Thoughts of the Past - XI

Rishabh and Rya had met at the University library.

It wasn't love at first sight for either of them. Rishabh was the kind of guy whom every girl/girl's parents would approve of. He was decent, intelligent, unassuming and perfectly successful in life. Though he had a huge friend circle, he never had any interest in any girl. He liked Rya's perspective on things. At the library, they both had met over the same book " We-The Living". But since there was only one copy left, both of them came to a mutual agreement. The person who could justify Kira's stand could take the novel with him/her. Intellectually, both of them were amazing analysts. After three long hours of vehement discussion, they could not come to a conclusion still. Finally, Rishabh offered Rya to have the novel. Rya took it, kept it back on the shelf and then smiled back at him while leaving the library. That night, she received a friendship request on Facebook. She accepted. Facebook chats gave away to exchanging of gmail ids and then to phone numbers. Relationship status changed from "Single" to "It's Complicated" and then to "In a Relationship". Their relationship assured them of sleepless nights but also of dreamy days. It was a decision taken by mature minds and they meant it letter by letter. This winter, they had come to India to give their relationship a new meaning. Rishabh's parents liked Rya instantly and Rishabh was a definite winner at Rya's home. The wedding was supposed to take place this winter itself but Rya wanted to finish her PhD before getting married. Rishabh respected her decision and everyone agreed to have it next year. 

Rya had decided to move on and never look back at Ryan or anything related to him after Rishabh happened to her. She was pretty successful at that except for lonely nights when Ryan's memories haunted her.She did not know why it happened to her. She had all the reasons to love Rishabh and hate Ryan. But she had no control over her subconscious. Rishabh was the best thing that had happened to her. He loved her effortlessly and he was everything that Ryan wasn't to her. Two years helped her to forget Ryan consciously but this winter spoiled it all. She did not want that confession from him. She did not want him in her life.

After leaving India, she did not write to anyone in India for a long time. Rishabh did not understand the change in her either. She was indifferent to him at times and took refuge in the stress of the Phd course as her excuse. She did not say anything to anyone. Rishabh wasn't too naive for all this. He knew about Ryan. He waited for a considerable point of time for Rya to come back to her usual self. But sensing her emotional confused self, he asked her to reconsider their relationship. She did not tell anything to him. She just looked at him and saw the most calm expression on his face ever.

Aditi received a mail from Rya after about eleven months. She read it. She was silent. She forwarded it to Anand. She did not know if Ryan should know it from her or from Rya herself. She knew Rya was right this time but she did not want her to be right. Some relationships were bound to fail, and destiny ensured it. Having seen the worse part of it herself, she just shed a tear as she closed her Inbox. 

The subject of the first mail read "Our Wedding Invitation" and it was signed by Rya and Rishabh.

(To be Continued...)