Drafts Of Her Heartbeat

Conversations and Secrets

For a moment I was numb. Unable to decide how to react. I still remember the night when I and Vidyut were returning after taking a dinner in a restaurant, how we found a car in accident, and how we found a fragile girl unconscious and almost in her death bed. I remember rushing her to hospital. Those few hours of surgery and few days of wait.... It took a toll on us. I still don't understand why but we felt we have to be guardian angels. I remember the nurse calling me saying she has finally woken up and how I called Vidyut informing him the same, and then rushing to the hospital. It was there in solitude, that she cried her heart out to me. How her husband, Dhruval was against this marriage, how he had suffered in his childhood, how he was deprived of love and how she fell in love with him. Few months of marriage was all it took for a girl in her early twenties to fall in love with a boy. Neither of them were bad, it was just the situation that was not in their favour. I also know she also knew this, hence, she asked me to keep it a secret. After she recovered, Vidyut saw a hunger in her to learn and he decided to bring her in ECI and his team. I also thought it was best for her to move on in life and become something she wants to be.
Now after two years of separation the man is back here asking for forgiveness and making such nice gestures, there must be some truth in it.
"Arohi Avasthi Khaitan?" Two voice repeated her full name. Turning our attention to the door we saw Riddhi and Piya standing there completely bowled over by the revelation.
"Arohi, is it true? Whatever you said?" Piya asked slowly. Arohi just nodded in positive.
"Listen whatever you girls have listened to, you cannot tell it to Vidyut or the boys, they will kill him. You need to understand that the boys are always hyper-goons, ready to fight. And this matter is one, between a married couple, the hyper decisions of boys will only worsen it. Do you understand?" I know some people may think I am mad, allowing Dhruval or Dhruv a chance, but I feel he was the puppet dancing in the hands of circumstances. He deserves another chance, because as far as I have seen him in these days, I know that he is not a bad person. Plus, I have seen in earlier days how much Arohi loved her husband, and the feelings are still present in deep down her heart. That is the only reason why she still hurts over him. I cannot push them away, if it is their destiny to stay together.
"What should I do now ma'am?" Her little eyes glistening with tears, as she looked at me. There has always been an innocent charm in her, a prove that she is still pure.
"Things happen, that is how life works. Maybe it was what was needed to make your relationship more strong and tightly knit together. He has done the most awful things in the past, but that doesn't mean you hold malicious thoughts against him. It is so not you. You need to understand that it was your kindness and love that made him feel guilty, and that he is here now at your doorstep asking for forgiveness and a chance. Think it through. Your studies are over, it's just this competition now. After this you will have to step in the outside world, once again. Face all the demons of past, present and future, all alone. I am not saying that life is going to be easy if you hold his hand, but all I am saying is you will have a hand holding you, supporting you in this maze of world. Moreover, remember when you were in hospital,you had told me he was hungry for love and care, that you wanted to provide him with one. You believed that love will help him to get rid of his demons. Today your belief is winning, he is here, rectifying his mistakes. If you don't hold him now again, then that little child will again get lost in darkness of loneliness, fear, and lies, he will again wear the facade of rudeness, cruelty, maliciousness, and may be you won't be able to get him back from that path. Even if you will want to, because it will be too late. If you hold him now, he will make mistakes in future, but there will be no more blunders, cause you will be there to hold him back and be his light."
"But how can we allow him to get his place as a husband in her life again? That too so easily!" Riddhi exclaimed.
"Who said we are going to be easy on him?" I winked at them. "Even I wasn't easy with Vidyut, so who is Dhruv to get it easy?" I said.
"Ma'am but he called her names, paraded around with girls when he had a wife, and he even slapped her." Riddhi was getting angry and I could see Arohi's pain increasing. If I am going to make it right, I need to be patient with her, with them.
"Yes he did. Because he was accustomed of a lifestyle and then as soon as he returned India, he was tied down to a single girl for the rest of his life. An idea he never got to think about thoroughly. Though I also blame Mr. Yash Khaitan for this, he should have given them time to get to know each other, maybe then he would not have reacted the way he did, or maybe then Arohi would have been prepared for dealing with her husband. All I am saying is they got tied down under wrong circumstances, and wrong time. All the responsibilities came hurling at him, at once. He was unable to control them or face the pressure. It's fine, different human react in different ways. Now that he is more mature than ever, he can take the responsibilities one by one. He has established himself in the professional world, now he is focusing on his personal life. Not to forget he thought Arohi is dead. He could have easily re-married to any girl of his choice, maybe one of his whores too, but he didn't. He spent his life as a bachelor or should I say a widower. He never re-filled her place." I explained them, trying to make Arohi see the good in him, the change in him.
"And he has been not spotted with a girl, ever. Also why people assume him to be a gay or have some physical fault." Piya added. All of our eyes turned to her, surprised at her choice of words.
"What? Why are you all looking at me like that? He is a hot, rich guy, of course I had done my research on him. I don't make move, doesn't mean I don't keep knowledge" she shrugged casually and then winked at Arohi.
I could see a small smile making it way on her lips. Then the girls looked at the teddy and the chocolates and started gushing over the plans. I smiled at the bond they shared, so pure and complete, even in this world full of treason and lies.
Being unable to have a child of our own, me and Vidyut did found our family in these kids. Each of them special and different in their own way, but still knitted together in a family bond, forever.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sitting there and listening to Kashish Ma'am's advice I thought of giving Dhruval a chance. And then the support from the girls boosted a confidence in me, I know no matter what I will always have their back to lean on.
"Now I understand why Mr. Dhruv was so angry in the inauguration party. He was jealous of the boys swarming around you like bees swarn around honey. Mr. Husband is also jealous and possessive." Piya said.
"He was jealous?" I asked taken aback. I mean, I didn't expect him to react in such a way after just seeing me alive. Well then again, he has always been territorial in nature. Beji always used to tell me how he would give over his things and act possessive over them. This information made my heart fluttered a little. Maybe, he did care. Maybe.