24 HOURS

My dear wifey,

I don't know if tomorrow I'll have the right to address you as wifey or not but one thing I'm very sure of is you'll always be my Love no matter if you're still my wife or not.

Till today I was thinking that I am the happiest or luckiest man on this Earth because I have you as my wife, but no it's not true, it was just my imagination, my assumptions until you made me realize the reality of me that you aren't really happy with me. I always felt pleasured thinking I'm able to give my wife all the happiness she deserved, all the Love my heart can shower. but, I was so wrong. 

To be honest I never realized the relationship we are carrying together is not out of love. I was domineering you, right?

I was thinking that I Love you and you love me but the truth is you loved me back just because I compelled you, right?

I agree that our marriage was a concession, I truly accept that the way our wedding took place wasn't right but I thought we had made it right with our partnership with our love. We were friends first, Roli. you should have let me know that you are feeling stifled in our relationship. Why didn't you tell me? I kept thinking that we are happy together, but you, you weren't. Were you feeling suffocated with me? Was our relationship, our marriage, that love, that friendship burden to you? 

Roli, I was your husband, your best friend as you say, so don't you think I have the right to know how you feel about US. You said you had masked your sadness to pretend as a good daughter-in-law exactly like how you were ordered by your mother, right? But I wanna ask you what was the need, you were my wife and I didn't tell you to be the one, I had told you that you can be what you are then why did you do that. Have I ever asked you for it, no right, or did I? 

I agree you were tied into a relationship of being a wife, a daughter-in-law with all the responsibility of the in-laws at such an early age. I know that was wrong, but you only had told me once that you feel happy doing it for the family as you had accepted them as yours so I kept quiet. I thought you were comfortable, pleasured serving our family. And every time my only concern was your happiness, I found you happy in fulfilling all those responsibilities so I didn't stop you. If you know, I had wished it many times to steal you in between the family members just to have time for us. But my priority was the smile on your face which will always be there whenever you were with everyone. I was thinking you were happy without knowing that the smile on your face is fake. I never thought that you were suffering because of this forced marriage. 

And you said you want to live your life as you had desired to but all of us had snatched that right from you. Am I correct? But here I wanna ask one thing.. It's that, Roli Why... Why didn't you ever voice out your wishes to us, to me at least for I am your best friend? I still am your friend... right? or I was... or more precisely should I say you never considered me as your friend in the first place. If not friend then as my wife you have full right to share everything or anything but you decided to stay quiet, why? What should I think of it now? Is that mean I failed as a husband too... miserably. 

The divorce papers you handed me gave me the same feeling that I failed... I failed to be a good friend, a good husband but as always my priority has always been to bring up a smile on your face although which I couldn't bring but this time around I would want to do what's your wish. 

So as it's your wish I will sign on to those divorce papers but before that, I wanna request you for something... Can you please just give me 24 hours to spend with you... I promise this will be the last 24 hours you would have to tolerate me because after that you'll be free from my shackles and I swear after it I'll never ever come your way... I swear you will never see my face again in your life...

If you are agreeing to go with my wish then, please a request again... Come to meet me in the Red Saari, and also please remove the mangalsutra off your neck as I don't want you to feel tied Into the name of this forced relationship and yeah, Also remove the Sindoor too.. The timing is from 11:30 tonight to 11:30 tomorrow night, I think you know the place where to meet me ... 

And if you don't want to bear me anymore then just send me a message from anyone... In the next fifteen minutes after it, you'll get the papers signed and then you will never find me or my dead body in front of you even by mistake.....

Your Sid

Your Hubby

Tumhara Dost

Love

Siddhant...

(I will be waiting tonight....there is a stopwatch with this letter, which has a time set for 24 hours. Bring this one with you for you can check on me that I won't cheat for even a minute more...)

_________________________

Roli falls almost like a corpse on the tiled floor after she completed reading the letter which was given by Siddhant, tears were continuously rolling down her eyes... 

Her mind went blank, throat blocks, her voice totally ceased at the moment knowing how much her action has hurt Sid, The person whom she loved and respected wholeheartedly. It was not just a letter he has put all the vulnerability of what his broken heart was feeling into words...

Every word of the letter pierces her deep in the heart but what killed her totally was the traces of his tears throughout the letter and the cut on all the ways he used to address himself as hers...

Her voice box wasn't into working but her soul was speaking to his pic with her over the wall ...

I thought I can handle things efficiently but I failed... I had hurt that person whom I loved more than my life how can I do this? How???

This morning when I handed you the divorce papers I saw there was hurt in your eyes but wasn't knowing that hurt will be so deep and brutal.

I thought you will be a little sad and later on, I can handle you but where did I know that I am the one to stab your heart so deep whereas you just loved me with all the heart you have and would never leave any chance to show your love towards me and me ... I killed you alive... 

