Forbidden Love

 Professor of Economics Dr. Anand was teaching about Law of Demand today. While teaching, he asked, “Rashmi, tell me what is the definition of Law of Demand?” Rashmi started looking left and right, she could not understand what to answer. The class started laughing at her condition.

Mohan raised his hand and said “Sir, may I tell?”

Dr. Anand said, “Yes.”

.Mohan — “Sir, the law of demand states that when other factors remain constant, there is an inverse relationship between the price of a commodity and its quantity demanded. That is, when the price of a commodity increases, its demand decreases and the price of the commodity decreases. When there is a demand for it increases.”

 The period was over, all the boys and girls came out, but Mohan's eyes fell on Rashmi sitting silently. He went to her and asked, “What's the matter, are you well?” Rashmi replied, “Yes, absolutely fine.” “Then why are you so sad?” Mohan asked again.. Rashmi said that she had never any interest in economics, nor does she understand it. Under Papa's pressure, I enrolled in Eco. (Hon). Mohan smiled and said, “Just so angry for such a thing. Don't you worry. Economics is my favorite subject. You may presume yourself from today as a professor of economics.” Thereafter, Mohan left the room.

 

Rashmi, twirling her loose hair, ran to Mohan and said,

“Come on, let's go to the canteen and have coffee.” Mohan could not refuse. Mohan still remembered how Rashmi had made a lewd joke about her simplicity on the first day of class, and everyone in the class made fun of him. His mind began to think that it was the human nature to change one's friends and paths according to one’s needs.

Now it had become the routine of Rashmi that every day after class, taking a thick book of economics in hand, would ask Mohan to solve some new problem of economics. Then both would sit for hours in the library and sometimes in the garden of the college and openly discuss the principles of economics. Now Rashmi was no longer the previous Rashmi. In the company of Mohan, her interest in economics increased day by day. Professor Anand also was astonished to observe this sudden change in her.

 

Mohan and Rashmi were sitting in the lake garden, behind the college. It was the month of Aashaadha (Rainy Day), the clouds hid the sun in their lap with a black sheet, pleasant evening, the wind was blowing with gusto, as if the wind was falling in love with the branches of the trees, the drizzling rain was quenching the thirst of the earth. Rashmi said to Mohan, creating a romantic mood, “My Kalidas, have you ever loved anyone, if yes, then tell me what the definition of love?"

Before Mohan could understand anything, Rashmi pulled his hand and placed it on her face and feeling the touch of the drops dripping down her silky cheeks, looked up at the sky. Rashmi said a little romantically, “Mohan, it is heard that in the month of Aashaadha (Rainy season), the clouds bring the message of those who love, so why hasn't the Meghdoot come till now with our message?"

Upon hearing this, Mohan was a little stunned, thinking what had happened to this crazy girl. Responding to Rashmi's weird question, he said, “What's the matter, you are in a very romantic mood today, waves of love are shaking, like a tide in the ocean in your heart.”

Clinging her wet body to Mohan, Rashmi said, “Can't you become my Kalidas and I your Mallika on this evening Aashaadha?” She further said, “Mohan, don’t know why after se1eing you for a few day's something has started happening in my heart.” Then a little shyly said, “Is it not that I have started liking you." Mohan smiled and said, "Mallika mam, get out of the hangover of romance. Love is just an illusion, a gimmick, blind love is like a mirage where those who love are always thirsty. Our age is not to love, but to complete studies and make a beautiful future ahead of us. Like Arjuna, let's focus our mind on our goals."

Rashmi was different from other girls. Her friends were also few. She never liked wasting time. In college, Rashmi was either seen with Mohan or in the library, mingling with the principles of economics. Her interest in economics was increasing, perhaps she wanted to do something in this field. Apart from studies, now talks of love and romance also started happening between them. Mohan would sometimes become serious about this relationship, but his first goal was to make his dreams come true, and that was to become a lecturer in Delhi University.

It is not that both were always agreed with each other on everything, the thing to see was that whenever they used to argue on any subject, they would do it based on logic. Sometimes there would be a rift between them. Once, there was a lot of debate between the two about a principle of economics. After this debate, there was an estrangement between the two for a few days. But it is said that how long can a fish live without water, the same condition was there for them too.

The final year examinations were over. Now the result was awaited. When the results came after two months, Mohan was most happy because Rashmi had topped the college. That day both went to the Madras Hotel in Connaught Place to have a

dosa, from there they went to the Plaza Theatre to watch Sanjeev Kumar's film Pati Patni Aur Woh.

Rashmi went to the London School of Economics, London for higher studies, and Mohan joined the D. School of Economics (Delhi). Today Mohan is a Professor of Economics in Delhi University, and Rashmi is also Professor of Economics but in London. Today both were in touch with each other, sometimes through mobile and sometimes through social media. Rashmi also suggested Mohan to come to London, but Mohan did not want to leave India and go anywhere. There were heated arguments many times between the two regarding this matter.

It was a matter of two months ago when Rashmi sent a mail to Mohan saying that she did not feel like in London without him, so she is coming back to India. Hearing this news, Mohan felt that today he had got the biggest gift of life. But after a few days, Rashmi suddenly stopped contacting him, also blocked his mobile number. She did not respond to any of Mohan's messages on social media as well.

Here Mohan was also trying very hard to forget Rashmi, but that evening of Aashaadha was still tormenting his mind. He started engraving these deep wounds in a diary. He threaded his immensely deep wounds into the raw thread of foggy memories, and named this garland "Forbidden Love". This was Mohan's first novel in which there was a mention of every moment spent with Rashmi, which today was scratching his wounds with its sharp claws.

Almost five years had passed when Mohan had spoken to Rashmi for the last time. Today he received an e-mail which, after reading it, was as dark as his eyes, in the ocean of tumultuous thoughts, restlessness was shaking on the waves, as if someone had sprinkled salt on his old wounds. The mail read, “Mohan I am in Delhi for few days. My family has fixed my marriage. The boy is a doctor in America, and after marriage I will also go to America, and getting married after two days. Please do come.”

Rashmi was sitting in the wedding pavilion dressed like a bride, her eyes were looking for someone again and again, perhaps she was sure that Mohan would come to meet her today. Rashmi's thirsty eyes were yearning to see Mohan. Suddenly, her restless eyes were fixed on someone. Maybe it was Mohan, yes it was Mohan, who had glasses in his eyes, a beard too had grown. Wishing the wedding, Mohan hands over a packet to her. Without waiting for Rashmi's reply, Mohan immediately slipped away from there.

Rashmi had gone to America with her husband. Today, she was alone at home. She opened the gift packet given by Mohan, in it there was a book named “Forbidden Love” and the author's name was Mohan.