Disclaimer- Based on a true story
After an exhausting day at work, I return home awaiting a calm, peaceful evening to myself. Instead, I'm welcomed by some noisy loud speakers playing Telugu folk songs coming from my neighbour's house, who are in full preparation of the wedding of the only son in their family. Booming with headache now, I curse my stars and get to the porch to unlock my door when I find an envelope stuck to the handle of the door. I instantly pick it up, only to realise that it isn't a promotion mail, but a handwritten letter. The letter mentions no name, just my address. My headache disappears as mind fills itself with curiosity and excitement. The fact that somebody could be so thoughtful of sending this hopelessly romantic girl a letter by post, instead of an email or a text was enough to bring a smile to my face and make my cheeks blush pink.
I open the door and rush inside, throwing my bag on one side of the living room, shoes on the other and seat myself in the sofa placed in the center, facing the television set. I tear the envelope, hastily but neatly, and open the letter and begin to read it. Funnily enough, even the greeting has no mention of my name. It infact carries another name. I look at it twice to see if I'm reading it right. My excitement recedes but curiosity alleviates. At this point of time I know I shouldn't read it, because it could invade the privacy of the sender and the supposed receiver, but as my nosiness overpowers me, I continue to read.
Dear Suri,
It's been a long time and I hope that you are well and good. Unfortunately though, it hasn't been my case. I hope you haven't forgotten me, because I still remind myself of you every moment. Most of the times, with the regret of leaving you.
Do you remember that particular day years ago when I chose to get married to the guy my parents selected? I know you had asked me to elope with you but I didn't have the courage to do that, primarily because you had just began your journey with a new job and I couldn't imagine the repurcussions of building a family with no money. To this day I rue my decision for things have gone downhill for me ever since. The guy I married, my ex-husband now, turned out to be an alcoholic. While I drowned myself in misery of losing you, he'd come home every night and throw in tantrums, sometimes even beat me. I divorced him a couple of years ago when I couldn't take it any longer. I have two kids with him, my daughter is four years old and son is two. My parents have disowned me because they didn't want me to give up on my marriage. And now I sit, unable to raise my children alone, thinking how much better it would have been if I actually did make the plunge with you.
I know you'd be in a good place right now, I read about you a few months back when your business made it to the news paper. That's also how I managed to find your address. I'm really happy for you, but I hope that you could share every joy and sorrow with me. I wish for you to come back so we can rekindle our love story, it could be a new beginning for the both of us. Because somewhere deep down in my heart, I believe that you still love me, and that it is still strong enough. If you're ready to give me a second chance, please call me to this number- 78932 19654
Yours,
♥️♥️
Manisha
♥️♥️
Manisha
I stare at the piece of paper for a while, unable to process what I just read. For a moment, I hadn't realised who this letter was being addressed to, but then it struck me that Suri could most probably be the nickname of Surinder Naidu, our neighbour's son, the groom-to-be.
The marriage is scheduled to take place in a couple of days and everything around me seems to be straight out of a rom-com movie. Unable to digest the fact that the true power in the said love story now lay in my hands, my mind crowds itself with many questions and possibilities of outcomes of my decision. Is it a sign that the letter accidentally reached me instead of him? Or Am I just a pawn in reuniting two lovebirds separated by circumstance? Should I break the heart of the bride?
The marriage is scheduled to take place in a couple of days and everything around me seems to be straight out of a rom-com movie. Unable to digest the fact that the true power in the said love story now lay in my hands, my mind crowds itself with many questions and possibilities of outcomes of my decision. Is it a sign that the letter accidentally reached me instead of him? Or Am I just a pawn in reuniting two lovebirds separated by circumstance? Should I break the heart of the bride?
After a few hours of thought sitting in the very sofa without moving an inch, I finally make up my mind. I tear apart the letter into pieces and throw it into the dustbin and decide to forget about the whole incident. Swearing to secrecy, I go to the kitchen, make myself a cup of tea, only to watch The Notebook playing on the television.
THE END
