Closed Door !

The roses dropped from his hand just as a tear formed in his eye. His heart seemed to contract as he looked into space, lost for thoughts even.

Seven years they had been together. Tina and Rohit. The eternally romantic couple, everyone used to teased them. Rohit a manager in a leading retail company and Tina, an IT professional. Two gorgeous, successful people who totally rocked each other's worlds.

For the first 4 years they had been Really happy and then deciding that marriage wasn't yet in the cards, moved in together. One day, a photographer passing by, took pictures of them together in Liberty State Park. A few days later, the same guy called asking if Tina would be interested in modelling for a magazine ad. When the ad came out a month later, overnight their life changed. Initially they were so excited, specially Tina who always harbored a secret dream of fame and fortune. The camera, the modelling for pictures brought a thrill she'd only dreamt of experiencing. A few months later, she was offered an outdoor shoot for a tv commercial. Then on, things changed rapidly. She was coveted by leading brands and fashion designers and the outings got more frequent. Soon, they hardly saw each other. Spats over missing out on time with each other turned into heated discussions about handling fame and being jealous of her fortune. And then the fights started. Never ending, illogical, hurtful screaming matches.

Three months ago, he decided to mend everything and invite her to a candle light dinner on a cruise. Being very careful, he planned everything to her liking, making sure she would be able to make it. Thinking, maybe if they were married their differences would resolve somehow. Little did he know, when he was picking out a saphire engagement ring, that it was just wishful thinking. When she came, dressed modestly in a sari just the way he used to Love seeing her, she had sparkles in her eyes. The sparkles not from being with him, but from getting a chance at Milan. Her animated conversation about the designer, dresses, places she would visit made him feel like she was miles away from him. And when he saw her off at the airport, he felt a tug at his heart to stop her but knew in his mind that there was so way he would be able to.

The calls over the weeks became more and more infrequent and distant. He put it off to her being pre occupied. After all, she'd always been his " Teen Baby ". The same girl who he'd fallen in love with at first sight. The same girl who'd surprised him with so many gestures of romance; cherished memories. She'd come back, and hug him tight and everything would be fine. He hated coming back to the empty apartment day after day and filled the void with friends, and movies with the constant thought " This too shall pass " . There'd be a new tomorrow waiting for them.

Surprisingly, he'd gotten up this morning with a jerk. A need to meet her, see her, be with her coursed through him. With the thought of waking up, had come the thought that maybe he should just fly down to be with her. What the heck ! He had leave stored up for their wedding, but Maybe, just Maybe they could elope in Paris. Now that would be a fairytale beginning. Yes !!!
He got dressed, had breakfast and called in at his office to let them know he'd be working from home today. After the morning issues got done with, he checked his schedule and decided, he could leave the next week. He was booking his ticket online when the door bell rang.

He opened the door to be greeted by a bouquet of yellow and white roses. His heart jumped with joy knowing this was Her. It was a Sign !! They would be together forever. He was on the right path with his plans. He took the bouquet from the delivery man. Tearing open the letter he hastened to read what his Teen Baby had written.

It was as he'd suspected, many of the nights sitting alone looking out at the city. She'd met someone she Thought she loved and it wasn't fair on Him for her to be having thoughts for someone else when she knew he was waiting for her back home. She'd been thinking about this for a long time now but she just couldn't come to a decision and even her indecisiveness made her feel guilty. So it was probably better they went their seperate ways. She was sorry that it had to end like this but she didn't have the courage to face him. Someone would come by for her things later. The roses were to tell him a part of her would love him always. He deserved more than what she could give him at this time.

As he read the letter, his whole being seemed to be falling into an endless ravine. He fell to the ground, his head bowed. He sat that way till the sky started turning dark, just like his heart.

It was a long time before he stood back up, deciding it was necessary to close the door, for now. It would be a long time before he'd come out again.