It is said that Time heals everything, but it can’t erase memories, right? Whether the memories are good or bad, they become part of us and stay with us till our last breath.

Good memories are meant to be cherished, while the bad ones are said to be forgotten. Can we really do so? By the time you arrive at a conclusion, let me weave a story!

Walking by the seashore with emotional baggage on her back, Neha occasionally looked at the couples who were happily celebrating their time together.

The cool breeze made her flinch while the waves washed her feet every now and then.

Her past kept haunting her and it succeeded in taking her back to the time where she smiled wholeheartedly for the first time and lived life to the fullest.

A year ago...

“Hi! I am..” said the man in a nervous tone while Neha chuckled badly and replied with a Hi!

“Umm. This is my first time.” The man tried to speak but was interrupted by Neha, who said,

“This is my first time, too. And I know few people tend to be nervous. So, let us start our conversation with your likes and dislikes.”

Listening to her, the man smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, eyeing Neha adorably.

“Still Nervous?? Okay! Then let me take the pleasure of starting our conversation. Hi! I am Neha. I like to talk more, eat more, sleep more and travel more too! I dislike being stopped from doing what my heart says. I am a simple girl, and my needs are limited. I can balance my work and life well. Good at taking care of kids, too.” Neha said, looking into his eyes.

“Nice! But I still have questions for you. Are you ready for our marriage? Will you be able to leave this family and become my family?” The man asked hesitatingly.

After hearing those questions, Neha’s eyes filled with tears. She felt like that man looked into her soul. She could hardly respond and took time to calm herself down.

“Take your time. I know this is not an easy transition phase for you. But when you decide and come to a conclusion, please do let me know. I am..” The man was talking and was interrupted by a phone call.

Looking at the number displayed, he frowned and uttered,

“I have to take this call. Excuse me!”

Neha nodded and walked away to give him some privacy.

Meanwhile the man answered the call and remained depressed after hearing that he had to immediately return to duty.

“Okay Sir! I will start as soon as possible.” The man said and waited for the caller to disconnect.

After hearing the call-disconnected sound, he approached Neha with heavy footsteps.

“Duty comes first.  I will give my mobile number to you so that we can continue our talks till you reach the work location. Is it okay?” Neha asked, and the man smiled broadly, unlocking his phone eagerly to save her number.

Neha saw his excitement while saving the number and smiled.

A moment later, her face expression changed, and she warned,

“Don’t keep your hopes high. I don’t want to hurt people emotionally. So, for now, we are known people who are trying to understand each other.”

“I am an optimist. And things always work for me positively!” the man said playfully with a warm smile that started melting Neha’s heart.

“Ok then.. See you soon. Bye for now!” The man said and was about to walk away. But as he walked forward, he remembered something and turned around.

Puzzled with his behavior, Neha raised her brows and asked,

“What?”

“I am not your suitor! I have come here to visit this Orphanage In charge is Ms. Sumathi. But destiny had other plans for me and you! I think we are bound to meet each other today. I like you. Give it some thought! You won’t regret marrying me!” He winked and left in a hurry.

His smile, eye wink, talks everything pulled the strings of Neha’s heart. She stood rooted to the ground like a tree for a long time.

After some time, Sumathi rushed to her and tapped her shoulder gently.

Neha came out from the trance and gave a confused look.

“I am sorry, dear. Your suitor was stuck with a sudden client meeting at his office. So, he said that he can’t meet you today.” Sumathi said and worried about Neha’s feelings.

But instead of feeling upset, Neha blushed remembering what the man who visited her said.

Bewildered with her smile, Sumathi questioned her thoughts.

“Ma’am! The person who suits me and understands me has come to meet me just now. Actually, he had come to meet you, but fate brought him to me!” Neha said and tried to control her happiness.

“That’s nice! I can see that person has done some voodoo magic on you. Because of which you are not able to stop smiling.” Sumathi said, pulling her leg.

“Ma’am! It’s just the beginning of a kind of relationship! I could hardly name the relationship between us. He said he likes me but I am not very sure about my feelings yet! When I become sure, you will be the first person to know.” Neha said, trying to suppress her high hopes for him.

“Okay. Okay. By the way, it is always good to check the background before you fall for him neck deep! What’s his name?” Sumathi asked, feeling concerned.

Her question left Neha in surprise and shock.

