Chapter 2: Divorced
Piya spent a long time rearranging the apartment. This mindless work was helping her in distraction from her hopelessly sad situation. She knew she wont be able to avoid the black holes in her life for long but she hoped to deal with them as they came. She just began dusting the living room when the bell rang loudly. She hoped it wasnt some annoying neighbor fishing for gossip. She opened the door and came face to face to face with the person she least expected to see. It was Abhay. Her breath caught up in her throat. It had been quite long since she had last seen him even though they used to live in the same house. His black silky hair lay tousled across his forehead, his perfect jawline was clenched tensely. He looked as handsome as ever. His ocean blue eyes looked at her in an intense gaze. He slowly took his steps towards her. Piya backed away from the door and backed her steps into the living room slowly but Abhay closed in the distance between them and stopped a few inches away from her. Piya lowered her gaze but she could still feel Abhay's eyes on her. She caught hold of the corner of the table next to her and steadied herself. His closeness still had the same effect on her. That part hadnt changed. Piya waited for Abhay to speak but when he didnt say anything, Piya decided to break the silence.
Piya- Did you come to give me the divorce papers I sent?
Abhay- No, I tore them up.
Piya raised her head; surprised at Abhay's words- Why would you do that?
Abhay- Because I dont want to end our marriage. You are my wife and you will remain my wife till my last breath. You will come home with me right now.
Piya- There is no home left to go to Abhay. There is nothing left of our marriage now. It will be easier on both of us to get separated rather than stay together unhappily.
Abhay closed his eyes in pain- It wont be like that now. Piya, I know I have not been a good husband to you. I did wrong but dont punish me like this. Dont take yourself away from me. I need you..
Piya's eyes grew sad- I cant just forget the past year of my life. Only I know what I have been through. I cant go back to that. I am not strong enough to live through that again.
Abhay moved closer and caught Piya's hand in his and held in against his heart- Please Piya..I love you.
Piya pulled her hand away and turned away from him. Tears ran down her face while she continued- I dont want to hear it Abhay. Please just go, I cant deal with this anymore. Please leave Abhay.
Abhay's heart broke hearing Piya's words. He never felt so defeated and helpless in his life. He turned to leave but Piya stopped him. He turned around; his face filled with hope but Piya's expression was still the same. She went inside and brought out another copy of the divorce papers. She put the papers on the table and handed Abhay the pen. Abhay's heart fell knowing that he was failing but he wasnt ready to give up.
Abhay stubbornly refused- I wont sign them Piya.
Piya- Abhay, its going to happen either way. If you dont sign them then I'll apply for the divorce on grounds of mental cruelty. Then I wont need your consent. But I don't want to end our marriage like that. It will be more civil to get a divorce by mutual consent. Its your choice.
Piya was aware how much her words must have hurt him but he was making things difficult by being stubborn. She needed to break away from him once and for all. She didn't want to go back to being his wife after all that he had done to her. Abhay took the pen from her and signed the papers. His face appeared oddly calm now. It was like he was suddenly okay with getting divorced. He looked at her for a few seconds and then turned to leave. Once Abhay left, Piya fell to the floor and broke down into tears. It was all over. They were no longer together.
2 weeks passed and finally the date of the hearing approached. Nothing had changed for Piya. The time apart from Abhay did not make things easier as she hoped. She waited outside the courthouse for her lawyer to arrive. 10 mintues later, Karan arrived.
Karan looked apologetic- Sorry I am late Piya. Got stuck in traffic. Shall we proceed.
Piya- yes, lets go.
Karan escorted Piya to the Judge's chambers. He had arranged for a private hearing on Piya's request. They entered the room and found Abhay and his lawyer already seated at the desk and the Judge sitting at the head of the table. Karan handed the copy of the petition to the judge who perused through it briefly. The judge looked up at Piya and asked,' Ms. Dobriyal, are you in favour of divorcing Abhay Raichand?'. Piya paused for a moment. She had anticipated this moment for a long time yet it was very hard for her to say the words. She nodded her head in affirmation. The judge turned to Abhay and asked,' Mr. Raichand, are you in favour of divorcing Ms. Dobriyal?'.
