Bhavna smiled. “What’s there to dodge? I haven’t fallen in
love, at least not in the way you mean.”
“Come on, you went through school and college! Surely
someone must’ve caught your eye,” Sunita persisted, determined to dig out the
truth.
“Well… I had an infatuation with a guy back in class 11.
We’d talk every day. It was more of a crush than anything serious. I moved to
Bengaluru when my dad was transferred, and we lost contact.”
Sunita leaned in with a grin. “If you met him now, would you
tell him how you feel?”
Bhavna hesitated. “It depends. I don’t even know where he is
or what he’s like now. But who knows? Maybe someday.”
“Well, best wishes anyway!” Sunita laughed as she left.
“Don’t forget to come to my wedding.”
That night, as Bhavna drifted into sleep, her mind wandered
back to those Kolkata days. Everything
felt so real in her dream—the school, the bustling bus stop, and Bhola. Tall,
handsome, with curly hair and a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he’d wait for
her every morning at the bus stop and walk her to the bus after school. She
vividly recalled how she’d let crowded buses pass by to spend a few more
minutes with him, sharing snacks and chatting about anything and everything.
The memory of the last day at school stung the most. Her father’s transfer to Bengaluru meant leaving Bhola behind. They had sat quietly in a park, holding hands, knowing they might never see each other again.
“I’ll miss you,” he had whispered. “I didn’t sleep all
night, thinking of ways to make you stay.”
She had smiled through her tears. “Maybe we’ll meet again. Where
do you live? Who knows what life has in store for us?”
“Dhakuria Heights, fourth floor, second on the right side, Southern Avenue. Would you visit me before you leave?” he asked eagerly and added, "Bhola is my pet name outside and Somu in my home."
The dream faded, and Bhavna woke with a bittersweet smile,
her heart unexpectedly light. Bhola occupied her thoughts all day, making her
wonder how he looked now, where he was, and if he still remembered her.
Two days later, at breakfast, her father announced, “I have
some work in Kolkata” and asked her mom,”
Would you like to come along?”
Bhavna’s heart skipped a beat. “Yes! I also wish to join very
much,” she said, her excitement met with laughter. And so, they went.
Once in Kolkata, she made an excuse to visit Adhiti, her friend.
and took a taxi to Southern Avenue, her heart pounding with anticipation. When
she arrived at Dhakuria Heights, her nerves got the better of her. Was this the
right thing to do? She rode the elevator to the fourth floor and knocked on the
door.
A young man, strikingly similar to Bhola, answered, holding
a baby girl. She was shocked for a moment. But the moment he spoke in a loud
voice, she knew it wasn’t Bhola.
“Sorry,” she stammered, backing away. “Wrong door.”
As she hurried toward the lift in great disappointment, she
nearly bumped into someone standing in her way, preventing her from exiting.
“Bhavna?” a familiar voice asked, sending shivers down her
spine. “Is it you, Bhola?”
It was him. Bhola. His soft voice, his familiar eyes,
everything came rushing back. He smiled and pushed her back into the lift. “
Yes, I am Bhola, Bhavna’s soulmate. Wow, you actually came, just like you
promised!”
Bhavna laughed, her heart fluttering. “I went to your place,
and I think it is your brother with a baby in hand who sent me away!”
Bhola laughed. “Oh, him? Let’s go upstairs—my parents will
be thrilled. I’ve told them all about you.”
As they stepped inside, Bhola called out, “Ma! Baba! Come
see who’s here!”
His mother hugged Bhavna warmly. “So, this is the girl who
has our Somu waiting all these years?” she said, caressing her head. “How
lovely you are!”
His father smiled, his eyes twinkling. “Somu refused every
proposal after joining the IAS, possibly rightly, I feel after seeing you,
hoping to meet you again. We’d love to meet your parents and take things
forward if that’s alright with you.”
Bhavna, overwhelmed but beaming, knelt to greet the baby girl who had crawled towards her, tugging at her dress. She picked her up and kissed her soft cheek, her heart filling with joy.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Bhavna smiled at how life had a serendipitous way of bringing things full circle—often when you least expect it
Very satisfying end
ReplyDeleteWonderful Romcom. All is well that ends well.
ReplyDeleteJanardhan N
A simple story, thats all well and good. Fully agree with your concluding lines. We get what we want in most unexpected way and time.
ReplyDeleteNice, happy ending..Calcutta is etched in your memory
ReplyDeleteBreezy and beautiful! As is the author's wont, I thought Sunita's husband would turn out to be Bhola, but am glad I was wrong! Lovely as usual
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Ramakrishnan.
ReplyDeleteMarriages are settled in heaven and ensured in real life!
ReplyDeleteYour stories are reflections and feelings of losing and finding happiness. Appreciate the memories of bygone times, goodness and the pain of living, perhaps both in living in Calcutta ( nay Kolkatta) and Bangalore( Bengaluru).
ReplyDeleteAnother story with positive tone. Nice 👍
ReplyDeleteChitra
A charming and delightful romance- young readers will just gobble it up!
ReplyDeleteA very likeable story where everything was in place till one reached the very end!
ReplyDeleteAnd oh yes, to add some spice, a character was introduced in the story in the form of the married young brother, an almost lookalike to the heartthrob of the leading young lady!