A Thousand Years
"Love is that
condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."-- Robert A.
Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land.
~ATY~
He was in his
car, waiting for the red light to turn green. Romantic music was playing on the
Radio on the occasion of Valentine's Day; and each and every song reminded him
of 'her;' the love of his life and the only reason for his living.
His mind drifted
off to the last years Valentine's Day. He remembered each and every detail of
that night. Why will he not? Only in that one night he had faced so many
emotions -- happiness, cheerfulness, adoration, love, hurt, longing and anguish;
Happiness and Cheerfulness because he was finally going to confess
what was there in his heart; Adoration because as soon as his eyes had
fell on her he couldn't help but adore her, just like he always did; Love
because that's what he did . . . love her immensely and irretrievably, right
from the moment his eyes had fell on her the first time;
Hurt because when he had confessed his love to her, she had not said the
same thing back to him. For her they were only friends, like he believed her .
. . he had seen the love in her eyes several times . . . or so he thought. But
at that night, just for a flash of second he had seen the love again, which led
to Longing. And Anguish because from that night he was in pain
and was still grieving over it.
It was exactly a
year now and his feelings were still the same. He was still waiting for some
magic to happen and hoped that she would feel the same way he feels for her.
But he knew that it was not going to happen. He knew it because she now
belonged to somebody else. Even thinking about this would break his heart into
thousands pieces.
The very next
day, after that night, his father had offered him a project, which he accepted
without even thinking for a second and after a couple of days he'd left for
America. He couldn't stay in India and be without seeing her every day, be
without being with her, be without talking to her, hearing her constant
chattering. So he thought it was better if he stays away. Maybe it will help
him to forget her; which, deep down somewhere in his heart, he knew, was not
possible.
Each and every
second he would think about only her. He would engross himself in work so that
his mind would not drift off to her but every moment would remind him of her. As
if remembering her every second was not enough to break his heart, than she
started sending emails. Asking him where he was, why didn't he meet her before
he left? She would ask him to talk to her. All her emails would send a jolting
pain to his heart and he wanted to just pick up his phone and call her up or
better, take a flight back to India.
Her emails relatively
slowed down and then it stopped completely. This again hurt him. She forgot
him? So easily? He would wonder. But then he would also get worried, what
if something happened to her? What if she was not well? He would pick up
his phone, her name was first in his contact list, but one thing he was not
able to do was push the call button. He would then keep his phone back, close
his eyes and pray for her well-being.
After a couple
of days he was still worried so he decided to call up their common friend, Jai.
He was always in touch with him and would indirectly ask about her. Even that
day he indirectly asked him about her. And he was shocked at what he heard; it
broke his already broken heart into thousands of more pieces.
She was getting
engaged; not only that, her father had fixed the alliance long back; after
hearing that he didn't wish to hear anything else and cut the call.
He was very
angry and hurt. He wanted to call her up and yell at her for not telling him
about her alliance. They were supposed to best friends then why didn't she tell
him? Didn't she know about the alliance? Obviously she would know; her father
would not fix her marriage without her approval right? Then why didn't she tell
him? She could have mentioned that in the thousands mail she sent to him. All
these thoughts increased his rage and he threw his cell phone on the mirror,
breaking it into thousands of pieces, just like his heart was broken.
It took him some
time to calm himself down. Maybe they were not meant to be together. Maybe that
other man deserved her more than he did. Maybe she'll be happier with him.
Though these thoughts hurt him, he still couldn't help but think about her
happiness. Her happiness mattered the most to him; with or without him, he
wanted her to be happy. But he would still love her. She would always remain
his first love.
A honking of car
behind him brought him back to present. He realized that the signal had turned
green. He put his car in gear and drove towards his destination.
He put his car
in park, climbed out, locked the car and double checked it. He then entered the
building and walked towards where the security guard was sitting and was
engrossed in his cell phone. He tapped the table to gain the security guard's
attention. The security guard gave him a questioning look and he replied his
unasked question by saying his name, "Arjun Singhania."
The guard nodded
and took Arjun towards the private lift which was just for the pent house on
the 21st floor. Arjun thanked him and entered the lift. He closed
his eyes and leaned on the lifts wall.
