The Proposal

Why has the man always to take the initiative in professing his love for the woman he loves ? Time is changing and so are the relationships between men and women. Today's women rubs shoulders with men in all spheres of life.. sharing all responsibilities together.. however at the time of proposing they can wait for months and years till their man comes up to them one day hiding that red rose behind their back.. But sometimes love do not give us that chance of expressing ourselves for long. Sometimes we have to pay a heavy price waiting for that proposal to come and confirm our relationship ..

THE STORY

The bus had just started to pick up speed since leaving the market area when a young hand frantically grasped the window sill beside the conductor's seat and Anupama found to her surprise a young man of twenty-two racing along with the bus; managing to say between gasps 'Please Madam, give me your hand. If I miss this one I'll miss an important class'

It was for the first time in her life that Anupama pulled an unknown man inside a bus and it took time for her to come to terms with the incident. Some boys sitting behind had by that time started crooning the hit bollywood number from Shahrukh's famous flick..'Tujhe dekha to ye jana sanam..' The boy took the seat beside her nonchalantly and introduced himself as 'Neil Basu, third year, Commerce' of the same college. 'Nothing different from those over-smart guys in her college who persistently tried to get close to her..befriend her while she ignored every time,' Anupama thought. Anupama had to also introduce herself out of courtesy. 'Anupama Ghosh, first year, Arts.'

Anupama was beautiful but an introvert at the same time. Whenever she found time from studies she engaged in poetry, her passion and favourite pastime. She had her works published in reputed magazines and journals. Recently she was invited to recite some of her memorable poems in a poetry summit where she also won prizes.

But this guy, Neil, was different. There was an ineffaceable simplicity in him which easily attracted her. He was soft-spoken, did not take airs like others but his USP was his million watt smile which made him stand out from the crowd. Neil talked too little but his eyes spoke a thousand words and filled her heart with dreams she had not known before. Anupama found a good friend in him and soon found herself pouring her heart..About her staying with only her mother, her parents' divorce and her never-ending solitude eating her from inside.

The self-contained Anupama made way for a simple girl Anu, who laughed and giggled like girls of her age, as time flew. Friendship took a new turn and after a few months and it appeared to Anu that cupid had smiled on both of them. But Anu wondered why Neil was taking so much time to propose her. At one time she thought she'd take the first step and ask him instead. But the next moment she desisted. 'What if he did not share the same feelings like her ? What if he did not want to take their friendship to the next level ? So she waited.. Waited and waited till she got bored and irritated. He had left her with no other option now but to avoid him..

She now started taking the next buses to college, but found her facing him again after a couple of days, by chance. She was settled in her seat beside the window. Strangely, the seat next to him was also lying vacant that day, like the first day they had met. They sat together like strangers now, their shoulders touching each other unwillingly as the bus negotiated sharp curves of the hilly road. The strands of Anu's shampooed hair was continuosly flying off and brushing across Neil's cheeks, despite her futile attempts to manage them. Taking the cue , Neil edged away from her, sitting on one leg, while the other hung outside the seat, causing discomfiture to the passenger standing next to him.

Suddenly the loud application of brakes by the driver was followed by shrieks of 'Brake fail !', 'Brake fail ! by the passengers. The standing passengers holding on to the rails were pulled down to the floor immediately in the front end of the bus, as they banged into the driver's compartment. The huge screen was immediately broken to pieces, etching a map on the glass; as the bus toppled forward causing the floor to sink.

Before she could understand what's going on the first thing Anu saw was Neil gliding ahead on the floor and the next moment holding on to the sill of the front window screen. His forehead, cheeks and hands were bleeding profusely as he desperately clung on, his hands failing slowly to hold his body's weight. With eyes transfixed at Anu and a look which was devoid of the fear of death or love for life, he screamed.. 'I love you Anu..more than anybody in this world.. anything in this world' ..Once, twice, thrice..And then like his body disappearing into the dark wilderness of the cliff below, his words also got lost forever.

Anu failed to notice when her side bag had dropped down to the floor below causing her note book's pages to flutter in the wind. The poems which she had penned for Neil could never reach him now.

© 2018. All rights reserved.

Like the story ? Why not consider giving it a vote on Wattpad here. You can also like the story on Sweek here.

Follow me on Sweek and Wattpad for more of such stories.