True Love

 True Love 

End of the year!!

As she strolled through the fairy-lit alley, the dreamy lights flickering above, she couldn't help but feel the magic in the air. Christmas eve is this, and the anticipation of the approaching new year added an extra sparkle to the night. The time of the year people like to nestle in the warmth of winter nights, the time of the year for fairy tales, time of the year for love, hope and dreams. where every twinkle in the sky seemed to hold a promise of something enchanting just around the corner. 

The entire alley came alive with the glow of fiery lights, vibrant balloons, and shiny stars as every cafe and restaurant adorned itself in festive cheer, complete with Christmas trees. Each establishment seemed to be in a friendly competition, vying to offer the most enchanting view and delightful experience to its customers.

The air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of half-baked cakes and the invigorating scent of freshly brewed coffee, creating an irresistible allure. It was as if the captivating smells formed an invisible pathway, drawing the bustling crowd towards the renowned Baker's Street, the city's epicentre for all things sweet and aromatic.

``“We will make it a point to be together on Christmas, no matter how busy we both are.”

“Yes, we will.”``

The special things about memories are they will knock on your door at any time, whether you welcome them or not. And this time of the year makes it worse. The continuous tussle goes on and on between knowing that you should not enter into the new year with the baggage of past and still wanting to hold onto those memories. After all, they are the only remnants of those sweet days.

The welcoming bell at the door chimed as the dream catcher rustled in the wind that had swept in with her into the café—her bittersweet haven. In all times, whether bathed in the glow of happiness or clouded by the shadows of a sad day, she found solace here. The fragrance of robust coffee and caramelized sugar, the dimly lit interior, and the twinkle of fiery lights—all were her favorites. She had lost count of the moments spent within these walls. Sometimes engrossed in her own work, other times lost in the pages of fiction books in the visitor's section, and occasionally, simply gazing out at the bustling street, observing people darting in and out of various cafes in the alley.

In the ebb and flow of life, she discovered her comfort in the last, most secluded corner seat near the window of this small café, nestled at the end of the alley on the famous Baker's Street.

The entire café pulsates with a multitude of people, immersed in the festive atmosphere, accompanied by the gentle melody of Christmas music playing persistently in the background. It's a hive of activity, with patrons busy ordering, indulging in meals, and exchanging sweets. The vibrancy of the scene contrasts sharply with her preferences today. Fortunately, her cherished corner seat awaits, providing the solace of her own company. Today, she's alone.

Navigating through the lively crowd, she reaches her seat. It's not that she ever had companionship; it's usually just her. However, over time, she's noticed the growing prominence of that emptiness. This feeling, foreign to her until the past 2-3 years, seems to expand each day, accompanied by the unsettling fear that it might one day engulf her in a profound, dark abyss of nothingness—a place devoid of life, happiness, where only emptiness prevails.

"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, love. I hope to see you next year as my wife."

She looks around her, mostly couples are there in the café.

Beautiful women & handsome men,

Successful men & Smart women,

This seems to be the formula for success in love, a harmonious blend of attractiveness and accomplishment.

What is it that everyone seeks in love? Is it truly love when everything aligns seamlessly, like a perfectly fitted puzzle? Or is love found in the gradual process of piecing the puzzle together, accepting each other's flaws and imperfections? Even if the initial alignment is perfect, can one uphold the commitment to stay together until eternity?

What prompts people to break away, disrupting the unity they once sought. Does love have the capacity to fade with the passage of time and changing circumstances? Don’t the enigma of love unfolds through the intricate dynamics of compatibility, endurance, and the resilience of shared promises?

She takes a sip of her black coffee, the bitter liquid feeling each tastebud. Even though black coffee is bitter, she prefers it this way only so is everything. Perfectness is a myth. The definition of perfect also differs from person to person. Irony is that the two very common word people associated with long term eternal love is,

Trust & Respect

And, most of them fail to live up to the very definition they have crafted.

Why did he fail in trusting and respecting her? Why isn’t she enough? Didn’t she is the one who tried till it bleed to keep things as balanced as they were? What more did she want? A little support? Is this too much to ask for?

She took out the folded paper from the cover of the phone. She had written a wish note to Santa, keeping it below her pillow the previous night, with the hope that it might somehow reach him. But it was there in the morning, a silent mockery of her unfulfilled desires.

In the real world, no Santa existed.

“Excuse me?”

She looked up, abruptly pulled from her thoughts. A lady, almost her age, stood before her with a warm smile.

“Can I share the table with you? The café is almost full.”

She nodded; there was something captivating and, at the same time, confusing about the lady. With a sweet smile and a glow of contentment, she exuded an aura that suggested a deep self-assurance. Unconsciously, she observed every detail about her, and a twinge in her heart hinted that this lady seemed to possess everything she had ever longed for in life.

Meeting her eyes, the lady smiled softly at her, and a sense of familiarity washed over her. Somewhere, she had encountered this lady before.

"Can I please have a cup of black coffee?" the lady asked the waiter.

And then it clicked for her, as unbelievable as it seemed—the lady looked exactly like her.

"You?" she asked the lady, astonished.

Seeing her with a confused and unbelieving expression, the lady laughed loudly.

"So now you've noticed," the lady replied with a mocking smile on her face.

Ananya couldn't utter a single word; it was all too much for her to process. A lady sat in front of her, a mirror image of herself. To an outside observer, they might seem like twins or even the same person.

She watched as the mocking smile vanished from the lady's face, replaced by a look of disappointment and sadness in her eyes. Those eyes were so deep and questioning that they stirred something within her. Then she heard the lady speak,

“Why did you ever let go of my hand, Ananya? Why didn’t you trust yourself? The love you seek among strangers has always been within you. Why didn’t you trust yourself? We've shared a bond for almost 30 years, yet you found me not enough? Why did you ever stop respecting me?”

"Is this for real?" Tears streamed down her eyes. She was afraid to wipe them away, fearing that in that fraction of a second, the lady might vanish. She so desperately wanted to hold onto her. The lady was the only one who could fill her void.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... please be with me," she cried, frantically trying to hold the lady's hand, pleading with her not to leave.

"Ananya, you were begging then, and you are begging now. Have you ever thought about me at that time? How much I would be hurt? Instead of respecting me, you kept expecting him to fill the void, not realizing that you are the one who created the void inside your heart." The lady's words carried the weight of hurt and disappointment.

"I am begging you, please don't leave me. I was hurt," Ananya pleaded, clutching the lady's hand tightly in hers.

“So I am, I am hurt because you didn’t recognize me. You didn’t seek me, and, in the process, you lost me.”

The lady freed her hand from her clutches.

"No, please... I'm sorry," she cried and begged with all her heart.

She woke up startled, frantically looking around. Everything was the same. People still enjoyed Christmas Eve, the music played on. But the lady had vanished.

She touched her cheeks wet from crying. She was crying in her dream. What a dream it was, it felt so real yet unbelievable at the same time.

Then it struck her, she searched her bag, purse even the mobile cover. The note to Santa asking for love was missing.

“Dear Santa,

        Let true love find me”.

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Hello all,

Merry Christmas to all, from weekly to monthly, then yearly, and now I know I am super late. Almost after two years, I am writing something. It's not like I didn't try. I did, but the feeling was not there anymore. Somehow, I managed to write this much after a long time. Even though this is not as my usual style used to be, I liked it this way. Hope this finds you well and good. With Love, Puspa💖