#TheUnrequitedLove

Clad in a Yelllow Punjabi Suit
And a Green Dupatta
She was climbing the steps
Of E&TC (Electronics and Telecommunication) building.
We were standing outside the
HOD's room, when she just
Walked past us and marched
Straight to the HOD, as if
We were invisible to her.
She had Curly hair, Fair skin
And possessed such Innocent looks
Appeared untouched by the outsideWorld.

Still that sight appears fresh in my mind.
This was for the first time, I saw her.
We were in the Second year of B.Tech
And as she walked out with
The Letter from the HOD, I realised
She was our Classmate.
Couldn't get my eyes off her
Where was she all these days.
Never did see her, even for the
Fresher's Prom Night.
She was not the one,
One can forget, if come across.

Wanted to know her.
Couldn't remove my gaze from her.
Always made attempts to sit close to her.
And this continued for the next 3 years.

In the Second year itself
I, once invited her for our Community meet and to my surprise, she even came
I tried to start a conversation with her
We spoke, but she always carried
An aura that, one couldn't get
Very close to her
She was Simple, She was Innocent.

In the Third year,
We were supposed to do a Project.
I had spent hours in the Library
Preparing for mine.
It was the day of registration of our Projects, when I realised, even she has been working on the same.
I willingly gave up my Project and
Requested our guide for extra time
To prepare on a New Topic.
My concern was to pass
All the Information, I collected to her.
Couldn't even be direct.

Most of the Final year went doing Project and We even went outstation
On a Field Trip
Thought will make my move,
But there was something,
Which never allowed me
To express my feelings.
Always, had a fear of losing
Whatever little, we could develop.

Soon, I moved to a different Nation
She too moved to a different place.

More than a decade later,
We met in a Social media platform.
She had put some extra pounds,
But other than that, she appeared the same.
Her Innocent Smile still captivating,
As was on the first day, I saw her.

It was Festival of Colours and I visited my hometown.
We were in chatting terms by now.
Wished her, for Holi and she reciprocated too.
I wanted to see her for real
So proposed for a Dinner Date.
Was ready to take a flight to her
Only for a date, only if she agreed to.
And, she simply refused, saying
"I don't go out on Dates."
I still wonder, is she for Real.
Refusing even a Date in this age.

But, that showed, she didn't change a bit.
That's how my Love is.
Uneffected, Unaltered by the passing Time
And the World around.

My feelings for her, never did change.
Still I long for her, but her thought is
Always comforting.
Even, after years of not seeing,
Don't feel distant.
Whenever working on a New Project
Remember her, her Innocent Smile.
That look in her eyes....
Everything appears as fresh as ever.

Unrequited Love does not die; it's only beaten down to a Secret place, where it hides, curled up.
The wait is long, but I still dream Of meeting her Someday, Somewhere,...

#WritcoPoem#Theunrequitedlove#Innocent#Unconditional#Unaltered#Uneffected#Timeless#Hope#Sacrifice


© Monisha Pathak