Hey guys here is a much much much longer part so you better give a much much much better response. It took me more than two hours after all :p
Sakshi stared at the clock as the middle finger struck 12. Her birthday!
Sakshi hated to celebrate her birthday. She lost her parents when she was just 16 years old. Lost her virginity too. She could never celebrate her birthday after that not because she lost it all on her birthday but because she had no reason to celebrate her existence anymore.
1:00 am
She wiped the tears roughly peeking a look at the phone that was ringing continuously. She knew she'll have to pick up or they'll get worried but she just couldn't bring herself to.
2:00 am
The phone has finally stopped ringing. She sent them all a message saying there was a problem in her phone and couldn't pick up. Hopefully they'll buy it.
3:00 am
21 hours more she told herself. Then it's going to be fine. What a beautiful delusion.
4:00 am
She struggled to keep her eyes open. She knew what would follow soon after. Nightmares.
5:00 am
She woke up sweating. Another deadly nightmare. The same every year. She wondered why she still got effected!
6:00 am
If only sameer had given her a day off she thought as she washed herself. Now she'll have to actually smile on the worst day of her life. The day she was born.
7:00 am
She skipped breakfast. How could she swallow anything when dread was the only thing that filled up her body.
8:00 am
She reached office an hour early. She didn't want to think about this day anymore than she already had.
'Sakshi' arjun called and she turned around surprised to see him here an hour early.
While arjun was surprised to see her attire. No bangles, no kaajal, a pale blue kurta that looked too colourless for her taste.
'Happy birthday' he said not sure if it was really her birthday after the way she looked.
'Thanku' she said forcing a smile out.
He could see it was forced but didn't comment.
9:00 am
'Sakshi tumhara phone theek hogaya?' He asked as she came to him with some work related file.
'Phone' she asked confused
'Haa kal kharab hogaya tha na tumne he toh message kia tha'
'Ohh haa ab theek hai' she said remembering her lie to them.
Before he could ask more their team members started entering the etf office.
Sakshi went out already knowing what was coming.
A bunch of happy birthday's were thrown her way as she stepped out. All hurting her akin to a slap on face.
Arjun also came out putting a cake in front of her gesturing her to cut it. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as images of her parents replaced her friends. Those images wearing the same clothes and bruises they were wearing on the day of their death.
Voices rang to her the birthday song but it was not a melody anymore. It was a horror song. A song which reminded her of the people she was trying to forget everyday.
She picked up the knife with shaking hands and cut a piece. She fed it to each one of her friends aisha, shree, liza, ria, chotu and even sameer and arjun.
Everyone could notice the changes in her after the initial excitement started to wear off. Her pale face and her fearful eyes. Her panicked state worried them all.
'Sakshi tum theek toh hona' aisha asked keeping a hand on her shoulder in a comforting way. It did nothing to comfort her. Words like that left her hand a long time back.
'Haan' she forced out another smile. She was used to it now. Used to pretending.
Aisha knew sakshi was lying but she also knew when to not push so she let go, for now!
Arjun was not to keen on letting go though. He wanted to know what was troubling her. Trembling while cutting a cake can't be something normal.
Ria didn't think much of it. It's not like she didn't care but then as of now sakshi was just a colleague to her. Maybe someday she'll be a good friend but for now she knew when to not intrude.
Shree, chottu and liza did notice but one look from aisha and they refrained themselves from asking anything.
Sameer was the only one not aware. Maybe because he was busy staring at aisha!
Everyone dispersed after the cake cutting ceremony completing pending reports and paper work. Arjun also went back to his cabin not before asking sakshi to come.
Everyone wished her the best of luck as they usually did when she went to him scared for her safety. That act finally fetched a single real smile out of her which was enough to calm down her friend's worried hearts.
'Haa arjun tumne bulaya tha' she barged in without knocking.
At Least something has not changed about her he thought relieved.
'Tum theek to ho sakshi' he asked coming straight to the point. His posture stiff as he stood against his desk with arms crossed in front of him.
'Haa mujhe kya hoga' she asked faking indifference with a smile.
Arjun sighed. Of course, this is sakshi anand. What did he expect that she'll come and start confessing as soon as she enters.
'Jhoot mat bolo sakshi' he said deadpan
'Jhooth nai bolri sachi' she said cutely pinching her throat with her thumb and forefinger trying to distract him with her antics.
He came closer than standing barely inches away aware of her intention. Taking her hand in his he caressed her cheek with the other one.
