He stood still at his place, shock and horror seeped in every inch of his being. At the same instant, all moments spent with his family and Malini flashed infront of his eyes. The promises he had given Malini repeated in his mind.
"You wouldn't ever leave me right Aditya?" Malini asked, a foreign emotion in her eyes
"Of course not! Why do you ask Malini? What happened?" he asked startled, trying to understand the reason behind the pain and slight fear in her eyes.
"Nothing. I just asked" she said and looked away. Despite his repeated questions, she did not tell him and kept repeating it was nothing. He finally gave up and changed the topic instead, but not before reassuring her he would never leave her!
No! How can he do this to her? He can't betray her! And why should he? Why should he when he hasn't done anything wrong? No he can't! He'd rather die!
___________________________________________
Imlie dint know what to feel at the moment. She could feel fear, outrage, anger, disbelief, agony and disgust within her. Tears filled in her eyes but refused to flow down. Seeing her own villagers going against her, agreeing with Dulari though being a bit reluctant, she no longer knew what to feel. Just a few days back she had taken the first step towards her dreams and just within a few moments, her life has come at such a mode?
How can she do this? She can't bind him to her despite knowing he's committed to someone else. Even if he wasn't, she couldn't have bound him in a relationship where there couldn't be any love from her side. No! No! She can't do this! This has to stop! She can't ruin two lives apart from hers! No! She'd rather die!
___________________________________________
"Fine then. Kill me! I'd rather die!" Aditya shouted loudly, making all of them look at him with shock. They hadn't expected him to actually take this option.
After a brief moment of shock, Dulari declared the same to be done. She was the first one to snap out of her shock and the look of horror on Imlie's face made her smirk. Imlie's entire life will be burdened with the guilt of this man's death and that would be enough to surpress her, she thought.
A few men tied him to a tree nearby and decided to execute him by beheading him. Taking a deep breath, Aditya braced himself for his death, internally wishing courage and strength to his family and Malini to deal with the news of his death.
"I'm sorry Maa-Baba. I'm sorry Malini. Goodbye" he said in his mind and braced himself for the pain of the axe cutting through him when he heard the loud shouts of the men coming to murder him. But much to his surprise, he dint feel any pain for quite sometime. Hearing a few loud gasps, he opened his eyes to find out what exactly was happening. Only, he hadn't imagined what he actually was seeing at the moment!
__________________________________________
It was a dark day. The sky thundered violently threatening to plunge the city into complete darkness. She could feel it in her that something bad was about to happen. A fear of a different sort passed through her even as her hand placed itself against her belly, as if indicating it will protect it from all dangers.
Something surely wasn't right. Her thoughts were interrupted by the mumbling of her elder daughter. She smiled and caressed her hairs affectionately, causing her to slip into deep slumber clinging onto her. She smiled and pressed a tender kiss on her forehead and covering her properly with the duvet, left to head towards her room. That's when she heard something which broke everything in her. She felt her world collapsing on her. She clutched the door tight, horror and disbelief writ across her face. The people ahead watched her and their eyes widened. And before anybody could say a word more, she collapsed on the ground, unable to process the shock.
"No!" she screamed even as she woke up with a start. Sweat beads lined her forehead and she was panting heavily. It took her a few moments to process her surroundings after which she collapsed against the headboard, crying bitterly.
___________________________________________
He returned home tired and directly walked towards his room. He knew no one would be outside to even say a hi when he gets back, so he dint even bother to look around. As soon as he entered the room, a smile lit up his face.
The room was decorated with scented candles and rose petals. The dim lighting added to the allure of the ambience and all his tiredness vanished into thin air. He placed his bag at the side table and closed the door.
He looked around searching for the person who had arranged all of it.
"Where is she?"
As if answering his question, she walked out of the bathroom in a beige colored night gown. Her hairs which reached a little below her shoulders had been left free. Her face glowed and she looked beautiful in the simple attire.
Her jasmine scent filled all parts of the room as she walked towards him with a blushing smile. Reaching him, she tiptoed and whispered near his ear
"Wishing you a very Happy Wedding Anniversary Mr. Tripathi"
He smiled widely and wished her back. It was at that precise moment that the clock struck twelve. Their anniversary was the next day but his wife always made sure to make the night before special.
Wrapping her hand around his neck even as he wrapped his hands around her waist, she said, her eyes shining with love for the man infront of her
"I love you, Mr. Tripathi"
"I love you too Mrs. Tripathi"
They smiled even as they rested their forehead against each other. It was a moment so soothing, so full of love and solace.
They were hopelessly in love with each other even after 12 years of togetherness. It felt as if nothing had changed. They were the same. Their love was the same. The world outside had changed but they hadn't. And they knew, they never will!
Love,
Pratyusha
YOU ARE READING
Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us
Fanfic------ Can Be Read As General Fiction ------ One night. One event. Lives of two people altered completely. When Aditya Kumar Tripathi, Chief Executive Reporter at Bhaskar times stepped into Pagdandiya and met Imlie, he did not know how his life woul...
