The Inevitable Fate

CHAPTER 6 Guilt That Kills

Ahaan got up, and saw Alia still sleeping but everyone else was awake. He went down, got freshen up and immediately left with Subhaan for some wedding related work. Alia got up late, she sat there on the bed, thinking, she was hungry but was not in the state to get up and help herself.

Suddenly Zeeshaan entered in, with a bowl of cereals and milk in his hand. "Here you go! I know you slept last night empty stomach, so now... eat" said Zeeshaan, Alia hesitated but gradually ate and even Sharaya joined them in few minutes.

Alia was now normal, after chit-chatting with her cousin-friends. She went down to help others with the marriage preparations. Down, she was in the room besides the kitchen, standing alone. When, to her surprise, Kuwair appeared in front of her.

Kuwair "Alia, look, I am really very sorry." Alia pushed him. Kuwair "Please, wait, I can't live like this. Your anger is killing....." Alia "and this GUILT is killing ME." As she pushed him again, Kuwair tried to stop her "Please! Please, stop, come back, I need you." Alia turned and pushed him again "Keep your dirty hands away from me. Be thankful that your evil real face is still hidden from everyone, from your wife!"

Kuwair "Please dear, don't go" Alia was done, she had to shut him down, she turned back again, this time, her face full of rage close to his face "Listen, this is the last time I am saying this to you. STAY AWAY, or else you'll be facing heavy consequences. Do not try to talk to me now. I know you are not guilty, so stop pretending and leave me alone."

She ran towards the terrace, tears rolling down her face, it wasn't easy to accept someone's true face. Alia was broken. As she ran, she was about to clash Ahaan, again, before climbing up the stairs. He had returned and was disappointed to see Alia drenched in tears again, her eyes were red and her lips pink. With messed up hair she glanced at Ahaan just once and ran upwards without any word.

Ahaan reached upstairs, Alia was crying like a baby sitting at the edge of the bed in Sharaya's room. He went and sat beside her. "Don't cry siso, I am here, you can share with me" Alia knew his touch. For few seconds she hid her face in the pillow, but as Ahaan went on insisting to share the misery, she couldn't hold back. She left the pillow, laid her head on his lap and held his hand tight, tears still rolling down.

Meanwhile, downstairs, everyone had just completed their chores and were relaxing. No one except Kuwair knew about Alia's frustration.

She sat up gathered some courage wiped her tears after few minutes and started.

"It happened when I came here two years ago....

We had went to Kroonwar, to your place, just for 2 days and 2 nights.... miserable nights of my life. You were not here, Zee was in hostel. Everything was well and good the day we arrived. Kuwair bhai... he and bhabhi looked after us very well. They made sure that I and Zoya are not bored. He even bought me chocolates.

They actually did not know that I was broken inside. My brain was stuck on that guy, my classmate, Nesh... Nesh D'cruz. We were good friends. I don't know how I fell for him, but I actually did. Nesh knew about this but never reacted, his friends, they were the real culprits who broke my friendship with him, they broke my heart, they made sure that he exits my life.

Although I did not want anyone to know about this, but I was totally messed, I couldn't resist the tender care Kuwair bhai gave me then, only if I knew his real intentions.....

I...That night me, Kuwair bhai, Bhabhi, Nida Appi, Mehr and Zoya slept in the terrace. After sometime I was feeling  uncomfortable so I came down and went into Mehr's room, Kuwair bhai followed me. For a long time we both just talked. I indulged myself there, thinking that I'd distract myself, maybe he understood that I was stressing over something because he... he held my hands tight, then I slept, I could sense he had pulled a warm blanket over me. Somewhere my instincts told me that something was wrong but I trusted him more and he...

I was sleeping over my stomach, he brushed my hair with his fingers and gradually came close to me, I remember, he... he slid his fingers over my arm and... and asked, "One kiss" (sniff).... I was shocked... I... trusted him. All I did then was to say NO on his face and turn to the other side in my half sleep. Maybe I should've got up and walked off, but I couldn't move.

In the morning around 4 am, I was disturbed again, when I got into my senses, I realized someone was pulling my blanket, and there was no one except....

He constantly tried to pull my blanket and I kept on rolling inside my blanket, he..."

"What he" asked Ahaan. "... He... tried to hold me and ki...(sniff) I was confused and half sleepy, I trusted him but he... I kept on rolling until he gave up and slept, but I couldn't sleep that day. Hundreds of thoughts were running in my mind. I wanted to get up and go but I couldn't. In the morning, we left after the breakfast." Ahaan was stupefied to here this.

"How come no one knew about this?" he asked. "... because all were asleep and I was dumbstruck. There was this trust that I had in him... He broke.(Sniff)

After few days he texted me, we had a small conversation where I asked him to stay away from me, and bhai... you know what he said, he said he thought that I was OKAY with what he did. That broke my faith in him. (cried out loud)

After that night I never slept peacefully, I was affected mentally, I did not trust anyone easily, I used to get nightmares. Only if I would've gotten up that day and answered him back......(crying)

"Oh Alia, so much happened and you never told anyone" said Ahaan, holding her tight. Alia said "I never intended to give him wrong signals. I don't know why he did that, you please don't take me wrong. You know me very well. Maybe I was at fault somewhere but bhai, this is not what I wanted, I swear...." "Shush... Alia, I trust you, and do not blame yourself, you are not at fault, calm down bacha. I am here for you." He said.

She got up, wiped her tears, brushed her hair, trying to look normal and said "I trust you won't say this to anyone. Promise me" he said, "I won't say. Promise, you can trust me."

They talked for a while until Alia got comfortable. Later, they went down to help others in wedding preparations. From hanging balloons and ribbon everywhere to giving the whole house a new look. This group of cousins enjoyed a lot. Alia involved herself to distract herself from her thoughts.

The whole day, Ahaan made sure that he was around Alia while Kuwair is staying 10 metres away from Alia. By this time Kuwair was burning in envy from Ahaan.