Love - The Antidote

By Murali

Love, the most beautiful language spoken by the true souls. When true two souls come together, they start speaking Love. Every other soul colludes with every force of nature ever existed in universe and they make Love blossom in true souls. My soul speaks Love whenever I’m with Chinmay.

My name is Aravind and I’m a writer. Chinmay, love of my life, works as a librarian in Anna Centenary Library, Chennai. When I first met Chinmay, every soul in nature murmured “She is the one” and for a moment everything fell silent. I gazed deeply into the most bewitching blue eyes. I felt like I’m in the presence of an angel. Things started developing between us, we moved from friends to lovers.

We were in relationship for two years and I decided to propose her on our anniversary. The day was sunny, pleasant and as usual I started my day by drinking coffee from my favorite cafe. I was on my way to jewelry shop to pick up the ring. I asked the jeweler to design a ring crafted with our first letters. The ring was so exquisite that for a moment it felt like I’m with her.

I’m on my way to library and suddenly the world around me started revolving, everything and everyone started crashing. I’m levitating and swiftly everything became dark. I woke up only to realize that I had been kidnapped and tied to a chair. I’m still dizzy and everything is blur. I heard a voice. At first, I paid no heed. But the voice became increasingly strident. It was a familiar tone but I hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Madhav?”, I said with a tone of hesitation and fear. Madhav loathes me more than anyone in the world. I was to be blamed for his hatred. Madhav used to be my best friend and he had a sister, Ankita. Ankita was a smart, delightful person. Out of the Blue she proposed me one day. I rejected her and she couldn’t take it. She committed suicide and Madhav blames me for that. I still remember the last words he spoke to me,” One day I’ll take away the most important thing in your life right in front of you and you can’t even stop me.”

I opened my eyes widely and I saw Madhav holding a gun point-blank to Chinmay. I begged him to leave her out of this. Swiftly my voice started fading away and blood is coming out of my eyes and nose, but all I can think of was Chinmay. The Madhav told me he added poison in my coffee earlier on that day and I’m left with few more hours of life on earth. He gave me a choice, “You have two glasses in front you on with antidote and other with poison. You choose Antidote, you live, she dies and if you choose poison she lives.” I choose her. I can still listen the voice of Chinmay – “Aravind! Aravind!” – and everything became silent.

I opened my eyes but the dazzling light made me close them again. This time when I opened them slowly. I’m in a hospital with Chinmay sitting right by side, holding my hand. She was terrified but after seeing me awake her face was filled with glittering with happiness. I don’t know why Madhav let me live but I hoped one day he would forgive me.

Few months later, we got married. I received a letter from Madhav as a gift. He mentioned that Chinmay reminded him of his sister and the love I had for her made him forgive me. I smiled and hoped to see him again one day.

By Murali