"Love is cruel Somtime"

Love is cruel sometime.

H

and in hand, a crisp fresh breeze caressing their faces, they had a walk down Central park. She was pretty. Today, she had her hair tied on the nape of her neck, with a few strands of it loosely falling over her face. With his hair clean cut and freshly shaven, he was of whom any one would say, “Hotdamn-that’s a man”. Anyone looking at them would see at the once a perfect couple of turtle-doves. They looked sweet and adorable as they sat down on the bench taking a breather with his strong arm warmly held her close. They murmured sweet nothing to each other..

If only they know what is going on in each other mind. An air of awkwardness hung around them. She felt guilty, not being able to stop thinking about Dorjee. Dorjee was two year senior to her. When she first came to the college, it was Dorjee, who helped her. In the so called foreign land, having someone lik to help her find her feet, she considered herself lucky. Inseparable, they ate together, met during breaks and, since both commuted to and fro, went back hostel together.

With the passage of time, they became more than a friend. Whenever she saw Dorjee, a thrill ran down her spine. She knew it meant something as it never happened with Degyal. She couldn’t stop thinking about Dorjee, wondering what he was up to. She knew it was wrong but she never told dorjee about Degyal, neither did he ask about her past.

Dorjee unaware of the other man in her life, was the happiest guy alive. He simply knows for sure that the Srijana love for him was no more than how he felt for her.

Every night she prayed for the courage, so that she could clear up the mess before it became too dirty. Degyal and Srijana had been together for almost a year. Degyal was sent to California while she remained in New York.

Although distant, they felt happy to be on the same landmass. Degyal loved Srijana madly.  He was head over heels about her. As for Srijana; well, she did like him but Degyal could never make her feel as Dorjee did. She realized Degyal was not for her.  She knew she had to do something but what? The phone call between them dwindled; she did not say much and Degyal grew more and more concerned. Then came the real tricks. Degyal had come to spend time with Srijana and Srijana knowing that it was now or never, asked him to meet her in Central Park as she had something important to say. Degyal now waits patiently for her to speak. She doesn’t want to hurt  Degyal but she has to do it. She faces him, feeling the hot tears about to follow…

“What is it, Srijana? It seems something really wrong?” asks Degyal.

“I’m sorry, really sorry but I think we not made for each other; I have……I have met someone I love”……

Her word hit Degyal like darts. He froze. He wanted to beg,”please don’t go. I can’t live without you.

What have I done wrong?. ”He wants to say so many things but nothing comes out. Nothing comes out of his deserted lips. Srijana, turns away and sobs. He rests his head in hand and thinks. All his dreams….dreams he wanted to share with her, have come to a cul de sac. “I know how you must be feeling”, she went on. “I didn’t want to hurt you but I can’t just go on this way with you when my heart and mind are with Dorjee. Please forgive me, if you ever can”. Degyal pulled her near, held her close and said, ”you know how much I love you, my dear but no one has power to make anybody love them in return. If I hold you back, I’m just gonna hurt you. This guy, whoever he is, is sure lucky to have you, love him. Today may be our last time together but don’t ever forget that if you ever want a shoulder to cry on or someone to share your joys with, I will always be there. You will remain a precious part of me, a memory that can never be erased”. So saying, he gave her his last kiss and walked away. With a heavy heart, tears filling his eyes, he lost the person he had loved most in the world.

Love sometime is so cruel.