By Barshita Das

It was a stormy day, Aisha was too lazy to get up from bed as it's a different kind of feeling to wrap the blanket when it is raining heavily. "Get up early, your tea and pakoras are getting cold", her mother shouted from the kitchen. Her mother was a homemaker where she performed all her chores whole heartedly.
Aisha came to the dining table yawning. But her eyes became wide open looking at the delicious pakoras. She completed her breakfast and asked her mom about the laptop as it was the last date of registration for the admission in MBA college. The college was approximately 8 km away from her house which is a very less distance in a city like New Delhi. Finally the day of her first class arrived. Although she said it's not required but her mother went to drop her off. Every mother wants to take care of her child at her best. "Good luck beta, have a nice day", saying this she waved her hand while Aisha entered the college. The campus was massive and the crowd blended with the atmosphere. She noticed a boy standing alone infront of the canteen and approached him to ask "excuse me, can you please tell me where is the room 14B?" The boy putting a light smile on his face asked back, "are you also from MBA first year and it is the first day of class?" She nodded her head in agreement when the boy took the first step and introduced himself, "Hi I am Rohan, I am also from MBA first year, we will be classmates then. Nice to meet you, let's walk to the classroom together then?" Aisha also introduced herself and both headed towards the classroom. The first day of college went well. They made a few friends and communicated with the teachers also. However a message pinged on Aisha's phone at night while she was completing the assignment that was given today. It was Rohan's message which read, "Hi it's me Rohan, found your number from the whatsapp group created today of all the classmates. Actually I wasn't understanding the finishing portion of the assignment. I was wondering if you could help me with this?" Aisha blushed reading the text as she knew very well that it's just an excuse to initiate the conversation. But still she pretended to be unaware and helped him with the requisites. The assignment got over but their conversation didn't. They kept talking until Aisha realised that it's dawn and they should really sleep for some hours.
Next day at college, Rohan was waiting for Aisha at the entrance. Aisha arrived and seeing Rohan at the gate, she couldn't stop herself from smiling. She came closer and said with a confused expression, "you are standing here?" Rohan blushed and said that he was waiting for her. Days passed like this and an unbreakable bond developed between them. Everyone around them started teasing the duo by each other's name. Love was blooming in both of their hearts but none was ready to confess first in the fear of losing the other. Months passed like this and finally one day Rohan decided to pour his heart out to Aisha and what could be a better day than her birthday itself. It was Aisha's birthday next week and Rohan made every preparation for his proposal.
Finally Aisha's special day arrived. She woke up and found her mother standing right infront of her with a cake in her hand which she baked on her own. "Happy birthday meri gudiya, may God always bless you", her mother wished hugging her. Aisha called her father, her grandmother and together they celebrated her birthday. She was helping her mother in the kitchen when she got a call. It was Rohan. She recieved the call and the voice from the other side spoke, "Hey a very very happy birthday..have a blast..can't wait to meet you..I have a surprise for you, come at the olive garden rooftop cafe at sharp 6 o'clock in the evening and before you say anything, let me clear you, I won't take any answer as no. You have to come." Aisha blushed and her eyes sparkled seeing the excitement in Rohan's voice for her birthday and she happily agreed. Evening time drew closer and Aisha got herself ready as she had to look the prettiest. She arrived at the venue and was directed to wait at the rooftop section which was booked under Rohan's name. She entered and it was all decorated with red roses everywhere. The dim lights gave a cozy and romantic view. The table where she sat was covered with rose patels and red and white balloons. She was amazed to witness the view and turned speechless. But the person for whom she came here was not in the vicinity of her eyes. Now that the preparation impressed her so much, her eyes were looking for him desperately. Half an hour passed and she glued her eyes to the entrance, then one hour passed, but Rohan was not answering the phone calls. After waiting for about 3 hours, Aisha returned home. Her paled face worried her mother and she approached her. "What happened beta, you are looking upset and tensed, is everything alright?", her mother spoke up. Aisha sat down on the sofa and explained her mother everything about the evening. They were talking, in the meantime Aisha's phone rang. She immediately picked up the call and responded on the verge of breaking down, "are you okay? Where were you? I waited for more than three hours but you didn't show up." "Open your door please", Rohan answered in a polite voice when suddenly the calling bell rang. Her mother opened the door and it was Rohan standing right infront of them. He came and wrapped Aisha's shoulder with his hands and started speaking, "I am so sorry Aisha I couldn't make it even after so many arrangements. I made you wait on your special day, please forgive me..but now I want to say what I wanted to say before. I love you Aisha, an unexplained feeling developed inside me from the day I first saw you near the canteen. From that day I have been gathering courage to confess this to you. Please be mine and I promise my life will be yours." Tears of happiness rolled down of Aisha's eyes and she nodded in agreement. They tightly hugged each other, when the obvious question popped into her mind. She pulled herself from his chest and making eye contact asked, "But where were you the entire evening? I called you so many times but you didn't answer any." On this Rohan started sweating lightly when Aisha's mother who was silently watching everything from the corner, interrupted them. She was very happy that her only child had found the love of her life. She blessed both of them and insisted Rohan on having dinner with them.
