The Letter of Waiting

Introduction

Not all love is loud. Sometimes, it’s just the quiet persistence of waiting. This is the story of Aniruddha and Trisha, two souls who met, fell in love, and then... something strange happened.

A Bench Full of Memories

It was an afternoon in the fall. The air was light, crisp, and carried the faint rustle of fallen leaves. At a railway station that has since vanished, Aniruddha sat on an old bench made of wood. It was aged and lonely—just like his heart.

Five years ago, everything started here. He met Trisha for the first time here. She was unique, not only beautiful but also present. You felt noticed as she looked at you. The world seemed to stop hurting when she smiled. They met waiting for the same delayed train.

Hours passed, but it didn’t matter. They were unable to shake the connection that resulted from that one conversation. “I believe love is waiting,” she had said. "Just waiting, not chasing, not demanding." At the time, it was poetic. Now? It appeared to be a curse.

A Love Hidden from the World

Trisha and Aniruddha slowly but surely fell in love. They shared music, read poetry, and discussed dreams they were afraid to say out loud. However, Trisha came from a strict family.

My parents won't take us in. Not now,” she’d whisper. But we'll be together one day. I'm aware of it. Aniruddha then waited. The seasons shifted. Festivals happened and didn't. Birthdays went by silently.

He wrote to her letters incessantly, spilling everything his heart could not contain. Responses never arrived. Her phone number no longer worked. Her social media accounts vanished. It was as if she had vanished.

Friends told him to move on. His loved ones stopped asking. Even his diary, once full of memories, lay untouched.

However, true love refuses to forget.

The Promise

Trisha had stated, before they parted ways, “Five years from now. same location. same moment. If it’s meant to be—we’ll meet again.”

It had sounded like a fairy tale. However, Aniruddha relied on it as a lifeline. He therefore returned to the same bench today, five years later. Nearly no one was on the platform. An old man sipped tea in the corner. A red balloon was pursued by a young boy. Trains came and went.

Trisha was not. Just as the sky began to turn a dusky orange and his heart began to accept another goodbye… a voice whispered from behind him—

“Ani?”

He turned.

She was there, too.

The Reunion

The Gathering Trisha had a similar appearance, but she was older, sadder, and softer. Aniruddha exhaled, "You came." She said, shaking her voice, "I almost didn't." “I was afraid you’d hate me.”

“I did,” he replied quietly. “But I loved you more.”

She sat next to him and gave him an envelope that had been folded. “I wrote this letter for you. a few years back. I simply was unable to send it. He opened it with a tremble in his hands.

The Letter

Regards, Ani

I apologize. Not just for leaving—but for not explaining.

My parents learned. They escorted me away. Sent me abroad. I was without freedom and a phone. They wanted me to forget you.

I just couldn't. Every day, I thought about you. I wanted to reaffirm my love for you. I desired to hear from you. But life isn’t always kind to lovers like us.

Duty and silence can bury some loves. I have no idea if you will wait. I don't know if you'll be understanding. But if you’re still the Ani I knew—maybe you’ll understand.

And maybe I'll join you on that bench the next time you sit there. Love,

Trisha

After the Silence

Aniruddha's eyes welled up with teardrops. Everything finally made sense: the agony, the waiting, and the pondering. He whispered, "I waited." "Each day." Trisha said, "I'm sorry it took me so long." "However, my love never wavered." They did not elope. They didn’t hold hands.

They sat there, two people who had been broken in different ways but were now finally whole again. The sun was now lower than the horizon. Aniruddha also had no fear of the dark for the first time in five years. Because sometimes, love is not about grand gestures or perfect timing.

Sometimes, all that matters is showing up.

Conclusion

The message of The Letter of Waiting is that love can endure distance, silence, and even time. Some stories get a second chance, but not all stories have a happy ending.