FADING DARKNESS

CHAPTER 15:A STEP TOWARDS THE LIGHT

The world is an illusion. It fools the weak, and not even the powerful can escape, for they've lived in it so long that they no longer realize what is real and what is not. And when the illusion does shatter, life is never the same again.
Chand Raichand had prided himself to be one of those rare men who had the ability to steer clear of illusions. He loved once, loved with all his heart and those seven years had been the sunniest of his life. He'd been a part of a happy family, with a wife, a daughter and a son. And even after the accident which had paralyzed his legs, his wife's love for him had never decreased. If possible it had intensified. Just like his own love had. And his admiration for the woman in his life, who so well handled her handicapped husband, and her two children. But apparently love wasn't enough. And it had been far from enough in their case. They hadn't trusted each other at the most important point in their lives, and it had turned out to be the gravest mistake ever. He'd turned away from her after that incident so long ago, and when his then five-year old daughter had enquired about it, for the first time in his life, he'd told that lie, a lie he'd spoken so many times, with so much conviction, that it had almost become the truth. A lie that Haseena Raichand was dead. That he no longer had a wife, that Alisha Raichand and Abhay Raichand had been rendered motherless at the tender age of five and three respectively.
He'd locked his heart that day, locked it so tightly that not even her memories could enter, so that he could no longer taste the bittersweet memories of their life together. He'd forbidden the name from being uttered in the household ever, and had sworn to himself never to even do the foolish thing of loving again. It was too dangerous and destructive a force.
Last night, Abhay had thrown away those rusted locks of his heart and the memories had seeped in through his heart again. Memories that had never really left him, memories of the only woman he'd ever loved.
FLASHBACK:
Chand closed the book he was reading, ready to call it a day. It was ten at night, earlier than his usual bedtime but he was tired today and he wanted to sleep early.
He had just wheeled his wheelchair towards the door of his study, when his sixteen-year-old son came rushing into the study.
The first thing that alarmed Chand were the tears in his son's eyes. Abhay never showed any emotion before him and crying was out of the question. The second thing he could see was the terror and disbelief in Abhay's eyes. He was trembling, his whole form shaking.
"Abhay?" he whispered. "What's wrong?"
"Di-he-he-killed Di-I saw it-"
Chand's whole world had shattered right then and there.
Chand had asked Abhay who had done it.
"The boy Di was s-seeing-the boy-she l-loved-"
Loved. That dreaded word again. Chand had been shocked to see the "boy". Arjun Dobriyal. Fate really loved morbid jokes. All those years ago, Arjun had been involved in the incident that had tore their family apart. Of course he had been young then, and maybe it hadn't been his fault, but he had been a cause.And today, he had taken away Chand's daughter.
He had been powerless then, powerless to fight against the Dobriyals, powerless to make that Arjun and his family pay. But he had sworn to himself that he would fight back one day. He had trained his son for that, so that his own physical handicap wouldn't be an obstacle. He'd taken his son far away from love, teaching him the importance of power and money and the need to avenge the people responsible for destroying their family.
Abhay had been guilty that he'd been unable to save his sister when he himself had been present there, hiding in the bushes to find out who his Di's secret lover was. And Chand had used that sense of guilt, convinced his son that he could pay for not saving his sister by avenging her atleast.
But sometimes, it seemed, even the best plans aren't good enough....
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Arjun winced as the sunlight hit his face, the bright light too blinding. He got up with a start and groaned, the movement sending a blinding pain shooting through his forehead. He squinted around, realizing he had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position on the floor. The smell of alcohol from the empty liquor bottles was something he had gotten used to by now. But he hated the sunlight, seeping in through the ventilator of his otherwise closed room.
He staggered up, wincing. The headache was so severe that it almost split his head in two, but it refused to take away the pain in his heart. Which fool had said that drinking helped to forget? He wanted to strangle that idiot. A smile reached his lips as he reached for a fresh glass of drinks, trying to shield his face from the light. How easily he'd thought of strangling.
