Rukmini

Chapter 25: The Star

I searched the sky for a particular star. It took me ages to find it, but once I found it, I couldn't stop myself from opening up.

'Hi ! It's been ages, isn't it ? I'm sorry. That's all my fault, I've been so busy lately with everything that's going on.', I said with a smile.

'You know, I missed you so much. You're the one who taught me the meaning of trust and love, and you've left me all alone here. I-I-I just want to tell you that-that I love you.', I told the star.

'I miss you a lot and I regret the fact that we couldn't spend enough time with each other when you were here. Why can't you just come back ? We'll use all our time to strengthen our bond even more. I know that the world doesn't know that you're gone because you had been smart enough to keep it under wraps. Only a person like you would have the infinite intelligence and presence of mind to do whatever you were doing, and to have lived incognito for so many years.', I said as my voice dropped an octave.

I paused for a minute, and asked it, 'I'm sure you must have had a hunch that you were going to go. Why did you never tell me that you were going to go ? Why ? Did you think I was weak, and couldn't handle the news ? Why didn't you tell me ?'

'You were an asset to this world. This earth couldn't have had a better person walking on it than you. I regret being mean to you. I really do. I used to feel upset that we never got time to spend with each other, and that you would be more busier than the others. I kept bottling up all my anger and frustration about "you-know-who" and reached such a stage that I would never show it to anyone. But you always knew how to get my frustration and tension released. I loved it when you would call me, Rukku.', I said and tied my hair up in a bun.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and continued.

'... He was never good. I have always tried to explain that to you. I never found out what he had done to make you fancy him so much that you could never judge him right. I tried to tell you about him since the time I could speak. He was never upto any good. Finally, I had to pretend to like him a lot. I did that only for you, because I thought you liked him a lot, but I hated him. You won't believe me when I say this, but, when I found out that you hated him too and that you knew about him too, I was the happiest person on earth ! I still remember how much I hated you for trying to get me to like him and respect him.', I said and frowned at the star.

'I do have a say in everything now, but I have to share my decisions about anything and everything with that ungrateful wretch. I would never in my dreams want to do anything with him.'

'I know there's only a few days left for me to turn 21, but I don't think I'll be able to live to see that day. He'd rather want me to celebrate it with you. And anyways, his wish will come true, I can feel it. I'll either die out of the shame of marrying Vikramaditya or he'll kill me.', I whispered softly, but angrily and punched the wooden sill of the window.

I stared at the star for a while.

A small voice popped up in my mind and said, 'Don't lose heart, Rukku. Be strong. Why are you behaving like this ? Come on you're better than that. You're my strong Rukku. Nothing's happening to you.'

'I'm tired. Tired of acting and pretending. I've lived in this world of pretence for so long, that I've forgotten how the real Rukmini, your Rukmini is. I've lost myself. I don't even know when I've lived a day without acting. I've truly forgetten who Rukmini was. I can't recall a single thing about her. She's there within me, but I don't know where. All I know is that she won't come out now, thanks to all the people who've been breaking my trust all this time. I have to keep my guard every single second of my life now.', I said and gave it a small sarcastic laugh.

'I'll tell you the truth. I always knew what was up his sleeve. In fact, I'm aware right from the start. At one point of time, you had me convinced about him, and I had begun to love him more than anyone else ..... but what I heard that day was unimaginable. It made me realise all his motives. He thinks I don't know anything about him and his plan. He's downright outrageous. How can one do this to his own ....', I paused and started sniffing.

'How ? It's disgusting and cheap. Why is he doing this to me ? He feels that I didn't know that this whole marriage shit has been part of his plan to ruin me. He also thinks, that I have absolutely no clue about Rugved dada being on his side. As if I didn't know ?', I said and smiled sarcastically.

'I knew right from the start that Rugved dada was involved in this whole plan from the beginning. How else do you explain the marriage certificate part of it ? You really think dada signs all the papers without reading ? NO ! He also thinks that I'm so stupid that I won't be able to find out that the marriage certificate, declarations and affidavits that Vikramaditya produced in front of me were fake ..... kamaal ahe !', I muttered and rolled my eyes.
(Kamaal ahe = Wonderful)

'It's so obvious why Rugved dada and the whole Deshmukh clan are working with him. Hah !', I said.

'He thinks he's outpaced me. What he doesn't know is that I've already won this race. Either he's going to kill me tomorrow, or else he'll strip me of my identity. Chances of the former taking place are much higher than the latter. But then again, isn't it better to die, rather than living under his thumb ?', I stated.

'It's done and decided then. Even if I'm all alone and outnumbered tomorrow, I will kill him. It's going to be very difficult for me to do something of the sort, but I have no choice. If he stays alive, he'll try to do something of the sort again. Once he's gone, I'll be free to take my own decisions and control everything in my way. Mainly, once he's gone, I'll feel relieved that I could do something for you. All these years you lived incognito because of him. Where ever you are, I won't ask you to reserve a place for him, because he will rot in the deepest and darkest corner of hell. You are in heaven.', I told it confidently.

'You must be tired after listening to me so much. I'll go now. Tomorrow's going to be a big day. I'll see you tomorrow, either we'll be together in the real sense, or else we'll be together like how we've been together today.'

I closed my eyes and tried to embrace the beautiful connection we had with each other, spiritually.

'Good night. See you tomorrow.', I said and got out of the window sill.

I stood for a few seconds near the window, and was going to go to bed when I remembered to say something.

I hurried back to the window, looked at the star and said, 'I love you and miss you, Arjun dada.'

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Tada-tada !
*drum roll*

Don't kill me for this !

Here we are. How's the story going on ?

Please do vote, comment and recommend this book.
Also, add it to your reading lists :)

Have a good time scratching your brains out !

Anyways, I love you all just like how Rukmini loves her Arjun dada ;)

Radhika :*