I am so sorry Siddhant Ji... I am so sorry... I love you too, Whatever I told you was a lie, I love you so much by myself you had never compelled me for anything, you had just loved me it was me who has taken you for granted and I am so sorry for that ...so sorry

I will come today... I'll surely come today ... I'll tell you everything... You..... Should.... Know 

You should know......

Roli finally leans behind on the floor then closed her eyes cursing herself, painful tears left her eyes...

11 pm Roli left the house hiding from everyone especially from Veeru, She readied herself as he has asked for into his favorite red saari, with no sindoor and mangalsutra. Her eyes are still watery and tears may drop down any moment...

Her legs stumbled a few times for no energy in her system but still, she carried herself to the next street from the Bharadwaj house to the very same little world they had built together for themselves after coming out from the Bhardwaj house... When Siddhant said she knew the place where to come, honestly she didn't know he was talking about it. Later on, thinking too much she remembered that he always used to say to her that every moment he lived with her in that house was so precious to him as it was only for us and no one else...

She reached the doorstep but to be fair she didn't have the strength to knock on the door and face him. Her thoughts wandered on a query that In which state he will be right now... She knew a little bit of it and that little guess of hers is already pulling her away to even face him as she knows that she doesn't have stability in her being to watch him in the worst emotional devasted mess which was caused by herself.

On another side of the door, Siddhant was sitting on the floor with the support of the wall having his eyes glued on the clock, his every hand has finger crossed praying from the Almighty to bring his Roli on the doorstep. The clock struck 11:30. Siddhant sighed so loud, his head shakes slowly for no, His eyes started to tear up, he bangs his head back on the wall dejected, and then finally weeps covering his eyes as he doesn't want to witness the truth that She didn't come. A tiny part of his heart has a hope that she will come but seeing no traces of her breaks him...

With every passing minute, his cry becomes Lil louder. It took another 15 minutes for Roli to gain her strength again, She was neither able to go inside nor to go back but after lots of fighting with her mind and heart, she finally knocked on the door...

Siddhant instantly looks at the door in reflex after he heard a little thump on it. His cry seizes the moment his heart dreams of it being Roli. There was another slow pat on the door making him smile amidst his tears, He kissed his pinky finger whispering " Thank you " then headed in the speed of light towards the door.

The next second he opens up the door to find her standing in front of him as he wanted, he leans to the door keeping his gaze on her, new tears found their way down his cheeks. Roli has her gaze down, she still didn't have in her to look up at him. For quite more minutes at the door, Siddhant finally pushed his vocals to bring out some words " come inside "

His voice was so low, rough without any strength in them like it always used to be, His voice has always been so sweet and lovable that every time he has welcomed her in the very same house, yeah at times he was angry too but this time it holds pain, angst which kills her again... Moving slowly she entered inside behind her Siddhant came closing the door.

There was a silence between them which was surely killing both of them but none got the courage to break the silence, tears were continuously wetting Roli's cheeks whereas Siddhant has his eyes fixed on her watching like as if he is seeing her for the last time and wanted to capture this moment without losing it in a blink of an eye.

Both continue to stand up in the silences one was gazing at another while the other was looking down every time. The clock struck 12 giving the sound flinching Roli, the stopwatch she was carrying inside her fist all these while fell gaining both of their attention towards it. 

The sight of the stopwatch reminded Siddhant of the reason why he has called her and for Roli, it reminded her of the time she has left to convince Siddhant not to leave her ever and forgive her for the sin she did.

Siddhant cleared his throat to earn her attention, She did look at him but soon her eyes themselves pulled down for they couldn't stand the glimpse of his face being so wrecked in pain.

Siddhant didn't know how to start, what to say... He took a long breath to remove his nervousness then finally let out " sorry to ask you for one more request, I know I am doing exactly the same as you felt all these while - dominating you. But this time it's last I swear... So please will you keep smiling and love me the way you used to do earlier when we were here for I thought it was real... And I just want to spend some good time with you like earlier so that can have a memory in my heart to keep living my life after you.... Will you do that? No compulsion, you can deny too if you want to.... You came here that itself is a great thing for me"

The next ten minutes went in silence as Roli went into the shock hearing him thinking this way about their love and the word that hits her hard was him telling about living after you.... This meant he has decided to go away, for sure... After she was able to digest this piece her breath hitched losing all the courage she has gathered before entering the house. She sobs within cursing her existence to make her face this... 

Siddhant's eyes never left Roli it was always on her, he was waiting for her answer, in all these minutes he never for a once tried to read her face to know what's going on inside her mind as he feared he may see the rejection for him in her eyes... He kept waiting and after a couple of minutes She mumbles " Kill me "

" huh, what... What did you say?" 

