One More Time

Its been almost 5 years since Aditya has come to Florida, US..He wanted to be away from every little thing which used to make him remember Diya..he could not stay in Delhi..because wherever he went, the restaurants, the theatres, the markets, the places they used to visit, he used to miss Diya..
he wanted to forget her but she was the part of his own self..he could not forget her even for a day, an hour or a minute..his parents had left hope for the marriage of their only son..its been more than 2 years..2 years, 2 months to be precise, since he had gone back to his home, to meet ma & pa..but he called them daily..

He has to catch flight tomorrow for India..There is a new person in his home, in his family whom he does not know and who has managed to develop a strong faith in his ma & pa's heart..he has to meet that person..he just can't let someone live so easily with his aging parents..u can't trust ur own relatives these days..trusting a complete stranger was just unthinkable for him..a woman who was found by her papa on the sea beach..how can they let somebody to stay with them..Her name was Mrida..He didn't like the name also..what kind of name it is, he thought..This woman, Mrida..she had not told anything about her, about her background, which religion she belong to, from where she belongs to..it seems she lost her memories, her identity in the sea..she was found unconscious on beach by his pa..pa saved her life by immediately rushing her to hospital..pa had said over phone that there was something about her, the innocence of her face that had made him to take her to their home..he can't let a young vulnerable woman go somewhere when she does not even know her name..

Ma also seems to be equally fond of her..Ma & pa always wanted a daughter and she kind of filled the vaccum in their life which is created after he shifted to US..They have denied to come there..For Ma, mrida was a perfect companion, a friend and a daughter, she cooks well..she takes care of health of both ma and pa..she is good natured, sweet girl..the kind of girl, ma had always wanted as her daughter-in-law..But all these seemed very fake to Aditya..what if she is a liar and she is playing some game with his parents..he was not at all convinced..ma and pa are being too generous and generosity could cost u a lot these days, he thought..Ma had told him that she was very pale and shocked for many days..she didn't used to talk, but slowly, under ma & pa's care, she revived her strength..she herself named her 'Mrida'..Though pa didn't like that name at first..but when she persisted, he gave in..As far as ma was concerned, it does not matter for her what do u call her..she was a daughter for her now.

Aditya's flight landed at 1.00 AM..Though Pa had said that he'll come to receive him at airport but he has denied..He took a cab from airport & started for home..he was feeling good, seeing all the familiar roads leading to his home..he felt as if everyone, everyone means every other person whom he was meeting, be it cab driver, operator at prepaid taxi stand, is glad to have him back now..he reached home at 2.00 am.. he pressed the door bell...pa opened the door..he bent to touch his feet..pa stopped him in between and gave him a beary hug..it was kind of a hug, he received when he had topped the school in his board exams..he loved it at that time and he loved it this time as well..it was good to be home..Ma also hugged him & planted kisses all over his face..then she called Mrida who was in the kitchen, warming all curries, dal & rice for him..

When Mrida came in hall to meet Aditya, aditya just went blank..he could not even say 'hi' to her..Mrida said 'hi' to Aditya..Aditya replied weakly..he did not remember what all ma/pa/mrida was saying after that..he ate & went to sleep..he was tired after such a long journey..but how could he sleep now? he was lost in his own thoughts..It was like someone from his past is alive again..all these years, he had remembered Diya as someone who has gone too far, someone who is unreachable, someone who'll not come back again..he never tried to call her/reach her, even in the times, he missed her like hell..but he just could not get over the face, voice and those big expressive eyes of Mrida..all so closely resembling Diya..

He remembered the day, he first saw Diya, he was stumped by her beauty..she was among the freshers, rushing here and there for the registration..he felt spellbound just by looking at her..he kept on looking at her until his friends called him..being one of the voulnteer, he helped Diya in the registration process..It was the start of their friendship..He was is in his final year but in the span of one year, they became good friends..After classes, they used to spend almost all of their time together ..They used to go to movies, markets, theatres on weekends..Even after he finished his studies, they continued meeting and everytime he felt his love growing deeper..Diya was oblivious to his painful unsaid feelings..He loved spending time with her & everytime, he wanted it more & longer but he never said anything to Diya..because Diya had already told him that after her studies, she will marry Jay, son of his father's friend and her childhood friend..Jay's family was among the rich and influential people of Nainital, like Diya's family..

