THE STORY OF LIFE | A 21ST CENTURY RAMAYANA

RECONCILE

"I.. I don't want to listen to anything right now, Bharat." She said pushing him away softly from her as he stood up, towering over her and his eyes searching for hers, now cast down.

She wiped a tear as she headed to open the door to their room.

Bharat awakened from all his senses of unrest suddenly jerked ahead and caught hold of her hand, a movement which was so unlike him. She turned as Bharat walked ahead, and trapped her between the doorframe and himself, forbidding her to Look anywhere but at him.

"Please, dont walk away from me, like the way I did to you. You're not the coward I am Maanvi, please, I want to tell you everything today. I have a lot pent up over these 5 years, let them all come clean today. Just give me once chance, Maanvi."

Maanvi gulped. Ofcourse she wanted to give him all the chances he could ever ask for, she had no doubts about the same. But, divorce? What made him even think of the same?

Putting her rushing thoughts to rest, she looked at him as she slightly nodded, to which Bharat released a visible sigh of relief.

He held her hands softly, like the very way he wanted, every single day of his life, and let her to sit on their bed.

With her hands still in one of his, he found himself sitting at her feet, his head in her lap, eternal peace seemed to shine upon him, giving him courage to say what he had to.

"Maanvi, the day I decided to go away, it happened all in an impulse. I dont know what I was thinking, all I remember was that Id had a little row with Shatrughan over sitting on the chair of MD. It may seem stupid Maanvi, but I know, only you can understand why I felt so."

"Its difficult for a child to see a broken family, Maanvi, you will understand because I know how much you love yours. I lost my biological father at an age, when now looking back, I can't even recall what he looked like, not that I Really wish to remember either. And that was when I came into this family, and Dad and Ram Bhaiyya took me with all the love I could have wished for ever."

"But the world was not the same Maanvi. When I joined middle school with Ram Bhaiya, I had to hear a lot of things, and thanks to the fact that all of the children I went to school with were children of our associates, they knew about me and Maa and rarely spared a Moment to remind me that, I was nothing but a child adopted out of pity."

"But..But that's not the truth.." Maanvi spoke, her voice trembling with hurt.

"I know. And It was only for my familys love for me that I never listened to them. But the truth is, it took my confidence down to a great low, to such a low that Id fear speaking in front of them or participate in anything a normal child would like to. And this went on for a long time, which is why I found myself difficult to open up to anyone unless I was pushed to or asked too."

Maanvi pushed away a sob as her hand on its own accord, found its way through Bharats hair, playing with its silk and caressing him like a little child.

"And thats when I met you Maanvi." He said as he paused and closed his eyes.

"Ill be very honest with you, it wasn't love at first sight for me. But after I got to know about you and met you and talked to you, I knew, that if there was someone who could understand me better than me, it was you."

Maanvi stifled away a tear, yet that stubborn drop came down as she tasted salt.

"And I had promised to myself to give you all the happiness and peace in the world. I took up painting so seriously after that, just to impress you and keep you happy.