Redemption's Dance: A Tale of Love and Forgiveness

Ch-19

"Mera dil kehta hai main aap pe bharosa na karun par dimag chahta hai kar lun. Aap hi bataiye main kya karun. Bahot dard hota hai, ye baat janke ki ham aapke pati nahi balki aapki sexual needs ko pura karne wale hain," Ishan said, tears streaming down his face. The anguish in his voice was palpable.

Shubman's heart broke as he looked at Ishan. The pain he had caused was clearly visible in his eyes, and it was more than he could bear. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to say.

Shubman closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Ishan, main janta hun maine tumhe bahut dukh diya hai. Maine galti ki, aur uska koi bhi bahana nahi ban sakta."

Now they were sitting in the balcony. Ishan was looking at the sky which was filled with stars.

“Aap jante ho bachpan se hame shauk tha ki hamara bhi ek hasta khelta parivar hoga, hamare bhi bacche honge par shayad bhagwan ko ye manjoor nahi tha," Ishan began, his voice heavy with emotion. "20 saal ke the jab aapse hamari shaadi huyi, kabhi socha nahi tha hame ye din bhi dekhna padega. Ham khush the Atharv ke saath fir maa ne kaha ki aap shaadi ke liye man gaye. Kyun man gaye hame nahi pata. Fir bhi ham chup the ye soch ke ki Atharv ko ek parivar milega. Shaadi ki pehli raat ko jab aapne hamse kaha ki hamne didi ko mara hai tab hamara dil tut gaya, kyunki hamne didi ko mara hi nahi tha. Maa baba ne aapse kya kaha hame nahi pata par ham jante hai jo bhi kaha hoga hamare khilaf kaha hoga."

Shubman looked at him with a broken expression. He clearly remembered the night when he told Ishan that he had killed his wife Sharanya. The pain in Ishan's eyes was a mirror to his own guilt.

“Aapko hamse badla lena hai na, lijiye ham kuch nahi bolenge kyunki abhi hamare pas wo jhelne ki shakti nahi bachi hai. Mar chuke hai ham andar se, aapne toh apni patni khoyi thi par hamne hamari ek lauti behen ko khoya tha." Ishan's voice cracked as tears flowed freely down his cheeks.

Shubman lifted his hand to wipe the tears when Ishan stopped him. "Aansu dene wale aansu nahi pochta," he said, his voice filled with a quiet resolve. Saying this, Ishan stood up and made his way towards their bedroom, leaving Shubman alone in the darkness of the night.

Shubman sat there, the silence of the night enveloping him. He watched Ishan's retreating figure, feeling the weight of his mistakes bearing down on him. The stars above seemed indifferent to his pain, twinkling in their eternal dance, as he was left to grapple with the reality of his actions and the deep sorrow he had caused the person he loved most.

Shubman remained on the balcony, staring into the vast, indifferent night sky. The cool breeze did little to ease the turmoil in his heart. He could hear the faint sounds of the night—crickets chirping, leaves rustling, and the distant hum of life continuing despite his inner chaos.

Inside the bedroom, Ishan lay on the bed, Atharv's tiny body curled up next to him. He looked at his son, feeling a bittersweet mixture of love and sorrow. The child was innocent, unaware of the complexities and pain surrounding his parents. Ishan gently brushed Atharv's hair, his mind wandering to memories of his sister, Sharanya, and the life they had dreamt of but never achieved.

Shubman eventually rose from the balcony chair, feeling the weight of the conversation like a physical burden. He walked into the bedroom, pausing at the doorway to take in the sight of Ishan and Atharv. Ishan's eyes were closed, but Shubman knew he wasn't asleep.

Shubman just silently went to his side and lay down, his eyes fixed on Ishan with a hurtful expression. The Ishan he knew was not the same anymore; he had changed. And Shubman knew he was the reason why Ishan had changed.

Ishan, sensing Shubman's gaze, turned slightly to meet his eyes. The pain in Shubman's expression mirrored his own, and for a moment, they simply looked at each other, the silence heavy with unspoken words and shared sorrow.

As Shubman lay there, he couldn't help but think about the vibrant, joyful Ishan he had fallen in love with. The Ishan who had dreams of a happy family, who had a light in his eyes that seemed to dim with every passing day of their strained marriage. And now, seeing him so broken, Shubman felt an overwhelming guilt.

Ishan, on the other hand, was struggling with his own emotions. He loved Shubman deeply, but the betrayal and the years of feeling like a mere means to an end had taken a toll on him. He wanted to believe in Shubman's promises, but the scars were too deep, the wounds too fresh.

They lay there, side by side, yet miles apart. The night was quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves outside and Atharv's soft breathing. Shubman reached out, his hand hovering over Ishan's for a moment before gently resting on it. Ishan didn't pull away, but neither did he reciprocate the gesture. It was a small touch, a tentative bridge over the chasm that had formed between them.

The stars outside twinkled indifferently, witnesses to their silent turmoil. In that shared silence, there was a flicker of hope, a possibility of healing. But for now, all they could do was lie there, together yet apart, grappling with the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future.

Shubman whispered, his voice barely audible, "Ishan, I'm sorry. I promise I'll make things right."

Ishan closed his eyes, letting the words wash over him. Forgiveness wouldn't come easily, and trust would take time to rebuild. But in the quiet darkness of the night, there was a glimmer of something that felt like the beginning of a long journey towards healing. And as they lay there, the first tentative steps towards that journey were taken in silence, with the hope that someday, they would find their way back to each other.

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