Tangled ✓

Consoling her

--Jaiveer--

Shifting my weight from one leg to another leg, I stood there nervously waiting for Akki at the airport terminal gate. It's been a week since she left for her tour and this one week has been the most dreadful in my life. In this one week I hadn't attended her calls or messages.  

For one, I was too preoccupied with my own shit.

For two, I am scared of her reaction. 

And now for the first time in my life I'm dreading to meet her.

She might have already known about my so-called engagement by now because it is all over the news. I don't know who or how it happened but the news of this alliance has spread the entire nation like a wildfire in just one day. Why not? After all, everyone was waiting for decades for a piece of information about Deshmukh's daughter. She has been hidden for so long and no one knew anything about her. And now when they got the news, everyone was so eager to keep all the stuff aside and discuss this. 

The irony is the photo of us was also shared in the social media and no one among us had a clue. 

All yesterday, I just locked myself in my room because I have no intentions to face anyone after this outburst of the news and I also have no intentions to face my parents. I'm so angry at them. So angry that I know for sure that I'll do something again to hurt them. Just like I hurt my Maa with my words on that day. 

I hate speaking to her like that. I hate seeing tears in her eyes but what can I do? Maybe if I am not in a relationship with Akki, I would have considered their choice but when my whole world revolves around Akki, how can I even think of another woman?

I was so angry that they weren't even giving me a chance. I was so angry that they weren't even thinking of considering my choice and like a useless person I dumped that anger on my Maa and hurt her with my words.

I don't want to repeat that again so I just stayed alone all yesterday. 

Suddenly, the arrival of passengers brought me out of my thoughts and I looked around. Some were hugging their close ones happily, some were having tears and I smiled looking at them. I roamed around the world but I never thought of settling abroad. Not even for once because however and wherever you might roam, at the end of the day you will return to home. And my country is my home. 

Suddenly my eyes caught the most beautiful sight just like every time. My Akki.  

Dressed in her baggy pants. Her hair pulled into a messy bun. Her entire face is devoid of any makeup and trust me I haven't seen any woman in my life this beautiful.

Barely glancing at me with her bloodshot eyes, she moved past me. I looked around and that's when I noticed the person waiting there for her. Shit! Why hadn't I noticed him till now?

"Akki!" Following her, I called her. 

Ignoring me, she approached him and handed over her luggage to him.

"Akki." I screamed out loud but they turned around.

"Akki, wait." I raced to her and clutched her wrist. Still she didn't turn around.

"Akki, don't do this. Please look at me." I said but she kept on ignoring me. 

That idiotic person dragged her to their car ignoring me and my pleads.

"Akki, Akki…. Listen to me. Talk to me." I pleaded again.

"Can't you understand that she doesn't want to?" He asked, stepping on my nerves. 

"Just shut up, Dilip. It's between us." I snapped at him.

Now, I turned her completely towards me and pulled her close. Cupping her face, I raised her head and the ground beneath me cracked when I looked into her eyes.