"Oh, shit happens. It is one such.”

-Noel Lorenz-

Prologue

Rehan was a sensitive, polite sixteen-year-old boy who had grown up in Calcutta. He was staring at his mother’s photo for the last few minutes, trying to remember how she would react, seeing him so happy. He was trying to suppress the anxiety and excitement he was feeling. All he wanted was a conversation with his mother, so they could talk about the girl he was about to propose, Seema Avinash Reddy, his long-time lover. A gentle breeze was blowing in which the lamplight flickered, reminding him of the sad state of his life where he could not even have a proper chat with his mother. She had passed away a few years ago, leaving him all alone to fight in this life. He didn’t have much money to spend, so he decided to propose her with his mother’s bangle, her last sign remaining with him.

They had been in an intimate relationship for the last four years. He loved her more than himself. He looked at his mother’s eyes in the photo and asked for her permission; the garland hanging on the photo-frame swayed, and at that moment, he knew his mother had agreed with him. He smiled and turned back toward the table, ate the remaining chunk of the bread, and ran out of home for school. He didn’t notice the window was not properly closed and checkered sunlight through the blind slats filled the floor.

He was in grade eleven of high school. He stood outside his class and called out her name. She came out reluctantly as few other mates peeped. Once she was outside, he took her hand; she frowned and looked at him suspiciously. He gazed into her eyes and down to her soul. She felt fear within. The next moment, he got down on one knee as knights would get down on one knee in front of their lords as a display of obedience and loyalty. Seeing him down on one knee, a few of their classmates came out to watch the drama.

“Will you, my love, Seema, marry me after we graduate from school?” He took out the bangle from his vest pocket and offered it to her. She stood there for a moment and looked at the bangle.

“It belonged to my beloved mother, my last memory of her. I offer this to you as a show of how much I love you,” he added.

She reluctantly accepted it and grabbed it with both hands, still not a smile on her face, which put a particle of doubt in Rehan’s mind. What is she thinking! A proposal from her long-time lover did not make her erupt in joy. She was all he cared about in this life.

Just at that moment, he heard something. Metal hitting the floor. He gathered himself and looked toward his right to find the bangle rolling down the floor in front of his class. She didn’t say a thing.

He was confused and eager to know why it happened at all. He rolled his eyes and looked at her. His constricted pupils threw innumerable questions at her. He was so focused he could see her mouth start to move. It opened and called out the name ‘Sundar’. And a cute guy came forward from the crowd behind her. Rehan was perplexed.

Seema took Sundar’s hands; she drew him closer. She kissed him in front of their classmates. He put his right arm around her waist and held her left palm firmly with his left.

“Ditch this loser and come with me sweetheart”, saying this Sundar led her inside the classroom. Some guys laughed and followed them while the others remained silent. Rehan grabbed the bangle, ran out of the school, and visited the park where his mother took him for a stroll all through his childhood.

His mother was good at doing the basic things she thought a mother should do to keep her family running. She loved her only child and tried her best to make him not miss his father. As his father didn’t leave much property and bank balance, she had to work at a grocery store nearby and saved most of her earnings for Rehan’s future. As long as she lived, Rehan never complained of not having his father around. She died of cancer 2 years ago, and it deserted Rehan’s life, leading him to learn to live alone. He used to work part-time at a restaurant which helped cover his school fees and a meager lifestyle.

He sat there on a bench by the fountain and tried to recollect the better moments spent with his mother. He saw a child walking with his parents fifty feet away from him. It reminded him of his mother; she had been everything to him — a father, friend, relative, teacher, grandparent. He had never missed a single person in life as long as his mother was with him. But today, things were different; he was lonely. He felt a vacuum in his heart, which he could not fill with anything at all. It was an opaque part of his heart, and he could not see through it.

In between these thoughts, he suddenly realized he was soaked in rainwater; it was dark. He lost track of time. He was not thirsty; he was not even hungry. All he longed for was to belong to his mother.

Back at home, the grandfather clock had struck eight in the evening, and then 11:00 p.m., and then 02:00 a.m. He missed his mother a lot. He missed Seema a lot. And the kissing scene was playing on a loop in front of his eyes. He was having severe heartache as tears rolled down with the raindrops.

He leaped to his feet and tried to run through the dark alley. He was not heading home. He observed the numbness in his legs because of spending long hours sitting. He splashed his way across the road and kept running and turning.

Two blocks away from the park, the neighbors heard a thud. A beggar from across the road witnessed the accident. Rehan’s body flung across the street as he screamed, “Seema.”

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Part I

Present Day - Year 2019

It was evening, and the candles were lit. The cake was ready to be cut. Seema had just turned twenty-three. She was wearing the dress Sundar had bought for her the day before. She handled the knife with care as she cut a slice of the cake, picked it up with the spatula onto the paper-plate, and fed Sundar who ate it with joy. She offered the cake to her parents and friends. Sundar stood by the corner and looked at Seema while he had another serving. The cake was butter-scotch, and it was yummy.

After a while, Seema strolled across the floor and stood beside Sundar, all smiling, showing off her teeth. One would wonder if it was whiter than the dress she wore in which she looked like a princess which she was. She had just completed her master’s in English.

“Well, someone’s been watching me!” she said and giggled.

“No! I am just so happy to see you enjoy the party.”

“Oh!” She leaned forward and onto his chest, “So, it looks like you have a surprise planned for me. What’s that?”

“Camping with friends, a day out in the woods. What say?” he asked.

“Camping?” she asked with a dislike hidden behind her smile, “No, I don’t enjoy camping.”

“Well,” Sundar said, “first enjoy the night. We will talk about it tomorrow.” He hugged her and pointed to her friend, who gave them a cheery wave from the other side of the room.

The next day was big for them. The Sharmas visited the Reddys. Food and desserts were offered. Sundar Sharma finally said yes to the wedding and completed the formality, as did Seema Avinash Reddy. They fed sweets to each other as a sign of a new beginning. Sundar called her out on the balcony and shared the plan. They would camp in the woods.