Word count: 3k+
Dated: 16th November, 2023
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8 | Sweet And Sour |

Shanvi Sharma:

"Abhiraj can you just put an end to everything? Aren't you tired?" I shouted out of frustration.

Abhiraj's gaze met mine "You think I don't crave for my son Shanvi?" His gaze transmitted shiver down my spines. "It's been years since he has held me. Let alone held, he does not even looks at me. I'm trying to putting an end to it. It's the son inside him which is not allowing him to." I frowned and shook my head in disbelief.

"This is your 'trying'?" I quoted. "By blocking his inheritance? By sending him alliance of my daughter when you know he has a girlfriend?"

"She's not his girlfriend." Abhiraj retorted.

"Yeah you know better." I scoffed. "I am marrying you because of your son Abhi, because you said he was devoid of love. And you think these things will bring him closer to you?"

I saw him dropping his head and sighing. "I cannot let that girl enter our lives Shanvi." He said, determined and I sighed helplessly. What's wrong with this man? "Anyways, hurry up. You need to shift to Malhotra Mansion by tonight." He left saying so. I slumped down to sofa and sighed helplessly.

Packed boxes were all around me and my inner self was aware about how unwanted I will be there. Abhiraj is never ending with his plans to have inheritance to all by himself. If not for Ridhit, I'd have never agreed for this alliance. A single mother couldn't find a better opportunity to make her own family.

It was my chance and I couldn't loose it.

End:

Urvi:

These wounds dint pain anymore. They weren't healed either. But the scar they left imprinted was deeply into my soul. His one touch, his willingness to hear me. He believed when I said they did. Not a question when thousands suspected me to lie. Not a sign if doubt when others doubted me for single word.

He was making me feel different. Different in a way in which nobody did. Different in a way where this foreign feeling was something I was getting familiar to.

It was different with him. Yet longing.

"Excuse me." A foreign voice called me out.

"Yes?"

"Is that Ridhit's cabin?" I frowned really bad seeing this cake faced bitch addressing him by his name. I looked back at his cabin where she was pointing to.

I narrowed my gaze. "You are?"

She smiled. Bitch that smile. "His bestfriend."

"Excuse me?" Immediately left my lips.

"Can you just answer my question." I gritted my tooth and smiled.

"Your name please?" I controlled my snap.

"Amrita Sharma."

"Just a minute ma'am." I dashed into Ridhit's cabin, taking him all by surprise.

He looked up from his file and laptop. "Ye..s?" I'm sure my kali avtar would've scared him.

Good for him!

Huh.

"You have a best friend, sir?" I raised my eyebrows and rested my hands on my hips. His eyes widened at the mention of 'sir' from me.

His eyebrows raised. "Uh, I guess you're aware about him already?" His voice dripped uncertainty.

"Amrita Shamra, sir."

"Will you stop calling me that." His voice held irritation.

"You know what? I'll send her.." Before I could complete the sentence, that lipstick bitch dashed inside.

"Get out."

Oh-?

"That was funny one Manik." She chuckled nervously, glancing me while his gaze intimidated her.

"Mr. Merhotra for you. How dare you enter my cabin without my permission?" His voice had capability to send shiver down my spines.

"I'm Amrita, Ridhit. Amrita Sharma?" My eyes squeezed and I took a step back realizing that I was practically standing between them. His face went pale and tooth grind against each other.

"Sharma?" He whispered, looking here and there slowly.

I realized that something was wrong here suddenly. "You know her?" This time my voice was softer than before.

"Out!" I flinched at his shout. My throat felt going heavy and hand dropped. I sighed and shook my head before beginning to move, just when a hand tugged me.

I turned around and frowned at his hold on my wrist. "What?"

"Where are you going?" He frowned.

"You..said." I trailed off.

He shook his head. "You, Miss. Sharma. Out! Now! Do not force me to call security." I saw her eyes saddening and shoulders dropping in dismay.

"Ridhit." I whispered slowly while he passed me a look which screamed 'keep quiet or it won't be good'. I obliged.

She glanced at our hands and left the cabin. I looked back at him, to find him looking nowhere. I tugged his hands slowly and his eyes met mine. "Wha-?" I did not complete the word. I had no idea if he'd tell me just because I asked him. But his next words numbed my system.

"I want you to move in Urvi, to my house." His voice echoed in the empty cabin. "So that you're away from them. So that I'm away from their conspiracy." The 'them' and 'their' here stood for two different personalities and I knew whom he was addressing to.

