Hope for the Next

You must be thinking what this “Hope for the Next” title would be like. It is another fiction created by Manasi.

This is a story of a small town boy named Mahender. He studies in a school and like every other teenager he has a crush on this girl in his class. But Mahender could never voice it out to let her know about his feelings. The only person who knows about his crush is his classmate and close buddy Satya. Mahender tried many-a-times to convey his feelings to the girl but remained unsuccessful every time.

It was a Monday and Mahender decides to convey his feelings to the girl. He rehearsed a lot on Sunday and gained some courage to perform the act. He reached school and could not suppress his excitement and shared his plan to Satya. Both talked and decided on the time and place. But destiny has decided something different for him. Instead of Mahender going to the girl to propose her, the girl reached out to him with a letter and said “Can you please hand it over to Satya? I’m giving it to you as you are his closest friend.” Mahender did not know what to react. He stood there still and heartbroken!! Maybe something else is written in his destiny – HOPE FOR THE NEXT.

Mahender is in college. He is in the final year of his MBA. During his course, he met Shobha, from another stream in his college and they like each other. Their relationship is going smooth and they have done all their future planning like every other couple. In the meanwhile, both Shobha and Mahender have got good job offers during the campus selection. Both of them are happy about it and planned that they are going to settle down in a couple of years.

But destiny has decided something else for Mahender. When he spoke about Shobha to his mom, she upfront rejected his choice citing the reason Shobha belonging to a different community than theirs. Mahender felt heartbroken but he did not stop trying to make his mom agree. Everything went in vain and Mahender had to end up his relationship with Shobha. His relationship of 2 years got ended abruptly. Mahender felt heartbroken and decided to leave the city in order to get rid of Shobha’s memories.

Mahender reached a new city taking transfer in his job. He finds a 1 BHK home for him to stay in a society, which fits his budget. He does not have anything else in his life apart from his office and home. He lives a simple life. He rejected taking the office car and commutes on his own in his motorbike. This continues until he meets Shivani, a beautiful girl staying in the same society. Mahender’s heart falls for Shivani and he starts liking her. He changes his lifestyle. He starts using the office car, dresses more elegantly to impress Shivani and grab her attention. He wants to talk to her but cannot make the move.

When Mahender could not do anything about making the move to talk to Shivani, he starts feeling depressed. One morning Mahender is cleaning his home in his towel and a sleeveless t-shirt. And the doorbell rings. He opens the door and to his surprise, it is Shivani standing at the door. He stands still for few seconds seeing her at his door. Shivani asked for his permission to come in. He could not understand what to say. He invited her in. Mahender never expected Shivani to see him like this. What a fate. Shivani asked Mahender if he can receive a courier on her behalf that should arrive that afternoon and she will pick it up from him in the evening. Since Mahender is not going to the office today, he confirms to receive the courier.

Mahender ensured the house looks neat & clean before evening as Shivani is going to come home to pick up the courier. He is waiting for her. The doorbell rings and he is very excited to open the door. But the story on the other side of the door is different. It is Shivani’s mom who has come to take the courier. Mahender felt heartbroken once again. However, he asked Shivani’s mom to step in and handed over the courier. Shivani’s mom speaks to him for some time and invited him for dinner next day as it is Shivani’s birthday. Mahender is in could nine hearing this and gladly accepted the invitation.

Mahender reached Shivani’s house at the said time. He is dressed up elegantly and carrying a gift along with a bouquet of lovely flowers. He rings the doorbell. He has made up his mind to talk directly to Shivani’s parents about his desire to marry Shivani. Shivani’s mom opens the door and asks Mahender to come in. It is not a very busy party. Few people, mostly relatives, are at home. He sees Shivani standing on the balcony with another guy by her side. He goes to the balcony. Shivani greeted Mahender and introduced him to Mohan – her fiancé. Mahender is completely shattered for the third time in a row.

Mahender comes back home after facing a highly unexpected situation. He never expected that something of this sort would ever happen. He feels so disheartened and decided to leave the city. Next morning he goes to the office and visits his boss’s cabin with his resignation letter. But his boss gives him a good news of his promotion and also introduced him to Mohini, the new intern in the office who will work with Mahender in the same department. Mahender could not think much, but one thing he did – and that’s not submitting his resignation.

Is it a new beginning for Mahender or again he has to say HOPE FOR THE NEXT?