The Idea Of Us

By Harsh Gupta

“How often do we fall in love? The idea of being with someone who understands us, who would be there when we need them and most importantly who would support us.

These ideas are what that make stories look like a fairy tale. How often do these stories become true? Probably, one in a million or one in a billion. Real life love is often not as much unearthly as it might sound. This short story narrates a tale of love, the real life one.”

The college days, one of the best days ever in someone’s life, you enjoy, you create memories, meet new people and most importantly fall in love. It was the morning of 19th December, 1999 and just like any other normal winter day the wind was chilly. Sitting on a chair, in his classroom, Jeffery was reading his course books, as the exams were near, he had no choice. He had free time till mid day and he couldn’t think of any other thing to do. Suddenly the door of the classroom banged open and someone entered, “You are here, Jeffery!” it was Bert, Jeffery’s best friend. “I’ve been looking for you”, Bert said. Jeffery and Bert then left for their next class.

Jeffery was worried about his semester exams as he hadn’t learnt anything and was still daydreaming and wasting his time. Bert on the other hand was quiet relaxed and was happy that at least Jeffery was worried about exams. Unlike their response to the exams, Jeffery would often score more than Bert in the exams. As they both were talking the teacher entered the room and started teaching, as usual. Everything was going smoothly until the end of the class.

Just before 5 minutes, the class was about to be over, a sweet voice echoed “May I come in sir?”. Everyone turned around, a girl was standing on the door. Nobody had seen her till then, it was probably the first time she ever showed up. Jeffery took a quick gaze and continued with his work, he wasn’t concerned about who she was until the teacher took her name, “Elizabeth McGregor” the teacher called, “Present sir “ came the response. The new girl was Elizabeth McGregor, and she was also the girl Jeffery had an interest in, although he had never seen her before but he was still very eager to meet her, but because she never showed up, Jeffery gradually forgot about her.

After listening the response Jeffery immediately left his work and started gazing at the beautiful girl that was sitting two seats right of him. Bert noticed this sudden response but he didn’t utter a word. Jeffery was still unable to see her whole face but at least he was able to see her. With this event the usual day of 19th December, 1999 became unusual for Jeffery.

From the next day the Christmas holidays began and thereafter the New Year ones. Jeffery was still worried about his exams as he had still not read anything and with Elizabeth in the picture, concentrating became even harder for him. The day of the examination came and Jeffery got to see Elizabeth for the second time in his life. It was like a pain relief but just like a pain killer, the effect was temporary. The examinations ended, results were announced and Jeffery had scored an above par score, more than Bert.

The next semester began and Jeffery entered in the class, he kept his bag on his chair and was looking for someone, Bert, who was standing right next to him, knew he wasn’t the one but he still poked “Dude! I am here”. Ignoring Bert, Jeffery continued and there she was, ELIZABETH McGREGOR. Jeffery waved at her and she waved back but they didn’t utter a single word. This waving continued for the whole semester. Every day in the morning Jeffery would search for her and wave at her, there were days when she wouldn’t show up but then again Jeffery, who had waited almost a semester to meet this girl wouldn’t mind waiting a day more to see her again.

On 21st April 2000, Jeffery had his first conversation with Elizabeth, since he had nothing much to say to her he started the conversation with the usual “Good Morning!!!”, noticing Jeffery Elizabeth replied “Good morning to you too!!”. Then they both talked a bit about their results and the class began.

This usual gesture of Good morning became special for Jeffery, who wanted to know this girl a bit more. But he was stuck at this gesture for about 2 months now and no new conversations would embark in between them.

But one day Bert’s girlfriend Amy became friends with Elizabeth and Jeffery got a chance to speak to her. They became a group of 4 people who would roam around, have lunch and go back home together. With Amy and Bert in relationship, Jeffery and Elizabeth often had time to talk to each other, gradually they became close friends.

Time past by and this semester also ended. Jeffery, who was already in love with Elizabeth couldn’t wait for next semester to began but what could he have done else. There was no way he could approach her, since she was not a native of the city and had only come there to study. As soon as vacations began, she went back to her home and although Jeffery had a clue from where she was, he couldn’t reach her out of the blue.

Time flew by and the next semester began. In an odd conversation one day Jeffery got to know about the things that Elizabeth likes. While going home that day, Jeffery asked Elizabeth about her birthday, Elizabeth gave a smile and said “It is on 28th July”. Listening to this Jeffery became anxious, as it was 25th July that day. He wanted to surprise her with a party but in such a short notice he could not organize anything such big, so instead of throwing a party he decided to give her a present and the next thing you know it is already 28th July.

