Unexpected Moment (Short Story)

“Tomorrow I am going to be a bride….. I am going to marry Nihal….but think ….think how can I forget “ROSHAN”?”  Menaka said to her friend with tears rolling down her cheeks. The past memories were echoing in her again and again.

Roshan was a troublesome figure in her life. He was the lover of Menaka. He came from a well-to-do family. And Menaka was a poor girl was a poor girl who lived in a small village in the suburb of Nuwara -Eliya.

Once during a weekend Roshan went from Colombo to Nuwara –Eliya on a visit. There while he was enjoying his time in the greenery meadows, he cough sight of a sweet girl. Roshan fell in love with her at the very first sight. He didn’t reveal her his love. He admired her playing of violin so beautifully.

When the night fell he went to his room in the nearby hotel. Of course, he was madly in love with Menaka and spent sleepless nights.

One day morning that is on the third day of his visit to Nuwara-Eliya, he went to Menaka’s place, while she was playing violin in her rose’s garden.

“Excuse me miss…..”

“Yes….”she opened her eyes in wonder!

“Can u meet me today evening please….?”

“Hmmm….for what? I think you are new to this place…..”

“Yes…! I want to talk to you about an important matter….so…can you?”

“Ok. You are Mr…?”

“Oh I am Roshan” he replied smiling pleasantly.

“I am Menaka. Where should I come?”

“Mm mm…come to the flower garden …” 

In the evening she went to the flower garden. She saw Roshan sitting under a tree. Menaka approached him. She was completely unaware of the matters he was going to talk to her. She dreamt of going further in her music field. She wondered whether Mr. Roshan was someone who was going to offer her an opportunity. She built castles in the air.

“Going abroad…ohm…perhaps India”

All these thoughts were restless wandering in her mind. She asked him what the matter he wants to speak with her.

Indeed Roshan was an out-spoken boy. So he told her.

“Miss Menaka I don’t want to lie ….and also I don’t like to hide anything. If I want something, definitely I’ll get it. So …..Frankly I am telling you I LOVE YOU ….” After hearing this word Menaka was shocked she couldn’t do anything. But for a while she thought and told him.

“Mr. Roshan please doesn’t take quick blind decisions. Look! I am a poor girl and you are from a rich family. So if I loved you definitely I’ll be deceiving you. And at least you don’t know about me, so how can we love….?”

“Look Menaka love is not a thing which built on outward appearance and material possession. It is a miracle given by almighty God and I don’t want to know about your family. All I want is you…. Please understand my love…you are my life.”

“But Mr. Roshan you will be ruined. Please I don’t want to cheat anyone and I don’t want to hurt you…. Please leave me please….”

And she left the place. Roshan went after her and held her hand and uttered,

“Please Menaka think about me I’ll give you time. But ….if you didn’t love me, think it is a matter of my life!” he went back suddenly.

It was night time, very dark, Menaka sat by the side of her room window. She was deeply thinking about Roshan. However she his love. Actually she has started to love. She thought of his pleasant behavior            and attitude. The problem is his family she knows that they won’t accept their affair.

After few days Menaka met Roshan in the flower garden. She murmured like an innocent creature” I LOVE YOU Roshan… I LOVE YOU…. I can’t understand …. I can’t forget you”

Roshan’s happiness knew no bounds. Their love affair started to bloom with beauty and admiration day by day.

Days weeks and months went by. Roshan’s mother got to know of their affair. She scolded Menaka in a bad manner, pointing out that she was an indecent girl and coquette. Menaka felt very sad.

Next day Menaka told this matter to Roshan almost crying and she pleaded him to stop the affair for the betterment of both of them. Roshan felt very sad.

“Please Menaka don’t try to leave me I can’t live without you please…. Menaka please, don’t mind my mother’s scolding although she did so you don’t know of the soft-corners of her heart. She will soon realize her mistake.”

“No Roshan after your mother scolded me, I started to forget you so please don’t disturb me please Roshan. And bye forever.”    

Although she said so she couldn’t forget his love. But she pretended as she forgot.

Months went on Menaka concentrated on her career. She suppressed her past memories with Roshan. Menaka’s parents arranged a marriage proposal. Poor Menaka had to accept it. Because all knew that she forgot Roshan but she didn’t. The boy they proposed was Nihal. Surprisingly, he was one of the best friends of Roshan who lived overseas.

On his visit to the country, Nihal wanted to share his happiness with Roshan informing him of his dream girl Menaka. He met Roshan and revealed all about his marriage proposal. Roshan was shocked to know that it was Menaka whom he was going to marry soon.

“Oh God, no it can’t happen your dream girl is my lover. She is my life. No no no… she is pretending as she has forgotten me. But ….she is going to marry you …. No Nihal it can’t be”

Roshan said with tears rolling down in his cheeks. Infect he was loving her sincerely and he was firm in his love. He built many dreams in his life. He though all his dreams were destroying as the seashore destroying the sand castle.

Nihal was shocked to hear this…he couldn’t do anything,

“Sorry Nihal unknowingly it came from my mouth. It’s ok if she loves you it’s not wrong marrying you. By the way all the best and live a happy life.”

Roshan wished him and left the place as soon as possible. But Nihal was still shocked and he was very sad too. He didn’t want to ruin his friend’s life.

Next morning Nihal went to meet Menaka. They spoke to each other. In an occasion Nihal asked Menaka

“Menaka do you know Roshan?”

“Roshan ….who is that I don’t know” replied Menaka.

“Really don’t you know him?”

“Please Nihal if you have anything else ask me and please don’t ask about my past I don’t like to remember it. Please Nihal” and she went inside her room.

Days went faster. Today is Menaka’s wedding. She is getting ready to her wedding, but her eyes are full of tears. They took Menaka to the wedding stage. And the bridegroom came to the stage. She didn’t even want to look at Nihal in his bridal suit. She sat on her bridal chair not daring even to lift her eyes to see anything. She suppressed her sorrows. The bridegroom was the happiest person in the crowd. He came closer to Menaka with his relatives to exchange the wedding ring.

Menaka didn’t want to look at Nihal. She gave her finger to exchange the ring, yet looking down. Suddenly, her tear drop fell on bridegrooms hand while exchanging the rings. Menaka was puzzled and she glanced at him in awe.

Oh it was Roshan her sweetheart, who was the bridegroom, he was going to be her soul partner!

She stood dumb found. Roshan broke the silence.

“Don’t worry Menaka all these are tears of joy cheer up….Cheer up!!!”

Menaka’s happiness knew no bounds. She was short of words to express her happiness. At the same time Nihal approached them with Menaka’s parents laughing cheerfully.

“Cheer up Menaka, I heard all what you said yesterday to your friend, I don’t want to break your affair with my friend Roshan. I want you to be his bride his wife forever. Today I wanted to give you a big surprise. Happy wedded life for both of you. May you live long I wish you whole heartedly…”

The crowd was listed to Nihal’s talk clapped in delight. Words of gratitude to Nihal were echoing in her mind now

“I felt really thankful to him, it was such a great surprise.”

(Author: SJ)