Epilogue
S – No… No Raghav. I can’t. I won’t. Why would I do that? I can never do that to you. I can’t let you break. I can never let you break. I will break but will never allow it to happen to you. I can never….
She woke up in hospital screaming. Her body was frail but her heart had to see him. She needed to know if he is fine. She needed to… that he is fine.
He can’t be hurt. He can’t be alone. I have to see him. I need to see him.
And he was sitting there. Right by her side. She saw him. He already was looking at her, worried.
S – Raghav… are you… are you alright?? There was that bullet shot. I saw him shooting at you. I didn’t knew what happened. I was so afraid. I was afraid. I can’t lose you. I won’t…
R – Ms. Sarika…
The room went quiet as Raghav spoke her name. Everything came to a halt for her as she cursed herself for saying all those things. She tried to compose herself as she regretted not her words but more of speaking them out loud.
S – Yes… Yes sir.
R – You were saying something. What was it?
S – Nothing… nothing sir.
R – Nothing?? I heard something about bullet.
S – Yes… yes he fired at you right? How are you? Are you alright? You are not hurt right? You shouldn’t have taken such a big risk. If you had any doubt you should have asked me. And how dare you think I will work for that Vedant. You thought he will plan to kill you and I will work with him. First thing… don’t you have a brain. Seriously, you do need one and that too at the very instant or you will keep making such stupid decisions. Secondly even if I would have been involved then why you need to risk your life. Why you always have to do that to yourself. I was so afraid. My heart fell at that moment. I didn’t knew what to do. You were standing there and he shot. I was so afraid. You are fine right? You didn’t get hurt right? Did you saw the doctor? You should. There can be internal…
She saw Raghav looking at her. His eyes looking at her face like trying to decipher a puzzle. She asked what by raising her brows and he directed her to look at her surroundings.
R – We are in hospital Ms. Sarika. And you were just operated on for two bullets.
S – Two… two bullets. Ok… ok so he shot me twice. So… so no big deal. Happens. Many times people shoot twice just to reconfirm the kill. But see I am that strong. Nothing happened. Don’t worry… this is normal. I anyhow believe that you should experience everything. Now I can proudly say I have been shot twi….
His welled up eyes stopped her mid-sentence. He didn’t uttered a word but words were never the requirement for them to communicate. Those were more hindrance than medium for the passages their eyes speaks. His eyes told her everything. And for the first time from the time she woke up, she felt the pain. His eyes were crying for her and her heart was crying for his. She tried raising her hand to wipe off his tears. Her existence wouldn’t allow her to see him like that. He needs to be fine, not for him but for her. A moan escaped her lips as she tried to raise her hands.
R – Pallavi… are you alright? You just had the operation. Doctor has clearly said no stress, no exertion. And you… don’t you know you can’t hurt yourself. You can never hurt yourself. Not for me, not for anybody. You are too precious to be hurt. And what was the need of this? You did it again and both the times I didn’t had a choice. You can’t do this. You can’t put yourself at risk for me. You can’t. You just can’t. You are Pallavi. You are the most important part of my existence. You are my existence. You cannot be in pain. You cannot be hurt. My world cannot be hurt. You… you cannot do this to yourself. You are my beats.
P – And you are my life. And no one and I mean no one in this world can dare to take my life from me. You said I can’t hurt myself. I saved myself. I saved myself from the void I would fall in if anything ever happens to my life. You Mr. Raghav Rao can say or do whatever you want but you cannot stop me from standing in front of that bullet everytime. You are, so I am. If I have you by my side then I can die hundred times over without a second thought. But nothing can happen to you. And mark my words I will fight you also if it comes to you and anything else. It’s you. It’s always you. You are not accident that happened in my life. You are what I chose and nobody can take that choice away from me. Not even you. And you made a mistake. I am not Pallavi. I am Mrs. Pallavi Raghav Rao. Ardhamainda.
A statement was made and the words ceased as Raghav kept looking his wife’s face oozing the ferocity of the lioness she is. Her every word was unabashed, unapologetic and undeterred. She chose him. It was her decision. She chose him and Raghav very well knew that she is not the one that can be tamed by anyone for anything. She meant every word she said. A slight smile came on his face as he knew his ‘life’ will be in his life. Pallavi’s face still had all the ferocity and that led to a bigger laugh on his face, making her irritated.
P – What… what now? What’s funny? Why are you laughing now? That day you were like bappa I will leave her, just save her and now you are sitting here at laughing at my face.
R – You heard that? I… I wasn’t hallucinating? It was you? Then why you didn’t stopped me and that attendant what was she saying then?
P – Stop you? You were racing like you wanted to win gold medal in Olympics. And I agree that stupid attendant said something but you didn’t even checked. I mean she mistook you for Sarika’s family in all that chaos and you went ahead to become devdas and leave. You should have atleast checked.
R – I thought I lost you. I thought I killed you. Because that’s what I do? I kill every good thing in my world. I thought I lost you Pallavi.
His shoulders dropped. His eyes became dim. A tear dropped from his eyes and Pallavi realized what she just said.
P – Raghav… Raghav I am sorry. I was just joking. I knew what you felt. I saw that in your eyes. I saw your pain. You don’t need to say anything. I know. I know. I too was going through the same thing. Doctor told me that any second can be my last and I cannot let you feel all that again. I made a mistake. I should have stopped you but I was afraid. I was afraid that I will lose you again. That I won’t be there for you. I was afraid Raghav.
Her tears told the story of her pain, her struggle to leave her life, her identity, her existence and he cannot see her like that. He cannot see her in that pain, that guilt, that remorse. He moved towards her and embraced her. He held her to tell his ‘beat’ that his beats are fine. He is fine. And the rhythm of his heart soothed her like melody. She held him back as they found their solace in the moment. A moment enough for eternity for both of them. His eyes were open to believe his life. Her eyes were closed to hear her beats. The worlds amalgamated in those seconds as their existence became one.
R – Who is Sarika then?
P – What?? Sarika was aai’s daughter. She came that same day after completing college from abroad after six years. Her car was hit by landslide and doctor’s weren’t able to save her. She saw me and even in her pain she took me in as her daughter. Since no one had seen her after school so they mistook me for her and started calling me that. But why suddenly are you talking about this? Are you missing your chance to be with her?
She teased.
R – Ofcourse. I thought about it but what to do my bad luck.
P – Raghav… yes I saw that how much you were getting close to her on terrace. Getting all close.
R – It was you my wife.
He whispered in her ears while keeping her in his embrace.
P – Yes… yes that was me. But… but you didn’t knew that. You thought it was someone else only right. You Raghav Rao.
R – My eyes can do the mistake but my beats will always know you. Because you live in them. You are them Mrs. Pallavi Raghav Rao.
He said that hugging her even tighter and a smile danced on her face.
I knew you will always know it’s me.
P – But then why you asked for her? Tell… tell.
R – Oh that… I was thinking no matter wherever you go and whatever you do, you will always be Sarika dukaan.
A loud laugh erupted from Raghav’s mouth as Pallavi gets irritated with the same and tried to get out his embrace.
R – My Saree ka dukaan.
He said in her ears with a smile hugging her tighter, soothing his beats. A smile graced her face too and she hugged him closing her eyes holding her life. The moment froze for them to have their eternity. He embraced her in his arms and two arms held him back.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Arjun
Cricket
