Fate over Fear
Mudita was enjoying her last sip of coffee when her phone beeped, she checked the phone and stood numb. Following the message beep, she received a call. “Hello” in a low tone, Mudita answered the call. It was Avantika, Mudita’s childhood friend. “Where are you? Why aren’t you answering my messages.”, Not wasting any more minutes, she told Mudita about the school reunion invitation, ‘Haven’t you received it yet’? ‘They are organizing the reunion this Christmas Eve. ‘Oh, I am so excited to visit India.’
Following Avantika’s excitement, Mudita instantly replied, ‘Yes, I know about it, but I won’t be able to come’. Hearing this cold tone from Mudita, Avantika knew, that she still had not forgotten the past. Trying to convince her, Avantika said, “You know we will be coming from London, especially for the reunion, it’s been more than eight years now and we have not met. I and Aryan are so excited to meet you and Shaurya. You have to come and that’s it.” Mudita couldn’t say no to her. Agreeing to attend the reunion party, both ended the call.
How can just a single phone call make such a difference, a minute before she was all fine, enjoying her alone time? It seems as if, somebody has snatched her peace from within. Mudita’s introverted nature has always held her back from sharing her true feelings be it love or hate. Being too sensitive and overthinker, she could forget things in life. Everything gets stuck in her head. She has held it back since the time she felt betrayed by her friends.
The Sun was shining bright the next morning, and the usual chores of life were at the normal pace. It was almost ten in the morning and Mudita was still in bed. Knocking her room, her mother slid inside just to check on her. Finding her peacefully sleeping, her mother left the room quietly. As soon as she left the room, Mudita’s phone began to ring. she picked up the call, this time it was ‘Shaurya’, her closest friend from school and her partner at work.
Aren’t you coming today? This was the first question that popped up from Shaurya’s side. Exhausted Mudita knew she could say no to anything but not to her work. Promising to reach in an hour Mudita ran towards the bathroom.
Shaurya, as usual, was busy working with his team. Mudita wanted to share the conversation, she and Avantika had last night. Shaurya already knew everything, as Avantika had called him first. Even before Mudita could utter a word, he started the conversation, ‘So ready for the Christmas party?’ Hearing this, Mudita knew Avantika had called him too.
Shaurya exactly knew what was bothering Mudita!
Avantika, Mudita, and Shaurya have been best friends since kindergarten. Growing together and holding hands; they shared the best bond ever. laughed, cried, lost, and won a lot of battles together. Living in the same colony, their families too were very close. They had the best of times together, celebrating and enjoying life to the fullest. Childhood friendship has a very special place in everyone’s life, innocence and purity make everything worthwhile.
The trio’s friendship elevated when Aryan entered their inner circle. Aryan’s father got transferred to the city where this trio lived. And Aryan was admitted to the same school these three were studying, have been admitted in the mid-session, teachers introduced Aryan to Mudita to seek help. Who knew, seeing him for the first time Mudita would fall for him. Had Mudita known about the future, she would have never done this.
Being the brightest student in the class, Mudita was not only good at studies, but she was also very kind and considerate by nature. Helping Aryan cope with his studies after school gave her immense joy. Her attraction towards him grew with each moment they spent together. Aryan’s flirty nature added fuel to her emotions and her love ignited far beyond she could think. Aryan’s friendly gestures were misjudged by Mudita.
However, Aryan was more interested in sports rather than studies. Eventually, he joined the school’s basketball team and started hanging out with Avantika and Shaurya more. Slowly and gradually, Avantika also started developing feelings for Aryan. Both spent more time together, strolling after school, sharing ice cream, and sitting on the same bench. All these changes could be felt deeply by Mudita. She felt betrayed by Aryan and Avantika and felt used and ghosted. She started blaming herself for not being as pretty as Avantika, and her behaviour changed drastically, from a kind and focused personality she was now a ruthless person who was just lost in her world. Unknowingly, Avantika and Aryan left a deep impact on Mudita. She was shattered and hopeless.
In all the mess going on, it was Shaurya who felt the most left out. No one bothered how he felt, barely any of the three thoughts about him. Still, he never left Mudita alone. Knowing her love for Aryan, he decided to prioritize friendship over love and never shared his feelings for her. For him Mudita was important, her friendship mattered the most.
Times passed by and so did their age. The adorable puppy love was now, changed into a romantic adult relationship. Aryan and Avantika lost in love had built their world. Deciding to study abroad, their parents agreed to send them together. Leaving everything behind, they were off to start a new journey for future life.
On the other hand, Mudita and Shaurya stayed together. Dreaming of a new life, each focused on their career and future.