It's been only
three days since he had come back to India and he was already invited to a
party. He was not really in a mood to party, especially today. He just wanted
to be left alone but Jai had emotionally blackmailed him and he was forced to
come to the party. He had cursed Jai the whole time.
He opened his
eyes when he heard the lift open. He walked out and moved towards the only door
on the floor. He was about to knock on the door when he noticed that the door
was slightly ajar. He opened the door a little and put just his head inside.
He frowned and
opened the door completely. The hall was decorated with pink and white drapes,
heart shaped balloons again in pink and white colors were spread around but
there was no one around. He looked at his wrist watch to check if he have
arrived early but no he was not early, in fact he was almost an hour late, then
where were everyone?
Is he on the
wrong floor? But that was not possible; Jai had said that the party was at his
newly bought pent house. And he had asked Arjun to tell his (Arjun's) name to
the guard and he will take him to the private lift. He then decided to call up
Jai to clear up all the confusion.
Just as he was
about to hit the call button, he felt some movement towards his left. He turned
his face and saw that the moving object was the drapes which were flowing
around because of the wind coming from the open terrace.
Then his eyes
fell on the round table covered with white silk and two chairs opposite each
other placed on the center of the terrace. A vase with a single red rose was
exactly placed on the center of the table.
His feet on
their own accord stated moving towards the terrace and stopped near the table.
He looked at the table where the plates, spoons, forks, knives and two wine
glasses were very nicely arranged, and along with the vase there was a unlit
candle, a wine bucket with white wine in it and it was a table only for two
people. He then looked around and noticed that the railing was nicely decorated
with white and pink drapes. There were two other tables at the corner. One had
a microwave and several covered bowls; maybe filled with food. And on the other
table was a music player which was filling the air with soft music. The
atmosphere was totally romantic.
Jai must have
cancelled the party and would have invited his fiance. Arjun assumed by the
romantic atmosphere around him. Jai must have forgotten to inform him. He shook
his head at his friend's forgetfulness.
He was just
about to turn around and leave when a gentle wind blew around him, indicating
of someone's presence. The hair at the back of his neck stood up; the presence
was way too familiar. He could feel the vibrations, the jolting electricity
around him whenever he was in the same presence; the very same presence in
which he can live all his life.
He didn't have
to turn around to know the person. He can recognize that very person just by
being in their soothing presence. But he couldn't even stand there just like
that, even if he wanted to.
But he didn't
want to stand like that, he wanted to turn around and have a look at that
person. And that's what he did the next second. He turned around and his heart
skipped a beat as his hazel eyes met the black ocean; the same black ocean in
which he had look for about thousands of time; the same black ocean in which he
wanted to drown. But today the warmth in the black ocean which was always
present was absent. It was showing sadness, longing and was that . . . love?
He forced his
eyes to move from the black ocean and look at the beautiful face. His eyes took
in each and every inch of the beautiful face and he noticed that just like always
there was minimal amount of, just kajal and lip gloss. There was a small
silver bindi adorning her forehead. And her silver nose ring was like a
cherry on the cake. He really loved that nose ring in her button like nose. Her
long silky hair, through which he was yearning to move his finger's from were
left open, with slight curls at the base and he noticed that her ears were
embellished with small silver jhumkas.
His eyes move
down, towards her neck where there was just a thin silver chain with a single
pearl drop. His eyes lowered and he noticed that she was wearing a saree. Not just any saree, it was the saree
which he had gifted her exactly a year back. It was a pink colored net saree, with silver border, embroidery of
pink flowers on the pallu, the base was filled with silver polka dots
and her silver sandals were trying to peep out from below her saree. The
blouse was the same color and was sleeveless with low cut neck line. She looked
just the way he had imagined when he had seen the saree in the mall. And both her hands were filled with silver churis
making a slight soothing sound whenever her hands would move.
His eyes moved
all over her, he couldn't take his eyes off her, neither did he wanted to. Even
after a year she looked just the same but she had grown a little thin. Was she
not eating properly? Even after that, she was looking like a Goddess who has
just walked down the heaven, just to bless him with her presence; just to
spread her magic on him.
His eyes again
met the black ones and he suddenly realized what he was doing. He was looking
at somebody else's fiance in a way which was completely wrong.
