But you always did know right?? U always knew how I felt.. and yet I could never bring myself to say it..”
Tears rolled down his cheeks… she stared stolidly away..
“Please… please look at me.. just once..
I know I hurt you terribly… I know I should’ve been there.. annie.. please… just once.. answer me..”
He took her hand in his... she didn’t even flinch.. It was as if she couldn’t feel him there...
Her hands were as cold as her eyes...
“I’m sorry my love.. I know I should have come.. I should’ve never let that horrible man take you away…”
he cringed as he looked again at the bruises that shone on her pale skin…. The dark circles that ringed her eyes…
They had been the best of friends.. they had been in love.. but he had never told her that.. when anyone asked.. he just shrugged and said.. “she’s my best friend.. that’s all..”
Her parents had never really approved.. but they could see that they were happy together.. so they never said anything.. neither did he..
The silence stretched... became more and more unbearable… she asked what was wrong.. “nothing really.. its just that I’m gonna move away soon.. I have a great job offer .. in delhi..”
She stilled in the darkness… the Arabian sea continued to fling itself at the rocks behind them..
“how long will you be away??” she asked.. “Don’t know.. a few years maybe..” he refused to meet her eyes.. “We’ll still be friends right??” he still couldn’t meet her eyes as he asked her. The one question he never should... and didn’t ask the one question he should have asked years ago...
“Of course...” her voice broke…
One last hug.. and the plane took him away from the warmth of her presence..
Then the call came..
“I’m getting married.. my engagement is next week.. will you come??” her voice sounded cheery… too cheery.. but he pretended not to notice..
“of course I would… wouldn’t miss it for the world!” his laugh was even higher than hers..
A brighjtly lit hall.. friends and family.. the radiant bride to be.. and the groom… tall.. smiling.. unknown…
The ring rested on her finger… she now belonged to him..
“hey.. congrats…” he turned to him..
“we’ve never met before.. I’m her best friend..” he turned to her.. looked through her… “heya buddy.. I’m SO happy for you..”
The scent of the flowers choked him.. Nauseated her… but their smiles never wavered…
“Thanks a ton.. I would’ve been really angry if u hadn’t come..”
“wouldn’t miss it for the world babes.. its Your big day”
They couldn’t eat…
One last hug.. and he left again… leaving her staring at his retreating back…
“u okay?” she turned towards the sound.. pasted another snile on her face.. “ofcourse papa.. its my engagement.. I’m totally happy..”
The phone rang
“hey… I need my best friend back here.. my wedding’s in three weeks… u’ll come and help me prepare right..”
“of course I will.. if I can get a week off.. will come as soon as I can”
He worked harder than he ever had in life… work consumed him. It was much easier to pretend that your heart was unbroken if you never really looked at life…
the date came closer..
“oh god… she’s getting married tomorrow… I can’t go.. I have to go.. I can NOT see her as someone else’s bride..”
The phone rang..
“hey.. u coming for the wedding tomorrow rt?”
“um.. dunno priya.. I just don’t think I can somehow… u think she’ll be okay??”
“what do you think??”
“I don’t know what to think anymore… she doesn’t know what I feel anyway..”
“you really think she doesn’t?? do YOU kneo how SHE feels?? Did u ever ask her??”
“I couldn’t.. it would’ve never been okay.. her parents..”
“damn her parents.. its about the two of you.. don’t you understand that?”
“i.. I cant… I cant do that to her.. she’s getting married tomorrow..”
“fine then.. be stubborn.. I can’t help anymore.. its between you n her.. n for the record… she IS miserable right now..”
He hung up…
The phone rang again.. it was her..
“I’m getting married tomorrow.. are you coming??” her voice was small..
“I… I’m not sure… er… work you know..”
“okay.. I see… well.. goodbye then.. I guess I’ll never see you again now...”
She hung up… he stared at the phone..
Her goodbye was so final…
He stared at the phone.. couldn’t take his eyes off it.. the sun’s rays slowly illuminated the room.. he still sat.. still as stone…
The phone rang again…
“nikhil!!” her voice was urgent,… screaming..
He could only grunt a response…
“nikhil… u have to come to mumbai… today!! Its annie… she.. she swallowed a bottle ful of pain killers.. she’s in the ICU…. The doctors say she won’t make it… nikhil. Are you there????? She asked for you… she only spoke once and she asked for you….. nikhil… NIKHIL!!!”
The phone fell from his hands… he ran… tears streamed down his face..
The plane took off... he willed to it go faster… priya was at the airport.. waiting…
“is she….” He couldn’t say anymore… her face told him everything…
“can you make this car go any faster!!!” he couldn’t wait… his throat felt parched… every cell in his body knew that he was racing toward something he was going to lose…
The doors opened with a crash…
She was there… pale against the white sheets… her eyes held his as he fell next to her bed..
“I should have come.. I know.. its all my fault sweetheart.. Please just look at me once.. I’ll take you away from it all I promise….”
Just once.. please please talk to me….”
He pleaded.. cried.. but she still refused to look at him… he felt hands on his back.. a doctor’s white covered arm reached towards her…
And closed her eyes..
Forever…
.......................................................................................................................
Drungs don't work- The verve
All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down
And I hope you're thinking of me
As you lay down on your side
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
But I know I'm on a losing streak
'Cause I passed down my old street
And if you wanna show, then just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
'Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls,
I'm coming, too Just like you said,
you leave my life, I'm better off dead
All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
'Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls,
I'm coming, too
Just like you said,
you leave my life, I'm better off dead
But if you wanna show,
just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again Yeah, I know I'll see your face again Yeah, I know I'll see your face again Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
I'm never going down, I'm never coming down No more, no more, no more, no more, no more I'm never coming down, I'm never going down No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
4 comments:
...sigh...
some things are just meant to be said, I guess.
hope u write a happier one next.
Sad ending to a beautiful story!!!I hope this does not happen to anyone :(
Just wanted to point out that it is written so well, kind of grippingly interestingly....apart from the sad ending I just loved it.
I'm a sucker for sad endings.
Lovely story. Honestly, when I got here, I looked at the length of the post and decided to come back later to read but the first few lines caught my attention and I just couldn't stop.
This is really good. Cheers.
Post a Comment