Bliss

 Life was almost impeccable for the twenty seven year old Arush, a job in a multinational company, residence at one of the priciest places in Mumbai, an ecstatic family, euphoric friends; all this made his life jubilant. He had everything from a golden heart to Greek god like looks, yet he was half a heart without his soul mate. He believed that “there is someone in this big world that is made exclusively for you.” He wasn’t the one to rush into love affairs; he just had a few crushes here and there and that was it! Arush was charming as a prince but still single at twenty seven. “Maa I’m getting late, I will have the breakfast in office.” Arush shouted gobbling a piece of paratha and then quickly hired a cab. Why do moms have this tendency of getting her children to eat, every single minute? Arush kept murmuring this until the cab driver started giving him weird glances through the mirror. When he reached the office he saw that the desk next to him was occupied by a girl which was vacant for past one and a half year. He wanted to have a look at the girl but first he submitted the important files to the boss. He could see her auburn hair loosely tied with a clip. He couldn’t see her complete face except for her right cheek. Aha! That pretty dimple. He thought to himself. He tried to initiate the conversation with her but was intervened by a phone call which she received. “Hello?” interrogated her melodious voice. “Sorry wrong number”, she stated and got back to her work. She looked somewhat disturbed with her work; she expressed a sad pout looking at her files. Arush couldn’t resist his urge to talk to her. “What happened? Any issues, with the files? Arush finally asked. She turned towards Arush exposing her left cheek too. Arush now could see her whole bubbly face with hazel beady eyes, sharp nose, and red full lips. She replied that she was new to the work and is was finding these files confusing. Arush gave her a bright smile and helped her with her work. “Thank you so much! What’s your name?” the girl enquired, he replied “ARUSH”. “Well okay I’m….”- her sentence was left incomplete by Arush replying AKIRA right? Pointing towards her identity card. She gave Arush a light laugh. She later asked him how she might return his favor. Arush smile saying “by joining me for a cup of coffee.” She agreed to it. Since then Arush was counting minutes and seconds for the moment to arrive, for that precious cup of coffee he was going to have.

 Finally it was time for lunch. “So should we have coffee”?” Arush asked Akira. She nodded and together they headed towards the cafeteria. As they sat having coffee; Arush initiated the conversation by asking how she got this job, where did she reside? She was perplexed with so many questions at a time, but replied patiently, she informed that her family is orthodox and they don’t allow the girls of the family to work; she had to fight with her parent’s decision to work. Arush said “I’m proud of you! You decided to work rather than living in the luxuries provided by your family. India needs more females like you!” Akira felt good at his response. Lunch break was over and so was their coffee. Both returned to their desk. During work Arush exchanged secret glances with Akira and also got caught quite a few times! As days passed both became good friends. Eventually Shakespeare’s golden words came true “a girl and a guy can never be just friends for a lifetime”. Arush and Akira fell in love with each other. It is said “when you’re in love time flies quickly”. It was no different with Arush and Akira. Both the love birds started hanging out together. It was a perfect fairy tale where nothing goes wrong!
 

It was 28th July. Dark clouds were hovering up in the sky. As expected it started raining cats and dogs. Akira was half drenched in the rain. Arush requested Akira not to get wet and to get inside the car. He sat on the driver’s seat. He couldn’t resist the temptation of seeing Akira get wet. Once Akira was inside the car they could barely keep their hands off each other and as an extension of their love for each other they made love. Arush looked deeply in Akira’s eyes. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly as if she was the last star left in the sky. She was that star who could brighten up his life at any vile moment. She was that zephyr which had the ability to efface his woes. He loved truly. And as for Akira he was the only reason she was alive!
Arush dropped her home after the lovely moment of their lives. Akira’s happiness knew no bounds. She thought that nothing could fade her happiness tonight. As she entered the house, her mother stuffed sweets in her mouth. Her father and brother’s faces were blooming. On enquiring she was informed that her father had arranged her marriage to his friend’s son. Akira was soon to be married. Akira’s happiness was snatched away from her. Her world was torn. She felt as if someone was stabbing knife in her stomach. She went to her room and cried her heart out. Her pillow was wet. Her throat went dry. Arush was the only happiness of her life. Knock knock! Was the sound at her door. Her mother entered her room. She hugged her mother and told her how much she loved Arush. Her father overheard Akira’s conversation with her mother. He slapped Akira hard, cheeks were red, and her dimples were nowhere to be seen. He told Akira to cut all the contacts with Arush or else he will face dire consequences. Akira pleaded with her dad. Her dad was deaf to Akira’s cackles. He gave her the last warning and she was left with the only option to break off contacts with Arush. She didn’t want Arush to suffer because of her. Her father told her that they were going to shift to Kolkata the very next day and her future husband will be relocating to Kolkata this weekend. Akira couldn’t come to terms with this sudden change of events. She hated her father. A heartbroken Akira sent Arush a final message,
 

Dear Arush,
All that we had between us was awesome. Our relationship is the best thing ever happened to me. You gave me that happiness which no one ever could give me. I love you more than what I could write in this text. I still remember the first day when you were noticing my hair and dimples. I loved each moment when we exchanged glances. I love the whole of you. But we have to end this. I can’t take our relationship to next step. I’m shifting to out of Mumbai tomorrow. My parents have selected a guy for me to marry. I just don’t know what to say. They disapproved our relationship. I’m extremely sorry for what I’m doing to you. But just know that my love for you was true. Nothing was fake. Thanks a lot for giving me the best memories of life. And trust me you’re such a good guy that you will get any girl easily. Don’t cling to the memories we made together. I’m changing my number. Don’t try to contact me. Hope you have a good future ahead. My best wishes are always there for you.
Thank you Arush for everything. I love you.
 

