RaYa - SS — He Loves Me — [On Track] Part 4 on pg2

He Loves Me

short drabble(s) forming a short story, based on track

Premises : Ram has confessed his love for Priya when he thought he was losing her forever. He assumes she doesn't remember his confession as she had passed out in his arms.

However, Priya was consciously hearing every thing and hasn't forgotten everything Ram said when he thought she was unconscious.

This is a take on how Priya deals with the confession and how Ram behaves around her when she's in recovery phase to the consequence of a love that was discovered accidentally.

[1] I heard you, Mr Kapoor - page 1

[2] I love her but... - page 1

[3] Mr Kapoor, I can't love again - page 1

[4]

[1]

I heard you, Mr Kapoor

Priya was in terrible discomfort, it felt like she was holding a thousand kilos on her head. Her eyes got tried in minutes of being open. But all of the pain was forgotten when she looked at her husband trying to comfort her. Tending to her wounds, Tending to her needs in the middle of the night.

It had been three days since her surgery but the pain was still there. The sedatives and other medications put her to sleep throughout the day. Ram never forgot to check if the room temperature was right for her, if the emergency medicines were by her side, if she had the buzzer in her hand just in case he wasn’ttarpon when she needed him.

The man who wouldn’t do his daily chores and needed Tarun to run his errands was personally taking care of her asking the nurse to be out. He wouldn’t let anyone in the room except Meera Maa.

The man who could talk endlessly maintained silence so that she didn’t get a headache. The man who preferred his room to be lit up like it was Diwali had kept the lights dim so that the harsh light did not give her a headache.

Priya felt better. At least better enough to talk today.

“Mr Kapoor,” she called him.

He turned to look at her surprised and sprinted to the bed.

“Should I call the doctor? Do you need anything? Shall I call the nurse? Or maybe you’re hungry, shall I ask Tarun to make ghee upma?”

“sit,” she managed to say, placing her hand in the empty space beside her.

Ram looked on worried and sat beside her. His hand reached to caress her hair.

It was as though he could understand how much pain she was in. His eyes which always shone with happiness were tired, worried and displayed his heartache.

Priya wondered if he was guilty. Oh he mustn’t be.

“How are you?” She asked in a dry voice, almost whisper.

“How can I be okay, when you’re like this?”

Priya wanted to smile at the sheer heartfelt reflection of his concern for her. She struggled to sit up. He immediately had his arms around her back, helping her sit up.

Her every waking moment was spent, remembering his confession. It made her jump out of her skin. She was scared. She didn’t want love, but she wanted him.

“did you eat?” She asked.

“Yaa,” He muttered looking away.

“Ghee upma,” she said softly. He nodded understanding she was hungry. He quickly texted Tarun instead of shouting. Loud noise, bright light and too much interaction gave her headaches so he tried his best to keep them the bare minimal.

It was only a few minutes that Tarun took to come in with the tray as he was instructed to keep everything ready at any time of the day.

“Eat,” Priya said, when Tarun left the tray on the bed.

Ram looked at her surprised.

“Eat,” she said again coughing a bit.

Almost immediately he had picked up the spoon and the bowl to make her drink some water.

“Khaaiye Mr. Kapoor. Aap Murjha gaye hain, ghode ki pooch ki tarah.” She attempted a lame joke like he did.

A smile drew on his face and she finally managed to curl her lips into a smile. The pain on her temples was worth the smile.

He ate quietly, asking her if she would eat as well. She shook her head in a negative.

By the time Ram was done eating, Priya had slipped in slumber again. He made her sleep properly and sat beside her.

“Priya, tum bahut achi ho. Sometimes I feel I don’t deserve you. But sach toh yeh hai ki main kabhi tumhe khona nahi chatha. I promise, main tumhaare laayak banunga.”

Priya’s heart picked up speed. She wanted to open her eyes and tell him she was still awake. However, she kept her eyes closed.

Mr. Kapoor loved her.

Her husband loved her.

Even she had that one person who loved her.

She felt his hand hold hers like he did every time he thought she was sleeping. Priya was scared of the intense emotions she saw in his eyes for her. She was scared to even fathom how much he loved her.

She was scared of love.

Because love always left her easily.

She only wanted Mr. Kapoor, not love.

Mr. Kapoor wouldn't leave her.

But love, she didn't trust love.

[2]

I love her but...

Aditya had never seen his wife so irritated and worried at once. She paced down the corridor waiting for Ram.

“Jaan, let it go, Priya abhi abhi toh waapas aayi hai.”

“I know Adi. Lekin Ram is Ram, he is foolish. We need to tell him ki who Priya ko jaake apni feelings bataaye, express kare. Priya deserves to know ki Ram uski bahut pariah karta hai, usse pyaar karta hai. Warna wo Vedika, phir inn dono ke beech mein misunderstandings daal degi. Ram must tell Priya, ki wo Marta hai uspe. Maine usse itna devastated kabhi nahi dekha hai. He was broken, Adi. He’s going going be an idiot if he still thinks ki it’s not the right time to tell Priya. Zindagi Mei right time now hota hai, present.”

