STORY ABOUT YOU AND ME

The sun dipped low behind the rolling hills, casting a golden hue over the lush green gardens of the two neighboring estates. The soft breeze whispered through the trees, as Rudra and Ishani raced through the sprawling grounds, their laughter filling the air like a melody meant only for the two of them. Rudra, tall and carefree, his unruly hair catching the light of the fading day, glanced over at Ishani. She was not far behind, her grace and agility making her seem like she glided over the earth rather than running. Their bond was undeniable, forged in the innocence of childhood, with every shared secret and stolen moment bringing them closer than words could express. “You’ll never catch me, Rudra!” Ishani teased, her voice light and playful. Rudra smirked, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “We’ll see about that, Ishani.” Their laughter echoed through the gardens, a sound that seemed to belong only to them. It was a time when the world felt simple, when their hearts were unburdened by the weight of expectations. Rudra’s laughter, though carefree, was often tinged with a subtle sadness. There was something in his eyes, a longing for something more than the life that awaited him. A life of obligations. A life where duty would soon replace freedom. “Don’t forget, Ishani,” Rudra said, his voice turning serious for a moment. “One day, you’ll be married to someone else. You won’t have time for this foolishness.” Ishani slowed down, catching her breath, but there was no sadness in her eyes, only a knowing look. “Perhaps, but we will always have these moments, Rudra. No one can take those away from us.” Her words lingered in the air between them, and Rudra felt a pang in his chest. He wanted to protest, to tell her that he would never let her go, that there was no other life but the one they could share. But as the evening light faded, reality began to creep in, as it always did. Ishani’s family, though well-respected in the village, was not of the same status as Rudra’s. She had always known her duty as the daughter of a humble family, and marriage was never a choice—just a matter of who would be the right man to care for her. But Ishani had never felt the weight of that duty until now. A proposal had come from a wealthy suitor—someone who could offer her everything her family had ever wanted. Someone who, on the surface, seemed to offer a life of comfort and stability. Her parents had accepted the proposal without hesitation, and Ishani found herself caught in a whirlwind of tradition, societal expectation, and love she could not ignore. But love for whom? Rudra or the life she was expected to live? Rudra, though his family’s expectations were clear, had always been a reluctant heir. The weight of his inheritance, his responsibilities, all weighed on him like an invisible chain. He resented the thought of becoming a man like his father—stuck in a world that valued wealth and power over freedom and happiness. "Ishani," Rudra said softly, turning to her with a serious gaze. "We cannot escape what the world has planned for us, can we?" Ishani’s heart skipped a beat, her chest tightening with emotion. She wanted to tell him, I’ll choose you, Rudra. Always. But the words got caught in her throat. Reality had a way of silencing the heart’s deepest desires. Before she could respond, the distant sound of Rudra’s family calling for him echoed through the gardens. He looked at her one last time, their gazes locking in a moment of mutual understanding. The words they couldn’t speak hung heavy between them, as they always did. “I’ll be back tomorrow,” Rudra said, his voice barely above a whisper. But Ishani didn’t answer. She merely watched him walk away, her heart sinking with the weight of everything unspoken between them. The garden, once full of laughter and dreams, now seemed silent and empty. Ishani stood alone, the last rays of sunlight disappearing over the horizon. She closed her eyes, silently praying that the future would somehow be kinder, that fate would spare them the pain she already felt creeping into her heart.