Part 30
"I-I just couldn't believe it" Lavanya cried "I had lost him just like that. I didn't even get to hear his first cry, o-or-"
Khushi quickly wrapped her arms around her friend "Let it out" she murmured "It seems as if you've been holding this in for too long"
That's exactly what Lavanya did. It was as if a fountain had broken. She couldn't stop.
"I-I pushed NK away" she sobbed "I went into my own cocoon and refused to let him anywhere near me. I blamed myself. I still do. Shortly after, Payal had died, and then Akash followed" Lavanya grasped her head "Everything was going wrong. It felt as if there was nothing to live for. Yes NK tried his best to comfort me, but I..." she closed her eyes tightly "I just wanted to be alone. I wanted him to stay away. This thought began swirling in my head that I was bad luck. Wherever I went, misery followed"
"Oh Lav" Khushi whispered "You fell into depression"
Lavanya gave a scoff "Back then there was no such thing. You were either happy or unhappy. I'll be honest. I tried to commit suicide myself once . I tried to cut my wrists but NK had found out and stopped me. I got angry. How dare he stop me from achieving peace? There were so many terrible thoughts going through my head. As I think back on it, I know I never meant any of it but at that moment, I thought I did" she sighed "NK began to quarantine me to the house. He refused to let me leave because he was sure I would do something dangerous to myself. He was right. The second his eyes left me, I snuck out of the house in the middle of the night and walked aimlessly on the road"
Flashback
Lavanya looked around her and felt one with the empty road. There was nothing left. No baby, no Payal, no Akash, and eventually none of NK's love once he realized that he had better choices out there. He may or may not even choose to keep her. However, Lavanya knew she wouldn't be able to watch the love of her life fall in love with someone else and start a family with her. She would rather choose society's mockery of her failed marriage than witness NK say the same words he'd once said to her to another woman.
Lavanya fell to her knees in the middle of the road. What was she even living for? Why was NK even keeping her around? Was it pity he felt? Or was he just following the vows he now was being forced to keep. NK was an honourable man. Of course he had to stay with her cause of the vows.
She thought back to when NK's parents had come over when they had told them she was pregnant. They had seemed so happy. They had, in fact, even began to accept her. NK's mother had begun to teach her basics such as sewing and cooking. NK's father would ask her about her health and tell her about NK's childhood.
But when they heard of her miscarriage, things took for worse. NK's mother threw foul words at her, calling her a curse and an abomination to womenkind. She had said she knew it was too good to be true for Lavanya to give NK any sort of happiness. NK's father, on the other hand, also called her a disgrace and told her that of course it made sense that an orphan like her couldn't have any children. Then right in front of her, he had told NK to start searching for another wife.
NK had refused and instead, told his parents to get out and that he never wanted to see them ever again.
However, the damage had been done.
Lavanya let out anguish cries, hoping God would take mercy on her. The already dark and heavy clouds answered her instead. Rain fell down hard, blending in with her tears.
Too lost in her grief, she didn't hear the stampeding of horses. When she did, it was too late. A carriage with two horses blindly ran over her and rushed away, probably not even knowing that they had hit someone.
Lavanya fell to the side of the road, gasping and heaving in pain. Blood covered her, similarly to when she had lost her child not too long ago. This was it. She was finally getting her wish.
Instead of hearing God's voice, she heard her husband's.
"Lavanya!" she heard him faintly yell.
She heard his running footsteps, and tried to crawl away. However, he was faster.
"Lavanya!" he cried. He fell to his knees next to her body. He grabbed her and turned her to lie in his lap. He looked at his hands once again covered in her blood "No no no Lavanya what have you done"
She raised her eyes at him "I'm freeing you" she whispered "I will never be able to make you happy. This way you have kept you vows to me and can move on with no guilt in your heart"
"You are wrong!" he roared "What were you thinking! I am nothing without you. I love you!"