"What are you
doing here?" he asked turning to the other side. His voice was a little shaky
because of shock of seeing her here.
"This shirt
makes you look handsome, Arjun," she said, not answering to his question.
Arjun let out
the breath which he didn't realize he was holding and closed his eyes as her
heard the sweetest melody he's ever heard and to which he was listening to
after a year. A rush of relief ran down his body and he took a few calming
breath, his eyes were still closed.
He opened his
eyes and looked down towards his clothes. When he was getting ready for the
evening, he had randomly picked out his clothes without paying any attention.
He was wearing blue jeans, a white jacket and a pink and white striped shirt
underneath it; the shirt which she had gifted to him two years back on his
birthday. And whenever he would wear that shirt, she would always say that, "This
shirt makes you look handsome, Arjun." And he would always reply by saying,
"'I am handsome.' And this shirt is looking good because 'I'
am wearing it."
But today he
didn't reply by saying that, instead he said, "That's not the answer to my
question, Arohi." The word 'Arohi' came out as a whisper from his mouth.
He had said that name thousands of time in the past year, but always in his
heart, it never came out loud. But today when he said it, his heart leaped.
He waited for
her to say something but she didn't say. He knew that she was still there, he
could feel her presence. He finally turned around and looked at her again.
"What are you doing here Arohi?" he asked keeping his face straight; trying to
hide the various emotions, which he was sure, was reflecting on his face.
He saw Arohi's
lips curve in a small smile. He was trying so hard to hide his emotions. But he
could never hide them . . . from her.
"How are you
Arjun?" she asked not answering to his question again.
This frustrated
him. What is her problem? First she surprises him by being here, second she's
looking so damn hot and beautiful in that saree and third she's avoiding
his question and in return, questioning him.
"Why aren't you
answering to my question? You are still the same, stubborn little brat," he
almost yelled in frustration.
"And you are not
answering to my question. Even you are still the same angry young man," Arohi
snapped back.
Arjun's nose
flared with anger. "I.AM.NOT.AN.ANGRY.YOUNG.MAN," he said through his teeth,
putting stress on each and every word.
"AND.I.AM.NOT.A.STUBBORN.LITTLE.BRAT,"
Arohi imitated him, only to irritate him more.
"See, you are
being stubborn again," Arjun said pointing a finger towards her.
"And you are
being angry young man again," Arohi replied and smirked. She was enjoying this.
Just like always she enjoyed arguing with Arjun.
Arjun closed his
eyes and took few deep calming breaths. This was not helping. Their bickering
will not take them anywhere. He opened his eyes and looked at her only to see
that she was smiling slightly. Arjun shook his head, she was surely enjoying
this.
"Okay, let's
start again?" Arjun asked to which Arohi nodded. "What are you doing here
Arohi? This is Jai's pent house. There was supposed to be a party out here and
I don't see anyone and the atmosphere is . . . well it's definitely not for a
party and . . . what are you doing here?" he babbled.
"I came here to
meet you Arjun," Arohi replied only to his first and last question ignoring
what he said in between.
Arjun shook his
head. "This is wrong," he said.
"Why?" Arohi
asked, her face showing curiosity.
"You shouldn't
be here," Arjun said still shaking his head, and then continued, "You should be
somewhere spending your time with your . . ." he hesitated and then said, "With
your fianc," his voice almost a whisper. His heart pained while uttering those
three words. It was as if someone has struck thousands of needles in his heart.
"I'm exactly
where I want to be," Arohi said sternly and then added, "And I don't have any fianc
. . . I never had."
Arjun looked at
her shocked, "But Jai . . . he said . . ." Arjun was saying.
"Only if you
would have let him complete the whole thing and not cut the call in between,"
Arohi snapped cutting his sentence in the middle.
Then he
remembered, Jai had said that Arohi 'was' going to get engaged,
he father 'had' fixed her alliance; he had never said that she 'is'
going to get engaged. Then one more thing came in his mind, "How did you . . .
?" Arjun started but couldn't complete the sentence, he was still shocked.
"Just like you
would ask about me to Jai, I would ask him about you," Arohi replied to his
incomplete question. She knew what he wanted to ask, she had seen the question in
his eyes.