“Don’t tell me that you forgot to ask his name!” Sumathi twitched her lip.

“Yes, Ma’am. He didn’t mention it, and I didn’t ask! We were lost in our talks and..” Neha paused and she heard her heart filling the unspoken word “FEELINGS”.

“Oh, my poor girl! You have already fallen for him so badly. Hold your heart real tight and let me do something to know his identity.” Sumathi chuckled and rushed to her office.

She called the watchman and inquired about the person who met Neha in her absence. The watchman was unable to share any information about him as the man signed with initials in the register.

Worried about growing feelings in Neha’s heart, Sumathi checked the CCTV footage. She not only saw the man who met Neha but also observed that Neha was happy talking to him.

She immediately took a screenshot and called her resources to find the man’s identity.

Meanwhile, Neha walked into her room and looked at her family photo taken before the fire accident. She lost her parents and her sibling in that accident and was joined in this Orphanage at the age of 10 by her aunt.

Life gave her the worst testing time but God sent a godmother named Sumathi in her life to support her to stand back on her feet. And she has been guarding her since then! Time passed by and Neha managed to recover from the wounds.

Her personality changed and she believed in living this very moment. She searched for a reason to smile while others cribbed about their lives and their past. Sumathi tried to cater for the needs of all the persons in the Orphanage. She believed that every member in the orphanage was her family! So she welcomed the new ones with an open mind. Everyone loved her but Neha gave a piece of heart to her and made up her mind to stay with her till eternity. She followed in her footsteps and took care of the Orphanage just like Sumathi.

But Neha didn’t know that life doesn’t go as planned. After meeting the man, her feelings overpowered her thoughts. She was left in a dilemma! Just then, she received the message,

“Hi, Ms. Neha! I hope you remember me, the man who became your suitor after meeting you!”

A smile crawled over her lips after reading the message. She was about to type a reply, but just then, a thought crossed her mind.

“He may think I am a desperate person if I respond immediately. He said that he was not my suitor and after knowing that if I still talked to him, there were chances of him judging me as a person without noble traits. So, let me hold my emotions for the time being.” Neha said to herself and stared at the message.

She felt like time slowed down and tried focusing on something else. Walking around the building, she talked to the staff and lined up the items for the welfare of Orphanage children. Also, she organized Sumathi works according to the priority.

Sumathi kept observing changes in Neha and silently prayed to God that Neha would find her happiness back.

In the evening…

Neha again received the message from the man that states:

“I am not a man who judges you. Stop overthinking and caging your emotions. Let it flow naturally. No need to fear. Start talking with me. Who knows when will be our last time!”

Tears streamed down her eyes as soon as she read the words, “Last time!”

Sensing the fear of losing him, she started typing the reply,

“Don’t say last time!” and cleared it. She again thought for a second and typed,

“I am not over thinking. You also don’t overthink!” and was about to hit the send button. But she refrained and cleared it.

She exhaled deeply and tried hard to clear her mind before typing a reply. Just then, she saw the display flashing the incoming call from the man.

Initially she hesitated to pick the call, but as her heart begged her to answer the call, she swiped the green button on the screen and held the phone close to her ears.

“Hi, Ms. Adorable! I really like you, and I want you to complete me. So stop running away from me. I am not a psycho, not a sadist type, not a hot-headed, not a dominating, egoistic person. I am a friendly, caring, understanding and, most importantly your person. So trust me and give me a chance! Will you?” The man said in a soft tone that swayed Neha’s heart.

She felt that this man was a magician who could make her worries and tensions disappear in an instant.

“Hello! Are you..” The man was about to speak but was interrupted by Neha.

“I am listening. I will give you a chance to..” She paused before finishing the sentence with “Talk!”

The man chuckled and said,

“Thank you, Ms. Neha! And you know that I have to report to duty, right!”

Neha replied Yes!

“So, I am going to the railway station. If you have time, please plan for a send-off as I want to see you one more time before I start missing you badly,” the man said in a low voice, becoming emotional.

Neha could hardly process it. She felt low as he was leaving before their relationship started off on a proper note.

“Mmmm.” She uttered with a closed lip while the man thought for a while and said,

“Thank you for considering my request! I will be waiting for you.”

Neha immediately disconnected the call after hearing those words, as her emotions took a toll on her.

