Marriage In Echo

7

Chapter 7

Karan's heart sank at her response, his mind racing with a multitude of possibilities. Without wasting another moment, he hurriedly explained the situation to Rekha, his voice trembling with worry. "No, Maa, I haven't seen Tiya since we were at the café. I'm really worried. Did she come back home?" he asked urgently, his heart pounding with fear.

As tears streamed down Tiya's cheeks like a relentless downpour, she felt as though her heart was being crushed under the weight of her emotions. Each sob wracked her body, making it difficult to even catch her breath.

"Bhabhi, it's not too late," Meera who was driving said softly, her voice filled with empathy.

Tiya shook her head, her voice choked with emotion. "No, didi. It's not worth it," she whispered, her words barely audible amidst her tears. "He will never love me. I am just caging him."

"Remember, pehli pyaar bhoolay nahi bhulti," she said. Sadness all over her face.

Tiya closed her eyes, her mind flooded with memories of her marriage and miscarriage and the pain it had brought. With a heavy heart, she knew that sometimes, letting go was the only way to find herself again.

Alone again, Tiya felt the weight of her solitude like a heavy burden upon her shoulders. The familiar ache of being an orphan, of never truly belonging, gnawed at her heart.

As tears continued to cascade down her cheeks, Tiya couldn't help but wonder about Karan and Sanjana. Had they already patched things up? Were they laughing at her expense? Did Karan feel relieved now that she was gone?

Each thought pierced her heart like a dagger, fueling her anguish and despair. The uncertainty of her situation only deepened her sense of isolation, leaving her drowning in a sea of tears.

As they arrived at the airport, Tiya pulled out her two trolleys and a handbag, preparing for her departure. Meera approached her, holding out the boarding pass.

"Take care, Bhabhi!" Meera said, enveloping Tiya in a warm hug.

Tiya returned the embrace, her smile bittersweet. "I will miss you and Maa a lot," she whispered, her voice laced with sadness.

"I will miss Adit a lot too," Tiya added, a pang of longing evident in her tone. Adit, Meera's four-year-old son, held a special place in Tiya's heart, and she couldn't help but feel the ache of leaving him behind. Tiya and Karan had grown to love Adit as if he were their own child, and the thought of being separated from him only added to the heaviness in Tiya's heart.

Giving Meera one last lingering look, Tiya felt a wave of sorrow wash over her as she turned away, her steps heavy with the weight of impending departure.

She made her way through the bustling airport, Tiya couldn't shake the feeling of loss that clung to her like a shadow. Sometimes, life's chapters close abruptly, forcing us to leave behind the people we hold closest to our hearts. Despite the pain of separation, Tiya knew that this was a necessary step on her journey toward a new beginning. With a heavy heart and tear-filled eyes, she resigned herself to the inevitable.

In the Shekhawat household, a sense of unease hung heavy in the air as Karan wandered through the familiar corridors, his mind consumed with worry and apprehension. Climbing the stairs to their room, he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at his insides.

As he entered their room, everything appeared unchanged, yet the absence of Tiya's presence felt like a gaping void. With trembling hands, he checked the closet, desperately hoping to find her there among their belongings. But she was nowhere to be found.

A sudden realisation struck him, sending a shiver down his spine. Rushing to the last cabinet, he flung it open, his heart pounding with trepidation. To his dismay, Tiya's wedding lehenga was missing, confirming his worst fears.

His breath caught in his throat as he struggled to come to terms with the truth. "This can't be true," he whispered, his voice barely above a hoarse whisper.

As he turned to leave the room, his eyes fell upon a folded piece of paper tucked beneath the pillow. With trembling hands, he reached for it, unfolding it slowly as his heart raced with anticipation.

"I am leaving, Karan," the words on the paper read, each letter like a dagger to his heart. "Thank you for giving me a family. These three years were the best years of my life. Wishing you and Sanjana a beautiful future ahead. Please don't try to find me."

Tears welled up in his eyes as he read her farewell message, the weight of her absence crashing down on him like a tidal wave.

She left behind a piece of her soul for Karan to find in her comfort language. That was poetry. For Tiya, writing was an escape from reality. For her it was a way to express herself.

"ख़ुशियों की तरह चला गया, मेरी धड़कन से दूर,
ज़िन्दगी की गाड़ी पे, छोड़ गया तेरा फूल।
अब क्या कहें हम, इस ख़ाली कमरे में,
तेरे बिना, बस यादों का छप्पर मेरा,
बाकी सब ख़ाली है।”

[ Translation:

"Like a joy departed, distant from my heartbeat,
You've left the carriage of life, abandoning your flower.
Now what can I say, in this empty room,
Without you, only the roof of memories remains,
Everything else is empty."]

Karan's tears flowed freely as he read the heartfelt words penned by Tiya. She was gone, leaving behind only memories and an ache in his heart that seemed unbearable. A gentle hand on his shoulder stirred him from his reverie, and he looked up to see his mother standing before him, her eyes misty with unshed tears.

"Maa..." he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "She left me. She is gone," he said, his pain palpable in every word.

His mother's expression mirrored his own anguish, her heart breaking for her son as she struggled to find the right words to comfort him in his time of need.

She was equally worried about her daughter in law and wondered what she was going through this moment.

************************************

How was the poetry?

Tiya is gone...did she make the right choice?

Was Meera right in helping Tiya?

What should Karan do now?

Vote and comment

Hare Krishna