Lavanya shook her head "I was never the one for you. Your parents saw it and so did everyone else" she cupped his cheek "However, I am ever so grateful to have received your love. You gave me so much and it meant the world to me. Perhaps, if something ever happened to you, which I sincerely hope never will, I will meet you up there with our child"
"Never" NK growled "You are not dying and neither am I. You broke your vows by trying to leave me through death and now I will break my promise" he laid her on the ground despite her protests and questions, and stood up "I call upon the powers vested in me. Use every single one of them if you may but do not fail me now" he closed his eyes "Long live my wife despite the darkness she will live in. Blood she will draw to keep her from death. I call upon Sai to pull him away from his duties and perform the act that will give Lavanya eternity"
A man manifested from particles of darkness. He looked around confused before seeing NK. He gave a short bow "NK" he acknowledged "Why have I been called?"
"I would like to call in that favour Sai, of when I had saved your wife" NK informed. He gestured towards Lavanya's dying body "Save her"
Sai pursed his lips and looked back at NK from Lavanya "You do realize what this means"
"I do" NK replied.
Sai nodded. He bent down next to Lavanya and pulled her towards him. She let out a cry and tried to push him away. She looked at NK in confusion and desperation, but he looked away.
Sai pushed Lavanya's hair back and bent down, despite her feeble attempts at pushing him away. NK's clearing of the throat stopped him.
Sai glanced back and nodded "My apologies. Too intimate, I understand"
He grasped her wrist and glanced at her tearful eyes "Sorry sweetheart" he murmured before releasing his fangs and sinking them in.
Flashback Ends
Khushi gasped "So that's how you turned into a vampire"
Lavanya nodded "At that point I was delirious from loss of blood. I didn't understand what was going on but when I saw Sai's fangs, I knew what NK had done"
"Why didn't NK just turn you immortal instead?"
"Things aren't always that simple Khushi" Lavanya tried to explain "There were limitations to the spell. NK would need a lot of ingredients to form the immortality potion and he could only cast the spell under a full moon. He didn't have the time nor the ingredients so he did the next best thing, which was apparently to turn me into a vampire. For that, he only needed another vampire to suck all my blood out and give me some of his in return. Since I had already lost a lot of blood, it was easy for Sai"
Khushi leaned forward "And then?"
"I was furious when I had woken up. I realized what NK had done to me and I couldn't forgive him so I did what I thought was right at the moment. I pretended to cheat on him" she covered her face "When he confronted me, I flat out lied and told him that I had been having the affair for a while and just needed an excuse to get out of the marriage. I suppose at that time even NK had begun to tire of chasing after me, which I don't blame him at all. Next thing I knew, he sent me the divorce papers with his signatures on them" a tear slipped her eye "Gosh I'm so messed up. I ruined everybody's lives and now I'm scared to do the same with you and Arnav"
"Hey" Khushi quickly interrupted "Don't you dare let yourself go down there again. You are not bad luck. Nobody is. It's the circumstances that are terrible but they can either make you or break you. Yours broke you but that doesn't mean you can't rebuild yourself" she made Lavanya face her "That man has loved you for countless years. Yes he has given up but you can't. You love NK and you are going to get him back. You are not going to lose him to a bimbo"
Lavanya wiped a tear "Yeah" she agreed "She is a bimbo and I am not going to let her steal my man!"
"That's the spirit!" Khushi cheered "Now NK knew that you didn't cook anything but now you will. We will go down to the kitchen and I will direct you into how to cook the dish"
****************************************
NK parked in front of Monica's house "We're here" he announced.
Monica nodded "Thanks for the ride. You're a sweetheart" she unbuckled her seatbelt and bent over him. She hugged him and kissed the crook of his neck "A momentum" she winked.
NK shuffled in his seat "Look Monica, about Lavanya..."
She ruffled his hair "Not a big deal. I've had worse" she chuckled.
NK watched her step out of the car and walk to her door. He sighed. She was a great girl but really had to deal with the screw ups. He started the ignition. Of course he was one of those screw ups.
****************************************
NK entered the house and made his way to the kitchen. It was late and he just wanted to have a quick dinner. However, when he entered, he was shocked to find Lavanya there with a pot on the stove. She hadn't noticed him so he quietly watched her stir the pot and put some salt in it. She tasted it with a spoon and decided to put more.
NK cleared his throat. Lavanya jumped and looked at him. The duo stared at each other.
