Aparna sat down on the bed and tried working through the knots in her wet hair but somehow they just kept twining and being impossible. Tired, she just gave up and put the comb down beside her.
What has she done?
She felt guilty of accusing him of everything that has gone wrong in her life.
Why?
What was his fault?
He had only loved her.
Loved her with all he had.
Suddenly her eyes fell on her left ring finger and she remembered the ring, which once he had proudly slipped in. Now, the finger was as empty as her life.
Aparna buried her face in her palms and tried to summon the much-wanted tears but her eyes refused to give in. Instead, the emptiness inside her started to squeeze her heart. All of a sudden she felt constricted and started to lose her breathing. She tried to drag in the air but nothing happened.
Panic rose inside her as she realised that something was definitely wrong.
Has something happened to him?
NO, her heart cried out. It can't be.
She tried to reach her phone but couldn't. The more she tried to breathe, the more pressured she felt. She was about to call out to Madhu when she felt an arm encircling her body.
"Shhhhh!"
Slowly her breathing normalised and she slanted her head on his chest and closed her eyes.
"Where are you?" she asked as her body started to warm up against his.
"I am here."
"Don't let me go."
"I haven't."
"I miss you," she said helplessly.
"Then come back," she heard him reply.
"I can't."
"Yes, you can."
"You have moved on," Aparna said as slowly the tears rolled down her eyes.
She felt him making her stand up. Slowly, he guided her towards the mirror. Then, he picked up the comb from the bed and started to brush her knotted hair.
"Open your eyes," she heard him command.
As she opened them, she saw them together just the way they had stood together in front of the mirror in Tosh. His touch, his smile, his hands and most of all his eyes conveyed only one thing: his love.
He pointed at the image and said, "This, us, will never change. I'll be within you as you will be within me, no matter whom we belong to."
"But..."
YOU ARE READING
The Stigma Called Love
RomanceNishant Naik, billionaire MD of Naik Builders gets engaged but without love. Disillusioned, he gives up when a chance encounter leaves him intrigued and confused. For him, loving someone is giving your soul to her. Will he ever find someone to love...