She could see him from the corner of her eyes but wasn’t
sure whether it is him. She chose not to think about him or look at him
anymore, rather wait for the announcement of her delayed flight. It was already
late by an hour and her phone hasn’t stopped ringing since the time she
informed she’ll be late at the venue. She walked up to the magazine stand and
picked up the latest issue of a Cosmopolitan and started walking back at her
seat.
By the time she could reach, she heard someone calling her
name. She looked back and watched him walking up to her and greet her with a
smile of his face.
“Hey! Rashmi, right?
How are you here?”
“Hi, Avinash! Yeah, I
am here to catch my flight to Mumbai for an event. How are you doing?”
“I am doing absolutely
fine. Mumbai sounds familiar. Work or family?”
“Let’s say both. Where
are you travelling? Same location?”
“Yes, same location.
Nagpur. Visiting my parents after a year. So, it’s the same flight again. Come.”
They went and sat next to each other, the exact same way
after about two years. Though the awkwardness was clear on their faces, the
bitterness was gone by now. They both wanted to ask each other the same
question and apologise for the same reason, but somehow couldn’t.
Rashmi: “How are your
parents doing? Are they better now?”
Avinash: “Much better and
after what had happened, they were a little difficult to control. Somehow, they
couldn’t accept how things fell apart. How are your parents?”
Rashmi: “They are the
same. Nothing changed for them. Except that they have accepted that it is
difficult to convince me to stay with them. I still do not know whether they
were wrong or right to take such a decision on my behalf for my life, but I
knew how everything happened was wrong.”
Avinash: “May be they
were not wrong. They just thought about their daughter more than anybody else.
May be that is why parents are so protective about their daughters.”
Rashmi: “But that doesn’t
give them the right to reject you for me. We both wanted to be together. Just
being from some other caste doesn’t make you any different from others. I tried
explaining them so much but failed. I wanted to apologise to your parents and
you for what happened. Your parents were extremely cordial towards us but my
parents weren’t. I am terribly sorry! I didn’t have the face or the heart to
come and apologise in person.”
Avinash: “It is
completely alright. Two years have passed after that incident. It is difficult
to explain to someone who believes in such concepts so strongly. Well, my
parents did like you very much and so did I. I couldn’t do anything to convince
your parents. May be whatever happened was for the best. I am sure they found a
perfect match for you.”
Rashmi: “Unfortunately,
they are still looking. It’s not that easy to find a perfect match for
over-qualified tall girl who is equally stubborn like her parents. How about
you? Found someone?”
Avinash: “Ahhh! Not yet.
I am still not over the over-qualified tall girl. It will take some more time,
I guess. I tried all means to get away from your memories. I was posted in
London for a year, but didn’t work.”
Before Rashmi could reply, the boarding announcements for
the Mumbai and Nagpur flights were made. They looked at each other and realised
that Avinash was rejected by her parents, not by Rashmi. Wasn’t it better to
take another chance to try and take a walk together again, for their own
happiness? This time with a much more positive and calm approach.
They knew they had to give it another shot. After all, if
destiny makes you meet again even after rejection, you are not completely
rejected. They picked their bags and started another walk….
Rejection doesn’t mean
you aren’t good enough; it means the other person failed to notice what you
have to offer. ~ Mark Amend
