What use love?

Sparks flew the first time Aviral laid his eyes on Avantika. They were just 16. The moment he saw her, he knew they were made for each other. They were going to be the perfect couple, he thought. They were going to spend the rest of their lives with each other, he imagined. They will fight with the world to be together always, he concluded. Yes, it was love at first sight for the both of them.
As it happened, there was initial reluctance on their part for quite some time. Both were shy to start a conversation. She hoped she could just bump into him and talk at least a few words of “sorry” or “excuse me”. He dreamt that she would come up to him one day and ask for a pen or a pencil or a paper or a screw or a nail or anything, no matter what. (he could bring for her stars from the sky). But both sides were wary. Then one fine day finally, Aviral mustered the courage to walk up to Avantika and talk. Her happiness knew no boundaries. She could almost faint. She was standing in a group with her friends when he strikes a conversation, (or at least tries). But Avantika is lost in her own world. She was dumbstruck. Words failed her. She kept on staring at Aviral. She kept on gaping. Not a word from her. She kept her gaze fixed on Aviral when he was talking to her other friends. He is so perfect, she thought. He is the one for me. He is my Prince charming. He is the king of my heart. I am in love with him. She was lost in her thoughts when, “ Avantika, what do you have to say about it?” asked Aviral. She had no clue what he was asking. She just gave him a smile, later on thought it was dumb. THIS was their first “conversation”.
Liking was from both the sides. Maybe it was only infatuation. But gradually they started talking to each other more comfortably. Over a period of time, to the envy of many, they became the best of buddies in school. He was year senior to her. For some time, Avantika had forgotten about the “love” element (or maybe she just wanted to). Aviral had not. For her, he was the perfect friend (or so she tried to believe). For him, she was the perfect soul mate.
Then came the day. He proposed “Avantika, I love you. Will you be mine?”. She took a long pause. Then said ‘ Aviral, its going to be almost a year since we have been liking each other. Over the years, this liking has only grown. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. I knew the same was true for you too. I could not abstain myself from talking to you. Hence we became very good friends. Today, you are someone who knows me inside out, even better than I know myself. But there’s a problem. ……. I cannot say yes to your proposal. No matter how much I hate to say this but the truth is that if I say yes to you and my parents discover, you will be a dead man. And probably, I ,a dead woman. I cant risk it all because I love you too. My parents will never be able to digest the fact that their daughter can have a boyfriend. They are too orthodox. For them, love does not exist. And I have accepted it as my fate not to love anybody. But trust me….i have betrayed my own faith. I did fall in love with you no matter how much I tried not to. It was beyond me. And today when I have to say all this to you, I hate myself. I know I have hurt you. I know I am a traitor. But I just hope you understand. I love you Aviral. I always will. But this is our destiny. The sooner we accept it , the better it is.”
Aviral had tears in his eyes. All he said was “Avantika, I love you and I will always wait for you”
Since that day, they didn’t see any more of each other. A friendship had died. A love had passed into oblivion.

Ok now you might be thinking from where I gathered the idea of narrating a random story to you. The idea is this: Avantika is a very good friend of mine. And I have seen her through this trauma of loveless love. I have seen her crying day and night for Aviral. I know she loves him endlessly but will never see him again. She chooses not to. If she does, the consequences are all known to her. And Aviral too loves him dearly….still. It has been almost 2 years. Aviral hasn’t dated any other girl. He will not. I know. For, his love is so pure. He is waiting , waiting in anticipation. But she will not come. Perhaps he knows it too, in his hearts of hearts.
Oh what a love!
I think this is the most beautiful form of love ever created by God.
Both have it in them, just that they cant give it to the other.
Hoping they could reunite one day, if not in this birth, maybe in some other. I know they will. For love never dies. It will manifest itself in some other form.
Till then, Avi and Avatika, ….. keep loving!

P.S. I think there is a huge sacrifice made by these two humans. But what use this sacrifice, if the fruit will not be sweet. I fail to understand why parents fail to understand love. I fail to understand this hatred towards love marriages in our society. I fail to see why this trend of arranged “forced” marriages in our society. Why should Avantika be bereft of love, this I don’t understand. Why Aviral should keep waiting indefinitely, I again don’t understand. Perhaps I never will. What pathos of love! a