In a charitable mood ;) chpt11 on pg20

Kunal was aghast after hearing Siddhi utter 'Yes😲🤢. After a few minutes he compelled himself to walk away from her , walk away from her acceptance to marry Abhay. His feet felt heavy while he walked down the stairs , each step had to be coaxed out.

He reached the door & let himself out. He had no idea how long he walked but when he snapped to his senses he found himself in the park beneath the old oak tree, Siddhi's spot , their spot😭.

He kept thinking life could not throw him anymore ugly surprises but everytime life proved him wrong. He could not understand himself , he had moved away from Siddhi , he did not want her in his life then why did it bother him so much that she agreed to marry Abhay😕?

He remembered the day earlier at work when Siddhi told him there was nothing between Abhay and her , he remembered how his heart much against his wishes had gladened😳! But now , in a span of few hours she was singing a different tune. It made no sense to him but nothing has made sense to him in years , ever since she stood in that court room and accused him of murder. For years after he had refused to think of what happened or why it happened. Why could he not do the same today? Why was he so restless, why was he seeking answers, why did he want to piece together the puzzle that was him and Siddhi?😕😕

His mind went back to the scene he had just witnessed.'She seemed to be jumping with joy ' said a teeny voice in his head and just then another said 'She could have misunderstood, remember she was told it's a surprise she could have assumed something else😃', the second voice was insistent ,drowning out the first. Kunal could not understand which was the voice of reason😕 ? He thought it was perhaps his love, but then he did not love her anymore, did he😕?

He remembered how hesistantly she had walked into their bedroom , how hurt and vulnerable she looked when she saw Richa on his arm🤢. Perhaps she was devastated to be a stranger in her own room , did she still think of it as her room😕? Was she agreeing to marry Abhay because he had told her that he was married to Richa? But she had looked happy...😕😕

His thoughts wandered to the time she had come to visit him at this very spot , asking for a chance to correct her mistake , why had he not given her that? Anand was a reason but he knew there was a reason beyond that , that he was scared , scared of being hurt again .She had said she wanted to talk , tell him a lot but he had chosen not to listen lest he weaken,' weaken'... he laughed at himself !

He had always seen love in her eyes , everytime she looked at him, it was there in the eyes that followed him everywhere, but he wasn't just sure if it was actually there or it was what he wanted to see😕. Were her eyes sparkling with joy today when he voiced her agreement to Abhay ? Had he misread her eyes , was it love for him or was it love for😕... No he could not think that, he cannot bear to see her with another man😡. Everytime he saw her with Abhay all he wanted to do was pull her away and hold her tight in his arms.

He still loved her , perhaps more than he did nine years back but he just didn't know what to do? He did not understand her betrayal , nor can he understand her now😕. He knew there was an answer to every question , it just had to be sought out. For nine years he evaded it , he immersed himself in his son and quietened the voices that demanded an answer. But now he could no more, try as he may they refused to be silenced. But he cannot seek , he cannot walk down that path of hurt again, he was scared , scared of knowing the truth.

His phone rang , shaken out of his reverie, it was Richa😡. He knew what she wanted to ask but there were questions more pressing than that and besides now he knew his answer , but she will have to wait until tomorrow😡. He disconnected the call . With a riddled and exhausted mind he wearily walked back home🤢.

Next morning he went to Diwan mansion , Abhay wanted to discuss some papers with him. They were in Abhay's study when Siddhi entered , Kunal tore his eyes away from her only to discover Abhay looking at her lovingly. Fury raged through him 😡, his mind screamed that Siddhi was his and only his. With great restraint he forced himself to look at the file and willed Abhay to do the same.

From the corner of his eye he could see Siddhi climb up a small stool , as if her heels weren't enough🤢, when did she start wearing heels he wondered😕. What was she doing , she is obviously going to trip and she did .He did not know if he saw her trip and then moved or he sensed that she would and moved, but there he was and she was in his arms, safe and sound😃. Her eyes rounded looked up at him brimming with innocence . What was it about her eyes that made time go still , that made him oblivious to the world😳. They were shaken from their trance with Abhay approaching them , his hand extended to hold Siddhi. Siddhi fingers held his shirt and tightened their grip , he looked down upon them and then up at her , why 😕? Was she seeking his protection ? From whom ..Abhay? His arms strengthened their hold around her😳.

At that moment as he held her in his arms , as Abhay made his way towards them he knew , he knew he loved her😳 , he knew he could not bear to see her with another man, he knew that the time had come for seeking out the answers. She posed the question and she held the answers.

Hey fellow Parichayans , please do take this forward , write the next chapter and make a contribution!😉