Diya was the most pampered girl, he has ever met and yet, she was not fuzzy, not pompous..her manners were natural, down to earth, innocent and childlike..This was the first time when she was staying away from her home, from her parents..She was the princess of Mr. Roy, Diya's father who was a very successful businessman..They had 2 hotels in Nanital..Diya was intelligent & smart, besides being extremely beautiful..She got admission in engineering in Delhi..her parents didn't want her to go to a different city for studies..but when she persisted, they gave in..but they told Diya that she has to marry Jay..Diya didn't have any problems marrying Jay..she has known him from childhood..

Time really has wings..4 years passed like 4 months for Aditya..all these years, he had company of Diya..he can talk to her, meet her..but it was time for her to go back now..her marriage has been finalized..Aditya always knew that sooner or later, this will come..but still he could not take it..he loved Diya so truely that he could not bear the pain and agony of the seperation and ended up telling everything to Diya, feelings which were there from last 4 years, he could not suppress it anymore..Diya was shocked after listening to Aditya..she didn't say anything and she left..later she called Aditya to tell him that they should not talk now..

There was a change in her behaviour since the day Aditya has told her abt his feelings..Aditya had stopped talking to her(she herself asked Aditya, not to call her)..she had started struggling with her own feelings..she had started missing him..he was everywhere..in her dreams..in her thoughts..the more she tried to not to think about him, the more she found herself thinking abt him..but she knew that its too late..and after few days, she got married to Jay..and after 2 months of her marriage, Aditya came to Florida..to make himself far from Diya and her memories..

But even today, Diya is the one and only one who rules his heart..and after seeing Mrida, he could feel his love/his feelings overwhelming him again..Mrida does not closely resemble Diya, its Diya, in his own house, living with his parents like their own daughter..

Their paths have crossed again, after so many years and in such a weird way..Diya does not remember anything..may be, becoz she has not met anyone from her past after her accident..he knew, she will be able to recall everything if he helped her, if he tells her about her college life, her parents, her home and ofcourse, her marriage..For a minute, Aditya was tempted to not tell her anything because if she remembers everything, she'll not stay at their place.she'll go bck to his family..Aditya does not want to lose her again..what if, she does not remember anything..she is still his Diya..he can't let her go again..but a part of his heart was saying that he has to help her..and finally that part succeeded..he decided to tell Mrida about her real name and real identity..Finally, he was able to sleep..

Next morning, he got up late. Ma and Mrida had gone to local market for shopping and buying groceries..he went in pa's room and told him about Mrida..it was late in the noon, when ma & mrida returned..they ate lunch together..everyone was little quiet except ma, who was extremely delighted becoz of his presence..mrida was not as carefree while talking as she was yesternite..she was stealing glances to look at aditya as if she was trying to recollect whether she has met him earlier, whether she knows him..then ma and pa went for their afternoon nap..she stayed in the hall, pretending she is reading a novel, though her mind was occupied in figuring out whether she knows him or not..Aditya came in hall and started talking to her casually..he knew, he need to tell her but he has still not figured out where to start with..he calmly told her that he knows her, that she was a junior to him in college, that her paternal home is in Nainital and that her name is 'Diya'..As expected, she remembered everything, and she started crying badly..pa had stopped ma to go in hall to check what's happening..aditya had to really make an effort to calm her..she was crying vigorously in his arms and muttering, my Adi, how is my Adi, where is my Adi..

