They rejected me, not you!

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