In The Hope Of Love

By Eswar Tavva

"Hey, look over there," I exclaimed.

"What is it?" She asked sceptically.

"It's the poster of the film In the Hope of Love," I replied, my excitement obvious. "The premium show for this movie is starting in just five minutes."

"So what?" She questioned, clearly unimpressed.

"I've never been to a premium show before," I admitted.

"What's so special about a premium show anyway?" She challenged.

"Well, this movie doesn't officially release until tomorrow, but we can watch it before anyone else," I explained eagerly. "And not only that, the entire cast and crew will be watching with us. There might even be some big film personalities in attendance."

"But what about tickets? It's probably impossible to get any now," she pointed out.

"Let's give it a try," I suggested optimistically as I parked the car.

I motioned for her to wait at the entrance while I made my way to the ticket counter.

"Could tickets still be obtained?" I inquired the salesman.

"Indeed, only two remain," he responded abruptly, with a hint of finality in his tone.

"Very well! I'll take those two," I declared, displaying unwavering resolve.

Her eyes widened in astonishment as I secured the tickets. "How on earth did you manage that?" she quizzed.

"Occasionally, miracles transpire when one simply tries," I replied, as we entered the hall.

The movie had just begun. The lights dimmed in the theatre as the screen lit up with vibrant colours, showing the title of the movie in sparkly letters. I felt a stir of excitement behind us. Glancing back, I saw curious eyes in the audience unnoticeably turning to catch glimpses of the debut director seated among us. There were subtle nods of respect, and some viewers leaned slightly back in their chairs, trying to get a better view of him. The room was filled with excited chatter and anticipation as the audience settled into their seats. I could see the director standing in the shadows at the back of the theatre, watching us with a knowing gaze as if we were old friends. In the background, the gentle piano notes danced with soft violin sounds, like a sweet memory, filling the room with feelings of longing and days gone by. My wife's eyes hadn't deviated from the screen since the first scene. As the film unfolded, scenes mirrored fragments of our past. It felt as if I was seeing our story unfold on the screen. The dark room quickly faded from my mind as I was suddenly transported into my own romantic tale.

The sun was setting quickly at ECR beach, Chennai. The sky was changing to a deep orange and pink hue. We sat on the beach, mesmerized by the beauty of the girl next to me and the surrounding nature. Suchi, with her captivating eyes, sat beside me. My mind was filled with various thoughts as we watched the world transform in front of us.

"Say something," she demanded, her voice dripping with impatience.

I flashed a quick smile.

"For god’s sake, speak up! You promised to tell me something," she pressed, her tone sharp and insistent.

"Amid the melodic waves, your voice was a symphony," I murmured, lost in thought.

"Oh, here we go again," she ridiculed with a playful roll of her eyes.

At that moment, words failed me as I struggled to convey the depth of my emotions to her.

After a few minutes of heavy silence, I finally broke it. "Do you recall our first encounter?"

"Nope," she quipped sarcastically. 

"I do. It was in our sixth class that I saw you for the first time. A new admission in the school. A scintillating fair-complexioned girl with deep eyes and short hair was standing at the entrance of the class with a pack of chocolates in her hand. That was the first snapshot of your memory for me," I reminisced, my voice filled with fondness as I recalled those precious moments.

"Next," she urged, her curiosity evident in her tone, eager to hear more.

"It was in the ninth class that I showed interest in you. And we started talking about something different than routine. You started teaching me Oriya. I knew that I could never learn this language but this excuse had laid the foundation for our relationship at that time which you named as friendship," I continued, my words laced with nostalgia and affection.

As she listened intently, a surprising look crossed her face when our eyes met, hinting at hidden feelings or an unexpected reaction. 

After my school days, I finally found myself sitting beside the one I had yearned to be with for so many years. The anticipation and excitement filled my heart as I cherished every single moment. Throughout all those years, we remained connected through countless phone calls and messages, our bond growing deeper with each exchange. In every possible way, I had expressed my feelings for her, pouring my heart out time and time again. However, her love had always eluded me. Yet here I was in Chennai, determined to finally confess my love to her. But as I gazed upon her radiant presence, a sudden wave of speechlessness washed over me. She patiently waited, hoping that I would muster the courage to utter those life-changing words.

