SHORT STORY #2 - LOVE REDEFINED

Knock knock.

Someone knocked at the door. My mom looked at me, beckoning me to check who was at the door. I wiped my tears, stood up and walked to the door at snail's pace. I was, obviously, trembling.

Anyways I looked through the peep hole on the door.

"Who is it"? My mom demanded.

"It’s Pragathi, ma"! I said, in a surprised tone.

Pragathi is my friend ever since we started schooling. But she had shifted to Trichy for her UG and PG, while I did mine in Chennai itself. We were always in touch through Facebook and mobile phone. So, after 6 long years, she is here at my doorstep to see me.

"Oh! Pragathi"! Saying, my mom smiled. "But, does she know about what is happening here"? She asked, her smile fading away.

"You confiscated my mobile and I didn't have any contact with the external world for the past 3 months. So, No"! I said sarcastically.

"Mind your tongue, Anjali". My mom said.

Knock. Knock. "Anjali"?? Pragathi called out to me.

"Can I open the door"? I asked my mom, without leaving the sarcasm.

"Yes"! She said, staring at me, but continuing to cut the vegetables with some skill.

I opened the door.

"Anjaliiiii"! Pragathi dragged my name as usual and hugged me.

“Oh my God! Pragathiiii! So happy to see you"! Which I was indeed. I hugged her back.

"So how are you? It's been such a long time, right"? She released me from her clutches. "Yeah! I'm good! How have you been"? I asked, shoving her in.

"Not bad, Anju"! Saying, she smiled. Then, seeing my mom, she said

"Hi Aunty! I don't think I should ask 'How are you' because you look as charming as ever"! She winked. My mom turned all pink at the compliment.

"Oh! You, Pragathi have not changed a bit. Come sit. I'll bring you, your favorite coffee". My mom stood up from the table, took the vegetables and moved to the kitchen.

"Sure Aunty! And I can't wait to taste your Sambhar rice again"! Pragathi was mad about my mom's Sambhar rice. Actually, it's not just her. Every one of my friends, who had my mom's Sambhar rice, would all drop by my home just for the sake of eating it. My mom loved serving them all too. "Definitely Pragathi. You'll get it for dinner". My mom was already done with the coffee. She brought a cup for me and one for her and then went back to the kitchen to prepare dinner. We settled down in my room with the coffee.

"Anju! Why is your mobile phone always switched off? What’s happening"?

"Oh! Wait". I closed the door and started telling about how I told my parents that I wanted to marry Shiva, my college mate and how my parents reacted to it by putting me in 'house arrest' and seizing my mobile and cutting my contact with the outside world.

"Oh my God! Am so sorry, Anju".

"Don't be! I knew this would happen anyway". I said wiping my tears off.

"If you knew that this would happen, then why fall in love at the first place"?

"I don't have an answer for that, Pragathi. I guess, I was just too blinded by his love for me".

She smirked and said “I guess, at some point every girl is blinded by her guy's love".

I looked at her puzzled. "What happened between you and Rithesh? Did you guys stop fighting or what"?

"Fighting is not the problem. That happens in every relationship right"?

"Hmmm yeah! So you guys back to normal uh"? I enquired her. That's when I realised that she was weeping. I went near her and took her hand. "What happened, Pragathi"?

She started crying now. I took her into a hug and said, "It’s going to be okay. Pour it out to me. You'll feel better".

"No. I will never feel better. I ended my relationship with him. ‘I’ ended it". She continued crying.

"Oh my God! But why? You love him so much"!

"I do! But unlike you, I realized I can't go against my parent's wishes. I know that you'll ask me the same question that I asked you 'Why fall in love at the first place'? Even I don't have an answer for that".

"But initially you said you'll be able to convince them right"?

"Yeah! But the ambience at home changed. Suddenly my parents seem to be stricter. If I tell about Rithesh, then I would also wind up like you at home. I don't want that".

I was shocked listening to her last few words.

"Wrong, Pragathi! First of all, I'm not going against my parent's wishes. I'm still here, waiting for them to accept the guy whom I chose for myself. Is that too much to ask for"?

"I can understand that, Anjali. But why at the cost of your freedom? Look at you. Disconnected from all your friends. Is that worth it"?

"Friends will always be there, Pragathi. I might be missing the fun time with them, but by sacrificing this, am making sure that I don't regret the whole rest of my life. I hope you understand what I’m trying to say".

I made it clear to her that since I know I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Shiva, I was ready to give up few days of fun with my friends. When you fall in love, I guess, 'Struggle' accompanies it.

"Okay! What if your parents don't accept at all? No matter how hard you struggle, what will you do if they don't budge at all"?

"They will accept! I have that confidence". I said.

"What if they don't, Anju"? She kept asking the same question again.

"Is this why you ended your relationship with Rithesh, Pragathi"?

"Yes! I didn't want to drag it till the day my parents say 'no'. It's just, better off now than after two years. I'm just saving myself and Rithesh from a more, worse break up".

"You are just giving up without even trying"?

"I know what their response would be, Anjali. Moreover, Rithesh is trying to be more dominant and restricting me from doing things I like to do".

"You have no idea what I've been through. I gave up my job, because his mom doesn't support it. I gave up dressing up modern because he doesn’t like it.”

"And still you are struggling with your parents to get married to this guy? You are an idiot, Anjali". She was looking at me angrily.

"Wait! Later I made him understand that what he did was wrong. It's not necessary that you have to retaliate all the time. You have told me that Rithesh is the understanding type. I'm sure he will not be dominant if he knows that it affects the relationship. Btw don't be too judgemental". I made her understand.

"Hmmm! Well, that is true. Anyways, what are your parents saying"?

“They are stubborn. Since I'm their daughter, I'm stubborn too. I'm not giving up. I'll never give up. If I give up, I'll be cheating on Shiva. They did not raise me that way. I don't cheat people. Especially the ones I love. So I got to fight for it".

Knock knock.

"Pragathi, Anjali! Dinner is ready".

Pragathi looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and said, "Let’s go and devour your favorite Sambhar rice".

Pragathi grinned.

6 months later.

"Anjaliiiii"!

I know who that is. I saw her climb up the reception stage and then grab me into a hug. Photos were being clicked continuously. "I'm sooo happy for you"! She said, releasing me. I was just blushing.

"Congratulations, Mr. Shiva"! She said, shaking his hand.

"Thank you, Pragathi"! Shiva was blushing too.

"Congrats, Anjali"! I heard someone say beside me. He gave me a bouquet. I thanked him and was about to ask who he was, when Pragathi interrupted.

"Anjali and Shiva! Meet my fiancé, Mr. Rithesh". Pragathi was all smiles.

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