Cyborg - A Love Story

The evening was getting tough for me as if I felt I was bleeding from inside but I could never heal myself. Whenever I look into the mirror I feel I have encountered an unknown creature, because it is the only place where I can’t escape from my horrors. The mistakes I have committed and have allowed others to commit but involving me. Sometimes it gets difficult to distinguish between right and wrong. Yet it's even harder to choose your own virtues. I understood a great fact that you should just live in the moment and not waste time on deciding what is good or bad.

A sudden shuddering voice from the door broke my homesickness “Honey! I’m back home, how was your day?” I handed a bouquet of white blossoming orchids to Aahana. She looked ferociously at them and threw the bouquet also the glass of water which was on the table. Destruction seemed like a  run-of-the-mill matter to her. And as usual, Rehan started cleaning up the mess before the glass pieces could injure anyone. Aahana went towards his back and checked whether his battery was down, pressing his back where she had fitted a circuit inside his body. Smiling at his love and endless affection she whispered quietly “Just keep loving me like that, you are mine and I have created you!”

The next morning while leaving for the company, Aahana checked the update and Rehan replied, "Temperature? ’25 degree centigrade". She handed over the umbrella, both waved goodbye kisses and Aahana said, “Leave off, you’ll get late”.

Rehan worked in a stockbroking firm and had a hectic time there between the cubicles and calls. By the evening he settled offs at his workplace. He told his manager that if he had to live then he would have to push off for dinner as he promised his wife.

“It is rare to be a flame in someone’s candle isn’t it?, ” Rehan said raising a toast of red wine. "I would like to show you something," said Aahana and revealed a beautiful gift box with a pair of red high heels. "You know when you gifted me this? During our college days when we were dating, on my birthday. Today on our anniversary I would like to thank you for being there always for me". Rehan smiled and those gems of that night glittered up like shooting stars in the sky.

Nevertheless, stars eventually break up in the universe and we just get to see the light from it. The next day after returning from work, Rehan was discussing a lady he met by the way. He enquired if she knew anyone named Rosina. She was astounded for a while then with silent bewilderment said no, who the hell was she. He said, "I was just on my way and this lady came to me shouting", “Rehan how could you forget me? Remember it’s me, Rosina”. I didn’t know her so I just ignored her. Well, I hope she isn’t anyone from my past."

Aahana got worried, she had the entire control system under her and could have controlled Rehan even by sitting at home. Before Rehan could search for that lady, she blocked all ways of information generation. She couldn’t, however, escape from the fear.

Rosina was standing outside her room. Aahana was in terrible shock yet she faced her. Rosina just gushed and entered the room “Oh! So here is where you live with my fiancée. What a great empire you have created, you turned out to be beyond my imagination! Creep!” "Shut up! How dare you enter my room like that, what do you want? Stop touching those photo frames", said Aahana in anger. Rosina warned her “You have stolen my love from me, he doesn’t know the truth, but I’m gonna reveal it to him and get him back.”

Determined to defend herself Aahana said, “No. he himself came to me and we live a happy life. You are jealous so your greed has started speaking ‘cause he chose me and not you”

“Chose you! Are you nuts," Rosina exclaimed showing her the engagement pictures from the tablet. We were about to marry in a month's time, but Rehan said he wanted to just know about your whereabouts. I already advised him not to go and now I regret I should have stopped him too.”

Aahana shook with rage and fear. "He is with me now and the present is above a past mistake", she continued.

Rosina warned her, “Stay away from your crooked plans”.

Aahana said, "I have brought him back to life. You don’t know what happened that night, that accident".

I’ll tell him the truth, I don’t believe you a bit," so saying Rosina left.

 

10 years earlier...

Aahana was called “Frankenstein girl” in college. She rarely had friends. One fine day in the seminar hall. Rehan himself initiated a conversation with Aahana “You can have a seat here.” His then-girlfriend Rosina pinched him, "Why are you calling her? Stay off".

Aahana felt shy and as usual, sat at the back. The professor began with the project topics. When Aahana’s turn came, he asked: “Even this time, you will do the project alone?” She was silent and a sudden hand rose from the front bench. “No sir, I will be accompanying her”. Rosina was distressed. "Chill dear, we’ll have fun with her," affirmed Rehan.

 

Three of them began the project. One fine day in the college cafeteria while having coke, Aahana’s bag fell, and a lot of sketches fell out too. Those sketches were of Rehan. Aahana deeply admired him, just never spoke. That fine moment, Rehan gifted her those red heels as a mark of their relationship anniversary. (It was the same heels to which Aahana crafted a different story)

Their project didn’t go well as Aahana was betrayed by the twain. That day she shouted a lot at Rehan and said that she would never forgive him.

