Drafts Of Her Heartbeat

Unfolding The Past

It was around 10:30pm at night when Dhruv finally returned from his office. It was normal for him to over-work these days, his excuse was sudden increase in the work load, but Aviral knew it was his friend's way to distract himself from his so-called dead wife's revelation.
Entering the house, tie loosely hanging around his neck, a briefcase in his hand, he saw his father sitting on the couch. It was a routine that both the males would have their dinner together, whenever Yash was at home.
"Hey dad!" Dhruv greeted his father, just like he used to do normally.
"Get changed and come down soon. We've some important matter to discuss." Yash said, his voice stern and a bit cold. Dhruv was unaware of his father and wife's meeting, that happened earlier that day, so the cold behavior instead of a daily warm welcome somehow disturbed him. Hence instead of replying, he just nodded, and went inside his room. Getting fresh and thinking about what has happened that made his father act so cold towards him, he made his way down to the dinning room, dressed in a grey track pant and black tee-shirt.
Minutes passed in silence, none of the two spoke, finally sensing the gravity of the situation Dhruv asked, "you wanted to talk about something Dad?"
Not going beating about the bush Yash came straight at the point, "how was your and Arohi's married life?"
Being caught off-guard Dhruv was taken aback, gaining back a bit of control he asked again, "what do you mean by that?"
Putting back his spoon down on the plate Yash said, "what I mean is I want to know about my son and daughter-in-law's married life. Is it something bizzare or out of context my son?" Looking directly at his son, he awaited for an answer.
"You know we were happy Dad!" Dhruv said trying to simply shut down the topic.
"I don't know a single detail about your married life. I left just after your marriage on my retirement tour. After that whenever we talked it was about business, and Arohi? She always use to ask about me and the tour. Now thinking about it, she always used to avoid any questions regarding the marriage. I thought it was because of shame of a new bride but thinking of it now, I suspect something else." Yash was always a man of clear words, he didn't believe in going round and round the topic.
"Dad, I am telling you, maybe we never talked about it, but you know our relation at that time. And what do you want me to do? Discuss my bedroom secrets with you? I mean 'c'mon it was....." Dhruv said trying to avoid the topic, unable to understand how or what triggered this topic in his dad's head.
"TRUTH IS WHAT I WANT, THAT TOO RIGHT NOW. SO STOP PRETENDING AND GIVE ME TRUTH DHRUVAL KHAITAN." Yash shouted on top of his voice, banging his hand on table he stood up straight, glaring at his only son.
It was first time in his life of thirty years, that Dhruval aka Dhruv saw his father so angry and probably the first time after his mother's death, had someone called her with his real name, someone apart from her. She- Arohi Avasthi Khaitan, the sole reason behind his problems, now and then.
"This is because of Her right? She poisoned your mind against me? Trying to break our relation? Isn't it, Dad?" He fired back, diverting his anger on her and blaming her like always, for every wrong thing in his life. "She will never let me live in peace, neither when she was dead, nor when she is alive?"
"ENOUGH DHRUVAL. DON'T YOU DARE CURSE HER. JUST ANSWER MY QUESTION." Yash was already anger and Dhruv's attitude was already making his anger touch another height.
Dhruv's was desperately trying to get out of the situation even if it meant raising another rift between him and his Dad, anything was better than seeing the upsetting emotions in his father's eyes, which will reflect after learning the truth.
"You want truth sir? Let me provide you with that, because this boy will never speak up the truth" Dhruv's eyes felt on the source of the voice, the only one other than Arohi and him who knew the truth, his governess - Bharti MAA or as he called Beji.
"Beji...." His eyes pleading her not to say anything, but her eyes never paid him heads. Today her eyes reflected the same pain and anger which was when she was here.
"Bharti Di.." Yash said surprised. He always called her Didi as he was elder to him in age.
"Let me tell the truth to you sir, you deserve to know it. But first tell me why do you want it now?" Bharti quizzed. Staying with them for over thirty years, Bharti was like a family member to them, hence Yash narrated from inauguration ceremony to meeting at coffee shop. Dhruv was surprised on hearing that even after his past acts Arohi kept everything a secret from Yash.
"So you know now that she is alive? And have met her?" Bharti asked.
"Yes I do. Wait a minute, what do you mean by I know now? Did you knew it too?" Yash asked, both father and son looking at the old governess flabbergasted. She just nodded in reply.
"Still you kept it a secret Bharti Di?" Yash asked unable to believe.
"To save her and keep her away from the monster, we call, your son." She said pointing out at Dhruv.
"You married an angel to a devil, sir. She was everything, he needed, everything to make his life a heaven, but you can't help a monster who is used to hell. You know your son had called Arohi before the marriage and asked her to call it off. She denied it, Which means the girl knew what she was getting herself into, but she had hope. Hope to give love to a boy who had lost the love of the only female, his mother, at a young age. She stepped in this new life with a hope, which was crushed by him. The day you left, was the day when hell began for the girl. From drinking and smoking continuously to parading around with different girls everyday, all infront of the girl, people called his wife. If that wasn't enough, hurling verbal abuses when she tried to talk to him or help him became his daily routine. Brought up with Indian tradition and culture, the girl never gave up, from cooking for him to doing everything to make his life easy, caring endlessly for him. And in return he just insulted her, everyday and every moment of their eight months of marriage. I pitied her sympathised with her, told her to tell you, but her belief was she could take the monster. Finding no way, I had to have believe in her belief. Untill the day when your son, The Dhuval Khaitan, physically abused her, slapped her with such great intensity that made her head clash with the cabinet, and after that? The drunk Khaitan junior left the house to attend a whore in a party. It was then I decided to knock in some brain in her head. A girl so talented, so beautiful and educated deserved better in life. I made her see that her parents won't be proud of knowing she was letting someone bully her. I made her known to her inner strength. That night she decided to leave the house, with a few clothes and important documents, she sat in car and drove away. I made sure that she left before Dhruv returned. Unfortunately she entered into a car accident, but God is always with the right soul, look where she is now. And where he is. She contacted me to let me know if her welfare. We all were devastated with news if her death, and I saw it as God's will to let the Poor soul move on. Now say Dhruv would you have told your father anyday about your great married life?" Two pairs of eyes looking with anger, disappointment, and resentment, before they left him to his misery and guilt.