With tears in her eyes she sent the message. She didn’t sleep the whole night. Nor Arush. Arush respected her decision and didn’t try to contact her. He didn’t want to interfere in her future married life.
The next morning Akira’s mother came in her room to wake her up. But her swollen eyes said that she didn’t slept last night. Her mother said that she had packed her bag to board into the train for Kolkata. Around 1:30 she and family were in Kolkata train. Melancholy covered her face. The exquisite face was now full of fear. During the entire journey she thought of Arush. Not a single second was spent by her mind where she didn’t thought of Arush. It was lunch break time in the office. She remembered how she and Arush had their first coffee in the cafeteria. She remembered how he made her smile, how he made her feel beautiful, how he made love to her, the way he hugged her tightly, teased her, how when he would make her blush by whispering sweet nothing. She remembered how dearly he loved her, how he used to call her his star. Reminiscing all these moments she felt sad. Tears roll over her cheeks. The next day she was in her Kolkata apartment. Her mother told her that her future husband would be arriving tomorrow and the engagement will be done that evening. She was informed that her fiancé  was the owner of a multinational company and had a good reputation in the society. His name was Subrato Dutta. Arushi was pissed on hearing the praises of Subrato. She went in her room and locked it from inside. She felt dead but was surviving. She thought of calling Arush but she wanted him to move on for his own good. The next day her mother made her wear a red saree for her engagement. She was looking beautiful even without makeup. Subrato and his family came in the evening for ceremony. Subrato was handsome but nowhere near Arush. After the engagement Subrato gifted her a diamond necklace which Akira was forced to accept by her family.
After almost an entire month post the chaos in her life Akira felt the need to get some fresh air, she walked out her house informing her mother. She was travelling by a metro train when suddenly she puked heavily. The commuters took her to the nearby clinic. She was not able to breathe properly. The doctor carried out a few tests which confirmed she was pregnant! Akira realized that she was pregnant with Arush’s child and it won’t be conscientious on her part to with hold this from Subrato. She decided to inform about this first to her fiancée’s family. She went to Subrato Dutta’s apartment. Subrato was present at the house with his mother and father. They were delighted to see Akira. She painfully told them the truth because of which she was slapped hard. They blamed her for betraying their family and for ruining their family’s reputation. She was thrown out of the house saying that they are going to cancel this marriage. They even asked her to return the diamond necklace which Subrato gifted her! Akira with tears in her eyes went home. He mother and father standing at the door itself with her bags packed refused to accept her. Subrato’s family had informed them about their daughter’s deeds. Akira’s family told her to leave the house. Her father said that she was a black sheep of their family. They gave her a condition to abort the child or to leave this house. Akira couldn’t even think of aborting the child. Her child was the last sign of her love. Her child was going to complete her circle of happiness. She took her packed bags and left the house with some money. She remembered a college friend of hers who was most probably residing in Kolkata. Akira called her friend Shaina. Shaina was warm and immediately asked her to come over. When Akira reached,  Shaina was already waiting for her. She told Akira to stop crying and tell her what happened. Akira narrated the events which had made and marred her life. Shaina told Akira not to worry for she will help her to settle. She offered her coffee to calm her down. Shaina told Akira that there is a friend of her who can give her a flat for rent but it is in Gurgaon. Akira told her that she wanted to go somewhere away from all this mess. She agreed to go to Gurgaon. Shaina assured her that on the basis of her qualification she might get a good job in Gurgaon which was slowly becoming a economic hub. Akira thanked her and felt indebted. Shaina told her that whenever she needs any help she is just one call away.
 

Thus Akira moved Gurgaon on Shaina’s advice. She got the apartment owned by Shaina’s friend on rent and also a good job in a company. It took a while for her to settle down but she didn’t lose any hope she knew she had to be strong for her child. She had to show her child a better world.
 

Three and a half years later.
 

“Arushi stop crying, we will go for shopping and get some new dolls for you,” Akira was trying to calm down her daughter. She took her daughter to the shopping mall to get some new dolls for her. Akira was about to enter “HAMLEY’S” when she bumped into a guy accidently. “I’m sorry” said a familiar voice she turned around to look. Tears filled her eyes as she called out “ARUSH”. The guy looked behind. They hugged each other tightly. Arush excused himself from the hug when he heard the baby girl calling out Akira as “mommy”! Akira understood Arush’s confused expression and explained him everything. Arush also explained how he still had faith in his love and still hadn’t married anyone. This time he didn’t waste much time and went down on his knees and proposed Akira for marriage. Little Arushi asked Akira who he was to which Akira replied with a smile “your daddy!” Arush hugged his daughter. After a week Arush, Akira and Arushi shifted to Mumbai where they married. Arush family heartily accepted Akira after knowing her bravery and struggle.