A slightly Mature DiRa OS- Kyunki Tum Hi Ho

"Will you dance with me Diya,one last time?" he had asked.

She looked into his eyes.They were not shining with mischief as they usually used to do. In fact, she had been noticing that for the past few days, not only his eyes, but his whole demeanor had changed. Gone was the carefree,young, happy go lucky guy. The new Ratan was quiet...his eyes used to say something else...and his mouth used to sing a different tune.

Diya wanted to ask him if he was alright,if anything was bothering him? But Ratan had taken that right from her away. After several failed attempts to stop him from going ahead with a divorce, Kaki ma sa, Diya and Yash had given up. Ratan's decision was made. He knew that he did not deserve a person like Diya. She was his best friend...they had been bound in a namesake relationship...yet he had been unable to give her what she deserved...a life full of happiness...a life with a husband she loved...a life with a husband who understood her...cared for her...who loved her unconditionally in return! She deserved a partner who was her equal match...not someone 9 years younger than her...totally immature. She deserved all the happiness in the world and Ratan had not been able to provide her that. It was true that he cared for her deeply, but he was unable to bridge the gap of 9 years...nor was he capable of matching the sophistication, experience and intelligence that she had acquired by her years of living an independent life. Here, by marrying her, he had bound the free bird that she was...a bird that needed to fly high in the crystalline blue skies of life...and reach the peaks of the highest mountains. Ratan knew her caliber...and he knew that he was not good enough for her. And that was the reason why, despite Kaki ma sa and Yash banna's constant efforts, he had not budged from his decision to separate Diya from himself and set her free.

They had not announced the news of their separation to anyone in the household. Only Kaki ma sa and Yash banna knew. Ratan agreed for discretion only because of Kaki ma sa's tearful pleas, as she was afraid that when the news of Daata Hukum's divorce would reach the masses in the entire estate, he would have to step down from that throne and give up his title. Kaki ma sa could not see anyone else taking Ratan's place, and she had pleaded both Diya and Ratan to keep their divorce un-official and hidden for as long as possible. She reasoned with Ratan that they needed to find a suitable candidate to give away the title to, and after a lot of persuasion, Ratan had conceded to her requests.

Diya was supposed to leave for her father's place the next morning. For the sake of people and other members of the house, Kaki ma sa told everyone that Diya was going to look after her dying father, as her mother could not take proper care of him alone. Eesha was supposed to take care of the Kesar Mehel as she had always been doing, but Diya was being sent away for her parents' care and help. Of Course, no one had objected to this because Sajjan Singh was actually very ill and it made sense to all of them.

Ratan however was not happy. He didn't want to lie to anyone, but he had promised Kaki ma sa to stay quiet about it for sometime.He thought that his lies were making him feel bad...

But that was not all...

The happiness he had expected to come to him was nowhere to be found. The life after Diya, which he had perceived to be full of freedom and adventure had suddenly stopped appealing him. It didn't matter if he went to Maldives or to the Himalayas anymore. His mood was so desolate that nothing felt good. There was a pressure building in his chest and it was increasing with each passing minute. The more closer the time of Diya's final departure was coming, the more restless he was becoming. He couldn't understand why he was feeling so down...what was burdening his soul. All he knew was that Diya was leaving the next morning and after that, he wouldn't have any relationship with her.

"No relationship with Diya...not even friendship?" he asked himself.

The answer came from within, "No...you have to let her go Ratan...once and for all. She has already given the golden 12 years of her life to you. Now it's your time to see to her happiness."

And this answer made him more despondent.

He was standing on the parapet outside their room, and looking out,wearing a very forlorn expression. His uneasiness, his restlessness and his despair was not hidden from Diya, despite his efforts to fake a smile every time he saw her. But he had shuttered himself completely in such a way that Diya felt unable to approach him. She loved him...she wanted to be with him only...but she understood that he was young...and he deserved all the happiness he had seeked from his life. She knew that all his childhood and early adulthood, he was forced to live in seclusion, for the safety of his well being. She knew he had dreams of a free life...full of adventure. She knew she was a full stop to his dreams...and she knew she was too jaded for him. He deserved a beautiful girl of his own age, who would love him as he deserved to be loved...and whom Ratan would also fall in love with.

Wiping helpless tears that had spilled from her eyes, she turned herself back to the suitcases that she had been packing for her exit from Kesar Mehel the next morning...her exit from Ratan's life...forever...

"Diya thakurani sa, aakhir aap Daata Hukum ko bata kyun nahi detyn ke aap unse kitna pyar kerty hain?" Yash banna had asked her quite desperately a while ago. He was very upset that Ratan was letting Diya go and in turn, he was making himself miserable too. Yash hated to see his best friend Diya thakurani sa so helpless. This one sided love had made her very weak...and Yash hated to see her so powerless...so meek. He had seen her silently wiping away her tears of love and he could not stop himself from asking her this question.

