An Unexpected Reconnection

On the last day of the retreat at Sumay-uncle house i.e.: December 31st, 2016, I headed back home in the evening. After spending a couple of days at the hometown, I returned to my hostel at LPU, excited to reunite with my friends after a 20-day gap. However, amidst the happiness, I couldn’t help but miss my family.

As the days passed, I settled back into my regular routine. Mornings were for attending classes, and in the evenings, my friends and I would indulge in LAN games without much concern for academic improvement or our future careers. Our focus revolved around making each other laugh, planning trips, and exploring the college campus till late hours – in short how to make most of life even at the cost so much time and money which I am realizing now.

More than two months passed in this carefree manner, and life appeared normal and joyful. One day, my friends and I decided to go for an outdoor photo shoot. They captured some fantastic pictures of me, and I couldn’t resist sharing one of the best shots on my Facebook profile. The response was overwhelming, as I received numerous likes and kind comments from friends and relatives.

While scrolling through my phone that day, a notification caught my attention, arousing my curiosity.
Surprisingly, Pranshi gave my photo a love reaction and left a lovely comment. I wondered why she would respond so positively when I thought I might have been on her blocked list. “Well, this is unexpected,” I mumbled to myself. Feeling grateful for the response, I replied, “Thank you.”
Shortly after, I received a WhatsApp message from her, saying, “Hello! How are you doing?”
“I’m doing well. How about you?” I replied.
“I’m fine,” she responded.
Curiosity increased, and I asked, “What made you decide to text me after such a long time?”
With a smile emoticon, she answered, “I was thinking about you, so I thought, why not reach out?”

After that, we engaged in a casual conversation, reminiscing about old times, sharing updates about our lives, and laughing at inside jokes. As the night grew late, we bid each other a warm goodnight.

A Heartfelt Confession

The following day, she initiated another conversation, and we continued chatting casually. However, there was a sense of anticipation as she eventually said, “I want to confess something.”
Concerned, I asked, “What is it? Is everything alright?”
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry for everything. I know I made you cry and caused you much pain. Please forgive me. I’m repenting now,” she replied with remorse.
Concerned, I asked, “Did something happen to you? Is there a reason behind your behavior?”
“I can’t tell you right now. Let’s talk over the phone, and I’ll explain everything,” said Pranshi.
“Sure. Call me tomorrow evening after I return from college,” I agreed.

The next day, at 6 PM, she called me as promised. Once again, she sought forgiveness for her past deeds. I responded, “That’s okay. I’m glad you realize your mistakes and are trying to make amends. But you mentioned there was something you wanted to share with me.”
“Yes. I fell in love with someone. His captivating talks, jokes, and caring nature made me crazy about him. However, one day, when I asked him about our future, he revealed his true colors,” she explained.
With curiosity in my voice, I asked, “What did he say?”

“He told me, ‘I was just having fun with you. I don’t love you. You were just a time pass for me,’” Pranshi replied with a hint of sadness in her voice.

After hearing her revelation, I remained silent for a couple of seconds, empathizing with the pain she must have felt, as I had been through a similar situation myself.

“And then, what did you say?” I asked, wanting to understand her reaction.
“I couldn’t say anything. I was shocked, and your face flashed in my mind. It was as if a voice from within told me I was experiencing the karma of what I had done to you. I had a moment of realization, and I knew I had to apologize to you,” she replied gently, acknowledging her mistake.
“That’s okay. What’s gone is gone. Let’s forget the past. We are good friends together now.” I said with a smile.
“Thank you. You are my cutie pie.” She replied.
I started blushing.

A Reunion and a Promise

Following that day, our conversations became regular. We would frequently engage in video chats on weekends, and sometimes our conversations would last for hours. However, as my second-semester exams approached, my focus shifted towards wrapping things up and heading home. I eagerly awaited the completion of my exams, as I had a two-month break before the commencement of my second-year academics.

After making plans for an outing, I excitedly shared them with Pranshi, and she agreed to join. Finally, my last exam paper was over, and I began preparing to return home. The journey from Punjab to my hometown took two days. Once I reached home, I decided to surprise Pranshi by visiting her at her home. I knocked at her door, and when she opened it, her surprise and excitement were evident. She couldn’t contain her joy and grabbed my hands as if she had been eagerly waiting for this moment for a long time.

Upon the arrival of her mother and sister, I swiftly withdrew my hands. I greeted them with a warm “namaste,” and they seemed delighted to see me again after such an extended period. Subsequently, Pranshi, Disha, and I gathered in a room, engaging in hours of heartfelt conversation. They inquired about my college life, friends, and where I lived. Pranshi’s infectious smile never left her face, and I couldn’t help but feel overjoyed to reconnect with her after such a long time. After spending more than two hours I returned to my home. The next day, Pranshi and I went shopping and spent time together. We had a great time and really enjoyed each other’s company.

