True Love Comes Back....

Ishita stood in the corner of a large playground and watched the students in school uniform. The sound of the cacophony hit her ears. She knew she was different from all those students. Her casual demeanor was the hallmark of her distinction. 

It was her first day in her new school, and she was more nervous than excited. "From where am I supposed to enter? Which stair? Which floor? Where is my class?" Her mind had many thoughts. Suddenly someone from the back said, "Hi, your name?" She was confused, "Is someone calling me? But nobody knows me here." The voice came again, saying, "Hello." Ishita looked back. A boy standing in front of her, said, "Hi, I am Dhiraj. It seems you are new here." Ishita murmured, "yes."

Dhiraj: "Come with me. I would guide you. But, you are in which class!"

"I am in 5," she paused and added, "B." Dhiraj informed her that he was in 5A - just adjacent to her classroom. They went inside together. He showed Ishita her classroom and moved towards his. 

Ishita was happy on her first day. She liked the boy. "He might be a good friend of mine," Ishita was thinking. Suddenly he came running. "you haven't told me your name yet." She embarrassingly said, "oh, sorry. I am Ishita." Dhiraj said, "okay," and went away. Ishita had a smile on her face.

As time passed away, her new school was no more 'new' to her. She knew every part of it. She knew every teacher there. She had a best friend now. Her name was 'Dipshita.' In the last ten months, Dipshita and Ishita became the closest. Ishita, by then, had forgotten Dhiraj. Now, for Ishita, it was her only friend whom she could trust. 

A year ended. It was the first day of another new session. Ishita was on her way to the assembly point, and she suddenly recalled, "a year ago, I was new to this place, maybe today I will come across many new faces" She smiled and reached. She saw Dhiraj on the same assembly line, and by then, she knew this year they would be in the same classroom. Ishita was excited and wanted him to sit beside her. She wanted to feel close to him. After the assembly was over, Ishita ran as she wished to outrun everybody and sit beside Dhiraj. She reached the classroom, sat on an empty bench, and started looking for Dhiraj. She could not say yet, what she wanted. Suddenly, a boy came and asked, "Can I sit here? I am new to this school. May I?" Ishita replied as fast as she could, "No, you can't. Dhiraj is here." And, only then, Dhiraj came and said, "it's okay. Let him sit beside you. I am sitting in front of your seat." Ishita's cunning face said, "Okay, you newbie. Sit here." She was angry. "I lost Dhiraj." She murmured. After a few minutes, she asked, "Dhiraj, who is sitting with you?" "Dipshita," he replied. Ishita's heart filled with more hatred; she said in a lower tone, "if that boy would not appear suddenly, then I could sit with Dhiraj. And, Dipshita should have told Dhiraj to sit with me." The new boy suddenly said, "Hi, I am Vishal. And, You?" Ishita looked at him with raised eyebrows. Vishal interrupted, "Are you angry?" Ishita shouted, "can you please stop irritating me?" Vishal laughed saying, "actually, I can't." Ishita gave a weird look. "It was great irritating you," claimed Vishal. "And, I am happy to have you as my partner. I feel you are happy, too," added Vishal. Ishita shouted again, "Just stop it." Vishal ended saying, "As you wish, Highness." 

As days passed away, Ishita and Vishal's weird relationship transformed into a strong bond of friendship. Dhiraj, too, was a good friend of Ishita. After a few months, Ishita started harboring a special feeling for Vishal. The session ended, and they all got promoted to the next class.  

The group united again in the new class as all of them were in the same section. Ishita and Dipshita hugged each other happily, and Vishal had a wide smile. Ishita was excited, and she wanted to express her feelings this time. She decided that Vishal would be her partner in this session, too, by her choice. They all entered the classroom. Dipshita came running and claimed that she wanted to sit beside her. Ishita could not utter anything. She remained silent.

Ishita started her journey in this session with Dipshita. She was no doubt her best friend. But Ishita's feelings for Vishal became more potent by the day. She desperately wanted to express her feelings for him. She was getting obsessed.

Hence one day, she shared her feelings with Dipshita, and she reacted, "WHAT? Do you love her? Since when is all this happening?" 

Ishita was a little shy; she slowly replied, "I don't know all that. I have some feelings for him. He feels special each time."

Dipshita: "BUT, do you know what he feels for you?"

Ishita replied, "I don't know. I have never approached him."

Dipshita quickly said, "and never think of approaching him."

Ishita, with doubt on her face, asked, "Why?"

Dipshita cleared away all her doubts. She said, "He is in love, but not with you." 

Ishita shockingly asked, "who is it?"

"He loves Ankita of our class. He admitted it to me," said Dipshita.

Ishita was still in shock, "Are you sure?"

"Very sure, dear," said Dipshita. She continued, "I have another piece of advice for you. Never propose a boy. It's boys who propose, not girls." 

