Chapter 5

Chapter 5

She went in her room, feeling like a total jerk.  She had come between two lovers, and who else but herself could understand the feeling of getting a heartbroken heart.  She prayed to god that the other girl should forgive her. Now she had to take a decision about this marriage.  Should they both stay enslaved in such a relationship, or should they just part ways.  Their relationship hasn't advanced much anyway. Yep this would be the perfect decision she thought, though she didn't understand the heaviness in her heart after this.

She waited for Arjun to come to tell him her decision, she didn't believe in wasting time, since already so many things had taken place.

She was lost in her thoughts when Arjun entered the room.  Like always it was a treat to see his wife every time, and the fact she was his gave him an immense pleasure. The rest would just come in due course he thought.

He walked to sit next to her, and asked, "Kya hua? kahan khoye hue ho?"

Belatedly Sakshi noticed Arjun sitting next to her, she felt a sudden turmoil in her heart, which she ignored.  Wasting no more time she asked, "Arjun, why did you marry me? And don't you dare evade me like last time?"

Arjun was surprised at this question.  He wondered how to answer this question.  He searched her face for anything, for any encouragement for him to declare his feelings.  But he couldn't read anything from her face, it was almost as if she was hiding something from him. He felt sad that despite everything which took place during the past month, he hadnt been able to get even one step closer to her heart.

For once in anger he replied, "You know well why I married you! Did you forget that my brother had left you, shaming you and your whole family! and then your challenge to marry you?!"

Sakshi was completely miserable on hearing his words. So she was right, she had forced him to marry her with her emotional blackmail.

"Arjun, have you ever loved anyone?" Sakshi suddenly asked.

Arjun looked at Sakshi in a puzzled way, he didn't even know why Sakshi was asking such questions today. Did something happened?

And given he didn't think Sakshi was ready for his declaration of love, he had no choice but to say, "No, I have never fell in love with anyone!"

For the first time since Sakshi had known Arjun, she realized that Arjun was lying to her. Was it because he didn't want to break her heart if he had said the truth? Why was he so good to her? If he was so good to her, then it was time she also did her part unselfishly.

"Arjun, don't lie..." Sakshi replied back looking straight in his eyes.

"I just heard you saying you still loved her..."

Arjun was shocked, and he wondered how much she had heard? So she did know that he loved her after all. He felt one burden less on his heart, he'd no longer have to pretend that he didn't love her now.  He felt also happy at this, though Sakshi's face showed only sadness.

"So finally you know that I was in love," Arjun said, and he cupped Sakshi's face.

"And what's your decision now? Do you think you'd be able to..." Arjun was going to say love him back but Sakshi interrupted him.

She removed his hands from her face, but continued to hold them in her hands. Finally Arjun himself was asking her to leave.

"Yes I have thought a lot about it," Sakshi said, and then not being able to fix him at all lowered her eyes, and continued, "It will be better if we separated."

Arjun had started to smile, when her last words wiped any smile and joy completely from his face.

He released her hold on his hands, and grabbed her upper arms forcing her to face him.  For the first time Sakshi felt Arjun's anger and strength.

Tears started to stream out of her face, but still she managed to say, "I'm sorry, all this is my fault.  I shouldn't have forced you to marry me. I came between you and her?"

Arjun's hold on her arms slackened when he realised his wife was completely crazy.  She thought he loved another girl, as if it was even possible. He shook his head with amusement now.

"Sakshi, if you really think well. You never forced me for anything, on the contrary I forced you into marrying me!" he said and brought her head to his chest, patting her while he held her sobbing body.

"Nahin, you don't have to say anything to make me feel right.  I gave you no choice, and stressed on your good side.  You had no choice but to marry me!" Sakshi replied while still crying.

"Stupid lovely Sakshi," Arjun said and gave her a kiss on her forehead.

He knew that he had to confess everything to her now, he knew she wont hurt him.  She was too good of a girl.  But just as he opened up his mouth, her next words shattered him.

"I know what it is to lose someone we loved a lot, and like you say true love never dies..." she said.

Dil Jude Bina Hi Tut Gaye Hath Mile Bina Hi Chhut Gaye

Ki Likhe Ne Lekh Kismet Ne
Baar Baar Rod Akhiyan Tainu Jo Na Vekh Sakiyan
Khole Aaye Aaj Kudrat Ne
Kataan Main Ki Ve Din Teri Soth Tere Bin
Main Toh Jiya Na Mara

She felt him froze, and then she almost could sense that something wrong had happened.  Arjun released her and went to stand looking outside.  He couldn't digest her last words.  Did that mean she still loved Rohit? and she'd never be able to forgive him? Though at first he'd only be happy to have her as his wife, he now realised that it wasn't enough.  He didn't want Sakshi only as a compromise, he wanted all or nothing. He wanted her love and everything.

Had he gambled too much? But he knew what he did was right, Rohit wasn't right for her. Rohit had only been playing with Sakshi's feelings.  But the poor girl had really loved his brother, so much infact, that he no longer thought Sakshi could ever love him.

"Do you still love Rohit?" Arjun felt compelled to ask.

For once Sakshi was at doubt herself. Of course she had loved Rohit, and she had felt heartbroken when he disappeared.  But to be truthful, she hadn't thought much about Rohit since she got married to Arjun.  She raised her eyes to look at her husband, in fact she hadnt considered about Rohit that much, indirectly Arjun's thoughts would always occupy her mind lately.

So she didn't know how to reply at all, and lowered her eyes in thought.

While Arjun took her silence as a yes and a mere consideration to him.

Finally accepting defeat, Arjun asked, "Would you like to get an annulment?"

Though she had said the same things a few minutes earlier, she didn't know why the same words from Arjun's mouth could hurt so much.

Do, pal ruka, khwaabon ka kaarvaan

Aur phir, chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan

Do pal ki thi, ye dilon ki daastaan

Aur phir, chal diye, tum kahaan, ham kahaan

Without hearing her answer, Arjun just left the room, and soon she heard the front door being slammed shut. 

scroll down for more😃