"Why would you
do that?" Arjun asked. He was very confused with the turn of the events. And he
didn't know where all this was going.
"Exactly why you
did," Arohi replied looking directly into Arjun's eyes. Conveying the message
indirectly and hoped that he would get the message.
He stood still,
rooted at the spot. "Exactly why you did," was echoing in his mind. Exactly
why he did? He did it because he cared for her, because he wanted to know
about her and because he . . . he loves her. Does that mean . . . ?
He asked himself. But what if she just asked because she only cared for him?
As if reading
his mind, Arohi answered his question, "I love you, Arjun." Her voice was loud
and clear. There was no hesitation; it was as if she was absolutely sure about
what she was saying . . . which she was.
Arjun's world stood
still at that moment; Just those four words had turned his world upside down. He
was trying to comprehend about what had just happened. He wasn't even sure if
she had said exactly what he heard or his mind was playing some kind of stupid
game with his heart. He wasn't sure and he wanted to be sure. He wanted her to
repeat what she just said.
"I love you,"
Arohi said again, this time her voice was mere whisper. Tears were beginning to
form in her eyes. But it was not of sadness. It was of relief, it was of
happiness.
Everything was
silent; the only sound around them was of the blowing cool wind. And they were
looking in each other's eyes as if trying to read each other's souls, trying to
find the answers to the unasked questions. There was almost a five steps gap
between them.
Suddenly music
started playing in the background and Arjun recognized the song immediately, it
was the song which said exactly what his heart felt for Arohi.
Arohi was
looking directly into Arjun's eyes, trying to tell him that this song says
exactly what she feels. She saw a change in his expression and smiled, her
message was conveyed.
The day we met, [Arohi
remembered the day they had met for the first time almost 5 years back, it was
the first day of their college and they were in the same class,]
Frozen I held my breath, [The
moment she had looked at him, she stood frozen and she'd held her breath,]
Right from the start, [Right
from that moment,]
I knew it I found a home for my, [She knew that she'd found a place, a home, for her heart,]
Heart beats fast, [Her
heart was now beating fast,]
Colors and promises, [It
was now filled with colors, with promises which she wanted to make to him,
which she wanted him to make for her,]
How to be brave, [Last year
when Arjun had confessed his love to her, at that time she didn't knew how she
could be brave and confess back to him,]
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall, [She couldn't tell him that even she loved him, when somewhere deep
down she was sacred that her heart would be left broken,]
But watching you stand alone, [But when after thinking for about three days, she remembered him
standing by his car after his confession, looking completely heartbroken.]
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow . . . [All her doubt had somehow gone away and she knew that he would
never break her heart, but he had already left by then . . .]
One step closer . . . [She
took a step towards him, reducing the gap between them . . .]
I have died everyday waiting for you, [Tears formed in her eyes again, this is exactly how she'd lived the
past year,]
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you, [She was telling him that he should not be afraid now, she had
always loved him,]
For a thousand years, [From
the moment they met,]
I'll love you for a thousand more . . . [And she'll love him the same way till her last breath . . .]
[Arjun
understood each and everything, he now knew that even she loved him from the
very first moment but she didn't confess back because she was scared. And that
she would love him all her life.]
Time stands still, [As
Arohi has confessed now, Arjun world has stopped,]
Beauty in all she is, [He's
telling her that she's looking beautiful, she 'is' beautiful,]
I will be brave, [He's
telling that he'll be brave,]
I will not let anything take away, [He'll not let anything take,]
What's standing in front of me, [her away from him,]
Every breath,
Every hour has come to this . . . [His every breath, every hour of his life, he was waiting for her
confession . . .]
One step closer . . . [This
time along with Arohi even he took a step closer . . .]
I have died everyday waiting for you, [Now he was saying that he had died everyday waiting for this moment,]
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you, [He was telling her that she should not be afraid as he is now here
and he has always loved her,]
For a thousand years, [And
he still loves her,]
I'll love you for a thousand more . . . [And he'll keep on loving her till his last breath . . .]
[A tear escaped
Arohi's eyes when she understood his unsaid confession.]
