The Girl With the Red Scarf | ✔️ [DriKshit]

A Contract In Love

DRISHTI'S POV

The last time I visited this room, it's condition was definitely a lot better than what it is now. It seemed like in the past few months, he had become even more disorganized and dishevelled than when I last saw his room. He - who was, now, my husband. Books and clothes lay around the room, on the table, the bed, the floor, basically everywhere. I stepped in hesitantly, wondering if all of this was right. Right? Drishti Sharma, has anything in your life ever gone right?

~ "Drishti, come in, consider this as your own room. It is not this messy usually, but I don't know why Rakshit -"

Mahima aunty beckoned me inside, picking up a stack of crumpled shirts from the floor.

~ "Drishti, beta, it has been a very hectic day for you, you should take a bath - you will feel better. Meanwhile, I will try and arrange your clothes in the wardrobe." She looked helplessly at Rakshit's wardrobe, which was practically overflowing.

Without waiting for a response, she handed me a white towel, a bathrobe and shoved me inside the bathroom, switching on the geyser for me.

I locked the door behind me and turned on the tap of the bath tub. I stared into the mirror, my weary, tired and fearful reflection stared back at me through the smooth glass. One moment, I was laughing with Rakshit on the phone, carefree of all the miseries in the world and the next moment, my entire world comes crashing down on me. The way Aakash said it, I felt like I had deserved this. Did I deserve this? Did I?

I stripped out of my clothes and sat into the warm water now filling the white bath tub. The heat from the water warmed my skin, but it failed to reach the cold that had clawed over my heart completely. Was love a mistake? Maybe it was, because I am compensating and will be compensating all my life.

I closed my eyes, letting the jasmine scent of the bath bubbles wash over me.

And then there was this marriage. Rakshit was my husband now, but surprisingly I have become numb to all emotions. I didn't care if my husband was Rakshit or Aarav or - or Aakash.  Nothing could affect me now, not anymore.

                                  ~

RAKSHIT'S POV

I freshened up and changed into a grey T - shirt and black track pants in Sikhar's room. I didn't want to go to my room immediately, partly because I was dreading to face Drishti and partly because I was afraid that we have already lost all that we had between us - the comfort, the warmth, the space, it would all be too awkward now.

But it was just a matter of time before I would have to face her and so, I decided that now or never. But when I walked into my room, Drishti was sleeping on my mother's lap, curled up on the bed. She had changed into a light orange saree and as the last rays of sunlight fell on her curled form, her entire body seemed to shimmer.

~ "Rakshit, come here."

Mom patted the place beside her, where she was sitting on the bed, stroking Drishti's hair with the same motherly affection she often pours on Rashi. I obeyed her order, sitting down beside her. Up close, Drishti looked unearthly beautiful, but there was a sadness mingled with her beauty, one I knew I could never rid her of.

~ "Rakshit, do you understand the gravity of what you have done?"

I looked down, staring at my hands which rested on my lap.

~ "Are you mature enough to take responsibility of your actions?"

I remained silent.

~ "Rakshit, marriage is not a joke. And no matter what the circumstances, this marriage has taken place. Drishti is now your responsibility, Rakshit. It is now your duty to keep her happy."

There was a small pause.

~ "Rakshit, Drishti is only twenty one. She is so young. And yet, life has shown her so much. She deserves happiness. And it is your responsibility to keep her happy, to make sure that she is loved and cared, to make her feel that she is protected when she is with you."

I looked up into mom's eyes and nodded my head. Yes, I would give Drishti all the happiness that she deserves. I would love her, care for her and protect her no matter what.

~ "Can I ask you something Rakshit?"

~ "Sure."

I could barely feel my voice.

~ "You like Drishti, don't you? I mean more than just a friend."

I remained silent. I didn't know what to say.

~ "I don't know, mom..."

~ "But Shivji knows. He knows everything, Rakshit. And believe me, whatever he does, he does for a reason. Maybe there is a reason behind you and Drishti getting married."

She smiled slightly. I merely shrugged.

                                ~

DRISHTI'S POV

I woke up, wondering where I was. The room was pitch black, panic setting in my mind. From the feel of it, I was lying on a bed, but my hands and legs were free. I sat up, the blanket sliding down my waist, my eyes adjusting to the darkness in the room. Rakshit's room. I breathed sharply, somewhat relieved by the idea that I was in Rakshit's room. But the darkness was still bothering me.

~ "You are awake..."

His voice drifted from somewhere in the room, from my right. I turned and the entire room was bathed in soft white light, blinding me momentarily. Shielding my eyes, I looked to my right and there he was, sitting on a small chair beside the bed. He had been sitting here all this time?

I tucked a strand of stray hair behind my ear and fixed my saree. He was deliberately avoiding eye contact with me. How long have I slept?

So, here it was, the conversation that I never wanted to happen, at least not now. But postponing it was not an option.

~ "Drishti - I - I know that everything happened too fast, too quickly -"

There was a small pause.

~ "I agree that it was my fault that I did not consider what you wanted, but - this has happened - and I - I want you to know that there will be no obligations from my side. I will not force you to commit to this relationship. You have all the freedom that you had before this marriage. You are not, in any way, bound to me by any means."

He chewed the words, avoiding eye contact. I looked down and our eyes met.

~ "But I want you to know, that no matter what, I will be there for you, whenever you need me. You can always come to me if you feel the need. I do not ask anything in return."

I kept quiet. Why was his words affecting me more than they should have?

~ "Also, Drishti, um, you should sleep on the bed and I will sleep on the sofa. So yeah, that is all."

I kept quiet yet again. I have loved and lost, won and failed and life has always been merciless on me when it came to love, but what if, just what if, I was willing to commit myself to this relationship?

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Will these two broken people be able to complete each other?