Hidden Bond
Updated: Sep 14
“Every sunshine either is the beginning of a new life or the end of one. Whether it is good or bad, the day starts.”
I wake as the dewdrop tickles, rolls over me, and I feel the mild heat generated in the early hours. I am a leaf watching the whole world run against time, and look at us only when there is a huge gathering for an environmental cause. Like every day, I am looking for some fresh air, and the scene around me is different today.
“How can someone just make an impression on one’s life at just the first look?” he asked.
“Don’t be surprised! It is exactly like how it happened to you”, a soft voice replied in quick succession.
I do not know exactly what they are referring to, but I was curious about their words, so I listened to their conversation keenly.
“If there is anything that I am waiting for, every second of my life, it is...”
She interrupted, “Oh! Come on, Raghu, do not get back to the same issue. I told you. I told you... I need time.”
“I am just saying.”
“No Raghu! There is something taunting you daily, making you ask me the same question every now and then. Why do you do this?” she said, which echoed in the quiet park quite enough to let the world know what they are up to.
Raghu replied, “Okay, Riya! Now let’s just stop arguing about this for now.”
She furiously said, “Stop pretending now. I am getting irritated.”
Finishing her words, she left.
I do not know what has happened here, but one thing is for sure: I definitely loved their conversation. A half-hour has elapsed, and a small boy walks along with his mother and sits diagonally to me on a bench.
“Mama! Mama!” he screamed.
“What happened? Anything wrong?” the mother questioned.
“That dog... that dog is staring at me. I am so afraid.”
“It’s ok! I think it just likes you. You need not worry about the dog”, the mother told her son.
On a pleasant & fine morning like this, both the mother and son hear a person sobbing just behind a tree. They walk to see what happened and find a girl sobbing.
“Can I help you, my dear?” the mother asked.
When I looked at the girl, I recognised her as Riya. Though I thought she left, apparently not.
“Hey! What happened to you? Can I help you?”
“No, I am okay. Thank you.” Riya replied.
“Ok, do you need some water?”
“I need time, madam. Can you...” Riya shouted.
In the meantime, Raghu is talking to his friend about what happened...
“Dude! It’s done… she… left me… she ditched me,” he shouted in a low, disheartened voice and continued, “Yes!” Just now I asked for the commitment, and she feels like I am pushing her.”
“I cannot take it anymore!” Raghu cried, concluding.
I wonder what will happen to them. In this world, everything is linked by an unseen bond, untold yet felt only between two people.
Meanwhile, Riya said, “He always wants me to promise what I am unsure of, aunty!”
The mother inquired, “Is he wanting you to promise him that you will not leave him?”
Riya replied, “No. He wants me to give him a commitment to marriage four years from now.”
After a moment of silence, she continued, “I cannot ask my father to believe in our future, of which I myself am pretty unsure.”
The mother said, “Hmm, that is a very big decision to make. Let me think about it.”
Meanwhile, Riya spoke out of her agony, “We actually met this morning and argued about this. I don’t want to leave him, but this is very confusing.”
Looking at her, the mother said, “See, dear. Commitment only comes from trust, and trust comes from belief. Now belief comes from understanding, and understanding comes from affection. Now, finally, affection is nothing but love. Speak out to him and let him hear what it is.”
Riya asked, “Do you think this is a good time to talk to him?”
The mother assured, “Oh yeah! It is. If you don’t mind, get him here and speak to him in front of me. Maybe I could try to help.”
She stood up and immediately brought Raghu to the mother. Raghu just fell to his knees in astonishment. I could not understand what had happened to him, and Riya immediately went to help him, but before she reached him, the mother had already done so.
Raghu exclaimed, “Mom! You? Riya... She... is...”
While Raghu stammered, Riya asked, “Mom? What? What are you talking about?”
A moment later, Raghu finally said, “Mom, what are you doing here? I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid. Mom...”
“Aunty? Your mother! Oh crap!” Riya exclaimed.
Mother just walked away, saying nothing to them, and was heading right towards me, staring at me. I literally could not figure out what she was feeling. However, my life has come to an end, and I can see no more sunrises or sunsets. I took one last breath to see if I were to remain alive and to see what would happen.
“Raghu, take this rose and offer her a commitment and make sure you believe in yourself before you ask her to,” Raghu’s mom said.
Raghu took the rose, went to Riya, saying, “If there is anything in this world which I must take care of, it is just you. Believe me, I will never let that smile fade away. I love you!”
To which Riya replied, “Love you too.”
Seeking his mother’s permission, she hugged him. At first, I wished I could help them and sort out their problems in any way possible. You might be thinking if I were a rose. In that case, I did actually help, but I was just a leaf. I was adding beauty, and so yes, I have helped too.
In this world, alongside the beauty of nature, lies an unknown bond that makes things look even more beautiful, just as a rose looks even more beautiful with a leaf beside it. In the same way, trust, along with love, gives you happiness, and it is what most relationships lack.
Love everyone, and you will love this world. No matter what happens, you will always be happy because you will always be trusted for your love.
Credits
This story was written by Viswanath Perala, edited by R. K. Chamarla & Tarun Chintam and photographed by Pankaj Tottada.
Your Opinion?
Excellent
Good
Average
Bad
Comments