Marrying my Opposite

28- Finding Closure

Raghav's POV:

I wasn't sure whether I should be thankful or apologetic towards Tanya. Thankful, because she called her friend and got Naina's address for me. Apologetic as I knew how hard and painful it must have been for Tanya to do this for me.

Looking at the small chit, which held Naina's address, my heart started beating in a frantic pace. After all these years, I would finally get the closure.

Gulping down the nervousness, I rang the doorbell of Naina's house. My hands trembled and my legs bounced continuously until the door was opened.

Huh? All this nervousness was for nothing.

"Sorry. I guess, I came to the wrong address", I apologized to the stranger on the wheelchair, who opened the door for me.

I had met Naina's immediate family and had seen the photos of her close relatives. This guy was surely not her family.

Dejected on not finding her, I turned around to leave.

"Hey! Wait!" He called out.

"Yeah?" I turned back and looked at him curiously.

"You are Raghav, right?" He asked looking hopeful.

"How...", I trailed off, not understanding how this stranger knew me.

"I have heard many things about you from Naina. Come inside", he said while moving his wheelchair, so that I could get inside.

Nervousness came back in full force. While I didn't know who that man was, he did turn out to live with Naina.

"Please come", he requested when he saw me rooted in place.

Nodding, I hesitantly stepped inside the house and followed him towards the couch.

After sitting, I turned my face here and there to see any sign of Naina being here. I guess he saw me searching for her as he yelled out her name, "NAINA".

"Goodness! Why are you screaming? I can hear you just fine. Why...", She came downstairs while yelling at him but stopped short when she noticed me sitting in her home.

"Ra...Raghav", she stuttered in disbelief.

I stood up and went near her.

"Yeah, it's me. Long time no see", I commented, giving her a steely-eyed look.

"How...why...". She fumbled in nervousness.

Glancing behind me, she grew more worried. "Just leave okay. It has been so many years. Why do you have to come and dig up the buried past?" She whisper yelled.

"Because it wasn't properly buried. You should have done a thorough job. Then I wouldn't have been standing here", I spoke sardonically but then turned to leave.

The way she kept looking back at the man nervously, it was quite clear that she was afraid. Maybe she didn't want her relative to know about her relationship with me.

"Don't leave Raghav", the guy spoke out, stopping me on my tracks.

"Don't be like this, Naina. He deserves the truth. Don't send him away like this. Understand how important it must be for him to come all the way here after so many years".

"I can't", Naina whispered as tears spilled from her eyes.

"Then I will", he said with determination and requested me to sit on the couch.

"I will tell you everything and I hope that you will find it in yourself to forgive us one day", he spoke in a hopeful tone.

I sat there with bated breath, not knowing what was going to come in my way.

Naina sat on the part of the couch which was close to the guy's wheelchair.

"Let me first introduce myself. I am Amar, Naina's husband". He drobbed the bomb, loud and clear. It wasn't an introduction but a clear warning to not even think about Naina in other way.

I was shocked beyond words. I knew that he wasn't her brother but still I was hoping that he was some distant relative. I never imagined him to be Naina's husband.

'What are thinking, Raghav? You are married too. You are here to get closure and not to reunite with her', my subconscious yelled at me.

Hitting myself internally, I schooled my expressions and nodded at him to go on with his explanation.

"I know you will have lots of questions, but your every question would be answered by the time I finish my explanation. So please don't interrupt in between", Amar requested.

"Just start", I rolled my eyes as he kept dragging on the conversation.

Taking a deep breath, he took Naina's hand in his and squeezed it in comfort before speaking.

"I had an accident on the day of my marriage and I lost both of my legs. My fiancée left me as she didn't want to 'destroy her life' by taking care of a handicapped person for her whole life. This is the subdued version, it was actually spoken much more brazenly.

"One shock after the other, caused my mother to have a heart attack. It wasn't her first. Doctors had given up. Any more stress and she would leave the world.

"Few years ago, dad had also passed away. My mother didn't want me to be left alone in this condition. So she requested Naina to marry me and to always stay by my side.

"Naina and I are childhood friends. We even considered each others mothers as our own. Hence, Naina couldn't refuse my mother as her health kept deteriorating.

"We married in the hospital itself. A minute before our marriage commenced, Naina texted you the break up message. She knew that this would hurt you but atleast by this she didn't cheat upon you. She ended the relationship with you before starting a new one with me".

"What about later? You could have told me afterwards", I asked, looking solely at her.

"She wanted to but didn't have courage to face you. She felt more and more guilty as our relationship moved forward and we fell into love. I guess that was the reason why she was scared to face you today.

"At that time, it was her helplessness but today it was her love for me", Amar answered instead of Naina.

"Thanks for telling me all this. I have no hard feelings for you two. Please lead your life happily", I muttered, barely managing to hide my tears.

"Should we meet again? As friends?" Naina asked, coming behind me as I was about to step out of the house.

"Someone finally found the courage to speak", I taunted.

"I...", she started but I interjected, not wanting to hear another apology.

"Let's not cross our paths ever again", I spoke with finality.

"But...you said that you forgave me. Then why? We can try building a friendship. You were one of best person, I had met in my life. I don't want to lose you", she spoke looking hopeful.

"You were one of the best person in my life too. But our time together is over. I have your best interest in my heart but let's end it here.

"I cannot hurt my present and future for my past. I would never hurt my wife by making her feel insecure about you.

"Goodbye Naina".