The Unexpected Love

(Part Two)

All day long his mind was trapped in a web of endless questions, and time passed like that. Even until late at night, he could not make any decision, and he simply went to bed. The next morning, as soon as he woke up, the same thought came back to his memory. He checked his mobile phone to see if perhaps another message had arrived, but no, there was no new message. Jonie was a patient girl, and such a person could certainly endure calmly. Perhaps Jonie had been waiting, expecting Thomas to respond. After such a sudden message after a long time, Thomas must have been confused, surprised, unable to reply immediately—Jonie might have thought that too. But Thomas spent a whole week just in curiosity.

Sometimes he even felt negative thoughts toward that message. A week had already passed. Every day, countless waves would rise in his heart, shift, disappear for a while, and then rise again—the same cycle repeated. Every day, many times, he kept checking if an additional message had arrived, but no more messages came.

He had not really felt that he must reply. But on the night before going to sleep, amid endless doubts and questions, he finally made a decision: he must respond, at least meet her. If she had questions, then he must give answers. The rest of the things would become clear during the meeting. Just playing with thoughts inside the mind would not help; something had to be settled. He felt this matter should not be stretched too long. He decided to send a reply soon but thought to do it in the morning with a fresh mind. For that day, he made only this plan. After all, his reply didn’t need to be anything elaborate. Just: “Alright, let’s meet. Where and when?” That much would be enough.

He chose the next morning to send such a message because he felt mornings were most suitable in every way. He also thought that Jonie should read his message during the beautiful time of morning. With this firm thought, he went to bed, awaiting the next morning.

When he woke up the next morning, the same curiosity returned to his heart. Then he told himself: “Whatever happens, will happen. Don’t think too much.” He went into the bathroom, finished his work, drank tea, and then took the mobile phone in hand. He thought, today he must send the reply no matter what. After all, why keep hesitating for so long just for this? Whatever reality there was, it would only become clear afterward. He began to type the message to Jonie:

“Good morning, how are you? You had said to meet—alright, when and where shall we meet? Send me a message.”

He sent the message. Then he decided not to check his phone throughout the day, but only once in the evening. He also decided that no matter when the reply came, he would deal with it the next day. He didn’t want to carry too much stress.

All day he kept himself busy in his own work. He did nothing with the phone except receive a few calls, didn’t check social media either. In the evening, when he was free and calm, he finally checked for the reply. But there was no reply yet. Jonie had read his message but had not responded—she was only making Thomas wait.

Thomas thought: maybe Jonie was confused about what to do, what to say. That’s why she delayed the reply. Now Thomas no longer let many thoughts play inside his mind. He had already convinced himself that whatever happens, will happen—no need to overthink. After dinner, when he was preparing to sleep, his phone chimed with a message.

He quickly picked it up. It was from Jonie. She had written:

“Wherever you say, let’s meet there. Tomorrow I am free all day, after breakfast. If tomorrow is not possible, then let’s meet the day after tomorrow after breakfast, somewhere in the market. Good night.”

That was the entire message.

She had suggested meeting in the market. By “market,” she meant the main marketplace, which was about five kilometers away. Perhaps she suggested that place for safety, where people wouldn’t easily notice them. Thomas felt the same. He didn’t want to sit too near and talk either. He wanted safety too, because suspicion could arise in people. Thomas was even more afraid.

He thought it necessary to reply immediately, but he didn’t write a long message. He just wrote:

“Alright, let’s meet the day after tomorrow. I will message you tomorrow. Good night.”

He sent the message, took a deep breath, and lay down on the bed, already settled in his mind about what he would say tomorrow. He had no problem now.

The next day, after his regular duties, he sent her another message:

“Come to the main chowk at 1 PM. After meeting there, we can sit somewhere and talk.”

Now he was neither too excited nor overthinking. The agitation he had felt in the beginning had gradually come under control. He immersed himself in his work. As the meeting time drew closer, he got ready to leave. The marketplace was less than ten minutes away on his bike. At 12:45, he left home.

On the way, about one kilometer from his house, down a lane, was Jonie’s home. As Thomas rode his bike and reached near that lane, suddenly he saw Jonie herself. She had come out to the main road, waiting for a local bus to go to the meeting spot. From a little distance, Thomas noticed her standing at the roadside.

The moment he saw her, a strange wave spread through his body. He stopped nearby, lifted the visor of his helmet. Jonie looked surprised and nervous, unable to speak. Thomas too was nervous, but he managed a forced smile and said, “Come, sit on the bike.” Jonie silently sat behind him.

Now, for the first time, Thomas was riding together with the girl he had loved so deeply, Jonie. In one sense, he felt happiness too.

They reached the chowk, turned into a side alley, and stopped at a small tea shop. Both sat facing each other, nervous, exchanging fake smiles mixed with love. Thomas ordered two cups of tea. He asked Jonie, “Would you like to eat something with tea?” She shook her head no.

Silence prevailed. After a while, the tea arrived. Summoning courage, Thomas asked, “Why did you want to meet?”

Jonie lowered her head and said, “I love you too. Will you marry me and take responsibility for me?”

Thomas loved her even more than Jonie loved him. Jonie might have ignored him at the start, but Thomas had never been able to forget her. Thomas remained silent for a while, lost in thought, looking to one side.

He loved her deeply, yet could not accept her because of harsh reality. The immense love hidden in his heart had burst out unconsciously, leading to today’s situation.

When Jonie asked, “Will you marry me and take responsibility?” Thomas understood well what lay behind those words: he was already married, and his children had already grown up.

Now his answer was difficult, yet necessary.

He decided to reply with truth. He said,

“Yes, I love you immensely, more than I have ever loved anyone in my life. I cannot even express how much you mean to me. But as you know, marriage is not possible for me. Our age difference is also significant. My love will never fade, but I am not in a position to marry. Love is love—let it remain love. This is my limitation. I cannot break social and human values. Nor can I stop loving you.”

It was a difficult but truthful reply.

He then asked her:

“I loved you from the very beginning. Even three years ago, I expressed my love suddenly. But you did not respond positively—more than that, you treated me with contempt. Now, after three years, with what motive are you accepting me? Is this truly love from you?”

Jonie could not answer. Perhaps, somewhere, there was self-interest or compulsion behind her proposal—Thomas had suspected that before too. Tears began to fall from Jonie’s eyes as she bowed her head, trying to hide them.

Thomas also stayed silent. Only silence remained. Their teacups were empty.

After some time, Thomas got up, went to the counter, and paid for the tea. Returning to the table, he said to Jonie:

“Alright, let’s meet some other day. You can give me your answer then. By that time, you’ll have the strength to reply. For now, let’s go.”

Both stood up.

When they reached near Jonie’s house, she got off the bike, gave a pale smile, said “bye,” and walked toward her home. Thomas rode toward his house, carrying a heavy heart.

(Please wait for the third and final part.)