Love One, Marry Someone
(A different love story)
by Vaman Acharya
It was a bright cold day in Samirpur and the cloaks were striking at six am. Rohit was in Netaji park for a morning walk. His mobile was ringing with a musical ringtone.
“Who is calling?”
“I am Priya. Are you Rohit?”
“Yes, just a couple of minutes before I remembered you.”
"Why did you remember me? Where have you been since we left the Siddartha college of Arts & Science, Samirpur about six months ago.”
“Priya, Just a few minutes before, I saw you in the group photo of college day and had memories of those days. I had been to my village Muddanuru and enjoyed being in the company of my parents and returned yesterday. What about you?”
"Rohit, I went to my grandma's house in Chennai and stayed there for six months. I came back to Samirpur yesterday night. Are you free right now?”
“Yes Priya. I am here in Netaji park, walking and talking simultaneously.”
“Wow!! I will be there in two minutes.”
Rohit was waiting for her at the park gate. She arrived in two minutes. After shaking hands, both went to a nearby shelter and sat on the bench. Old couple were already chit chatting and they thought it better to leave for the young love birds and moved out waving their hands smilingly.
Rohit and Priya were silent for a few seconds.
“Priya, you were a brilliant student in the class. I was jealous of you,” said Rohit.
"Rohit, my success is due to my hard work. We were friends helping each other in difficulty.”
"Yes! Priya, when we were in final year B A, one evening, there was an elocution competition. Each participant has to select the topic of his or her choice and speak for three minutes. I spoke on "Discipline in a student' and you selected 'Morality in Education'. After your forceful speech I was called to the dais. Finally, your speech was declared as best and applauded by all by continuous clapping, although my speech was equally forceful."
"Rohit, did you remember for no fault of yours, I was unhappy for your misbehaviour.”
“Yes. There was absolutely no fault on my part. On that day when the class was over you were in a hurry and I too was in a hurry. My right hand unknowingly pushed your bag. Your books, notebooks, pens and pencils fell down and spread on the ground. I helped you pick up. You became angry and started abusing me. Next moment, you realised the fact and apologised.”
“Rohit, did you remember any unforgettable incidents like cutting jokes, basketball, bicycle riding and debate etc, during our final year B A. You played a good role as a monitor of the class.”
“Yes. At this moment, I remember a few incidents other than what you asked. There were more boys than girls in our class. It was natural that conflicts like superiority, difference of opinions and misunderstandings were common. I was supposed to maintain peace being a monitor of the class. I managed to take up the individual cases to the class teacher and principal and got those issues solved. But in one case, Manoj had always tussled with Monica for one or the other reason. It was a difficult task for me to convince both. One day, their problem was funny. Though the different answers were given by them for the particular question, the teacher said Manoj was right. Monica argued with the teacher and proved her answer was also correct.”
“You know, Manoj and Monica were lovers and got married recently,” said Priya.
Rohit stopped the conversation for a while and recollected his memory of loving Priya. One day, when they were in the restaurant, sipping the aroma of coffee, he revealed his wish of love to her. She just smiled. He thought she had accepted his love. Thereafter, both had spent their jolly time in hotels, cinema theatres and music concerts. He was anxious to know of an auspicious day for the wedding from her.
“Rohit, what happened?”
“Priya, I had a sweet memory of a girl, whom I loved very much during my college days.”
“I know who is in your mind. I am sorry, my grandma from Chennai selected a boy for me. You know him very well. I love grandma very much. Whatever, I am today, it is because of her. I wish you would marry the most beautiful girl. Please forget and forgive me. My marriage is on Sunday in Swarna Gouri hall on Vivekanand road, Bengaluru. The purpose of my coming here is to extend a personal invitation for my wedding. She gave a beautifully designed wedding card. You are my close friend and expect your presence. Don't miss the function,” said Priya.
Tears were rolling down continuously from her eyes. As she was in a hurry left the place saying bye.
Rohit felt very much and was upset. His sweet dreams of Priya being his life partner collapsed.
He opened the wedding card and was surprised to see the name of the boy, who is going to tie the knot with her. He was none other than a classmate Dhiraj. He was scoring just pass marks in the examinations and not mixing with others. The students jokingly call him ‘last bench boy’. Nobody saw him smiling, whereas Priya was active. Everybody in the class knew about the Priya- Rohit friendship, even some of the students in the class said in one voice as ‘made for each other.’
Why did Priya love Rohit and marry Dhiraj?
This development was a shock for Rohit and thought the proverb, ‘man proposes, God disposes’ rightly applied to him.
