The afternoon light is fading. The sun is sinking towards the west spreading a red glow on the horizon. Neel is sitting under the tamal tree. His eyes are fixed on the sunset, but his mind seems to be lost somewhere. He doesn't have time to suffocate from the pressure of office work all day, but this afternoon is different. I feel very heavy today.
Neel is very stubborn since childhood. Loved to do everything his own way. He was always a little different from his friends. If someone asked him to do something, he would do the exact opposite. That's how he grew up, in his own stubbornness.
But there was only one person in Neil's life, whom he could never avoid. She is Meena. Meena is his school friend, different from everyone else. A very calm, gentle girl. Whenever Neil faced any problem, Meena would quietly come and sit beside him and explain it to him. Neel could never forget Meena's words.
Their friendship gradually deepened. Meena was a part of Neil's life even as he entered college after school, then career. But Neil had a habit, he could never express his feelings for Meena. Although he had many things in his mind, he never told Meena.
The story that started with this 'if' of Neil is a long time ago. “If” he had told Meena that he loved her, “if” their relationship could have been different, “if” he had dared to tell Meena one day how Meena remained in every part of his life. These "what ifs" fill his mind today.
It was during those college days that he developed a crush on Meena. Even when the friends were laughing and joking, Neel could not hide Meena from his eyes. Meena's smile, her way of speaking, her compassion—everything seemed to have become an integral part of Neil's life. But he never disclosed to Meena. The fear was—if Meena misunderstood him, if the friendship was ruined!
Years passed, both Neil and Meena joined different jobs. Neil moved away due to the pressure of work, communication with Meena also started to decrease. Sometimes Meena would call, but Neil always avoided her on the pretext of work. Meena could sense that Blue was pulling away a bit, but she never forced it.
One day suddenly the news of Meena's marriage came. Blue's chest heaved. He could not accept the fact that Meena was getting married. But he congratulated Meena with pain in his heart. He greeted Meena's smiling face, but no one could understand the pain inside.
On the wedding day, when Meena was standing on the dais wearing a red saree, Neel looked at her from a distance. Only one thing in mind—"if" he would tell Meena about love one day! If Meena had become a part of his life! But now there is nothing to do. Time has passed, and Meena is starting a new chapter of life with someone else.
After the marriage, Neil's life was back to normal, but there was an emptiness inside. Work, office, friends—everything is going on, but somewhere something seems to be missing. After Meena disappears from his life, Neil realizes how alone he really is.
On that afternoon sitting under the tamal tree, Neel is thinking about his past. "If" he would tell Meena about his love one day! But now everything is over. Time does not come back. One regret in the mind of blue - why did not dare?
Suddenly, Neil's phone rang. Meena's name appeared on the screen. He looked for a while, thinking - what to say now on the phone? Meena is now a part of someone else's life. Still, curiosity made him pick up the phone.
“Hello,” Neal said.
Meena's soft voice came from the other side, "How are you blue?"
"I'm fine," Neal lied.
Meena was silent for a while, then said, “You know, I always wanted you to tell me something one day? I waited…”
Blue's chest heaved. Mina knew! He waited! So why didn't he say anything? Why waste that time?
“But you never said anything,” Meena repeated. "So I thought, maybe you never thought of me that way."
Blue couldn't say anything. The words stuck in his throat. Meena waited, and she held back all her feelings. These "ifs" made her life heavier today.
Meena hung up after talking. Blue dropped the phone from his hand and looked at the ground. One word kept coming back to her mind—“if.”
All the "ifs" in life never come true. But those "ifs" keep us alive, make us think, teach us to look anew at the unseen.