Work, Life and a Break - Part4

For Previous Parts: 

Part1: Work , Life and a Break -Part1

Part2: Work, Life and a Break -Part2
Part3: Work, Life and a Break - Part3
 

Pranay went home a bit early that day. He was busy packing stuff for his temporary Delhi transfer. However, his attention was more on Myrah. It all seemed surreal to him. There was something mysterious about the girl, something more mysterious about the events that unfolded just a day back. How he had been trying so hard to find her but just when he lost all hope, everything turned around magically in his favour? He didn’t understand the reason why he was so attracted to her? There was a strange connection.

With such questions darting his mind, he was left perturbed.

Next morning, he boarded the flight to Delhi, with a lot of butterflies in his stomach. A new phase of his life was soon to begin…..

In Delhi, he frequently met Myrah, almost every day. Over a cup of coffee, for a walk around Connaught place, over dinner, lunch, on a movie date.  They were deeply madly in love and were quite open about their relationship.

Almost a year had passed since they were dating.

That day they had gone to watch a chick flick and while coming back Pranay proposed her for marriage.

A tear rolled down Myrah’s cheek. Pranay didn’t quite expect this. Before he could react and understand the whole situation, Myrah said, “Pinch me. It is all too good to be true.”

Pranay kissed on her forehead and said” I Love you. There is nothing and no one on this planet I have loved more than you. What is it My? “

Out of love and affection Pranay sometimes called her 'My'

Wiping the tears she said "Nothing baby I am just too delighted.“

 After a short pause she asked “Do you believe in destiny Pranay?”

“Not that much. I believe Man alone has the power to shape up his future”, replied Pranay.

She smiled and said ” I was just like you until I met you.”

“Ahh so everything changed in the past 1 year?”, questioned Pranay.

“No, everything changed 8 years back”

“What ? 8 years?”

“Ya. Have you ever come to Delhi before?”

“Hmm ya.”

“Do you know Ridhima?”

“Ridhima ???”

“Ridhima Sinha”

“Ya she is my cousin sister. We were very close when we were kids. So what about her? By the way how do you know her? I do not remember mentioning her to you.”

“8 years back. Her dad was posted in Delhi.  I was her neighbor then. We were best friends and our still very close. She used to talk a lot about you.  She was in awe with Pranay Bhaiya. I mean as she addressed you. I had fallen for you there itself “

“Wait a minute… “, interrupted Pranay, “ As far as I remember her best friend was Chinu. Although, I met her just once, she was a kid yaar. Plus, I remember she was not that attractive. She had short hair. Sported thick glasses and was overweight.”

“Pranay, I am the same Chinu.”

“What????  Please do not joke. You do not really look like her. “

“I got laser done. So, no thick glasses anymore.  About being overweight, no one likes to be teased as a fatty.  I worked out sincerely to get back in shape. Lastly the hair, it’s not a big deal to grow them. Pranay,  8 yrs is a long time. Back then, I was in my early teens. And now I am a young woman. Changes are inevitable.”

Pranay was stunned.  He was too shocked to react.

“I loved you then but you never noticed. Whenever you came down to stay with Ridhima, I used to find ways to see you, observe you.  I was madly in love with you. But I guess you never noticed me. I was just a 16yr old ugly looking girl and you, a 21 yr old young, smart looking guy, probably dating some hot chick."

Myrah continued, "Shortly, Ridhima’s dad got a transfer to Mumbai. There was no chance of getting in touch with you leave aside a relationship."

After a pause she continued, "I dated a few guys after that but none of my relationships went well. I realized I already had a bench mark set. It was you. No guy could even reach close to it. I feared of losing my best friend so never discussed this with Ridhima. Hence, my love for you never surfaced. 

However, I was always in touch with Ridhima. I kept getting your updates. I knew you were in Mumbai struggling hard, working hard. "

"A year back, I was in Mumbai for a 2 day conference . I knew you were in Mumbai but didn’t get to the details of knowing where and all. But my deepest desire was to see you at least once.  I could never in my wildest dreams, imagine getting in a relationship with you. It all looked quixotic. The second day was about to end. I wrapped up my work and called for a cab to drop me to the company guest house. With a heavy heart and unfulfilled desire of not seeing you I started walking towards the exit gate"

"Look at the odds of the situation, you popped up out of nowhere. I knew u were my Pranay instantly. I had seen your pictures on Facebook."

"It is all DESTINY, Pranay.

It cannot be ruled out as a coincidence that I came for a conference in a company in Mumbai.

It can’t be a coincidence that the building was just adjacent to your office.

It can’t be a coincidence that you met me again in Delhi.

It can’t be a coincidence that you got a transfer to Delhi."

"It’s all the game of Destiny."

"I have been loving you since 8 years but when I came to term with your absence in my life. You entered my life again and turned things around instantly. This time you started loving me the way I loved you.”

As she finished she saw Pranay almost in tears. He was not able to say anything. He hugged her tight. He wrapped her in his arms, trying to protect her from the world. He felt a strange possessiveness for her. He had a gem, a gem he didn’t want to lose.

"There are winds of destiny that blow when we least expect them. Sometimes they gust with the fury of  a hurricane, sometimes they barely fan one's cheek. But the winds cannot be denied, bringing as they often do a future that is impossible to ignore." -  Nicholas Sparks