The Tree That Symbolizes Love

The biggest surprise to Ritesh was the disappearance of the girl whom he knew for a long time. Rakhee was not only his neighbor but also his dance partner. They performed on numerous occasions in their college functions, dance competitions in and around the city, and also in the stage shows in the state. Their families also allowed them to perform, stay, and travel together to every place they needed to go. Ritesh was also a brilliant student and on most occasions topped his class and on certain occasions became the gold medal winner in the university. Rakhee was a singer of repute. Both had more than one reason to become each other's admirer.

Mutual respect gave way to love and love reached the new height of obsession when they started dating each other. Each and every day they met in coffee shops, in theatres, and occasionally under a Gulmohar tree in the bank of the river Narmada. Slowly the news of their love story spread beyond the boundaries of the college to knock at the doors of their respective houses. The parents of both were hesitant to let the affair prosper further. But love and flood water often cross the strongest barriers. Irrespective of the restrictions imposed on their meetings they found excuses & means to reach their favorite meeting place, the Gulmohar tree on the banks of river Narmada. The beautiful tree became their most identified and accepted point of meeting and the majority of city dwellers renamed the tree as the lover's paradise. The tree was located in an isolated place and the person sitting under it becomes obscured from most angles. Hence it was a suitable temporary hideout for the two young people.

But something unusual happened on that day when Ritesh was found waiting for a long time underneath the same tree and finally went back frustrated. The same thing happened for the next two days in succession. On the fourth day, he mustered enough courage to go to Rakhee's house to enquire about her whereabouts. What he heard, the earth below his feet collapsed and he fell down to the ground. Her father said that two days before Rakhee was happily married to a guy who was a doctor, working overseas. Ritesh wanted to know the doctor's name and the country where he lived. But the father refused to cooperate.

Ritesh had no other option but to go to the police to find out the veracity of the statement. He also had legal rights also because they had signed a marriage agreement in the registry of marriage in the presence of several friends a few days ago. Rakhee always apprehended some kind of retaliation from her father and insisted to get legal approval for their relationship.

The police filed a missing complaint of the girl but refused to take any action against Rakhee's parents until the investigations were over.

The police investigations are still on but still, there is no trace of Rakhee after 3 years of her disappearance. Ritesh comes to the police station every alternate day with a hope that something positive comes out but goes back empty-handed. He doesn't go back to his home but heads to the Gulmohar tree on foot to stand under it and stare at the leaves and flowers. People say he has gone mad but he knows he will have to wait there. And wait there indefinitely until a lovely voice calls him to turn around and look.........!