The sky was clear. The moon was shining bright tonight. There was an unnatural calm about it that seemed to reflect her mind...
Sanam dried her hands on the towel as she planned to close down. The helpers had left a few minutes back. She just had to close down the shutter and walk a few minutes to the little room she had rented as a Paying Guest.
Today she had bid farewell to Haya. And Seher. They had both pleaded with her to join them. But she knew her place was here. She did not want to go far away from the resting place of their parents. Someone had to be here- holding on to their heritage. Besides, she would belong nowhere.
Anyway, Seher'd be back after a few months- she had forcibly sent her away. She needed a change.
Seher had argued... shouted...tried to reason with her. She had asked her to go back to Aahil. But that was a door she had long shut.
They did not belong with each other- she had been convinced. He would never understand why it was painful for her to live with his Ammi's memories...And she'd never be able to convince him of the truth. She did not want to be an added burden...playing antagonist to another woman who equally desired him- who had vowed to accept him with all his flaws..who would share his sentiments about the woman he edified as God.
There was Seher too. She had made sure her sister did not know that. She could never forgive Aahil for denying her the last chance to see Rehaan...for bowing down to the theatrics of a woman who blinded him, pretending to be blind and innocent!
The realisation that came had been a moment of truth. They had nothing in common any more. Not even Love!
What was love? Was it what she felt for him that had made her take insult after insult, holding on to hope? Was it his innocent demand for unconditional acceptance and submission?
Kya hua tera waada...Woh kasam , woh iraada..the haunting melancholy of an old song seemed to evoke no emotions in her. She wondered if anything would move her after this? Something did. The pain of Rehaan's death...a brother's undying love, foregoing his own life to give life to his brother...a sister's unfulfilled wish to live her life with the one man she had shared a lifetime with...That still brought tears to her eyes.
xxx
A figure moved out from the shadows. Finally his quest had ended...His eyes rested on the lights dying out at the neat little joint. The street light seemed to showcase life's valiant effort to survive. His heart skipped a beat- Sanam Da Dhaaba. His eyes stung as he remembered the promise he had made...the dreams they had weaved...Was it so easy to forget someone and move ahead?
It had been six months since she had walked out on him, leaving him an orphan. His Ammi, His Rehaan, His Sanam, His world...Nothing was left of it. Yet he had simply stood there watching her leave. He had been unable to fathom the hatred she harboured for a woman dead...a woman who had died for him; because of him.
And now...Life had thrown her in his face again. He had not expected this highly recommended culinary goddess to turn out to be Sanam. He had personally set out on this mission in order to satisfy the most eccentric client and possible future Business Partner who had ceaselessly praised and insisted on this particular set of cooking skills.
It had to be! Did he sense a feeling of pride? If so, he had to quash it then and there. Even though she was still his wife on paper and he did not accord that status to anyone else anymore, he was not going crawling on his knees to convince a woman who had betrayed him twice with her selfishness.
He had learned to let go. She definitely must have too. That made it easier. He would make her an offer she could not refuse...And if she did, he'd stop at nothing to make her tally. After all, they were strangers...and it was easy to do business with strangers...
He would be back on the morrow and make sure she had no other way than to accept his proposal. And he'd make sure he did not allow her back in his life...He'd flog his heart if it dared to disobey!
Let this be a new beginning. It was time to move on- His heart seemed to whisper.
xxx
PS: I wrote this out of frustration yesterday.đ Didn't feel like posting it since it looked boring.đĽą
Anyway, with the holi promo and all..I guess I may not get my separation track...đ
I think I will write separation OS after OS until I get it!đĄ
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Welcome to QH3, Forumwaasis...đ¤ Pretty sure we will have a good ride!đđź
Writers Corner: Books, Stories & Poems
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