Few silent tears slipped from her lovely black eyes as she looked at him but he slammed the door right on her face. He has said the words that ‘he didn’t wish to see her again’.

This was the last time she was going to see him as they were walking in separate directions now. Two years back she met him on April 1^st as she was trying to fool people by giving them blank calls and ended up making a friend through this blank call.

For her it was a mere way of joking but this person ended up noticing her number and calling her. The friendship grew day by day as they planned to meet outdoors as he was a bachelor who owned a small apartment near her house.

She belonged to a family where making friends with boys or having boyfriends was never allowed and she avoided telling anyone about this new friend of hers. They continued to meet at various places in Mumbai as she bunked her college at times and the time she spent with him was wonderful.

“I guess you are not busy…” He chuckled on the phone as she hid behind the curtain whispering on the phone.

“Why did you call now?” She asked.

“I want you to come to my place right now.” He said and she was horrified. She refused so many times but he kept insisting.

“I am waiting for you and I don’t know how you make it but I won’t eat until you join me for dinner.” He said in a serious voice and hung up. She tried calling him as his insanity scared her but he did not receive. Finally, she manages an excuse to buy few books for college and stepped out to meet him.

All the way she muttered curses to him as she reached his apartment. He had never been inside but knew where he lived and a warm welcome from his side made her forget that she was angry. He has lit small candles all around the room with a small cake in middle followed by a bouquet of rose flowers.

“Happy birthday,  Jiya.” He said huskily as she was amazed by his gesture. He made her walk to the centre where she grandly cut the cake offering him a slice and tasting it too. He handed her a small locket with a heart shape and a big ‘J’ marked in small diamonds.

“It’s beautiful.” She said with her eyes glistening as he said.

“For our friendship, sweetie.”

“You are the best friend for me, Jim.” She said hugging him happily. She had spent  many nights wondering about Jim and her friendship. She was falling in love with Jim day by day but tried as much as possible to dismiss the idea.

Jim Gonsalves was a catholic whereas Jiya Rampal was a Hindu. She knew that her parents would be offended by the thought of having a boyfriend and there was no way they will accept someone from another religion. There was no possibility of their relationship and she tried to protect her heart from Jim who has already invaded it.

They had a nice dinner together as Jiya’s thoughts kept bothering her. She was sure about her feelings and his reaction towards her made her certain that Jim felt same for her. A call from her home made her jump as she hurriedly received it and lied that she was stuck in a traffic and will be reaching in few minutes.

“I am sorry Jim.” She said nervously gathering her things. “I think I should be leaving now.”

“Jiya.” He tried to stop her. “There is something I want to talk about.”

“Not now Jim.” She said eagerly. “We can talk on phone later.”

“No..No” He shrugged holding her wrist. “You have to hear this.”

“But…” She trailed her voice as the words slipped his tongue.

“I am terribly in love with you Jiya.” He said. She gasped as she was horrified and didn’t expect him to say that but he did.

“Jiya, listen.” He said in a slow voice. “I know the backdrops of our relationship and I understand that we can never get married but still I want to have relationship with you….May it be for a week, a month or a year.”

Jiya didn’t answer as she stole glances and walked away without answering. She was bothered from Jim’s confession but even he terribly wished to have a relationship with him. Jim was betrothed to her far-off cousin when he was 19 and Jiya knew that she has a year before she would be married to someone of similar religion.

Finally they agreed to built a relationship together as they enjoyed the moments together. They shared their smiles, tensions, sorrows and happiness as they were perfectly made for each other. Jiya knew Jim’s friends who admired her and respected her whereas Jim met Jiya’s one and only friend Zoni as she resided in Delhi for her studies. Days flew by as the reality was getting closer for them that they had few days to enjoy.

Soon Jiya’s proposal was arranged and she was engaged to someone who resided in U.S and soon she will be leaving with him after she got married. Jiya would cry to sleep as she silently prayed for things to change but that never happened. She gathered courage to face the reality which was waiting for both of them and Jim was as upset as Jiya.

The invitation were sent to all the relatives and friends as the arrangement were done for Jiya’s marriage. Jiya was heart broken but Jim encouraged her to face it as he knew that he couldn’t put Jiya in more awkward position by asking her to reveal about this relationship.

One week before marriage Jim spotted Jiya waiting at his apartment. He wasn’t certain as to why she was here but as usual he loved his presence and invited her inside. He can make out the dark circles under her eyes which revealed that she was crying a lot these days. Jiya complained about her fate, cried her feelings out and talked about her frustrations as they embraced and ended up making love.

Jim was horrified when he realized what has happened between them whereas Jiya had no regrets about it. Jim grabbed her hand and muttered something angrily as he slammed the door on her face.

After he did that he realized that this apartment haunted him with memories of Jiya. He tried to bottle up his emotions which were impossible now as he found it impossible to live life without Jiya. As he turned to open the door and searched for her, he can make out that she was gone.

A small slip near the door made his heart wrench with ache as he read the final good bye from Jiya.

“Jim,

I love you and will always love you till my last breath. You may regret what happened between us but I won’t as I have given my body to the one who loved me and rules my heart. We weren’t destined to be together but the good time I spent with you will give me courage to move on and I want you to live life as it comes. Take care.

Love you forever,

Jiya.”

Today she was standing at the door of the house where she has spent her twenty years as she tried to make the relationship work with her husband who never loved her. He was in love with someone else whom his family never approved and they forced this marriage between them. She raised his two kids, looked after her in-laws and managed to do everything but now she was standing helplessly as her husband slammed the door right on her face.

Her in-laws passed away in a car – accident and his husband applied for divorce as soon as they did so he could marry the one he loved. The divorce was finalized and he threw her out from her home. She was given a huge amount of alimony but loneliness filled her world as she continued to survive as only one reason gave her courage to move on….. ‘Jim.’