Lavanya bit her lip "I..I made soup"
NK nodded "Good for you" he said.
An awkward silence prevailed. NK quickly opened the fridge, in an attempt to look busy.
"There's nothing in there" he heard Lavanya say.
"What about the food you two had brought to the office?" he asked and immediately regretted it.
Flashbacks of when she had attacked Monica came at full speed making him cringe.
Lavanya licked her lips "Khushi got really hungry"
He raised a brow "So she ate all of it?"
Lavanya nodded and looked away, resuming her stirring.
NK closed the fridge "Why are you cooking? You're probably not even going to eat it"
"I..I..." she took a deep breath "I made it for you"
NK stared at her whereas she refused to look away from the pot. The reddening of her cheeks were the only confirmation that she acknowledged his staring.
"I see" he murmured but didn't say anything further.
Lavanya glanced at him nervously. Why wasn't he saying anything else?
Gathering her wits, she asked "Would you like some?"
NK looked at her amused "Well since you're not going to eat it and have even admitted to making it for me, I suppose I will have to"
"W-w-well y-you do-don't, I me-" she stuttered.
NK grasped her hand "Just pour me some, Lav"
Lavanya's heart melted. He only used that nickname as an endearment. It had felt forever since he had last called her that. Eagerly, she grabbed a bowl and poured the soup in. She put it on the table for him.
NK sat down and stirred the bowl, a bit scared of the colour. Lavanya, after all, did have a history of not making the greatest dishes. He looked up at Lavanya, who was sitting right across from him, awaiting for his approval.
Hesitantly, he put a spoonful of the soup in his mouth. It tasted just like it looked : terrible. It was so foul NK was ready to throw it up. Not only that, but it was too salty. She had added way too much. If he wasn't a witch, NK was sure he would have been scared for his life.
However, when NK looked back into her eyes, he knew he couldn't disappoint her. He couldn't bear to hurt her or see disappointment in her eyes "It's...it's nice"
A beautiful smile spread across her face "Really! You like it?"
NK nodded "Yes. It's delicious"
"That's wonderful. I was so scared you wouldn't like it. Anyways, I'm going to practice cooking from now on. I'll save some for you everyday whenever you return from work"
NK swallowed "Why, uh, the change of heart?"
In the hopes to woo you
Lavanya bit her lip "Cause...why not?"
NK nodded "I see" he reluctantly took another spoonful "Are we going to talk about what happened in my office today?"
Fury and jealousy burned through Lavanya "Misha deserved it. Why are you even seeing her again?"
"Look Lavanya, who I see is no longer your concern. What I do with her is none of your business"
Everything she was trying to deny was coming down on her "You're still sleeping with her, aren't you?" she whispered.
"Look Lavanya"
Lavanya heard nothing. The moment he tilted his head, she saw the familiar bright red lipstick stain of her perfect lips.
She immediately stood up, effectively cutting off his speech "I-I have to go" she gave him a fake smile, trying to heal her tearing heart "I hope you enjoy the soup" she said before rushing away, leaving a confused and disappointed NK behind.
****************************************
A few days later, Arnav and Alisha heard the intercom again "Testing. Testing. Mr. Raizada can you hear me?" the judge's familiar voice announced.
"Yes" Arnav croaked.
"How are you faring?"
Arnav swallowed and tried to look confident "I am fine"
"Are you sure? You don't look too good"
"Yes your honour" he persisted "I am fine"
"Mrs Alisha, how are you faring?"
Arnav didn't dare turn to look at Alisha.
"I'm alright" he heard her soft voice.
"Okay then" the judge said "In total, eight days have passed. You have six more to go before you can pass my test Mr Raizada. Do you think you will be able to manage?"
"Yes" Arnav said firmly.
"Alright then. I will see you both soon"
The duo heard the intercom go off.
Alisha hesitantly turned to Arnav who refused to look at her "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes" he snapped "I am alright. Just please stay away from me. It's been a while for me now. Looking at you makes me want to sink my fangs into you"
Alisha recoiled at the confession and scooted to the other side of the room "You can do this Arnav" she said gently "Just six more days"
He didn't say anything in return.
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