Although all of us had at least once loved in life but sadly not all love stories have happy endings. Still success and failure is something else but I believe there is no such thing as an incomplete love story. Sooner or later everything reaches its conclusion. With that in mind let me tell you a story about two people who met years ago and fell in love but then sadly a tragedy happened which changed their lives forever. Vipul and Priya were madly in love with one another and he promised her that after the engagement of his brother he will talk about their relationship with his parents. His mother knew about her anyway and they were sure that their families will have no objection on their marriage. Both of them were really happy on Raj’s (Vipul’s brother) engagement but at that time their seemingly perfect world started to crumble. On their way to the engagement Raj's car crashed with a truck and both he and his father died on the spot. Vipul and his mother who were sitting on the backseat suffered fracture and concussion but survived the accident. Vipul was still suffering from the aftermath of that tragedy when few days later his mother stunned him by telling him that his brother impregnated Rashmi. She was also his uncle's daughter. His uncle requested his mother to talk with Vipul as only he could save their dignity by marrying Rashmi. She told him that she will not force him but he should think carefully as many lives were depended on his decision. It was the toughest decision of his life. On one hand was the love of his life, Priya the only girl he ever loved and he already gave her his word that he will marry her. On the other his family pride and the lives of many close to him were at stake. The next day he told Priya about his situation and asked her what he should do? She too was shocked but told him that he should think carefully and do what he thinks is best for everyone. Whatever his decision will be, she will accept it. That night with a heavy heart he agreed to marry Rashmi. A week later they married. He and Priya stopped seeing one another after his marriage. 8 years later they met at a coffee shop on a rainy day. It was a bitter sweet reunion as all the memories of their past came rushing back to them. Still just by seeing each other both of them were happy for the first time in many years. When asked she told him that she never married and he told her that he has only one son. Obviously it was his brother's son but he loved and raised him as if he was his own. He didn't tell her that but she knew. That day for a little while it was as if time stopped around them and nothing mattered anymore. Both of them were so happy but soon they realized that nothing can ever be the way it was before. They got up from the table and started moving towards different directions. Once they stopped and looked back at one another. Both of them were trying their best to control their emotions but the eyes....they never lie. Somehow they managed to turn around and started moving in opposite directions again and this time around they didn't look back.

This is where we left them but sooner or later every journey must reach its destination. The best thing about time is that it never stands still. Good and bad times are both part of life but time doesn't stand still for anyone and keeps on ticking along. For most people we can say the same thing about the way they live their lives. Even after suffering a tragedy or heart break, sooner or later they get over it and move on with their lives. Then there are a few rare one's among us whom lives stand still at a point even though time and everyone else around them keeps on moving along. It's like they forget to live anymore and just eat, sleep and breathe out of necessity. In order to move forward in life you have to let go of the past. 6 more years have passed since they met last time. Vipul was on a business trip to another city. Business wise he did well over the years. Thing about business is that besides a good brain it requires both time and hard work. He worked like a machine over the years forgetting to even keep track of time. Sometimes he wondered if his success was down to his hard work or him spending as much time as possible away from home as a way to escape from reality. "Maybe I should have given her a chance but....how could I?" As always his conscience was making him feel guilty. He concluded the deal earlier in the morning and now was alone in his hotel room with his thoughts. Finally he decided to take some fresh air and got out from his hotel room. Soon he was moving aimlessly around the streets with nothing important to do. He moved into a shopping center as he wanted to buy some presents for his son and mother and there he saw her again. His eyes locked into hers and for a moment he felt his heart missed a beat. Both of them stayed glued to where they were for a while. His eyes started moving around to see if she was with someone? She realized that and came near him

Priya:"Hi Vipul"

Vipul:"Hi Priya and here I was thinking that you only exist in my memories."

Priya:"Good to know that at least I'm still a part of your memories." A sad smile came on his face upon hearing that. Soon they were sitting in a nearby restaurant.

Vipul:"So much to catch up on. Where should I begin with?"

