Requited Love
Unrequited Love can be beautiful — Part Deux
When I first wrote about unrequited love, people wanted to know what happened next? This is it. It is a bit back and forth, but I promise you'll understand. If you haven't read that story, then part Deux may not make any sense.
On May 26th, 2022, at 19:26, V's phone received a new WhatsApp notification.
At 19:33, he picked up his phone to see a generic, "Hey, how are you?" Ah well, let's send her a simple response, he thought as he typed, "All well, thanks. How have you been?"
"I wrote something, and it got published online. I want you to read it, please."
"Ohh, sure, I would love to. I'm not sure if I'll understand your superior English. But I'll definitely read it."
V always used self-deprecating humour to lighten the mood. I wasn't sure why he was doing it right then, but it was a coping mechanism as much as it was second nature to him.
I waited for 20 mins. I had written about him without his knowledge and sent it to a publication. I know I'm making a bigger deal out of it than necessary. But as someone with 11 followers submitting a story for the first time — getting published sent me over the moon. I wanted to be sure he was okay with it.
Some of the people who had already read the piece asked me about V's identity, but I wasn't going to reveal it. Very few people figured it out and hardly believed that so much had happened, and I never talked about it back then. With all these thoughts running through my head, I received a message from V.
I opened my chat with him to read this, "Ohh God! I read halfway through, and it's like reliving old times. Like Christmas gifts coming early this year :) Thanks in advance. I will message you once I finish reading all of it."
I could not wait to hear back from him. What he thought of the story mattered. After all, he was in it.
Close to midnight, I received a rather long text from V. He wrote his response to my story, and this is how it goes:
Requited Love
After 14 long years, my feelings and thoughts are being answered. I feel very special today, and you have made me feel younger. In some ways, I would say you made me feel like Shahrukh Khan in the film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. There’s this dialogue — *Ek tarfa pyar ki taqat hi kuch aur hoti hai auron ke rishton ki tarah yeh do logon mein nahi bat’ti sirf mera haq hai ispe.
But jokes apart, I truly wish from my heart that your story goes viral and a script writer copies it to turn it into a movie. It is so well written.
I actually relived every moment described by you. I was transported to Savage Garden 14 years ago; that night was magical in every sense. In trying to make it special for you, your presence and the way you reciprocated made me feel it was magical for me too.
I remember a few parts of the story pre and post, which I'm sure you remember too. The chicken sandwich you got for me from Ashoka Bakery. The way I danced when I got pissed drunk at that party, courtesy Alan. The song I sang for you at my farewell, in the cafeteria, in your absence (She will be loved by Maroon 5).
I cherish every memory even more after reading your story.
Everyone has a past they would rather forget, but I would like to relive every day spent with you. You were special then, and you are special even today. And yes, thank you for making me feel so special.
A long-forgotten love story was rewritten today. May many lives and hearts feel it the same way. Let the story replay.
*Ek tarfa pyar ki taqat hi kuch aur hoti hai auron ke rishton ki tarah yeh do logon mein nahi bat’ti sirf mera haq hai ispe. This roughly translates to — The power of one-sided love is that unlike other relationships, it is not split between two people. Only I have a claim to it.
Subscribe to get my writing delivered to your inbox or connect with me via email. It may take some time, but I will definitely respond.
Write to me at eyesha.bee@gmail.com
