WAJHA TUM HO

22. || Fragments Of Fate ||

Jarurat nahi aaj mohobat ki humhe
Kal huhe the tab uska gurur tha,
Hum hi naye the ishq ke sehar mein
Hume kya pata tha unka ghar toh
Bewafai ke liye mashhur tha.

A breathless whisper escaped from Ananya's lips, laden with profound shock, "Dev."

He recoiled as if struck, his voice rising with a tempest of pain and fury, "Yes, the very same Dev whom you betrayed so callously, whose life you extinguished with such tender treachery."

Ananya approached him with hesitant steps, her regret palpable in every movement. She reached out, her trembling hands gently cupping his face. Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke, her voice breaking, "Da... Dabbu, are... are you truly alright?"

Dev turned his face away, his eyes squeezed shut against the onslaught of tears. He could barely contain his anguish as she continued, her voice laced with desperation, "So... all of that, it wasn't just a nightmare. De—Dev, you were really there with me, every moment, at home."

He grasped her hands and wrenched them from his face with a force that left her staggered. His voice was a caustic blend of anger and heartbreak, "Yes, everything that transpired over the past months, it was all because of me."

Ananya's eyes brimmed with tears, her breath coming in shallow, pained gasps. The enormity of her sins weighed heavily upon her. Dev’s gaze bore into hers, his voice cold and unforgiving, "Are you terrified of what will happen to you now, or do you regret that I survived?"

She shook her head vehemently, her tears flowing freely. She threw her arms around him, clinging desperately, "I'm... I'm sorry, Dev. I am truly sorry. Please, forgive me."

Dev laughed bitterly, the sound resonating with sarcasm and despair. He pushed her away, the chasm between them feeling insurmountable. He gripped her shoulders, his hold unyielding and painful, "Why, Ananya? Why did you do it? Didn't you see my love? Fine, you didn't love me, but who gave you the right to shatter my heart? I loved you with an intensity bordering on selfishness, and you... you betrayed me."

Ananya, her face streaked with tears, said, "I... I know, Dev. What I did wasn't just a mistake; it was a grievous sin. But I didn't realize then that I was destroying myself, not just you. But now, I can't live without you. I know how I've been without you. It's been unbearable."

Dev pushed her away with a force that sent her reeling, "Don't try to deceive me with these false promises, false words, false love. My heart is already shattered; don't attempt to mend it."

Ananya, still crying, approached him again, cupping his face tenderly, "No... no, Dev. This is the truth. It's not a lie. I... I truly love you."

Dev pulled her closer, holding her face in his strong, calloused hands. His voice was frigid and piercing, "If you loved me, then why didn't you tell the truth when I asked if you were loyal to your husband? Why didn't you confess that you tried to kill me? The truth is, Ananya, if Ray hadn't betrayed you, you wouldn't have been troubled by my departure at all."

Ananya, her eyes swimming with tears, protested weakly, "That's not true, Dev."

Dev, his anger erupted like a volcano, shouted, "It is true, Ananya. I thought I would inflict so much pain upon you that you wouldn't be able to endure it, but in all this, it was I who was dying. I suffered a thousand times more. It tore me apart; I found no peace. I wanted to end you, but my heart shielded you. Why, Ananya, why? Because I loved you. If you had asked me once, I would have given my life for you. I would have died a thousand times for your happiness. But you obliterated my happiness by forging a life with me under false pretenses."

He collapsed to his knees, his sobs wracking his body. Ananya fell beside him, "No, Dev. I... I didn't want to hurt you, to inflict pain upon you, to betray you. I was blinded by Ray. Please forgive me, Dev. Please."