Finally when she calmed down a little, aditya asked him, who is adi and how this accident happened? she told him that they had come for a vacation in Mumbai, she, jay and their 1.5 year old son, Adi..they decided to stay in Alibaug for two days..she was strolling with her kid near the beach..Adi loves to play in water but she was holding his hand tightly..but suddenly a huge wave separated her from her child and before she could realize what has happened..she saw, Adi going deeper in sea with waves..she ran & grabbed adi, but suddenly, one more huge wave came, she lost balance, she didn't know what to do..with all her force, she has thrown adi towards beach..and after that she does not know, what has happened..Aditya asked the obvious question, where was Jay when all this was happening..Last time, when she had seen him, he was on a call and was quite at a distance from them..It was his habit to keep walking while talking over phone..and before he could do anything, he had lost his wife..Diya was uncontrollable again..she again started crying..ma and pa had also come down to hall now..ma consoled her, pa asked Aditya to arrange tckts to go to Nainital..he asked Diya if she remembers any telephone nos. so that they can inform her family. Diya was unable to recollect any of the telephone numbers..

Aditya booked 3 tckts for Delhi(nearest airport to Nainital), for pa, diya and himself..From delhi, they took a cab..It was late in the night when they reached Nainital..Diya wanted to go to Jay's house first, she was very worried for Adi..but pa decided against her wishes and asked her to tell the way to her parents house..they pressed the door bell..Diya's mom opened the door..she was so shocked to see Diya, she could not say anything for smtime, she just hugged her tightly and started crying..those were tears of joy, mixed with the pain she has
suffered at the loss of her daughter..Mr. Roy also could not believe it for sometime, that his princess is standing in front of his eyes..He took all of them to drawing room..they started chating..pa started praising diya and diya told his parents, how ma and pa had cared for her..how they saved her life and kept her like their daughter..diya's parents were so thankful, they were struggling to find right words to express their gratitude for ma & pa..

Then Diya asked about Jay and Adi..Diya's mother's face expression suddenly changed, she was about to say something, but Mr. Roy intervened in between and said that everything is fine since she is back now, and they should rest now, as everyone is tired..but Diya wanted to talk to Jay and Adi..she wanted to ensure that everything is alright..she came to her room, checked out the number from telephone diary and called at Jay's home..An unfamiliar female voice responded at other end, she asked for Jay..Jay could not believe that he is talking to Diya..he asked her if she is ok..where were she till now etc etc..Diya asked about Adi..how is he doing?..Then, the silence and a squeal..Jay told her that they lost their son in that accident..Diya was almost mad with shock..she started shouting and crying..everyone rushed to her room and tried everything possible to calm her but she was uncontrollable..after sometime, Jay also came..he hugged her, she kept on crying and crying in his arms..

It took her a month to absorb all what has happened in last 2 years after that accident..she lost her son apart from her identity in those 2 years..pa had never told her that she was in coma for 6 months after he has found her..all she knew was that it took her 3 months to recover physically, though actually it was 9 months..her husband got remarried..he has a new family now and he is going to be a father again in few months..suddenly she was all alone..Aditya had come back to Mumbai after leaving Diya at her parents house, though his heart was there in Nainital..he was extremely worried for her..he knew, she needs him but he also knew that she needed time, more than anything else to come out of all the pains she has suffered in last few days..After 10 days, Aditya went back to US but he called her daily..Ma & Pa used to call quite often from Mumbai..

Four months have passed since Diya came back to Nainital..Aditya planned to come to India again for Diwali, and for Diya..Diwali, being the favorite festival for Diya..He told his parents about his decision..his parents have always supported him and this time also, they backed him..he just can't see diya suffer..though diya has accepted the reality of her life, still, she was not okay..she has forgotten to smile..he just can't let that happen..He went to Nainital, this time alone..He proposed her for marriage..He told that he still loves her as truly, as passionately, as he used to love her, 5 years ago..Diya was shocked again..she needed time to think..it was true that she also loved him once..but she has been through such turmoil that she has forgotten that she loved somebody from her whole heart, that she missed somebody like hell, that she prayed secretly to be with him in her next life..Diya's parents didn't say anything..they wanted her to decide this time..

It was the morning of Diwali..Diya woke up really early that day..she woke up Aditya also..and asked him to come for a walk with her..They walked around the lake and there, watching the sun rising from the lake, Diya told him that her answer is 'yes'.