"it's been three years ladesar... Apoorva isn't going to come back in your life." Rajmata Rajlakshmi said caressed Maharaj Parthveer's head.
"So Maa sa you say what should I do?" He asked keeping a hand on her hand and kneeling in front of her. Raj...
He had completed his degree from Mayo College in Ajmer, and took post of King after his father had died. His mum and his friend helped him managing business, and he took Golden Arcane to new heights. He usually managed the work overseas, thus had constantly travelled. On one such visit to Seoul with his assistant Adhvan, he discovered this pretty cafe in the suburban area of London. On a calm Sunday morning, while he sipped his coffee and scrolled over the selfies which his sister sent him while walking, he happened to bump into someone and felt something warm dribbling down.
He was too zoned out to hear the apologies of the rambling and panicked woman, lost in those big doe like eyes of hers. But then, he heard her. Her voice, soft but clear and sweet. She was working as a waitress at that moment, and seemed genuinely shocked by her mistake. He couldn't help laughing; even if it was not their fault. "It's quite alright," he assured her in English, which was not his native tongue. "No harm done, and you didn't spill any hot tea, so you should take credit for saving this place!"
She laughed along with him, her laughter making his chest feel warm despite his flustered state. Then she smiled shyly at him, and her gaze made him blush again. He coughed slightly and looked away, hoping his face wasn't showing how affected he was by her beauty. When he glanced back at her, she was staring right back at him, blushing deeply.
That's it. Parthveer knew he was done for. Apoorva, or as she told her name, hailed from Ajmer which took him by surprise and he asked her out on a few dates. A few dates became a regular thing and he proposed her at the bridge over Han river and she accepted. Marrying the love of his life was the best thing that happened to Parthveer.
But, sometimes not everything is meant to be happy, right? Not everyone is meant to be together for ever, and Parthveer got his heartbreak before he could even think of it. Apoorva was dead. Her death left a void in his heart, a void that will be empty forever. A gap that nothing could fill. A hopelessness and darkness shrouded his entire life, making it monochrome.
That was until out of nowhere, his mother asked him to marry Saanjh, a kind and ambitious Princess of Shaktigarh, his mother's best friend's daughter who grew quite close to his sister. He was sure that Saanjh will never be able to fill the void left in his heart by Apoorva. Being best friend's was another thing, until he caught feelings for her, albeit unknowingly.
Saanjh, just like her name, was the light warm sunshine of the evening, which gave complete peace to the mind.
He felt his life was going good and he finally found a reason for happiness and love, that was until Saanjh dropped the bomb on him stating that Apoorva was killed, in cold blood, under the pretext of accident. He and his family were in dark, thinking Apoorva died in accident.
His hazel eyes never left the dark sky of the new moon, little white stars twinkling like dots. His mind reeled with all the happy moments he had with Apoorva, basking in the sweet yet salty feeling of nostalgia. A tap on his shoulder, and he turned around, his breath hitching in his throat.
The amber eyes he had loved so much, from all way back from Seoul to Jaipur, were staring back at him with the same love and adoration they held back the. Those dark pink, pouty lips were stretched in smile, the mole near it looking like a black dot on freshly painted walls. His eyes wandered from her head to her toe, taking in the beautiful peach saree she wore. His favourite one.
"A-Apoorva?" He rasped out, his throat burning with tears, as his eyes too turned wet.
Apoorva on the other hand, laughed. "How is my dear Husband doing?" Parthveer noticed how her glowing molten gold skin had turned sickly paler. But that all flew out of his head when he lurched forward and engulfed her in a hug. All the emptiness, remembrance, everything just came flooding out as he started ugly crying. Apoorva just stood there, letting her husband cry, while she slowly ran her finger on his back.
Finally, he broke the hug, his face red with all the crying. "Why, you look like a cherry! Or should I say like a strawberry, your fav." Apoorva joked making him snort through tears. "No seriously, how are doing?" She asked him.
"I am doing fine. Yeah it was bad, seeing you lifeless... It was hard to move on, but I did." He said, looking at her with a soft smile. "Appu, you were killed." He said, bile again rising up on her throat.
Apoorva nodded. "I know I was killed." Apoorva confessed. "I knew I was going to die that day." Her confession shook him. "How?" He asked quitely and she shrugged. "Instinct, I guess."
"I am going to get you justice Apoorva, I swear I will give you justice." Parthveer said, his tone turning harder. "Whatever it takes. I WILL get you justice, by hook or crook." He promised her, a promise he knew he was going to fulfil.
Apoorva smiled. "I know, and I believe you too. How are Maa sa, Nanad Baisa and Devar sa?" She asked, changing the topic.
"They are all fine." Parthveer replied.
"And Saanjh?" She asked making him look at her. "How is she?" Apoorva asked.
"She is... overworking herself, but fine."
"Nuh-nuh, not that!" She rolled her eyes. "I mean 'how' is she?" Apoorva asked again, asserting pressure on 'how'. Parthveer looked at her with confused eyes until realization hit him and his lips formed an 'o'.
"She's... She's cute." Parthveer said with a soft smile. "I never really wanted to marry her, never. But if she wouldn't have became my wife, I would have never came to know about your death. Except, she overworks a lot." He said, still smiling softly.
"You like her, isn't it?" Apoorva asked, making him still. He looked at her who had a small smile on her lips.
"I... Yeah.." Parthveer confessed making her chuckle. "She's a keeper, a gem. Never loose her Veer." Apoorva said.
"But what about you Appu? It will feel like I cheated on you." He breathed, tears gearing up in his eyes.
Apoorva sighed again, a defeated, sad sigh. "Veer, I no longer am tied to you. Our relation only existed till the moment I died. But Saanjh and and your relation will exist till its written in your fates. My fate ceased that day. Its Saanjh you have to focus on from now on." Apoorva said.
Parthveer looked down, processing her words. He knew Apoorva was right. She was dead. Apoorva was his past, a past which can never return, but Saanjh was his present and future both. Maybe, just maybe, Apoorva and him weren't meant to be together. Maybe it was Saanjh, who was his ultimate soulmate.
Parthveer looked up, finally smiling the smile which Apoorva loved a lot. "You are right Appu. And thank you, I got what I needed. Just know, that even if I like Saanjh, you will always be my first love." Parthveer said, as tears flew freely from his eyes.
"And I love you too, Veer." Apoorva said as she smiled through her own tears and Parthveer turned. Apoorva faded away as soon as he turned, and he had to use all his willpower to not turn and walked down to his room, entering only to see Saanjh dozed off in balcony with her reading glasses and a book opened on her lap.
Taking in her beautiful appearance reflected by the light of lantern on table. Her lips were perked up in a pout, which made him chuckle. Shaking his head, he went and put the book away, took off her reading glasses, and picked her up in bridal style. Carefully taking her inside and laying her on bed, he switched the lights off and hugged her from behind, taking in her warm embrace. Saanjh smiled unknowingly, and snuggled into her Husband's warmth.
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Parthveer needed a closure. And please read the author's note I will be posting.
