As she finished reading the letter, Yash started to weep. She patted on her shoulder and stood up and said, “Let’s go Yash, its late.” He wiped his tears and stood up. As they moved towards the Church, she turned back, said, “Bye Cathy”, and smiled at Yash.
The next few days were great for Neha. Yash started speaking a lot to her, though most of the times, his topics confined to Cathy but she took deep interest in his conversations. She admired the care and love, Yash had for Cathy. She knew she was falling in love with Yash but she could not resist it. Love cannot be resisted. Yash also felt the same for Neha but he always tried to control his emotions. He was in dilemma whether he is cheating with Cathy by falling in for Neha.
Sometimes Neha would accompany Yash to meet Cathy. Yash showed her, how he converses with Cathy with the help of the leaves of the Mango tree above her grave. He would ask questions to Cathy and if one leaf fell from the tree, the answer was “Yes” and if two leaves fell, the answer was “No.” Neha fell completely in love with Yash’s innocence and his trust and care for his dead friend. His passion for Cathy’s friendship was adore able for her.
Time passed by, like this but she could never gather the courage to propose to Yash, until the last day of their college. The atmosphere in the college campus was very sad, as friends were hugging each other, wiping each other’s tears as they were separating.
Neha was sitting on a bench, in the campus. He asked her, “When are you leaving for Delhi?” “Tomorrow Morning” she replied, “What are your plans now Yash”?
“I have not yet decided” he replied and stood up. “I have to leave now; I will see you at the station tomorrow morning”.
She hold his hands and said “Yash, I don’t know, why I am saying it today, when I never had the courage to say it in the last three years. May be the fear of not seeing you again, going away from you, give me the courage to say that I love you, and I love you very much, and I know that you also love me but you will never confess”.
He remained silent for a while and said, “I can’t leave Cathy, I know she is not with me, but she is still always with me, I cannot allow anyone to take her place in my life, I like you but I am sorry”.
He started to walk back, when she said, “Lets do it your ways Yash, Why don’t you ask Cathy, after all you took all your decisions with her, and then you should not take this decision alone. It is not fair to her. As far as I am concerned, I do not want to take Cathy’s place in your life. I know she is your best friend and no one can take her place still I love you and I want to spend my entire life with you, so please do not take a decision alone. I’ll wait for you at station, tomorrow morning”. He did not turn and walked away. She knew where he was heading.
Yash was standing near Cathy’s grave. He, then fall on his knees and started talking to her “Cathy, I am really very sorry, I am in love with Neha. I know I should not have done this but I do not know when I fall in love with her. Cathy you are my best friend and you always will be but I am in love with Neha. I never allowed anyone to come near me because I never wanted anyone to take your place in my life but I do not know how she came in. I am really very sorry, I have never taken a decision alone, and I will never say it to her until you forgive me”. Suddenly a leaf, fall down from the tree. He was delighted to see that and said “Thank you Cathy, You are my best friend and will always be”. Then he kissed the grave and walked back.
After few minutes, someone started to get down from the tree. She was Neha. She was listening to Yash from above and she was the one who threw the leave down. She came to Cathy’s grave and apologised “I am sorry Cathy for what I did. I know I cheated a bit, but since you are Yash’s best friend, you will understand me. I love him and I cannot see him like this, I want him to be happy and you also want the same. You are lucky Cathy that you have a friend like him and I am sorry but I feel jealous sometimes with the bondage of friendship both of you share. I promise, I won’t ever take your place in his life, and I wish you forgive me and hope that you are also happy for him”.
Then she touched the Grave and turned back towards the gate. She did not turn again else she could have seen the leaf which fall from the mango tree on Cathy’s grave.
LIFE IS UN IMAGINEABLE WITHOUT LOVE..
LOVE IS UN IMAGINEABLE WITHOUT FRIENDSHIP..
Jism ke har kone se, khushboo tumhaari aati hai..
Jab bhi tanha hota hun, yaad tumhari aati hai.. "
Dikha kar khawaab in aankhon ko, de gaye aansoon in mein tum..
kaise chalka doo yeh aansoon, in mein bhi rehte ho tum.."