Place : The Snowdrop Stories (A library in Gangtok)
The biting Gangtok wind mirrored the chill in Shobhita's heart as she sat by the window at "The Snowdrop Stories."The sixth semester at the Gangtok Institute of Technology, her B.Tech almost complete, was now overshadowed by a recent breakup.
Not just a breakup, but a betrayal. Suhas, her boyfriend of two years, and Megha, her best friend since freshman year, had cheated on her. Love lost was painful, but the betrayal of friendship cut deeper, shattering her trust and questioning every connection.
"How could they do that to me?" she whispered, feeling adrift in her messy reality. The falling snow outside held a pristine beauty untouched by her pain. This library, her sanctuary for quiet contemplation, now offered a refuge for her fractured heart. She hoped to heal amidst its silent wisdom.
Picking a book, she returned to her spot when a boy bumped into her, causing her to fall. "Are you blind?" she snapped.
"I am so sorry. It's my fault," he stammered, offering help she refused. Standing, her anger softened as she saw tears in his eyes. He sat nearby. A flicker of recognition sparked – it was Devashish, a batchmate but from different section.
Sitting again, Shobhita sensed deep sadness in Devashish's eyes. He was going through a similar heartbreak. His five-year relationship with Shikha, dating back to school, had ended. He had cherished her from afar, rejecting other advances. But Shikha had called that day, ending things for a new relationship in Kolkata. Devashish felt utterly alone.
Seeking solace in the quiet company of books, both Shobhita and Devashish hoped to momentarily eclipse their aching hearts. The day slowly drew to a close, a lingering undercurrent of sadness coloring their quiet retreat within the comforting walls of "The Snowdrop Stories."
***
Shobhita was sitting in the college canteen with her friend Vibha. They were talking, but Shobhita's mind was on the recent breakup. Still, she was trying to recover from her grief.
Suddenly, her gaze drifted to a corner in the canteen. The same boy, Devashish, was sitting alone there with sad eyes.
Shobhita remembered that Vibha had once proposed to him.
"Is he Devashish? The boy from section B of our batch?" Shobhita asked Vibha.
"Yes, he is," Vibha said.
"Is he going through something bad? I also saw him in 'The Snowdrop Stories' yesterday looking like that," Shobhita said to Vibha.
"Yes. He recently faced a breakup with his long-time girlfriend from school. He rejected many proposals because of her, but now she rejected him for another boy. How awful is that?" Vibha said.
Hearing this, Shobhita also felt bad for him. She could understand it, as she knew this pain.
***
Weeks drifted by. Shobhita found comfort in books and solitude. Her pain began to recede, though slowly. Devashish, however, seemed to carry his heartbreak longer.
They crossed paths regularly in the library, their shared silence slowly becoming familiar.
***
The biting cold and heavy snowfall made The Snowdrop Stories feel like a haven. Devashish scanned the shelves, his fingers stopping on a book titled 'The Healing'. Hesitating over its worth, he heard a voice from behind.
"You should read it. It's a good book about how a boy suffered heartbreak and recovered from the pain," Shobhita said.
"Have you already read this?" Devashish asked.
"Yes, twice. By the way, I'm Shobhita, your batchmate from another section. I hope you know."
"Yes, I saw your dance performance at the annual function. I'm De..."
"Devashish. I know," Shobhita interjected.
"Okay. Do you come here daily? I see you most of the time," Devashish asked.
"Yes, I do. I like this library and books very much," Shobhita replied.
"Glad to meet you, and thanks for the suggestion. I will surely read this," Devashish said.
"You're welcome," Shobhita smiled, and they settled into their separate spaces.
***
The next day, in the library, Devashish approached Shobhita. "It was a great suggestion, worth reading. Thank you," he said.
"Oh, you finished it, wow!" Shobhita replied.
Since talking wasn't allowed in the library, Devashish asked, "Would you like to have coffee with me after we leave? The weather is quite cold today, perfect for coffee."
"Yes, sure," Shobhita said.
Their conversations grew, covering books, studies, personal lives, and more. Coffee and snacks together became frequent. Their cherished friendship blossomed.
