Chapter 4

                                      PART 4

He entered inside and closed the door behind him. He looked at the wall clock and it showed 6:30 am. He threw his bag in a corner and moved towards the couch. He laid flat on the couch and closed his eyes.

'All we want is for you to get married.'

'Please save my kids. Please.'

'Parents are always self less. It's only kids who are selfish.'

As he lay there, all the conversations he had with various persons on the earlier day.

No matter how hard he thinks, he is not able to overcome yesterday's events. And after talking to his mother, he is also feeling that it's time for him to get married.

But immediately his mind is going back to his past before 2 years.

He still remembers the punches he got then. He even doubts if his face still bears those marks. Frankly speaking, his past relationship totally changed his views on marriage. In short to say, she made a fool of him. She made him dance to her tunes.

And now he is not sure, if the coming girl will be any different. And he doesn't want to become a fool anymore.

"Arghh!", he sat up in irritation. This thought process is not letting him sleep.

To be honest, if any one asks what he really wants to do in his life, he would say it is to give an earful to that Vaishali. He want to say it in her face that he is not a fool.

But now that's not the problem, the problem is with him agreeing to the marriage. He is slowly regretting his decision. Because the truth is, he is still not over his past.

                                  *****************

Arogya Nidhi Hospital,

8:00 am.

"That was one brutal accident. Out of the 14 people only 3 people survived.", Sameer said to Ayesha. 

They both were returning after visiting the emergency ward. 

" Yeah! The van driver was drunk and none of the passengers noticed.", Ayesha replied, rubbing her eyes. 

Sameer noticed her eyes that turned red due to the previous sleepless night and said, 

"You should go home now. Your eyes are so red. Go and get some sleep."

"No, still the bodies are not claimed. There's so much process left.", she replied in a sleepy voice. 

" Oh, come on! You have people to work for you. Use them. It's not as if you need to treat people.", Sameer said and waited for her reaction. And he got what he expected. 

She immediately responded with a scowl, 

"What do you mean by that? That means my work is nothing and yours is so important. This is the problem with you doctors. You think you are the greatest in this world."

Sameer couldn't help but smile at her reaction. He always knew that such dialogues provoke her and he likes when she pouts that way.

"Okay baba, I am sorry.", He said but she seemed unconvinced by it.

"Achha, fine! Listen,..", he caught her hand and stopped her mid way. Then said by looking into her eyes,

"This weekend we shall go to your place."

Ayesha became a bit normal and said,

"No, that's not needed. This week had been so hectic for you. You need to relax."

"Yeah, but I feel more relaxing when I am with you. So we shall go to your place. First we will meet your parents, have our breakfast, then roam all around the place till noon, then we shall have our lunch on the lake side and then rest on the grass heap the entire noon. Then at last we shall lit a bonfire and spend the entire night with our friends.", Ayesha kept looking at him wide eyed as he was speaking.

"What do you say?", He asked.

She didn't say anything but nodded her head. The redness of her cheeks was enough for him to say that she is impressed.

                                  *****************

". Hello!", I said.

"Hey bro! What's up?", He asked.

"Nothing! Just returned.", I said.

"Okay...,"

"Accha listen,", I cut him off and said,

"Yeah?",

"I have to tell you something."

"What?"

"I told mother that I wanted to get married."

"What?!!!", He shouted so loudly that I had to distance myself from the phone.

After that he spoke nothing for few seconds. I only heard some rumbling sound. 

"Are you mad or what?", He asked coming back.

"No yaar, it's just that...", I trailed off.

He again remained silent for few seconds.

"Why did you do that?", He asked.

"It's just that,, I thought I should not trouble them anymore...Also, I thought you would be very happy to hear that. But you don't seem anything like that?", I asked. I really didn't expect this from him.

"Ajju! It's marriage! Not some time pass. I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but you have to spend your life time with that girl you are going to choose. I know aunty and uncle are worried, but...but this not the right way no matter what.", He said.

Well I know that, don't I? It's just becomes so difficult when you have to stand in those shoes.

"I know. That's why I am asking you now. What shall I do?"

He spoke nothing. I heard him take a deep sigh.

                                  *************** 

Another pillow came flying towards me. I successfully dodged it but another one was already on its way.

"Why would anyone do that, Shree?", Anu's shriek followed.

I hid behind the couch to avoid those pillows coming with the speed of light.

"Anu, I am sorry. I had to do that in that moment. You know, situation demands...", 

This time a book came and directly landed in my lap. 

Anu was into athletics in school? I never knew.

Well, you might be wondering what I have done...

"No matter how big the situation is, no one would ever sell off their friend's secret. You told Arjun that I love him?", Another book.

Well, now you know what I did. 

Ouchh! This one flew directly above my head.

"Anu, sorry yaar! Arjun was saying that he was getting ready to marry, so I had to tell him.", I tried to explain. This I heard nothing and nothing came flying. I slowly peeked out and saw her silently going into her bedroom. 

I followed her.

By the time I went inside she was sleeping with her back towards me. I slowly went and sat behind her.

"Anu, everything happens for good sake, don't worry.", I tried to sooth her.

