PART 171
Lakshman’s eyes were bright open, staring at the ceiling in the darkness as Mila slept with her back towards him. Shed asked him what her Di had said,
And he had lied. Each lie burned his throat and being, but he had given his word. And moreover, if he told Mila now, the house would break in havoc and Siya would never trust him again.
The secrecy killed him. The very fact that he has to hide such a big thing from his brother, his wife and all the others ached him, but he knew there was no other way out. His mind kept replaying the conversation, and Siyas pleading tone kept ringing in his ears.
“I am going to our cottage in Agartala, Lakshman. I wont come back until he or she is born. Ive only told him and the girls about a few days, but they dont know the entire thing. If I tell your Bhaiyya, he wont let me go, or he come with me and leave you all here. But heaven knows, he needs you and you need him.”
“But we need you too Bhabi! How will you manage everything alone? At least take someone with you, or tell your parents. Youre saying you wont inform them either.”
“I can’t tell them Lakshman, its the same issue. Theyre old, I can’t worry them out anymore. And for you,” she placed her hand on his. “Im sure you all can take care here of everything here. Im not abandoning you Lakshman, I am just protecting you all and my child.”
“I know Bhabi.” He paused, looking down. “I feel so worthless, I can’t do anything to help you or reduce your pain.”
“You can Lakshman, and you are doing it now.”
“Promise me you will come back as soon my niece or nephew is healthy enough.”
“Promise.”
Just a week from now, the dynamic of the house would change. He would be blamed, he knew. But he was prepared to take it all in for her sake.
Mila turned towards him, her eyes clenched as if she were having a disturbing nightmare.
Lakshman inched closer to her and placed his head over hers. Slowly, his breathing calmed down and Lakshman felt the pace of her heart matching his.
He would protect everyone, just like he protected her. And if that meant killing himself from the inside, he was ready to do so.
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That evening, something felt different. Siyas heart quickened with each passing tick as all her family members came around to check on her packing and health, Siya found it very hard to look up to them in the eye. They had nothing but love for her, but she, hid a dark, deep secret and her heart broke thinking of their faces once they knew of it all.
“Di, we will miss you,” Shruti said.
“Me too dear, a lot. Dont worry, you’ll be alright,” She calmed her.
“I dont know Di,” Mila sighed. “I.. do you have to go today?”
“Why do you say that dear?”
“Actually Di,” Maanvi spoke. “I can understand her because, to be honest, Ive been feeling the same lately. Something just feels, off.”
“Its just your body dear, its tired. From all this press media trial and your hormonal changes, nothing else. Even I have those sometimes, dont worry dear. Im sure its nothing.”
“I am sure.” The conviction with which she was lying to herself began to astound her.
Ram walked in as he smiled at the other three.
“Lakshman and I will drop you, the car is ready.”
Siya nodded as the others left them to their privacy.
Ram walked ahead and took her sight in his own. She was glowing like never before, her eyes bright and oddly, happy, contrasting with his.
“Are you sure Siya?”
Siya touched her forehead with his.
“Yes, Ram.”
“Will you leave me alone like this?”
Siya gulped back a fresh tear. She could not let herself break down at any cost.
“Can I ever leave you Ram? I am with you, always.”
Ram hugged her tightly, as if one slow moment and he would lose her from his arms.
“Let me come with you Siya. How can I fight this alone?”
“You Need to fight this Ram. And why alone, I told you right, I am with you.”
Ram sighed.
“I am so sorry, I know you are going away because you can’t take this anymore. But I promise it will all end soon.”
“It will, I know that. You have almost done it Ram, just a little more.”
The two stood in silence as Siya replayed all her memories with him. The very first meet, to present day, all came running to her. Things that she would have to live with now as her only possession.
“Ram, I want to ask for one last thing from you. Can you give it to me?”
Ram broke away, wiping his tears as he put up a small smile and held her hand.
“Yes Siya, sure, tell me what is it?”
She paused, looking at his eyes.
“Dont drop me to the airport. Stay back here.”
“Siya,” he gasped. “Why are you doing this to me?” His voice broke.
