Forever Yours, Vrinda

Part 29

"I think you have sinned enough, Vivaan. I was probably left to rot in that storeroom till I hit thirty. My captors were so negligent of my well-being that my muscles wasted away and my memory withered away. I would have been tormented by the solitude that had surrounded me as a result of your actions till every part of my life just drowned into oblivion. How the hell don't I remember that turmoil?" she demanded, with her eyebrows scrunched in disgust and disdain which curled her lips.

"You are right, Vrinda. I have sinned enough, and that's why I am not going to let go of you and commit another. You completely lost your memory only after we met again. You...you had recognized me..."

The police had raided the serene palatial mansion which had lost its shine, when two years ago the rightful occupants had lost their will to live. The doors opened to reveal the staff who were finally relieved to be free from the clutches of the woman who threatened to kill their dear Vrinda if they did not comply with her orders, and the mansion welcomed the one who never had the chance to bid his farewell - Vivaan Agarwal.

After he had run into the furious ex-fiance of his love, who reprimanded him for leaving her alone when she needed him the most and acquainted him with the news of her parents' death and the fact that no one had seen her after that, Vivaan shed every restraint to rush to her side. He frantically searched for the love of his life, along with the police personnel who had arrived after he filed in the complaint on Vrinda's behalf, and hoped that he was not too late. The staff knew that she was being held captive in the mansion, in the East Wing, but no one was sure of the exact location.

His breath hitched when the door was broken down by the khaki-clad officers to reveal a whimpering woman, hiding behind her trembling hands, and his heart dropped when his eyes met hers as she slowly dropped her arms, her eyes getting adapted to the sudden burst of light.

The cheeks which he loved to pull and tease about were gone, along with that twinkle in her eyes. The beautiful glow of her face was replaced by ashen pale discoloration, and the supple lips which showered words of love and kisses of passion were chapped and bruised. The stench of sweat, blood and excreta hit his nose, and tears started rolling out of his reddened eyes as he stepped towards her.

Semblance of recognition flashes in her eyes which swirled with joy and relief, contrasting the agony and guilt in his lost ones. Ghost of a smile began to stretch out on her lips and he could not hold his sobs any further as he took her into his arms, promising himself that he would never leave her side again and assuring him that she was finally with him again, safe and sound.

"I am so sorry, Vrinda, I am so sorry. I should have never left your side, my love! I promise that I will never leave you again," he vowed, cupping her cheeks and rubbing his thumb against her dry and cold skin.

Every hint of happiness escaped her as the pain of betrayal took over the relief of finding a loved one after months of anguish. Her blood boiled in fury and the love in her eyes turned into flame of vengeance as she mustered the remnants of her strength to push him away.

"GO AWAY! GO AWAY! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU ANYMORE, VIVAAN! GO....go....away.."

Everyone, including Vivaan and the medic on the site, thought that she had merely lost her consciousness, but it was only later that they realized that she was on the edge of losing her sanity and her memory was compromised. That moment Vivaan knew that he would never be able to forgive himself.

"Your memory was already fragile and when they gave you medicines to help you recuperate and fight off the infections, that switch had tripped and every memory of yours got erased. There is no justification that I can offer, no excuse that I can come up with, which can earn your forgiveness, Vrinda. There has not been a single moment without regret all these years and I have lost the count of number of times I wished that I could turn back time or wished your fate onto me. Unfortunately, destiny is not so merciful," remarked Vivaan, still kneeling in submission in front of his love, who had decided to be as unmerciful as the destiny itself.

"I hate you, Vivaan. I really do. I wish I had my memories, at least to punish to the full extent of your sins," she spat, wiping away her tears furiously and walking across him when he held her right foot in a gentle but firm grip.

"So do I. I can't help but hate myself for bestowing this horrendous fate onto you. You have no idea how guilt crushes me in its vice-like grip every single moment. I have walked out of your life, and peace and joy have walked out of mine. My guilt will kill me if I let you away from here when you have barely recuperated and when the pandemic has turned everything upside down. Give me one chance to atone for my sins, because that chance holds the key to my sanity," he begged, desperation and agony dancing furiously in his mind as he seemed to run out of ideas and ways to make her stay back.

Vrinda did not have it in her broken and tattered soul to walk away from the man she had loved, not one but twice. Vivaan was brave to live with the burden of snatching her sanity but she knew that she would never be able to come in terms with the fact that she denied him of the chance that he craved for. And yet, she could not bring herself to forgive him after everything that she had heard and read.

"I am not as stonehearted as you are, Vivaan. I will not abandon you, but at the same time, I cannot be your companion. I will stay back, but under one condition. I want to talk to my fiance."

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