FALSAFA

CHAPTER 13 - Trauma!

It was around 10:30 pm. All gathered for dinner, except Kriti.

Dhruv's mom was arranging the plates. She looked at Dhruv and said -

Mom: She has not come out yet.

Dhruv: (low tone) I know. I think I should talk to her now. Give her dinner to me. If everything goes well, I'll make her eat.

He got up and went to her room. He was about to knock, but the door was opened. He went in.

Kriti was in the balcony. She leaned against the railing and was standing in darkness. Dhruv turned on the lights. Kriti turned her face as soon as the light fell on her. She was crying. Her eyes were swollen red. The shine on her face has disappeared within few hours. Dhruv went towards her and kept his hand on hers. Kriti didn't turn to face him, neither she pulled away her hand. After few minutes she finally spoke,

Kriti: I didn't tell the whole truth in front of your parents.

Dhruv: (tightened his grip over her hand) You can tell me if you don't mind! I'm here to listen.

She took a deep breath and started -

Kriti: My family.....It was never normal. My father was an alcoholic, and my maa was the victim of domestic violence. But she never complained. She silently accepted all the torture. You know sometimes I asked my maa that "why don't you leave that man?" But she just smiled and said that he is my father, whatever he does we have to tolerate. I never wanted this. Years passed but nothing changed. Instead the chaos increased day by day. One disastrous day my mom came to know that his husband had an extra marital affair! One wife, and a girl child. My mom tolerated all insults but this one incident broke her completely. She was accepting everything just for the fact that he was our family and we were his. But the moment she came to know that that man cheated us badly we were not ready to accept anything further. My mom still gave him one last chance to choose. He choose his other family. My parents got divorced, my so called dad abandoned us and we shifted to a rented apartment.

Dhruv felt so sorry for her but he couldn't understand what to say.

Kriti: After we shifted, my mom got a job at a nearby boutique. We never got any news from that man, ever again. We have heard that he and his new family left our old house and shifted to somewhere in the city. Thankfully maa never met him again. Until I saw him one unlucky day. It was about five years back. I was in college back then. One day I went to the mall with few friends. There I saw that man in one of the shops. He looked old from the last time I saw him. With him was a girl. She seemed to be in her early 20's. Maybe same age or ½ years younger than me. I understood she was his daughter. Technically my step sister. They didn't see me. I can never forget their face that day. They looked so happy. I didn't tell maa about any of this. What's the point in refreshing her trauma once again!

Her tears were unstoppable. She turned to Dhruv who was all silent.

Kriti: You know Dhruv! Whenever I spent time your family, I feel relived. I think that you have the perfect family. You have all that I always wished for. I'm happy for you.

Dhruv couldn't take anymore. He pulled Kriti towards him and hugged her tight. Kriti's tears knew no bound. She felt so weak. She was tired of keeping her pain locked in her heart. Dhruv's hug seemed to open the door and all her pain was flowing through her tears. Dhruv gently caressed her head and whispered in her ears –

Dhruv: You know, all these years you just needed someone. Someone to hold you like this. Someone to make you believe that everything is going to be ok. Everything will become better.

Kriti, who till now had buried her face in Dhruv's chest, now looked into his eyes. Dhruv cupped her face and softly placed his lips on her forehead. Kriti shivered a little on his touch. She was on the cloud 9. This moment, this peace was all that she was hunting throughout her life. Dhruv then parted his kiss and looked into Kriti's eyes.

Dhruv: I, myself am a introvert person and thus cannot tell you to always share your feelings. But I can assure you, Whenever you need to share something, or just scream out your grudges, I will always be there for you. I am here for you and I will always be by your side Kriti. I promise!!!

These lines were enough for Kriti to calm down. Dhruv wiped off her tears and whispered softly "You have shed a lot of tears dear, not anymore"

Kriti hold his hands and said –

Kriti: Thank you Dhruv. (finally smiled)

Dhruv: Don't let this smile fade away. It suits you dumboo!

Kriti smiles shyly, still holding his hands.

Kriti: Can I ask you something?

Dhruv: Yes.. What?

Kriti: I can understand you too hide something, some pain. What is it?

Dhruvpassed a fake smile and replied – "yourstory is enough for today Miss Mehra, I'll tell mine some other day".