Arranged Love: Part 4: Holy Hug

“I need to tell you something about myself. I had undergone two surgeries. So in 2012 when I was in the graduation, I discovered a stone in my gall bladder and it was agonizingly painful. Doctors suggested me that it has to be surgically removed. So they performed open cholecystectomy, an operational procedure to remove a gall bladder. If you know the role of gall bladder, it helps in digestion by storing bile nothing else. The gallbladder is not absolutely necessary for human survival, as bile can reach the small intestine in other ways.

 Second operation is quite recent. From the past few years, I discovered a nodule or lump in my neck. On ultrasound doctors told me, it was a thyroid nodule. Although my blood thyroid levels were normal but it happened. There could be many reasons for that. So it has to be taken out surgically. It was not cancerous. The swallowed part of my thyroid gland was taken out surgically. So yeah! These things happened with me. If you have any doubts, you can Google about these things. Right now I am fit, but I want things to be transparent between us that’s why I am telling you this in starting only. Last surgery was very emotional and disturbing phase for me. You are quite young to rush for marriage. So you discuss things with your family. If you are not okay, I totally understand and there would be no grudges. We will call this off here on good note. I could have hidden it, but it’s not my way. Truth has to be known before emotional involvement, this is what I believe.”

I send this message to every guy with whom I felt I am comfortable on rest of things. Before moving forward he should know this.

On that afternoon, during full family meeting, his family noticed this nodule and later when they discussed he showed this message to his family. He never did it before.

Finally, 3 weeks later his father called my father and said that they were sorry. “It’s a NO.”

I tried to contact Shey after few weeks but his phone was switched off. I could never dare to call him again. He might have not be as glamorous as Alok but he was a decent person. Now I felt bad for him too. I broke his heart, and Karma gave me the same treatment. From that day onward I never heard my laugh. I am too coward to take my life.

“This stupid little scar, destroyed me. Doctors suggested me to remove it for cosmetic purpose, but I choose to own my scar. It took everything from my life.”

 She wept in front of me. What started with a romantic date evening has turned into the darkest night. Till that moment when her story got completed. It has been mid night, and I have smoked my entire pack of cigarette. Rain has stopped outside but inside as she completed her story she was all in tears.

“You are wrong. If you are alive, you haven’t lost everything. You lose everything when you are dead. Everything.”It was my turn to complete the missing part of her story.

“You wanted to know what happened to Shrey.”

“How do you know him?”

“His phone was off because, he was no more in this world. He is dead, Shrey is dead.”Tears started to fall from my eyes.

She was numb and started to shiver. She could not even said a word.

You know Shrey loved you. That day when you said no to him. He drank for the first time. He drank like anything. While in returning from his friend’s place he met an accident with a truck. He fought for life for 3 days. Shrey might be only a boy from your list of lovers, but he was also a son, a brother and a friend.

It destroyed everything. I decided that day I will take the revenge of his death. From his phone I got your number. I could have confronted, but I wanted to know the real truth. I created a profile for myself in matrimonial just to contact you. I talked to your parents, and that’s how we met. I wanted you to fall for me the same way Shrey did only then just to reject you later.

See the irony; you saved yourself from all that by admitting everything. You are the first one in this world who suffered even before doing the sin. Probably God knew your sin in advance. I will pray you suffer just like this only for your entire life, Just like my family will do.

“Namaste Bhabhi ji!”

She was sobbing, crying but I choose to go.

Only to come back later.

I hugged her, and she sobbed in my arms.

                                                                                                                                                                                  THE END.