Chapter 1

Tia

@Tiaraa

He promised her he would wait for her forever. And she kept him to his word.

Rudra woke up, rolled over and reached for her. She wasn’t there and never would be again. He sadly looked at the vacant space beside him on the bed and spread his palm flat across the satin sheet.  He could still feel her presence in them. He could still smell her in them. He glanced up at the adjacent wall and smiled.  The photo had him holding her by her waist. She was surprised, not at all prepared for it. But as far as Rudra knew Maya, she loved surprises. His eyes glistened on the mention of her.  She was like a wildflower, but aren’t the entire best flowers wild? He got up and went straight to her photo. Rudra kissed his fingers and placed them over her pic.

“I miss you.” He closed his eyes.  They were tired of waiting so long for her. The eyes that once had a sparkle now were filled with sadness, pain, loneliness and waiting. Only God knew, how badly he wanted her, he wanted to see her again, touch her, taste her lips again, hold her in his arms again. How much he missed her! How much he craved her. Only he knew, without Maya, he was dying inside.

The phone rang and he received the call, it was from Ananya,“ Rudra where are you? The press is already here. Please come fast.”

Rudra rubbed his palm over his eye and glanced at the time. He shut his eyes and gasped. He was indeed late for the meet. Rudra promptly hung up the call with a short answer and rushed to get ready for the big day. 

Rudra kept it simple and quickly worn the outfit that she has gifted him to wear for this day.  He picked up his wallet and all necessary belonging before jogging towards the door. He was about to leave their bedroom when he felt a tug in his heart. He stopped and scanned the room once again. His eyes caught the flipping pages of a book on the table near her picture.

“Thank you “ he whispered as his eyes brighten for a brief second before they became empty.

He jogged to his car and punched the key in the keyhole. The engine came to life and soon the car hit the road. Rudra's eyes flickered between the road and the book on the dashboard as he drove. He slowed down the car and waited for the signal to go green. His eyes once again reached for the book. Gently, he stretched his finger on the curve of the book, simultaneously her laughter echoed in his ear. She looked breathtaking every time she laughed. A far memory of her laughing played before him. 

 She always hated Rudra for touching her like that, " it tickles a lot" she complains. 

His trail of thoughts broke with the soft knock on the window glass. He looked through the glass and saw a eunuch begging for money.

Rudra sighs and puts his fingers in the front pocket, taking a 100 Rs note, he scrolls down the window and gave it to her.

“Sahab, "  She urged as she took the note and tucked it inside her blouse. Then she stretched her hand and brushed it over his head in blessing. 

"Sir, may your every wish come true." She blessed him and was about to leave when she recognized Rudra’s face. He is the same man whom she saw a few months ago with the woman who gave her money daily on the same signal.

“Oh Sahab, it's you? Kale kapde wali madam nahi aai aj apke sath.”

The mention of Maya sting his eyes and it became moist. “she is angry with me. If you find her, tell her to come back. someone is waiting for her every day.”  He said sadly. She hasn't understood his words but his eyes were enough for her to read the pain behind his words. She didn’t have the strength in her to ask him anything more apart from silently praying to God to help him to release the pain he was holding deep in his heart.

The signal turned green and the car moved away. Soon, he reached the office parking area. Rudra parked his car and got out of it. As he was about to leave he realized he has forgotten the book inside. Rudra hurriedly unlocked the car and got his upper half inside the car to pick up the book. Instantly, he breathed her beautiful fragrance. A small smile crept on his face and whispering a short thankyou to nothingness he walked towards the place where everybody was waiting for him.

“Rudra? What took you so long. Look, investors, media and important guests are already here.” Ananya pointed at the occupied chairs with a smile.

Rudra gave a subtle nod and walked on the stage. He took the chair opposite to the anchor as he placed the book on the table next to him.

The Anchor seems to be pretty impressed looking at Rudra. Who won't be? After all, being so young, he was the most successful publisher in the country. Books published under his umbrella had a worldwide craze. Especially the latest published novel. All the copies were sold, there was a huge demand for them worldwide. RuAn publication became one of the top publishers among rivals.

“Sir, shall we start?” The interviewer asked and Rudra gave a nod.

“Sir first of all I would like to congratulate you on the huge success of your latest novel.  There is still so much pre-booking pending and people are going crazy to buy a copy for themselves. It's a huge success.” The anchor clapped and appreciated while later the whole room echoed with applause.

Rudra thank everyone and waited for the anchor to speak. “Sir, can you share your secret behind writing this masterpiece. I have read it twice and Believe me, sir, Not once you will feel the characters are fictional. It's almost like a reel playing before your eyes. We all want to meet your writer, sir, she did a fabulous job. But since we know we can't see her due to the confidential bond, we would like to know more from you.  Please share with us the secret behind this amazing storyline.”

There was a pause and the anchor stared at Rudra. He had a thoughtful look. Rudra smiled at something before looking at the anchor again.

“What? What did you ask?” Rudra leaned forward.

“Sir we would you to share the inspiration of the story?”

“No, I cant.” There was a silence again as he paused and began speaking after few seconds, “ I can't share her. Sorry.” He smiled and then all the people sitting in the room smiled with him, including the anchor.

