But then he heard whispers in the Church and it grew louder as time passed. He knew it was high time she was there and he hinted his friend to give her a call and check if everything is fine. In return, his friend replied that there was no answer. With every passing minute the brightness of certainty dimmed in his eyes instead the doubts twinkled. The minute turned into hours and the crowd who had come to wish him, left by showing their compassion towards him. His friends were infuriated and reminded him that they had warned him about her. All he felt now was a strange numbness throughout and couldn’t believe that she had actually ditched him this way. Tears rolled out of his eyes and he sat down staring at the doorway from where he thought his bride would arrive. But then out of all the chaos happening around him, he saw a slender figure standing in the doorway.
She was dressed in white just the color his bride had to be in. His eyes now brightened with a gleam of hope. But as he approached her, the smile faded away because she wasn’t his girl. As he turned back with displeasure, he paused. Inspite of her not being his bride, he recognized that smile. He didn't knnow why but some voice ticked in his head and his heart beats raced faster. As others including him stood still she walked upto him and stood facing him. He couldn't believe this. This was one of the girls whose faith, innocence, dreams and self belief he had broken. The worst part was that he had left her waiting for him in the in the exact way he stood right now. Fate had played its game he thought, its just that they are on the other side today. The thought of facing her, the smile of vengeance she had on her face was leaving him frustrated. The silence was somehow deafening him.Unable to withstand it anymore he uttered “Am so sorry for what you had to go through. I was lame then. But as for my girl there should have been a reason she did not make it.” As he walked past her saying this she smiled, turned around and told- “I am sorry for you too darling. I so wanted you to feel the resentment I felt six years back”. More than the piercing words, it was her voice that caught his attention. He turned around with complete disbelief and she nodded as if she had answered his questions inspite of him not asking any.Even before thinking of denials, he recollected on how he had cheated her. He remembered how it was he who spoke to her alwaysbut sent his friend to meet her every time. It was just a hobby for him. He remembered how he had fooled her entire family and left them to be a laughing stock before everybody. Immediately, he frowned realizing it was her playing games with him this time. Whom he met was a friend of hers but whom he spoke to was her indeed. Call it a irony or a tragedy but he had fallen in love with someone whose trust he had himself devastated once.There was a look of triumph of settling of scores in her face. Strangely, she had lost all her charm and innocence she had then and he was the cause for it.Finally she spoke- “This is it! This was the moment I have waited for throughout. I wanted you to feel the bitterness I did. I wanted you to love me and get nothing than resentment in return. Just like mine, your first love too would always remind you of pain, deception and trickery. You too have to leave with it that your love was nothing but a sham!!!". As he looked at her insulted, depressed and completely bewildered she walked away. Pausing for a minute near the door she wiped away the tear trickling down and thought to herself- "But I somewhere underestimated you. In this process of payback, you yet again succeeded to steal my heart. It’s true you made me realize somewhere I guess I still like you, but the major insight was that the hatred and disgust I have for you in my heart is far more than love.” -HPK!!!