On 28th July, as Jeffery entered the classroom he looked around for her and there she was. It was the first time ever she came to college with open hairs and Jeffery couldn’t resist but stare at her. Bert signaled Jeffery to stop by patting at his left thigh. They continued with the class with occasional glances, as the class got finished Jeffery rushed to wish her happy birthday and to give her the present but was interrupted with his classmates. Till the time he reached to Elizabeth it was already too late. Elizabeth had already left the campus. With a shattered heart Jeffery stood in the lobby, with a gift in his hand. As he reached home he didn’t want to talk to anyone except her and that too wasn’t going to happen. On 29th July, knowing that it had already been late to wish her, he still mustered courage and told Amy to stop her after the class. As they four were standing in the class, Jeffery took out something from his bag and gave it to her. She immediately thanked Jeffery and then came the words Jeffery was dying to listen “Wow!! So pretty” with those words the purpose of the pendant was fulfilled. Seeing Jeffery this excited and doing such things for someone, whom he had known for only few months, Amy got a bit suspicious. She later confirmed her suspicion from Bert. Bert tried his level best not to tell anything to Amy but he couldn’t resist for longer than 17 minutes and spit out everything he knew.

After sometime the urge of Jeffery to tell Elizabeth that he “LIKES HER” took over and he wanted to tell her everything that he knew about this liking, but just like any other person Jeffery wanted this sweet relationship of friendship to continue as well. He noticed Elizabeth some more, trying to anticipate how she would react if he ever told her, and after becoming very sure that at least this friendship will continue he decided to tell her everything on 31st December 2000.

On 31st December 2000, it was the last exam of their semester and those four had thought of visiting a fair. As planned by Jeffery everything was going smooth, but Jeffery noticed something. He noticed that Elizabeth was trying not to look at him while he was staring at her. He immediately came to the conclusion that Elizabeth knows exactly how he feels about her. Still as he had planned, he decided to tell her anyways. On their way back it was only Elizabeth and Jeffery. Mustering all the courage that Jeffery had he started speaking and then went on to the main thing “I Like You” he spoke, continuing he said “I always wanted to meet you, like from the beginning of the first semester but you never showed up until the last class. I saw you for the very first time in the last class and I fell in love with you. Then to confirm that whether it is just a crush or I have real feelings for you I waited till I became friends with you and continued to wait till I became sure that our friendship would last even though we could not be in a relationship”. Listening to all this Elizabeth couldn’t help but reply “Listen Jeffery, you are a very nice guy and a good human being but the truth of the moment is that I do not like you romantically and in fact I do not have feelings for anyone right now. Please let us just be friends as I would not like to lose such a beautiful bond that we have”. Jeffery couldn’t help but listen.

As things were clear to him now but he could not bring himself to accept this reality. For three long months he suffered in this state, Elizabeth was not responsible for it, it was just his feelings that got him in such a state where he could not help but be with her and want them to be together, knowing that this won’t happen. Since Jeffery was a nice person and mature enough that he understood that as a person she too has choices and he is not one of them, he decided to tell her some things once again but with a different agenda this time.

On 29th March 2000, Jeffery asked Elizabeth to go with him to a restaurant alone. Nobody knew about it not even Bert and Amy. As soon as they arrived they started chatting “Elizabeth McGregor I am madly in love with you. I LOVE YOU and I know that u don’t love me the way I do. I understand your perspective and would like to tell you that I would love to continue being friends with you. Also I would like to mention that in future whomsoever you choose, please choose someone who is as interested in you as I am or even more, don’t settle for someone who does not deserve you. You are much more worth it than you think.”

With the above lines and some more conversation they end their meeting and Jeffery dropped her and left. After that day they both continued as friends and graduated.

IN REAL LIFE LOVE IS SOMETIMES NOT MEANT TO FIND ITS DESTINATION SOMETIMES IT JUST HAPPENS BECAUSE IT HAS TO. LOVE IS NOT A FAIRY TALE, IT IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN ANYONE COULD EVERY IMAGINE. IT MIGHT HAVE ENDED WITH JEFFERY AND ELIZABETH BEING TOGETHER BUT IT DIDN’T, MAY BE THEY BOTH ENDED TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE OR MAY BE THEY FOUND SOMEONE ELSE AND MAY BE SOMEONE BETTER WHO KNOWS.

“WE WEREN’T TOGETHER BUT THE IDEA OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECT THAN PERFECT ITSELF”

By Harsh Gupta