LOST LOVE

Soft music plays in the bar. I was surprised to find him there, one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Bangalore. Yes, I am talking about Abhijeet Sengupta “The Youngest Millionaire in India”. I went and sat beside him, he didn’t notice me!

“Thinking about something Abhijeet?” I asked. Surprised to be interrupted…he exclaimed, “Oh, never knew you were here. What are you doing here by the way?” “Following you perhaps?” I replied with a smirk on my face, “Why the sad face?” He answered, “Love!”

I was astonished because his relationship with Kaira was very famous. He was the most eligible bachelor in town, he had the looks, fame and style. But suddenly when he returned with her from his trip to Kolkata everything changed. She was perfect, those large deep eyes, the slender body and a charm which only a Bengali girl would possess. You could see them together on many occasions. Rumors were adrift that they were already engaged!

He asked me, “Care to go for a walk with a heartbroken man?” Looking at the empty bottles I said, “That would be the best for you I think!”

No one knew their story, so I asked the same question that half of the city had in mind…. “So, how did you meet her?” He didn’t reply. We continued to walk until we reached a park, empty at this time of the night. “I used to come here with her,” he said. I listened patiently; after all, if I could get that story out of him, it would be huge for my magazine.

“6 months ago…”

I had gone to Kolkata for a meeting. The meetings went on throughout the day. To de-stress I went to a pub near my hotel. As I entered, I saw a beautiful girl at the bar, I walked up and sat beside her. She turned, and I saw the most beautiful lady. I couldn’t get my eyes off her. “Hey, nice to meet you. You seem new in town, care to join me for a drink?” It felt my day just got better!

As we sat chatting, I was lost in her face when a sudden snap of her fingers disturbed my reverie. I was caught and we both knew it. We chatted late into the night. She asked me whether I could drop her at the bus stop. I agreed. I asked her whether I could drop her at her house, but she firmly denied. I saw fear in her eyes but her voice said something else. I dropped her and left, but one thought kept nagging me, why was she afraid when I suggested dropping her home?

I was in Kolkata for another two days. That night, I got a text, asking if I could join her for dinner. She enjoyed my company and wanted to spend time with me. I couldn’t say no. I too had plans for her. Dinner was perfect, and along with the dessert came a card which read:

“Just like this sweet cake, would you bring some flavor to my life?

-Abhijeet”

Her expression was priceless. She didn’t reply. After dinner, we went for a walk. I was getting anxious now. Suddenly she spoke, “I have had a dark past which no one knows about. I have fallen in love with you but didn’t want to cast my shadow on you. So it is better that you reconsider your offer.” I replied, “Your past has gone by, you are a present to me from someone above, let me be a part of your future!” She blushed, “I will, but on one condition, you would never mention my past!”

“Agreed!”

We spent the night at my hotel. The next day after my meeting we left for Bangalore and from there on you paparazzis would know better, he told me with a wink. I smiled. His story hadn’t satisfied me so I asked him again, “But what brings you to today?”

He continued.

“As you very well know we are engaged” My eyes widened in surprise. “Yes, the rumors are true.” He replied.

I saw that she was broken after that day, I asked her if something was bothering her. She never replied. Yesterday I proposed her for marriage, I was expecting a cheerful reply, but she replied, “Abhi, I need to tell you something.” “I know”, I said. “What do you mean?” “I visited Kolkata last month after our engagement and came to know from your colleagues.” Her face slowly turned red, “You went behind my back? I was going to tell you this today but you changed everything.” “But I am fine with it Kaira, I won’t judge you based on your past! “Abhi, the point here isn’t about my past, it’s about trust, which you have broken.” “Now you are talking about trust, the one who sold her body is talking about trust?”

And that was it. I regretted that later on in the morning. I wanted to apologize to her but she was nowhere to be found. I searched for her everywhere but I only found this,

He handed me a piece of crumpled paper which was smudged at places.

“I am gone, don’t come searching for me. I didn’t want to leave you but you put me in a very delicate situation. After meeting you, I thought compassion exists, but I was wrong. You would find someone better than me. Your memories will always be cherished by me not as love but as a lesson.

-Kaira”

I searched for her but it was futile, tired I went to the bar to drown my sorrow where you found me…

I couldn’t help but get emotional,

“Some people make a different place in our heart. Forgetting them is difficult, but you can always have hope. If your love is true she will surely return, now it’s up to you whether you stay or move on.” said I, wiping a tear from his eye.