Priya:"Let’s start by telling me how is Rashmi and Mata ji? Oh and how is Akshay? He must have grown up right?"

Vipul:"Yeah he's not a kid anymore, almost as tall as me in fact. Mata ji is fine as well, anyway enough about me. Tell me about your husband and kids? How many you have?" She noticed how he avoided talking about Rashmi but still she didn't press him.

Priya:"I didn't marry Vipul." Hearing that felt as if a brick wall fell on his head.

Vipul:"Why?"

Priya:"Please don't do this and no need to feel sorry for me. I'm happy as I am. Anyway are you alone here or with family?"

Vipul:"Alone..."

Priya:"Yeah I guess Rashmi must be looking after ..."

Vipul:"She's no more."

Priya:"WHAT?"

Vipul:"She died 2 years ago due to cancer. We tried our best to save her but..."

Priya:"I'm so sorry to hear that Vipul." Both of them remained silent for a while and then she said

Priya:"I think we should go now from here. It's started to get crowded. I live nearby. Do you want to come?"

Vipul:"Are you sure that's a good idea? Your parents might not be that pleased to see me."

Priya:"Don't worry about them. I live alone." He paid the bill and after a few minutes’ walk they were inside her apartment. She went to the kitchen to prepare tea and he started looking at the apartment. It was small but she kept it tidy. After a few minutes she came back with tea and they started drinking it.

Vipul:"So you live alone? Don't you get scared to live alone in a big city like this?"

Priya:"No not really. It really hurts answering awkward questions all the time. In a way I don't blame my parents as like any other parents they wanted me to settle down."

Vipul:"They were right too Priya. God knows how bad I'm felling right now. I only wanted the best for everyone but ended up not making anyone happy."

Priya:"Please don't say that Vipul. I choose not to get marry on my own. It's not your fault. You did the right thing and I'm sure you must have made her happy."

Vipul:"I'm not a saint Priya. I forced myself to sacrifice my love but couldn't force myself to love her."

Priya:"You didn't even try?"

Vipul:"Nothing turned out the way I imagined it. At that time I thought that you were young and beautiful. You will find a better man than me but look at you. You wasted your life on a man who didn't even kept the promise he made to you. As for Rashmi, yeah I feel bad for her. I thought giving her a home and a name to her kid will be enough but she too was heartbroken and needed love to overcome her loss. She tried her best to be a good wife but I never gave her a chance. After a while she must have realized that we were married for the outside world but inside the bedroom we were just two strangers living awkwardly with one another, still she never complaint. After a while somehow she knew about us and that only made her guilty. She kept her problems to herself to the point where she didn't even tell me about her sickness. As for me, I was either staying away from home or didn't even care to notice her when I was even at home, when I finally knew it was too late." Tears were in both their eyes. She dried her eyes and held his hand to make him feel better.

Priya:"Don't be so hard on yourself Vipul. You must have tried your best but in the end you're just a man and not a miracle worker. Don't blame yourself for me. Trust me I tried but even trying to forget about you was like killing my love with my own hands and how could I do that? I knew that even if I marry someone, I will never be able to make my husband happy or love him. I didn't want to make someone else miserable because of me. As for Rashmi, even though you didn't loved her she must be happy for Akshay to have a father like you. You love him don't you?"

Vipul:"Yeah that's the only thing that I did right. Maybe I don't give him as much time as I should but I have always loved him more than anything in the world and he knows that too."

Priya:"I knew you were going to be a good father. So in truth you didn't do anything wrong intentionally. Now stop feeling bad and start living your life again." He looked straight in her eyes and said

Vipul:"Why don't you do that first Priya? Stop living in the past and move on with your life."

Priya:"Like I said I'm happy."

Vipul:"Who are you lying to? Me or yourself?"

Priya:"Stop it Vipul please stop. I maybe alone but I'm not lonely. I have accepted my life as it is. Years ago I accepted your decision whole heartedly. Now please don't expect me to do that again."

Vipul:"I'm not forcing you Priya and I know you are not weak.