“But, Ram ne kaha naa wo abhi Priya ki recovery par focus karna chatha hai.”

“Adi, you don’t understand. Humara Ram na Lanka ko apna garh aur Ravan ko apni family samaj kar baitha hai. And if anything we’ve learnt in the last few days is that life naa, bahut short hoti hai. Kabhi bhi kuvh bhi ho sakta hai. I don’t want Ram to regret anything. I have a plan. Agar Ram Priya ko directly nahi bataayega, toh indirectly his sahi Priya jaan ke rahegi. Vedika ko main aur chance nahi Dena sakti. Main Ram air Priya dono ko protect karna chathi hoon, because wo dono apne baare mein kabhi nahi sochenge.”

“Jaan, tum kya karne waali hoon.” Aditya asked seeing her dial Priya’s number while they noticed Ram coming towards them.

“Hi Priya, kaisi ho? Ram tumhaare aas-paas hai kya? Hum uska actually wait kare rahe hain. Oh wait he is here, sorry for the trouble Priya, you rest.” However she didn’t end the call and immediately turned to Ram.

“Ram tumne Priya ko bataya?” She asked loudly.

“Bri aaram se chila kyun rahi hai?” Ram sighed.

“Did you tell Priya ki tum usse Pyaar karte ho?” Brinda mentioned explicitly while Aditya stared at the screen of her phone which showed Priya’s call was still connected. He prayed whatever his wife was upto turned out to be in favor of his friend.

“Nahi. She’s still recovering Bri. Doctor ne usse stress karne se strictly mana kiya hai.”

“Kisi ko I love you kehna usse stress Dena nahi hota hai Ram. Doesn’t she deserve to know how much you love her? Maine kabhi tumhe itna tuta hua nahi dekha. Apni shakal dehki hai tumne? Have you seen yourself Ram?”

“Bri,” Ram said, “I am okay. Right now, Priya’s recovery is important. I want to focus on that.” He dodged the topic.

“if you don’t tell her, then I will Ram.” Brinda warned.

“No. Priya ko koi stress nahi dega.”

“I don’t understand Ram, how is this stress?” She argued.

“Kyunki wo Priya hai. I know her. You don’t Bri. Priya ke liye …pyaar…, yaar kaose samjhaaun.” He paused, looking away. “Priya ko pyaar dard deta hai. Main usse dard nahi dena chatha. Priya ko naa… pyaar nahi chaiye, usse saath chaiye. Humari relationship bahut straightforward hai. Trust, understanding aur…saath, to be there for each other. …wo humein define karte hain, humaari shaadi ko define karte hain. I told her when we married that I will never love her. It was part of our understanding.”

“Lekin Pyaar toh karte ho naa usse.”

“It’s complicated Bri. Haan, ho gaya pyaar … Priya hai itni Pyaari ki koi usse pyaar kaise naa kare. Lekin… main iss waqt usse iss sab se door rakhna chatha hoon. Because wo naa… iss sab se fight karegi. It’s not easy for her to trust love. And I don’t want her to struggle, not right now. Main nahi chatha, ki wo iss waqt humaare rishte ke badalte maaine ko accept kareme mein lag jaaye yaan fight karne mein. I want her to recover well, mere liye uski health priority hai. Baaki sab... it can wait. I need to be there for her, like she was there for me. Ek companion, ek friend ki tarah, jispe main aakhn band karke trust kar sakta thaa. I want to be worthy of her trust right now. Have you see Meera Maa, the constant worry on her face? I can’t see her like that. Sara di, I have hardly see her smile. Priya ki recovery hum sab ke liye priority hai. Yeh rishte, pyaar, duniyaa jhanjhat, wo sab naa wait kar sakta hai.”

“Why are you lying to yourself Ram?” Brinda asked.

“You are scared she’ll reject you. She’ll leave you. That’s why you are not telling her, hai na?” She asked holding his arm.

Ram blinked his tears. “Priya won’t leave me, she has promised me that, and I know she’ll keep her promise. Excuse me now.” Saying that Ram walked away.

Brinda looked at Adi and then at her phone that showed the call that ended. She hugged him with tears in her eyes. “I can’t see him so broken Adi. Why doesn’t he believe that he can receive love as intensely as he loves?”

“Priya, will teach him, Jaan. He’ll believe that he is worthy of love. Priya will show him that!” Adi reassured his wife, wiping his own tears.

[3]

Mr Kapoor, I can't love again

Priya was a mess crying. When she was a young girl she had craved for love from everyone, her father, her peers, then Neeraj. But so many times life had slapped her back that she realized that love was like fire. If you tried to reach it, you were left with a burn.

Ram was so pure. There was no way one couldn’t like that man. Hearing Brinda and his conversation had moved her to uncontrollable tears. She felt bad for him. Because love only gave hurt. She hated to see him so hurt. She was not blind to her family, that claimed to love him back but always reminded him that he was a stepson, a stepbrother, an outsider. She hated when she saw him craving for validation from them.

“Priya,” she heard his gasp. He ran to her side.

