06/08 - ch4 pg7 - The melody to my music - SS - Page 2

Chapter 2

Samrat stands by the entrance unnoticed, though not aware of all that has transpired, he curses himself for trusting Nandini as he watches his princess cry... Annoyed that he did not listen to his instincts... Fuming, he thinks, "how dare she plan to hurt my princess!" Storming in, like a vengeful angel, he roars, "what is the meaning of this, Nandini? How dare you try to get to me through my daughter!" There is pin drop silence as everybody turns to stare at him.

Nandini, shuts her eyes, pleading for Samrat to disappear... Wanting to deny his presence... Her attitude; if I don't see him, he is not there. "Damn," she curses mentally, trying not to panic as her thoughts race, "what is he doing here? I need to get Arjun out of here before he finds out the whole truth." Opening her eyes slowly, hoping against hope that it was just a mirage, she stares with disappointment when she sees Samrat glaring at her, nostrils flared, eyes wide, like a raging bull preparing to attack.

Giving a weak smile, Nandini says, "you are mistaken Samrat. I would never want to hurt Sam." "Samaria," her father corrects. Gulping, Nandini repeats, "Samaria." Like a slippery snake she works her way out of the trap, "I recently came to know of Arjun's feelings for Radhika. Arjun is like my baby brother, but I did not want Samaria to marry a man who is in love with another. The fault is all mine, I should have dealt with it better," she ends apologetically. Turning to Piyali, with tears in her eyes, Nandini walks up to her and says imploringly, "as a woman, a mother, I hope you will understand why I had to bring this truth out. I know Samaria is hurting now, but just image the magnitude of her hurt were she to find out after her marriage."

Wanting to make a hasty exit, hands folded in apology, Nandini says, "please accept my apologies." Turning to Arjun who is staring at her in shock, thinking, "what the hell!" Nandini says coldly, "come. Let us go." Samrat looks at Nandini shrewdly and says harshly, "you may leave, but Arjun stays." His demeanour brooked no arguments.

Once all the guests leave, he looks around the room, noting the presence of his wife, Piyali, worry etched on her face... His daughter, Sam, who was hiccuping as Radhika and Neil gave her moral support. He turns to the last person in the room, Arjun, who is staring at Sam with sadness and regret. Giving his wife a reassuring look, Samrat calls out, "Arjun, come." And walks out of the room.

Perplexed as to why Sam's father asked him to stay back and now wanting to speak to him in private, Arjun follows... But not without one last glance towards Radhika. His gaze filled with sadness and regret for deep down he knew that Radhika hated him for hurting her best friend. Walking away, he wonders why he is so trouble, he always knew this day would come... When she would look at him with hatred... His heart cries out, complaining, "one day.. Not today... One day... Oh why did this one day have to come so soon."

Pouring a drink for both of them, Samrat says calmly, "come son." Surprised, Arjun walks up to him, taking the drink offered, downing it in one gulp. Samrat watches him, trying to assess him... Pours him another drink. Looking into Arjun's eyes, he says, "I have known you for a while now. I know you are not a bad person. I believe you to be a person of integrity. I am willing to give you the benefit of doubt. I don't want to assume anything. Do you love my daughter? Do you want to marry my daughter?"

Surprised for he was not expecting this, Arjun stares at Samrat, thinking, "why does he trust me to be truthful? Why is he not angry?" "I...," Arjun begins, then hesitates for he can neither say the truth nor can he lie. Unable to say anything, Arjun gulps his drink. Seeing this Samrat sighs and downs his drink too. He looks at Arjun with empathy and says, "we cannot control how and when we fall in love." Knowing how slimy Nandini can be, manipulation was like breathing for, easy. Suspecting foul intentions, he asks Arjun, "why did you court my daughter? Why propose? We both know you don't love her."

Arjun looks at Samrat, debating what to tell him, his conscious berating him, "look at the man. He is not just concerned about his daughter. Knowing that you played his daughter, he is before you trying to understand why you did what you did. You owe him the truth. Nothing but the truth." Taking a deep breath, Arjun says, "you hurt my Di. I wanted to hurt your daughter."

Samrat looks at him in surprise, asks, "what do you know about the past?" Emotional, Arjun says, "I know everything. How you broke your promises. How you broke her heart. I wiped her tears. I.." Laughing weakly, Samrat interrupts, "let me guess... You promised to avenge her pain. She never asked you. I bet all this was her idea and yet somehow it became your idea and moved on to become our idea. I know her well." Frowning Arjun says angrily, "it was all my idea. She only supported me because Di knew how important it was for me to avenge her."

Chuckling, Samrat responds, "Arjun, a man's idea of revenge would be to attack my business, to ruin my standing in the business world. It is a woman, especially one scorned who will attack my home, my family." Shaking his head as he looks at Arjun sadly, "what happened that you ruined all that you worked hard for?"

Arjun's mind eye automatically recollects the video he watched of Radhika's father's business burn down. Seeing the pain reflect in his eyes, Samrat looks at him curiously, wondering what could have happened. He says reassuringly, "whatever it is, you can tell me." Chocking with emotion, his eyes glazed, still envisioning the fire, Arjun says, "she burnt Radhika's father's business. She didn't care that people were there. Her grandfather is fighting for his life."

Saddened by this information, Samrat asks, "is it because you both love each other?" Shaking his head, Arjun replies, "she does not love me." Smiling wryly, he adds, "all she cares about is Sam. Ever since she found out that I wanted to hurt Sam, she has been a thorn on my backside. Protective of Sam. Taking my abuses and yet pleading with me to change. Pleading with me to save my soul. To smile. To laugh. I don't know when my annoyance turned to admiration to respect. I don't know when I started caring for her. when she cries, I hurt. When she laughs, I smile." Realising what he was saying, Arjun suddenly stops.

"I am sorry sir. I didn't mean..." Arjun says. Waving him off, Samrat says, "don't apologise for what you feel.we don't control love, love controls us. I want to say something. I want you to keep an open mind. Radhika has done nothing wrong and yet your Di did what she did. With this in mind, I would like you to consider that maybe there is more to what happened in the past. Things your Di has not informed you about... Things you don't need to know."

Pausing to gather his emotions, Samrat looks at Arjun and says empathetically, "I will leave you with this last thought. Your Di always knew that I was married." With that Samrat leaves Arjun to ponder on his last words. Stopping at the entrance of the room, Samrat stops, turns, looks at Arjun and says, "you have a whole life ahead of you. You need to decide what you want to embrace. The darkness or the light."