Why wouldn't he, he was a murderer after all.
He raised the glass to his lips, only to have someone snatch it away.
It was Madhu.
"Arjun!" she whispered tearily. She threw the glass away; it shattered on the floor, its contents staining the clean wall. "What have u done to urself, son? What is this?"
"Mom" said Arjun, with a drunken smile. "Mommy dearest--"
"Stop it Arjun" snapped Madhu. "W-what is this--this mess u've created. Arnab says u haven't been attending meetings for a week now, boy.And staying locked up like this? Drinking? Arjun--"
"Moomy, drinks help to forget" said Arjun, his words slurring, as he bent down to pick up a bottle again. "I was testing the theoooryy--"
Madhu grabbed him by his collars and shook him fiercely. "Arjun, r u out of ur senses?"
Arjun winced at her loud voice. "Mooomm-"
"Don't Arjun-don't do this- I can't see u like this, son. Don't do this to me-I love u-"
"Mom-mom" said Arjun, blinking as he tried to see clearly.."U love me, Mom?"
"Of course, I do" said Madhu. "Arjun, please, freshen up and come down. U haven't had breakfast with us in ages."
Tears rolled down his eyes. "If u love me, Mom-I-I will come-down-down-"
Madhu left, wiping her tears.
"U love me, Mom?" Arjun whispered, his eyes assuming a faraway look. "But am I worthy of that love mom?"
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Abhay stepped onto the sunny streets of Shimla, not completely satisfied with the meeting he'd just attended. One of the most important deals still remained to be finalized, and he would have to come again next week to do the formalities.
He pulled out his cell phone from his coat pocket, intending to call someone, when his eyes fell on-HER.
And just like that the world ceased around him. He pushed his mobile back to his pocket, all thoughts of calling someone pushed to a forgotten corner of his mind. Was it really her? He blinked, as though trying to make sure that she wasn't a hallucination, a trick of the sun to torture his already tormented being. But she was still there. On the footpath opposite him. Standing as though waiting for the traffic to clear so that she could cross the road. To the opposite footpath. Where he was.
Relief surged through him as he saw her safe and sound.
His eyes hungrily drank her in, as though drinking in the essence of his life, as though trying to capture the reason of his fast heartbeats. She was dressed in blue jeans and a purple jumper,and she'd left her curly hair open. From this distance, he could see that she was thinner than when he'd last seen her, her face didn't have it's usual glow. His heart constricted again. Was he the reason for her pale appearance? He couldn't see her eyes properly and that made him restless. Now he could admit to himself, her eyes were one of the most beautiful things about her. Those expressive baby-brown eyes which could so easily break through his barriers with just one look-
The traffic had cleared. People were starting to cross the road. Any moment now, she would too. Would he go up to her and apologize? Would it be enough? He longed to hold her-take away her pain, bring back that glow of happiness he'd seen on her face when he'd first met her, when he'd taken her out to dinner-for the first and only time-
He closed his eyes his pain as he remembered how'd he'd hurt her that time. He'd lowered her in her own eyes. He sighed and opened his eyes again. A mere apology would never-could never be enough-
She'd not yet crossed the road. He looked at her again to see what was holding her and his heart expanded with admiration for her. And old lady had been unable to cross the road, confused in the rush of people. Piya had gone back, and was gently helping the lady cross the road, holding her hand comfortingly, murmuring, he was sure, soothing words to her.
The words he'd himself spoken to Diane came back to him..
The day u feel u r worth at least half of what she is, u will go to her and apologize."
Was he worth half of her? This inner goodness she had, this heart of gold that she possessed-he did not have even an ounce of it. She was so beautiful, inside and out. And he had tried to pull her into the ruins, into his darkness. But she had remained the same, by some miracle. She had not allowed his darkness to touch her. It was this genuine aura of purity and goodness in her that had prevented him from harming her fully. Although he had damaged her enough, he knew that very well.
She had crossed the road with the old woman now, and the old woman after blessing Piya, had walked away. She was close to him now. Very close.