“Sir so you are admitting that the Writer itself is the inspiration behind the story?”

Rudra didn’t answer it, he just smiled looking at a fixed spot in the audience.

“Sir, Please share with us the story behind this amazing title.” The anchor requested again.

Rudra picked up the book sitting beside him and eyes the title lovingly. His movement was so slow as if he was caressing the name written on it with his eyes, “Maya Jaisingh.”

“The title of the book is, “Beyhadh.” It is based on a fact that she always said, “Nafrat Ki Had Hoti Hai, Dil Beyhadh Hai.” He smiled and the anchor opened his mouth to ask another question before he could even form a single word, Rudra chuckled and continued talking. 

“This story is based on a girl. Who had dreams, who believed in fairy tales. Who believed that there is a prince charming waiting for her. She was happy in her world. She believed in goodness. She believed in love. She believed in forgiveness” Rudra was playing Maya's line much before told to him by Maya herself, as they discussed the initial chapters in his room. His eyes were closed as he could feel her saying the same line standing before him like that day. There was pin-drop silence in the room, everyone got their interest in what Rudra had to share. Except for Ananya who has her eyes watery and she hides behind a curtain where no one could see her.

“Sir then what made her like that,”

“-like the storm you mean?” Rudra's eyes shot and he looked at the anchor in a challenge.

“ye..yes.”

Rudra leaned back and began talking, “We don’t realize sometimes, what small harmless things we think we did can actually destroy someone’s life. she lost everything and we were the reason. People like you and me in society are the reasons. We think that we have every right over every girl in our life. We think we are self-declared god and can decide and control other people’s life.” there was anger in his voice but he controlled himself very well before everyone.

“Beyhadh in the title refers to her,  her love, her dreams and her decision. She was hurt but she gathered all her courage to fight back the storm.” He felt proud of her as he speaks.

“Sometimes, God have this weird plan to test us." The anchor chuckled at Rudra's statement. 

"Yes! We are put to test and we have the tendency to complain to him and cry over all small things that happen to us. We change when we are not able to cope up with life and then blame God and life for everything. But it was not the same with her. She was tainted, destroyed, snatched and broken but she still managed to keep the innocent girl in her alive who believed in fairytale.”

“Sometimes what we plan and dream does not work out as we would like it to, but it’s a part of Gods weird plan.” He smiled playing the memory of their first meet. “ The arrow became out of trend. Thus, this time it was a sword he used for cupid play.” He pointed an index finger up to the roof.

“weird?” anchor chuckled

“yes, it is. It's never been normal for this girl, so how could her story be normal? It should be as unique as her to justify. Am I right?”

Everyone nods in yes and there was a silent appreciation in their nod.

“She carried her wounds like medals on herself and had challenged society in every path she walked. Right or wrong, she chose her way without any regret."

“Sir, did she finally met her prince charming?” the anchor asked curiously

Rudra chuckles, “ Yes she did, actually he finally did. He always felt himself being blessed to be loved by her. She became his world and she too found her solace in him.” He chuckled remembering the kiss they shared on the balcony in her room that night.

“Sir, then what happened?”

“She lied.” Rudra sighed with a tear falling out of his eyes

“What lies?”

“Her promise to always be with him. She said she won't ever leave his side. But she left.”

There was this strange silence as if people could feel the pain too along with him. He had to collect himself. He knew she would never like it if she sees him breaking in front of everyone.

“But she was a determined woman, she  fulfilled her promise and found love, defeated the monster and gave justice to the little girl who she had lost “

“-and before you ask any more. To know the story further, buy your copy in the nearest book store. Thank you.”

Rudra didn’t even wait for another second and waving at everyone, he left the building.

He entered his room and sat on the place where she uses to sit while he shut his eyes and let the emotions in him release.

“You are okay?” he smiled at the familiar voice and nods in yes.

She placed her hand on his head and gave a message there.

“Better?” she asked

“yes.” He replied with a smile.

“Rudra how did the press meet go?” she asked as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed on it.

“It was fantastic. Everyone wanted to know about the writer. I wish you were there.”

She pulled her hands from his hair and kept it to her side.

“Rudra, you know I can’t meet.”

“yes, I know.” He pulled her hand to his hair again and she began playing with his hair

“your novel is a big hit, Maya.” He says while gently leaning on her so that he could rest his head on her lap.

“Really! Can I see it?”

Rudra nods and with his eyes closed he points at the book on the table. Maya walks to the table and holds the book.

“Beyhadh.” She brightens up in surprise.” You did remember it Rudra. I thought you were bad at following instructions.”

“Yeah, but not when the instructions are coming from my life.”

“That was cheesy.” She mimicked.

“yeah, but I looked cute in it.” He defended

“No you don’t.” she folds her hands across her chest

“yes I do.” He does the same.

Maya could never be angry with her prince charming for so long and thus she smiled while pecking softly on his lips.

“I love you.”

Rudra’s eyes shot open as he whispered back, “ I love you too Maya.”

He looked around and sighed sadly. She was nowhere. He stood up to their photo again while he kissed his fingers and placed them on her lips through the photo frame.

Tiaraa2020-01-07 14:41:09