Smile Forever.
I chased the rickshaw driver for cutting me off. Fortunately, I caught up, and while exchanging insults, I noticed the passenger seated behind—a 'Weeping Angel,' tears trickling down her cheeks hidden behind shades. I wished the signal lasted a bit longer, hoping to follow her, make her smile, and then mine. But then I heard the rickshaw crash into a car, and a bus smashed into it from behind. With uncertainty, I rushed to the spot.
As her final tears rolled down, she smiled at me, bidding farewell to a love that never began.
Marry me!
Rachel asked me to marry her today. But when I think of marriage, I can only see one face and remember one name: Shanaya, my crush from 4th grade, my love at first sight, my joy, my hope, my everything. It was really silly, but on the last day of our school, instead of mustering the courage to tell her how I felt, I asked her dad to tell Shanaya to wait for me. I promised I would marry her one day. Then I left, determined to make myself worthy of her love, her beauty, and her life. I moved on quickly, assuming she must have too—after all, I never did confess my feelings to her. It's been 20 years now.
When Rachel asked me the question I once wished to ask Shanaya, I felt an urge to find out what if, maybe, she was still waiting. It may sound foolish, but I flew down and then drove for 6 long hours, hoping to see her. Finally, I found her playing with 2 beautiful kids, caring for them with such tenderness and discipline. I drove away, leaving a part of me with her forever, and decided to say yes to Rachel.
Continued...
As he drove away, Shanaya's sister walked through the gate, and the kids ran up to her, screaming "mumma," hugging and kissing her. Shanaya watched, wishing for a similar life with the one she was still waiting for...
Parked my Love
Why is it always me who gets stuck driving Mum around on a busy traffic day, to some silly random gatherings of hers? Dad always manages to keep busy, and bhai is perpetually late, leaving me to navigate through all the traffic. "Maa, do you really have to go for this? I'm missing my match for this!" Stuck in traffic, I looked around, and right next to me, there she was—radiant and angelic, amidst the hustle of the streets. Oblivious to everything around me, I followed her until I found a parking spot next to hers.
As Mum said, "This is why I come with you. You get me to the right place without getting lost." The angel and I locked eyes, stepping out together with smiles ear to ear. It was then I realized why she looked so angelic and radiant—I was dropping Mum off at her baby shower party.
Mid-way Love
Across the road, she stood waiting to cross amidst the heavy traffic of the city. She seemed new to the area. Every time she glanced my way, uncertain whether my gaze held good or bad intentions, our eyes met. With small chances to move forward and backward, our eyes continued to meet—first nervously, then with a short, confident smile, as if she sensed I was her Neo, the one in her life.
As the traffic eased, she began to run towards me, and my heart leaped with joy. In my Bollywood-inspired reverie, she was my Aishwarya Rai, professing her love and shouting, "Mujhe do hisson mein math baaton maa." I opened my arms, only to watch her run past me into the arms of the boy standing right behind me. I casually adjusted my hairstyle and walked across the road alone.
-SuVi
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