When it hurts, its real!

She was visibly different from Lisa I met two months back.

In fact, she bore no resemblance to the Lisa I had known for almost 10 years. We grew up together through our teens and had extreme tolerance for each other's stupidities. We shared everything at length, and probably, this kept us together through distances.

It was three years back on Valentines Day that Rajat proposed her and she said Yes. This had to happen and all three of us knew it.They both were by all means and measures, made for each other. Lisa would throw tantrums at petty matters and Rajat could handle all of it without losing the smile on his face. He was sure about his parents' confidence in his decisions and therefore, was waiting for the right time to introduce his perfect girl to his parents. Lisa came from a more liberal background and therefore, things were easier on her side.

It was 6 pm on a Friday when Rajat called up and said that he was leaving for his home town. Lisa did not inquire much realizing that he was in a hurry. At around 7:30 pm, she received a text that read "Love! my parents need me. They are in a tough time. I know you are a strong girl and can take care of yourself. I don't know when will I be coming back. For the sake of our love, be happy all these days that I am not with you..." On reading this, she sensed something unusual but ignored it thinking it was just her sense of insecurity without Rajat.

They exchanged messages and talked briefly over phone. Every time they talked, Rajat was unable to tell her the date of his return journey. Passing days changed to months and Lisa lived with the hope of Rajat's return. On every first of the month, she prayed that the month be proven lucky and Rajat returns. During all these days, he told her about how his dad's business had run into a legal hassle and he had no other option than being there.

She cried over the weekends like crazy. She fought her own insecurities and tried hard to socialize but all in vain. No matter what she did or whom she met, there was only one thing that consumed all her energy.."What if Rajat doesn't come back?", and this was the end of her world, her happiness.

When I am with her today, I can feel the sadness in her eyes. She has changed, both ways. She appeared more responsible and threw no tantrums. She is not even complaining about the high temperature. I could see Lisa checking on the time on her cellphone almost every 15 minutes. On realizing that she has been noticed, she said, "Rajat calls at 1 pm everyday" and the typical Lisa smile flashed across her face and I loved it! I hugged her tight and she broke down. Probably, she had held back her tears too hard and today, they were just flowing. I sat close to her silently. I know, its good to let the feelings flow. Amid all this, her phone rang and she hurriedly picked it. It was Rajat.

She strained hard to make out what he was saying but alas! she could not. Rajat was at some very noisy place and this made her tensed. All she could make out was that he was asking her to be happy and the call was disconnected. Her worried eyes told a tale that I would never want to accept, and neither Lisa.

A text message beeped on Lisa's phone. It read "i am on the railway station, Love! Have managed to get a ticket. We are meeting tomorrow! Want my Lisa smile :)"

She sat numb. Tears came down her eyes hurriedly and we hugged again. "May is lucky", we screamed together and quickly moved out of the place we were sitting at.

Someone has truly said, "Love heals!"