Unhinged

Chapter 16

When Sharanya opened her eyes she saw Shashank sitting on ground near bed. He had his wallet in his hands and was looking at Riva's picture which was in there. He was looking devastated.

Sharanya kept lying on bed whilst looking at him. She did remember what had happened last night. She was feeling guilty too. But there was something, a good feeling, that she was able to 'help' him!

Shashank, whilst looking at Riva's photo, was humming a song.. Riva remembered what song it was.. It was Riva's favorite song which she always made him sing..

'Dil se dil ka rishta jo hai, pal do pal me mitata nahi, bandhan dilon ka tutata nahi, bandhan dilon ka tutata nahi.. Tere dil ka mere dil se rishta purana hai, in aankho se har aansu mujhko churana hai, mujhko churana hai..'

"Shashank?" Sharanya called him.

Shashank didn't turn to look at her. He didn't even respond. He just stopped humming song.

"Are you okay?" Sharanya asked.

He was silent.

"I know what you're going through.. I've been there myself.. This is the point where you surrender yourself" Sharanya said "You're one of us now.. No ties, nothing"

"It isn't only physical.." Shashank said "What I have with Riva.."

Sharanya wrapped blanket around herself and stood up. She went and sat beside him. As soon as she sat down Shashank turned his back towards her.

"You can be angry on everyone.. I know you're suffering" Sharanya said "But suffering brings us closer to him.. Sacrifice makes us closer to him. You want it, right? You want what the rest of us has"

Shashank exhaled "I do" He answered.

"So this is the price you pay" Sharanya said.

"What you gave last night was it your price?" Shashank asked "Your sacrifice?"

"I am already closer to darkness than you are.. It was both my sacrifice and a help to you.." Sharanya said.

"Help is a good deed, darkness doesn't want good deeds" Shashank reminded.

"I know.. Yet I decided to do one" Sharanya said "I really wanted to help you.. You're my friend, because of you I had courage to be here, to experience this"

"We have wronged Riva, Sharanya" Shashank said "She doesn't deserve this"

"Of course she doesn't deserve this.. She deserve better" Sharanya said "Think about it.. How long you guys would've gone like this? She keeping her mouth shut and you living a life with someone who doesn't understand you truly?"

"I understand.. But what was this? This wasn't the way" Shashank had tears rolling on his cheeks "This really wasn't the way Sharanya"

"We had no other way" Sharanya said "Tum nahi samajh rahe the ki tum kaha galat ja rahe ho.."

"I am destroyed" Shashank grabbed his hair "I am destroyed, I can't live like this"

Sharanya felt really bad. She knew it was hard for him.. It was going to be harder on Riva. But she firmly believed that whatever happened was for the best!

"Shashank meri baat suno" Sharanya kept her palm on his shoulder. Shashank immediately whisked her hand away and stood up.

"I have to meet Sir" Shashank said "I am going to meet him" Saying this he left from there.

****

When Shashank came out he saw Vaibhav.

"Sir kaha hai?" Shashank asked.