He ached to go to her..talk to her..but he wouldn't. He'd lost that right. At first he had to right all the wrongs in her life. He backed away silently, his eyes never leaving her. And his breath caught again as he caught sight of her face. He could see her eyes clearly now, those beautiful brown eyes that had never left his mind ever since he'd met her. And there was a new strength in her eyes, a new determination that had not been there before there.
Her phone rang just then and she received the call, a smile on lighting up her face as she noticed the caller name.
Abhay suddenly felt a strange irritation pass through him. Who was calling her?
"Hi Misha" she heard her speak and mixed emotions he'd long forgotten rushed through him. Relief that she was talking to a girl, joy on hearing her voice after so long, and sadness as he realized how different her voice was than when she'd last talked to him, or rather shouted at him with so much hatred and pain in her voice.
He listened to her, unmindful of the hustle and bustle around, as though her voice was the only sound in his world right now. "It's allright Mish, u go, I have the spare keys to home, don't worry"
Was she staying here with this Misha? Was Misha her friend? Abhay felt an inexplicable surge of gratitude for Misha for being there with Piya when no one, not even him, stood by her.
Piya was talking again, and Abhay frowned as he watched her face fall a little. "No, Mish, they didn't. Maybe they're looking for someone with more experience...I've got no teaching experience-no hey that's ok-I'll find a post in some other school---ok.."
Abhay frowned more deeply. She was looking for a job? In a school? His eyes went to the opposite foothpath where he'd first seen her and noticed for the first time that there was a primary school there. Had she gone there looking for a job and been rejected? He watched her as she finally cut the call. She paused for a moment, looking up towards his direction, a strange look in her eyes. Abhay retreated into the shadows, his heart hammering. Had she seen him? Had she sensed him? But why would she? She stood there for sometime, then shaking her head, walked away from there. Abhay emerged from the shadows, watching her go, a new plan forming in head. Time to start righting all that was wrong in her life because of him. His eyes went towards the primary school on the opposite foothpath. Piya wanted to teach there? He would make sure she got what she wanted.
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Piya opened the lock to Misha's home with the spare keys she had and entered the room. She paused for a moment, her shoulders drooping a little. Then a new resolve strengthened her. There were a hundred other schools; one would be sure to accept her-she wouldn't give up.

She frowned as another thought crossed her mind. A few moments ago that footpath, she'd felt something..as though someone was watching her..and instead of scaring her..that intuition had sent butterflies flying in her stomach...She knew of only one person who was capable of making her feel like that..
Piya took a deep breath-no, she warned her heart..don't go that way. Nothing but foolishness and heartbreak lies there. Why would he be here, honestly? And that too watching her? She laughed, the irony of the situation hitting her. No matter how many times she stumbled, she'd never learn...
The ring of her cell phone pulled her out of her thoughts.
Unknown number.
She received the call. "Hello?"
"Ms. Piyali Dobriyal? Good Morning.Headmistress from Junior Pearl School, Shimla, calling you."
"Y-yes, Madam" Piya stammered. She'd just gone for an interview there and had been rejected. She'd left her phone number there, just in case. But why would she be called again?
"You will be pleased to know that we have reconsidered our decision. And we have come to the conclusion that we'd like you to join our school as a member of our teaching staff." The Principal's pleasant voice reached her ears, but took a moment to register in her shocked brain.
"W-what?" she asked, her voice disbelieving.
The smile in the Principal's voice could be heard as she spoke again. "Would u like to join tomorrow, Piya?"
Piya's face broke ino the first happy smile in a long time. "Yes! Yes of course I would! Thank U! Thank u so much! This means a lot."
"Good, we'll expect u tomorrow" said the Principal as she cut the call.
Piya laughed out loud, happiness coursing through her. She dialed Arjun's number and was about to inform her brother of the good news. Whenever something good happened, she always informed Arjun first. She was about to press the call button when she realized that she was no longer in Dehradoon. Things had changed. The smile dropped slightly from her face.With a sigh, she dialed Misha's number instead.