A person enters this world carrying his destiny and departs carrying his karma. No one comes empty-handed, and no one leaves empty-handed.
The only difference is that this profound mystery is often understood far too late.
Some events occur so suddenly that their very abruptness becomes the measure of their lasting impact. Like waves that crash unexpectedly against one's feet, only to retreat and form a whirlpool that drags one under.
Shreya's personality was such that once someone met her and spoke with her, they were drawn irresistibly toward her. All the world's attractions seemed pale and insignificant before her single smile. Any ordinary young man, like me, could easily have felt that magnetic pull. It was only the discipline I had learned in the Army that had taught me restraint.
He wanted to remain devoted to Kavya, yet even without seeing Shreya, he could not escape her memories. Despite their brief and ordinary acquaintance, freeing himself from her thoughts had become almost impossible.
Arjun said, "There was nothing like physical attraction between us, nor even any meaningful conversation. Yet something existed that triggered me toward her automatically. Even against my will, I kept thinking about her."
After her arrival in his life, he slowly began to recognize his own dual nature. His heart would constantly search for her in phone calls and WhatsApp messages, while his mind desperately wanted to rid itself of her as quickly as possible, knowing he was not worthy of her.
"Change begins first within us, and only then does it gradually become visible outside."
With Kavya, he felt complete, as one feels with a true life partner. But for Shreya, he felt only anxious concern. Whenever he sat idle, he would find himself compelled to think about her future and her well-being. With one, there was empathy and deep tenderness; with the other, she had become the very foundation of his life.
"I had heard people say that 'time' changes everything. But then time itself taught me that it is 'people' who change."
If only she had said there was someone she liked… I would have happily arranged her marriage.
What was the need to tarnish her image any further?
We had already suffered enough scandal. What did she gain by destroying so many lives along with her own?
Even if I am released from here, Kavya's family will never allow me to marry her. And I cannot selfishly ruin her life by tying her to mine.
By now, I must have lost my job as well. No one will employ me. What can I possibly achieve if I go out?
How will I support and raise my family?
Madhav Kaka said, "You want to accept defeat without even fighting, Arjun. You are still living in the moments you shared with her. She has gone, but you are still alive. Your mother depends on you, and your sister must have her own expectations from you. You cannot let the hopes of your loved ones drown because of someone who has already left this world.
As long as hope lives, both your mother and sister live. The day you let go of that, they will be finished too. It seems you have already accepted defeat before the battle has even begun. Get up, Arjun. Fight for your self-respect and for the happiness of your own people. I will help you in every possible way I can."
Arjun replied, "How can I forget those moments that have not yet passed, Kaka?
She was with me yesterday, and she is still with me today. She does not leave me even in my dreams. The moment I close my eyes, she comes to torment me.
How do I distance myself from her?
It feels as if she will take me along with her and not let me live here. Whenever I sleep at night, I see dreams connected to her. Often, I wake up startled and terrified."
Madhav Kaka said, "Without asking you, I have already tried to find out something about Shreya's family." After all, we should know what their intention is. There must be some reason behind involving you in this case. There was no personal enmity between you. So either they were misled by someone, or there is some other motive behind this entire incident. But if you sit idle with folded hands, merely cursing your fate, then not even God Himself can help you.
"God helps only those who help themselves."
We decide nothing about our lives; time decides everything. After a point, one becomes disillusioned not only with others but with oneself as well. The desire to gain or lose anything disappears. Before you reach that extreme point of utter indifference, do something. Until you move your hands and feet, your situation will remain exactly as it is.
Arjun said, "The greatest irony of life, Kaka, is this: when we wish to remain silent, we are constantly prodded and questioned. But when we truly want to speak, there is no one willing to listen. In both tragedies that have struck my life, I screamed and cried out, yet no one heard me. I received no help from anyone. In both places, I was left merely as a helpless, pitiable man."
Madhav Kaka replied, "Looking at the faces of prisoners, it seems that even sorrow has now learned cunning."
See how it roams about wearing the disguise of a smile."A stone is nothing but tears in their solidified form, and tears are stones in their liquefied state.'"
Arjun had once wanted to become famous in some field of life. But then one day his stars collided with Shreya's, bringing a storm into both their lives from which he could not recover.
Now he found himself locked in a small corner of a dark room. He no longer searched for fame; he was only in search of finding himself once again.
© Copyright Pushpa Chaturvedi
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