Ishita said, "stop this nonsense. It is not a movie that a boy always had to come forward. What's wrong if girls start admitting their feelings."

"Girls are not supposed to do that," said Dipshita.

Ishita moved away. Even after reaching home, she remained busy in his thoughts. She was in a dilemma. "It's wrong. I know I should not come between Vishal and Ankita." Ishita spent the entire night thinking all those. She, at last, decided that she would talk to him. And, finally, slept at dawn.

The next day, while entering the school, Ishita made her mind to talk to Vishal. She went to the classroom, but it was late. With the teacher's permission and after a lot of interrogation, she entered. Ishita's eyes were enough to prove her sleepless night. After the class ended, she went to Vishal. She asked, "are you busy today after school?"

Vishal: "NO, why?"

Ishita: "Then, can we walk together until the bus stop?"

"Okay, we can," said Vishal with a smile on his face.

The entire day Ishita waited for the school to end. She was restless. She could not concentrate anymore. After the long wait of six hours, the time came. Just when the last bell rang, she looked at Vishal's face. He too looked at her and gave a smile. Ishita became sure that he has not forgotten it. She came out of the school gate and saw that Vishal was waiting for her. Both smiled and started walking together.  In no time, Ishita lost her confidence to open up. 

Vishal started, "are you okay? It seems like you didn't sleep last night."

Ishita replied, "I'm good. What about you?"

Vishal: "I am relaxed as always."

Ishita questioned, "How is love life?" 

He humorously replied, "evolving each day."

"Who is that girl?" Ishita asked.

"She is in our class. You know her, of course." Vishal completed with his smile.

"Yes, of course. I know her," Ishita's heart broke inside. "There is my bus, bye," Ishita added and went away.

She reached home, entered her room, and threw her bag and broke into tears. But, at the same time, she could not forget her feelings. She cried until her eyes were tired. 

Somebody knocked at the door. She opened her eyes and realized it was evening. She was still in her school uniform. She inquired, "who is there?" 

Her mother replied, "You have not made your lunch yet. What are you doing?".

"I will be there in the next two minutes," Ishita answered.

"Come fast," replied her mother, and went away.

Ishita changed her clothes. But, when she looked at the mirror, she realized her eyes have swollen. Hesitatingly she came out of her room. Her mother looked at her, said, "Your eyes have swollen. Whenever your exam comes, your sleep increases."

Ishita relaxed as her mother did not notice her crying. In the next moment, she surprisingly asked, "exams?"

Her mother said, "yes, you have your exams from next week. There is no need to go to school tomorrow. Sit at home and study."

"No, I have to go," Ishita shouted.

But her mother disagrees, and she had to stay back. 

The day appeared when she had her exams. She went inside her examination hall, got her question paper, but had nothing to write. Her uncontrollable eyes always looked at Vishal. It was her story, on each day of the exam.

After the end of the term, everything went back to normal. Ishita made her heart understood; she couldn't have Vishal in her life. She communicated less with him and wanted to forget him forever. 

One day, while entering her classroom, she heard some of her friends were discussing something. She came with a smile on her face; she saw Dipshita there. 

"Come here," Dipshita called her.

She asked, "what are you all gossiping about?"

"Your love life," everybody uttered unitedly.

Ishita interrogated, "What?"

Everybody laughs.

Ankita clarified, "Yes, you love Vishal, but he loves me."

"Nonsense stuff," Ishita shouted and came out of the classroom. On her way, she found Vishal. He asked what was wrong with her. She did not respond, ran away, and locked herself in the washroom. Her eyes got flooded with tears.

 Dipshita knocked at the door. "Come out. It's me," she remarked. 

Ishita came out. She cried and said, "I can't take all these." 

Dipshita enquired, "Are you sure you love Vishal?" Ishita nodded. "Then, stop crying, make him fall for you."

Ishita, in doubt, looked at her.

"Show him that you have fallen for somebody else. Then, he would come and say all those you wanted him to say since long back. And I am there with you." Dipshita told her. 

Ishita agreed, "Okay, there is a boy; he is our senior. I will talk to him. I would explain all of this. And, I am sure he will help you," Dipshita told her. Ishita hugged her best friend.

After some days, Ishita meets Ritwik. Dipshita was talking about this boy. Ishita started, "Hi." 

"I got your letter," Ritwik said and smiled. 

"Letter?" Ishita questioned. 

"Yes, Yes," Dipshita said. She held her hand and said in her ear, "I wrote to him, with your name."

Ritwik: "Girls, I am here to invite you both. It's my birthday tomorrow."

"But, we don't know each other that well," Ishita told him.

"We will get to know each other. I promise," the boy said. 

Dipshita told them that they both would come.