Days passed like this and their honeymoon phase started to blossom more and more. Now they start and end the day with each other's voice. Rohan became quite familiar with Aisha's family and he used to pay regular visits at Aisha's place and had lunch with them as he was living alone in the town in a rented flat. One day during such lunch time, Aisha's mother casually asked about the occupation of his father, about his native place. Rohan's face got paled in this as if something was asked for which he was not prepared. He immediately started coughing as food stuck in his throat for he was being unmindful because of the question. Immediately her mother got busy in providing him water for which everyone forgot about the question that was asked.
Time passed like this and their 4th semester got over. Aisha was very excited about the semester break as she would get much time now to spend with Rohan. They planned to go to Himachal Pradesh for a 4 days 3 nights tour. Night before their tour, Aisha was packing clothes and she was confused about what to pack and what not to. She face timed Rohan many times but it was constantly saying busy. After approximately one and half hour, Rohan called back and said that he was talking to his childhood friend after so many days, that's why he couldn't recieve. Next morning they were all set to go, Rohan was waiting for Aisha at the bus stop. Aisha was a bit late but somehow they managed to board the bus. After a long and tiring journey, they finally reached hotel. They completed all the formalities and checked in to their room. They both got fresh and started exploring the place. They were enjoying everything as if there is no tomorrow. The second day of their tour when they were having lunch at a restaurant, Aisha's mother call but her voice was not clearly audible because of the network problem we often face in hilly areas. She asked for Rohan's phone and he immediately handed it over. Aisha went out of the roof to get a clear network and after disconnecting the call, Rohan's whatsapp screen flashed which he probably by mistake kept open. She noticed a voice note from one unknown number which played, "It's very difficult to execute this alone, come over hear and handle yourself." That was the only text on that chat and suddenly her eyes fell on the date and time, it was the night before their trip when Aisha was trying to face time Rohan to show him the clothes. She immediately jumped into the call log but no traces of any call on that night was found. She returned back confused and asked Rohan politely about if there was any problem. Rohan's voice started trembling a bit but then he spoke up somehow, "this is nothing, just another number of my flatmate Yuvan, apparently his girlfriend came over at that night to spend time with him from that day onwards as I will not be there. They were cleaning and packing my stuffs and I was cooking for them. So from my bedroom, she texted me from his boyfriend's number. You know how messy I am right, anybody will find it difficult to pack my stuffs, still they did when I insisted. And regarding the call log, I willingly deleted it because I didn't know how you would react that my flatmate's girlfriend came over to stay and she used my phone to call her relative as her phone was put at charge and Yuvan's boss was about to call him at that time, so he couldn't hand over his own phone. That's all that happened, now I told u everything clearly, hope you have understood." Aisha was not fully convinced about all the coincidences that took place simultaneously about which Rohan mentioned but her trust on Rohan was so firm that she didn't give it a second thought. After spending the entire trip with so much fun, they returned home happily.
