Read the previous part of the story here: The Second Time – Part 2 (The Past)

“Yes. I do remember the first time we met. How can I forget those cuts on your hand?” Pranav said.

“Do you know why I got those cuts on my hand?”

“You never told me.”

“When I first talked to you, the comfort that I felt was something that I had never ever felt before with anyone else. I saw through you by just talking to you. I saw in you a person whose heart is as pure as a new born baby and who has the mind which has the capability to conquer the world. So, when Anamika told me that it was you who is the reason of all the misunderstandings between us, I did not believe her. It was not you. It was me. But, I couldn’t say what I felt to anyone. How could I? But, I was sure of one thing.  That is, you could never be the reason of anyone’s sorrow, especially the reason of my sorrow. ”

(Pranav felt his whole world has shattered in front of him. He remembered the time when Priya would ask her not to drink enough to do something for which he’ll be ashamed of. He neglected her advice. He neglected that she is the one who had seen him through.)

“Over the course of last 5 years, I did nothing but surrender to you. I did nothing but believed in you. And today, I see all of that being undone. I am not hurt because you cheated me. I am hurt because our ‘love’ lost.”

“I know that I have let you down, Priya.”

“You have let our love down.”

(Even in a situation like this, Priya did not resort to ugly conversations that generally might happen during this period. That was her uniqueness. She is someone who will maintain her calm even during the most trying times. Her heart was crying but her words, soothing. During their earlier days of relationship, when Pranav would ask her how she managed to find courage in the most difficult of situations, she would say, ‘There is a thing about courage. You will find it at the most unexpected places, during the most unexpected times.’)

(Pranav had now realized what a big mistake he had done. It was evident when he mustered all his courage to tell both Priya and Rumita what he’d been up to. Rumita had cursed him of cheating and literally asked him to never see her again. He had never tried as well. Priya, on the other hand, told him why she loved him. Was it love or madness?)

(It was at this time that Priya did something which no one in her situation might think to do.)

“Why do we fall, Pranav?”

“What?”

“As a child, when we’d try to stand up for the first time on our own feet, we generally would suffer a big fall. At that moment, our parents would tell us to try one more time. They would clap, smile, make faces and do everything in their capacity to get us back to trying. As a result, we try once more and we start walking. This is the first lesson we get how to live our lives.”

“I love you, Priya. I am sorry. I cannot take back what all I have done. But, please tell me, how do I make all of this better for you and our love? ”

“Learn your first lesson.”

“Try once more, Pranav. You have taken the fall and now, you need to try and stand up. As for me, I will be there to give you a hand. I will be there to bring you back on your feet. ”

Pranav felt numb. He started crying his heart out and it was almost impossible to console him. He never imagined that his betrayal of Priya would give him a lesson that he desperately needed to learn. He never imagined that a simple act of forgiveness could give him peace.

“I love you, Priya.”

“I know that you love me. Now, will you please wipe off your tears?” 🙂

———————————————————————————–

5 years down the line as Pranav was in Priya’s home sitting in front of her father, Priya said, “Dad, this is Pranav, and I wish to marry him”.

She paused, laughed and said with all her heart, “He is the most courageous person I have even known”

“Courage is not to do what seems right at the moment but to to do what is forgiving. Pranav realized that one act of forgiveness from Priya made him what he could never be;courageous.”

(Most often we take love for granted. But some people amaze us by their unconditional love and support. These people will be there with us when we‘d fall down. These people are different women in our lives; mothers, daughters, girlfriends, or wives. Love them. Just love them.)