"Nahi Yash banna...hum Ratan ko jantay hain. Unhien ager yeh pata lag gaya ke humare dil mien unke liye kia feelings hain, tou woh apni khushi ko humari khushi ke liye sacrifice ker dien ge. Hum jantay hain...woh phir se compromise kerne ki koshish kerien ge apni life ke sath...aur jo ghutan unko humare rishte se mehsoos hoty hai, woh ghutan barh jayegy...aur hum Ratan ko aise, adhoori zindagy jeetay nahi dekh sakte hain." She had replied Yash in a firm tone., and then she had implored him,

"Yash banna, hum se vaada kerein ke aap Ratan ko kabhi pata nahi lagne dein ge humari unki taraf feelings ke baray mien." And Yash had no choice but to give her the promise she had asked him for, and while doing so, his own heart broke into millions of pieces for his best friend whose love was so pure, so unconditional...and so selfless. No, she was not weak...in fact she was displaying massive strength. He felt proud of being her friend...and he felt really sad for his two best friends whom he loved immensely.

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Diya was almost done with her packing and now she was putting her jewelry in an electronic safe. She had no intention to take away the ornaments that were given to her by Kaki ma sa. They all belonged to the ancestors of Kesar Mehal. When she had put every set securely, her hands reached for her Mangal sutra to take it off. Her fingers trembled violently and her heart squeezed with pain, she shut her eyes tightly to stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks. This had to be done. She had no right on this Mangal sutra also. She had to return it in Kesar Mehal's ancestral jewelry...she reminded herself. This Mangal Sutra was for the wife of Ratan, and now she no longer held that title. She urged herself to accept this fact somehow. Her fingers were about to unclasp the hook of the Mangal Sutra, when she felt cold fingers touching her nape, where the hook was. Without turning, she knew that it was Ratan who had stopped her. Trying to compose herself, she slowly turned around to face him. He was looking at her...and his eyes were full of pain and hurt.

"Diya aap mery aik bhi yaad apne sath nahi rakhna chahtyn?" He asked her brokenly.

Her eyes filled with fresh tears, and shook her head. Then,in a small voice, she said,

"Ratan hum iske haq dar nahi hain. Yeh aap usko pehnaiye ga jo iski sahi maani mien haq dar ho." And then she braved a smile, but Ratan didn't smile back at her. He was still gazing into her eyes, and for a few moments, he didn't say anything. But then he took a deep breath, closed his eyes , and said in a resigned tone,

"Diya...mera Khuda gawah hai ke iss Mangal Sutra ki asli haq dar aap hi hain. Mien yeh kisi aur ko dene ka soch bhi nahi sakta."

Diya's chest was constricting with restrained emotions...but she still managed to bring fake joviality in her tone.

"Accha chalien, yeh hum hi rakh lete hain. Aap relax hojayein." She said smilingly.

Ratan opened his eyes and looked at the angel standing near him. She was indeed beautiful inside out...and Ratan knew this very well that her soul was pure...she was a goddess in his life...she was his wife...but...he could never reach her.

This time he did return her smile, although it hurt him a lot, but he still managed to fake it for her sake...and then he asked her solemnly,

"Will you dance with me Diya,one last time?"

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Diya looked into his eyes, he was gazing down at her with an unexplained longing. His eyes were looking at her as if they were caressing her. Diya's heart fluttered in her rib cage, but she could never refuse Ratan. Unable to speak, she simply nodded. He lifted his hand to her cheek and caressed it tenderly. Then he took out his phone and played the only song in his playlist.

The beautiful music started to fill in the room. The singer's soulful voice started soaring...reaching out to play with the strings of the hearts of the two occupants of that room.

Hum Tere Bin Ab Reh Nahi Sakte

Tere Bina Kya Wajood Mera

Ratan came back to her. He was standing merely an inch apart from her now. Raising one hand, he touched the side of her face very delicately...as if he was touching a goddess. Diya's breathing hitched a little...her heart started thudding in her chest. Ratan ran his fingers along her arm with the same care , same veneration. Diya's eyelids drooped automatically...

Tujhse Juda Gar Ho Jaayenge

Toh Khud Se Hi Ho Jaayenge Judaa...

He engaged his other arm around her slender waist and pulled her towards him. Her chest collided with his body, and she swallowed visibly. He started swaying to the music...and closed his eyes to lose himself in her completely...

Kyunki Tum Hi Ho

Ab Tum Hi Ho

Zindagi Ab Tum Hi Ho

Chain Bhi, Mera Dard Bhi

Meri Aashiqui Ab Tum Hi Ho

He brought his face close to her...she could feel his hot breath fanning on her face. His eyes still closed, his mouth found the crook of her neck. He started nuzzling her there softly... It was becoming difficult for her to breath...she was so close to him that she could hear his heartbeats...her own chest started heaving with all the pent up emotions for her one and true love...