'Please sakshi, jo bhi hai batado. Please?' He asked finally letting his barrier drop as he let his emotions show on his face. His trouble on seeing her in trouble. His worry and his tension for her. He let all his vulnerabilities come to surface.
A tear leaked out of her eye as her throat clogged with emotions. She turned her face to the side trying to hide everything he was trying to see.
He brought her face back to look him in the eyes.
'Please' he insisted one more time.
A sob broke out of her than. Not able to control herself anymore she let it go as violent sobs rocked her body.
Arjun's heart broke seeing her like this. So vulnerable and sad. He fought back the pain that was beginning to form in his chest and took her in his arms tightly hugging her hoping it was enough to take away whatever it was that was hurting her.
After sakshi had finally calmed down he made her sit on the couch kneeling down in front of her. Her tear stricken face and red eyes troubling him to no end.
'Kya hua' he asked cupping her face in his hands looking with all the love in the world. Love that he didn't want to acknowledge.
'Mai 16 saal ki thi jab..jab wo log achanak mere ghar meh ghus aaye. Maa papa ne mujhe ek room meh lock krdia tha. Mujhse kaha ki koi awaz mat krna. Awazien aa rahi thi bahar se. Chilane ki, goliyon ki.'
She was lost in that day. As if living it again he noticed.
'Fir..kuch der baad ekdum darwaza tootke gir gaya. Maine dekha toh kuch log mask pehne hue the. Mai dar gayi. Un..unke peeche, mere maa papa ki laashien padi thi. Maine usne kaha ki ye sab kaise par wo meri baat sun he nai rahe the. Ek aadmi aage aaya or...
She froze as she thought about what happened next.
'Usne mere kapde' a sob broke out of her and arjun hugged her giving her the support she needed.
'Usne mera rape krdia' she finally said. His hold around her tightened.
'Maine usne rukne ko kaha tha arjun' she said breaking the hug trying to explain herself to him. As if she didn't then he would think she was lying.
He looked at her then and found that 16 year old girl still living inside her. A girl who was trying to prove her innocence to him. They didn't believe her. The police didn't believe her.
He squeezed his eyes shut. Angry at this corrupted system who tried to accuse the innocent and save the guilty. Money, it was all for money.
'Mai jaanta hu sakshi, mai janta hu tum sach bolri ho' he told looking directly into her eyes telling her what she wanted to hear from a long time.
'Wo..wo nahi maane jab maine unhone bataya. Unhone kaha mere maa papa ne ek dusre par he goli'
'Or unhone kaha ki mera koi boyfriend hai jiske sath maine ye sab kia or ab apni galti chupane ki koshish krri hu'
'Mai..mai sach kehri hu arjun unhone sach meh' but he didn't let her complete. He hugged her. She did not need to justify herself. Her telling them should have been enough but obviously those assholes, they did not listen. They infact made her doubt in her ownself.
'Tumhe kuch bhi samjhane ki zarurat nahi hai sakshi. Tumne keh dia bas itna kaafi hai.'
For the first time sakshi felt as peace. She felt that there was someone who believed in her. All this time she was doubting her ownself. Thinking that maybe she was lying. That it was all her fault. But arjun believed in her and that made her believe in herself.
'Par sakshi tum bachi kaise or fir tumhara khyaal kisne rakha itne saalo tak' he asked wanting to know every part of her being.
'Waha police aa gayi ekdum se. Par tab tak wo log jaa chuke the. Mai ro rahi thi tab wo aaye. Maine unhone kaha yaha kuch log aaye the par unhone meri ek baat nai suni'
'Jab maine journalism lia or ek company meh kaam krne lagi toh kuch logo ki madad se maine uss case ke baare meh sari information nikal wai'
'Tab pata chala ki wo log kon the. Mere papa ek police officer the. Or police walo ke marne par kon rota hai' she said letting out a humourless chuckle 'Unhone suicide kehke case ko shut krdia tha. Mere ma pa ka katal krne wala ek minister ka beta. Unke baare meh kuch suboot mile the papa ko. Wo jante the kya hoga islie pehle he unhone unn subooton ko kahi chupa dia tha. Unlogone socha ki papa ko mardene se saboot kisi ke haath nai lagenge. Par wo mere hath lag gaye. Maine unhe bina kisi ko bataye telecast krdia jisse wo sab log sarakhon ke peeche chale gaye. Minister ne apni kursi khodi or mere ma papa ko insaaf mil gaya.
