When Love Becomes Real

Yamini was sitting on the edge of the campus fountain, watching Yash from a distance. He was charming, always surrounded by friends and laughing loudly. But lately, something was different. He seemed distant, avoiding her eyes and their usual conversations.

When she finally mustered the courage to confront him, she found him sitting alone near the campus fountain, his head down.

“Yash,” Yamini began softly, “we need to talk.”

Yash looked up, his eyes tired. “What’s up, Yamini?”

“Be real with me,” she said, her voice trembling. “I need to know what’s going on. You’ve been avoiding me. If you don’t want to be with me anymore, just tell me. I don’t need magic. I need you to be real when nothing else is.”

Yash shifted uncomfortably. “Yamini, I think we need some space.”

“Space?” she repeated, her voice cracking. “Why? What’s happening? Did I do something wrong?”

“It’s not about you,” he said, looking away. “I just… I need to figure things out.”

She felt a lump in her throat. “Is there someone else?” she asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“No,” he said quickly, but he couldn’t meet her eyes. “It’s not like that. I just need to be alone right now.”

Yamini’s eyes filled with tears. “If there’s something wrong, you can tell me. I’m here for you.”

Yash didn’t respond. Instead, he walked away, leaving Yamini alone, confused and heartbroken.

Days turned into weeks, and Yash became a ghost in Yamini's life. He watched from afar as she cried and struggled to understand why he had left without a word. He wanted to run to her, to tell her the truth, but he couldn't bring himself to do it, not when the doctor had told him he had only a few months left.

One day, she spotted Yash leaving the hospital, looking thinner and weaker than ever. Her heart raced as she ran into the hospital to find out what was happening.

She found the doctor in the hallway. “What’s wrong with Yash?” she asked urgently.

The doctor sighed, seeing the concern in her eyes. “Yash has brain cancer. He has only a few months left.”

The news hit Yamini like a wave, and she staggered out of the hospital, tears streaming down her face. She found Yash sitting on a park bench, looking at the ground.

“Yash!” she called, rushing towards him. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you leave me without a word? I am here for you.”

Yash looked up, his eyes filled with regret and pain. “I didn’t want you to see me like this. I thought it would be easier for you if I pushed you away.”

"You idiot," she cried, hitting his chest weakly with her fists. "Do you think this is easier? Do you think pushing me away would make it hurt less? I am here for you. I want to be here for you."

He wrapped his arms around her as she wept, feeling her warmth and love. They sat there for what felt like hours, talking, crying, and holding each other. Yash finally opened up about his fear and heartbreak at knowing he wouldn’t have a future with her.

"I'm scared, Yamini," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I'm scared of dying, of leaving you behind."

Yash took a deep breath, trying to hold back his tears. “I was scared. Scared of losing you, scared of how you’d react. I didn’t want to drag you into this nightmare.”

Yamini wiped her tears, her voice firm. “You’re not dragging me into anything. I’m here because I love you. You should have trusted me with the truth.” She held his face in her hands, tears in her eyes. "You're not leaving me behind. We’ll make every moment count, Yash. We’ll face this together."

From that day on, they spent every moment they could together. They laughed, cried, and made new memories, even as Yash grew weaker. 

Yash had asked his friend Joy to take care of his dog, Mikey. Joy had been harsh, not understanding the situation. After learning about Yash’s illness, Joy apologized, feeling guilt-ridden for his previous harsh words.

In the kitchen, Yash sat with his mother, trying to stay cheerful. He saw her tears as she cooked dinner, and his heart ached. She tried to blame the onions for her tears, but Yash knew better. He could hardly bear seeing her in pain.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” he said, tears streaming down his face. “I didn’t want you to suffer like this.”

His mother reached out, pulling him into a hug. “It’s not your fault, Yash. We’ll face this together.”

They shared several heartwarming moments, but soon the heaviness of Yash’s condition became overwhelming. He finally broke down, expressing his heartache and fear.

“I don’t want to die, Mom,” he sobbed. “I’m so young, and I wanted to live. I wanted to make things right with Yamini and have a future.”

She held him tightly, her own tears mingling with his. “I know, sweetheart. We’ll make the most of every moment.”

Yamini and Yash’s time together was precious. They made memories, laughed, and took countless selfies. Yash teased Yamini about her obsession with taking pictures.

“You know, Yamini,” he said with a weak smile, “if I didn’t love you so much, I’d complain about all these selfies.”

Yamini laughed through her tears. “Good. Then you’ll always be in my memories.”

One evening, Yamini noticed Yash growing more tired. He rested his head on her shoulder, closing his eyes. She continued talking to him, keeping him company. But as time passed, she realized he wasn’t responding.

“Yash?” she whispered, panic rising in her chest. She gently shook him, but there was no answer.

Yash had passed away while leaning on her shoulder. Yamini’s heart broke as she held him, her tears falling freely. “It’s okay, Yash,” she whispered through her sobs. “You can rest now. I’ll be okay. Thank you for everything.”

She continued to talk to him, her words full of love and gratitude, even as the reality of his loss sank in. In that painful moment, she felt a deep, unbreakable connection to him—a love that had become truly real.