Tera Mera Rishta Hai Kaisa

Ik Pal Doori Gawaara Nahi...

He gently lifted his face from her neck and took her ear lobe between his teeth, without biting it. His lips were softly caressing her there...His sensuous onslaught was driving her insane...she shut her eyes more tightly and clutched his shoulder for support..

Tere Liye Har Roz Hai Jeete

Tujh Ko Diya Mera Waqt Sabhi...

He raised the arm that had entangled her waist and gathered the heavy tresses of her hair to one side, completely exposing her neck, nape and back. She craned her long neck to grant him further access to the exposed sight. His arm returned to her waist and he clasped her tighter...as if he wanted to absorb her...

Koi Lamha Mera Na Ho Tere Bina

Har Saans Pe Naam Tera...

He brought his mouth near hers...his lips brushed hers lightly...tenderly... devotedly... and he whispered her name like a prayer...Diyaa...

Her breathing was labored...her hand raised to the side of his face...and interlocked in his silky hair...

Kyunki Tum Hi Ho

Ab Tum Hi Ho

Her body swayed more close to his...her fingers started caressing his face, hair and neck on their own accord...

His mouth moved to the other side of her face ...his lips skimming along her jawline...

She turned slightly to grant him more easy access to lavish his attention to her neck on the other side.

Zindagi Ab Tum Hi Ho

Chain Bhi, Mera Dard Bhi

Meri Aashiqui Ab Tum Hi Ho

Tumhi Ho... Tumhi Ho...

His lips found the place where her pulse was beating erratically... His mouth was soft on her pulse...as if it wanted to stabilize it...calm it...

She threw her head backwards...his intense passion was burning her...consuming her...it was becoming unbearable for her...and yet she never wanted him to stop torturing her like that...

Tere Liye Hi Jiya Main

Khud Ko Jo Yun De Diya Hai..

He touched her shoulder with his mouth...she squirmed. His hand went to the exposed part of her back and his fingers caressed her there... Her chest thrusted forward by his assault on her back...

Teri Wafa Ne Mujhko sambhala

Saare Ghamon Ko Dil Se Nikala...

His hand came and settled on her chest...he could feel her heart beating madly... Her hand automatically rose and she also touched his heart...it was thudding as loudly as hers... She slowly opened her eyes...He was looking at her with an unfathomable expression...She felt herself drowning in the music of their hearts...and in the sea of passion in his eyes.

Tere Saath Mera Hai Naseeb Juda

Tujhe Paake Adhoora Naa Raha... Hmm..

He brought her hand to his lips...their eyes still glued to each other. He kissed her knuckles and a soft gasp escaped her mouth...

Kyunki Tum Hi Ho

Ab Tum Hi Ho

Zindagi Ab Tum Hi Ho..

Her hand rose to his cheek and she drew a shivering breath...then she stood on her tip toes and put her hot,quivering lips on his cheek..

Chain Bhi, Mera Dard Bhi

Meri Aashiqui Ab Tum Hi Ho

Kyunki Tum Hi Ho

Ab Tum Hi Ho

He was inhaling her beautiful scent. He was at peace finally after so many days. He felt as if he was home. She was his home...She was his peace...She was his everything.

The singer's voice and the music had died and the room was now just filled with the rustling sound of their strained breaths. Their hearts were beating in unison and it took them sometime to attain a steady rhythm. Finally, Ratan raised his face from hers and managed to whisper,

"Diya, miene buht koshish kery ke aapko apne se duur ker dun. Mager Diya, mien apke beghair nahi reh sakta. I know mien buht selfish hun lekin mien kia kerun, I really don't have the strength to stay away from you anymore."

He closed his eyes with guilt. He knew he was being very self-centred...but he just couldn't bear to imagine his life without Diya anymore.

A genuine smile reached her face this time,it blossomed her heart with happiness. Her Ratan also loved her! She understood his unsaid words. She placed her lips on the corner of his mouth. His eyes fluttered open...they were uncertain. She brought her thumb to his lips, rubbed him there and said brightly,

"Aap se kaha kis ne hai ke aap humien chhorien? Hum tou kab se yehi keh rahay hain ke humien kahin nahi jaana...bass aapke sath hi rehna hai." She bit her lip mischievously.

Ratan's eyes went from uncertainty to hope..and then to joy. His charming smile finally returned. Within moments, the old happy Ratan was back and in excitement, he hugged her tightly.

"Yahoo! Aap bass meri hain Diya...bass sirf meri...I love you so much!"

Diya giggled and said, "Itni deir laga dy yeh baat kehne mien. I love you too my buddhu raam!"

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