Falling for my guiding star

Chapter 7

The night was cold and the wind biting but for Ridhaan it was nothing compared to the tempest within.

It feels like he was living in an illusion  expecially the last 10 years. He was not able to comprehend the fact that his  brother who was his idol hid such an important matter of his life and furthermore, did nothing when in the name of society, Anu's life was being sacrificed.

Anu's words and her anguish were twirling in his mind. Whatever pain he went through paled in comparison to Anu's agony.

He wanted to scream.....rebel.....but still nothing would change. This helplessness was killing him.

"Everything changed in the blink of an eye. I ceased to exist for my family. My tears unseen, my wails unheard....and before I could make sense of anything....I was married" Anu shared tearfully

Ridhaan could see how recollecting the past was taking a toll on her. He wanted to stop her but didn't. 

He for once became selfish to know the whole truth,
the truth that pushed him into years of loneliness,
the truth that distinguished the shimmer in his best friend's eyes,
the truth that created a barrier between him and his guiding star...

"It was hell, Ridhaan....On one side my heart was breaking  while on the other I had to put a smile for show....Everyone was happy except the bride..... I so wanted to cry on your shoulders but MY FAMILY....." she trailed off with a shake of her head

She sounded so lost but the way she said family showed her contempt over their inaptness in protecting her.

Ridhaan wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her but she looked so brittle that he felt she may just break.

"They made me  sign a legal agreement to not to disclose any details to anyone other than the parties concerned. If found broken, I would have to pay a fine of 100 crores......The moment I signed on those dotted lines, my fate was sealed...."

Anu uttered between sobs

"What..about...Am..Aman?"

Ridhaan forced himself to ask.

" At the beginning , he was aloof so was I.  I had known him always through your eyes and somewhere till the end , I held onto the belief that he will do the right thing but.....Only good thing of our marriage was you. Even though , I couldnt tell you anything, your presence made up for a lot......But Mom(Aman's mother)....in her fear, insecurities  and ego couldnt even let me have that. Citing the manual of perfect daughter-in-law, she asked me to keep you away but this time I didnt relent. This went on for a while, each fight becoming dirtier than the previous until it all blew up on our face.That was the one and only time when Aman took a stand for me...for YOU. But Mom did not back down, she used Ma to send you away.....I  shattered, Ridhaan ....my only support was going away..."  the pain  in her voice brought me to my knees.

"I felt desolate....Aman tried to help me....support me..but alas... Within this period of our marriage, I had already realized the extend of Aman's incompetence. I never would have imagined a mother could ever break their own children if I didn't see it with my own eyes. At every juncture, Mom would use Aman's sexuality against him, to make him emotionally vulnerable and do her bidding.....He was a broken man in his way and too weak to take my disdain too. So finally, I accepted this as my destiny.  Though I missed you, I felt it was for the best. But Aman could see what stepping back was doing to me . He already felt guilty for destroying my life and now cutting off my sole support..... So one day he promised me that he will give me back what I lost.....bu...t... Ridhaan....he che...ated....he chea...ted,Ridhaan .....inste...ad of givi...ng back , he took eve...rything aw...ay by his SUICIDE..."

Stammering at the end,Anu broke down completely. The emotional turmoil taking over her, she would have fallen down if not for him.

This time Ridhaan couldn't keep himself away. He took her in his arms giving her the comfort that was lost to her 10 years ago.

They were still holding onto each other when the heaven itself broke into tears over the pain of an innocent soul.

For a girl, who never much cried, to break down like this speaks volume about the pain in her heart. Never ever in his wildest imagination he thought the truth could be so savage. He had hoped that at least she was happy in her marriage.

Marriage....what a joke....it was a deal , nothing else.

Today, he was feeling angry on his family. They destroyed an innocent girl for their fake pride.

"Why, Aman? Why did you do this?"

"Anu is  precious , that's why I thought who better than my idol to keep her safe....."

Ridhaan stared at the barren sky and screamed

"But everything was a lie. Instead of protecting , you crushed her. Why Aman...? WHY..?"

Knowing that there will be no answer to his question, he broke down into tears.

He howled out in pain....

For Anu....
For himself....
For their lost friendship....