An awkward silence hung between them. Neither of them spoke anything, though they were seated beside each other. Tears were flowing from Adhitya's eyes. Aishwarya was having a hard time in controlling her emotions. She would break down and cry even more than him. But she didn't want to make the situation worse. It was the last day of their internship. They had to break away after that. They wouldn't meet each other anymore. They cannot share the sweet moments which they had shared. She would get married to Manohar on March 15th and he would move to Bombay for work. Though they hadn't named their relationship, moving away from each other was painful. They would never forget the time that they had spent with each other. Theirs was a special bond. A relationship that was so sacred to be named. They were in their happiest during those days. They provided radiance to each other's life in those six months. Yet they had to face the harsh reality. They had to move on with their lives, forgetting about their feelings for each other. They can never express their true feelings. At least, not in this birth.

Finally, Adhitya broke the silence. "Yesterday dad spoke with me regarding my marriage," he stated.

"Marriage? Are you going to get married so soon? You're just 21, Adhi." Aishwarya was flabbergasted.

"I am not going to get married now. Actually, as expected, Suganya proposed to me. But I plainly rejected her. I didn't even tell her that I need time to think about it. I just told that I cannot love her."

"Why is that so? Isn't she a good girl?"

"It's not like that. But my heart cannot accept her."

'And also I can never love anyone else as much as I love you,' he thought.

"Doesn't she fall under your expectations?"

"Kind of. I want a girl who is jovial, fulfills my dreams, shares her snacks with me, makes me laugh, cares for me, sings for me and would mean everything to me."

Aishwarya felt a mild sting in her heart. She understood that he was referring to her. 'I cannot do anything about it, Adhi. I am engaged and I am meant for Mano. Even if you drop hints about loving me, I just can't do anything about it. I cannot tell that I love you. Till now, I am confused about my feelings for you.'

"You will surely find a girl who would completely meet your expectations." She assured him.

'No, I have already found her. But I lost her on the day she confessed that she was in love with someone else. And I lost her yet again when she had got engaged to him on January 6th. I am going to lose her now too. And in future, I will completely lose her after March 15th. It's my fate, 'thought Adhitya.

He felt a lump in his throat as he looked at her eyes. She was also devastated.

"My dad talked about Suganya's advantages and tried to cajole me into falling in love with her. But I was too hard to please. Then he asked me whether I was in love with someone else, to which I replied that I wouldn't break our tradition by loving a girl outside our caste. He was convinced after that. He told me to think about Suganya and make an informed decision."

"Okay. I have bought some chocolates for you, Adhi. They are my parting gift. Sorry, I was busy with my wedding preparations. So I couldn't buy any real gift for you." She handed over a box of chocolates to him, while cleverly changing the topic.

"The time which you spent with me itself is a gift. They would be etched in my memory. What else precious gift I would wish for!"

Tears flew continuously from his eyes. She reached out to wipe them with her hands.

"Do not cry like a baby, Adhi. I am also feeling the need to cry. But am I not controlling my emotions? You are matured enough to understand that some things don't last forever. Especially, good things."

"Yeah, I have to accept it." He vaguely smiled through his tears. His fair skin had turned red. His spectacles were splashed with droplets of tears.

"I will never forget you, Adhi. This watch will constantly remind me about you. You are a blessing to me, actually. But you have turned into a blessing that cannot be with me forever. We may stay apart. However, at heart, we'll always be the close friends that we were. Okay?"

"You've transformed my life, Aishu. I was an introvert. You showed me the way to happiness and positivity. If I ever feel sad in my life, I would think about you and cheer myself. And don't let anyone occupy my place in your heart. Not even Manohar. I know he has a separate place in your heart and I have another. Let me only stay in that special place. Never befriend anyone like me and replace them. Promise me."

"You are very innocent, Adhi. This is what I liked about you. I promise you that I wouldn't replace anyone in your place. You are the best. Remember that always."

"Can't we keep in touch through letters, Aishu?"

"I don't think Manohar would approve of that."

"Why should he approve of what you do? Don't you have your privacy?" He raged.

"There you go again. You are too modern for our times."

"Ha ha ha. That is Adhitya. So you mean to say that we can never be in touch?"

"Sadly, yes."

"Will you at least invite me to your marriage?"

"Of course, I will send you an invitation to your house."

"Hmmm." Adhitya faked a smile. 

Slowly, he moved his hand over hers and held it firmly. Aishwarya could feel a searing pain through her. She entwined her fingers with his' and let it be like that for a few moments. They felt a new kind of feeling that they hadn't felt before. They felt divine.

*****

To my dearest Aishu,

I would like to reveal my true feelings to you. Yes, I love you. I love you so much. I love you with every morsel of me. I love you forever. I love you madly. I am just crazy about you. You drive me into a state of euphoria. You're the sole reason for my existence. I never thought that I would meet my soulmate in you.

But sadly, my love is shortlived. Or rather our relationship is. As I said, I will love you forever. And to the outside world, we'll remain the thick friends. I know my grammar might be bad in this letter. But I just want you to know about my feelings. I know that my love is unrequited. Yes, it is painful. But I can bear that pain to see you happy. To expect you to love me back would be a sin, actually. Even though you like me more than Manohar, you just cannot leave him and come to me. So you be happy. For your happiness, I am ready to take up this bittersweet pain of losing you.

Please don't mentally scold me after reading this letter. I know that you might despise me for not being loyal to our friendship. But don't have any bitter feelings towards me. Try to forget this letter and move on. It is better to reveal my feelings and acquire a bad name from you, instead of hiding them and acquiring a good name. That's why I revealed.

