Thursday, April 16, 2015

N - Never

Image courtesy: Google

Read the previous part here.

Natasha 

I watch the bride enter the hall. She looks resplendent in the purple bridal saree. Eyes downcast, the bangles on her hand tinkling against each other as she walked. The big bindi  on her forehead, brings out her eyes. One that was filled with hope. 

I see Hari look at her. As their eyes lock, there seems to be a fleeting look on his face. But it vanishes in an instant. Or had I imagined it? It didn't matter. The wedding took place as scheduled. It felt strange seeing him next to her; as bride and groom, two sides of the same coin. With the weight of the garland weighing his neck, I can see him wipe the sweat off his face. 

Hari, Hari.. What have you gotten yourself into? Wasn't this what you wanted? A lifelong commitment? Were you so obsessed on securing your future that you failed to evaluate if you could actually be compatible with the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?

I don't go up on stage to congratulate the couple, nor do I intend to. I don't know if he's seen me, but strangely, I'm not bothered even if he has. I came here for one thing; closure. And I think have got it. I get up and head outside; my hand cupping my belly. I'm not far along, just a couple of months and the bump is barely noticeable. Like a secret, I hold it close to me. 

Hari

It is just after the wedding that I spot her. Natasha. The girl who was once mine. Walking away, a smile on her face. Do I regret losing her? I don't know. The last time we had met, we had parted ways bitter. I had said a lot of things that I didn't mean to. I had wanted to hurt her. And I did. In the most painful way. Through my words. 

She bit back whatever she had meant to say to me. I was impatient and angry. I knew I had hurt her badly. I wish I could go back in time and wipe away her tears and hold her hands. Like we used to. 

Why she refused to commit to anyone was beyond me. That's just the way she is, I guess. I had wanted to make her mine and that was my big mistake. Deep in my heart I knew that she shall always be one of the best things that had happened to me. 

I sigh and turn to look at my bride. Her cheeks seems to be frozen in a permanent smile as she poses for the camera. She is shy, demure and everything Natasha is not. I stand close to her, our shoulders brushing against each other. And for her sake and mine, I can only hope for it to work out. Hope against hope. Just like how some things are never meant to be. 

The End. 


Linking this post to the A to Z Challenge



37 comments:

  1. I hope for the sake of Hari that his marriage works out. Some relationships never works out in life, no matter how perfect the person is or how happy you are in the relationship. Some things were never meant to be- true. A beautiful, realistic story :)

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  2. Nice piece, makes me wonder how it all turns out. Will they meet again later in life? I want to know!

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    1. Thanks Alana :) Will they meet? I guess that's another story!

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  3. As in real life, there is always another side to the story.
    ~Visiting from AtoZ

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  4. That's so sad! I don't blame Natasha! He's not worth it and she's smart to walk away. Good one Aathira :)

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  5. Hope is everything, today and always!

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  6. ohh poor Natasha :( I feel so bad for her now. Loved the story.

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  7. Wow Aathira, this was lovely.

    Poor Natasha, but I'm glad that she got closure. Because without it, life isn't worth living.

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    1. Thanks Soum! I'm glad that she got closure too.

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  8. Oh...ho life sometimes such a mess! But I am happy Natasha is satisfied!!

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  9. Ooops ...You know i love happy endings. Sigh! How I wish they had understood each other better. But I guess, ego comes in between and extinguishes love in most cases.

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    1. I know! This one had to end the way it did :) Thanks Preethi!

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  10. Such a heartbreak on one side and unneccessary adjustments on the other! Who will be happy? No one I guess!

    The end?? Arre why?

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    1. I guess so!

      Hehehh.. :D It had to end that way. Wicked me!

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  11. I hope for the sake of bride that the marriage works out! She deserves it :)

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  12. The poor Bride! What about the little Bump, which was barely noticeable? A filmy situation? Who knows? These kinds can happen in reality too!

    Whichever ways, your imagination is awesome. Loved the read.

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    1. Exactly. You never know when life will throw a curve ball at you. Thanks Ajay!

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  13. Bittersweet. Sounds like all three of them are in a mess.
    Maui Jungalow

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  14. Oh no, marrying on the rebound is probably the worst thing you can do. Let's hope for Hari's sake it turns out well for him.

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  15. I feel bad for the bride, not her fault to deal with this compromise of a marriage no?

    Some people can never commit, Natasha is one of them. They only cause pain in a lot of other people's lives.

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    1. Sadly, a lot of brides are being made scapegoats.

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  16. Sad story for all three it seems or am I wrong? ;) <3

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  17. Oh god, this is sad in all perspectives. The If only's are glaring in the lives of all the characters.

    If only Natasha has told Hari about the baby...
    If only Hari had known the commitment he was looking for is right there...
    If only the bride had realized that her groom-to-be is not hers to own..

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    1. That was the intention. If only...

      Thanks K!

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  18. Wow. Crisp. Smart. And heartbreaking.

    More of these, please?

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