Burying herself in his chest further, she asked in a small voice
'Nachiket, all these years ... 15 long years and more ... did you ever ... was there ever ... I mean, did you meet any woman who you liked, who you felt could take my place? Did you ever love any woman and wished to marry?'
There was a pin drop silence as the words escaped her mouth and she could feel his arms tense around her. She started blabbering
'I am sorry Nachiket, I guess I am insecure when it comes to you. But I don't doubt you Darling, Pam did mention how you were like a lifeless soul ... how could i ever forgive myself for these questions?'
She started sobbing lightly against his chest.
After a while, she could hear his voice rumble against his throat, as he detached her from himself and cupped her face in both his hands, wiping away the tears -
'Ragini, I am happy you asked these questions which needs to be answered. I am sad though that we have come to a position where we need to answer these questions - such is fate.'
'Yes, I have been with a few women in New York. Pam must have bragged about me being a playboy earlier. But part of it is true - I went out with women, dated them. And even had tried to be intimate with a few. But to no avail. Why you know? Because I wanted to hate you with all my being, wanted to wipe away everything that reminded me of you, your presence, your eyes, your love, your hatred ...'
He abruptly got up from the bed and started pacing around and after a while, he continued
'... All these because I had no hope of ever finding you back again. And whenever I found myself with a different woman in some hotel room, I hated myself, I felt dirty, but I never let anyone realise how or what I felt. Never let anyone fathom how I craved for you to kiss me once, touch me once and make me whole once again.
I tried hard to like somebody else, but couldn't.
The broken being that I was, Ragini, however, I never loved anybody. I couldn't, I wouldn't.'
By this time, he had knelt down in front of her and hid his face in her lap, tears pouring down his face. This was a painful part of him that he always managed to hide form everybody. He continued as he sobbed
'You probably do not deserve this Ragini, but I have always been in love with you. I stayed away from the children because they reminded me of you ... and absorbed myself totally in work. And whiskey. And the remaining 5 percent on women.'
Her fingers now massaged his scalp gently to calm him down, as he continued
'I don't know what to do or how to make things better, Ragini. I can't heal the past. But I can bestow my present and future to you and our kids. And our family.'
She slid down on the ground next to him, pulling him into her arms and held onto him fast.
Edited by poetic - 9 years ago