" Kill me, Siddhant Ji, kill me because I don't deserve to live" Roli screams 

" Roli? What are you saying?" Siddhant asked for he was too confused about this wish of hers, but somewhere a small tiny part of his soul expected that maybe... Maybe she is still his but he also warned his heart not to desire too much for this could be something else.

Roli finally looks straight into his eyes for the next few minutes trying to find what he is thinking and she weeps more finding he still didn't want to hold any hopes for wanting to be Us, again. He is scared to even hope because of her one wrong step... Roli advanced near him, cupping his face looking straight into his eyes she uttered " I should be killed for being the reason of hurting  the person whom I loved the most"

It took a little while for Siddhant to let it in him and as it did his eyes started to smile on their own, still, he asked for the confirmation " Roli... You... Just... What did you just say... Did you say that... That you... You love me... Do you love me?.... Roli will you say it again... Once again... Please just say you love me... Tell me that it's not any dream, it's the truth... You love me in real"

" I do" she whispered again snaking her arms behind his neck.

Siddhant gasps in relief, he joined his head with hers then hugs her and cries, both of them cries holding each other tight as much as they could, in between his cry he says " oh Roli, You know what you scared the hell out of me by giving those papers"

" I'm sorry Siddhant Ji, I'm so sorry please forgive me, I wasn't knowing it will hurt you this much, I am sorry, I didn't want to hurt you... I'm sorry" she kept chanting while sid holds her tight.

" why you did that, Roli?"

" Siddhant Ji it's that... It was our, I mean me and Mausi Ji's plan to mislead Veeru ..."

Siddhant puts a finger on her lips then adds "Shhh... Enough you need not say anything, I understand ok... I totally understand but will you just tell me Roli that why didn't you trust me? Why didn't you tell me that you have something like this up in your mind? Did I fail here to build trust in your heart for myself"

" No... No please don't say like that Siddhant Ji, I trust you, I really do... You never failed in any of your duties towards me towards our relationship it was only me who failed every time and I am really very very sorry for it"

" Roli..."

" No wait let me say first ok... Let me say first" Roli interrupts Sid in middle and asks for a chance to let her tell what she wants... Siddhant nodded holding her tighter in his embrace while Roli continues " You Siddhant Ji, you are very good and this I am saying with all my heart and you know what everything you wrote in that letter is wrong... Everything is wrong... You never compelled me for anything, you never dominated me, you never even once failed in between us, you have always given all the freedom to me, And lastly I never ever once felt our friendship our marriage as a burden for you are the most precious blessing I can ever ask for..."

" Roli what did you just say... I'm your... your what?" Siddhant asks, his voice was shivering cause of all the overwhelming emotions he felt within.

"You are my most precious blessing Siddhant Ji and I mean it from every corner of my heart... You have given me the new definition of happiness and that's you me and our love... You had asked me for 24 hours right but I would want to give my whole life to you... I'm so sorry for messing up the things like this and for hurting you this much, I'm sorry Siddhant Ji... Please forgive me "

" You are forgiven" 

"Really?"

Siddhant pecks her forehead then whispers" If you would say me this lovingly that what I mean to you then how can I not forgive you love"

Roli hugs Siddhant with all the strength she has then shouts in happiness " Thank you... Thank you, Siddhant Ji... Thank you for forgiving me"

Both of them hold each other for a while crying, but this time in the happiness of getting each other... Roli then remembered something she pulls herself back and started to punch sid on his chest while complaining " why did you cut those, what do you want to say by that haa. How can you even do that, you're my Sid, you're my hubby, you're my pakke wala dost and you are my love too, hereafter don't even dare to cut those ok  "

Siddhant smiled at her complaints, he holds both of her hands which were busy punching, he touches her nose tip by his and whispered so lovingly " of course my Jaan, I'll never do this and you too promise me that you will never ask me to go away from you, whatever comes our way we'll stand united throughout"

" I promise" As soon she says those words he lifts her holding her waist then swirls her around in happiness of getting her back in his life as his wife, as his love...

After a while, he puts her down, and her leg came onto the stopwatch... Both of them looked at it, their perspectives towards it changes this time, Siddhant bents down to take it while Roli watches him over. Siddhant smiles wide picking it up, he holds her hand then says excitedly " come Roli, we already wasted a few hours"

" But why now"

" will you not come with me to know what all I had planned for these 24 hours to have a beautiful memory of ours" Siddhant answers with a new twinkle in his eyes, Roli curiously nodded yes, and then he took his bike and both went on the ride in midnight...

" what's our first destination" Roli asks holding him a little more tight on his waist.

" Just reached" he informs then stops his bike in front of the Clothes store, Roli looks at him in confusion, and to erase it he replied "Once you told me that you want to steal something so let's be a thief tonight"

Roli's eyes went wide in shock, excitement, love everything at the same time...

