Ashwaki: waiting for Ashok

Separation

RUKHSANA:

"Why on earth did Krishna say he didn't want to marry me?" I sobbed uncontrollably, throwing myself onto the bed and slamming my head into the pillow.

The marks from my tears wetted the pillow and my hair flew all across my face, sticking to my forlorn eyes as the unsympathetic wind only made my feelings grow stronger.

I had never cried like this before. I couldn't help it.

"Rukhsana?" A soft voice came from outside the door with a knock.

A man's voice.

I sprang up, wiped my face and walked closer to the door. I saw a hand placed on the transparent part.

"Krishna...." I mumbled quietly, with a trembling voice.

"WHY ARE YOU D...." I flung the door open and to my horror, it wasn't Krishna.

A surprised face looked at me.

"Uh... oh - Dhruv. err... g--greetings." I balanced my voice and tried to calm myself down and force a smile onto my face.

Dhruv stood grinning to himself and seemed to be lost in my eyes. We stared at each other for a bit; his stare seemed to be mesmerized; mine was of shock.

"Rukhsana, I..." he began shyly.

I just stood there, waiting for him to let me go for some time, so I could meet Krishna.

"Dhruv, why don't you come in?" I said rushingly.

He shuffled his feet and followed me into my room.

"Well... I don't know how to start but-" he began slowly.

I looked at him patiently.

"I... I have a gift for you. To show my. Appreciation." He said enthusiastically.

His shivering hands handed me a box and I glanced at it in surprise.

"Dhruv, why do you need to give me these?" I asked, almost frightened of the reason.

"Well.... it's a custom that - before... you know, marriages - err - we give a gift to the girl's side."

I didn't react. If Krishna wasn't going to marry me then why is he giving me a gift?

I opened the box, eyeing it with strained eyebrows and when the golden glisten blinded me of surprise, I ran my hand over the intricate detail of two beautiful rings.

Something seemed unusually familiar about these. I had seen these before.

"It's - a small gift. Did you like it?" He panted with excitement.

I was mesmerized by them, but my face didn't display a smile.

"I love it." I said quietly, still feeling the carved details with a melted heart, grinning to myself at his care. "How did you know I like these?"

"It was Krishna's idea actually. I didn't really know what... you like so I asked him and he's always right. I knew you would like it." He smiled widely.

My head looked up at his at the sound of Krishna's name. My subtle grin faded.

"So, he gave you the rings?" I searched for an answer.

"Yes. He had them kept in his cupboard in this box. He gave it to me as soon as I told him about you."

Anger and sorrow filled up my empty stomach.

"Why couldn't be give them to me himself?" I asked seriously.

Dhruv shifted uncomfortably.

"Because it's a part of the custom that - the groom gives it to his bride."

This meant - I was getting married to Dhruv. No.

My breath lingered around in my throat for a few moments and I felt wheezy at this.

Everything before me went blurry, and before I knew it, my feet were collapsing.

"Rukhsana! What... are you alright? Rukhs..." Dhruv's voice trailed off as imperative darkness came before my eyes.

DHRUV:

"RUKHSANA!" I caught her just in time as she swayed towards the ground. She was sweating.

"Brother! Father! Mother! Anyone?" I cried desperately for help as I laid her on the bed.

A few maids lined up respectively.

"Look after her." I ordered them quickly and ran around the palace, trying to find the medics.

"Dhruv? Why are you running so fast?" I bumped into my brother (Krishna). He placed his hands on my shoulder.

"Brother.... brother - Rukhsana fell unconscious. I don't k..."

Before I could finish, he looked as if he had been struck by lightening and ran even faster towards her room.

"We barged into the room, and Brother rushed to the beside and placed a hand on her forehead.

"Her temperature seems beyond expected. Dhruv - go and search for the medics and tell them to come immediately. And listen, don't inform anyone else. Go."

KRISHNA:

I looked back at Rukhsana and sat beside her on the bed, feeling shameful and guilty.

Just then, I noticed the two rings scattered on the floor. With a heavy heart, I picked them up and placed them neatly in the box, keeping it on her bedside table. I went back to her and clutched her hand, feeling her soft palm.

"Krishna?" Mother came into the bedroom hurriedly.

"Mother." I stood up quickly, releasing Rukhsana's hand from mine instantly.

"What happened?" She asked sternly, glancing at Rukhsana with a flash of worry.

"Mother - please. She's not well. Someone needs to look after her." I said frantically.

Just then, the whole family was in the room by now.

"Ashok..." mother went to Ashok hurriedly as father came in and stood just as shockingly as us.

"How did she -" he began.

Dhruv returned with the medics. "I gave her the rings and -"

"Never mind that. We need to treat her." I said quickly, suspecting why she had fainted.

💕

Half an hour later, Rukhsana began stirring, and everyone straightened up.

💕
RUKHSANA:

My eyes blinked as they were closed and I felt my forehead tightening.

I blinked my eyelids open and found myself surrounded by all the family.

I saw Krishna sigh and leave quickly.

"I'm so relieved. I thought something happened to you." Dhruv took my hand in his, however I didn't feel the same amount of satisfaction.