The Story
“Every love story has two sides. One is my side, and the other belongs to her. I do not know her side of the story, but I can tell you mine.”
The greatest lesson my life has taught me is this: Never trust someone more than once. When I gave someone a second chance to be in my life, they simply used it as an opportunity to abandon me all over again.
When we are in love and the other person chooses to leave, we must learn not to chase them. There is always a reason behind their departure—perhaps they can no longer love us as they once did, or perhaps someone else has entered their life. Sometimes, the fault might even be ours. But as they walk away, the only thing worth asking is, “Why?”
Love is not something to be seized or demanded. In movies and stories, we often see heroes chasing after someone to win their affection. In reality, love doesn’t work that way. You can never force a person to love you. Love extracted through pressure or fear is not love at all. Some people think that even if you force-feed someone a sweet, it will still taste sweet. But they are wrong. Even nectar becomes poison when forced; excess sweetness eventually turns into bitterness.
The Chapter of First Love
My journey began at the bus stop near my house. In those days, buses were rare in the mornings, and seeing a crowded bus speed past without stopping was a common sight. Since I had a travel pass, I would wait patiently for the next one. One day, I noticed a new girl at the stop.
She was a student at the Women’s College, a couple of years younger than me. She had a graceful height, a slender frame, and long hair often adorned with a sprig of Tulsi. With a sandalwood mark on her forehead and a smile that seemed to echo the melody of a bird, she was a vision. On some days, she would wear a traditional Pattu Pavada with jasmine flowers in her hair. Every boy at that bus stop was captivated by her, and I was no exception.
The way we finally connected felt like destiny. A book of mine, which I had lent to a friend, somehow traveled through various hands until it reached hers. One afternoon, as I was walking home from the bus stop, I heard a voice call my name. I was stunned—how did she know who I was? She explained she had my book. In that moment, it felt as if a thousand lotus petals were blooming in my heart.
We began to talk, and months turned into years. Eventually, the fear of losing her to someone else gave me the courage to propose. I remember my throat going dry as I told her, “I love you. I’ve wanted to say this for a long time.” She didn’t say a word; she simply looked down and smiled. That smile was my answer. My first love had begun.
The Pain of the Unexplained
Our relationship lasted two years, filled with the simple joys of talking over landline phones and stolen glances. But then, out of nowhere, she called me and said, “We should end this. I am not interested in continuing this relationship.” I thought she was joking, but she wasn’t. There was no explanation, no reason. Just a dial tone. I cried until I couldn’t breathe, wondering what had gone wrong.
The Second Chapter: A Lesson Learned
I decided I would never love again. The fear of a broken heart was too great. But a year and a half later, I saw her again at a bus station. My heart began to race. Despite my efforts to look away, she found me. She asked if I remembered her. How could I ever forget?
When I asked her why she had left me, she said, “I never said I didn’t love you. I only said I didn’t want the relationship.” She claimed she still loved me and couldn’t bear to deceive herself or me anymore. Hearing that she still loved me made me forget all the pain I had endured. I took her back. I bought a Nokia keypad phone just to stay in touch with her.
But this time, the happiness was shadowed by anxiety. I was constantly afraid she would leave again. When I shared this fear with her, she would ask, “Don’t you trust me?”
A year passed, and my fears came true. She met me in person and repeated the same words: “I am not interested in moving forward with this.” I didn’t ask for reasons this time. I realized that if someone wants to leave, no amount of love will make them stay. With tears in my eyes, I said a final goodbye.
Years have passed since then. She is married now. I still don’t know the true reason why she left twice, but I have learned a vital truth: Self-respect is more important than a forced connection. If someone leaves you, let them go. Your heart deserves someone who chooses to stay.