The next day, both the girls reached his place. Ritwik opened the door; he hugged Ishita. But she wasn't comfortable. He held her hand, took her inside. He introduced her to all others as his 'girlfriend.' Ishita was a bit surprised. Suddenly Dipshita said, "Ritwik, cut the cake." All of them stood in front of the cake. But, Ritwik said, "wait, I have a surprise for her." He held flowers in his hand, sat formally with a knee down, and said, "I Love You." Ishita was embarrassed. She said, "NO." She no longer stood there. She went back to her home and cried the entire night. 

The next day she went to school. She had a lot to ask her best friend. 

Dipshita said, "I did those for you. So, you remain happy. You have forgotten everything. You are just behind Vishal academically. Do you know in two weeks we have our annual exams? Ritwik will keep you happy. And, do you even know Vishal!"

"Yes, I know him," Ishita said.

"Have you seen that Vishal is ignoring you? Have you seen he is no more regular to school?" Dipshita enquired.

"YES, but why?" Ishita was in doubt again.

The reasons Dipshita gave were implanted in her heart. 

Next year Ishita and Vishal were in different sections. They ignored each other. Even though they were in the same school, they never saw each other. He changed school. And as years passed, they forgot each other.

After six long years, they met each other again. 

Ishita was on her way to coaching. She reached late for her 1st tuition class. She entered the room and said, "Sorry, sir, for being late."

"It's okay. Come," her teacher replied.

She entered, and her eyes stood still. She was standing there quietly. Her teacher introduced a new boy and said, "Meet him. He is Vishal. He joined today. I know there is limited space, but the way Vishal approached me,  I  felt he needs proper guidance." 

"Okay," Ishita replied. 

Her teacher continued, "She is Ishita. One of my oldest students here." 

"Okay," replied Vishal.

"Vishal, just shift a bit and allow Ishita to sit." Said her teacher.

"NO" both shouted together.

"Sir, can I sit on the opposite side." Ishita enquired.

Her teacher allowed it. They knew each other once, but now they were not ready to admit it. She was lost in her thoughts. Her teacher interrupted, "What are you thinking?" 

"No, nothing," Ishita said. She could not concentrate any further. She never expected to meet him ever again in life. Even after she returned home, her mind was engaged in his thoughts. She recalled her past and remembered what Dipshita told her. 

The next day, when she was in class. Her teacher enquired, "you both were from the same school. Isn't it?"

Vishal quickly replied, "yes, but this is the first time we met." Ishita understood it was not only her; even Vishal doesn't wish to remember her. 

For months they both ignored each other's existence. However, Ishita regularly noticed him walking with a girl through the lanes. Her suppressed feelings of love re-surfaced. One day, she decided to speak to him. After their class ended, she uttered, "Can we walk together today?" 

Vishal, with a weird look, asked, "You and me? Together? Are you sure about it?"

Ishita replied, "Yes, I guess we can. We know each other for the last few months."

They started walking together. 

Ishita questioned, "How is your life going on?"

Vishal: “Just as you are watching it for the last few months."

Ishita: "Don't you want to know about me?" 

Vishal: "I lost interest in you, years ago."

Ishita, with a smile, asked, "How's that girl? I see you every day with her."

"Oh, that's my friend Payal. We study in the same college." Vishal replied.

Ishita listened to him and walked away.

The next day, they walked together again. 

Ishita: "So, what you were doing for the last six years?"

Vishal: "Nothing interesting. And, you?"

Ishita: "Same."

Vishal: "How is everything going on with Ritwik?"

Ishita strangely said, "I haven't seen him for the six years. I guess. I don't know anything about him."

Vishal: "Are you still a liar? I heard that you both dated for the next 3 years."

Ishita: "Who told you all this? 

Vishal said, "His birthday party was the place where it all started. He, on a knee down, proposed to you, with flowers on his hand. And, the next moment, you were in his arms " Vishal completed.

Ishita: "No, It all ended there. I ran away. We never saw each other to date. But, who told you those, stupid?"

Vishal replied, "DIPSHITA; she was your best friend. So, I completely believed whatever she told me."

Ishita: "No, all this is.. wait, that means did she even lied to me!"

Vishal couldn't get her. He asked, "what did  she tell you?"

Ishita: "She told me you were dating multiple girls together. You were a drug addict. You were alcoholic."

Vishal laughed out. “Nonsense pieces of stuff." 

Ishita asked "Why you ignored me then?" 

He said "Because of Ritwik. He came to me saying that you both love each other. And, my feelings were a barrier for you. That's why I ignored you. But, forgetting you were tough. I decided to change my school. So, I don't have to see you every day."

Ishita's eyes filled with tears. She said "That means. Even you had felt for me?" 

Vishal: "YES"

Ishita emotionally said "I still love you. I would do that forever. I don't want anybody to come between us. Will you be mine?"

Vishal held her hands. He said "Yes."

Since that day, nothing came between them. And, today is the 1st marriage anniversary of the couple.

 And I am that Ishita.

The audience clapped as she told the story on her anniversary.