When past clash with Present

Chapter 17: A Heart in Turmoil

As Patralekha walked away from the truth of Virat and Sai's relationship, her heart was heavy with pain. Each step she took felt like a burden, her mind consumed by thoughts of the love she had lost. Tears streamed down her cheeks, a silent testament to the depth of her sorrow.

Finding solace in the solitude of her cabin, Patralekha collapsed onto the bed, her emotions overwhelming her. She couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, the pain of knowing that Virat was no longer hers, and that he had moved on with Sai, his true love.

Every memory of their past together haunted her, each moment they had shared now tainted by the knowledge of his deception. She felt a sense of emptiness gnawing at her soul, a longing for a love that could never be hers again.

As the weight of her grief threatened to suffocate her, there was a soft knock on the door, followed by the gentle voice of Rakesh. "Patralekha, may I come in?"

With a heavy heart, Patralekha nodded, allowing Rakesh to enter the room. His eyes were filled with concern as he took in her tear-stained face, his heart aching at the sight of her pain.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice filled with genuine concern. "I saw what happened earlier. I'm here for you, Patralekha. Whatever you need, I'm here."

Patralekha shook her head, unable to find the words to express her anguish. "I don't know what to do, Rakesh," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I thought Virat loved me. I thought we had a future together. But now...now everything feels like a lie."

Rakesh approached her slowly, his heart breaking at the sight of her despair. "I understand, Patralekha," he said gently, taking her hand in his. "But you're not alone. I love you, and I'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

As Patralekha stood before Rakesh, her heart heavy with sorrow and confusion, she couldn't shake off the overwhelming weight of the truth that had been revealed to her. The realization that Virat's heart belonged to someone else had shattered her own, leaving her feeling lost and alone.

"But what about our wedding?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I have signed a contract that I will marry you if Virat attends all the functions of our wedding, otherwise I have to give you 10 crore. I thought he would not be able to bear seeing me get married to someone else and would stop it, but it seems that my wedding with anyone else doesn't matter to him. He doesn't love me, but I do. I love him a lot."

Rakesh's heart ached as he watched the turmoil raging within Patralekha. He reached out and gently took her hand in his, his touch a comforting anchor amidst the storm of emotions.

"I understand, Patralekha," he said softly, his voice filled with empathy. "I know this must be incredibly difficult for you. But please remember, you're not alone in this. I'm here for you, no matter what."

Patralekha's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked into Rakesh's sincere gaze, feeling a glimmer of solace amidst the chaos of her emotions. "But what about the contract?" she whispered, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "I don't know if I want to marry you under these circumstances, but I'm bound by the terms of the agreement."

Rakesh squeezed her hand gently, his eyes filled with determination. "Don't worry about the contract," he reassured her. "If you decide that you don't want to go through with the wedding, I will talk to Virat to nullify it. Your happiness is far more important to me than any legal document or my own hapiness."

A sense of gratitude washed over Patralekha as she listened to Rakesh's heartfelt words, his unwavering support a beacon of hope in her darkest hour. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for being so understanding and caring."

Rakesh smiled warmly at her, his heart swelling with affection. "It's the least I can do," he replied sincerely. "I care about you deeply, Patralekha. Your happiness means everything to me. I love you more than anything. If you want to postpone the wedding I am ready to wait for you eternity. If your happiness lies away from me I am fine with that too. "

As Patralekha's parents approached them, their expressions filled with concern, Rakesh turned to them with a determined resolve. "We need to talk," he said firmly, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "I want to assure you that I will do everything in my power to support Patralekha through this difficult time. And if she decides that she doesn't want to go through with the wedding, I will respect her decision completely."

Patralekha's parents exchanged a knowing glance, their hearts heavy with worry for their daughter. But amidst their concerns, they couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Rakesh for his unwavering support and devotion.

"We appreciate your sincerity, Rakesh," Patralekha's father said solemnly, his voice filled with gratitude. "But I want her to realize how much she matters to you.."

Rakesh nodded in understanding, his determination unwavering. "I promise you, I will do everything in my power to ensure that she is," he vowed, his voice filled with conviction. He left the place giving the family the much needed privacy.

As Rakesh left to give Patralekha and her family some privacy, her parents approached her with gentle concern etched on their faces. They sat beside her, enveloping her in a comforting embrace, understanding the turmoil she was going through.

"Sweetheart," her mother began, her voice soft with emotion. "We know this must be incredibly difficult for you, but we want you to know that we only want what's best for you."

Patralekha looked up at her parents, her eyes filled with tears as she struggled to find the words to express her pain. "I don't know what to do, Ma," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I never imagined that Virat would...that he could..."

Her father reached out and gently wiped away her tears, his heart breaking at the sight of her pain. "We understand, beta," he said softly, his voice filled with compassion. "But we need you to understand something too. Rakesh loves you deeply, more than anything in this world. He has always been there for you, supporting you through thick and thin."

Patralekha's heart ached as she listened to her father's words, the weight of their significance sinking in. She knew that Rakesh cared for her deeply, that he had always been there for her when she needed him most. But could she ever love him the way he deserved?

"Rakesh is a good man, Patralekha," her mother added, her voice filled with warmth. "He has shown time and time again how much he cares for you. We chose him for you because we believed that he would always put your happiness above everything else."

Patralekha bowed her head, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. She knew that her parents only wanted what was best for her, but she couldn't ignore the ache in her heart, the longing for a love that could never be hers again.

"I know you're hurting, beta," her father said gently, his voice filled with understanding. "But please, don't let that cloud your judgment. Take your time to think things through, but remember that we will support whatever decision you make."

With a heavy heart, Patralekha nodded, silently acknowledging her parents' words. She knew that she needed time to process everything that had happened, to come to terms with the truth of Virat and Sai's relationship, and to understand her own feelings for Rakesh.

As her parents enveloped her in a comforting embrace, Patralekha felt a sense of gratitude wash over her. She knew that no matter what path she chose, she would always have their love and support to guide her through the darkest of times. And with that comforting thought, she allowed herself to surrender to the embrace of her mother's lap, finding solace in her embrace as she grappled with the weight of her emotions.

Despite her inner turmoil, she couldn't deny the truth in her parents' words. Rakesh had proven himself to be a steadfast and caring partner, and she knew that she owed it to herself to at least consider the possibility of a future with him.

With her heart heavy and her mind consumed by thoughts of love and duty, Patralekha finally succumbed to the weight of her emotions and the toll they had taken on her ailing health. Drifting into a restless slumber, she hoped that in the quiet recesses of her dreams, she would find the clarity and peace she so desperately sought, without voicing her decision about the wedding to anyone that evening.