And all along I believed I would find you, [She was telling him that somewhere in her heart she knew that she
would find him again,]
Time has brought your heart to me, [This time, Valentine's Day has brought his heart back to her,]
I have loved you for a thousand years,
I'll love you for a thousand more . . .
[As the music played
in the background they kept on looking at each other. Telling each other, silently
about how much they love each other.]
I'll love you for a thousand more . . .
One step closer . . . [They
both took the final step closer, there was no gap in between them now, and they
could feel the warmth from each other's body, they could feel the electricity
which they always felt . . .]
I have died everyday waiting for you,
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you,
For a thousand years,
I'll love you for a thousand more . . .
[Arjun cupped
her face in both his hand making her eyes close as if she just wanted to feel
him. He wiped the tears on her cheeks with his thumbs and kept on looking at
her, waiting for her to open her eyes, he wanted to look in them before he did
what his heart wanted to do.
Arohi couldn't
keep her eyes closed for a long time, she could feel his gaze. She put her
right hand on his left one which was still cupping her face and opened her eyes
slowly. She leaned her face into his hands and smiled at him.
Arjun's hands
moved from her cheeks to her shoulder and he gently pulled her towards him, all
this time his eyes were on her lips. One of his hands moved from her shoulder
to the back of her neck, which sent a jolt of electricity through Arohi's body
and made her shiver slightly. Her hands were clutching the collar of his jacket
tightly.
Arjun leaned his
face forward and angled his face. Their faces were just a couple of centimeters
apart from each other's and they could feel each other's breath on their faces.
Arjun looked in
her eyes, just before he closed them and covered the gap by placing his lips on
her. The moment their lips touched, a jolt of electricity rushed down both
their bodies making them pull back a little.
Arjun waited for
a few seconds before he placed his lips back on her, only this time it was
firm. He took her bottom lip in his mouth and sucked on it gently; making both
their senses go numb. Arjun gently bit her lip when she didn't kiss him back;
it was to tell her to kiss him back as he was getting impatient.
Arohi sucked on
his upper lip the same way as him. She felt his hand move towards her back,
pulling her closer. Her own hands moved towards his neck, into his hair. She
gave a gentle tug to his hair making him groan in her mouth.
Arjun traced her
bottom lip with his tongue, urging her to open her mouth. Arohi gasped, and
Arjun took this as a chance to enter his tongue in her mouth. Arohi moaned as
Arjun deepened the kiss and goosebumps spread all over her body.]
And all along I believed I would find you,
Time has brought your heart to me,
I have loved you for a thousand years,
I'll love you for a thousand more . . .
The music kept
on playing as they kissed each other passionately till there was a need to
breathe. Arjun placed a few more kisses before he pulled back and leaned his
forehead on hers pulling her towards him; hugging her tightly. They both were
breathing heavily with their eyes closed. And they could just describe their
kiss as intoxicating and the best first kiss.
Arohi leaned her
head on his chest, near his heart which was beating a mile per hour and hugged
him by placing her hands around his waist from beneath his jacket and clutched
his shirt in her fingers.
Arjun placed his
cheek on her head, his eyes still closed and still hugging her tightly.
They both wanted
to stay just like that for their whole life, in each other's arms; feeling each
other's heartbeat, which was beating for each other. Arjun would place a kiss
on her head after every few moments.
The silence
around them was soothing. No words were needed as their hearts were speaking
for speaking for them.
"I owe Jai an
apology," Arjun said breaking the silence.
"Why?" Arohi
asked, not moving out of Arjun's embrace.
"Because I think
I have cursed him thousands time for forcing me to come here," he replied.
Arohi hummed and
nodded her said, saying, "Then you surely do." And there was silence again.
"Arohi?" Arjun
said in a questioning way to which Arohi hummed, telling him that she's
listening. "How did you know that I have come back?" he asked.
Arohi pulled
back a little to look at his face and replied just by uttering a single word,
"Jai."
Arjun laughed
slightly, who else can tell her. "I was obvious, wasn't it?" he asked to which
she nodded. Arjun leaned his forehead on hers and watch her close her eyes. "I
think I owe him a thank you as well," he added and saw Arohi nod her head.
They stood like
that for some time with Arohi's eyes closed, Arjun eyes gazing at her, both
their foreheads joined and they still had their hands around each other.