Two more years passed like this and their MBA course was completed. They both were placed in the corporate sector with a decent package. Now like every other Indian family, Aisha's family too started thinking about her marriage. They invited Rohan for dinner and initiated the conversation of marriage. They requested him to bring his parents for discussing about every rituals to be performed for the marriage. At first, he hesitated for this but then eventually he agreed. The preparation of the wedding was going on in full swing and Aisha was living her dream for she was about to marry her prince charming. Days drew closer and the excitement level of everyone reached cloud nine. Finally the D day arrived. Everything was arranged and all were set to welcome the baraat. The groom's party recieved a warm welcome and all were invited to join the venue hall. Rohan, the groom was looking no less than a bollywood hero who wore a shervani of beige colour along with pagri of maroon colour. Everyone was enjoying the rituals while Rohan stood up and asked Aisha's mother about the whereabouts of the washroom. Meanwhile Panditji asked to bring the bride to the mandap. Aisha's friends and cousin sisters brought Aisha to the mandap but Rohan was not there. One of her cousins informed that she had seen him going towards the washroom. They waited for few minutes but Rohan was not coming back. Aisha's father and other cousin brothers went to check the washroom but the door was wide open. They started calling Rohan but it came unreachable. The panic situation spread through the entire hall and everyone was trying somehow or the other to contribute something. After some hours Aisha gave up and broke into tears. We can only imagine what a girl can feel sitting on the mandap when her groom went missing some minutes before her arrival and no sign of him was recovered. Her friends went to handle her but her tears were not stopping from coming out. In this chaos, no one noticed that Aisha's mother was also not present in the venue. Sometime later, the siren of police car rang which shocked everyone as they didn't call the police yet for filing the missing complaint of Rohan. Everyone present there couldn't believe their eyes when Aisha's mother entered along with Rohan and some other girls and one lady. The bolt from the blue was Rohan and that lady were handcuffed by the police. Before anyone could react, Aisha immediately stood up from the mandap and reached to them. She questioned the police about why Rohan was handcuffed. Then she turned towards Rohan and said with a trembling voice, "Rohan where have you been from so long? Do you know from when I am waiting for you? Who leave his own bride at the mandap like this. And why they handcuffed you? Answer me Rohan, answer me." No words were uttered by Rohan when he kept his head low all throughout the time. Aisha started shouting, "will somebody tell me what the hell is happening here? It's my life and it was supposed to be a special day for me. Someone for God's sake, speak up." Aisha's mother stepped forward and hold Aisha's hand indicating that she was with her. Then she started explaining, "When the baraat arrived and everyone was served the starters, Rohan asked me about the washroom. I showed him the washroom and while returning, suddenly I remembered that there was no towel in the washroom which he might need. So I went again taking the towel, but his voice made me stop from entering. He was talking to someone over the phone where he was mentioning about controlling someone. He was saying that anyhow they have to bring her under control. When I realised that he was about to open the door I hid myself against the wall. He came out and made his exit through the backdoor of the hall in a rush. I followed him which lead me to a big garrage. I peeped inside and found that so many girls were tied with rope. I heard the conversation of Rohan and this lady and I came to realise that they bought these girls with money and now they are using them to forcefully bear child in their womb for nine months and giving birth to them illegally. In a nutshell, they were making these girls surrogate mothers of children of childless couples in a lesser price than that what it costs in the legal market. Many of the girls here bore more than one child like this. It's not only detoriating their physical health but also exhausting their mental health. He brought every girl by trapping them in his love drama and you were also one of their planned target. Today when I overheard their conversation, I immediately called the police and asked them to come silencing their siren so that they don't get the chance to escape. Also I made video of their entire conversation as a proof of their confession to produce in the court. When police arrived, they made futile attempt to run but police surrounded them from everywhere. I requested the inspector to bring them here before taking them to the police station. I just thank God that your life is saved and you didn't become victim of this chain. Go beta, vent out everything you have inside you and hand over this inhuman to the legal hands." Hearing all this, everyone was left speechless and Aisha felt like ground was removed under her feet. She kept looking at Rohan for few more seconds, then slapped him so tight as if the sound reached to ears of every corner. She started having shortage of breath but still shouted, "You...I loved you with all my heart, trusted you more than my conscience, my intuition kept telling me that something is missing but I couldn't understand because my love for you was blind. The day you were about to propose me, that day also you vanished like this but not a single question arose in my mind, when we went to the Himachal trip and I found a voice note in your phone, you cooked your story in every way possible and I being a fool kept believing your each and every word. There were so many more incidences where we planned something but you didn't show up and everytime you used to get away with your stupid excuses. I wonder the moments when you used to abandon our plan and vanish, you probably used to go to one of those girls to trap them or to inject them with the cell of another baby. Yes the trauma of being betrayed like this will accompany me lifelong but I am thankful to God too that He saved me from getting married to you. Inspector sir please take him away from my eyes and show no mercy while punishing him because he is not only my culprit, he is stained with sins commited to so many girls. Please take him away." She started breathing more heavily and slowly became unconscious.
One year later:
Aisha came out with her mother from a building. One stranger approached them and enquired, "Is this HEALING THERAPY CENTRE?" She nodded and crossed the gate. She insisted her mother on having ice cream. They went inside an ice cream shop and made themselves comfortable in a corner table. One vanilla and one chocobar ice cream were served. While taking the scoop of ice cream, she kept staring at the ice cream bowl. Her mother hold her hand and asked, "What happened beta? What are you thinking?" To this she gently smiled and replied, "Life is like this ice cream only, we should enjoy it before it melts. In the same way, I realised instead of repenting for the past and worrying about the future, we should focus on our present and try to squeeze out every hapiness we can from it before the time passes away. My past showed me many things but it had taught me to live for myself without being naive like before. Hence from now on, as my therapist always say, I will collect my broken unhealed peaces and try to give birth to a new me who will be empathetic towards others but along with the self love practice which acts as a tonic to one's existence."
By Barshita Das
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