I have been
visiting this rehabilitation centre for suicidal teenagers for the past 20
years, counseling them and giving them advice. What surprises me the most is
that majority of the cases want to commit suicide because of a distorted love
life. It is astonishing to see how easily these youngsters take life, trying to
put an end to it merely because of a simple break-up or a fight. My duty is to
make them value their lives. For doing so, I tell them a story….a story about a
young girl of 16.
“Aisha
Sharma was probably the happiest girl on her sixteenth birthday. She had it all
– a loving family, wonderful peers and her first boyfriend. It was all magical.
10th
October was the day when she met him for the first time through a mutual friend.
“Hei, can I have
your e-mail ID?” he asked
“Yah, sure!”
she replied.
And thus,
they got in touch. After a month of chatting, mobile numbers were exchanged and
their bond grew stronger.
That fine
sunny day, 12th of December, 14 days before her 16th
birthday, as she remembered, he called her to the canteen area. She went there
with a thought of confessing him her feelings. Yes! She had fallen in love with
him. But before she could open her mouth, it was he who was kneeling down to
her, saying those three words – I LOVE YOU. She blushed. It was like a
fairytale. She got her Prince Charming.
Days passed
by and so did the months. She was happy, jealous, sad and jealous again –
through the different stages of any relationship. Sometimes, she’d suspect –
What an intelligent guy! He could have got anyone. Why me? Is he double dating
or something?” But the thought would be put out soon enough by his caring
words.
A major
turning point arrived when she turned 18, and they had gone to different states
for college. But, like they say in the movies, when love is true, no barriers
are enough to separate the lovers. And so they went on.
Soon the
time arrived when they were getting married. She was 28 – a successful
psychologist, while he was the CEO of a big company that made parts for
vehicles. It was the wedding of the decade, or so their parents thought.
On their
engagement day, just before the rings were to be exchanged, Aisha crept up to
her soon to-be-husband’s room to call him down. Excited as she was, she entered
the room without a knock and found the room empty, with his e-mail account
open.
“No Aisha,
it’s bad to check someone’s e-mail.” She thought.
But curiosity
forced her to do what changed her life in the next few moments. She checked his
inbox and found out that he had been dating three other girls at the same time;
and there was this girl who was with him for the past four years.
“I’m getting
married to her because she is too simple – just perfect for a wife. But she
doesn’t have anything compared to you. You are way hotter.” One of the e-mails
read.
“DON’T READ
THAT” shouted the man coming out of the toilet, but it was too late. The damage
was done and the marriage was called off.
She was
deeply heartbroken, but eventually after two years, she recovered.
I end my
story to the pretty 14-year old girl sitting in front of me.
“Did she
commit suicide? Is she still alive?” she asks, awestruck.
“She rather
chose to focus on her career, and yes, she is very much alive”
“Did she
find someone else? Would I find someone else?” she asks again.
“She isn’t
married, not because she couldn’t get anyone, but because she didn’t look for
anyone. She is happy leading her life alone.
You are
still young. You’ll surely get someone else. Many more, in fact.” I beamed at
her.
Then the
young girl’s eyes fall on my name plate tied near my collar. ‘Dr. Sharma’ it
reads.
“Sharma? Is
Aisha Sharma your daughter? Do you know her?” she asks, her mind flooded with
curiosity.
“We know
each other well.” I reply, somewhat sarcastically.
After the
session is over, she leaves, content with herself and a new hope to live and be
successful in life.
I have cured
so many young girls and boys. It gives me a sense of satisfaction. My only wish
is to cure myself one day.
So many
things have changed since 2012. It’s been 34 years to be exact. But love seems
to be more stubborn for it doesn’t change that easily.
Oh yeah! I
forgot to introduce myself to you all – I am Aisha Sharma, 50 years old. I am a psychologist
and I am still single.
