Blog Marathon Post 21. An original story by me

This is a story I had written long back as a submission to into a contest/book. It is about love, leaving, and finding love again. Enjoy! Feedback welcome :)

Life after Love

“You have to be the most beautiful girl in this world,” words laced with honey and sugar, too cheesy, but hell, Shikha wasn’t complaining. “And your eyes, oh my God, your eyes…” A deep longing look was visible in his face and Shikha blushed. Her decision was made then and there. Not 2 weeks later.

Rishabh had been courting her for more than a month now and had paid her many compliments profusely. Some conventional, some really astute. She had taken everything till now with a pinch of salt. But that day something happened. A wall crumbled. Irony is that it happened when he was delivering his most cheesy lines. But then girls actually go for cheesy, right?

Shikha was not a typical dopey-eyed, bumbling young girl. She was smart, sassy and practical. She was choosey about the people she hung out with, even in the college canteen. Through a weird co-incidence, she met a rather average looking, thin, dark guy, who had absolutely no distinguishing characteristics about him. Shikha herself is someone who stands out in the crowd, not because she is the craving-for-attention types, but because of the sheer force of her personality. Her intelligence and warmth shines through her like a special kind of light. Rishabh was almost the opposite. His whole being was… hushed, muted.

As an analogy of ‘opposites attract’, these two started to date. Her friends and roommates thought it was a little unconventional considering she had met this guy through an Internet friend of hers. It was a little dangerous even. But Shikha was not someone who can be told what to do, so when she accepted the Christmas Eve party invitation form Rishabh, no one bothered to say anything. It was every girl for herself out there. If you can’t handle it, don’t play the game. Simple.

The evening ended with Rishabh and Shikha in bed together. Shikha thought this was the culmination of her feelings for Rishabh and was even having thoughts about ‘being in love’. If this was love, she definitely wanted to be a part of it. She was happy. Almost deliriously happy.

So much so, that she didn’t see the bombshell coming. “So, this was fun.”

Rishabh was saying, “How about we meet again on Thursday and do a repeat?” Shikha turned towards him. He went on, “You know, there is a friend of mine who has a real reputation with the ladies, would you like me call him too?”

Shikha snapped to attention now, “What do you mean call him?” “To join us, of course! Believe me a threesome is a great way to get initiated.”

Get initiated? Into what!? “What are you talking about, Rishabh?” Shikha asked.

“About having fun. What we just did, doing with as many people together or on one-on-one basis. It’s a life of bliss.” Rishabh threw back his head and smiled, “Let me tell you about this party I went to last week. There were three girls who had totalled this guy’s very expensive car, and were making up for it with…”

“Alright, that’s enough!” Shikha just couldn’t believe her ears, “What makes you think I will join you in something so – so – repulsive?”

“Repulsive? You were enjoying yourself a little too much not ten minutes back.”

“Yes, but…” How could she say that that was because she had believed to be in love? Or at least in a relationship based on mutual attraction. What he was proposing was horrible. How did he get this idea that she would be interested in something like this?

Rishabh was completely ignorant to all the turmoil going inside Shikha’s head. He went on, “So Thursday it is then. In the meanwhile, let’s enjoy a repeat performance.”

“No.” Shikha said quietly. “Not Thursday, not now, not ever.” She exploded, “You make me sick. I don’t ever want to see you again. Good bye.” She turned at the door to deliver the coup de grace, “I would of course always wonder as to why you thought I would be interested in your ‘proposal’. I am not that kind of girl.”

“Is that right? Then what kind of girl are you, Shikha? A hypocrite? ” Rishabh tone had changed; his usually genial disposition had given way to something sinister. There was glint in his eyes that forewarned of the impending menace of his words. He spoke in hushed tones, “You go out with a guy about whom you know almost nothing, pretend to enjoy the pick-up lines he throws at you, and sleep with him on the first party you go out. Then you try to tell me that you are not THAT kind of girl. The way I see it, you are looking for some serious action and will go with anyone who offers it. So either stop pretending, or just get out. ”

Shikha was stunned to her very core. So much for her coup de grace! This was the guy she was falling for? Was she such a poor judge of character? Everything he had said was true, except of course the part where he accused her of asking for it. Was that true too? How does one decide what to do in these situations? Shikha decided to be practical and start by planning how to get to her apartment at 5 o’clock in the morning on the other side of town.

Rishabh went after Shikha again, to convince her to accept his way of life, but by this time Shikha was livid. She refused. He then came bullying after her. He told her that if she did not agree to what he says, he will have the rather sensational evidence of their affair plastered all over town. Then Shikha got really scared.  

One day, Rishabh came to her apartment to threaten her. Her mom opened the door and a huge confrontation took place. He never came back again after that. But by now everyone knew of Shikha’s botched affair. No one said anything to her face, but the furtive glances and judgemental smirk sitting at everyone’s corner of the mouth said it all. Devastation became an understatement.

She became scared of love. She went rigid inside and decided that all this suffering was not worth it. She put all her energy in her career and rose to an executive position. Inside, she felt hollow. Then, she went into therapy and took up mediation.

After two years of working on herself, she came to terms with her experience and realised that her heart had not been damaged. Only her pride. The people who mattered in her life stood by her and the ones who ostracized her were no longer in her life.

She began her healing process and slowly, but surely, the mist that had settled around her like a veil started to lift.

Her shine was once again visible. And last year, when she met this smart, funny guy through common friends and he proposed, she said yes. Not because she wanted to escape into someone’s arms and was looking for a saviour, but because she believed in love again. This time, love blossomed. Her healing was complete. Her courage was rewarded.