"Arohi?" Arjun
whispered, his voice was filled with so much emotion that it made her open her
eyes. "Marry me?" he asked looking directly in her eyes.
Her heart
stopped, she had dreamt so many times about Arjun proposing her, quoting
different movies, singing songs but she never knew that just the two words "Marry
me," will stop her heart, make her feel as if she was on the top of the
world.
Arjun saw her
eyes widen in shock. Didn't she want to marry him? Is she still scared that
he'll break her heart? Is he going very fast? But he didn't want to wait.
"Arohi?" he said trying to gain her attention.
Arohi came out
of her trance and saw that Arjun was frowning. "Right now?" she asked sweetly,
tilting her head a little.
Her gesture
answered all of Arjun's questions and made him smile. He tilted his head to the
other side and whispered huskily, "Right here."
Arohi gave a
slight laugh at his cheekiness and shook her head. "Do you think our parents
and friends will let us live in peace if we did that?" she asked, placing her
hand on his cheek.
Arjun shook his
head first, pouting like a small child and then nodded his head. Their parents
and friends will surely taunt them for the rest of their lives if they got
married without including them. Arjun smiled cheekily when a thought came in
his mind. He pulled her towards him and said, "Then let's get engaged."
"And where is
the ring?" Arohi asked putting her arms around his neck.
Arjun's face
fell for a second and then he looked around to find something which can act as
a substitute to a ring. Something at the corner caught his attention and he
smiled widely. He looked back at Arohi and said, "I'll be right back." With
that he placed a small kiss on her lips making her blush and walked towards the
corner.
Arohi looked at
him as he walked towards where the food was kept and smiled when she saw him
tear a small piece of foil.
Arjun gave the
small piece of foil the shape of a ring and smirked at his handiwork. He turned
around and walked back towards Arohi and saw that she was smiling.
"Well . . . I
guess we'll have to manage just with this now," he said pointing towards the foil
and then back at his love.
"I don't mind,
if you promise to buy me a proper ring tomorrow," Arohi said making Arjun
chuckle and heard him say an okay.
He went down on
his one knee and looked up at her making Arohi gasp; she had not expected him
to go down on his knees.
"Arohi
Ahluwalia," he started, "This might not be the proposal, the way you have
dreamt. But I would just like to tell you that, I want to spend the rest of my
life with you; by caring for you, by growing old with you and moreover . . . by
loving you. I want to be a most important part of your life and I
want you to be the most important part of my life. I want to make the cutest
babies with you. I'll spoil them and you'll teach them how to be good, how to
caring and how to be loving, just like you do." He paused and saw that tears
were rolling down from her eyes; his own eyes were a little wet. Not only
Arohi, even he had dreamed about proposing to her in different ways. "Arohi
Ahluwalia, will you marry me?" he said the final words.
Arohi wiped her
cheeks and nodded her head. "Yes," she whispered first, then laughed shakily
and again said "Yes," this time it was louder.
Arjun smiled
widely and stood up. He placed the ring in her ring finger. He then pulled her towards
him and hugged her. He lifted her up and twirled her around. Arohi kept her
hands around his neck and pressed her face in his neck. Both of them were
laughing loudly.
Arjun placed her
back on the ground and kissed her with all his might. And Arohi kissed him back
matching his passion.
They broke the
kiss and again hugged each other. Though they both knew that her answer would
be yes, there was still some excitement and anxiety present. This was the
happiest moment of their life. They had waited too long for this moment and
know that they'll cherish it forever. The past year was painful for them but it
had also helped them by making their love only stronger. And now it will grow
stronger with each passing moment.
"I love you,
Arohi," Arjun finally said.
Arohi sighed,
she was waiting for him to say those words. "I love you too, Arjun," she said
snuggling her face in his chest.
"For a thousand
years," Arjun said placing a kiss on the top of her head.
Arohi smiled and
placed a kiss on his chest. She then whispered, "For a thousand more . .
."
. . . The End
~ATY~
"True love is
rare, and it's the only thing that gives life real meaning."
-- Nicholas
Sparks, Message in a Bottle.
~ATY~
Edited by veds_6791 - 20 February 2013 at 7:48am