Romantic Friendship
Vinodh is a technical lead in one of the leading software services firms. He got married to Sheela one year ago. Their marriage was completely arranged by both sets of parents. Sheela is also a software professional.
For the first six months their married life was happy and smooth. After that things did not continue smoothly.
Saran was a very close friend of Sheela from their college days. Both of them joined the same firm right after graduation.
One evening Vinodh said “Okay. Let him remain your friend like all these years. Now that you are married why do you still need a male friend when I am right here for you.”
Sheela replied “Vinodh. I clearly told you about him before our marriage. He is my close friend and I cannot live without him.”
They were so close that they had shared the same room whenever their company sent them abroad on projects. Their bond had both deep friendship and love.
Vinodh was not entirely clear about Sheela true feelings. So he stopped asking anything about Saran and tried to behave normally for some time.
Saran continued visiting Sheela often and their friendship remained strong.
One day Vinodh happened to read some of Sheela personal emails and letters written to Saran. They were highly intimate and filled with open expressions of love. Yet Sheela continued to show the same love and affection toward Vinodh.
Vinodh remained deeply confused.
One evening he took Sheela to the beach shore. They sat together on the soft sand. It was a full moon night. The cool breeze gently played with Sheela hair. She looked beautiful in the moonlight as she adjusted the thin strands along her ears.
Vinodh asked “Sheela. When you like Saran so much why did you not marry him?”
Sheela stared at him.
The waves continued their soft rhythm.
She spoke. “Vinodh. Are you still not happy with our friendship?”
Vinodh replied “No. Friendship is fine. But you are really close to him. I cannot understand why you did not marry him.”
She said “Vinodh. Yes I am very close to him. But I could not marry him. Marriage is different.”
Vinodh could not control himself any longer and shouted “What is so different? I have read all your emails to him. You discuss everything with him. Every single moment in your life. Things that you cannot discuss with a male friend. Then why did you marry me and not him?”
Sheela stood up and said
“Vinodh. You have to understand this. Saran is my friend and yes I have deep love and affection for him. I also have the same love and affection for you. I cannot lead a married life with Saran because ours is a non sexual relationship. It is a kind of romantic friendship. Neither of us has ever felt any physical attraction toward each other. Please try to understand. And please do not read my personal emails. I love you so much. You mean so much to me.”
She turned and left the place. Vinodh sat there looking at the moon in complete astonishment.
