Rishi and Lakshmi One-Shot Compilation

A vow of separation

He can hear her heart break from where he stands. He notices her first, perhaps before Malishka or either the pandit could. But that had always been his problem, he had always noticed her first.

His steps falter before halting completely as the mantras die on the lips of the pandit who seems taken aback at his lack of movement.

His eyes however are preoccupied, and his mind is chanting its own mantra. It's own plead for retribution as he realises his wife stands less than a mile away watching her husband sell his mind, heart and soul to another.

The wind is unforgiving, and as the mandap shakes on its rocky foundation, he curses himself for what he was about to do. His eyes are left searching hers, begging her for a moment, but the heartbreak he sees has him resenting his own being. She falls to the ground as though the wind has knocked her over, and his hand shoots forth before he can even comprehend the action, his own chest growing laboured as she continues half dead, watching him. His hand is clasped by the woman at his side. A woman who is not his wife.

He sees her gaze flicker behind him, and when the realisation dawns upon her, he notices her grow pale.

The silence is deafening, and as he awaits sentencing he decides seeing her run away from him is worse. He notices then, her bleeding, swollen foot and he hates himself an ounce more. He calls for her, his voice cracking as he pulls the gathbandan off from around him, and as he pushes Malishka away, his strides are desperate.

He needs to find her.
He needs to apologise to her.

And with his thoughts, his voice grows louder he follows the trail of blood that he knows is hers and he wonders how she's managing despite the pain. The thought makes him sick with realisation and so he focuses on finding her instead.

He sees no sight of her but he remains determined that he will. His lips utter soft prayers along with her name and as he runs out onto the main road past Malishka's house he catches the sight of her sari fluttering in the wind. His heart thunders and he rushes forward, but with the sharp sound of a horn blaring and his wife barely conscious of her surrounding, his rushed steps turn into long strides. His mantra changes as he does, he begs to save her, wishes for her to be safe and as he shoots forth, his arm grabs for her waist pulling her out of deaths way just as she had done on numerous occasion prior.

He breathes heavy as she crashes into chest, and his embrace tightens around her until she begins to fight against it. He pleads with her for a moment, begs for rationality and forgiveness before his worries comes back at the sight of her dazed look. He searches her diligently for injuries and in his worry he gives her an advantage unwilling. The sharp push of his chest hurts, but watching her run away from him, kills him.

He should have gone after her then, he berates himself but he loses sight of her far too quickly and he is left with no choice but to go back and get the car. He sees Ayush instead, and as Malishka steps forth dressed as his bride he bares the accusation Ayush shouts with his eyes. His gaze is lowered and as they sit in the car, the atmosphere is tense.

His worry supersedes his guilt for the time being and with the decision to check if she has returned home being the best course of action he decides to focus on the road, dismissing the anger his brother radiates.

He should have known however, that this would be the last place she would have come, and as he's greeted with an empty, untouched room, he doesn't know whether to be saddened by the lack of her presence or grateful that her belonging are still very much in their rightful place.

He does not get long enough to ponder an answer and as Ayush starts his onslaught once more, he runs away from the accusations. He does not get far away, before they start again, and as his voice peaks and tension grows between the two brothers he is turned around and slapped harshly in the face by his own father.