When The Heart Lies | ✓

[10]

His closed eyes kept flashing in her mind. The picture of him lying on that hospital bed was something that was making her feel so low. She didn't know what she wanted. But she knew that she would at least feel fine if he would get well soon.

"But there's more to it, Sakshi. He is broken. He can't trust people easily now. Do you know what he said?"

Sakshi leaned closer on the table and stared at her. Aakriti whispered, "He said that he hasn't been loved like that before. Why would someone do this for me? Someone cannot just write and put such efforts for him. He was overwhelmed, Sakshi. He doesn't really know that behind his back, you love him so deeply."

Sakshi widened her eyes and moved back. Aakriti bit her tongue at realising that she just made the girl embarrassed.

"Aakriti, I hadn't came here to do favour on him for which in return, he would acknowledge my love. I wouldn't have been anonymous then." She looked around and covered her nose with the mask. "I just want to be there for him to let him know that there is nothing good in giving up his life."

Aakriti gulped and stared at her with pity. "Sakshi, I can see the want in your eyes. This is your chance. I am telling you, he was so curious to know who it was. I saw him counting the girls' name on his fingers."

Sakshi chuckled humorlessly, then gave her a sad smile. "Exactly. He doesn't have to know about me. At least, this mere curiousity would keep him alive."

Aakriti sighed. "Of course, it will. It's like a therapy, Sakshi. He was broken days ago. He didn't want to see anyone and was begging his doctors to inject him poison."

Sakshi's heart sank as her lips parted in shock. "What?" Her voice turned low.

Aakriti nodded with utter seriousness. "There is a rape case going on, Sakshi. No one is believing him. As a stranger, I won't believe him too. But if you look in his eyes, you will think about changing your mind. He has sorrows in his eyes. He seems alone. He was begging to die."

Her nostrils flared as Sakshi shook her head in disbelief. She glanced at the section and back at Aakriti. "That is cruel. My heart says that he can't do something like this. Do you know, he had girls lined up for him? Boys like him care about their own standards. Aakriti, he didn't care if any girl was giving him attention or not. He was already full of it. Why would he force her physically? I . . ."

Aakriti looked around and nodded in understanding. Suddenly, she remembered something. "Well, anything can be true. Days ago, when he was just admitted. His own brother was blaming him. Now, he curses the victim woman as if she is a witch. If you know him well, Sakshi. Contact him. An innocent person like him, doesn't need to suffer such loneliness at this moment."

Sakshi swallowed and breathed slowly. "I cannot. He. . ." She shook her head. "We hadn't ended in good terms, Aakriti. I cannot go back to him. My brother will kill me."

Aakriti decided to not force her anymore since it would affect her family. She nodded sadly.

Sakshi bit her lip as she felt her heart squeezing at the thought of losing the chance that might bring her back to her first love. But this would be a favour then, which people do not really do to their loved ones. It was a little kindness, she wanted to show him as a human, as a well wisher. Because she still felt that he was innocent.

"Can you at least let me tell him that it was you? It would somehow put him at rest. He was being crazy all day yesterday. He kept asking for his laptop and then used it as if for checking old photos or something. You don't know, how your few words of wisdom mean so much to him in his depressed state."