Guddan and Akshat - Made for Each Other

Chapter 44 - The Answers - Part 1

Months ago, he had given himself every justification for his actions, what else he could have done, he had to fulfill Antara's last wish, but he couldn't give anyone Antara's place. He was in a fix, he didn't know what to do, and the only way out seemed to be Guddan because she would never accept him as her husband, so he would never have to accept her as his wife. Everything seemed so plain and justified at that time, and why wouldn't it seem so, after all this marriage was nothing more than a contract of convenience to him. But as time passed, he had grown to care for her. And now, his guilt was eating away at him. How could he destroy an innocent life, bonding her in a loveless marriage for life, just to get out of his predicament. How could he? There was no answer. He had done a terrible sin, one he couldn't undo, or could he? Yes, the only way to atone was to undo this marriage, to let her free, for he never had any right to cage her in the first place.

His train of thoughts halted as he heard someone entering the room. It was Guddan. Akshat didn't say a word and pretended to be busy in work. For an entire day, Akshat had been avoiding her, making one excuse or the other. He could not muster up the courage to face her after the humongous realisation had dawned on him, just a few hours back. After all, his guilt was eating him from inside out. Guddan had noticed this but didn't get time to talk to him amidst the chaos of marriage preparations and her friends constantly keeping her busy in one matter after another. Finally, she could escape from the crowd and came to find out the reason of Akshat's sudden uneasy behaviour. Akshat pretends to work but his mind was trapped in the same loop of thoughts. Knowingly, Guddan dropped her bangles while taking them out, but got no response from him. A few moments later, she dropped the hairbrush, still no response. One after another, she threw things on the floor, still no response. Finally, she had enough of his silence.

Guddan (hands on waist, angrily) - Aap batayenge ya nahin?

Akshat (coming out of his trance) - K.... Kya?

Guddan - Itne bhole mat baniye! Aapko pata hai hum kya puch rahe hain. Yeh jo aapka badla badla roop hai yahan aane ke baad se, usiki baat kar rahe hain hum.

Akshat (turning away) - K........ kuch nahi hai. Tumko koi galat........... galatfehmi hui hai.

Guddan (loud voice) - Jhooth. Ekdum jhooth. Kuch nahi hota toh aap yun humse nazren nahi churaate. Subah se dekh rahe hain, par mauka nahin mila baat karne ka. Aap phir se apni pareshani chipa rahe hain na humse? Hai na? (holds his hand and drags him to show the things spread across the floor) Yeh dekhiye! Ab bhi kahenge ki humein galat fehmi hui hai. Tab se jaan bujhkar hum ek ke baad ek saari chizen giraaye jaa rahe hain, par aapko pataa hi nahin chala. Aap thik hote na, toh ab tak ek na ek baar, kuch toh sunaa hi diya hota humein. (worriedly) Baat kya hai? Kuch hua hai kya? Koi badi baat toh zaroor hai jo aap humse chupa rahe hain, hai na? Bataiye na!

Akshat could no longer deny her caring eyes, her worried face. Her compassion was deepening his guilt more and more with every passing second. He could no longer hold back.

Akshat (hesitantly, looking down) - K....... kuch kehna thha tumse.

Guddan (holding his hand) - Haan toh kahiye na. Itna kya soch rahe hain. Koi bhi pareshani hogi, hum saath milke uska hal dhundh lenge. Aap bataiye toh sahi!

Akshat - Guddan............... (turning away) Aa.............. Woh............ Yeh shaadi............ I mean humaari......... humaari shaadi.......... Maine majboor kiya thha tumhe............ I mean.............. Agar mujhe shaadi karni hi thi, Antara se kiya apna wada nibhaana hi thha, toh kisi aise insaan se shaadi karni chahiye thhi, jo mann se taiar hota mujhse shaadi karne ke liye. Yun tumhe majboor karke............ Galat thha.......... Maine jo kiya tumhaare saath............ Bahut galat kiya Guddan. Mujhe koi haq nahi tha tumhari zindagi ka faisla karne.............