True Love

Rajeev met Shivani first time in an inter-college sports event at Delhi University. He was the captain of his college’s basketball team. On the fourth day of the tournament, Rajeev’s team won their last qualifying match to enter into quarterfinal. He won a lot of praise because of his play and leading the team to win over a tough opponent. He was packing his kit and about to leave the ground when he heard a sweet voice from behind ‘Well Played.’

He turned around to find a beautiful girl with a badminton racquet in her hand. She was wearing a while top and a white knee length skirt. He stood up and extended his hand towards her ‘Thanks, I am Rajeev.’

‘I know.’

‘You know? How?’

‘Everyone is talking about you. I am Shivani, Nice to meet you’

Rajeev felt a sensation within him as they both did handshake.

‘Are you a badminton player?’

‘Yeah’

‘Are you playing in this tournament?’

‘No, I use this racquet to herd sheep around.’

He looked at her mischievous eyes and then they both started laughing.

This short meeting became the beginning of a new relation between them. From that day onwards they spent a lot of time together. They went to watch each other’s matches. Rajeev liked Shivani’s happy go lucky attitude towards life. She was not very much disappointed even on her defeat in semifinals.

“Losing one match is not end of life, you need to prepare for the next match” was her mantra of life. She became a big support for him and stayed there until his final match. After winning the final match Rajeev proposed Shivani and she happily accepted.

Life was never so contented before. Their colleges were not very far. They were meeting every day after their college and sometimes even bunking classes to spend times with each other. The more close they came the more they liked each other. The appreciated each other’s positive and accepted negatives.

After two years when their graduation was over, Rajeev got a job in a Bank in Mumbai and Shivani decided to open her own boutique in Delhi itself. The two years they spent together were good enough to know each other to take the decision of staying together for the rest of their life. The decision was well supported by their parents. They decided to marry after two years so they could give enough time to shape their individual's careers. Rajeev left for Mumbai and Shivani too got busy in her new venture.

They kept talking over phone for next one and half year. Just six months left for their marriage so they started dreaming and talking about marriage plans. Like all other girls Shivani too was excited for her marriage and she was involved in every task of wedding preparation, be it marriage cards or finalizing venue or shopping for Rajeev and herself.

All the things were going on their way. It was all like a fairy tale for them until one fateful morning when Rajeev got a call from his father.

‘Hello’

‘Rajeev’ His father’s distress voice came from the other end.

‘Papa, what happened?’

‘Beta…’

Rajeev’s heartbeat running fast ‘Papa, tell me what happened?’

With a trembling voice his father said ‘Shivani met with an accident yesterday.’

‘What?’

‘Yes Son, She was returning home on her Scooty after finalizing her wedding dress. On the way she was hit by a speeding truck from behind. She is still in hospital. Please come back soon.’

Rajeev boarded the next available flight to Delhi. He directly reached to the hospital. His parents were already there in the hospital. He saw Shivani from the glass window of the ICU. His father put his hand on Rajeev’s shoulder.

‘Shivani got injuries into her head and other body parts. There was no danger to her life but….’

‘But, but what Papa?’ Shouted Rajeev.

‘Doctor’s say that….’

‘What they say?’ Come on Papa tell me, I cannot wait anymore’

‘They say that she had got serious injuries in her head that has affected her brain and she is in the state of Coma now’

‘No. It cannot happen. God cannot be so cruel to us. She has never done any wrong to anyone. This can’t happen to her. Why it happened to her, Papa? Why?’ Tears rolling down his cheeks. ‘No Papa. We will take her to the top most specialist; we will call the best doctor in the country. This cannot happen to her. It just can’t happen to her’

Today, One year Later, Shivani is still in hospital. She cannot remember any moment she spent with Rajeev. She cannot speak properly, she behaves like a child. She cannot recognize her own parents. She needs twenty four hours assistance.

Rajeev resigned from his job and never went back to Mumbai. He stays in hospital to take care of Shivani. He feeds her, clean her, play with her and take care of her day to day needs. Rajeev took her to every single hospital he knew or recommended by anyone for that matter. He has spent most of his savings in doctor’s consultancy fees and Shivani’s treatment but in vain.

He still hopes that one day Shivani will recover from her illness, that one day she will recognize him, that one day she will be a cheerful girl again, that one day she will become a bride, that one day they will also be called a happy couple.

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This story is loosely based upon a real life story which I saw on Youtube a few days back. I am sharing the link with you too.




I salute to their True Love and pray for her speedy recovery. I wish they will soon become a happy couple again.

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"Losing one match is not end of life, you always need to prepare for the next match"

-- Kawal