Aahana was thinking about all those times after Rosina departed from her room. And unexpectedly the doorbell rang a second time. It was Aahana’s dad. “Dear sweetheart how are you?” " I’m good Dad, say what made you turn up again, hopefully not the same demand". “Listen, my daughter, your husband can be a great cynosure for my international science exhibition, scientists from all over the globe are coming, please bring him for a day.” requested her dad. Aahana was already agitated and she shouted weepily “Dad he isn’t a product, he is my husband, I love him; neither is he born for your exhibition stuff nor I’ll send him with you.” Her dad laughed, " Your husband, who has no feelings and emotions, one who is not a human being! Come on grow up dear". Aahana asked her dad to leave.

 

Rehan's energy had reduced considerably after working for hours. He fell on the ground as he rushed outside and came in contact with rainwater. The emergency ambulance had to be called. When Aahana got the call from the nurses, she rushed. Nevertheless, Rosina was behind her, noticing everything and driving the car fast in the same direction.

Aahana battled on her own and pleaded the doctors to hand over Rehan to her as only she could rescue him. She called up her dad and began with the treatment. She became nostalgic during the entire treatment process. It was as if the past was flashing its scorching light beams and breaking through the seams.

As soon as Rehan got to his senses, Aahana was the first one to hold his hands and sit. She hugged him. Suddenly, Rosina came in shouting “Honey, she is cheating upon you, she had made you a fake body, remember I am the one you got engaged to and we were about to marry!”

Rehan got back almost all his past memories while he fell on the ground. Still, he said “Maybe what you are speaking is the truth but the present truth is that I love Aahana and none of the past memories could replace this fact cause I love her the way she is! You must quietly leave the two of us.” This left Rosina in an unexpected shock as she hustled outdoors noisily.

Rehan and Aahana were about to reach home from the recovery center. En-route Aahana could not stop thinking why Rehan had rescued her and taken her side when his memory had come back. Once they got back home, Aahana called up her dad and said, “I’m going to wash away all the anchors today, probably the last emotion that I’m sharing with you”.

Moving towards the drawing table she said, "Rehan I want to tell you a dangerous secret. Maybe after hearing this, you will hate me bitterly". He said, "Come on honey, it’s a grand occasion for us, it’s our reunion as a couple. I hope you have something special to speak".

It took all her courage to speak, “Rosina was right, you both were into a relationship. After the college incident, you came like an unexpected storm into my life one day. You joined the same institute where I was interning. I didn't bother you but you made constant efforts to apologize to me. One day while leaving from work you again approached me, I did not talk to you, it was raining heavily and you were drenched, so I offered you my umbrella. You showed me a bunch of papers that held my sketches. You said ‘I’m seriously sorry for all my previous mistakes, I have crafted your sketches with great love please take this as I’ll be leaving tomorrow”. I smiled at those sketches and said I would always be happy whenever I sketched you! A sudden wind blew, those sketches flew away, and like an insane person, I rushed to collect them from the roadside. All of a sudden a car hit me. You pushed me out of the way and saved me, but hurt yourself grievously in the process. The denial of death became your acceptance! I was helpless, I couldn’t call the police as you were about to die, I called up my dad and your heart was beating slowly. I asked my dad to convert you into a cyborg as I could never afford to lose you. And that’s the reason you are here” she halted.

Hearing this Rehan was very agitated and held her neck as if he would kill her right then. She held a glass of water and drank in a hurry. In a bid to commit suicide she had already taken medicines before revealing the secret to him assuming that he wouldn’t be able to digest the truth. Rehan eventually calmed down and said “Honey it didn’t even bother me much, you are the one who brought me back to life, I was a dead person. This life is a gift from you to me, thanks for loving me more than yourself” But it was already late as Aahana had gulped down those medicines. She was losing her breath in his arms. He went into a shock and shouted: "Aahana wake up, what is happening to you’?"

 

At the Dinner Table.

Rehan with his in-laws and Aahana, everyone was seated and about to raise a toast to the charming couple. With tears in his eyes, Aahana’s dad said, "Your call really startled me. I was shocked at the thought of losing you.”

Aahana spoke, ”Oh Papa, don’t be so sentimental, I will cry too and we all will spoil the dinner. See mom is so happy today. Her makeup will be ruined", she giggled.

Rehan and Aahana felt the joy of everlasting love and perennial family and, both exchanged smiles.

The red light glowed at Aahana’s back. This was the sweet end of their love story. Both were a cyborg now!

 

 Love is the most miserable thing in life, people who get it don’t value it. Those who don't find it hunger for the same. Those who don’t have it want to still experience it. The truth of the matter is that the route towards finding an ideal partner is walking on a steep, narrow road. You may not get the best at first but you will still have to climb mountains, face valleys and maybe then you would encounter the right love that will be the key towards the lock of your heart.