They never met...

CHAPTER 11- LOSING TO YOU

Aaj fir mil hi gaye hum
{We met once more, by fate's decree}

Kuch baaten reh gayi , kuch yaadein reh gayi,
{Words left unspoken, memories set free.}

Reh gayi kayi rasmen darmiyaan
{Unfinished tales, a lingering sigh,
Rituals of love that never did fly}

Aaj fir mil hi gaye hum ,Jaise kavi aur kavita
{We met once more, as if by chance, Like poet reunited with his heart's own dance.}

*Flashback continues*

Author's POV:

Jagjeet's heart hammered against his ribs as he finished reading Mahima's letter. Her words, filled with raw emotion and veiled pain, painted a picture of a world he hadn't known existed. Shame washed over him for his anger, for his accusations. He hadn't stopped to think there could be a reason beyond disinterest for her absence.

He scrolled down, his finger trembling slightly, and opened the email he'd missed. Her words mirrored the letter, each sentence a plea for understanding, a bridge built across the chasm of his misunderstanding. A sob escaped his lips, a harsh, choked sound that echoed in the silent room.

With trembling fingers, he dialed the number etched into his memory, the number he'd cursed a million times for being silent. The rings seemed to stretch into an eternity before a hesitant voice, laced with anxiety, answered.

"Hello?"

The word, fragile and uncertain, shattered the dam within him. Tears streamed down his face, blurring his vision. "Mahima," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion.

A hitch in her breath traveled through the phone, a reaction that both mirrored his turmoil and ignited a spark of hope. "Jagjeet?" Her voice trembled, barely a whisper.

"I... I'm so sorry," he stammered, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I didn't understand. I had no right to judge you."

Silence stretched on the other end, heavy with unspoken emotions. Then, a sniffle, a small, choked sound that ripped through him.

"Jagjeet," she said again, her voice thick with tears. "It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known."

He closed his eyes, the sound of her voice a balm to his wounded soul. He poured out his heart then, confessing his pain, his anger, and the crushing disappointment that had threatened to consume him. He spoke of the endless nights spent waiting, of the hope that dwindled with each passing day.

As he spoke, a raw vulnerability bloomed within him, a stark contrast to the bravado he usually wore. He laid bare his heart, the love for her a beacon in the darkness.

When he finished, a trembling silence descended. He held his breath, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs.

Then, a choked sob escaped the phone. "Oh, Jagjeet," she whispered, her voice laced with anguish. "I wanted to be there. Every minute, every missed call, it was a knife twisting in my gut."

He could almost hear the tears streaming down her face, mirroring his own. A wave of relief washed over him, mingled with a fierce tenderness.

"Can you... can you ever forgive me?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

He let out a shaky breath. "Forgive you? Mahima, you have nothing to be forgiven for. I'm the one who should apologize for my arrogance."