Part 21
Monty had returned as promptly as he had arrived leaving Soumya alone with Kaka. "Kaka please tell me what is nagging him... what is so horrific in his past. Tell me if I am to heal him I can't do that without your help" she had pleaded to him her eyes begging for help and Kaka had released a deep shallow breath. "What do I tell you child his is a different story, he was born to Harak Singh's first wife Preeto the only child they had after five years of marriage sadly his mother did not live to see him grow old she died giving birth to him. For fifteen years master brought him all on his own, I believe the best years they spent together. And then one day master married Kamla she was his personal secretary got him drunk one night and they ended up in bed. Master was a generous soul he hated himself for ruining her, she got pregnant with his child and so he married her. The day she stepped in this house was the last that it saw tranquility" Soumya watched Kaka fiddle with the fork breaking the eggs to bite size pieces in the pan. "She was a lustful woman and had taken a liking to Harman, he was too young to understand her willful schemes he was just happy to have a mother. One night when master was away she drugged him and took him to her room the poor child never could understand why his mother wanted him to share her bed. She had probably slipped him some pills pushed him to the extremes forced herself on him. He was never the same after that, fretted and burnt in fever, had nightmares and was scared of her. I couldn't bear him that way coaxed him to explain what had changed him to such an extent and he had cried showing me the marks that wicked woman had inflicted on him. He was brutally abused by her when master returned I asked him to get Harman admitted in a boarding I couldn't see the child die a slow death.
Though a part of him had died the night he got raped he lived out of this house for the next ten years." By now Soumya's tears were visible as they flowed freely from her eyes he had been through so much at such a tender age. Part of her wanted to hold him in her arms and never let go yet the other part was eager to know more of his past. "He returned five years back because master wasn't feeling well he had his first heart attack then. By that time Raavi was in love with Abhinav she wasn't as bad as her mother but she made her mistakes and ended up pregnant during her school years. Abhinav's parents agreed to accept her as daughter in law if Harman married Samaira their immoral daughter. Kamla had immediately agreed to the match and Harman complied because he could not see his family name being dragged in mud. Master was ashamed of Kamla I had informed him of Kamla's insolent and criminal behavior with Harman after he had returned and refused to converse with anyone in the house." Soumya could see delving into the past wasn't easy for Kaka his hands trembled slightly at the sink as he rinsed the cups.
"Samaira never loved Harman she always complained of him being poor he had just started his business but the woman was impatient he never loved her and after six months she filed for an annulment. With their marriage over Abhinav dumped Raavi at our doorstep and took away the child as soon as it was born. A custody case ensued but they won hands down since they are into dirty politics. Now she has closed herself to the family and blames Harman for her bad luck, Kamla died two years back but she had done the damage" he had laughed sardonically at the end leaving Soumya in deep shock. "Is that why he had the women, to punish them for his mother and wife's deeds" she had queried still unable to fathom the pain that coursed through her body at top speed, it felt as if her heart had just been sliced open. "Yes he turned into a beast after Samaira left him for Armaan and Raavi's baby got taken away he blames himself for all of that though none of it is his fault" Kaka had hung his head in shame. "I couldn't protect him" Kaka had cried and Soumya had felt it necessary to assuage him. "We can help him now Kaka, he loves you I have seen it. With a little love and care he can be brought back" she had smiled through shining eyes. "I know you can help him the reason I've enlightened you on his past... help him child he needs you" Kaka had practically begged her and she had silenced him with her assent "I will."
Harman had pampered himself in the lukewarm water nothing mattered to him neither the battering headache nor his past for the moment it was just him and his solitude he hadn't known warm baths could feel so good, no wonder some idiot invented the Jacuzzi. Soumya had gathered the breakfast contents Kaka had prepared for Harman and had walked up the stairs to find the room empty he was still in the washroom; she had pulled back the curtains allowing sunlight to flood the entire room with a fresh blissful glow. Opening the windows she felt the cool mid-morning breeze engulf her as she stood beside them enjoying the luscious view of the lawns feasting her eyes upon them when she felt a click behind her. She turned to find him bundled in a bath robe his moist hair under a towel which he shoved rigorously over his head; she had smiled at his harsh treatment of himself.
