“I’m not feeling romantic, how can I write a love story?” Gaurav murmured.
He was newly hired as a storyteller in a leading magazine. His job included writing fresh, engaging stories every weekend. “There was nothing complicated in coining a murder mystery and even science fiction. Now that Valentine’s Day is approaching, the Editor wants a good LOVE STORY! The romantic corner of my heart doesn’t seem to beat.” Gaurav was unsure about his updated biological pattern.

Raj finished his glass and smirkingly suggested,” There’s nothing difficult in writing a love story, Gaurav. Listen to romantic songs, watch romantic movies and you’ll get loads of ideas, believe me. And seriously, think of making a girlfriend. You won’t find such tasks complicated.” Raj laughed and kick-started his bike.

Raj was Gaurav’s close office buddy who never failed to give sensible suggestions. Little did he know that Gaurav was once deeply in love with the most beautiful girl in his university.

He met Farah for the first time while casting for a stage play at the university. As the head of the Student dramatics society, he used to plan and execute the plays to be showcased on the institutional stage. Many students would approach him to get an opportunity to be on the stage. Farah was NOT one of them. She had been in the mind of Gaurav since her first day at the university. He was quick to offer her the role of the heroine in the annual play and somehow, Farah couldn’t say no. Gaurav had always admired Farah from afar, but it wasn’t until they started working together on the play that he realized just how much he was drawn to her. As they spent more and more time rehearsing, Gaurav found himself falling deeper in love with Farah. Her beauty and talent were undeniable, but it was her kindness and warmth that truly captivated him.

As the play drew to a close, Gaurav expressed his liking to Farah. She hesitated in accepting Gaurav’s love because he was a Hindu and she was a Muslim. She knew that their families and the society around them would never approve of their love and that they would face countless obstacles and challenges if they chose to be together. Despite this, she could not deny the feelings she had for Gaurav. He was kind, loving, and always treated her with respect. Over time, she realized that their love was too strong to be ignored, and she decided to take a chance on their relationship. She knew that it would not be easy, but she also knew that their love was worth fighting for.

As expected, Gaurav and Farah’s decision to be together was met with resistance from their families, especially from the orthodox members who could not tolerate the idea of inter-faith marriage. They argued that it was against their cultural and religious values and that Gaurav and Farah’s union would bring shame and disgrace to their families. It was the question of Gaurav and Farah’s lives but destiny had something else in store.

Despite the opposition, Gaurav and Farah stood by their love and refused to back down. They tried to reason with their families, explaining that love knows no religion and that they were willing to respect each other’s beliefs and practices. But their families remained firm in their beliefs, and the couple realized that they had no option left to convince them.

Farah had to quit the university without completing her graduation. Her parents didn’t want to tarnish the name of their family by involving in inter-cast marriage. Before leaving, Farah asked Gaurav to promise to forget their love story and marry a good girl of his religion. It was the end of the world for Gaurav. He accepted that as his destiny and couldn’t love any other girl after Farah left.

Five years passed. Gaurav’s heart was pointless after losing the love of his life, Farah. He couldn’t write a word related to the expression of love. As a content writer, he was expected to write on any topic on any given day. On Rose day, Gaurav received a call from an unknown number.

“Hello, Gaurav!” The voice on the other end was familiar, yet he couldn’t quite place it. After a few moments of hesitation, the caller finally gave her introduction as Farah!

Gaurav was shocked to hear from her after all these years. He had spent countless nights thinking about her and wondering what might have been if they had been allowed to be together. Now, she was on the phone with him, and he couldn’t believe his luck.

Farah explained that she had left town after their families had objected to their relationship. She had moved to a different city, where she had started a new life for herself. But, as fate would have it, she had returned to their hometown for a family emergency and decided to reach out to Gaurav.

Gaurav and Farah met later that day, and it was as if no time had passed at all. They talked for hours, catching up on everything that had happened in their lives over the last five years. They laughed and cried together, reliving the memories they had shared.

As the night wore on, Gaurav realized that his love for Farah had never really gone away. He had tried to move on, but his heart had always belonged to her. Farah, too, confessed that she had never stopped loving him.

At that moment, Gaurav knew what he had to do. He took Farah’s hand in his and asked her to marry him, regardless of what anyone else might think. Farah agreed, and they made plans to start their lives together once again.

As a content writer, Gaurav had struggled to find the words to express his feelings about love. But now, he knew that he had finally found the ultimate inspiration – his love for Farah. He would write a love story that would inspire others to follow their hearts, no matter what obstacles they might face.

Gaurav and Farah’s love story had come full circle, and they knew that they were meant to be together. They had defied the odds and proved that love could conquer all.

Today, Gaurav is an established romantic novelist. Interestingly, he runs a side business of relationship help. Heard that his friend, Raj has been the most visited customer for the last couple of years 😉

This story is written for StorytellersBloghop Season 3, hosted by MeenalSonal and Ujjwal Mishra