Sujal
"Tumhare liye ab kuchh mehsoos nahi hota mujhe. Na pyaar, na gussa, na afsos aur na hi nafrat. Tumhare hone na hone se mujhe koi fark nahi padta. You don't exist for me Mr. Sujal Garewal."
This was all I could hear from the woman who had been the center of my existence, ever since I had first laid my eyes on her, the day she sat across me nervously fidgeting with her fingers, trying to make up answers for my obnoxious questions. The girl who had fooled me, into buying a bottle of vitamin supplements for her, the girl who hit my car in her euphoric exuberance and couldn't muster up the courage to help me but could go straight to the police to confess her deed.
Kashish.
The woman who had shown me samsara and nirvana at the same time ! The woman for whom I had won empires and the woman for whom I could sign them off, in the blink of an eye. I, Sujal Garewal, have ceased to exist for Her.
I could still see her lips moving, but nothing registered in my mind. I could hear her voice, the voice that could make my stone of a heart melt. Yet, today, nothing made sense. Suddenly, I found myself zoned out. It felt as if my emotions, senses and most of all, every molecule of my existence were being squeezed out, drop by drop ,gradually , till there was nothing left. Pain, I should have felt it. Immense pain. But, I didn't. Not even a bit. Not even when I am a broke again, unsure of how to put the pieces together, unlike the last time when she chose Piyush, my best friend, over me, my love, my devotion.
This ! Was this the end ? Was this the light at the end of the dark tunnel that my life had become ? Was this an end to the miseries that I had deliberately put myself into ? Was this what I had thought it would be like, when I had persuaded Kashish to work with me in exchange of the loan I had given to save the R & G ? Kashish, I had wanted my Kashish, for once to look beyond the wedded responsibilities of that sham of a marriage to Piyush, and pay heed to what her heart desired. But, had I been wrong all along ? Did she ever really want me at the first place ? Was it just a mirage I was running after ? Or had I really failed to notice my Kashish being smothered and Mrs. Raheja taking the place instead !
Mrs. Raheja, was all that was left of MY girl !
With this realization striking me like a thunderbolt, I came back to the present. I heard her saying ,
" I am here to repay the debts of my family, Sir."
Sir, the word took me back to those lovely days when I had dared to find happiness for myself. We would steal glances, share a touch here and there , sneak out for a hug and dream of a beautiful future together. Yet , today the Sir felt different. Distant, cold and bitter. She continued,
"... working for you isn't a choice. Meri majboori hai yeh. I am doing this for my husband, for the family I got married into. "
Husband. Every time I've heard this word from her mouth, it has pierced my heart and left me bleeding. But today, I will put an end to it all. Sujal Garewal will not tolerate anymore insults hurled at him, by his lost love, his Best Friend's wife, Mrs. Kashish Piyush Raheja. Sujal was never after Mrs. Raheja anyway. I had wanted my Kashish back but today I pledge to build a world, that without any trace of her!
"Before you go any further, Mrs. Raheja, let me inform you that you are fired. Your services are no longer required."
I finally let out the words which I had been striving to speak, since the last few minutes. An instant wave of relief hit me. I felt light. It felt like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I realized that with those few words, I had finally embarked upon my journey towards peace and tranquility. In that one moment, I had let her go, something which I had failed to do over and over again, even when she told me that she would be having a baby with Piyush. But now, when I had done the unthinkable, there was no looking back. I suddenly noticed her confident demeanor breaking, the gleam in her eyes fading away, her shoulders slumping down in defeat. Nevertheless, she still hit back at me..
"Maine aapse karzaa liya tha. Aur usey chukaye bagair main kahiin nahi ja sakti, Sir"
At that very moment I felt like laughing out loud at my own stupidity. How could I be audacious enough to think that Mrs. Raheja would give up without putting up a fight ! But, I wasn't ready for it now, not anymore. I just wanted her out of my sight, of my damn world.
"Jo paise maine loan ke taur par R&G ko diye, woh tumhe waapas lautane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai. Samajh lo ki who meri taraf se tumhe aur Piyush ko shadi ka tohfa tha.
Bas, mujhpar ek ehsaan karna, phir kabhi peechhe mudkar mat dekhna. Phir kabhi mere aankhon ke saamne mat aana"
Tearing the legal contract papers binding Mrs.Raheja to me, I ended , all that was ever there between Kashish Sinha and Sujal Garewal. I searched her face for a reaction and saw relief flood through her. Had she been waiting for this moment all this while? Was she so eager to put everything in the past and move on ? Huh! Who was I kidding? She had already moved on. The day she had slept with Piyush and slapped it on my face the next morning, my mind knew she had moved on. Far beyond my reach. But my heart fooled me into believing otherwise. Damn heart ! You're such a fool.
Now, it was time to leave. Time to venture into the new world which I shall create, for myself, by myself. I left the room with long , resolute strides, without sparing as much as a glance at Kashish. This was the beginning of my Renaissance.
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