The clock ticked as the seconds travelled, rising the panic within Taani as she sat in the lounge still waiting, still hoping, Nupur would agree to go back with her. Though the encounters with Nupur where bitter than what she had expected, she couldn't help but find some other way to make up Nupur's mind. She was worn, she was tornā¦ she was tired and exhausted, still in her wet clothes, shivering badly as she sat there for another six hours. She felt her muscles stiffen and pain, felt her eyes dropping but disallowed her mind to shut down and give up. She had to be strong for Onu, her best friend, her love, her husband who doesn't consider her as his wife. Wife!! , she mocked a smile to herself; he doesn't consider her as his friend anymore, forget wife. Fresh tears made her way down her cheeks as she felt a sharp shooting pain piercing through her heart.
"Madamā¦have some tea", the butler offered her the cup, breaking Taani''s trance. She denied the offer "I don't need it, thank you." "Have it madam", he persisted, "You seem sick and tired and have been waiting here for more than 12 hours.. have it you'll feel better", and placed the cup over the table. "Excuse me!", she called the leaving butler, "Where's the way to the wash room?". "Go straight, 1st left down the corridor", he answered and left when she nodded.
As soon as she stood up, she felt herself crumbling, she felt dizzy, and her stomach did flip flop, due to hunger. She tried taking a step forward but couldn't as her legs collapsed and she landed straight to the groundā¦nope to someone's arms. Parting her eyes a little she saw a hazy outline of a chiseled face. "Onuā¦you??", was the last thing she said before closing her eyes.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taani knew she was dreaming. She knew it was a dream which made her feel his touch. She knew he was not with him in real as he does not trust her anymore. She knew she had to open her eyes to get rid of the dream, she needed to wake up.
She opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself in a bed. She sat up and found herself changed into her green nightie. Taani roamed her eyes through the room, not understanding the way she got inside the room. Was her Mumbai trip a dream, was she still in Kolkata, in her home? She wondered but dismissed it as she found the room unfamiliar. Her eyes fell on the side table where she found medicine sheets and a broken wrapper of an injection.
The door knob twisting brought her attention towards the door. As soon as the person entered the room, Taani was stupefied with shock. She saw the person looking at her intently. She saw concern, anger, sadness, loveā¦ wait love? In those eyes. "Onu??" she whispered and he neared towards her. He sat opposite to her on the bed and placed the food tray beside her.
"Onuā¦" she started but was interrupted when she saw him shaking the thermometer and bringing it near her mouth indicating to open it. She opened her mouth and took the thermometer and watched him silently looking at his wrist watch. Why wasn't he saying anything to him? she wondered and then remembered they were not friends anymore. A lone tear trickled on her eye lash and that's when Anuraag looked up.
Anuraag extended his hand and wiped off the tear, taking off the thermometer from her mouth.He checked the temperature and was little bit relieved to see her temperature coming down near to normal.
"Onuā¦" she called again but this time he brought the soup spoon towards her mouth indicating her to drink it. Taani without any protest opened her mouth letting him feed.
Anuraag was finally at ease because Taani was eating. He was shattered the night before when he saw her fainting near the lounge, as soon as he stepped in the hotel. Without wasting any time he booked a room in the hotel and took her in the room calling the doctor. He was broken when he was informed that she was empty stomach and was running high fever due to getting wet in rain. He remembered how he clutched her hand tightly when she was being injected and closed his eyes feeling the pain.
As soon as she finished up the bowl, she tried to speak but was disappointed when Anuraag again without any word made her have her medicines. She saw him getting up and sending the tray out of the room and locking the door.
Anuraag now turned towards her "Ab bol kya bolna hai?"
Taani had a slight grin over her face as she heard him speak to her after such a long time. Now she would be able to return Nupur back to him and he will become complete in all senses.
"Onu.. tu idhar kaise aya?" she enquired.
"You had accidently switched on your mobile yesterday and I came to know that you were here in Mumbai. And for the 1st time in my life I used my baba's name to get the hotel information." He answered but Taani was not listening after she heard the word 'yesterday'.
"Yesterday?" Taani's eyes widened in shock and she jumped off the bed but stumbled due to dizziness.
Anuraag was fast enough to hold her and place her back in the bed.
"Kya kar rahi hai Taani? Pagal ho gai hai? You have fever dammit!", he shouted at her.
"Onu.. we don't have time. Tujhe pata hai.. Nupur is hereā¦ I need to speak to her.. or otherwise she'll leave Onu.. Ja rok le usko.", she panicked.
"Taani.. bus kar ..", he tried pacifying but she seemed adamant.
"Onuā¦Nupur ko rok le Onuā¦she will leaveā¦please Onu.."
"Taani enoughā¦", he shouted placing his hand over her shoulders firmly.
"Taani ..she left", he informed in a low voice and Taani's eyes brimmed with tears.
"I swear Onu.. I wanted to stop her.. I spoke with herā¦ don't worry I will bring her backā¦I am so sorry", she cried.
"Why are you apologizing?", he asked surprised.
"I couldn't stop her", she sobbed and then it hit her, how did he know about Nupur's departure?
"Onuā¦how do you know?", she asked.
"I let her go forever", was all he said and saw a very shocked Taani looking at her with disbelief.
"Onu..how could you do that ? She is your love, your life , your everything and you let her go? How can you let your love go out of your life? Didn't you even think once about yourself and the miserable life you will lead without her?", she blasted him.
"Hypocrete.", he commented which made Taani's banter stop and she looked at him shocked.
"You are a Hypocrete Taani." He said that again and left her shoulder.
"Tu kaise mujhe yeh sab bol sakti hai.. jabke tu khud apne pyaar ko jaane de rahi haiā¦ha? Even you never thought about the miserable life you would live without your love?", he said as his eyes turned moist and waited for her answer.
Taani was mum and shocked. She tried to speak but failed.
"Taani", he breathedā¦ "I met Nupur, she was very happy to meet me and asked sorry for her behavior and said me to wait for another 3 months because she's leaving for an ad campaign to Paris and then she will be with me forever"
Taani was listening to him silently with tears.
"Pata hai Taaniā¦ I let her go because I cannot live my life with a lie."
"Lie?" Taani asked shocked.
"Yes .. lie", he answered. "The lie that, I love her, The lie that, I am miserable without her, The lie that, my life is incomplete without her."
"What are you saying Onu?", Taani was shocked.
"I am saying the truth. When Nupur left me I was sad but not heartbroken. Ironically, after Nupur left I have lived the happiest moment of my life. I was smiling once again, I was that old Onu people knew and do you know why?" he cupped her face.
"Because of you Taani", Taani was shocked to the core and was unable to say anything.
"You have been the reason of my happiness since childhood but the thing is I realize it now. You have been with me through all thick and thin of my life, but I realize it now. You have been the one I have fallen in love with, long backā¦ but I realize it now. Taani.. will be mine once again?", he asked wiping Taani's tears which were falling nonstop.
"Again?" she asked surprised.
"Why? You are my wifeā¦ aren't youā¦?", he asked her smiling with tears.
"Wife?", she was crying now, happily.
"Yes Taani Ganguly.. wife of Anuraag Ganguly", he confirmed and they hugged tightly.
"I love you", they confessed in unison.
So how was it??? I know the last part sucked.. but do tell me.. press the like button and leave your comments...
With Love
Priyoš
CID
