Let's meet again for the first time.
Her mother shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Who will marry you now, when people get to know you were left by Vikram?" Before I could even process what I was doing, the words left my mouth.
"I wil...
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AARAV'S POV
Hi, to the twelve year old Anika, I am sorry I could never reply to your letters, for whatever reasons but I do regret it. For starters, I must say you, congratulations, you won't change much when you grow up, you will still be so sassy, you never reply straightforward, you have to drop in your sarcastic comments and the attitude, my god, it still gives me tough time, I guess I do need someone to humble me. I wish you were not deprived of the art supplies because I know how much painting meant to you and everyone was fine when you were gone, well except me but we can't help it now. And if it helps I couldn't really make new friends either, well at least till college, I met Samarth after that, you know him, you briefly met him during our wedding. But no one can ever replace what we had. So don't worry that position is still open and it can only be filled by you Anika. Also I can't believe I am saying this but I kind of missed your lame jokes (they're not funny though). I also hate that you had to endure those brothers you were talking about, although I never met them but I share a mutual hatred, don't worry if I ever find them, I will make them pay. No one messes with you and goes unharmed, it's still the same Anu. I know it's difficult to forget these twelve years and I don't like it but I am still going to say it, I feel happy knowing that you missed me as much as I missed you. You were never just a hang out buddy for me, you know that, I could never forget you or us, you meant a lot to me, So please stop pitying and blaming yourself, come outside and face me, don't be a coward, this isn't the Anika I know, she would shout at me and herself rather than locking herself up in a room. And even you've changed, even if this is what you're, let me be with you, I want to know you, every version of you, I want to know everything else that happened when I was not around, your college life, your first job, maybe a relationship and what not, So stop ignoring me and come out, We will figure something out, like we always did. Yours truly 29 years old (I just realized half of this letter in written in present tense and the other half in past tense but I guess I am only good in maths, english is your department, this letter stuff isn't my cup of tea you know that. So ignore the mistakes and please don't start your lecture on grammar and all.) Aarav.
I fold the paper in half and slide it through the door. It's been three hours since Anika locked her door. I figured she might need time, after all that revelation, she might be upset so I let her be for a while, but then Aunty started to worry and It's unusual of me, because I am not really the caring kind, except for people who are close to me, she used to be but as of now she's a stranger, so it surprised me when I put her to sleep but it was mainly because I didn't want Anika to blame herself for her mother's stress which she definitely would. I wait outside the door, hoping that my letter reaches her, hoping that she would read it. The silence within her room is deafening, and it makes me worry about her even more. I knock on her door once more, "Okay Anika it's enough now. I am giving you five minutes, you better come out now. Or I am going to break this door." I command. I run my hands through my hair, frustrated, by her silence, by her ignoring me. Now I am scared, so this is how she must have felt for these years, I am afraid if something happened to her, I need to see her, I have had enough of whatever this is, I back up a little rubbing my hand together as warm up, I use the passage as a run up for the force, I am going to break open this door, With all my strength, I charge towards the door. I'm determined to break down that barrier between us and make her come out.
As soon as I start running the door open and she's standing there in front of me, her eyes red, probably from crying and her hair disheveled, but in my haste, I barge into her, pushing us both to the ground. I instinctively put my hand on her head, making sure she doesn't get hurt. I end up on top of her, my body pinning her to the floor. I don't move at all, our bodies tangled, I look down at her, my gaze intense, my breathing heavy from the adrenaline. I can feel the heat of her body underneath me, the rise and fall of her chest with each breath she takes. For a moment, we stay like that, both of us silent, the only sound in the room our mingled breaths. Then she starts laughing. I am surprised at the sound of her laughter, the sweet, familiar sound breaking through the strange tension that had enveloped us. I can feel the way her body shakes against mine, the tremors of her mirth causing me to become aware of our proximity in a way I hadn't before.
Her laughter is infectious, and although I don't understand what's so funny about this situation, or anything at all, I join her, falling beside her on the floor. After the laughter subsided, we lay there side by side, the sound of our breathing filling the silence. I turn my head to look at her, her eyes staring at the ceiling, as a lone tear escapes her eyes, "I am sorry." She whispers. I turn towards her, needing to look at her, "for what? None of this is your fault." I reassure, she looks at me, pain etched on her face and I immediately want to replace that look, "it was mumma's fault, I don't blame her, I would have done the same if I was in her place, but it doesn't change the fact that you were hurt. Because of me." She turns over, facing me. This is the Anika I know. Always keeping everyone else before herself, she was hurt too, but all she thinks about is my pain.
I reach out, my fingers gently wiping away the tear on her cheek, a gesture that comes as an instinct, a sense of familiarity. "You apologize too much," I say, my voice unusually gentle. "You were a kid, you didn't ask for this too, you could only trust your mother." I prop myself up, leaning my weight on my elbow, my gaze still on her.
"Trust me, I don't blame you or aunty for any of it." I move a little closer to her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "and I would hate it if you blamed yourself too Anika." She looks at me with those wide, expressive eyes of hers, and I can see the doubt and pain in them. It makes my heart ache. I can't stand seeing her like this, so hurt and broken. I move a little closer to her, close enough that I can almost feel the heat radiating off her body.
"I am going to hug you." I whisper, I wait for a moment for her to say something, deny it, but when she doesn't, I slowly pull her in, Anika is stiff and tense at first as I wrap my arms around her, her body taut with the emotions that she had been holding inside for so long. But slowly, I feel her body relax, her head resting against my chest as she buries her face in my shoulder. I can feel the tremors that run through her body, the silent sobs that she tries to suppress, and I just hold her tighter, my arms encircling her like a protective shield.
I have got you my love. You don't have to fight the world anymore, I will happily do that for you.
Author's note: I loved writing this chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment please. Love:)
