Imagination #4 Her story..

'You ate my chocolate! ‘She said.

'No, you did.' he replied.

'No you...!' She pulled his hair and he did the same. They are acting as if they are going to kill each other for that. 

A garden full of flowers and grass; rose, lily, jasmine and many others have occupied it. There were five bonsai trees. The two kids have filled themselves up with clay. The girl wearing a creamish white little frock with pink printed flowers over it started throwing clay over the boy. The boy wasn't down either. He wore tiny dark blue pants with a SpongeBob printed t-shirt matched up with it. He destroyed her clay house that she carved with much effort. 

Pearly droplets came rushing out through her brown eyes. 'Mamma..!' she cried. 'Ssshhh... Please… Sorry sorry.' the kid pleaded and wiped her tears with his muddy hands almost blackening her face with it. 'Friends?' he said with the sweetest voice and she hugged him. 

Looking at all these things I went back to my days. I was the same girl back then crying at every other reason. And he.. Always ready to wipe my tears off. He was my best buddy. 

*5 years back* 

'Shaina please, give it to me. Right now, I say.'

'You have to try. Come take it.' I ran around the sofa.

'Shaina c'mon now. Don't act like a 5-year old.' with that he bumped onto me and we both fell. 

'Oops..!' I couldn't help but laugh. 

'If a scratch appears, you are dead.'

He snatched his phone from my hand and checked every inch of it. There was nothing to worry about and he gave a sigh of relief. 'Why do you do this always huh?'

'I love the way you run behind me, faking that you are trying.'

'I don't fake it. It's so difficult to catch you.'

I giggled. We were still lying on the floor beside each other. That moment seemed so perfect. He turned towards me and set aside those little strands of hair falling over my face. He came closer and I knew he meant to kiss me. But then his phone rang. He shifted a bit but was determined to kiss me right there.

'Your phone.' I tried to make him realize about it, as though he would listen. 

'Sameer, pick it up. It must be important.' 

'Not as much as you are.'

'You have got whole life to do that. But the phone will stop ringing soon. Pick it up.'

'You always find ways to spoil this mood and I hate you for that.'

'I love the way you hate me.' 

He finally sat straight and turned to the call. 

'Hello.' he said but it seemed like nobody replied from the other side. 

'Mom? Is everything alright? Why are you crying..? Mom!!' he shouted. Romance was nowhere and sky was filled with dark clouds.

'What??? No..! This can't be..! Mom, no!!' he couldn't believe what he had heard. Even I couldn't when he told it to me. His dad passed away and his mom was in a state of complete shock.

A week later, his mom was admitted. Doctors told that it was due to shock and depression. She was in a state of coma. Chances of her recovery were weak. They didn't even set a particular time. She could either get up at any moment or never wake up at all. Everything relied on her will and her body wasn't supporting her. Sameer couldn't take all of this. 

He came up to me, 'Shaina, I'm sorry. But this is over now.'

'What are you talking about? Is aunty alright?'

'No she is not. And I don't know if she'll ever talk to me. But I'm not talking about it.'

'Then? What is it?'

'You and me. It can't be.'

I couldn't analyze his words. What was he saying? You and me? Can't be? I was rewinding his words again and again. What did he mean by that?

He continued, 'We cannot be together anymore. I have this whole family thing to do now. I have three sisters to be wedded. After dad, I'm the only man in the family. Mom is in her worst condition. Her medical treatment and everything; it's just too much and I need a lot of time. I have to look after them. I'm their only hope. And I can't think about anything else right now. You are already 23 and your mom wouldn't want you to wait for me that long. I'm not ready to take up this new responsibility. I just... I just hope you understand.' 

There was nothing left for me to say. He had already cut out all the possibilities for us to be together. I didn't know what to say.

'Can I at least hug you for the one last time?' I said with tears flowing desperately out my eyes. 

'Shaina...' his eyes were wet. He gave me the most peaceful hug. 'I love you and always will.' he said and kissed my forehead.

'I know.' I kissed his cheek and left.

He was standing there when I turned back from the last corner. He waved his hand towards me and I faked a smile. 

It was the last time I saw him. Last time…

*Present day*

A tear fell out from my left eye. I was about to wipe it out when somebody else did that for me. 

'Phir se flashback Mai chali gayi ha?' (Remembering it all again?) He smiled at me and sat beside me.

'That thing never goes out. Every time I see our kids playing, I just go back there.'

'It's alright. It's been 5 years now.'

'Yes. It has. I'm sorry.'

 'Why are you sorry?'

'I’m sorry. Even though I'm your wife, I discuss with you; about him. I don't even think how bad you might feel.'

'I have told this many times that I don't feel bad. In fact I feel happy when you tell me all this. There is nothing hidden between us. And that's what makes our relation strong.'

'He never loved me like how you do.'

'And I'm glad he didn't. Or else I would have never found you. '

I giggled, ‘Why do you so understand? You make me feel so inferior.'

'You are my queen and nothing less than me.'

'I’m so lucky to have you.'

'Yes you are, my lady.'

I kissed him and he kissed me back.

'Mamma..!' came a cry from out in unison.

'You've got kids now. You need to stop kissing me like this publically.'

'Acha bachu..!' I hit him and waved my hand through his hairs. 

I was indeed lucky to have such a caring man by my side. He is more than I deserve. More than I could ever dream. But somewhere deep down, a part of me still remembers Sameer. Still loves him. He was my first love and will always be. But as they say, 'First love cannot be forgotten, but True Love can bury it alive.' And I have found my true love.

Story credits: Rabia

Write up and Editing: StyZie

Follow on:  www.facebook.com/styziie      www.twitter.com/styziie