When a love story starts

It was a regular dawn in a chilling winter, but something was different that day. His hands were shivering from anxiety, adding to the harassment of slight snowflakes falling on his thighs. He could not sit at one place; that furry jacket was troubling him in every possible position. So much of mess he already was! Each second seemed like an eternity to him. Looking at his red wrist watch again and again, he was literally felling off the idea. So, he got up and was ready to go, when the crunching of snow indicated that the very moment he was waiting for, was finally happening.

Some eight months ago, Amit secretly scrolled to a dating site, usually filled with people just asking for hookups. Without any expectations, he was looking for someone for the same. But somehow his sight helped him, and he opened an interesting looking ID named lostsoul98, and started the conversation with a simple Hi. For obvious reasons, he asked the general most questions. “Sorry! Searching true love” the message popped up on Amit’s phone. He never expected anyone to say so and be so genuine on such a regular floating site. “How come?” He exclaimed. “And by the way, you cannot find true love. It’s the opposite; whenever is the right time, it will follow you.” he replied. Initially in a deception of one faced perception, he wanted to leave the chat, but was somehow glued to the crystal replies of that person.

Three weeks in regular chatting, they never asked for their names or addresses. Nothing! They just had relentless talks, and shared so many truths that had been stacked beneath piles of daily pretention. Without having seen, they revealed so much in such a short season. Finally, one fine day, he asked for a photograph; at this point of time, there was no commitment and no such relation between them, still there was something that could be flamed up after having that little sight of pleasure. Ding! A notification popped up, ‘one photo received.’ He saw it and fell in love with that face immediately. It was a complete scenic reflection of the talks that were coming through. Amit never believed in the concept of true love in real life, but the same was happening to him this time. Surprisingly, same feelings were building up on the other side also. Though ripped apart from meetings, both were still somehow feeling a fresh breeze of love. They slowly initiated a trek of new beginnings, new feelings and new truths.

Finally, the lost soul found a new destination to trail upon. Fall happened, and with each tree shedding its decor, they both were also shedding the curtains of uncertainty. They started sharing their daily stories, pictures and filled their time spaces with video calls. They were laughing, crying and were just completing each other. With the arrival of winter, both realized a need to finally erode the distance of those 300 miles. And the day arrived when they were finally going to meet, however Amit was still struggling with this non invited anxiety.

There he saw him coming! The boy he loved through dunes of meters was finally in front of his eyes. He was wearing the same shirt Amit gifted him on his birthday. For an enough time, they just kept looking at each other in a purity of the moment. They came close and kissed each under the showers of white blossoming snow from the sky. These lovely men were just holding hands all that while and talked about everything that was left unsaid. Suddenly the bench started shaking, and the snow dews started leaving the leaves like rain. Amit and Manav tightened the hold and ran towards some open in a messed getaway from the Earthquake. They kept running for their lives, when a tree struck Manav's shoulder and detached the serene association. He fell on his back and a river of ice flowed through every edge, turning the scenic landscape into a catastrophic desert in a blink of an eye.

The news of the disappearance of 50 people in snow after an earthquake made it to the top headlines for five months, but Manav was never found. Amit daily hoped for his return; daily scrolling through the names of identified bodies, but was left with just tears and some remaining hope. He wanted to hold his hand once again, to kiss him, to feel his breath in his arms. The true love theory again lost its integrity for him, as he lost the only one who made him believe in it. He was ready to come out about his preferences just to accept what he loved the most, but now! He was just too broken. Too shattered that he went into the darkness again, and again his life turned into a secret which he never shared with anyone else.

Two years later, a message binged on his phone:

‘Hi there… Is this Amit?’

It was a weird message, as he had never dated anyone for the last two years due to the trauma he was left with after that horrifying incident or had downloaded any app to date. Suddenly a message that showed hints of knowingness was successful in skipping some of his beats; and shakingly, he replied back:

‘Who’s this?’

‘Oh, I’m Manav’

What just happened? It felt like thousand rocks crushed his head. How could Manav still be alive? And if he was, then why did he ping him after two years? Was this the reason why his name was never on the death list? So many questions were rounding Amit’s head, when Manav messaged him back.

‘Buddy, are you still there? Well, I found this phone in a jacket zipped up in a pocket. You know after such a long time, the last layer of ice from that avalanche drifted off, and many items were found along with dead bodies? Well, I was there as a volunteer worker and was just checking out stuff, when I surprisingly found this phone. I was shocked to see it in full working condition even after such a long time, that too in ice! So, I dialed up the last number he had on his call log. Well, I think you must be knowing him!’

It was a wrenching shock for him, as he now knew for sure that Manav was really dead. The hope he was carrying in his heart was taking its final breaths, where a beautiful single tear ended it all. He was unable to revert back. So, he just turned his phone and went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea for himself.

It was another cloudy day, another moment to have a sip of warm tea, but there was no wait left. He looked out of the window and took in a fresh breeze of air. His piece of tear had already left his cheeks, and a slight smile suddenly decorated his face; he knew he’d be finally touching Manav’s body. It was like the almighty had saved him all this while in ice to tell the man looking out the window what true love meant despite of what people expected from him.

Leaving the utensil as such, he ran back to his phone and conversed with the guy. He got ready as if it was his first date and wore a perfume close to his heart. In a hurry, he almost forgot about his hoes, but somehow managed to find them too. He was running here and there in haste picking things up, but then smelled something burning. He knew it was the tea. So, he ran back to the kitchen, turned off the knob and left the space as such. Picking up his wallet, he opened the door, locked it and rushed down the stairs. All the way, he was just looking to his sides to gather a view to the location the guy had described him. But when he located it, his body went still.

He was now having second doubts. Was meeting Manav this way was worth his heart? It was the only question bothering him. But the cab driver broke his conscience and ended the ride.

He had to get out, so he did. He looked at the guy waving at him, and then at the distance between him and the new Manav. It felt like he was two years in past. The feeling of looking at Manav from that distance was same, and the heartbeats were singing the same beats as then. It felt like the guy being named Manav was a destiny’s play. Anyways, he proceeded towards the boy slowly and looked at the dead body by his side. He knew his love was in there.

He greeted Manav and both had a little conversation. But when he asked to show him the body, Amit refused. The boy who was waiting to have a last peek at his love for so many years, now refused it. The guy too was shocked and asked him the reason.

‘No reason! It’s just… if I see it now, I know I would never look at…’ He was about to complete the sentence only, but stopped mid-way. And he asked for the phone.

‘It’s your choice man… but good to know this man had someone who’s not a family but would reply even after so many years. I understand your sentiments and I respect that. I think you’re doing the right thing buddy! Well, if you also want someone to be like that to you, here’s my number; You can call me!’ Manav replied and handed him the phone with his number saved in it.

Amit now knew he had done the right thing. Maybe this was what Manav wanted; Him to meet another Manav! He somehow moved on to a new body, and maybe two years were needed for Amit to move on too. It was the end of a season of a unique love story, but was also a start of a new season for another big one.