Like a Shadow to You

Chapter 25. Like a Shadow to You

The drive back to the cottage became unpleasant for Akash. Many unwanted memories began to cloud his mind. A mix of various emotions erupted in his mind. He didn't want to return to Banu with this vulnerability in heart. So, he drove his car to a nursery located a few km before the cottage. As he was a regular customer, the incharge welcomed him and showed him every new variety.

Akash responded to his cheery explanation in an absent minded tone. Sensing a lack of interest, the incharge let him explore the samplings and the narrow stretched garden on his own. He left him with his thoughts with an excuse to bring him a cup of coffee. Akash walked along the path surrounded by a variety of trees and gardens.

His mind travelled to the time when he first met Preethi, the girl who stole his heart for the first time. Preethi was bullied by a group of strangers online. A girl in her shoes would be frightened by the continuous mental torture. But she was brave enough to reply back to those comments and spam calls and filed a complaint to cybercrime. Rakesh, a close friend of Akash, handled the case and assisted her in keeping the accused behind the bars.

One day Rakesh asked Akash to drop him in Preethi's house since his own was under service. Preethi was a social media influencer who created content on various topics. While dropping him off, Rakesh shared how her story with Preethi. The case brought Rakesh and Preethi close as friends.

Preethi welcomed them both and offered them cups of coffee. Though she talked with Rakesh, her eyes never left Akash. After having fun conversation, Preethi complained about Akash speaking less in a light hearted way. That was when Akash noticed her properly more than just a glance. Her eyes had a twinkle showing her interest in speaking with him.

"Ah so your friend is not only brave but also  a keen observer. I'll make a note of it," he replied in the same tone.

Preethi continued the talk with a remark and their chat continued even after Rakesh leaving for a work. Akash enjoyed her company and started to spend a lot of time with her. He helped her with her shoots for reels and arranged the set in home for her. Some of the comments she received on her page boiled his anger. But she advised him to ignore these comments and explained how her motive was only to produce content people would love to watch.

There were moments when there was a spark of heat moments like correcting her dress, lifting her to clean the walls of her house, watering the small garden beside her house, and so. Preethi stayed alone in the house after her parents got separated. When he proposed her for marriage, she for the first time shared how she was not ready for marriage. Her parents' marriage life left a scar in her heart. So, she insisted on living together without a marriage.

Akash was unhappy with her choice, but he loved her enough to act like her wish. On the day he arranged everything and decided to move in, Preethi shocked him by saying that she wants to break up with him. He felt broken for the first time after the death of his mother. Despite his repeated questions each day, she avoided him and pleaded him to stop disturbing her.

Later on, he used a detective to know the reason behind her different behaviour after  going insane for 3 months. But it was too late for him since she lost her life in an accident when driving in a weak state. Her father was depressed for long realizing how badly he treated his wife all the years. He tried calling Preethi but she refused to speak with him stubbornly. Being unable to deal with the depression, he took his life in his house. The information shattered Preethi and made her feel guilty for being with him. Her childhood traumas surfaced and made her think she is unworthy of Akash's love. She began to close all the doors of happiness and continued to have only one meal a day. All these caused her losing balance while driving and ending in an accident taking her life.

It was the darkest phase of Akash as he couldn't process anything that happened in the time. He felt guilty of leaving her alone even when she pushed him away. Kailash was the one who pulled him out of the depression bu giving him work regularly and talking with him everyday to take him out of this darkest state. Akash realized how many people are suffering from mental health problems and focused on providing support for people who need help. He worked like a machine each day and even supported in his father's cases to earn money to create a clinic for treating people with mental health issues at a low cost.

Aravind did not know about Preethi's suicide as Akash tried everything to hide her death to not leave a bad image on her personality online. No matter what had happened, she promoted good things for people. So, it felt like doing something special for her atleast after her absence. Aravind trigged his past wound and made him mourn for her loss after several years. Akash was not ready to share about this with Banu as she is now in the same state as Banu by not agreeing to his proposal. He wanted to be close to her and never lose her at any cost.

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