the flowers, her one hand resting on the now-starting-to-be-visible bump that was her stomach. Her other hand holding the book now resting at her bossom, and her eyes closed as a gentle smile lingered on her lips as if having a sweet dream.
It had been more than a year since they reunited. It was not easy at first to get over the guilt, but deep down they knew Prashant would want them to be happy. The best way they could honor his memory was to be happy. He played a big part in their story, and they would never forget him, but life was for the living after all.
Little by little they grew closer, and the love that always existed only deepened with time. They could not keep their hands off each other, and they could not stay apart longer than a few hours. They had a lot of time to make up for, and they used every possible second of it.
Yash's loving gaze deepened at the thought, and a gentle smile spread on his face in turn. A fragrant scent, more delicate than that of the flowers evoked his senses as he started walking over. Her eyelids twitched as he neared as she slowly opened them to gaze weakly at him. The smile spread on her face as she gently beckoned to him. It was very easy for them to sense each other because a very particular fragrance called out to them when they were close to each other.
Aarti had been blind to it in the past, had caused so much pain and heartache because of it, but now her senses had been wakened. Now she knew where her heart lay, where it always had been. The fragrance it answered to had always only been Yash, the fragrance of love.
~~The end~~
I apologize, no editing done because I have no time for it.
Thank you for reading.
Edited by Tessaloni - 7 years ago
Real Estate
