Bound by Fate | [✓]

17. Eight Years Later

(Age 26)
Eight years.

It's been eight years since I have broken every contact I had except my family.

It's been eight years since I have ever looked back at what I left behind in my country.

It's been eight years since I have loved someone with heart, body and soul.

.

Yes,
I left my dearest country.
I left my beloved family.
I left my innocent soul.

.

Why?
Atharva Roy.
Atharva Roy.
Atharva Roy.

.

It's been eight years since I have taken a single glimpse of him, haven't heard a single news of him and haven't spent a second without thinking of him.

What we had was as beautiful as vrindavan of Lord Krishna. Rather, Atharva was my Krishna.

But they say right.
'कृष्ण तेरा प्रेम मायाजल, जिसने जोग लगाया वो हो जाए बेहाल.'
(Krishna your love was an illusion. Whoever falls for it will be in forever chaos.)

.

I've seen him. I've seen him standing outside my house for a year.
In rain, under the sun, in terrible cold.
He stood outside waiting for me.

Abhi had even beaten him till he could bleed no more but...
But it didn't stop him from coming to my house.

For a moment,
I wanted to run out of the house and hug him.
For a moment,
I wanted to forget everything and start a new life with him.
For a moment,
I wanted hold his face in my palm and kiss him...

.

But,
Papa taught me to have self respect. He taught me to never give anyone a second chance. He taught me to respect myself before I do of others.

I love Atharva but I won't lose myself just to love him.
I won't bend my morals.
I won't put myself under the burden of love and accept Atharva's lies.

If I am a bet, Atharva has lost it.
.

"Evara!" Suzzan shouted and my thought link broke. "Where's your head at? Your phone has been ringing for a minute now."

We were sitting in the art studio of our college. I got the permission from Papa to pursue my dream since I topped the last year of my college.

I stood on the first rank.
I stood on the first rank that year and not Atharva.

But,
I know he did it on purpose. I know this victory is Atharva's donation to me.
He let me top the class only to get my attention...

But as my Papa promised me,
If I top the class, I can pursue my dream of become the artist and apply to any college I want in the world.