Unlucky By Chance

Naina had always been a bright student, excelling in her studies and maintaining a disciplined life. Yet, despite all her achievements, a lingering sadness clouded her heart. While her friends received love confessions and proposals, no boy had ever shown romantic interest in her. She often stared at her reflection, wondering if something was missing. Was she not attractive enough? Did she lack charm? These thoughts gnawed at her confidence.

Among her classmates, Raman was her closest friend. They shared everything—from exam stress to family issues, from silly jokes to philosophical debates. Raman was kind, funny, and intelligent, but he had never shown any romantic inclination towards her.

One evening, as they sat together in the college canteen, Naina hesitated before speaking.

"Raman, have you ever... felt something more for me?" she asked, fidgeting with her coffee cup.

Raman chuckled, not realizing the depth of her question. "Naina, you're my best friend! Of course, I care for you. But you know, like a sister or a buddy. Why do you ask?"

Naina forced a smile, feeling her heart crack a little. "Nothing... just curious."

But it wasn't just curiosity. She had fallen for him, deeply. A few days later, she gathered the courage to confess.

"Raman, I love you. I have for a while now," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Raman's face changed, the warmth in his eyes replaced by awkwardness. "Naina... I'm so sorry. I never thought of you that way. You're my best friend, and I don't want to lose you, but... I can't return these feelings."

His words hit her like a storm. She nodded, holding back tears. "I understand. I think... I need some space."

From that day, she withdrew from him. The once inseparable friends became strangers. Her family, noticing her withdrawal, decided it was time to find a suitable groom for her. Within six months, they found Milind, a well-settled engineer. Though her heart still ached for Raman, she agreed to the marriage, accepting fate’s course.

Five days before the wedding, her phone rang. It was Raman.

"Naina... I was an idiot," his voice cracked. "I didn't realize my love for you until you stopped talking to me. I miss you terribly. Please, don’t marry him. Marry me instead."

Tears welled in her eyes. She had waited so long for these words, but it was too late.

"Raman, I can’t do that to my parents. Their happiness means everything to me. I'm sorry."

Despite the unbearable pain, she went ahead with the marriage.

In the beginning, things seemed fine. Milind was respectful, and she tried her best to adjust. However, she soon noticed his indifference. He never asked how her day was or showed any affection.

One evening, after a particularly cold exchange, Naina confronted him.

"Milind, do you even want this marriage? You never show any emotions toward me!"

Milind sighed, rubbing his temples. "Naina, there's something I need to tell you. This marriage was not my choice. I was in love with someone else, but my parents rejected her because she was from a different state."

Her world shattered all over again.

"So, we are both prisoners of our parents' decisions," she whispered. "Because, Milind, I loved someone else too."

For the first time, he looked at her with empathy. "Then what are we doing? Living a life of compromise?"

"I suppose so," she said, her voice hollow.

A long silence stretched between them before Milind spoke again. "Naina, maybe we should think about getting divorced. We deserve to be with the ones we truly love."

Naina nodded, but her heart was in turmoil. She thought of Raman. Did he still love her? Or had she lost him forever?

Determined to find out, she dialed his number. The phone rang... and rang... and then stopped. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. Minutes later, a message popped up on her screen.

"Raman is getting married next month. I thought you should know. Take care."

Naina felt her world collapse for the second time. She had held onto a sliver of hope, believing that love could wait, that destiny would be kind. But Raman had moved on. He had given up on her just as she had given up on him.

She turned to Milind, who had read the message over her shoulder. A bitter smile crossed his face. "I suppose we lost our chances, didn't we?"

Naina wiped away a tear and straightened herself. "Yes. And now, we have to live with our choices."

And so, they continued their lives together, bound by duty but forever haunted by the ghosts of the love they had lost. A love that had once been within reach, now nothing more than a painful memory.