And....... Well, just forget it. I have so much to say. But I don't want to spoil your mood further.

And, I love you.
Yours lovingly,
Adhi

But the letter never reached Aishwarya's hands that day. Adhitya kept it to himself. And he never revealed his true feelings to her. Finally, they bid a teary farewell to each other. Their last moment was spent in the beach. And of course, they held their hands while they spoke. Fortunately, they weren't noticed by anyone who would spread rumours about them. The tea stall was also closed.

Usually, when there was a farewell, friends would promise to stay in touch. But that wasn't the case with them. They were going to be separated forever. They would only see each other during their respective marriages. Though Adhitya broke into tears a few more times, Aishwarya was intact. She convinced herself that she had got no romantic feelings towards Adhitya and she was happy in getting married to Manohar. Hence she turned her heart into stone. Not a single drop of tear fell down from her eyes. She was oblivious to the myriad of emotions that were passing through her heart. She just kept consoling Adhitya and wiping away his tears. And soon, they waved to each other and left the place. The sea was deserted once again.

As soon as she reached her home, she barged into her room and threw herself on the bed. And then she began the wailing. She sobbed till her pillows got drenched completely. Then she realized that she, too, had loved him. But it was too late.

*****

The postman rung his bell, shouted 'Post' and dropped the mail in the postbox. Adhitya spun around and ran to the main gate to collect the post. As expected, it was Aishwarya's wedding invitation.

"What is it, Anna?" asked Shobana. Suganya and she were sitting in the Charupady, sipping hot coffee.

"It's my colleague's wedding invitation." He replied, barely containing his disappointment. He had never expected the invitation to arrive so soon.

"Which colleague?"

"I have told about Aishwarya, right? It's her marriage."

"Oh! Very good. Who is the bridegroom?"

"Manohar, her cousin."

"When is the marriage?"

"March 15th."

"Can I also come?"

"No. You have classes, right?"

"Yes. But I really want to meet this friend of yours."

Shobana's sudden interest in meeting Aishwarya made his heart leap up with fear. 'Has she discovered my letter?' He thought.

"What's so special in meeting her?"

"Just to know. You don't befriend girls. I want to know from her how you became her friend."

"Shut up! That's none of your business. Don't expect me to take you there."

Shobana pouted innocently. Suganya was listening to the entire conversation in silence. She had kept away from Adhitya right from the day when he had rejected her.

*****

Meenakshi Kalyana Mandapam was decorated brightly with roses, jasmines, hibiscuses and marigolds all over. The main mandap contained a havan where a priest was chanting mantras and throwing holy things into the pyre. The entire hall bustled with people, chattering in loud noises amidst the nadaswaram and mridangam sounds. The rooms of the bride and groom occupied either side of the hall. Outside the mandapam, a huge thermocol display was put up. It had 'Manohar Weds Aishwarya' written on it.

Adhitya entered the mandapam and seated himself. Aishwarya's parents welcomed him and had a small talk with him. He talked amiably with them, though his heart was wrenching with pain. Just then Manohar walked over to the mandap, clad in a traditional cream shirt and veshti. An elegant flower garland adorned him. He folded his hands in a namasthe, smiled at the guests and welcomed them. Then the priest requested him to sit, to which he obliged. He was given ghee, a few grains and sticks to throw into the holy pyre. Adhitya was eagerly waiting to see Aishwarya. 'Probably this would be the last day I would see her,' he thought anxiously.

Soon, Aishwarya arrived, led by the bridesmaid. She was dressed in a beautiful maroon silk saree with gold embroidery on it. She also wore a flower garland. The make-up was not overdone and it was apt for her. She too followed the same procedure as Manohar. Adhitya's eyes filled up as he saw his true love to be married soon. However, he controlled his expressions.

Aishwarya looked up from the pyre to spot Adhitya. Her eyes found him easily. But she was unable to look at him for more than a second. She feared that she might cry on the mandap and Manohar would question her. Then after a few minutes, the priest chanted 'kettimelam kettimelam' and handed over the sacred thread to Manohar. He tied it around Aishwarya's neck, as the guests blessed them by throwing rice grains. Adhitya blessed the couple generously. 'My love story might not be a success. But hers is.' He genuinely felt happy for her. Manohar then applied the kumkum on her forehead, thus legally claiming her as his wife.

The reception of the guests, too, took place after the wedding. Manohar looked handsome in a black blazer suit while Aishwarya had changed into a semi silk designer saree. They welcomed all the guests with a smile and received the gifts. It was Adhitya's turn. Aishwarya's heart beats began racing as he approached the couple with a gift in his hand.

"Happy married life!" he wished both of them.

"Thank you," replied Manohar.

"Mano, this is Adhitya, my best friend from Unity Insurance Company Ltd."

"Oh! Nice to meet you, Adhitya." Both the men shook hands.

"Nice to meet you too, Manohar," replied Adhitya with a smile.

"Have lunch, Adhi."

"Yeah sure," he said and gifted them.

"What did you get?" Aishwarya's curiosity peeped out.

"It's a common gift for both of you." He replied curtly.

Aishwarya could not help notice that it wasn't the same Adhitya to whom she had bid a farewell a few days before. He had changed within twenty days. He had turned rather cold with her. 'Oh God! He must find a girl who would meet his expectations. I want him to live happily.'

While leaving the mandapam, he turned back, glanced at her for one last time and left the place.

**********