“Dont get me wrong Ram,” she cupped his cheeks. “I can’t.. I wont be Able to go if you come with me. And I have to go now Ram, for you, for me and for your child. You know that too. I need this break. I can’t do it if you come with me Ram. Im sorry but, I can’t.”
Ram shook his head softly.
“Please Ram, for me. For us.”
He sighed, the two in an odd silence for minutes.
“If that us what you want Siya, then I will.”
Siya hugged him again and relished the moment, savouring the last drop of water in her ocean.
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“Take care dear, please keep calling us.”
Siya hugged the mothers as she looked back the house.
“Its so weird, a few years ago I didnt know of any of you, and today I can’t tear my eyes away from this place I call home.”
All were taken aback at these words. Siya, of all, never spoke like this.
Quickly, she composed herself and smiled, projecting the face of hers all knew all too well.
“Take care Maa.”
“Di, tell me when you reach.”
The sisters came ahead to hug her, and it was then that a few adamant drops fell from her eyes. She felt like a mother walking away from her children.
But she was the lioness who knew, that they would do well in the wild and sometimes, the queen needed to walk away for the pack to become stronger on its own.
“All of you be well, Maanvi take lots of rest, Mila and Shruti, dont drown yourselves in work.”
They nodded as Siya walked towards the car.
She found Lakshman settled on the drivers seat already, unable to look at her.
Ram settled her in and stood at the window.
“Bhaiya, wont you go?” Bharat asked.
“No dear,” Siya spoke up. “Actually, I told him myself. He needs rest now. Its alright, Lakshman and I will go.”
“I love you Siya,” he whispered.
“I love you Ram, I always will.”
He placed a small kiss on her forehead as he walked away.
Siya waved as Lakshman started the car, and soon they were out of the gates. Siya thanked each and every brick of the house for what it had given her, and for all that she was taking away.
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The journey was silent. Lakshman drove in the cold of the night as Siya looked out the window.
“The right turn please, Laksh.” Siya spoke suddenly.
Lakshman was taken aback, but did as he was told. He drove for 5 minutes, realising that there was no gate to the airport this way.
“Bhabi I think I was going the correct way, the main gate to the airport was to the left. We’ve come behind the airport now.”
“I know, but we need to keep going. I know where it is.”
Lakshman looked at her again, but the determination on her face was so strong, it made him doubt his own intentions as he quietly followed whatever she told.
Within minutes, Lakshman found himself entering a dense forest, realising Siyas directions had brought him to the outskirts of Delhi.
Turning to look at her, he noticed Siya switching her phone off.
“Bhabi, you may think Im a child but I know enough to guess that this place is not appropriate to be an airport,” he tried to lighten the already tense situation.
“Can you please tell me where we are?” He asked, serious now.
“You are right Laksh dear, this is not the airport.”
Lakshman was dumbfounded. This was not what they had discussed.
“But Bhabi, then how will you..”
Suddenly, he noticed the headlights of another car coming towards them from the depth of the jungle, and stopping right ahead of them.
Slowly, it all began to dawn on Lakshman. There was much more she had kept from him.
“Bhabi, unless you tell me what you’ve hidden from all of us now, I will not let you go.”
Siya cleared her throat, preparing herself for what was to come.
“Mila must have asked you about why I called you alone. What did you say?”
“Bhabi how does that matter I…”
“Please Laksh, calm down. What did you say?’
“I .. I said that you called me to help you with some of Bhaiyyas documents before you left for Agartala.”
She sighed.
“See, we all have to hide somethings sometimes to protect our loved ones. And its for their own good. Im sure you promised to tell her the truth at first, but then had to break it.”
“Bhabi.. what do you mean?” He asked tensed.
Siyas fingers began to tremble as she looked back at him.
“I too am breaking a promise Lakshman. I will never come back.”
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|Ooh.
An update after a long time, with multiple edits because I just found it so heavy to write, but hey, finally it is here :)
Hope it could do the same to you as it did to me.
Happy Holi Guys, stay safe and happy <3 Loads of love from my side and thank you * 100!
P.s. Even though the chapter might be sad, I assure you the end of YHZ will be happy and leave you on a warm note when it comes, not anytime soon though lol <3
Edited by SenAnu - 5 years ago
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