Anuj Tiwari is the author of the bestselling novel Journey of Two Hearts , a motivational speaker and an IT professional. His books are based on real life incidents that he jotted down over the years. He gives lectures at colleges and universities, and lives in Mumbai.
You can get in touch with him via Facebook at .
Praise for Journey of Two Hearts
Pearls have come down on paper. Amar Ujala
An unforgettable love story. Afternoon
First published by
Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd 2014
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Copyright Anuj Tiwari 2014
eISBN: 9788129133076
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To Pakhis family
and my parents, who gave me the best quality of DNA
because I survived when everything seemed lost.
Loving someone is not tough,
But the real courage is to forget your loved one.
The way we met, we met for a reason.
We loved once, we lived once,
Then we got the reason to live for each otherforever.
H ave you packed everything? Mom asked. I knew she was suppressing tears but wasnt showing them. Mothers are like that.
Yes, I replied.
Keep your medicines, take care of yourself and promise me this wont happen again. She looked at me for an acknowledgment but it was hard to meet her expectations at times. I couldnt make any false promises to her and uttered a non-committal Hmm.
Listen to meIm trying to say something. She pulled me in front of her and looked at me sternly.
Mom, you know that is difficult, at least for me. Just as I said this, dad entered the roomjust the person I didnt want to discuss these things with.
Whats difficult? Youre going away from home; youve just been released from the hospital. Wasnt that more difficultstaying at the hospital for six months to treat depression? Anuj, this is the time to concentrate on your life and its up to you to utilize this opportunity or waste it away, Dad said.
His words hurt me deeply.
Ive lost everything in the last few monthsmy friends, my happiness and my parents trust. Ive caused my family so much pain. But even after all this, will she come back into my life? I thought. I didnt say anything to dad, however, who understood, patted my shoulder and left the room.
She wont come back into your life, you know that. Why are you wasting your life away for her? Mom asked, trying to reason with me.
Mom, I cant promise you that, and you know that very well. Weve discussed it several times now. I zipped up the bag.
The next day I was to leave for Mumbai to start a job with a prominent MNC. I didnt really want to leave home but the time had come for me to take on more responsibilities. I knew that my loneliness was going to make my life hell, though. Suddenly, I couldnt handle my frustration in any longer. I threw my small carry bag in the corner and sat on the bed. Mom understood. She was the one who trusted me most and had high hopes for me. She came and sat next to me.
Anuj, stop it now. Thats enough. I dont want to repeat these things over and over. We both know that Pakhi isnt with youin fact, you dont even know where she is. Weve suffered a lot because of her. Whyre you still pining for someone who never cared about you? Whats happened to you? Dont you love your mother? Dont you care about your family? she cried as she reached out to hug me.
The purest love in the universe is the love of a mother. And that made me more emotional when I recalled that she had been softly crying the previous night when I had woken up to have water. The thought of my leaving was clearly painful for her.
With those unanswered questions, I left early next morning for Mumbai. Though I didnt cry in front of them when she and dad came to drop me off at the railway station, we knew how we all felt for each other. Sometimes we love our family so much that we dont have the courage to express it. I wanted to hug them but couldnt gather the courage as everything was happening for the first time. I broke down on the train, though, and cried till I reached Mumbai the next morning.
There, I searched in vain for at least one person to share my pain with. I forgot how to treat people, how to talk to them and how to make friends. Time changed people, and my life had changed completely.
The video I had made for her was still in that hidden folder, and it still made me cry. I was still alive; I could breathe, I could eat, I could walk and talk, but when I breathed, there was no fragrance in the air; when I ate, I couldnt taste anything; when I walked, my heart wasnt in it. Days and nights seemed endless. All my smiles were temporary, superficial. I cursed my destiny.
Now there were no romantic messages on my phone; only a few songs of her choice remained. I stopped replying to any messages from my friends, stopped picking up calls. I started keeping my cell phone on silent; eventually, I stopped carrying it altogether. After all, there was no one left to call me. For several days, I forgot to wash my clothes, polish my shoes, and comb my hair. I started skipping dinner as I lost my appetite, and if my friends forced me to eat with them, I vomited in the middle of the night. I lost kilos of weight in six months. All I ate were the tablets prescribed to keep my blood pressure normal and cure my depression.
I started looking unhealthy, as well. Soon, people started ignoring menobody liked to sit with me or talk to me. I loved to sleep but now I started hating the night. Every morning, the memory of her made me cry, and that became a part of my life.
I was still on my medication, a patient of depression, and a victim of love. Weeks passed and then...
A t what time are you leaving tomorrow? Vishal asked me in his adenoidal voice, sitting on the bed.
Early morning at 5 oclock, I said as I gulped down my coffee and clicked on the payment button to confirm my flight booking. He rolled his eyes and asked with a sceptical look, And when are you coming back?
Next weeklisten, please receive any letters that come for me. Ive told the security guard too, I said, fiddling with the coffee spoon.