Surprising News About Gurudev

Later, I received a text from Sarthak, a friend of Sumay-uncle’s, inviting me to celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day at Sumay-uncle’s home. Excited about the invitation, I gladly accepted and headed to Sumay-uncle’s residence for the celebration. Upon seeing me, Sumay-uncle smiled and embraced me. He had a thick, dense beard that covered his face. I asked him the reason behind it. But his answer was not palatable to my ears.

Sumay-uncle explained, “I have grown this beard to honor Sachinandan Gurudev, who has recently departed from this world.”

Feeling a sense of sorrow, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to see Gurudev again, we engaged in conversation, and Sumay-uncle kindly inquired about my well-being. Later, I joined them in the kirtan and relished the sumptuous feast. He kindly suggested that I stay longer since I had a two-month vacation. However, I had already planned a visit to Kolkata. I explained this to him and also promised that I would stay at his place for a week before going to LPU. The next day, I went back home and started getting my backpack ready for the trip.

A Bitter Trip of Kolkata

During my visit to Kolkata, I stayed at my friend’s place, who was a local resident. Together, we explored some of the city’s renowned landmarks and indulged in the local cuisine. However, I didn’t quite enjoy the experience. The streets were filled with people smoking, including school-going boys and girls, which was disheartening to see. As a vegetarian, it proved challenging to find suitable dining options. Many restaurants were full of fish, meat, and eggs, which made it hard to find purely vegetarian food to eat.

I was staying with my childhood friend. We used to share everything to each other. One day while we were having a normal conversation, he inquired about my girlfriend, and I revealed that she had re-entered my life. However, his reaction was entirely unexpected. He became visibly angry and said, “What a fool you are! She has already dumped you four times in the past. How can you trust her again? She’s likely to repeat the same pattern.”

He was concerned about my well-being and wanted to protect me from potential heartbreak. I felt uneasy with his words, and I felt the need to defend my decision. “Look, what’s gone is gone. We can’t change the past,” I replied. “But she genuinely seemed remorseful for her past mistakes, and I could see it in her eyes. She’s asking for another chance, and I believe in giving people the opportunity to grow and change.”

He remained persistent in expressing his concerns, saying, “The problem is that you’re too attached to her, and I don’t think she’s good for you. You deserve someone simple and chaste. What will you do if she hurts you again?”
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I attempted to change the topic, saying, “Let’s not dwell on the negative possibilities. We should focus on other things for now.”

After spending two days in Kolkata, I returned to my hometown. The very next day, I couldn’t wait to see Pranshi, so I went to her home to meet her. Whenever we were together, she would always have a radiant smile on her face. Everything seemed to be falling into place perfectly, and I couldn’t help but think that life had finally granted me the very thing I had always desired.

A Heart-breaking Confession by Pranshi

However, I noticed a shift in Pranshi’s behavior after a few days. She appeared unhappy and confused, which raised concern within me. I approached her and asked about the reason behind her sadness, but she remained silent, offering no explanation. When I texted her, she wouldn’t respond or reply with brief and distant messages, indicating that she was not in the mood for further conversation. This pattern continued for a week, leaving me perplexed.
Then, one night, she finally texted me as I was getting ready to sleep.

She began the conversation by saying, “Hi, have you finished your dinner?” My response was equally casual, “Yes, what about you?”
But then she dropped a bombshell, saying, “Actually, I want to confess something.” My heart started racing, anticipating something negative.
With trembling hands, I replied, “Yes, go on.”
Her words struck me deeply, “I am sorry, but I have no feelings for you in my heart.” I took a deep breath and mustered the courage to respond, “If this is true, what were you doing for the past two weeks? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? You know how deep my attachment is for you.”

Her reply came swiftly, and it read, “I apologize, but I was trying to revive our past relationship. However, I have realized that my feelings have faded. I hope you can understand.”

Her confession left me heartbroken. Overwhelmed by a rush of emotions, I set my phone aside and closed my eyes. Anger and sadness battled for dominance in my mind, creating a tumultuous mix of feelings. The urge to unleash my frustration and yell at her surged within me, but I held back, unable to bring myself to do so. At that moment, my friend’s earlier words echoed in my mind, reminding me of his cautionary prediction that she would leave me again, possibly with flimsy excuses. I felt the need to return to my university and be with my friends to take my mind off her.

Seeking Solace in Sumay-uncle’s company

However, I remembered my promise to Sumay-uncle that I would stay at his place for a week before heading back. So, I packed my bags and went to his home to unwind. During my time there, we spent quality moments together. Still, I chose not to share anything about my relationship with him.

Sumay-uncle and I visited Puri and Chaitanya Dandabhanga Ashram, which helped refresh my mind. When it was time to leave and return home, he advised me to concentrate on my studies and spiritual practices. He gave me the book Srimad Bhagavatam to read. Once home, I began packing my bags since I had just two days left before returning to university.

After returning from Sumay-uncle’s place, I decided to avoid getting into relationships and concentrate solely on my career and spiritual journey. But I couldn’t stick to my decision. Instead, I found myself making the same mistake again, and it led to significant troubles. I began chasing after money, neglecting my relationships with friends, health, & academics.

Stay tuned to learn about the wrong choices I made and the difficulties I faced as a result…