Devashish slowly healed from past wounds, and Shobhita largely recovered from her separation. Their lives moved towards normalcy.
***
Over coffee near the library, their conversation flowed until Shobhita's attention faltered, tears unexpectedly glistening in her eyes. Surprised, Devashish gently inquired, but she remained silent, her gaze fixed.
He followed her line of sight, observing Suhas and Megha's carefree laughter. Understanding dawned; a painful memory had surfaced. He waited patiently for her composure to return.
"May I confide in you about my past?" Shobhita finally asked, her voice soft.
"Yes, you may. I will not betray your trust," Devashish reassured her.
She then recounted her history: her love for Suhas, the cherished friendship with Megha, their devastating breakup, and the subsequent fractured bond.
"No one would have guessed the depth of your hidden emotions. You are truly strong. Ironically, I was navigating similar pain when we first met," Devashish admitted, unaware of Shobhita's prior knowledge.
"Your book suggestion was a lifeline, and our subsequent talks, your insightful thoughts, your resilient personality... they've deeply influenced me."
He offered sincere comfort, and Shobhita found solace in his understanding words. In that shared vulnerability, the foundation of their friendship deepened significantly.
***
The pressure of studies and job interviews left little time for long talks, but they stayed in touch. Their friendship had matured—silent, steady.
After final exams, both got placed—Devashish with Code Weavers in Kochi, and Shobhita with Digital Canvas in Mumbai.
A final meeting at "The Snowdrop Stories" and their usual cafe was filled with reminiscing and promises to stay in touch. Their farewell was bittersweet, a silent pain of separation evident as tears welled in their eyes when they parted ways.
***
Place : The Coastal Brew(A Coffeeshop in Kochi)
A year after college, Shobhita joined 'The Tech Solutions' in Kochi a month ago. She and Devashish had kept in touch but maintained distance, wary of love and valuing their friendship. Consequently, she hadn't even told him she was in the same city.
One Sunday, Shobhita worked at Coastal Brew near Cherai Beach.Coastal Brew was her sanctuary – a peaceful café nestled near the tranquil blue waters of Cherai Beach.
"You're here, Shobhita! What a surprise?" Devashish's familiar voice startled her.
Delighted, they hugged. "Why didn't you tell me? How long have you been here?" he asked.
"A month. It was a hurried switch, so I couldn't inform you. I'm a little settled now," she replied.
"Okay, no problem. Now that we're both here, meeting won't be an issue. We can at least meet on weekends," Devashish said.
They talked for a long time, and by the end, forgotten feelings began to resurface.
***
They started meeting often again, laughter returning between cups of coffee and sea breeze. The past still lingered, but they no longer let it define them.
Despite the growing closeness, neither took the step forward. Fear of ruining what they had, perhaps, or ghosts from the past still whispering doubt.
***
One Day at Coastal Brew,after a long phone call, Devashish sighed. “My parents want me to get married. But I’m not ready.”
“Why not?” Shobhita asked, a quiet sadness in her tone.
“I just don’t want to. They even sent a girl’s photo. She’s works in Kochi too.”
“Let me see,” she said, curious.
He showed her. Her eyes widened—it was her.
A stunned silence followed. Both stared at the screen, then at each other. Neither spoke. They left quietly, hearts overwhelmed by the twist of fate.
***
The next day, Shobhita called Devashish and asked him to meet at the coffee shop. An initial silence hung between them before Shobhita finally spoke.
“I thought a lot. Maybe... maybe it’s better to walk this path together. We understand each other. That has to count.”
"I feel the same way too. Somehow, we both know our feelings for each other. But we didn't acknowledge them because of our past experiences. Now, I want to give myself an opportunity. And that opportunity would be best if you are with me," Devashish said.
Tears welled up in their eyes, but this time they were tears of happiness.
Later, they sat hand-in-hand at the beach, watching the sunset, anticipating the new morning and a fresh start.
The journey that began with sadness at the Snowdrop Stories now concluded with a happy note at Coastal Brew.
The End
Note : The characters and events portrayed in this story are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons,living or dead,is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Written by :
Anand Kumar Sharma
