TRUE LOVE

The clock struck 12. Everyone at house was in sound sleep. Malini was not able to sleep. “Am I doing the right thing?”“Won’t my act bring shame to my family?” But the next second, face of Kumar came in her mind. “Malini look, this is high time we should decide. Both our parents are not accepting for our marriage. We have no other go other then to leave the home”!. Malini was shocked to hear those words from Kumar. How could she bring shame to her parents?Look Kumar, “I can’t do that. I can’t do that”. She almost burst into tears.Malini see me, “No other way da!”. “If you really love me you have to do this. If your love for me is true then you need to do this. Come to Central Railway station tomorrow early morning at 2. I will ask my friend to book tickets for Mumbai. We will get married there”.Malini was not able to say anything. She came home with a heavy heart. It was 12.30 midnight. She was not able to decide still. She was engrossed in her thoughts. She came back to senses only when the cell phone rang!!“Hello Malu, be ready at 1.30. Come to the back side of your house. I will bring my car there. Is that ok?”“Yes”, said Malini and cut the phone.Malini and Kumar studied in the same college. They were in love with each other since college days. When their parents came to know about their affair as usual both their parents did not accept. Malini’s Parents started finding alliance for her. In this situation they had no other way other then to leave the home.Malini got up from her bed. Dressed her. Packed her things. She saw the time. It was 1.00 AM. She went to see her parents. They were in sound sleep. She saw them for a while and came back. She was only daughter to her parents. She was confused again as whether to go with Kumar. Cell phone rang!! “Hello Malu, I am waiting outside”.Malini wiped her tears and took her things and went to the door step. She opened the door and went out. She saw Kumar’s car at the backside of her house. She went near the car and got inside. “I am happy Malu”, said Kumar. “Now within half an hour we will be reaching the station. Train is at 2.30. So no problem”, said KumarMalini just gave him a smile!! did not reply him anything.“Malu, are you not happy with this decision?” , asked Kumar.“I am happy”, said Malini trying to give a fake smile.The car sped away. They reached the Railway station at 2.00. “Malu you wait here!! I will check the passenger’s list and come back”. Malini sat on the bench with her things. Just then she saw a couple with their daughter also waiting for the train. From the Child’s state she understood that the child was not well and her father was carrying the child. She could see her mother with tears. She went near the couple and enquired what happened?“My daughter met with an accident two days back and she hurt herself in spinal cord. Our Family Doctor asked us to take her to his friend who is a Doctor at Mumbai as there would be better treatment then here”, replied the father of the child. Malini saw that they were not that rich. She could figure out from their appearance. She told them not to worry and everything would be al right. Saying these words, she went back to the bench and sat there. She closed her eyes. Her thoughts re winded. She was in her 12th. Malini’s father got her a new cycle. Malini went for a ride in the cycle. When she was about to turn, she met with an accident with a car. Soon she was unconscious. She was taken to hospital. She was admitted in I.C.U. She remembered how her parents struggled to meet the expenses of the hospital which was very difficult for a middle class family. She remembered that her father sold their house and gave her the treatment. She remembered how her parents struggled to give her college education. Her mother used to mortgage her jewels and then get the money and paid her the college fees. She remembered her father saying to her mother one night... “Kamala whatever may be the struggle we undergo we should bring our daughter without any pains. After all she is our only daughter and we live for her. You know all these pains are for only few more years. My daughter will study well and she will get a good job and she will look after the family, for which her mother smiled”.Malini could not control her tears. “Malu!”, called Kumar. “Come let’s go!!”Malu saw Kumar for a while.” Hey, what? Get up. Let’s move!”, said Kumar.“I am not coming” ,came Malini’s stern voice. Kumar was shocked. “Are you joking?, Come lets go!!”. He pulled her towards the compartment. Malini relieved her hand from Kumar with force. “I am not joking. I am not coming Kumar. I am not coming. Sure”.“I can’t put my parents to shame. I can never do that”.“Malu are you mad? Come let’s start”. The train will start in another five minutes. “No Kumar!! I have decided not to come with you”.“Oh have you madam? Then what’s the meaning of love you had for me?” Kumar asked irritated“Yes I loved you. But I can’t betray my parents love. I know you for 2 years but they have loved me for 20 years. I can never put them to shame in front of this society”.“If I do that then I am not a human. I am an animal”.“Oh! This you must have thought before you fell in love with me!! Not now”, told Kumar.“Yes, I had done a mistake. But now I can’t do any further mistake. Before my Parents love, I don’t feel that your love is precious to me! We would not be happy without their Blessings!”.“If our love is true, we need to wait till both our parents agree. If your love was true for me you need to agree for this”. Saying these words, Malini walked out of the Railway station!