•𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐰!•

22. Really?

N A K S H A T R A

“Hello?” I picked up the call as soon as I saw the caller ID. It was Paridhi. “Kaha h tu?” she asked. “Hospital me, or kaha?” “Hospital? Lekin Teri shift to 45 minutes phele hi khatam ho gayi thi!” “Haa. Ek last patient bacha h, use dekh lu, fir Ghar Jaa Rahi hu!” “Ghar kyu!??? Accha pata h, yaha hospital ke pas wala Jo mall h, waha sale chal rhi! 45%!” “Sahi me! Accha fir aati hu me!”

I gathered all my belongings and decided to walk today! Just then my phone rang again, and it was Aishwarya this time! “Haa Aish!? Kya hua!” “Bhabhs, I need to tell you something!” “Haa?” “Today bhai needs you so much. Your presence will matter the most to him today!” “are lekin hua kya?”
“ his pregnant girlfriend died 7 years ago! And he always blames himself for his death. But actually she died due to the fire caused in her textile company. He always loses his senses whenever He remembers about Rhea. And you know he always have some nightmares, sometimes mild, and sometimes serious!.. bhabhi, I beg you, please take care of my bhai today!” she said, on the verge of crying! “Don't worry Aishwarya, I'll handle everything. By the way, where is he?” “He might be sitting on a bench in an completely empty park. And it's near your hospital!” she said and hunged up the call. I don't know why but is it hurting me? Listening about him and his girlfriend. It shouldn't no??

Just then my gaze fell on the car parked beside the park. It was his. Definately his! Ohh, there he is... Sitting like a dead body, hairs scattered all over his face, eyes puffed, but no sign of tears on his face.

I tapped his shoulder, and the next moment his eyes met mine, he hugged me tightly pouring all his tears on me. I didn't said anything. I Let him cry, it will sooth him.
After 5 minutes, he pulled back. “I'm s..sor--” “You Okay?” “How can I be okay, when I was the reason of her death. I am, I'm--” “Tell me one thing Adhwit, are you still stuck there, do you still love her, didn't you move on?” I asked, meanwhile the stupid red colour organ between my lungs throbbing so hard that It might come out of my ribs any moment. “ no. i don't love her anymore, and.. and I'm trying to move on, but I can't! I was the reason for her and our child's death. How can I forget that and move on this easily! This burden is too much for me. I can't handle anymore. I can't pretend that I'm okay. I can't pretend that I moved on. I can't pretend that I don't love her. I'm just so...” “You don't have to always pretend yourself. It's okay to cry, it's okay to take your emotions out, not bottling them up. It's okay if you still love the woman who died 7 years ago. I won't judge you. And don't worry, it wasn't your fault Adhwit, It can't be, you're such a pure person who didn't even care once about his future, about his reputation while marrying a girl who's sorrows couldn't be tolerated by you! And remember, when Aditya died, I blamed myself for his death and you made me believe it wasn't my fault, then in the same manner, how could her death by fire be your fault, huh?”

Adhwit’s eyes, swollen and filled with guilt, locked into mine as he tried to make sense of my words. His trembling lips parted to speak, but his voice was barely a whisper.

“But Nakshatra, it feels so real. The pain, the guilt—it’s suffocating. I keep replaying that day in my head, wondering if I could have done something... anything... to save them.”

I reached out, placing a comforting hand on his cheek. His skin was cold to the touch, a reflection of the storm raging inside him.

“You can’t save everyone, Adhwit,” I said softly, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest. “Sometimes, life is cruel, and no matter how much we wish we could rewrite the past, we can’t. All we can do is honor the memories of those we’ve lost and carry their love forward. She wouldn’t want this for you. You know that, don’t you?”