“I still feel
that I didn’t do right by him.” Siya complained.
Aryan wrapped his arm against her shoulder and replied,
“I think it was in the best interest of everyone.”
A drop of tear rolled down her cheek, “Then why doesn’t
it feel right?”
They both went silent. The fire in the fireplace was
like a mirror which just reflected the dark past that they had endured. They were
college sweethearts and got married after a long relationship of nine years after
facing all the drama that Indian couples have to face from their families and
the conservative Indian society. Aryan and Siya had been married since four
years now. They were very happy with each other as this is what they had wanted
all their lives. But one thing was missing from their lives; peace. And as
every day passed by the anxiety and the guilt kept on increasing.
Siya faced her hands towards the fire and kept the warm
hands on Aryan’s cheek, “Aryan I love you more than anything and everything in
the whole world and I know that you know it. But we need to make it right. I
cannot live like this.”
Aryan understood the pain, the guilt but was unsure of
what should be done. He slipped down further on the floor and rested his head
on Siya’s lap, “Vishay was a nice guy. I’ve never said this before but I think
we dragged him into our family squabble unnecessarily.”
A flood of tears turned her eyes red as if another word
from Aryan would unleash it. She controlled somehow and replied in shaking
voice, “Why did my father have me marry him in the first place?”
“Because he was a self-centered fool whose
relentlessness forced us apart and scarred so many people for life.” replied Aryan
in anguish.
“And I am the daughter of the same father. Wasn’t I self-centered
and relentless when I decided to divorce Vishay and come back to you? So what
is the difference between the two of us?” questioned Siya. This time failing to
stop the tears from pouring out.
Aryan wiped the tears from her eyes and replied, “He
did it for his false ego. You did it for love. Although, it could have been
better if we would have gathered some courage and eloped beforehand.”
Siya nodded her head. That night they both slept
besides the fireplace.
Aryan was woken up early in the morning by Siya with a
proposal, “Let’s go and meet Vishay!”
Aryan was taken by surprise. He wasn’t able to find
words to reply to Siya whereas Siya continued excitedly, “See, I’ve checked his
Facebook profile last night, he is in Mumbai, I've also managed to gather his whereabouts and there’s a flight in two hours.”
“Hold your horses’ girl. Why do you want to see him? And
what would we say to him? I don’t have the courage to face him after all that has happened.” Aryan replied.
Siya raised her tone, “Do you want to live in disdain
for the rest of your life? How long have we been living in guilt and how many
times we’ve had the same conversation that we had last night? I say we get in
that flight, talk to him, say our apologies and close this chapter for good.”
Siya’s words were making more sense. Aryan too wanted
this to end. He wanted a peaceful life with Siya and it was only possible if
they could kill this ghost from the past. So Aryan agreed and the next thing
was that they both were in Mumbai in front of Vishay’s apartment.
It was a Sunday afternoon. The neighbourhood was silent
as it is in on any Sunny afternoon. Aryan and Siya looked at each other.
Aryan asked her, “Do you really want to do this?”
She gulped and pressed the doorbell button. The bell
rang but their heartbeats were beating louder than it. It felt as if an
eternity had passed since they’ve pressed the doorbell and no one was
answering. Finally the wait ended and the door opened.
“Yes?” a lady asked.
“We are here to see Vishay.” replied Aryan.
“I am his wife, please come in.” said Neha.
Aryan and Siya sat down on the couch, their hearts were
still pounding. Neha called Vishay and
as he approached it felt as if the floor beneath their feet was going to explode.
He sat in front of both of them and asked, “What are
you two doing here?”
Siya looked towards Neha questionably. Vishay
understood what she meant and he promptly replied, “She is my wife. We can have
any conversation in front of her.”
Neha sat beside Vishay and asked knowingly, “Is she
Siya?”
Vishay ignored
her.
Vishay looked
towards Siya and Aryan and said, “You are not welcome here!” Vishay then
started moving towards his bedroom and said to Neha, “Make sure they have tea
or coffee whatever they want before they are gone.”
Aryan and Siya were totally quite.
Neha smiled and said, “I know why you are here. In fact
I’ve been expecting you from a long time. Only a soulless person would do
something so hurtful and then not look back to check the damage that has
been done.”
Siya said “Neha we don’t want to hurt your family in
any way. We just wanted to check if Vishay….”
Neha interrupted, “Siya, like I said I know why you are
here. And to answer your question, yes we are happy. I met Vishay a year after
you left him. He is over the painful past now.”
Aryan and Siya were listening carefully with a hint of
tears in both their eyes.
Neha noticed this and continued, “The reason that I am
giving you the details is because I understand the guilt that is eating you
from the inside. I would suggest you to let it go. In a way we are thankful to
you guys. We wouldn’t even have met if it wasn’t for the two of you and Vishay
would never admit it but deep down he knows this and he has already forgiven
you. Siya you staying with Vishay would have just worsened a wound which
otherwise was healed in six months. And the fact that you came to apologize is
the best that you can do. So go, drop your guilt and find your happily ever
after because we found it the day our daughter was born.”
“You have a baby?” Siya asked with tears in her eyes
and a smile on her face.
“Yes! Now go away and be happy. You deserve it. After all
that you’ve been through. ” replied Neha.
Aryan and Siya had heard what they needed to hear. They
left Vishay’s apartment with a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction. They took
the next flight back home and that day they had the best sleep in the past four
years!
Sometimes we are hurt by people and irrespective of the
purest intentions that we may have we end up hurting someone else. What matters
is that we love our loved ones but never forget to be compassionate to others because
in the end compassion is the direct road to peace.
-by Ambuj
