Faith and Love

How long had it been? Months, probably a year or two? He had no idea. But, he had finally saved enough to purchase it.

He ran through the door, heading straight to her. His heart beat pounded with anxiety he had never felt before.

He was all agog for the moment he had been desperately waiting for had finally come. He could run for only so long. He slowed down, panting, breathing hard, but the smile didn’t fade away.

An old woman on her knees caught his attention. He was on his most important mission but he was too kind to walk away ignoring the lady.

He walked up to her and asked, “Could I help you?”

She shrugged, sighed, and shook her head. “I have been looking for something important for a while now.” After a little cough she continued, ” I dropped it haphazardly and it seems to be eluding my eyes ever since.”

“How long has it been?”

“2, probably 3 hours now. I just can’t locate it with these weak sight.”

“That must be something really important for you to be searching in this temperature”

“My husband gave it to me 30 years ago before disappearing, the golden ring and a promise to return”

He started looking for it immediately after hearing the statement. After half an hour he got up to the lady and said in an excited tone, “Found it!”

The lady took the ring and it slid smoothly through her finger, like it was meant to.

“Son, you’re a wonderful person. Thank you”, she said. He bowed, smiled, and turned to walk away.

“She must really be beautiful”, she added. He turned to her in bewilderment.

She continued, “The one who you bought this ring for.”

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Serendipity

We were ascending the stairs heading straight to the balcony.

“I would like to see your room, if you don’t mind”, I whispered behind her. Sure came the reply at that very instant.

I could see that there wasn't any hesitation but the reply wasn't post-haste either.

She slumped on her bed placing the pillow in her lap and I found myself sitting on a stool before I could wrestle in my mind with plausible options like pouncing right onto the bed.

I glanced around her room and my eyes rested on a canvas of her that brimmed with elegance. The beatific smile she wore exuded innocence and joy; the candid click had captured it all which gleamed magnificently through her eyes. I couldn't help but adore her breathtaking beauty. She looked impeccable atop the orange wall and I was so grateful that the wall wasn't painted pink.

Two minutes had passed and she hadn't uttered a word. For a brave girl like her, hesitation or nervousness couldn't be the reason for the silence. Also, I couldn't turn a blind eye to the distinct world she had plunged herself into.

I stood up and with my eyes fixed on the only door of her room, and I finally spoke.

“Thanks for the wonderful time. Let’s hope we won’t run into each other ever again.” I started for the door to leave her room.

I also wanted to see the expression she had then on her face. Did it surprise her? But, had I spoken that looking into her eyes, I would certainly have ended up changing my mind.

“Great! You decided that you shouldn't marry me after having a look at the canvas or was it impulsive, or were you daunted by forethought of commitment.”

I turned and replied with a smile, “I wouldn't have come all this way to your house along with my parents, If I had any issues with commitment or responsibilities.”

I waited patiently for a few seconds to let that sink in and continued “Apparently, I figured out that you weren't interested in me or to be more precise, in arranged marriage.”

I watched the fusillade of questions rampage in her brain that reflected through her eyes. She was certain that it wasn't a mere guess.

She spoke in a perplexed and gentle tone, “You didn't figure it out right away. Did you? Do you know me?”

Well, I had succeeded in instilling the interest factor. At the least she now wanted to know who I was.

It was time to divulge the secret.

“I stumbled upon your blog. Few of your posts and all of your thoughts totally disagree with arrange marriage. I inferred you as a brave, smart, and independent girl, who firmly believes in love marriage.

Also, the profile name read ‘Dhwani’ and if not for your profile picture, I wouldn't have known that you were the same blogger.”

The last part seemed redundant but it hurried its way out and I couldn't take it back.

She spoke after a while and she managed to surprise me again. “What do you think of me as a writer” she had questioned me.

This question had forced me to admire her love for writing.

“You are a fine writer. I would suggest you to publish your book, if possible.” I replied frankly.

It brought a smile on her bleak face. That was the first time I saw her smile genuinely..

“So why the arrange marriage? Also, should I expect a story behind the other name you chose?”, I asked immediately before she could thank me and purse her lips again.

“Now, that you've brought it up. I wouldn't mind answering it. ‘Dhwani’ for me is sound that hits every corner conveying the message I write, asking everyone to listen to it. I like it better.

And, break up is the reason behind the arrange marriage decision.”

She held me spellbound. The reason for the name was fascinating and her brutal frankness in the later part shook my senses.

After a while, putting some thought into it, I carefully approached the matter. “I am sorry to hear that. But somebody dumps you and you lose your faith in love. And then, you try to practice just opposite of what you preach and believe in. You decide to marry a random guy but look what you've gotten yourself into.

A girl is most comfortable in her own room but you’re preoccupied and entangled in barrage of qualms about your own decision.”

That sure was deep and it perfectly slimmed any chances I had to marry her. Also, I could see that I had touched the wrong nerve.

Astonishingly, she replied in a very calm voice. “What makes you think I was the one who was dumped?”

Holy shit. She dumped him? I was so dead already but curious too.

“I don’t think he really loved me. He was always reluctant when it came to future decisions or commitment and the relationship was drifting to nowhere. I decided to walk away before ending up in an abyss.”

“Cool!” I actually cursed myself for saying that.

“I took the decision to step up for arrange marriage after considering that any random guy would at least be ready to accept me for the rest of his life. The commitment factor drove me but you made me realize that I shouldn't marry a random guy I don’t love or know about.”

She must have noticed the life vanish from my face. She then added, “I didn't mean to say that I am rejecting you. You’re a wonderful person. In fact, you remind me of somebody, a blogger, I really admire and like.”

She paused for a moment, looked right into my eyes, and said, “I just realized that I should at the least once reach out to him. I really want to. It’s a shame that he didn't put up a profile picture of his or link any of his social profiles to his blog. I have not the foggiest idea what he looks like but I already admire him enough.

Albeit, all I am to him is one among the other followers of his blog and..”

she stopped in her tracks, stared at me, and after few lengthy minutes, she smiled and whispered

“I knew you would be handsome. I just knew it.”

(P.S. - I told you she was a smart girl.)

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