Aik Choti Si Prem Kahani

Posted by Ajnabi under Relationships

Prem had just about recovered from a breakdown following the break up of his marriage. He was doing his best to rebuild his life after all around him had turned their back on him – not having anyone to talk to Prem had turned to the Internet and a chat room to make friends, have a chit chat, pass time and get away from the loneliness and boredom that had surrounded him.

As he was being himself, having some fun with lighthearted banters on chat – a name on the list caught his attention. Looking on the chat screen he noticed her chatting away and the first thing that hit is mind was “What a maghroor ladki” and thought to himself “Iski ghurur todna hai mujhe” – He set forth to break her gamand kinda attitude not knowing that this was the beginning of something that would change his life.

Her name was Riya – That’s the screen name she used! Her chatting style was full of attitude yet she was confident and matured compared to all the people on chat and the girls Prem had come to know. He called out to her and when she replied he set forth telling her what he thought of her attitude and asked why is she behaving in such a manner. The questioning and answers turned to a heated conversation and went on for a couple of days.

Then Riya made a comment to the nearest effect: “You are talking to me like I am your lover, like you love me”! Prem replied confidently with “Maybe I want to love you, maybe I love you and want you to love me!”. Riya lold (laughed out loud = lol) and they continued talking.

As days went by Riya had become comfortable talking to Prem and both got on well – They spent hours chatting only to each other on a friendly basis, and sometimes throughout the night to the small hours of the morning. They both realised that they were heading into a far more meaningful relationship that required to be dealt with offline.

In the weeks and months that followed Prem and Riya talked on the phone as often as they could and texted each other when they couldn’t. They retained their meetings online and continued talking in private for hours on end getting to know each other. Slowly the friendship was turning into love as they both developed feelings and affection for each other. Prem recalls all those wonderful moments and the love they shared very fondly.

Prem was the first to declared his love for Riya and it would take sometime yet for Riya to reciprocate and affirm her love for him. Riya had taken the steps to find out as much as she could about Prem, his family, his status and his location. Before affirming her love for Prem, she had taken a couple of her friends and they travelled to Prem’s hometown. She did not meet Prem personally – this was a trip to reassure herself and confirm that Prem is indeed who and what he claimed to be. After all this was a relationship started online and Riya wanted to be sure Prem was a genuine person.

Having confirmed all she wanted to confirm about Prem, Riya affirmed her love for him and they spent a few good months together communicating via phone, text and occasionally chat online building up their relationship. As their love grew stronger Prem knew that Riya was the woman he wanted to be with for the rest of his life and proposed to her. Riya was happy and started to think about the proposal and how life would be with the man she loved dearly.

But being from a small and close family and given the fact that Prem was a divorcee with children, Riya had a lot to think about before approaching her family for their approval. Then came a time when Riya felt she was ready to do so and decided that she will talk to her family upon return from a trip the family had planed. They were to attend a wedding of her cousin back home and Riya was to meet her older sister who had moved away after she had got married.

Everything seemed perfect and both Riya and Prem were happy looking forward to a life together. The day of the trip they conversed on the phone for a little bit and then via text until Riya’s flight time. While she was away they continued with the communication and their love felt stronger than ever.

But everything was about to change – and change for the worst.

Riya met up with her sister after many years and sisters do, they got into one to ones to talk about anything and everything. As they talked Riya brought up the feelings she had for Prem and began telling her sister all about it. She sought her sisters support and help, but her dreams were about to be shattered.

In the conversation that followed, Riya learned why her sister had gone away and why she was estranged from the rest of the family. Riya’s sister had fallen in love and married her husband without the family’s approval and in return she was disowned hence why she had moved away. Talking further Riya discovered that should she go ahead and marry Prem she would be faced with the same outcome.

Riya loved her family very much and they had done a lot for her. This was now a huge dilemma for Riya – she was left with tough decision, should she choose the man she love or should she choose the family that has loved her, brought her up and the brothers who left nothing unturned to be there for her? A dilemma indeed!

After a few days discussing things with her sister Riya made the toughest decision of her life. Considering the unknown with Prem and all that her family had done for her Riya decided to forsake her love for Prem and chose her family. With tears in her eyes and sorrow in her heart she plucked up the courage and told Prem of her decision.

At first Prem would not accept and could not understand how Riya could do this to him. He spent days and nights trying his best to convince Riya to change her mind and give their love a chance. As much as Riya wanted to she knew she could not and this was indeed the end and Prem had no choice but to accept and respect Riya’s decision.

They continued to communicate for a good few years afterwards – it was difficult for both but it was also hard for them to let go as well. At this point Riya was distancing herself from Prem, slowly preparing herself for what fate had in store for her as she knew soon or later her family would find someone for her and she would eventually have to get married.

She chose to go back to her origina attitude self and started showing it to Prem. He knew that she loved him very much perhaps more than he loved her and he knew exactly why she was doing. In his understanding, Prem knew the reason of Riya’s attitude change – it was her way of breaking away. She wanted Prem to feel that she had changed and was bad so that it would be easy for him to let go and move on.

Prem did let go soon one day – after he had texted Riya who had replied in such a way which made Prem feel that he was no longer welcomed to text her, that he was now a nuisance and unwanted one. Prem bid Riya goodbye and promised never to bother her again and in return Riya texted back saying “Whatever” and that was the last the two of them communicated. Prem was left heartbroken not being able to talk to the woman he loved, that he will never get to wish her on religious celebrations or happy birthday again. But he also knew that this is what Riya wanted, to be given the space to transition herself into her new life, a life without the man she loved.

It has been almost 3 years now since they last communicated and Prem has no idea how Riya is, where she is and if she is now married or not. Weather she remembers him or not, weather she still loves him or not – But he knows this much, where ever Riya is, who ever Riya is with, Prem wishes her nothing but happiness. Prem has always loved Riya and will always love her, she holds a special place in his heart and he will always cherish her and the fond memories they created together.

I dedicate this short story to Riya and Prem – to all those who have loved and been loved back. Those who loved and weren’t loved back. Love is unconditional – love only knows how to love and nothing else. So love with all your heart and love like there is no tomorrow!