Abhay looked at Piya and spoke without any hesitation- No
Piya looked up at Abhay appauled. The judge continued,' Mr. Raichand, are you withdrawing your consent to this divorce proceeding?'. Abhay kept his eyes on Piya and nodded. The judge smothered a smile and concluded,' In that case, I cannot grant an immediate divorce. But since Ms. Dobriyal hasn't withdrawn her consent, I cannot revoke the petition either. My proposal here would be to postpone the proceedings for the next 7 months and in the meanwhile order both of you to stay together for this period of 7 months and try to work things out. If after these 7 months, you still feel that your differences cannot be reconciled then I will have no choice but to grant divorce'. Piya looked at the judge in disbelief. She wanted her and Abhay to live together for 7 months under the same roof. She got up from her chair in dissention- You cant order us to live together. I don't agree to all this. The judge firmly addressed Piya,' Ms. Dobriyal, disobeying an active order of the court is regarded as contempt. Surely you would like to rethink your words'. Piya back down frustrated with all that was happening. Abhay smirked seeing Piya so angry.
After they came out of the room, Piya walked up to Abhay with an annoyed look on her face- What the hell was that Abhay?
Abhay gave her a cocky smile- What happened is that I tricked you.
Piya gritted her- You signed the divorce papers so that I wouldn't file for divorce on my own and then you could withdraw your consent and get the judge to postpone the proceedings.
Abhay- Very clever Piya. Too bad you didn't figure it out before. So no matter how much you hate it, you will have to stay with me for the next 7 months. Anyways, have a lot to do so we'll continue this little fight later. See you at home wifey.
Before Piya could say anything further, Abhay leaned in and kissed her cheek and then walked away. Piya was lost for words. Piya turned to Karan who was trying to control his laughter. Piya grew exasperated- You think this is funny?
Karan- Sorry Piya but come on, you have to admit this is kinda funny.
Piya- Well I don't.
Karan- Piya!! You only wanted Abhay to go back to being the old cocky Abhay who loved you a lot. Then why are you getting so angry now? Isnt this what you want?
Piya's eyes grew sad- Yes, I wanted that but I cant do this. You wont understand my reasons and neither do you know anything about what Abhay did to me.
Karan- Hey, I am sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad or anything. You are right Piya, I may not be fully aware of your circumstances but you are still in love with him. Then why not give your marriage another chance.
Piya's mind flashed to the wedding day...
Dobriyal house was streaming with guests. Everyone were excited for the wedding. Piya was very happy. She was on cloud nine. Today, she would officially be Mrs. Piya abhay raichand.
Piya was dressed beautifully in red and green colored sequenced lehenga. Her veil was netted covering her forehead. She had appropriate amount of make up with hair tied in loose bun with little curls swaying near her ears.
Mrs. Dobriyal entered her room smiling with little tears, "piya, you look beautiful. I will miss you. Abhay is a great guy. I know he will always make you happy."
Piya hugged her mother," thank you mom. And please don't make me all senti now."
Mrs. Dobriyal- lets go. Its time.
Piya was walking down with her mother her eyes searching for just one man, her love, her life, her abhay. Abhay was standing in the mandap dressed in his white sherwani smiling at her. their eyes met and whole world seemed to vanish. All they could see or feel was love for each other. They felt that they both were reason for each other's existence.piya just kept walking looking into his eyes which spoke volumes, which held dreams of being together, which had promises made to each other.
Piya was out of trance when she heard coughing sound of people around her making her blush. She walked towards abhay. Abhay offered her his hand smiling at her and she took it without any hesitance.
Both were seated next to each other. They kept stealing glances. They were hardly aware of people around them. They were lost in their own small world. The rituals began. They took seven vows.
Vow 1
To take care and hold responsilbilities of each other
Vow 2
Together to protect and be each others strength
Vow 3
To love each other rest of the life
Vow 4
To shower joy and please each other in every way
Vow 5
Always stand beside each other in times of sorrow and support each other
Vow 6
Always be at each other's side forever without any complains
Vow 7
Love, honour and cherish each other forever.
Abhay and piya looked at each other while taking vows. Abhay tied manglasutra round her neck and put sindoor on her forehead. They were pronounced husband and wife.
Piya sighed," how wish you had lived upto those vows abhay..how I wish"
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Indian Mythology
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
Shiv Shakti
Anupamaa
