Pranav kept checking his phone. Nothing. He sent a whatsapp message to Richa, using his friend's phone. Single gray check.

She is out at the beach, so maybe she doesn't have signal.

But how could she be out of signal when she has the 10:00 am deadline? Will my entire future change just because she didn’t have cellular network?

It is 11:00 am. He has said yes. Yes to get engaged to Niharika. She has said yes too. Suddenly, there was activity in the house. Call pundit ji. Call as many local guests as possible. Muhurat is at 6:30 pm. Another seven hours for Pranav to back out. He was willing to do that. One word from Richa, and he will bail.

One word. That’s all she has to say. She just has to say, ‘yes’. ‘Yes Pranav, I will marry you. Come back’. But it wasn’t coming.

Pranav and Richa were high school and college sweethearts. Long evenings spent together, talking idyllically of a future. Of 2 futures. One of Pranav’s and one of Richa’s. Each confident they will be able to buy the other into their vision.

Within a year of Pranav’s joining family business, lots of alliances began coming from the community. He was a catch. Seems like he was a catch for everyone. Just that Richa wasn’t seeing it. She was focused on her post graduation, internship, and career. She could not think of anything for next 3 years. And ever since she went to another state for studies, much against his wishes, Pranav had begun acting highly possessively. He demanded she shared all her passwords, and many times checked her messages even before she could. Richa began having doubts about having any kind of future with Pranav. And when he began pressuring her for marriage, she felt even more suffocated.

One day, when she was home for summer break, Richa broke up with him. This was not their first break up. Eventually she would come around. In 5 years, they had become used to each other. But this time was different. This time it was an entire family involved. And she wasn’t budging. Angrily, Pranav agreed to meet one of the girls who was touted as an excellent match for him. The only thing left for them was to meet each other, the two families were ready for the engagement. When he told this to Richa, she packed away for that weekend to go to the beach with her best friend, keeping the exact location a mystery.   

Pranav sent a message to her through his brother, as she had blocked him everywhere. He had met the girl, and will get engaged to her the next day at 6:30 pm. But he will call it all off if Richa says yes. The deadline was 10:00 am. Richa asked the brother how Niharika was. He said honestly that she’s very good. Richa had heard similar sentiments from Pranav’s family about this girl.  

It’s 6:30 pm now. Pranav and Niharika are about to exchange rings. He checks his phone again, before switching it off. Nothing. Niharika looks heavenly in her pink and gold outfit. A darkness settled over Pranav.

If she really loved me, she would have stopped me today.

Richa was running feverishly on the packed sand. Running to nowhere. Running from no one. Just running. Using one towel to wipe off tears and sweat both. She had switched off her phone after talking to Pranav's brother. She was off the circuit. She knew next morning she will have to face an angry family for disappearing on them. But she was too scared to switch it on, lest she feels weak again. She knew this evening will change their lives forever. She knew she had lost Pranav. But she knew she had to let it go. She was angry at Pranav for even giving her that last deadline, as if the decision was only hers. A darkness settled over her no matter how fast she ran from it.

If he really loved me, he would not have a backup.

All I can say is I hope Niharila doesn’t try to run Richa off the road in the near future. I have heard this sorta thing happens.

Kris wrote:All I can say is I hope Niharila  doesn’t try to run Richa off the road in the near future. I have heard this sorta thing happens.

  

and i thought i was writing a 'new' story. 


(deleted the rest of personal drama)

Too much to read, so little time.

But just on the title - test of love - which made me open this post:

Love can NOT be tested. It is.

Only "Lovers" are tested.

TruthSeeker wrote:Too much to read, so little time.

But just on the title - test of love - which made me open this post:

Love can NOT be tested. It is.

Only "Lovers" are tested.

That’s a debate I have had within. Should you be testing your lover for his or her love? Or what you feel is enough? I went on to marry a guy who was and is simply forthcoming about what he wants. It’s always a simple - I want you. Never a twisted - I want you only if you want me. Or - if you loved me you would... nothing. Simple and straight.

So I don’t know how it should be. Maybe people who judge others are arrogant.

OTOH, maybe it’s a sign of humility. Like - if you can’t even do this much for me, then maybe I should make peace with that and walk away.

There are two sides to everything. Hard to say what’s better. Upto two individuals to strike a balance, I guess.

"and is simply forthcoming about what he wants. It’s always a simple - I want you. Never a twisted - I want you only if you want me. Or - if you loved me you would... nothing. Simple and straight..."


In my experience, when love is "only" expressed, and not "felt" without even being expressed - one needs to question if its true.


When love is "always expressed" by a "lover" - its a red flag.


Again, I am not the "type" who falls in love. I am too selfish. But when I did, I was "confused". I did not even know it. 


It was never said to me. I just "felt" it.


Again:


"Love can NOT be tested. It is."


"Only "Lovers" are tested."


And I'd add:


"Love is never expressed in words. If it needs to, then it may not be."


Men use words. Women like to hear words. 


Uh uh.


IMHO, love is only a small thing in the bigger scheme of life.


Have U ever visited the National cemetery in Washington DC? 


Looked at those gazillion graves of 16-18 year olds, and wondered?


If not, think about their lives. It will bring out a totally different perspective than "bringing flowers and chocolates to express love". At least it did to me.


Best wishes, and G'nite.