"How could this happen... Not again! But...but she proved her love... She was willing to give up everything for him! The most beautiful girl of his village was willing to leave everything, lose for him... He's worthy of that. His ibadat towards their ishq made this possible. Then how could this happen." Fateh was on his knees...He literally could not comprehend what was happening. Or maybe he knew what was happening, but he couldn't accept it, because if he did, then his existence would be a mistake. To accept that he actually made that big of mistake, that kinda crime, was unbearable. He was not that strong. He simply was not. Sub consciously he made his way to where he used to belong. His old room. Now Tejo's room. Tejo who was soon leaving. Leaving so he could marry his love of the life. His love of the life whom he had just seen getting cozy with Mr Gulati... so that she could go to Canada with him. He just realised what he was to Jasso...a toy which she wanted from Tejo. Nothing else. She wanted everything Tejo had... shame it wasn't intelligence or a soul. His inner voice taunted him at his audacity to look down on anyone else when his own crimes were so grim.
When he reached their room, at first he could not see Tejo. Then he saw, there she was on the terrace. She was sitting, with her eyes closed, tears falling down, yet a smile on her face.
He looked at her. For a moment he felt like he's falling endlessly in a pit, a hopeless anxiety clutching him that it'll never stop. How could he ever betray her? He's always loved her. He always knew that he's not good enough for her, but she still loved him. A ray of hope hit him. She was here, they will be fine. She is his, and she'll make sure he is fine, like always.
He reached out, and let his fingers caress her hair.
Tejo's eyes opened suddenly, and she saw him in front of him.
For a moment she felt it was a dream, and she couldn't help but smile, and let those hands entangle in her hair.
But then she realised it was not a dream. It was real.
"Fateh?" she questioned.
"Tejo." he said, hoping it would be enough to justify his presence.
Her expressions changed in a moment. She shrugged his hand away roughly.
"how dare you?" She spat out with as much poison as she could gather.
"Tejo...wo.... I'm sorry."
"And...you have said this a thousand times, but I don't care. And I do not want to hear this another time."
"But Tejo...you need to listen. You're right. Please... I'm begging you. Just listen to me. What happened was..." Fateh tried to explain, but Tejo was done. She rolled her eyes and got up to leave.
Suddenly Fateh snapped. She was his wife. Soon to be ex wife, but still his wife. He had rights... He grabbed Tejo's arms and made sure she had no way to escape. Tejo tried to struggle, but it was pointless as both of his hands were on arms, so tight that she's sure that there would be marks. After a few more seconds, she finally gave up. She tightly shut her eyes in pain and humiliation, and tears fell freely.
"Tejo I do not want to hurt you...but please... listen to me. I just want to talk to you...Just listen to me." fateh loosened his grip. He just had to make her understand that he'd understood his mistakes and now they could be happy forever.
Tejo laughed bitterly... she didn't have any option. Maybe she should just hear him out. "Go on".
Fateh smiled. Finally something good was happening to him, after so long. He earnestly took her hands in his hands, slightly amused how perfectly even their hands were made for each other. They just fit so perfectly, like a complicated piece of jigsaw puzzle.
"Tejo... I've realised my mistake. You're right. Jasso does not love anyone. She can't love anyone...you won't believe what happened. I saw that she was..." Fateh was about to tell her what he saw when Tejo stopped him in between... "Fateh, can you come to the point?"
"I love you. I love you Tejo.'' Fateh said earnestly, hoping she would believe it...because he had just realised, that it's always been the truth.
Tejo laughed. Or cried. He could not decipher.
"Tejo...Tejo I know you think I'm lying...but just let me explain... you have no idea what happened...Jasso used to be always everywhere...and she said that she loves me....and you know what in a weak moment...."
*slap*
"ENOUGH! Enough Fateh! Just...just for one moment can you please think about anyone apart from you?? It's always about you...Oh my God!! I just realised...You and jasso are made for each other. Both of you are so selfish, toxic...What the fu*k do you know about love? You can't even love yourself...your self respect. Loving someone does not mean to achieve someone. And you need a good heart to love Fateh... which you don't. You just don't." Tejo was stupefied at the audacity of this man.
"But...but Tejo you love me...I know you do....then why can't we be together... Just imagine we could be happy now...together forever...just you and me..." Fateh pleaded.
Tejo took a step closer to him... she wondered if this was the punishment for falling for a stupid man. She wiped his tears, letting her hands touch his face for the last time. From that night she still remembered how his jaw felt with its light stubble, on her face, hands, neck and so many other places on her body. She smiled bitterly. Fateh was lost in her closeness, the way she smelt has always been a little intoxicating.
"Because I do not trust you. Or anyone...for that matter. You do not understand because you haven't encountered this kinda betrayal. Yeah...Jasmine left you on the altar...but somewhere in your heart you always knew that she is capable of that. I didn't. You were my best friend! One person in this whole world I trusted completely...one person who has seen me broken...someone who knows my weaknesses, my pain, my hurt...yet you did everything. You can't fix a broken mirror. And you can't fix my broken heart." Tejo laughed with a hiccup... and she continued..."You know how much I distrust you... When you say I hope you are okay, I think you mean that I should get into an accident and die; when you say come back home soon, I feel like you want me to never come back; You could say sun rises from the east, and I'd understand that it rises from the west. This whole time, so many lies, so many betrayals...I just can't. I just can't...." Tejo finished with another sob.
Tejo left the room. She needed to leave, she had an early flight.
Fateh dropped down to his knees. It was then he realised, everything in his life was done. His day of reckoning was here.
CID
