Short Story - A Rose in the Book

Sitting on a wooden chair, wearing an old gray check shirt and grey trousers, 82 year old Nayan, opened an old book, pages of which had turned yellow. He quickly browsed through the pages and opened the one, in somewhere middle of the book. He paused for a moment, then picked up an old dried red rose, which had turned brown by now, from the book. Bringing it close to himself, he smiled. He looked outside through the window of his small room, it was snowing on the streets of Istanbul. It took his memories back into the times when he was a teenager.

Young Nayan finished his high school, 12th class, in India, post which his family shifted to Istanbul. He still had time to join the college. New to the Turkish language, he joined a language school for a 6 months long weekly class course.

It was his first class, he reached fifteen minutes before time and grabbed the seat on the second row. One by one students started to enter into the class. Some were his age, some were elder. When it was only 3 minutes to the class, entered a young girl, in yellow top and blue jeans, from the door of the class. From the moment she appeared at the door, Nayan could not remove his eyes from her.

The time became still for him. Her long high tied hair, beautiful big brown eyes and innocent face made an everlasting impression on him. He instantly fell in love with her simplicity and elegance. Nervously walking through the door, the girl took the seat in the first row. Nayan kept looking at her secretly.

In few minutes, the teacher entered the class and soon the round of introduction started.

"My name is Samyra. I am an Indian, living here for past 2 years. I just gave my 10th exams, result awaited." said the girl who stole Nayan's heart. She was the youngest in the class, due to which the teacher called her the doll of the class.

Her name, her sweet smile, her eyes and her innocent face kept crossing Nayan's mind throughout the class and throughout the week. For the entire week, he kept waiting for the next class.

In the next class, he reached early as usual, but didn't grab any seat until Samyra arrived. As soon as she took the seat in the first row, Nayan quickly kept his notebook next to her.

"Hi Samyra, I am Nayan" he initiated a conversation.

"Hello Nayan Bhaiya" she replied. ( Bhaiya in Hindi means big brother)

The Indian culture of paying respect to elders, broke Nayan's heart when the girl he was falling in love with, called him bhaiya. He could not concentrate in the class anymore.

As the days passed, Nayan increased his interaction with Samyra and others in the class. But Samyra was a very reserved girl and kept the interaction very formal. She was more friendly with the girls of the class. Priya, who was 2 years elder to her, had become her good friend.

Nayan increased her interactions with Priya and soon became a good friend of her.

No matter how hard Nayan tried, he could never tell Samyra how he felt about her. And the Bhaiya thing, always haunted him.

Time was quick to fly and soon arrived the last day of the class. Nayan knew it was his last chance which he could not miss. He spoke to Priya and told her how he felt about Samyra. He requested her help.

Priya and Nayan planned to have a farewell party with everyone at the Pizza Hut on the Istiklal street, which was 20 minutes away from their language institute, giving some time to Naya to propose Samyra. Istiklal avenue is a 1.3 kilometer long street which is very famous for it's shops, cafes, galleries, pubs, restaurants and architecture.

Since most of the people in the class were students, they didn't have vehicles. So they formed the groups of three or four to reach by taxi. Samyra, Priya and Nayan became a group, Nayam was the happiest man in town.

All three of them took a taxi and reached at one end of the the Istiklal street. Three of them started to walk towards the pizza hut. When they reached the pizza hut, Nayan called the other groups to check where they reached. With a sad face he told Samyra and Priya that everyone reached the other Pizza hut, which was on the other end of the Istiklal street.

Since the vehicles were not allowed on the Istiklal street, so the only option left with the three of them was to walk the 1.3 km long road to meet their remaining friends. Nayan was happy. He now had atleast 1 more hour to spend with Samyra. On the way he bought a beautiful rose from a florist. Chatting, laughing and eating street food they reached the second pizza hut in one and half hours.

He called the other groups again and was surprised to know that they all had reached the first pizza hut where these three were standing initially. Priya and Samyra started to laugh on hearing this. It was a funny situation. Holding the red rose in his hands, Nayan laughed, after all, his plan of creating the confusion with everyone was working and he was getting a good time to spend with Samyra.

The three of them started to walk again, towards the first pizza hut. This time Nayan wasn't so lucky. Samyra advised to take the tram.

They reached the first pizza hut in 15 minutes now. But Nayam was smart enough to sit between Priya and Samyra in the Tram.

When they reached the first pizza hut, no-one was there. With his eyes looking at the ground, Nayan walked towards Samyra, then looking in her eyes he said "I lied"

Samyra looked at him clueless.

"Everyone has left. I wanted to spend more time with you, so I created this confusion. I am sorry" he said.

Samyra was still clueless of what was coming next.

He raised his hand towards Samyra to give her the red rose. "I Love You" he said

Shocked Samyra's heartbeat raised. She got very nervous and started to sweat. She didn't have courage to look him back into his eyes. She was shy, but not happy. She felt ditched. Taking the rose from him, she threw it on the ground. "Stay away from me. I am too young" saying these last words to him, She left

Nayan didn't have her contact number, didn't know where she lived and he was never to see his first love ever again. He picked the rose with a heavy heart and kept it in his book.

Today, 82 year old Nayan, was holding the same rose. He looked towards his left where his wife was sleeping on the bed, with various medical instruments attached. She was very ill and was fighting for her life. He touched her. She opened her eyes.

"You left me 60 years ago. But I didn't leave you. Because I loved you.  Now you are planning to leave your Life. But it will not leave you. Nothing will happen to you. Because I still love you. And This rose is a proof of it." said Nayan.

Door of the hospital ward knocked. The doctor came in "No need to worry Mr. Nayan, reports are normal now, your wife is out of danger"

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