She didn't say anything just wiped a tear that was coming out of her eye.

I didn't know she was crying.

"Anu...",

"After Aai, Baba and Kishu's death,...you know that I only have you both right! Then why would you do that?", She sat up wiping her tears and continued.

"You know that Arjun would leave me right?"

"Anu, nothing would happen like that.."

"How do you know that? Whe..where's my phone?", She began fumbling on the bed and said after she found that,

"See, see this. 16 missed calls... Since morning. What shall I say to him?"

Well I really don't know if she asks like that.

Suddenly she began crying with her face in her palms.

"Anu...", I tried to hold her but she didn't allow me to.

"From 4 years.. even one thing doesn't go in a proper way. First Aai, Baba and Kishu's death, then that loneliness, depression, now this... Now anyway Arjun will leave me. You also go away. Only then you will be in peace.", She said pushing me away.

Why didn't I think about all this before? I should have estimated her anger. She doesn't get one easily, but if she gets it, no one can stop her.

"Tring!", Just then the door bell rang.

Oh my God! This really can't get anymore worse. Ajju! Please cut me some slack this time.

I can already feel her questioning gaze on me.

"Arjun called me earlier. He said he wanted to meet you. And I said you would be here.", I said not trying to meet her gaze.

....

........

...........

She threw me out of her bedroom and shut the door on my face.

Gosh! I just want to get out of this nightmare as soon as possible.

I wish there's a skip button in your life.

                                  ***************

"Anu, open the door!", I could hear Arjun shouting, banging the door.

I kept another pillow on my ears wishing it could muffle his sound.

"Anu, talk to me once.", He said.

Huh, what would he say? Just give me left and right for keeping all those feelings.

"Anu, please open the door.", He said.

No way! Not even if he kills me.

For the next few seconds or more than that, there was silence. I heard nothing but the whirring sound of my fan.

Perhaps, they left. 

I put the pillows aside and got up slowly.

Just then there was a loud bang again,

"ANU!!!", I almost fell back startled.

So he hasn't left. But that's not the issue now. There was this continuous banging outside.

"ANU, OPEN THE DOOR!!!", His voice sounded louder than his banging.

I didn't know what to do.

Then there was this series of bangs, no thuds that sounded like thunder.

I am sure his hand should be bleeding by now.

I immediately got up and opened the door. There he was with angry red eyes. Well not more red than his palms. Behind him stood that meeky cat, Shree. Let's deal with him later.

There's a bigger problem in hands now. Arjun, that too 'Angry Arjun!".

It's better I don't say anything. He would leave by himself.

In the next few seconds my eyes never looked up. Arjun stood there for sometime breathing heavily.

Then he began to move away. Perhaps he is leaving indeed.

But surprisingly, he went towards the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a water bottle. He came back finishing half of the bottle in 2 gulps. He handed it to me and went inside and sat on her bed.

Typical Arjun!

He is not saying anything. It's been 5 minutes since he came inside. I looked at Shree and received the same confused look back.

That's it. This is not going to end nice. The faster I deal with it, the faster I can get free.

"Listen Ajju....",

He looked at me. I could see nothing in his eyes. No anger, no hate, no look of 'you betrayed me ' or anything. He's just normal. Much cooler than normal. And that's not at all a good sign. That simply means that something bigger is getting cooked up in his mind.

"Listen Ajju, I don't know what this idiot told you, but there's nothing like that.", I said.

"Okay...then, what next?", He asked nonchalantly.

Okay...now this is going weird.

"No.. nothing...", I don't know where this stammer came from.

"Good! Now come and sit here.", He said moving further to the side on the bed.

Well, should I go now or just stand here?

"Come na...come. Sit here.", He insisted.

What are you up to Ajju?

I slowly went and sat on the edge of the bed. He himself moved towards me covering the gap between us.

I silently looked at him as he spoke.

"Anu, for a second, let's just forget that I have a painful past and you have feelings for me.( I tried to protest but he stopped me by holding my hand gently.) Let's just talk like friends, two best friends.", He took a pause looking intently into my eyes. Ahh! These are the only reason behind my doom. 

"Anu, why didn't you ever tell me about your feelings? Did I ever neglect them? Is it my fault that I didn't notice them?", He asked calmly. By now my hands were in his palms.

"It's none's fault. It's just that.. It's..I...", Trust me, I could really see the lump that's formed at the back of my throat. If this doesn't end here, I am definitely going to break down.

"Anu...! What happened?", Arjun nudged me out of my trance.

"Bro, you don't believe her. She loves you a lot. I have been seeing her since past 7 years. Even that day when aunty, uncle died she forced them to come here because she couldn't bear that pain of seeing you with Vaishali. That day uncle denied in the beginning but she kept on pestering. And finally when they were coming...",

They died! A voice spoke in my mind sending a shiver down my spine and a tear involuntarily rolled down my face.

Now I don't have the dare to look at them. Yes I am a killer. I killed my own family. My mother, my father, my sister..., I often hear my sister asking me why I ended her life like that. I don't even deserve a peaceful death. I can still there bloody lump of flesh lying in front of me.

I can't stay here anymore.

I stood up and swiftly walked out.