Love n Uljhan (Part#7, pg.38) updated! 19/3 - Page 27

It was far too late into the night; the weather was calm and pleasant. With crickets making annoying noises somewhere hidden, occasional sounds of typing and subtle noise of the ceiling fan were the only things he could hear.

He wanted to say something, anything which could calm his racing heart. The laptop in front of him lay there without any life in it. This was the moment he had been waiting for such a long time. From that night all those years back, from those horrible memories which refused to rest.

And when he finally got the courage to raise his head and look at her, she was there to the side of the room in between the piles of work. She wore a loose tee with her hair pulled back casually holding by a clip. She looked back at him with a layer of water shining in her eyes which she quickly averted. While her hands were fiddling with the pen tapping on the stack of papers unconsciously.

(past)

It was a similar night all those years back, it was the day of his last exam. He was educated now thanks to his memsahib, he would now be able to get a proper job. He was quite exited that as he was so near to become something she wished he would. And when his friends insisted on a party he went along.

The night was quite chilly and he could barely take two steps without stumbling, yet he managed to cover the distance which lead to her home. He knew memsahib didn't sleep this early and he was way long gone to thing about propriety, it was his excitement which he wanted to share with her kept him going.

The door was closed but the lights were still turned on inside, he could see the lights from the window. So, banged the door leaning on to it. And when it was opened he literally fell into her arms but managed to stand after a few attempts.

She took a step away from him folding her arms at her chest she questioned his state. Taking in his disheveled appearance she shook her head in disappointment and asked

What is it?

He only grinned widely taking support of the wall behind he shrugged blinking innocently at her. she looked different he noticed, her long hair was loose, the light yellow cotton saree was casually draped with a lot of sensuality. He blinked again looking at her.

Exams! He exclaimed showing his teeth.

Sighing she held his wrist and dragged him to the dining table, he kept stumbling into the furniture but kept his gaze on her. On reaching the dining table she left his wrist to grab the water glass when he caught her hand restricting her to move any further.

She looked at him with her eyes wide open with questions swirling in them but he wasn't even is right mind to comprehend his actions. He raised his hand to feel the softness of her cheek which she caught instantly and pushed him away from her. The sudden push caused him to loose balance and fall on the ground and the impact brought back a little sanity back to him.

Memsahib! He tried to look at her while she rushed to the door trying to push someone out. He tried to get up and apologise for his actions for what he was about to do but he couldn't. And then he heard

Why isn't it your duty as my wife? Come now don't act so poise. He saw a man clutching her hair in a painful grip while she struggled to get free.

Leave me Dheeraj, you are hurting me...

what are you doing... she tried to get out of his clutches which only angered that man. He pulled her pallu off her shoulder and slapped across her face, tears kept flowing down her beautiful eyes in helplessness.

This is for all the humiliation you have cause me Geet! Let me set the scores with you he picked her up on his shoulder like a sack and enters the nearby room.

All the while he kept coming and going out of his consciousness. He was too intoxicated to be of any help. This is what Radha warned him off once if only he paid a head to it, he tried to sit a few times only to fall back. His heart screamed in anguish whenever he heard her plead that Man

Deeraj No... please... I beg of you... Nooo... and some times it was only the sobs

And then it all went silent. He caught a glimpse of that man adjusting his cloths, walking out of the doors, while he laid there drowned in his guilt and self-loathing.

That was the last time he saw her, she disappeared the very next day leaving her world around him, to guide and help him in every step he took and refused to share any information which leads to her.

Looking at her lean figure now standing by the window with a stream of tears still running down her face, hugging herself looking all alone and lost. He wondered if he was also the reason for her situation after all he wasn't sure what his intentions were for touching her that night!

He got up from the couch and walked up to her and stopped a few feet away from her. His heart felt heavy looking at the women who looked so broken yet stood strong for the world.

Sahiba... he called out to her trying to hide his cracking voice and she looked up to him with her eyes wide probably trying to figure out the reason of his pathetic condition