Blinded by love

Chapter 19-Soulless

He kept driving for what seemed like a long time.I could hardly keep track of the time.My heartbeat thudded rapidly in fear as I frantically looked out to find out which part of Mumbai I was in.Although I'm not too thorough with the map of Mumbai,I've now got a mild idea about it.After going round the city for a day and work  for two months,I've learnt a bit.Just a bit,though.But my knowledge about the city seemed to be too poor.I could hardly guess a thing.

"How long is it going to take?Where are we now?"

"Madam,Shastri nagar is one hour from Ghansoli.We'll be there in ten minutes."

I nodded and sat a bit relaxed.After another few minutes,I began to recognize the surroundings and felt safe.Luckily,I had my purse stuffed in my pocket and had taken five hundred rupees with me,in case of emergency.But never expected this sort of emergency to come up.I ran up the stairs,two at a time and was breathing heavily when I rang the bell.

Meghna opened the door and hugged me hard,as soon as she opened the door.She might have seen me through the peep hole.I hugged her back as the tears of relief flowed endlessly.

"Meghna....Lets go inside first.",I said,wiping my tears as I abruptly pulled back from her.

We went inside and I made sure we were locked inside,carefully.

"Aarthi..what hap..",Meghna began.

"Is anyone there here?",I asked,whispering in her ears.

She shook her head.

"Its just you and me,right?"

She nodded.

I heaved a sign of relief and fell on the sofa,trying to release the tension that I've been holding back ever since I planned to flee.Closing my eyes,I took a few deep breaths,ignoring the distraught questions from Meghna.

"Aarthi,you're ok!Right..??",Meghna said,shaking me.

She was now sitting beside me,with concern in her eyes.I could see it,feel it.I remained silent,wishing to give her the answer she would want to hear,heartfully.I could feel her gaze staring at me intently,waiting for an answer.

I hung my head down and barely nodded my head.

She lifted my chin and asked softly,"Sure?"

I freed myself from her grip and kept trying to avoid her eyes.

What can I tell her?That I'm fantastic?That I actually feel like floating in air?Well,I still can but how can I lie to my own soul?Meghna means the world to me ever since I came to Mumbai.Even Virat comes only after her.She has offered me a place to live,food to eat and on top of all that she has showered me with kindness and love ever since we met.And she expected nothing in return.Nothing.How can I lie to a person like that?

I looked up at her directly in her eyes this time and I couldn't even fake being less hysterical anymore.I broke down and fell on her shoulders.She stroked my hair tenderly and kept saying something,but I could hardly hear it all.My mind kept playing memories of Virat and me together and our very little and cute love story.I just couldn't forget him nor the memories he has given me.I thought it would be a bundle of delightful times with him but now,my life has become nothing but a horrific tragedy.

"No...Meghna!I'm not ok...I'm not....",I said between my loud wails.

"I wish I could forget him but I just....I never thought he'd leave me half way through my life,Meghna!I...don't know what to do.I feel like dying!"

She pulled me back from her and said,"Don't say that,Aarthi.Never ever."

"He doesn't know your worth.It was a stupid decision by him...He should have known better.You shouldn't lose your life because of him.If he doesn't need you,let it be.You don't need him either.If he can manage to forget the times he had with you and start a new life,so can you.You can start a happy,brand new life right here,in front of his eyes and show him how well you can manage without him",she said,wiping my tears.