Free Love Lasts Forever by Vikrant Khanna

head.
                  I don’t like anyone probing in my life, especially a stranger. How much do I know him anyway? ‘Nothing sir,’ I replied, shrugging.
                  ‘Look son,’ he continued, leaning forward and placing his glass on the table, ‘my hair didn’t become gray in the sun. I’ve been a Captain for more than twenty years, seen the entire world, worked with a lot of nationalities. I know exactly when something is wrong with someone.’
                  ‘I understand sir, but really nothing is wrong,’ I pressed.
                  ‘Alright,’ he said.
    He picked up his glass, took a sip, and settled back in his seat.
    ‘ You know,’ he continued slowly. ‘I lost my wife when I was somewhat your age, I mean in a divorce,’ he clarified instantly. ‘But even today when I feel depressed about it, I talk it out. It makes me feel better.’
                  I smiled weakly. ‘Actually even…um…my wife and I plan to get a divorce this time.’
                  ‘Oh,’ he sighed, ‘I am sorry to hear that.’
                  ‘No,’ I dismissed, ‘it’s alright. I want to be done away with it anyway.’
                  ‘So, what was it, arranged marriage?’
                  ‘No,’ I shook my head. ‘Actually love marriage.’
                  ‘Oh…and how long have you guys been…married?’
                  ‘I’ve known her for the past seven years, but um…’ I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. ‘…we’ve been married for just four months.’
                  ‘Really!’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘And you guys plan to get a…divorce. Don’t you think these are still early days in your marriage?’
                  ‘Yeah, I know...’ I looked down at the floor before facing him. ‘I know sir but…I think that’s the best for both of us. She is a bitch really, can’t stay with her anymore.’
                  ‘Ha, ha!’ he laughed. ‘That’s what I used to think of my wife before the divorce.’
                  I looked up to face him. ‘Really, so why did you guys get a divorce?’
                  ‘Ah,’ he shrugged, ‘that was a long time ago. You won’t be interested, it’s a long story.’
                  ‘You can tell me sir; maybe I can learn something from it.’ I found myself opening to him now.
                  ‘If you really want to learn from my mistakes, all I can advise you is never, ever turn your back on love.’ He removed his glasses and leaned forward. ‘Never do that, never . Have faith in the person you love and always be patient. Love has to be patient after all.’
                  I smiled. ‘So what’s your story, sir?’ His words piqued my curiosity.
                  ‘You really want to know my story?’ he asked squeezing the bridge of his nose.
                  I offered a nod.
                  ‘You know,’ his voice was a whisper. ‘It’ll make you smile initially, but later, you’ll cry.’
                  ‘Okay sir, go for it then, I’m all ears.’ I was really drawn forward to this conversation and didn’t realize was almost at the edge of my seat.
                  ‘Wait a minute!’ He threw his hands at me. ‘You haven’t told me anything about your story…’
                  ‘Okay.’
    For the next fifteen minutes I told him everything about Aisha: the day we first met at our graduation day, my first date with her, our first kiss, about her brother, and the way I convinced everyone for the marriage. We found our self laughing when I completed my story.
                  ‘You guys,’ he stroked his finger at me affectionately. ‘That sounds like a funny story to me, where’s the tragic