The Puzzle

This story is dramatized version of a real life case as narrated to me by a close friend. So there is a slight chance that you may at various instances find it realistic or may be related to someone you know. To start with, it is important to note that the names certainly are fictitious but various situations and scenarios are taken as is from the Narration of the case.
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Naman was a unknown someone in his office and one of the least wanted for his arrogance and hardheadedness.  He hardly used to mix up with his colleagues and never used to entertain jokes when at work.  He was not known as a social person in his organization.  In short Mr. No One. And to add to it, there was no one in his organization who could have broken down his defenses that were so strong for the reason of his self conviction and self reliance.  Though this was just 2nd year for him in the organization which apparently was his first job, he has become notoriously infamous.

Then, there came the twist when she joined the organization.  She was a lively and jovial person.  She reflected her confidence and her personal skills around and had an aura that she used to carry around herself.  Within few days of her joining, she was warned about Naman and she was told that the person is certainly not the one with whom anyone would like to associate.

She was astonished to find someone who looked interesting, but was hardly seen smiling and hardly used to interact with people other than as required by the profession.  Being herself, she thought of introducing herself to him and one fine day she walks to his desk and says "Hi I am Ashwini and I have joined this organization just last month". Naman looks at her and the hardness of his face softens a bit.  To the surprise of Ashwini and the others around, he softly replies "Hi, I am Naman and nice meeting you. Please tell me how can I help you?" Ashwini was just amazed at the politeness in the tone and the overall voice.  Naman's voice had just amazed her. She somehow gains back her conscious self, gathers herself and says - "I just wanted to introduce myself and know everyone, so though will speak to you also. Do you think it would be a good step to move to cafeteria and talk?" As she completed her statement, she was shocked and tried to cover her stance when she heard Naman saying - "Well not a bad idea, I was too thinking of moving to cafeteria for a Coffee. Its better to have a company."  That initial discussion and then their time together in cafeteria broke the ice for Ashwini and she saw a different person than what she was told about Naman.

Naman and Ashwini became good friends, though used to avoid frequent discussions in the office, they started spending time with each other outside the work. Naman almost became habituated to talk to Aswini almost on a daily basis and used to be restless when he would not get a chance to speak to Ashwini.  Their Friendship flourished in the time they spent together.  Then one fine day Naman dared and proposed to Ashwini.  He directly told her - "Ashwini, I know of my image in the organization and I know that people don't like to associate with me.  But, you have known the better of me and I would not be shy to accept that I love you and I would like to marry you.  Do you think you would like to be my wife and be with me for the rest of the life?" Ashwini was startled and replied - "Give me some time to think and reply." Naman didn't object to that and waited for her to revert back on the proposal.

But Ashwini was not to revert back. She was dwindling on whether to accept or not. She knew him as a person, but she also knew his past that had made him a stone.  She had seen his heart melting for her, but she also had experienced it turning back to a stone when his past haunted on him. She was unsure. Naman on his side, stayed calm and waited endlessly for her to answer.

Then one fine day, for some reason they had a misunderstanding that cause some communication gap between them for few days.  When they resumed their communication, Ashwini was a bit changed and so was Naman.  Though Naman still loved her, he was now behaving indifferent.  Time passed by and one fine day Ashwini told her that she met this guy who has proposed her.  Naman was shattered but told her - :It's fine, any guy would love her to be his girlfriend or wife.  It is more important to note what do you think about him?" Ashwini replied - "I am not sure, but he is nice and sober guy."  Naman said - "Just know him better and if you think that you like him, do as you wish, after all its your life." Ashwini looked in his eyes thinking there would be pain, but Naman had been the master of disguise and she could not find that pain in his eyes. Again time passed and one day Ashwini was all sad.  When Naman asked her for the reason, She replied - "He has been too annoying off late and I don't seem to trust him as much as I do trust you. I don't know but I guess I love him. I am not sure where is it going to end."  Naman just hugs her and tell her not to worry, and if that guy loves her, things would be fine soon.  Ashwini feels the warmth of love in Naman's hug, but the expression in Naman's eyes and face were more of concern than passion.