She had then reached him and making him sit on the bed had overtaken the reins gently wiping his hair dry, he had closed his eyes as the essence of her warmth seeped in his scalp through the pores of her fingertips as she massaged his head ridding him of his headache for good. "Breakfast!" she had quipped bringing the tray to the bed she poured out his coffee for him as he nibbled on the toast. "Kaka made this?" it was a question more than a remark. "Yes" she had admitted "Why!" he had exclaimed outraged to hear of his sick benefactor slaving in the kitchen. "He is better now" she had assured him "You are going to cook lunch tell him that" he had snapped irritated now. "I will" she had complied readily and he had noticed her tear stained face. "You were crying" he had questioned and she had looked at him through moist eyes "No" she had lied almost immediately dropping her gaze. How could she tell him she knew, that she understood the resentment, the guilt, the fear... everything. "You lie" he had accused softly pushing her chin up with his index finger he made her watch him. "Do you not find me beautiful?" she had interrogated him her eyes searching his soul for answers. She could see disbelief etched over his face replaced by an irrevocable emptiness.
"You're charming" he had stated blandly "and that's why you never need me" she had whispered in a self-explanatory tone. "That is not the truth" he had lashed out unexpectedly causing her to spill her burning coffee on her hand and she had whimpered as her skin burnt. "Can't you be careful" he had admonished her for her laxity towards herself clear water drops settled on his hands as he held hers in his. "Do you love me?" she had questioned him once again her physical anguish no longer important "No" he had remarked it had been the plain truth in his opinion. "Then why did you marry me?" she had cried in a restrained voice causing his spirits to peak. He clenched his fists and jerked his head slightly as if trying to make up his mind but he reasoned it was best if done. "You and I are not married on the contrary I almost ran you down you with my car on my way back to Mumbaii from Simla. You're not my wife and the only woman I haven't felt the need to touch for my own selfish desires". There he had done it, it wasn't as hard as he had expected it to be he had felt a relieving feeling settle over him but one look at her and his tranquil state had taken a nose dive. She had gone as pale as a sheet her jaw clamped tight she had stared at him with the utmost of helplessness making him regret uttering the truth out loud.
"I knew you hated me but to such an extent as to spin lies about our relationship" she couldn't go on further placing her cup in the tray she had stood up to pull out a dress from the cupboard. Minutes later he had heard the shower running in the washroom she probably was fighting her battle standing in the shower punishing herself for loving him. He had to stop her stuffing his hands in his bathrobe he had followed her there to find her denuded to the core. She had closed her eyes letting her tears mingle with the on-stream of water her hands were drawn around her attempting to cover the little they could. Water droplets fell freely on her hair streaming down her milky skin in small rivulets. Harman had seen better in his years but somehow it was beyond her physical beauty that had entranced him. Soumya had not heard him enter she was too immersed in her own agony to pay heed to him. He noticed her body was trembling which meant she was crying for a split second Harman had been compelled to kiss those plump practically shivering lips insane but a sudden revelation had him stoned. She was not his to have in any way not unless she wanted to be his. "I'm sorry" he had muttered before walking out again slamming the door shut and Soumya's tears had fallen harder and faster. Stepping out of the shower a few minutes later she had pulled on her garments in frenzy and had brushed her hair back before slipping on her shoes. Watching her get ready with such atomic force Harman's suspicion had been aroused. "Where are you going?" he had commanded to be enlightened. "Away" she had replied tracing her dupatta before placing across her neck and had tried to brush past him when he held her by her arm. "Away as in" he had arched his eyebrows grimly. "Away as in hell... let go of me" she had struggled in his iron hold "What do you care if I live or die... you clearly are not ready to retain any relationship with me you can go back to your world and let me be" she could feel an onset of fresh tears which she fought hard to restrain.
"I care" he had whispered "No you don't" she had derided him instantly "Don't be so sure" he had gazed at her tenderly making her cry. "All this is a farce for you, if we do not share a relationship I have no right to be here" she had begged him to let her go tugging at her hands which he had imprisoned in his own. "Stay... " he had whispered pulling her face towards his he had implanted a firm kiss on her lips stopping her from struggling further he felt her sink against him her body falling limp she was hiccuping now. "I need you ... don't go" he had murmured against her mouth... "Then make me feel you desire me" she had breathed heavily against him her tears brushing against his lips. "Are you willing to be mine?" he had made her gaze at him hope etched over his face for the first time... in a very long time. "I wish to be yours" she had replied burying her face in the wide expanse of his chest. "Then mine you will be" he had murmured gently before pulling her closer to him settling his lips on her rose ones.
And Harman's mystery is solved...😊😊😊
Bollywood
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
