Anushka glided her fingers over the spines of books neatly arranged on the shelves and chose one to read: Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl; she underlined the sentence, ‘Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’. The words echoed in her heart as she saw the sunset. The lilac sky beckoned her to rise from the chair and amble down the alley, watching the birds retreat to their nest. The fragrance of jasmine flowers wafted in the air, and her mind drew pictures of love, and the tenderness touched her heart. She associated love with the scent of blooming jasmine, which reminded her of Vaibhav.
Ripples of memories flashed before her, and the vividness blurred tears welling up in her beautiful eyes.
She remembered the questions she posed, and almost like a hermit, Vaibhav’s answers were always profound and philosophical.
“What is love? Why does love hurt?” she had once asked.
“Love is pure and unconditional; it is like a perennial river flowing to merge into the vast sea. People confuse love with attachment. The attachment is a string, the gossamer threads of which are made up of expectations and conditions. Expectations burden you, making you weary; attachment causes pain and brings grief and sorrow.” Vaibhav spoke in a calm voice, helping Anushka understand the significance of their relationship.
Holding hands, they walked together through the lanes of jasmine plants on the estate in Coimbatore. Anushka was the estate manager’s daughter, while Vaibhav was the watchman’s son who guarded the Jasmine estate. Anushka’s love for reading and her dark, kohl-rimmed eyes enchanted Vaibhav. Vaibhav’s maturity and calm, composed nature soothed Anushka’s fierce disposition. Anushka was impulsive, bold and outspoken. Both complemented each other like ice and fire.
Vaibhav was a soft-spoken, simple boy who grew up in a village near Coimbatore. He excelled in his studies and passed the entrance exam for a prestigious engineering college in Coimbatore, where he met Amit, Anushka’s brother. Vaibhav often visited Amit’s home for joint study sessions; their fathers worked on the same estate, which brought the two friends closer.
Anushka’s fondness grew when she knew Vaibhav’s love for books. “I like R.K. Narayan’s ‘The Guide’; his simple stories delight readers, and the characters feel so real,” he added. “Have you read the book? There is a philosophical angle to it,” Vaibhav said, glancing at Anushka from the corner of his eye. Her eyes and the smile filled his heart. He waited for her to answer, listening to her words carefully and intently. Like nectar, it drenched his parched soul with love.
With time, they grew closer and fell in love with each other. Neither of them knew the exact sequence of events that led to love. Perhaps it was mutual respect and admiration; possibly, it was a journey. A journey of exploration and understanding each other’s wishes and desires is called destiny. Destiny brought them together. Does love follow a pattern to blossom in hearts? Does it play a part in uniting two beings? Love happens- no one knows how, when and where.
“O. Henry’s ‘The Gift of Maggi’ is a love story; the ending is so beautiful,” Anushka sighed, closing her eyes. “Will you love me the same way you do now, even after marriage, when I get old, withered, and weak?” Sunrays danced on her eyelids, and the jasmine flowers on her long, black hair smelled heavenly. Her lips parted as if to speak but then closed again. She said nothing and waited for Vaibhav to speak.
Vaibhav looked away and smiled, though his demeanor was gloomy and silent. Anushka sensed something was not right and came closer but respected the silence. She waited for him to speak openly about what was bothering him; she knew him well.
“Anushka,” his voice broke the silence. “Yesterday, your father spoke to me and asked that I distance myself from you. He heard from others about us.” Anushka looked at him intently, her brows furrowed in fury. “He heard about what?” She quizzed further.
“Uncle disapproves of our alliance, and I respect his views. I have high regard for him.” He added. Anushka’s eyes welled up, the pain evident in them. She flinched away when Vaibhav tried to hold her hand.
“Did you take the pain to ask me what I want? You and Appa decided the fate of this relationship without my knowledge. Forget about seeking my approval; I am completely unaware of your discussions and decisions. Am I a mere puppet dancing to your tunes? You ask me to sit, I will sit. You ask me to stand. I shall stand. Is it so, Vaibhav?” tears rolled as she roared with anger and frustration.
“I love you and will continue to do so until my last breath, but Uncle’s approval and blessings are essential. Our union must have his blessings. The fabric of love is woven with the threads of perseverance and flows and ebbs like the tides in the sea strengthening itself. Love that does not burn on the furnace of truth is not love; rather, it is an infatuation, an illusion confused with love. True love stands tall against the harsh winds. Patience and courage cement the bond of love.” Vaibhav calmly explained, caressing Anushka’s tear-stained face.
Did Appa approve of Anushka and Vaibhav’s marriage?
Did Anushka and Vaibhav lead a happy married life?
If Anushka married Vaibhav, why does she think of him in her lone moments?
I leave the answers to the readers; while I think the answers do not carry the importance, what is essential is understanding love through relationships; love goes through wear and tear before it takes a form and shape. The journey of love begins with truth and ends in truth, and it is pristine, like the first drops of rain.
The Momma Clan 
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