Kissing A Devil (Complete and Continuing In The Sequel)

Chapter 56

Sidharth sits on the floor under the showers with his clothes on. He looks at his hands. He could hear his mother banging on the door outside. He has been inside the room since he arrived. And he has no idea how long he has been in here, washing away the blood that only he could see.

The door gets opened by his men and he lifts his head to see them standing there. Richa rushed inside with Martha. Martha shuts down the shower and Peter brings a towel to Richa. She wraps it around him and says something. He can't hear anything. He just stares blankly at them.

Richa rubs his cold hands and Martha gets him a cup of hot coffee.
"Take it now."
Richa says. Sidharth looks at her face and, like an obedient child, takes it from Mary's hands.
"Drink it now. C'mon."
Sidharth takes a sip and looks at their faces.

"Why are you doing this to yourself? I know how much you are hurting. But you aren't weak. Get up and face it."
"Mumma, I ca.. can't.. not.. thi.. this time.. I lost her.. my.. my fault.. it's always my.. fault.."
"No.. it's not. Stop blaming yourself."
"I h..had promised, I would.. not le.. let anything ha.. happen to.. he.. her.. I broke it.. I couldn't keep my.. words.."
Martha says, "Everything is predestined. Don't blame yourself. Let me get the first aid box and something for you to eat"
She starts to walk away.

"Mary, do you think.. Andrew's death was pre.. predestined? Was he.. supposed to die on.. his birthday?"
Martha stops but doesn't reply.
"No.. no Mary. That day.. I was .. supposed to die.. I was supposed to g..get killed in that car.. I to..took him with me.. and I le..let him die.. it was my.. fault."
Martha turns around, "No. It was not. You didn't pull a trigger at Andrew. The men who killed him were your father's enemy. You were their target and my son was the collateral damage. You were saved by God's grace but Andrew.. he died. If someone is to be blamed for Andrew's death, it has to be them not you."
"But th..this time, I had pulled the tri..tri.. trigger. I had the gun.. in my hand.. my hand... I..killed her.. I did.."
The mug slips out of his hands as he stares at them looking for blood.

Richa comes out closing the door and Arvind comes to her and says,
"I heard Sidharth is back. Is he in his room? I need to speak to him."
"He is inside but you don't go now. He really can't talk right now."
"Why? What happened? Is he hurt?"
He opens the door and walks in. Sidharth is sitting on the chair with his eyes closed.

Richa says, "He is not in the right state of mind. He is blaming himself for her death. It's eating him from inside. And I can't help him."
"Whose death? Where's Shehnaaz? Where is she? Please tell me is she okay?"
"I am a failure as a mother. I couldn't protect my child then nor can I ease his pain now. I can't see him suffer for what others have done. I can't.."
Richa breaks down in his arms.
"What has happened? Can you please tell me everything clearly?"

Sidharth whispers, "I need you, Shehnaaz. I need you. Please come back to me."
He could feel the touch of two soft hands on his face. He opens his eyes and looks at her.
"Are you okay?"
Sidharth immediately pulls her into his arms.
"No.. Wh.. where were you? Where.."
"I am sorry. There's a guardian-teacher meeting at Sumit's school. I had to be there. I left my charger here so my phone was switched off. I am sorry."
She breaks the hug and checks him.
"You are hurt. Let me get the first aid box."
Sidharth pulls her back into his arms.
"Shehnaaz, d..don't go anywhere please."
"Shh.. I am here. I am right here baby."

Sidharth sits expressionless as Shehnaaz puts medicines on his wounds. Cut on his lower lip, several bruises on his neck and chest, a deep cut on his forehead and a wound on his back over his Yin and Yang tattoo.
"I should have stayed back. I should not have listened to you and returned back."
"I could not lose you."
"Nothing would have happened to me. I could have helped you."
"She tried to and.."
"Sidharth, don't beat yourself up for this. I know what you are going through. But this death is not on you."