" come on let's go inside" Siddhant pulls Roli inside and there starts the adventures ride of these two who stole a set of clothes for themselves then the next destination was an isolated area away from the nuisance of the city, alone and calm place with ice cream in their hand...

" Siddhant Ji let's play" She asked after finishing her ice cream which she has already finished the half on the bike itself until they reach here

" What " 

" let's take a bite together and see who can have the bigger one at once"

Siddhant raised his eyebrows for he know all this is just a trick to have some more from his part too, still, he smiles and agreed... Roli smirks for her plan worked. Both simultaneously leaped to take the bigger bite and in the process, their lips meet each other freezing them at the point... Siddhant was pleasantly surprised after feeling the slight touch of her lips, he felt chills inside his body which he didn't feel because of ice cream too...

Roli went into momentary shock for what has happened before she could realize and move away, Siddhant took the opportunity in his favor and very slowly captured her lips amusing her. Roli starts to tremble little for she lost all her energy to stand back... out of this new development in between them. For little more minutes, he just let themselves feel the touch of their lips then he pulled back for he knows Roli is yet to be ready properly for any physical intimacy... He smiles then to cheer her up he pushed the cold ice cream inside her mouth in one go....

Their next destination was the five-star hotel in the town, Siddhant parked his bike on the backside of the hotel then sneaked inside, both changed into the staff's uniform then went inside one room for saying as room service and then inside they just enjoyed jumping on the extra soft mattress of the bed for it was what Roli wanted to do once in her life for sure... To jump on them and had the pillow fight to tear them apart but not let anybody know... 

The sun rises but still, their adventure was at its peak, they did every kind of crazy act Roli had once thought to do like puncturing one's car, emptying the whole salt bottle into another's food publicly but not to get caught... Their list doesn't end here, both of them were running in the whole town pulling up their crazy acts the whole day enjoying each other's company to the fullest.... 

Their last destination was a club, both entered inside and has decided to have One Shot for a trial but before they had it they danced like a crazy maniac... 

After a few minutes when Siddhant excused himself for a while, a boy came up to Roli to request her for dance, before Roli could answer Siddhant came back " sorry brother but she is mine, my wife, so I would want to be the only man to dance with her..."

" wife? Huh from which angle, there is no symbol of it on her "

Rosid looked at each other after noticing that Roli doesn't have her mangalsutra and sindoor as per his wish, this for a moment reminded them of the mess they were in yesterday night...

Roli's eyes became a little moist and that was when the clock ticks 11:30 and the stopwatch Sid has in his pocket rings reminding them that the time is over but does it matters?

Roli looks a little away from him for she got a little emotional on it and when she turns back she was numb in shock as Siddhant was on his knees having a ring in his hand and everyone around them were watching them anticipating a proposal

"Last time the situation was so different, I didn't properly ask you for it, I know how it started was weird but the relationship we shared was phenomenal, you are the first woman I fell in love with deeply, I never thought that I'd find someone inside whom my very life will exist... You are the girl who made me a better man for who I was before, who made me feel the beauty of love, and now I would want to admit that I am addicted to your love, to your presence... The misunderstanding we got into yesterday was somewhere my fault too and I promise you today that I will never let us have this kind of day ever again, I will try to love you more than I can, will be with you in any situation either it's the worst one or the happiest, and most importantly will trust you and respect you with all my heart.... Well, this is what I'm wishing for so how about we know your answer too... So Roli will you love to be with me together forever.... Roli, will you marry me, again? "

Everyone around there starts hooting at his words waiting for Roli's answer while some were encouraging Roli to say yes... But Roli was all numb and shocked still, Siddhant looks at her then says " It's not compulsory Roli, you can deny too, I won't mind for this time I want you to choose for yourself there is no pressure on you, "

" And I wanna choose you... It's yes yes yes and yesssssss" Roli shouts louder, happy tears leave both of their eyes... Siddhant hold her hand with tenderness then slid the ring inside, he kissed her knuckles reminding her of their kiss which made her shy, Siddhant bring her back to this world by offering her the ring... She holds it with a smile then made him wear it.... Both hug each other and everyone cheers for them...

Rosid came back to their house, Siddhant took her to the small temple they had inside, he spoke " Today, I am making you my wife again with all love and acceptance from you too"

Siddhant took a pinch of sindoor then asked her again " will you be mine?"

" Always and forever, I wanna be yours, Siddhant Ji "

With slight tears in his eyes, Siddhant filled her hairline then made her wear the new mangalsutra which he had bought in a belief that after these 24 hours he would somehow convince roli for being with him and not ask the divorce....

" I love you, Siddhant Ji" Roli mumbles 

Siddhant pulls her closer, engulfing her inside his hug he replied " I love you too Roli, You are my Jaan and always will be "