She cried for the first time for a person whom she had met only once and hardly talked to for more than a few minutes.

Can someone get emotionally connected to a person so soon? She kept asking herself and found no answer.

Sumathi, who was passing by her room, heard her cries and rushed inside.

“Why are you crying? Did that stranger trouble you?” She asked, cupping her face gently.

“No, ma’am. He is a very nice person. How can someone be so nice and loving to an orphan like me? He didn’t ask me where I work or what I do for a living or who my parents were or my background. He just put up his marriage proposal and is still waiting for my reply. He is neither calculative nor manipulative like my other suitors.” She cried her heart out.

“My God! You love him but don’t want to share your feelings with him. Why, dear?” Sumathi asked, becoming teary-eyed.

“What if he doesn’t love me the way I love? What if he treats me differently after I accept him? Moreover, I can’t leave you and go to a stranger’s place! Though I love him, he is still a stranger right! I mean I don’t know anything else about him.. Not even his name! I forgot to ask his name!” Neha mumbled and slapped her forehead.

Seeing her in a confused state, Sumathi chuckled and held her close to her heart.

“Dear! Having that person in your life is different from accepting and making that person your life. Sometimes, our fears overshadow our emotions. So, breathe! This is natural. First, you let that person into your life and then you decide whether to place your heart in his hands or not. Trust! Given that you suffered a lot in the past, it’s not an easy thing. So build it at your own pace and let him know the same!” Sumathi said with a disappointed look all over her face.

“Okay ma’am! I already gave him a chance in order to get to know him but I fear that I may confess my love before..” Neha paused while Sumathi chuckled and said that sometimes things go unplanned.

To which Neha nodded her head and said that the man was travelling tonight.

“I made you independent enough to think and decide. So rack your brain!!” Sumathi winked and left her room.

After a minute or two, Neha again received a message from that man which contained his boarding details.

After thinking for an hour, Neha rushed to the railway station. She grew restless after she heard the announcement of the train departure. Running aimlessly, she reached the platform from which it was departing and found that the train was leaving.

“No! I can’t let this happen! Please! Let me see you one more time!” She cried aloud and didn’t stop running. On her way to find him, she bumped into the hand-pulled cart and fell flat on her face. The passerby helped her to stand back on her feet and asked about her well-being.

Before she could process the chain of events, the train left the platform, bringing immense pain to her heart. Falling on her knees, she wept badly.

“I never ever imagined a girl could cry for me so badly. Sorry for all of this!” the man’s voice echoed in her ears.

Neha immediately stopped crying and looked around only to find him looking adorably at her.

She immediately wiped her tears and looked at him angrily.

“I am sorry, sorry, sorry…” He kept saying and he reached her to help her stand back on her feet.

Tired of hearing his apologies, with a deep frown, she signaled him to stop.

“Actually, this was not his mistake but mine. I sent him the wrong details, sister. So please forgive him. And I am deeply sorry to make you cry like this.” The man’s friend came in front of her and started doing sit-ups.

Still, Neha took time to let go of the happenings. So the man too joined his friend and started doing sit-ups which brought a big smile on Neha’s face.

Looking at her smiling face, the man lost to her completely and immediately pulled her into a tight hug without a second thought.

Neha though, felt odd, somewhat loved being closer to his heart. She could hear his heartbeat racing like a horse. Her heart paced faster to match his!

After some time, he released Neha from his hug and kissed her forehead, uttering,

“I love you, dear, and I can wait for your YES till the doomsday.”

Neha felt goosebumps all over her skin and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She found it hard to believe that this man is for real and he became the change in the course of her life.

Later, they had a talk till the destined train arrived. After hearing the final announcement of departure, the man boarded the train swiftly and waved his hand for a goodbye.

Neha hid her tears and wished him good luck with a smile plastered on his lips.

The following days were filled with heartfelt talks, giggles and blushes. As the days passed, Neha grew an untold bond with the man.

Meanwhile, Sumathi gained vital information about him and passed it to Neha. She came to know that the man was a major who recently won recognition for his teamwork during a border fight. But they failed to know his name as the army kept it secret for some unknown reasons.

That day, Neha with strong determination, called the man to know his name and decide about their relationship.

But the man’s phone was not reachable. She tried calling the other landline number which he gave, but no one picked it.