As time passes by, one day Ashwini tell Naman that she is calling a quit with the other guy and she wants to get married to someone who would understand her and who would be caring for her through her life.  Naman nodes his head and asks her - "Do you remember I had once asked you to be my wife.  I still love you and still want to marry you. Do you think you would accept my proposal?" Ashwini looks in his eyes, sees the Love and Compassion, but reverts back "No Naman, You are a very good person and a very Good Friend, but I could not have those feelings of Love for you. I know you would be a good husband, but I don't think I would marry you."  Naman with his shocked state of mind looks at her and lowers his eyes. He looks wayward and he steps aside.  She looks at him to say something but he tells her to leave him alone.  Ashwini just walks out from there.

Naman was so shattered with the answer he got from Ashwini that he decides to go away from her. He decides to leave his job and the city to move to some far of place where he wouldn't see her and he wouldn't have to feel for her.  He does that and with time, his feelings were nursed.  He was once again the same old stone faced guy until one fine day he sees Ashwini walking towards him in the parking lot of his office building.  She walks to him and hugs him while breaking to tears.  His heart again give way when he asks her - "What Happened, would you tell me?" She replies - "I am sorry to have been so rude to you and decline your proposal outright.  I am sorry to have hurt you so bad, but I realized that you love me from your soul and I would be really happy with you.  I realized that the happiness and the love that you can give me, no one else can give me.  But tell me, How do I deal with the situation of your past? How do I tell my parents that I want to marry a guy who was sentenced for 1 months Jail Term? How do I tell them that though you were framed, but still you spent 1 month in jail and that you were not the real convict. How do I tell them that You were framed because the Girl's influential father didn't like your middle income group image?"

Naman looks at her and tells her - "If that's the case, why do you think you are standing next to me? Why are you here when I had already decided to leave you with your life? Why are you with me here when I had decided to quit your life and be away from your forever?"

Ashwini replies - "Because I love you, damn it because I love you and because I realized that I can't think of life without you."

Naman tells her - "Then please decide how would you take it to your parents and how would you convince them.  I am a no one and I would not like to get into a situation where I tell you how to deal with the situation. But it is true that I loved you and I still love you.  I would love you for my life, but I would not like to tell you how you should be coming to me to live the life with me.  It is entirely your decision and it has to be driven by you.  So you decide and you resolve the issue."

They move from there and Naman drops her to her hotel. Ashwini flies back to her city the next day and after a month or so calls Naman to tell him - "Naman, he is back in my life, I am not sure what to do. I am so confused.  I had already discussed about him with my parents and now when I was almost at the verge to talk to them about you, he came back in my life.  He met my parents and they have also liked him.  Tell me What should I do?  I am so confused to have you on one side and him on the other.  Please tell me." As she finishes her statement, she hear a loud thud from the phone and though she repeatedly shouts for Naman, there is no reply from the other side.  In despair she hangs the phone and thinks may be Naman would call. But after few days she receives an email with Naman's photograph on the bed and medical intruments around him.  She scrolls below the photograph to read - "When you spoke to him last, it was the last time that Naman was in his consciousness.  It seems that you told him something that made him numb and he fell on his back hurting his spine that has paralyzed his movements. Doctors are doing their best to get him back up. But for now he is on life support."  Ashwini just reads through the rest of the mail as tears roll down her eyes.
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As of Date, Naman is still not back on his feet, but is able to move his hands. He runs a home business and is nursed regularly by his wife Namita.  Though Ashwini tried to come back to him, but he denied telling her - "First you give me a blow that almost took my life away from me and then are you trying to show your sympathy for me by marrying me? Please, Though I loved you and my love for you would be there somewhere in some corner of my heart, but I would not let it have the nourishment of your sympathy. Thanks, it was good knowing you!!"

Ashwini is still unmarried and is working with an NGO helping them to take care of the patients who suffer from trauma and anxiety.  May be this is her way of trying to cover up for her mistakes in life.