The Love Letter

Hi.I am Anushka.I was in my last year of schooling. As soon as I start my story I should tell about Harish. He was my close friend. He calls me Anu. He was my classmate from 3rd std. He sat next to me for almost 8 years in school. I shared everything with him. He had great sense of humor. He never closes his mouth when he is near me. You can see my lips widening and teeth shining whenever he was near me. I wished he should be close like this forever as a friend.

Oneday Vishal my classmate, as soon as the school bell rang came to me and kept a letter in my desk and ran away. I took the letter home and checked it. Understood it’s a love letter, no real mood to read the letter, just opened it to confirm it a love letter and closed it. Next day told Harish about the letter. Harish laughed saying “Congratz Anu for your fourth love letter “. Yes it was my 4th love letter. Already 3 of my seniors gave me. I asked Harish to talk to Vishal and stop doing all these. Somehow Harish convinced him.

On the last day of my school i couldn’t control my tears when I saw Harsih coming from a distance. He asked me “What happened Anu? “. I told him “ This is the last day of our school and I am worried whether we will have the same closeness after this”. As usual Harish laughed and started teasing me. He dint have any sad feel of leaving me. He was happy and non-stop talking like every other day.

Then we both entered different colleges. Though I missed him so much somehow my college days kept me busy. I started getting new friends. I kept calling Harish once in a week and update him everything happened in that week. Though I dint move close to anyone close my college days were nice. Then came Arvind. Somehow he was different from others. He straightaway took rights on me and moved close. I saw Harish in him. The days after that were so nice and pleasant. Arvind really moved close and the days went very fast. Then came the last day of college. This time I dint get upset so much not only bcoz I am matured but also Arvind got placed in the same company as I did.

We both joined the company on the same day and we were in same team. I felt very comfortable in my company as my close friend is with me. We come to office together, had lunch together, leave together. Most of my day’s time was spent with him. After a year in company one day Arvind was finding difficult to talk to me. He was not free as every other day. I forced him to say why he was like that. He hesitated but said later. He said, “ I don’t know how you will take this but I had to say. I am not sure whether I love you but I started getting some dreams with you where I kiss you, hug you and even more, which I cant tell you. I can’t keep this inside me anymore and act before you. I want to marry you”. I got shocked and started shivering. I left the day without talking to him.

Next day I dint go to office. I called Harish and said everything. He asked me what I think and how I feel that time. I said, “ I like Arvind so much and I can’t stay without him”. After talking for an hour Harish gave me the confidence to speak to Arvind.I called Arvind in the evening. I said, “Arvind, I had to break our friendship”. No reply from the other end. I continued, “I feel like kissing you, Hugging you, but nothing more J. Not in dreams but now. I had to break our friendship bcoz I feel you are no longer friend but a lover…Hey Arvind.Are you there? Can you marry me? ”.

Soon after we started loving each other we thought our parents should know it. I told my parents about my love with Arvind whom they already know and like him. They simply said yes and asked me to arrange a meet up with Arvind parents. Arvind and my parents met each other and accepted for our marriage but with one condition from Arvind parents. They asked my parents for so many Kgs of Gold, one car and few lakhs in cash which all can come up to 10 Lakh.They gave as 1 year time to save the money. They gave us 1 year time bcoz they have to finish Arvind sister marriage within that time. And the reason for asking so much money was they are spending the same amount of money for Arvind sister, so they have to compensate that by getting money from us. I called Harish and cried for an hour and explained everything to him but he dint care much. He got my address and few other details from me and told everything will be all right soon.

I tried to convince Arvind parents and Arvind for so many days, which is of no use. They were strong on it.1 year went on and time for my marriage came near. It was when my father business crashed and he had to face a huge loss. Someone has to give him 5 Lakh to do his business and his was not in a position to arrange even 1 Lakh for his daughter marriage. That was when I called Harish and cried for one whole day. He consoled me. I was angry on Arvind, as he was not doing anything in favour of me. But Harish supported Arvind and made me to understand Arvind position.

Marriage date was fixed but we dint arrange money. My marriage was about to stop. It was when I got a cheque courier from one of the insurance company with my name and 10 Lakh amount. I couldn’t understand anything. After an hour I got a letter from one of Harish friend (Harish asked his friend to deliver the letter after the cheque reaches me).

I opened the letter to get the shock of my life. The letter said

“Hi Anushka.Harish here. I am no more. I wanted to let you know few things, which I wanted to tell you 6 years before. I love you…yes. I love you so much. This may be a big shock to you. Though it’s too late I can’t hide it from you any more. I dint say my love to you, as I felt guilty of spoiling your true friendship with me. And when I was ready to tell you I understood Arvind had already entered in your life. He deserved you more than I do. I can’t stay without you. I can’t imagine anyother girl in my life. I feel no use to be alive without you. I wanted to show my love through my death. By the time you receive this letter your Harish might have met with an accident and dead few days back .I hope you would have received a cheque now. Hope you remember me getting your details before a year. I got it to add you as my nominee for my insurance, which worth 10 Lakh. As per the scheme if any risk happens to me after a year from the start of the plan the amount will reach the nominee. It’s a small marriage gift from me. Please accept the gift. I love you Anu.Happy Married life”.

Tears came running from my eyes. I read the last line “ I Love you Anu “ again and again. It took 1 week for me to talk again. I would have read the letter 100 times and cried 1000 times within a week. After a week I realized why he did everything and had to do it. Yes I should accept his gift and lead a happy life. I got married to Arvind after a month. After two years I had a baby boy. Like everyone does even I named the boy as “Harish” not knowing what else i can do.