Tejaswini Patil - DESTINY
Moderator 
DESTINY
Tejaswini Patil
Jane walked towards the library not knowing where to go further. She asked her friend, Sonal to finish her work. It was thirteen years since she had seen Rohan. It was a break up from his side. He had declared not to see each other, and they parted. Jane got married to Joseph, who was a typical husband.
A few days before, she knew about Rohan's illness from their common friend who met after years. She couldn't resist getting his contact number from him and call through her friend. Unexpectedly, he responded positively and asked her to meet. Her joy knew no bounds. She wanted to see him desperately for whom her heartbeat missed every time, she thought of him. Through her hectic schedule, she spared a day to travel around a hundred kilometres. She had to take permission from her husband. She got it anyhow. She took her friend with her to avoid chaos. In a park, she waited.
"How are you, madam ?" A well-known voice from behind surprised her.
She couldn't believe that the weak figure was Rohan's. she had seen him as a healthy and fit man before. Recapturing her emotions, she asked him with filled eyes,
"How's that ? What happened to you?"
Taking a pause, he said in a weak voice,
"You've brought me back from my final departure. I wanted to see you. Even chanted your name in my insomnia caused by temperature. I didn’t want to continue with life which had separated you from me. That day, I saw the missed calls from the unknown number and then your text messages. The medicines worked favourably and I could get up. Doctors were astonished to see my recovery. Everything changed positively.”
“Did others feel surprised ?”
“My wife noticed the change in me. But she said nothing."
“Are you okay now ?” she touched his forehead to feel temperature. She felt he had fever.
“You still have fever. Why did you come in the open air ? You should have taken rest. We would have met later.”
“No. I wanted to see you instantly. I didn’t have patience. After waiting for thirteen long years, I didn’t want to lose thirteen hours. I got well.”
"Isn't it a miracle ?" She asked.
"Yes. The miracle of love, true love. Thank you for being there for me, Jane, madam."
The word ‘Madam’ hurt her deeply. She was so far away from him. He was calling him so with third person attitude.
"Why are you calling me madam ?" She argued.
"Now you're a sophisticated woman in society. How can I call you by your name only ?" He replied.
"There're so many old friends of mine who call me by my name. You also should".
"It's a bit difficult. But I will try."
Her friend took leave of both of them for some work.
"Rohan, it's thirteen years ago, we left each other. I couldn't forget you even for a fraction of a second. I thought, you must be happy without me. The thought tortured me. Still, .... "
"How could you forget me when I was chanting your name day and night. I was praying God for your well-being. I was sure that my inner voice was reaching you. Somehow, I could feel lucky to have you in my life maybe for small period of time. I did not believe in the destiny that would reunite me with you. I remembered our silent hours near the lake, in this garden, in the hospital, in library …"
Both of them were in tears.
"You know, Rohan, I've heard that if two stringed musical instruments are tuned to each other perfectly, there's music from both when only one is played."
"Yes. I've heard.”
"Why did we depart then ? ?”
He looked silently into a zero, not knowing what to say. After a long while, he spoke.
“You may call it a male ego or whatever you want. I felt the loss when I lost you. I saw your marriage card in Mahendra’s house exactly when you were getting married. It was a shock to me. The whole day, I wept. For a long time, I was dumbstruck. My father made me realise my fault and accept it. You knew Anna.”
“Yes, I had met him twice. How’s he, now?”
“He’s left for heavenly abode.”
“Ohhhhh…. He was so nice a person. He spoke so openly with me. He told me to convince you to accept any job available that time. And you were reluctant to join compromising with your ethics. Your mother told me how she was eager to see you getting married. How’s she ?”
“She’s good. She stays with us.”
“Good”
“Shall we go to canteen? Would you like to eat something?”
“No. Actually not. I won’t be able to eat anything. I feel full.”
“Okay. As you wish. Jane, do you remember the tree where I proposed you ?”
“Was it a proposal? You vaguely said something. Do you remember my response?”
“How can I forget it ? You just nodded.”
“I was not prepared for the situation. I had my elder sister to be married first. How could I respond instantly ? I took a pause, knowing that you’ll wait for me.”
“I started drinks again which I had stopped after meeting you. I had lost faith in God before you met me. And today’s illness is caused by that only.”
“You, men, are so weak really.” She sighed.
“You know, I used to sit near the lake for hours. The paths, we strode, I walked again.”
“I too, did. But we never met.”
“Perhaps, the meeting was destined today.”
Her phone rang. It was her husband’s call. She got up.
“We must leave now. It will be late to reach home. Her face exhibited the scene she might be facing later.
“Okay. Shall we meet again?”
“I don’t know. Let the destiny decide what to do in future.”
“Agree with you. If we can meet after thirteen years, so we can in future.”
“I’m very happy to see you face to face again. I had lost hope.”
“Me, too.”
She called her friend and walked away. He sat there seeing her disappear behind the trees and looking back to him before losing sight.
“Destiny….” he said calmly and got up.
“Destiny, give us the chance again to meet… at least to support each other emotionally” She thought as she moved around to see him staring at her.
*********
Dr. Tejaswini Patil (Dange)
Academician, Founder Director, INNSÆI and MatruAkshar Journal; trilingual poet. Three books of English- Talons and Nets, Verses of Silence, A Glass of Time; one of Hindi- Kainaat and 6 Edited books. Awards: Diploma: Nominee for the World Award from Rahim Karim; Certificate as Peace-Pax Ambassador and Delegate in Karad (Argentina); Certificate of Thanks and Gratitude on International Non-Violence Day 2nd October.
Declaration
I, Dr Tejaswini D Patil Dange hereby declare that the story, “Destiny” has been written by me and I hereby give rights to publish it in the anthology
Dr Tejaswini D. Patil Dange