As the moments passed in uncertainty, the fear of losing him overpowered her. Just then a news outbroke that left Sumathi shell shocked.

She barged into the office and turned on the TV.

“The nation lost another major in a fight that occurred on the border today. We are sad to inform you that..” The news reporter kept saying and revealing the photos of the deceased.

Neha, who wanted to meet Sumathi and tell about the man saw the news and stood still.

Just then, the man’s photo appeared on the TV and the reporter said,

“Major Raj is still in critical condition. Doctors said there are no hopes of his survival as he is injured badly due to bullet wounds.”

Hearing that Neha froze on the spot while Sumathi slapped her forehead and spoke,

“I must not let Neha know this..” to herself.

A moment later, she turned around only to find Neha standing like a lifeless statue.

Sumathi embraced her and tried to reduce her grief by saying that he would recover. She also tried to offer her water. But Neha bluntly rejected and said,

“I want to see him. Please! Make it happen, M-O-T-H-E-R!”

Sumathi broke down into tears and caressed her head.

“I will try my best for you, my child!” Sumathi said and reached all the resources and contacts too!

After two days of struggle, Sumathi was able to get permission for Neha to meet Raj! She helped her in packing and volunteered to travel along with her. But Neha convinced her to stay back and look after the orphanage.

So with a heavy heart, She sent Neha along with an Orphanage staff member.

* * *

After two days of travel, security checks and her worries… Neha finally reached the destination.. Where the man lied in the midst of heavy machines that made loud scary noises.

Gulping the lump forming in her throat, she held the man’s hand nervously.

“I.. I am Ne.. Neha! The doctor said you can’t listen anymore, but I... want to give it a try!” She paused and wiped her tears silently.

“You said you would be waiting for my reply, right? I am ready to say it now. I.. Lo..ve You! Do you hear that? I said I love you! If you are hearing this, then I want you to listen now! You said things always work positively for you. When I heard it, I thought you were bluffing but now I want to believe. Make me believe those words by fighting against your illness. Please come back for me. I have no one except you and godmother. Losing you will make me lose part of myself. Please! Come back and talk to me.” She sobbed, gently placing her head on his palm.

Suddenly, the machines made weird noises that made her flinch. The doctor rushed inside and checked his pulse.

The nurse looked at the machine and shouted,

“Doctor! He is coding! V-Fib!!!”

Neha was unable to understand anything and kept looking at their faces with uncertainty.

Just then, another nurse grabbed her hand and took her out, saying

“He is going into cardiac arrest and we have to give him ventricular fibrillation.”

Neha could hardly understand what she said. So she looked through the transparent glass. The doctor was inducing something like shock near the chest and the man’s body rose higher and higher. This is what her brain interpreted by looking at the situation inside!

Part of her was not willing to accept that he would die! So, Neha kept fighting against her own self and mumbled repeatedly that he would live.

After a few moments, the Doctor's face lit with a bright smile as the man’s pulse returned to normal. Looking at his face, Neha fell on her knees and cried her heart out, feeling relieved.

* * *

Neha’s next few days passed in taking care of him with utmost love and affection. Slowly, Raj regained health and was in a condition to join the armed forces. But his reporting officer sent him away with Neha to spend some quality time with her considering their emotional state.

As they reached the Orphanage, Sumathi’s happiness was so uncontrollable that she immediately requested them to name their bond.

“Unsaid!” They both uttered at once and laughed, looking at each other. As the days passed, their bond grew stronger and transformed into an unbreakable one!

The anticipated moment had come when Raj had to leave for duty. Before leaving, he promised that he would come back very soon and marry her!

Months passed, but Raj couldn’t come back due to ongoing tensions and incidents near the border.

Present...

“Neha!” A voice came from behind made her flinch and lose her balance. But before she fell, Raj held her real tight and pulled her into a hug.

“You?!” Neha could hardly speak as she looked into his eyes and touched his face gently.

“Hi! I am Rajeev, without a surname. Can you lend me your name to make it my surname, Ms. Neha?” He winked with an evil smirk.

“Yes, Mr. Rajeev!” She replied in an affirmative voice and took a bold step of kissing his cheek.

Though it was for a second, the kiss is engraved on Raj’s heart!!

The End.

Memories!! Neither can be destroyed nor forgotten but the bad ones’ effect can be reduced by consciously trying to make good ones! Do you agree?

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