"I remember these things, why are you bringing them up now?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of confusion.

"Just like that. I don't even know what to talk about," I replied, my words trailing off into uncertainty.

"I don't know, just talk about something," she said matter-of-factly, her response devoid of hesitation or ambiguity.

"You know, all this time, I've wanted to be a filmmaker. After some time, I plan to quit my job and pursue my passion," I revealed, my voice filled with longing and anticipation.

"Oh really? We'll see about that," she stated with a touch of scepticism in her tone.

And once again, we settled into silence, our eyes fixated on the horizon with an air of curiosity. After a few moments passed, I mustered up the courage to ask her the question that had been weighing heavily on my mind, "Will you marry me?"

Her immediate response was swift and clear, without a moment's hesitation. "No! I've always considered you as a good friend," she replied firmly, leaving no room for doubt.

"Ok! But good friends can marry," I replied, my voice laced with uncertainty and a hint of hope.

"But I have my reasons," she explained firmly, her tone conveying a sense of determination.

I leaned in closer, "Like?" I probed gently.

Her words came out in a measured tone, emphasizing the weight of her decision. "Caste and state," she disclosed, as if those factors held immense significance.

My response came from a place of understanding and empathy. "I understand that these are reasonable reasons, but if you truly find me interesting, perhaps we can overcome them together," I proposed, my voice carrying a mixture of optimism and caution.

A momentary pause hung in the air before she added with unwavering clarity, "I do have certain expectations."

Caught off guard by her frankness, I pressed her further. "What might those be?" I asked with genuine interest.

Her answer hit me like a revelation, leaving me momentarily speechless. "I seek a man who is tall and undeniably attractive," she confessed unapologetically, her words revealing a touch of pride.

I took a deep breath to process her words before finally responding. "Alright," I agreed, my voice tinged with resignation and acceptance. 

And again, waves of silence hit us. After a few moments, she looked at me with determination and declared, "Okay! Let's get married."

I was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "Are you absolutely certain?"

Without faltering, she repeated her decision, emphasizing her certainty by stating firmly, "Yes! Let's get married."

Curiosity got the best of me and I pressed further, questioning, "But are you truly sure? What about your expectations?"

Confidently, she replied, making it clear that she believes in the power of love to surpass all other expectations, saying, "Absolutely. Love is that one expectation which can transcend any others, regardless of who we are, what we possess, or what we lack."

Seeking to understand her thought process, I inquired, "When did this realization come to you?"

Thoughtfully, she responded, "I can't really pinpoint an exact moment. It was as if I was pondering about you and then it just dawned on me."

Still grappling with disbelief, I persisted with my questions once more, asking hesitantly, "But...are you truly sure?"

With unwavering confidence and conviction in her voice, she assured me for the final time, "Yes!" 

I asked her repeatedly and she affirmed each time. For the next few years, we were deeply in love. Eventually, we convinced our parents and got married. After three years of marriage, we were strolling through Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad when we saw a movie poster for 'In the Hope of Love'. We decided to watch it and as we sat in the theatre, the music from the film brought back memories of our own love story.

Finally, the movie came to a close, but I barely paid any attention. I glanced at my wife, her face reflecting the sadness of the ending. The audience erupted in applause, showering praise upon the director and the entire crew. In the distance, I spotted the director, seemingly uninterested in the praise. Instead, his gaze was fixed on my wife, a helpless expression etched on his face. And then reality hit me like a ton of bricks. It dawned on me that I was that very director who had imagined myself as her husband during this momentary moment, helplessly captivated by her presence. Upfront, Suchi stood with her husband. If only she had accepted my marriage proposal back then at the beach, today I would be sitting beside her, watching this film unfold together. All the dreams and narrations that occupied my mind would have become a reality. But the truth stung; she had rejected my love that day. Yes, she chose to marry someone tall and handsome. 

As she exited the theatre alongside her husband. This not-so-tall and good-looking gentleman who imagined life with her stood helplessly. When they reached the exit gate, she suddenly halted and glanced in my direction. Our eyes met, and I couldn't help but offer a warm smile. She paused briefly, returned the smile, and then continued on her way.

Relationships may end but not love. Love lasts, forever ever and ever.

By Eswar Tavva