Re-sparkling the Chemistry!

It had been maddening ten years into marriage. Arpita and Manav had been together or they were leading their separate life already, no one knew! Vibha, their only child, was the biggest loser in their fight. 

Years back when Arpita and Manav met for the first time, they knew their wait was over. But somewhere in the race of life and getting things done up to the mark, their lost that factor which bound them - love! Arpita looked after her house, kid, kid's school, food, clothes, maids, her office and relatives. Manav had his own increasing work pressure and the deadlines, his newspaper, news channels, politics and kid. Somewhere they lost the fact that they do need to give TIME to each other too. They never realized the reason for the growing distance between them. They fought over small issues, they gave each other the silence therapy, they took each other for granted. Manav was never grateful for the various things which Arpita did, Arpita never praised Manav's hard work for making the ends meet.  Or, maybe they did, but they were too stubborn to accept these little facts in front of each other. 

They decided to separate. It was final. Manav was to move out of the house. He was packing his things one by one. In corner of his  cupboard, under the pile of clothes, he found an album. A small trip to Shimla, before marriage was the most memorable time of their life where they promised each other to come here every year to celebrate their love. He tumbled down with that album in his hand. His eye got stuck on the photo where he was welcoming Arpita on the flight with a marigold garland. He had proposed to her then and there. In that ground, Arpita had little option. She accepted the proposal. He made her wear that garland and gave her the window seat. Everyone cheered. Arpita was blushing so much that she went red. They didn't speak much through the flight. Their eyes did. That promise was lost somewhere. What happened to them? To that love?

Manav's mind was blank for a moment and then his thoughts cleared, "What am I doing? No, this is the absolute opposite of what I wanted our lives to be!" In his mind, the plan was set. He got up. Left everything back and stormed out of the house. Arpita was sitting in the living room trying to console Vibha, whose tear refused to stop. Arpita wondered where he left in such hurry. But then it was her decision too, to separate. She knew it was better not to bother about his life.

After about few hours, Arpita went to answer the door bell. It was her mother. Arpita hugged her and welcomed her inside. But her mother was little worried. In a tensed voice, she said to Arpita, "You need to go to the airport right now. It is urgent."

Arpita got little skeptical and inquired, "Why Ma? What happened? Is everything OK? Is Manav fine?"

Her mother replied, "It's not about him, you hurry and go. Cab is waiting outside. Go."

Arpita couldn't think straight but she got scared. She jumped into the cab. Her heart was beating hard. She didn't know what happened. When she reached at the airport, an attendant was waiting for him and he guided her inside. Arpita was getting more confused with each step she took. Then she was asked to board the flight. She said, "No. I will not get on the plane. You better tell me what is happening?"

One of the executive spoke, "Ma'am we don't have any further information. Please understand our state. We thank you for your cooperation."

Arpita knew she won't speak another word but she wanted to uncover the suspense. It was killing her. She got into the plane with the crowd. When she entered, she knew what it was all about.

In that crowd, she saw her man. Manav was standing there, with a marigold garland. She came near him and he softly whispered in her ears, "It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about us, Arpi! Will you spend rest of your life  with me?" She exclaimed, "Oh my God!" Tears started rolling out of her eyes and she hugged Manav tight. Manav forced her out and made her wear that garland. The entire crowd started clapping and cheered them. Manav said, "Welcome aboard. We are off to Shimla." Manav gave Arputa the window seat and they got settled. Arpita analysed the entire plan in her mind. Manav's running out of house, her mother coming in, so that Vibha is taken care of and she being guided to the final destination to Manav. She looked up at Manav. He gave her a small gift. She opened it and it was that same album. She held her breadth for a while and then flipped through the album and went back in time. This time, they spoke. Throughout the trip. They spoke about every picture, every details they remembered, they laughed, they cried. It was a long time since they communicated to each other. It was a long time since they enjoyed each other's company. 

They reached their destination. They went to all the places where they went last time. It was just them. It was about just two of them. They rejuvenated their relationship. They re-sparkled their amazing chemistry. They restarted their journey.