The Unwanted Royal Marriage

47. Freedom?

Author's pov

Adhyay slowly pushed himself off the bed, his body still heavy with exhaustion, but his mind restless. The events of the day—the pain, the confusion, the overwhelming emptiness—still lingered in the corners of his consciousness like a cloud he couldn't escape. He tried to focus, but his thoughts were scattered. He reached for the jug of water on the desk, his hands trembling slightly. As he lifted it to pour himself a glass, something caught his eye—something out of place.

A piece of paper, folded neatly, lay on the desk next to the jug. The faint scent of Meera's perfume lingered around it, and his heart skipped a beat. He froze for a moment, his fingers hovering over the letter. No... it can't be, he thought, the dread rising in his chest as he carefully unfolded the paper.

The handwriting was unmistakable. Meera's delicate script filled the page, and Adhyay's throat tightened as he began to read.

"Dear Adhyay,

I know this is going to be very hard for you, but please be strong. I am always there with you, you are my everything, and I don't want to see you like this. I promise you, whenever you need me, whenever you think of me, I will come to you. Just close your eyes, call my name, and I will be there, even if you can't see me.

But there's one thing I need you to promise me, Adhyay. Don't touch alcohol, or any harmful thing. Please, for me. If you do, I will be very angry with you, and I don't want to be angry with you.

I am not gone, Adhyay. I am here with you, forever. You reside in my heart. How could I ever truly die when you're part of me?

And one more thing, Siddharth Bhai sa is not at fault. Whatever he will do, it will be for me, so never hate him. He loves you, Adhyay.

If you need answers, there is one person you can turn to, someone who knows everything. My buddy. He's among our family, and he can answer the questions you have.

Adhyay, I love you. And I always will. I am sorry for all of this.

Yours, Meera.

The day I will die."

Adhyay's hands began to shake as he finished reading the letter. His eyes blurred with unshed tears. The day I will die? The words echoed in his mind, but the pain was too much to comprehend. He hadn't imagined it. He had known something was off. He had known that the woman who had brought him comfort earlier wasn't just anyone. It had been Meera. But now, reading her words, the weight of her actions hit him harder than anything else could.

She had gone through all of this for him. She had sacrificed herself to save him. His mind couldn't wrap around it.

why did she have to do this? Why did she leave me like this?

Adhyay's heart raced as the flood of emotions crashed over him like a storm. The letter in his hand trembled as he reread Meera's words, each line carving deeper into the raw wound that had formed in his chest. She knew... The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. She knew she was going to die...

He could barely process the thought. How could she have done this? How could she have willingly put herself in harm's way, knowing that her life was at risk? And why? He was supposed to be the one protecting her, not the other way around. Every part of him screamed in frustration, in anger, in disbelief. Why didn't she tell me?

The letter, now crumpled in his fist, felt like an anchor weighing him down. She had done this for him. She had sacrificed herself to save him, to keep him alive, but at what cost? If she truly knew she was going to die, then why go through with this? Why make him believe she was gone, only to leave him with nothing but pain and unanswered questions?