"Bhaiya still doesn't trust me with bhabhi. And I know ki mai kitna bhi koshish kr lu he is never going to trust me the same. He used to call me Raj. I haven't heard him call me that since 4 years. And I deserve it. I deserve every bit of it. All his distrust and all your hatred. I deserve it all."
He spoke and wiped his tears while she looked at him with her own tears flowing down her eyes.
They sat in silence for some time. Only the sound of their harsh breaths echoed in the room.
"I don't blame you anymore."
She spoke after some time and he looked at her.
"Jab aapko pehli baar dekha tha toh bhut gussa aaya tha aur nafrat ho gyi thi. Yahi manne lagi thi ki baba ne aapki wajah se apni jaan di. Par jaise jaise aapko jaane aur samajhne lagi toh ye laga ki aap dil ke bure nhi hai."
"Don't go weak on me Parul. I don't deserve it."
She kept a hand on his mouth to stop him from speaking.
"Bolne dijiye mujhe. Aapne bola toh maine suna na. Ab mujhe bolna hai."
He nodded and sat quietly listening to every word she said.
"Aapne bhut galtiyan kri hai. Kuch bhut badi galtiyan bhi hai. Lekin wo sab ek aise cheez ki wajah se jispe aapka koi control nhi tha. Agar hota toh kya aap wo sab krte?"
He shook his head and she clutched his hand which was still clenched in a fist. She eased his palm and slid her fingers between his, intertwining them.
"Bhabhi ke case mai aapki galti thi. Lekin unhone aap ko maaf kr dia. Kyunki shayad wo bhi ye jaanti hai ki aap dil se bure nhi hai. You've changed yourself enough ki wo aapko maaf kr ske. And everyone deserves a second chance if he proves himself worthy of it. Bhagwaan Krishn ne bhi Duryodhan ko second chance dia tha. Jabki wo kitna bada paapi tha. Toh jab Bhagwaan ek mauka de skte hai toh hum insaan kyu nhi?"
He felt tears fill his eyes again at her words.
"Aur rahi baat baba ki..."
She took a deep breath at the mention of her father and smiled.
"...aapki galti usme itni thi ki aapne apni ego ke chalte unhe bina matlab jail bhijwaya. Lekin agar sirf baat utni rehti toh wo kuch ghanto mai bahar bhi aa jaate. Lekin unki maut ka asli kaaran wo police officers the jinhone un pr wo jhootha khoon ka ilzaam lagaya."
She said and her vision blurred with tears.
"Lekin unhe jail toh maine bhijwaya na. Na mai unhe jail bhijwata aur na wo police officers aisa kuch kr paate."
"Lekin asli galti unn police officers ki hai. Wo aise kaise mere baba pr itna bada ilzaam laga skte the? Koi right nhi tha unhe. Mere baba ne apni jaan jail jaane ki wajah se nhi li thi. Uss khoon ke ilzaam ki wajah se li thi."
She broke down and he pulled her in his arms.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry."
He whispered and kissed her head. She shook her head and cupped his face.
"Galti aapki nhi hai. I forgive you."
"But I ruined your family."
"And you gave me one too."
He got silent and she smiled.
"Galtiyan sab krte hai. And that's what makes us human beings. Lekin hum good human being tab bante hai jab hum unn galtiyon ko accept kre, unse se seekhe, aur unhe dobara na repeat kre. You've regretted your mistake aur aapne jitna aapse ho saka usse sahi bhi krne ki koshish kri hai."
