It's been two days that Prisha had found out that it was Yuvaan who wrote her those letters.
She had wanted to meet him then and there but then one part of her brain said she should read all the letters first.
And so she was finishing the rest of the letters.
She picked up the first letter for the day which was numbered #100. She couldn't believe she hit a century. Only 8 letters more were left now.
Hi Prisha,
I went to school after a long break today. I knew no one would even bother asking me about the fracture on my arm.
But you did! You asked me meri jaan. And I felt like crying because you looked so concerned. No one is ever concerned about me. Except my mother. No one but you Prisha.
But I am so sorry. I lied to you. I lied that I fell from the stairs and broke my bone.
I know this is my life and my problem but I want to let it all out now. Because it hurts so much to keep bearing it all just myself. Even though you won't know in real but I will get the feeling that I told you. That you know. And that you are here.
Prisha's heart was beating wildly. She had a feeling that whatever he had written won't be nice. And judging by the smudged ink it was clear that he had cried while writing this one.
I have always had a soft corner for dancing and music. Papa had always thought ki ye cheezein ladkiyon ke liye hoti hai andd boys should focus on business and earning money. He wanted me to join his business after I grow up.
Initially things were good. When I was younger papa was fine. Or so I thought. But jaise jaise bada hua, I realised that things were far from fine.
Papa used to come home drunk or when not he would sit in his study and drink. Hit mumma and sleep as if nothing happened.
He never hit me so I was never scared of him. I liked to rebel against him.
Isliye when I was in 9th, I argued with mumma to enroll me into dancing and guitar lessons.
I didn't even realise wo kitna darr ke mujhe ye sab krne de rhi thi. Papa was never aware about this. He used to come home late aur tab tak mai aa hi jaata tha.
Until recently. He came home early and didn't find me around. He asked mumma where I was. My father was a great lie catcher. Mumma lied and he caught it one second.
She was left with no option but to tell him the truth.
When I reached home and rang the bell mumma came out running and I heard her panicky voice.
"Run away Yuvi! Bhaag jaa meri jaan! Save yourself!"
Mumma had her lip busted and nose bleeding. He had hit her because of me. Because she enrolled me in something that is only for girls. Because I was the one who rebelled.
And then he hit me too. For the first time and such that I ended up in a hospital with this cast on my arm.
Funny how the man who should be saving us from the world has become the reason we need to be saved.
But I am helpless. Cause mumma says she doesn't have anywhere to go except him. Aur unhe chhod kr mai kahi jaa nhi skta. Sometimes I wish I could run away and save her from all this torture. Sometimes I wish I could be so strong and courageous to stand up to him and save my mumma from getting hurt.
I wish you were here Prisha. Here to hold me, hug me. Because I need one badly right now.
Prisha's tears weren't stopping as she put the letter aside. Closing her eyes she let her tears fall and whispered.
"I am here Yuvaan. I am here. Always now."
She couldn't read any further after that. Not for a few days. For the next two days she was so lost and dull which didn't go unnoticed by her mother.
It was the third night her mother was noticing her mood and stepped into her room after dinner. Prisha was as usual sitting by the window with her head on her knees and looking outside.
Her mother sat beside her and caressed her hair making her sigh and hug her.
She let her stay like thay for some time before asking.
"Kya baat hai? Pareshaan lag rhi hai. Itne dino se dekh rhi hu. Na dhang se khaa pee rhi hai aur na hi saath mai baith rhi hai."
Prisha didn't say anything for a few minutes. Then she whispered softly.
"I know who it is."
Her mother was confused. Prisha looked at her and repeated clearly.
"I know who wrote those letters to me."
Her mother's eyes widened for a second before turning back to normal and she asked.
"Haan toh tu udaas kyu hai? Achha nhi dikhta kya?"
She joked but Prisha didn't react and her mother asked seriously.
"Prishu! Kya baat hai beta?"
Her voice was so soft that Prisha felt tears pool her eyes again.
"I read what all he went through in his childhood. He didn't have one like normal kids maa. Itna kuch seh kr bhi aise pretend kia as if everything is normal. I don't know how to react. I am not able to get it out of my mind. I want to run up to him and hug him tight. Par pta nhi ab wo kaise react krega. Thode se letters bache hai lekin himmat nhi ho rhi padhne ki. Ki pata nhi kya padh lu."
Prisha let her feelings out and her mother looked at her shocked.
"Prishu!"
She called her name making her look at her.
"You love him!"
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