Tears rolled down Mrs. Shrishti Bhatt’s cheeks. She sitting on the sofa with the only memories she had left in her hands, how much she tried to resist but she always stopped at the same photograph in the album. The maid entered the room with the afternoon breakfast and noticed that her face was absorbed with the same emotions. “Madam, life is very short. How many years would you give to that past? Be practical in life. Being a servant, these words do not suit me, but this is not the way to deal with the bitterness of life.” Shrishti said without even raising her eyes, “Shanti! You know that my present is in my past. I will die the day God takes that away from me too. Please leave me alone.” Walking out the door, Shanti suddenly turned, “Oh, I forgot, ma’am. Some reporters are waiting outside.” Keeping the album in the locker, she replied, “Okay. Say hello and give them seats. I’m coming.”
The interview with the reporters had become an important element in the life of Mrs. Shrishti Bhatt, the IAS officer from Allahabad. Her past disturbed everyone. The interviewers wanted spice for her magazine, but her dignity prevented everyone from poking at her hidden identity. Shrishti Bhatt, a beautiful and charming 32-year-old, came down the stairs of her grand mansion waving to the reporters who had come from the Times of India and took a seat. Madam, if you don’t mind, may we ask if you know someone named Chhitiz Bharadwaz?” Shrishti was stunned at the sound of this word which she herself had never dared to repeat after that incident. Answering the question in the negative, She left the reporters confused by her astonished face and staggered upstairs as if struck by the loss of a loved one.
Shrishti went straight to her dressing room and stood in front of the long mirror she hadn’t faced for fourteen years. How changed she was! A single woman dressed in a white sari without any adornment. Chhitiz! Chhitiz! The name echoing in her mind forced her to scream if she could get him off of her. Her maid, the only person in the world who knew the truth of her life, took her to the very sofa where Shrishti could find serenity. Shrishti took out the album and turning the pictures of her over again she stopped at the same picture, her fingers on the face of the same person. Yes, he was Chhitiz, her life, her soul, and the person for whom she had sacrificed all her happiness. He was in this world, but still unknown to Shrishti. Her mind went back to the university life they had shared together. Shrishti and Chhitiz were best friends. They loved each other to such an extent that people felt jealous but even deep in their hearts they felt forced to think if such love was really possible. Shrishti had passed her preliminary civil service exam and had also passed the last day of her final year exam. The very garden where they used to meet Shrishti was, as usual, waiting for Chhitiz. “Oh Chhitiz! You are late again and what is in this diary,” Shrishti said snatching the diary from her. Chhitiz looked at her and said in a serious tone, “Dear! Today I have to talk about something really important for our lives.” Shrishti jokingly replied, “Seriously! Yes, very seriously! You seem so funny when you try to be serious.” Chhitiz tried to make her understand and said scoldingly, “Please, Shrishti! Try to understand, this affects both of us.” Shrishti didn’t even seem to hear her words and said hurriedly, “Oh no! I forgot to tell you, Sir Hardy was calling you. First go meet him and then we’ll enjoy this seriousness together.”
Chhitiz seemed very disturbed that day. But Shrishti took her tension for an hour or two, as usual, to get her attention. Fifteen minutes passed and she didn’t come back. She took a few steps forward and went back to get the diary of hers that she had forgotten on the receipt. Shrishti opened the diary and said to herself, “Oh yes! She was hiding something from me. Card? The card was not ordinary; it was an invitation card for Shrishti at Chhitiz’s wedding ceremony with a girl named Hrishita Shrishti lost her consciousness for a moment. The whole world seemed to fall before her eyes. She understood everything and keeping all the memories of Chhitiz in her heart they were gone forever. After this incident, the first thing she did was change her phone Secondly, without giving Chhitiz a single day for any kind of explanation, she left the girls’ apartment where she used to live and went to live with her maternal uncle and aunt of whom Chhitiz was completely unaware Shrishti had lost to her parents when she was only eight years old. After clearing her interview for the Civil Service, she decided not to marry because she did not want to share Chhitiz’s love with anyone else. She took a large mansion in Allahabad and lived there with her di ary and the album, the only mementos of her college life. She did not even feel envy of Hrishita, but she always considered her lucky to be Chhitiz’s wife.
Returning from her past, Shrishti asked her driver to get the car out and went alone to the hilly and mountainous regions on the border of Allahabad. Chhitiz seemed to be sitting next to her and begging for a chance to explain. Shrishti continued to increase the speed of the car and suddenly, with her loud cry, “Please, Chhitiz! I am nowhere in your life now. Go away!” her white Mercedes hit the big banyan tree. The people in great numbers and the hope of her survival was made minimal with the serious head injuries. Reporters filled the corridors of the hospital and newspapers were filled with reports of her accident and with headlines, “Mrs. Shrishti’s Secret Life Goes Undercover.” But her fate had something else in store for her. She was saved. It was the day of her discharge from her hospital and Shanti was waiting outside with garlands in her hands and tears in her eyes. She fell on her feet and began to thank the Almighty, but Shrishti seemed lost. Having once escaped death, she decided to meet Chhitiz before life’s final separation from her. She immediately booked a ticket for her flight to Delhi. Shrishti left alone. As she went to Chhitiz’s house from the airport by taxi, each and every road she passed reminded her of the days she spent with him. Her car only stopped at a mall where she bought a beautiful sari for his wife and clothes for the children of her imagination. Standing just below her bungalow, Ella Shrishti paused for a moment wondering whether or not she would be able to recognize her and whether or not her wife would like this surprise visit. But, she couldn’t dare to walk away from her destiny. Her heartbeat beat higher and higher with the slowing of her steps to her house. Her hands were shaking as she rang the doorbell.
The door opened and the person standing in front of it was Mr. Chhitiz Bharadwaz, the famous industrialist from Delhi. Fourteen years old he had just bleached a few hairs without affecting much of his handsome personality. He was stunned. They spent ten minutes standing outside looking at each other when Shrishti reminded him to be courteous and call her inside playfully. The forceful smile on his face couldn’t stop the crying. Trying to hide her true emotions, she asked questioningly, “Where is Hrishita? She brought her a beautiful sari. And where are your children? Look at this. Will it fit her?” her gifts in one hand of hers and holding her hand with the other led her inside. Pointing to a lady lying on a bed, he said angrily, “Look, Shrishti! Meet my mother and see her condition.” With tears in his eyes, he left. Her mother understood who she was and hugged her. He couldn’t hold back his tears and, wiping his face, he said, “Dear, that card was printed before I even knew about their relationship. Chhitiz had taken that card to force you to meet me and understand how eager I was to get.” he married as you always used to take their arguments lightly. He is still single and waiting for you, my love! Please help me to die in peace.” Saying this, the old woman began to sob profusely. The earth slipped from her feet and the sky seemed to crumble. The true love between Shrishti and Chhitiz was demonstrated.
Two years passed and Shrishti was seen again sitting on a sofa with the same album in her hands, but now not with memories but with real Chhitiz sitting next to her and a child in the middle and the three of them enjoying the stories of the university life shared and laughing between the two lovers.