Priya, Leaves, Sonali, Rads, Soni, Honey, Sarah, Maz, Niki, Rach, Achu, Apara, Eksie, Khakshan, Maham, Sneha
Thank you all for replying... Really glad you liked it!!
I'm so sorry this update is so late, but I've been busy and unwell and in general too caught up with real life, so please excuse me, y'all!!!
Hope you like this...
Part 7
Damini rushed out of her cabin hurriedly, not really seeing where she was going. All she knew was that Prithvi had deceived her, that everything had been a lie, that he didn't love her... Biting back a sob, she got into her car and started driving, tears of fury, pain and love pooling in her eyes.
She didn't know how long she was on the roads, driving furiously, refusing to give in to either her tears or her thoughts. Her only emotion at the moment was anger - anger at Prithvi for daring to play with her, anger at the circumstances that had led to this, anger at Inder who had destroyed the placidity of her life and most of all, anger at herself for loving a man like Prithvi... She sharply veered the car towards a secluded part of the beach, coming to a screeching halt when she reached there. Still not thinking straight, she got off the car and walked straight towards the water. She stood alone on the sand, a broken woman, watching the tumultous waves crash near her feet, feeling a tempest raging in her mind. Suddenly, it started raining heavily. Caught in the downpour, Damini finally gave in to her pain, falling to her knees in the wet sand and sobbing her heart out. Why? Why did this happen to her? Why did he do this to her? Why did it hurt so much? She screamed till her throat was hoarse and her mind was numb...
Slowly the rain began to abate, and Damini regained a semblance of control. She couldn't afford to fall apart. She was Damini Gujral, the son of the family and her mother and sisters depended on her to be strong. She was fighter, and she'd fight this battle too, even if she didn't know how to distinguish between victory and defeat anymore. She got to her feet, a little unsteadily and wiped her tears. This wasn't the time for tears. Her mother was being threatened and she needed to keep her wits about her. "I'll make you rue the day you decided to mess with my family, Prithvi", she promised, as she walked back to her car.
********
Prithvi entered the bedroom at Gujral Mansion, worried and frightened for Damini. It had been three hours since she'd stormed out of office and she still hadn't come home. She hadn't taken her driver and her phone was switched off. And it was raining heavily, on top of everything else. He'd spent the last two hours hunting for her like a madman, but to no avail. He wasn't able to find her and there wasn't anything he could do now but wait for her...
Just then, she stepped into the room. Prithvi stood up, relieved, and tried to approach her, but she put up a hand and looked at him with so much disgust and hatred that he actually recoiled. He took a step back, allowing her to walk past him. Sick with guilt and heartbroken himself, he noted her wet clothes and red eyes. He slowly spoke up, willing her to listen and understand "Damini, I can explain. I..." She cut in, saying acerbically "I don't want any explanations. There is nothing to explain anyway. You lied to me and pretended to love me, and I fell for it. But I'm strong now, and you will regret it", and left the room without so much as a backward glance...
"I already regret it, Damini", Prithvi whispered to the empty room, helplessly gazing after her...