'Mai jaanti thi ki meri jaan bhi khatre meh pad sakti hai islie maine etf join karne ka faisla lia. Mar toh mai bhaut pehle he jati agar baba se khud ko salamat rakhne ka wada nahi kia hota'
'Sakshi' arjun shouted holding her arms in a firm grip.
'Dobara marne ki baat kabhi mat karna' he said bitterly
Sakshi lowered her head embarrassed at having showed to him her weakest side.
Arjun sighed and pulled her head up.
'Tum nai janti ki kitne logo ki zindagi tumse judi hai.' he said softly. Tracing her tresses lovingly.
'I'm sorry' she said sadly
'Tumhe pata hai sakshi jab maine uss din sikander ko maara tabhi decide krlia tha ki apne aap ko apni zindagi jeene se or nahi rokunga. Janti ho kyo' he asked
She bobbed her head from left to right listening like a 6 year old.
'Kyoki mai janta hu ki aisa karne se roshni ko khushi milegi' he said playing with her hairs.
'Ussi tarah tumhe bhi khush rehna hai, wo dikhawe wali khushi nai jo tumhare face pe roz hoti hai, balki wo khushi jo tumhare maa papa tumhare chehre pe dekhna chaahte hai' he concluded
'Tum bhaut strong ko sakshi or ab ye baat tumhe apne parents ko bhi prove krni hai' saying this he placed a light kiss on her forehead but instantly backed off realising his mistake.
'Umm w..wo' he stuttered not knowing what to say.
Sakshi sprung up from the couch knowing how to not make the situation more awkward
'Koi ni acp sahab aap apna bahana sochie tab tak mai bahar ka chakkar laga ke aati hu' she said winking and ran away not before showing him the tounge!
While arjun was glad that he could finally bring a smile to her miss publicist's face. 'His?' His inner voice shouted
'Oh shutup. Yes mine!!!' he told his inner voice still smiling!
Sakshi felt lighter. Not only because she finally told someone every secret of her life but also because he did not judge her. He gave her a reason to move on from her nightmares. He believed in her.
Here ria was again and again looking towards arjun's cabin. What was taking sakshi so long. Definitely not work related!
Ria was not really in love with arjun but she definitely felt something for him. She had also caught up to the fact how arjun was too restless whenever sakshi did not talk to him. She remembered the first time she went into serve him his favourite cutting chai!
FLASHBACK
She quietly entered his cabin after knocking twice. He nodded without looking up from his file. Workaholic she thought then kept his chai infront of him expecting a thanku. Expect the unexpected she thought grinning.
'Sakshi tum kabse knock karke aane lagi' he joked then looked up only to find ria instead.
'Oh wo umm usually sakshi serve karti hai chai toh mujhe laga' he said trying to hide his disappointment.
She nodded and started walking away when he called her.
'Thanku' she finally felt at ease and flashed her dimples. Opening the door another sight greeted her. Sakshi poured all the chai in sink and walked off.
FLASHBACK OVER
Ria really hoped it was not what she was thinking but then you just never know!
Just then she saw sakshi coming out of his cabin with a small smile on her lips. She looked much better now. The colour of her cheeks and shine of her eyes was finally back!
Later arjun dropped sakshi to her home but as she was getting out he stopped her by holding her elbow. She raised her eyebrows questioningly.
He turned around and picked up something from the backseat.
She squealed seeing a gift in his hand and took it opening it quickly not caring about the poor wrapping paper.
Typical sakshi he thought chuckling.
She picked up the beautiful wind chime staring at it awestruck. It was after all the most beautiful gift she was ever gifted. Every chime was a different colour total 8 in counting. They all wore a picture each of a person that mattered to her. Arjun, sameer, aisha, chottu, shree, liza, her mom and dad all were there. She didn't knew how he got this made in such a short time or how he got her parents photo but the only thing that mattered was that he listened and cared.
'It instantly reminded me of you' he whispered 'and your bangles. You're like this wind chime sakshi, a music to everyone's life who scares away the silence. I want this wind chime to be your sakshi anand who reminds you every time you get upset that there is someone out there who still cares'
Her wet eyes looked into his eyes then and knew that he was saying this from his heart. He really thought so highly of her and for the first time she felt like she belonged somewhere. Maybe there in his black beautiful eyes. She knew she wanted to stay in them for the rest of her life.
He knew he was in love the moment he was willing to do anything to keep this beautiful smile on her face. She was a windchime. His windchime
Tere bin tere bin marna nahi tere bina jeena nahi tere bin <3
Like away!
Edited by lovesick23 - 9 years ago
Anupamaa
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