The new life’s journey, new friends, and adventure kept each of them so like a busy bee, that they lost contact and may be never bothered to even keep in touch. Time flew by and everyone settled into their lives.
Aryan and Avantika got married and worked in London together. Mudita and Shaurya running an NGO in their home city. Trapped in a busy life schedule, the friendships and bonds were changed to office, and colleagues.
Mudita’s parents knew Shaurya’s mad love for her, A hundred times they tried to convince her to marry him, but after she failed in first love, she was traumatized, and she lost confidence in herself. Her faith in love and herself was gone. Fear inside her crawled every time she thought of believing someone.
But Shaurya was still waiting for Mudita, he had her back since the beginning. His love for Mudita was unconditional. Even Mudita somewhere in her heart knew, that Shaurya for the perfect person for her. He has not only been her best friend, but also her biggest cheerleader. He supported her in every low and high of life. But, her past life rejection and betrayal from friendship were preventing her from taking a leap of faith in life. It seems as if Mudita is waiting for a closer, clarification and maybe a validation.
Not letting her heart love when she wants to is the biggest pain she is going through!
The day came when the city was entirely decorated with lights, shops were busy selling Christmas trees, children were buying their favorite candies, and random guys were all dressed up in Santa Claus attire strolling in the city streets to attract people around and distributing sweets to children.
Crossing through the decorated lanes of the city, Shaurya reached Mudita’s home to pick her up for the reunion party. Enchanted by her beauty, Shaurya was mesmerized. Watching her walking toward him in a gorgeous silk saree, her open hair was flowing in waves, and the bindi on her forehead took Shaurya’s heart. He looked at her as if this was the first time, he had seen someone so beautiful. Coming close to him, Mudita looked at him as if wanting to say something desperately. They both looked at each other quietly, Shaurya in a trembling voice said; ‘You look divine.’ Something was different with Mudita today, Shaurya felt inside. In excitement, both drove to attend the party.
Reaching the venue, they were amazed to see the decorations and the preparations being made, they couldn’t believe that it was their school lawn. However, seeing everything and everyone so decked up, their moods surprisingly elevated to another level. Seeing old faces, ignited warmth and love in their hearts. They happily greeted their teachers, batchmates, and classmates and joined the happy crowd.
The reunion event provided a meaningful chance for people to come back and catch up with old friends and reminisce about memories from their old school times. Everybody in the crowd was having fun. Some pulled back the old happy days, and few sorted their buried fights. Some people just popped up for the sake of showing off their high-bagged salary, and fancy cars, bragging about their foreign trips, settling in foreign lands, and marrying a foreign girl or a guy. All sorts of discussions become the part of the evening called for. Apart from the drinks and party poopers, reunions are also meant to mend broken hearts, and incomplete stories, about hate, friendship, jealousy, competition, and love. Love that is hidden, untold, buried, and never forgotten.
In between all the giggles and happy faces, the two arrived. Aryan and Avantika, noticed Shaurya from a distance, Aryan ran and hugged him. Avantika and Mudita met warmly and greeted each other. The four united, forgetting all the hostility behind them.
Amid everything, when everyone was enjoying themselves on the dance floor, Mudita, sat with a drink in the corner, realizing the fact that she felt so normal today. She thought to herself, ‘Why didn’t I feel jealous seeing them together, why was I not afraid of meeting them again, how did my anger and fear vanish? For years I have kept rage in my heart for them and never wanted them again in my life. But facing them today, I felt no such thing.’ Soon she realized it was all in her head, she never let her past go. Not wanting to delay anymore, she ran to find Shaurya.
Amazed to see him playfully dancing and enjoying. Mudita went near him, like a pro held his hand, and prosed him, ‘Shaurya, will you marry me?’
Her surprising action took everyone by surprise, Aryan, Avantika, and everyone in the crowd cheered for them.
However, for Shaurya this was a true miracle. He could not even in his dreams imagine Mudita doing such a cheesy yet daring act in front of so many people. He hugged her and said ‘Yes, I was always ready Mudita.’ Confronting him, she apologized for her every action that had hurt him. She thanked him for being her biggest supporter in life. She has learned that Shaurya is the crucial hook, who has always pulled her through bad times. Her inner self has healed because Shaurya never left her hand. His love for her was working as a medicine. And he was the real magic that made everything so easy.
Had Mudita not attended today’s reunion party. She would have never realized her inner feelings for Shaurya. His true love for her has finally ended up being together. Destiny always has a better plan for us. Truly said, miracles happen with those who believe in them, and Shaurya was one of them. Being an honest friend, a true lover, and a positive enthusiast towards life and love, Shaurya has bagged all the good things with him. As well said; All’s Well That Ends Well.
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