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Good times, they say, must come to an end. The finality of those words weighed heavily on my chest as I sat by the train window, watching the station fade into the distance. The platform, once my last physical connection with the town, appeared like a shadow of the past. It was filled with memories I was carrying into the new chapter in life. The pages blank, uncharted, and frighteningly devoid of any guidance. I never knew separation could be this tough.
My mind faced the full fury of the hurricane of questions, each tougher than the last.
What is a long-distance relationship like?
How will we stay connected?
Letters, the occasional phone call—would they be enough?
Or would we drift apart, consumed by our separate lives, forgetting the promises whispered in moments of passion?
Would the intensity of love, interdependence, trust, and commitments fade into the mundane?
Last evening was consumed in the blind of heightened emotions. A collage of bittersweet moments scorched my memory.
Riding my dependable Yezdi, Smitakshi and I had ventured into the city one last time. I am unsure why there was a tag at the end one last time. There was life ahead.
She gripped me fiercely. Her arms wrapped around me, trying to hold onto the present, refusing to let it slip into the past. At every red light, she leaned forward, planting lingering kisses on my back, marking me with her love and presence.
Our coffee house visit was filled with teary-eyed promises and voicing of some doubts. We clung to each other’s words like it was our last lifeline.
She vowed to write every week. I promised to call whenever possible.
Yet, the uncertainty loomed large.
The most heart-wrenching moment was at the gate of her hostel. She held onto my arm, her eyes glistening with tears threatening to break free and roll down her cheeks. Her lips trembling with unspoken words. Even the guard, who had always seemed stoic, stood there, his eyes moist, as if he, too, felt the weight of our goodbye.
“I’ll miss you,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
“And I’ll miss you more,” I managed to say, my throat tight.
Then, in a sudden burst of resolve and an uncontrolled emotional burst, she turned and ran inside, leaving me alone in the dim light of the hostel’s entrance.
I stood there, rooted to the spot, the emptiness settling around me.
Now, as the train picked up speed, I couldn’t help but wonder what life had in store for us.
I was worried about her. How tough her life might become in my absence.
Yashpal and his ilk weren’t going anywhere. Without me there, would she find the strength to stand tall? Would she feel alone in a college that could be unforgiving for a lady?
I leaned back in my seat, the rhythmic, consistent clatter of the train a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. I was heading to Mumbai, the city of dreams that promised a bright future. But my heart, my soul, remained in town, in the arms of a girl who meant everything to me.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, I closed my eyes and let the memories of her warmth, her laughter, and her love wash over me. Whatever lay ahead, I vowed to hold onto these moments, to let them guide me through the uncertainty.
I vowed silently. I will be there. Distances are like the wind; they extinguish minor emotions and fire up in a frenzy the strong fire of love. My love for her- will find new meaning and direction- distances I am sure will not be able to play spoilsport. With that, I shut my eyes to any doubts I might have had and trusted this separation was temporary.
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This story with an undisclosed destination started as part of the @BlogChatter event #BlogChatterBlogHop, where I started weaving a story based on the weekly word prompts suggested by BlogChatter. However, after the 5th weekly prompt- Blogchatter took a break, but I continued to develop the story based on the prompts friends and readers suggested on social media. Do suggest some word prompts for the next chapter. And if you want ( which I wish you do) read the whole story- here are the rest of the chapters. https://sanjeevkotnala.com/category/story-undisclosed-destination/ and to start the first chapter – Rainy evening in a resort at Mukhteshwar