“Are you in pain Priya? Doctor ko bulaaun? Nurse!” He yelled. “Haath mein dard hai? Nahi? Sar dard ho raha hai? Is it so bad that you’re crying?” He panicked. “Nurse!”

“everything will be fine Priya. Please tell me how I can help you? Pain killers Doon?” He asked holding her left hand, firmly yet gently. His right hand combed through her hair. “say something Priya,”

Priya couldn’t stop crying. The more she looked at him, the more tears flooded down her face. How did he absorb such pain? His eyes held depths of unexpressed pain. Unspoken hurt. Subdued wishes of being loved.

“It’s nothing.” She mumbled as he wiped her tears.

“Yaar, tum toh strong ho. Agar tum aise weak pad jaaogi toh humaara kya hoga Priya Jii?” He said to cheer her up. “Dard hai toh batao naa. Mere paas naa, ye tray hai, iss mein har dard ka ilaaj hai.”

Priya stared at him. He was lying. He didn’t have the cure to heartache. No one ever did.

“Matlab tum toh aise ek dum Rajnikanth style mein auto uda sakti ho yaar. Kahin tum wonderwoman, super woman toh nahi ho. Matlab meri dhaal ban gayi thi tum toh.” He said, with all his heart.

“Aap baat lahan maante hai Mr. Kapoor!” She said wiping her tears.

Ram smiled. She was taunting him. He had been dying to hear a taunt from her from past four days. “Master ni is back huh? Daat lo, jitna daatna hai, daat lo… bas yeh wala jo stunt pull kiya naa, wo kabhi mat karna, phir chaaye kya hi ho jaaye.”

“Aapko mana kiya thaa na aane se, toh aap kyun aaye?” She asked looking at him.

“Yaar, Matlab tum aise mujhe kahogi ki main aapki shakal nahi dehkna chathi hoon so Mr. Kapoor aap mere saamne mat aana and Main maan lunga? Aisa kaunsi shaadi mein hota hai? Humaari mein na bikul nahi hoga. Tum na world ke kisi kone pe bhi chali gayi naa... toh bhi main tumhaare paas aa jaunga. Aur itni bhi buri shakal nahi hai meri.” He said stroking his chin.

Priya stared at him. Even now he was trying to cheer her up.

Mr Kapoor, I can't love again, you need to stop.

“Mr Kapoor, what happened about Mr Sood?” She asked distracted by the sudden curiosity. She had given her statement two days back. But had no clue what happened after that.

“he’s got a lifetime in prison. And I will make sure it stays that way, Priya. I won’t let his shadow also reach us. That’s my promise to you.” He said holding her left hand in both his hands.

A silence fell.

“Tum kyun ro rahi thii?”

“Dard ho raha thaa,” she answered. “Strong toh main bhi itni nahi hoon ki dard ka ehsaas hi naa ho.”

“acha hai, ro Lena chaiye. Man Halla ho jaata hai, you know like wo, paani jaise boil ho ke light vapor ban jaat hai naa..”

Priya rolled her eyes. “Mr Kapoor, yeh toh joke bhi nahi thaa.”

“Haina? Yaar mere jokes naa… kisi ne churaa liya hain. And number one suspect tum ho. Kyunki mere aas paas toh tumhi rehthi ho naa..”

Priya wanted to smile. How smoothly, he managed to subtly flirt in between of being stupid.

“Jaaiye naah ke aayiye. Aapki shakal naa Neeraj ke gel waale baalon ke jaise lag rahi hain.”

“Yaar Priya” He exclaimed, “Kahan meri handsome sa face aur kahan wo gel ki dukaan. Tum uske baare mein baat hi kyun karti ho?” He animatedly expressed his disappointment .

Priya smiled at his irritation. “Naah ke aayiye Mr Kapoor.”

“Okay, fine Mrs. Kapoor.” He said standing up. “Tum rona wona mat, achi nahi lagti ho. Naak Lal ho jaati hain, aakhein darawni lagti hai.” He said wiping tears of there were any remaining on her face. “Aur wo gel ki dukaan, uske baare mein sochne ki bhi koi zaroorat nahi hai, tumhaare stitches pe naa, dabaoo padega.” He said pointing to her head.

“Mr Kapoor, go!”

“Yes Madam!” He saluted, happily going to find his clothes. His Priya was slowly coming back. That was all he could ask for. He glanced at her.

I love you, Priya. And even I never get to say it to you in the very words I will always let my actions speak. I don’t want you to love me back, Priya. I just want you to be happy. And maybe, be happy with me.

This was endearing to read. So beautiful!

Looking forward to read the other stories 👏

It was so beautiful.❤️

I was melting away reading this🙈

The last lines were beautiful .. loved it .. beautifully written the emotions.. :)

This was really good read again, her fear for love is not going anywhere anytime soon. He was so soft for her!

Annikaa was your username before khidki na? I think I remember that. (A reader from IB times, ha).

Beautiful! Waiting for more…

Ram will teach Priya not to be afraid, but patience is needed. She had every reason to be afraid. With Ram it will pass. Thank you for such beauty.