KMKV One Shots

Flash Forward: Forgiveness Part V

The Next Morning

"This was my fault. I shouldn't have drank that much." Priya says, pulling the covers higher. Arjun can't help but glance at her, the thin bed sheet being the only thing holding them back. He can't help but think back to last night and the nights before, filled with passion, desire and love. Their previous nights together were nothing last night. He was always delicate and careful with her, treating her like the goddess that she was. Yesterday though... They were both reckless and bold, filled with heavy desires built up over the past years. He lets out a sigh, passing his hand through his hair. How he missed her warmth next to him... "Arjun." Priya says curtly. "Are you listening? This was my mistake and it should not- will not happen again." She holds herself back from looking downwards, a single towel hiding the reminder of last night. "It's my fault not yours." Arjun finally responds, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Do you want to lose her again? You lost her once, and lost us too in your grief. The only reason I'm talking to you is because of her. If you don't lose your ego then you will lose the three of us for good." Adi's words flash through his mind. "What ego? What the hell are you talking about? You and Pooja distanced yourself from your own grief. I have nothing to talk to her about." Arjun responds. "Pooja went into your room..." "What?! I locked the door for a reason, how dare you disrespect my privacy-" "Appa!" The one word stops Arjun halfway. It's been so long since he heard that word from Adi. "Listen, it's okay. We know how much you missed Priyamma. We missed her too. This is your chance. You hurt her, you did this by hurting her when she needed you the most. You broke her heart and betrayed her. If you want our family again you need to put away your ego and admit to Priyamma. Admit how much you missed her and how sorry you are."

"What?" Priya asks, raising her eyebrow. Arjun shakes his head. Priya lets out a huff and starts wrapping more layers around her so she can head to the washroom when Arjun places his hand on her thigh. She quickly shrugs it off. "I need to talk." "So talk, just let me go to the washroom." "This is not the time for your knuckle (teasing) Priya. I need to talk to you." She relaxes and nods her head. "You know how difficult this is for me, for me to," he lets out a huff and rolls his eyes, "let go of my 'ego' and talk." Priya lifts her eyebrow in disbelief. "I have made so many mistakes in my life. So many times where I was at fault but never took responsibility. You were patient through all of those. You stayed with me when no one else would and forgave me for mistakes that would be unforgivable to most." "Yes, I was an idiot, is that what you're trying to say?" Priya interrupts, rolling her eyes. "Would you just let me talk for a moment without interrupting!" He snaps. "I'm trying to say I'm sorry for everything. The biggest mistake I've made in my life was hurting you that day." He says, referencing the night everything went wrong. "I was in pain and I was so used to taking it out on you. I never learned and you should have slapped me every time I did that. What I said that night was unforgivable and was all lies. And... I'm sorry." A moment of silence follows. "I accept your apology but I don't forgive you." Priya says, softening her voice. Arjun scoots closer, placing his hand on hers. "I don't deserve your forgiveness, I know I don't. But I missed you." He holds the bridge of his nose, trying to deal with the hangover and the tears falling down his cheeks. "I f*cked up, I really did, and I regretted it every day over the last 6 years. I missed you so much Priya, and every time I look at Pallavi I... It's torture living without you. And last night..." His eyes can't help but gaze over her body, as she squirms in place. "That was my fault. I should have never encouraged you to drink. What happened last night was something I've been dreaming of, and I know being drunk isn't an excuse but I couldn't even think rationally. It was hard. I was so angry at you for never thinking once about me or Adi or Pallavi or even Athai and Mama the whole 6 years. You made us believe you were gone for good and it was just I couldn't handle my feelings, I was a mess. How could you even do that?"

"How could you have said those things that night?" Priya fires back. "I didn't come back because I didn't even want to come back," she whispers. "I didn't even want to be alive, I wanted to forget all the painful memories surrounding this life. Last night was a lapse in my judgement." "I'm sorry again, Priya you know I wouldn't be apologizing this much unless I meant it. In fact, I only started apologizing and being a better human after I fell in love with you." Priya glares at him, her eyes red. "That was never love. I never knew what real love was like and let myself be blinded by you. If that was real, you would have never done everything you did. I'm done." She pushes Arjun's hand away, shifting to the edge of the bed. "Then what about our kids? They need their Priyamma." "Whose kids?" Priya sneers. "Don't you mean your and Vandhana's kids?" "I SAID I was sorry." "Sorry for what Arjun? For hurting me again and again? Or for bringing Vandhana back into your life the moment I was gone? Or for not telling Pallavi anything about me? Even if I was dead, I would have expected my- oh right, your daughter, to know me." "She needed a mom-" "We both know Vandhana is not and will never be a good mom." "She's changed!" "Sure, like she's not heading to parties every day and making everyone else parent for her. Like she's not telling lies about me just like how she told lies about you to Adi back then." "Did you meet her? What are you talking about?" "Forget it. I said I was done." "No! You're not leaving until you answer my question." Arjun snaps, grabbing her arm. "Let go of me!" Priya squirms, trying to hold up the sheets with one arm while pulling back the other. "Answer the question. Did you meet Pallavi? What happened between the two of you?" "I told you everything you need to know. Start figuring out the answer yourself." She pulls her arm free and escapes to the washroom before sinking against the door, letting the tears run freely.

Arjun sits down, running their conversation through his mind until the pieces start to fall together.

A little girl, 6 years old, walks towards Priya. With bright brown eyes, and her thick hair tied into a ponytail, she was the splitting image of Pooja with dashes of Priya. Her almond shaped eyes and light brown eyes were the same as her mother, while her round face and thin lips were from her father, and made her look just like Pooja kutty. Priya smiles as the child walks towards her, kneeling to be at the small girl's level. "Hi kutty," she says, caressing the girl's cheek. She pushes Priya's hand away and pouts. "Stop acting like you love me!" the child says, tears forming in her big eyes. "What?" Priya leans back, confused. "Amma told me everything Priya Aunty!" She looks at Priya with betrayal showing across her face. "You took Appa, Adi Anna and Pooja Akka away from Amma before, and b-b-brainwashed them into hating Amma." She stammers. "Pallavi kutty, this is no way for a kid to speak. And it's not true." Priya says calmly, fighting the tears forming. Pallavi steps away from Priya, crying. "Don't lie to me Aunty. You can't make me hate Amma too. Just leave us alone. Leave my Appa and Amma alone and go away! I hate you!" Priya pulls her lips inwards, and shuts her eyes tight. Flashbacks of young Adi come up in her mind. "Vandhana and Arjun have made my own daughter hate me... " She thinks to herself. She opens her eyes to see Pallavi glaring at her, arms crossed and tears streaming down her face. "You really want me to go away, Pallavi?" Priya whispers. Pallavi nods. Priya shakes her head slowly, and stands up. "I'll leave soon, don't worry. I just want you to be happy, okay?" Pallavi nods and walks away, leaving a heartbroken Priya, regretting every decision made that fateful night.

Arjun places his head  in his hands, sinking against the edge of the bed. "What have I done?" He whispers, flashbacks of their past flashing in front of his eyes. "I made the same mistake that I did with Adi. I prioritized one child and lost the others and Priya in the process.."

For this one shot, I have two different endings- a happy one and a sad one. I'll be posting the sad one first for some old-fashioned angst, and then I'll post the happy one!