"The court believes in an individual's right to life and liberty. Keeping the plaintiff's suffering in mind, the jury rules in the favour of the plaintiff, Sharon Shekhawat. The court is hereby adjourned." The judge spoke haltingly, unsure of his own verdict. In all his years of expertise, he had never encountered a case so very complicated.
Swayam Shekhawat heard the ruling of the judge in pronounced clarity. Bile rose in his throat as the words registered in his mind. The man spoke tall words about life and liberty. And yet here he was mocking its sanctity. He had never been a violent person before, however at the moment the thought of bashing the skull of the judge was very appealing. But then the judge was not the real culprit in this scenario after all. He looked across the aisle and his eyes landed on the actual perpetrator. The girl who had once been the sole source of happiness in his life and now was causing him immeasurable grief.
Sharon felt his gaze on her and her head turned towards him mechanically, an integral part of her reflex. She shuddered at the look in his eyes. If five years ago, someone told her that Swayam Shekhawat was capable of hating her, she would have laughed in their faces. But now she knew better. There it was in his eyes, clear as day, evident for all to see. Utter loathing and raw hatred for her emanated from his very being. She despised herself for doing this to him. She had robbed him of the light in his soul. And replaced it with a pit of darkness. Darkness that mirrored the one in her life.
After college ended, Sharon believed herself the luckiest girl on planet earth. Unlike her mates, she had not known struggle as offers to join world renowned dance troupes landed directly in her lap. Life had never been gloomy. Perhaps, because the only one she needed to be happy was always by her side. Swayam was a constant companion of hers in her path to her dreams. At the age of twenty five, she had a promising career ahead. Until it ended. Like dreams always do. Abruptly. They said it was a loose harness that made Sharon Rai Prakash plummet to the ground. The doctors had pronounced her a miracle. She had lived after all. Only now she was paralysed from the neck down. It was ironic really. Her acrobatics in air had robbed Sharon off her flight forever.
Assisted suicide. Mercy kill. Swayam loathed both the terms. A killer could not have mercy. Suicide should never be assisted. He knew he was biased. Perhaps he would have had a different opinion of it elsewhere. Prior to the accident, maybe. He never really gave thought to such things. He was an uncomplicated guy steering clear of topics like this. But now, she had compelled him to think about it. And he had concluded that he hated it. This very idea had made the judge deliver the verdict. A verdict that gave her permission to kill herself. A verdict that threatened to extinguish the light in his life forever.
Swayam went over to where Sharon was sitting in the opposite aisle. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her outside. She had averted her face from him. This is how it had been since the case started. They would fight all day refusing to give up. And then he would carry her back home. He understood her plight. He was not indifferent to her suffering. She was fiercely independent and hated leaning on others. But he was not an other, was he??? Was it so insufferable for her to lean on him? So very intolerable that she would want to kill herself? He remembered the day one of those medics had dropped in at the house and declared her wish of a peaceful death. Swayam's world went dark and then crimson red. He had chased the medic out of his house threatening to kill him if he ever entered again. And he knew he would. There was nothing he won't do for her.
Sharon was quite as he carried her to the sidewalk. He was looking straight ahead. Her life came to a screeching halt when the disaster happened. But he should not be made to face the repercussions of it. . She had made his life a living hell. She had been a silent witness as he had cut off ties with the outside world and devoted himself to her care. He had stopped living for her. The day he was fired for his "unprofessionalism" was the day she had decided to end her cursed existence. Romeo had died because Juliet had not lived. She wanted to die because she wanted her love to live. And live the way he was supposed to.
"I will not let it happen in a thousand years , you know.", Sharon was brought out of her reverie by him talking. His voice was hoarse yet determined. "I will carry this as far as it can go. And then I will carry it further still. It will be a cold day in hell before I let them kill you. And maybe not even then."
Sharon was momentarily happy. It had been weeks since he had spoken to her directly. He had not spoken to her from the moment the medic left their home. He had crashed his room and then had gone silent. And now here he was, telling her he would never let go.
"I never expected your easy compliance. I know you will fight me. But I won't give up.", she said quietly. "It is my life, you know. I can end it whenever I want. Had I not been disabled? Only a hand moving would have been enough." She added in a hopeful tone. The look Swayam gave her was enough to make her blood curdle. She quivered at his murderous gaze.
"Why must you do this?" Swayam had never asked this before. He had just arrived at his own conclusions. Thought he was not enough to make her want to live. Had cursed his disability at making her happy. But now he was tired. Exhausted. He wanted answers from her.
The vulnerable look in his eyes made Sharon smile. She knew this was not the driven man she had been fighting with. This was her Swayam. And so she dropped her shields. To let him see the emotions that engulfed her whole being.
"The same reason you are fighting me. Because, I love you, Swayam Shekhawat..."
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