I stood there rooted, looking at him unexpectedly. I slowly looked at our held hands. I took my hands off him and traveled back to him.

I stepped back and left from there without uttering a word.

The right person, the wrong time.
The right script, the wrong line.
The right poem, the wrong rhyme.
And a piece of him,

That was never mine.

End:

Ava:

I sighed looking at the call log which held twenty missed calls, and the next second, it buzzed with her number.

"It's getting messed up Avs." Her helpless voice reached my ears.

"May be it isn't. Tell me what happened." I said.

"He asked me to move in." My eyebrows raised unexpectedly.

"Huh?"

"Yeah!" I frowned.

"Suddenly?" She hummed from the other side. "Did you listen to his reason?" I cautiously asked and what next followed was a pregnant pause. "Urvi!" I sighed in disbelief.

"Avs, I can't. It's.. it's too much feelings." She sounded so tired. I just wished to run and hug her real tight.

"He's giving you what you wanted. Yeh ehesaas sukoon deta hai na? Ki koi jaane ya na jaane, woh sab janta hai. Bheed me begano koi pehechane ya na pehechane, woh zaroor pehechan leta hai. Samay lag jata hai kyuki woh sabar sikhata hai. Yeh ehesaas bhi sukoon dega ki woh khud bikhar ke bhi tujhe sawar dega, aur is waqt ko bhi guzar dega."

[This feeling also gives comfort, doesn't it? Whether someone knows or not, he knows it all. No one recognizes the strangers in the crowd, but the one definitely recognizes does. It takes time to learn because he teaches patience. This feeling will also give relief that he himself will heal you even after being scattered, and will pass this time]

She sobbed from the other side. "I never wanted this. It's not...I can't deal.. no. Another relationships when I'm unable to handle old ones, no no."

"Give it the most beautiful thing in the world Urvi." I whispered.

She whispered back. "What?"

"Time."

End:

Urvi:

Tears rolled down my cheek and my hands continually wiped it. I was in my cabin, beside the couch, holding knees closer to me. I've spent all my life thinking about things that could've gone worse. I've seen domestic violence.

The way this vicious cycle, named life, continued till I was severely hurt, or dead. I had no courage to look for another relationship when the existing ones were messed up. I did wrong. I should've listened to him. I know. I cannot erase the wish of having you, nor can I sacrifice my life for you. I burnt in the flame of grief restlessly but I wasn't able to quench it even from my heart.

But just the fact of the matter is, I felt too tired and incapable of listening anything that made me lose myself.

I shut my eyes, my wounds pained suddenly and hands failed to reach the part.

It pained everywhere, suddenly as in my body was failing to recognize the signals brain was sending.

"Pick your hand." Brain screamed.

"Shut up." Pain screamed even harder.

It won.

I stayed there.

Seconds turned minutes and minutes turned hours. I stuck myself to the room as the lights went dimmer and darkness overpowered. I shivered at the loss of lightly. Hastily I looked for a source of light, but none. Windows are shut, lights are gone. Air conditioner was at its lowest, but sweat trickled down my skin and breath heaved unbearably. I held my hairs in a fist and looked here and there for an escape.

None.

Trapped.

I did the same mistake. Again. No one is around. Again. I, with my shivering hands, pulled out my slipper and tried throwing at the cabin door.

Missed

Another one

Missed

A vague shadow of a person approaching towards me out of nowhere was slowly visible. "N..no.. NO!" I screamed, trying to move back, shaking my head maniac speed. "St..stay away. I SAID STAY AWAY." I cried, moving back but the couch stopped me. My chest heaved hastily and I felt loss of breath. I needed air. I..I'd die.

I slipped down to the floor, my eyes dropped and..I..

I felt lifeless.

I felt good.

End:

The room was suddenly bathed in a soft, golden light, casting shadows that danced across the walls. "Urvi?" As he stepped into the quiet sanctuary, his heart dropped at the sight. There she lay, still and motionless on the plush carpet, her face drained of color. her eyes drooping as if, catching a deep slumber.

Fear gripped him, "Fuck", and he rushed to her side, falling to his knees. His heart sank, and a wave of panic washed over him. He reached out, he cradled her face in his hands, his trembling fingers caressing her cheeks. The room seemed to hold its breath, as if aware of the gravity of the moment.

"No, no, no." He muttered, his voice laced with desperation. "Stay with me, Luna. Shh." His heart shattered as he felt her weak pulse against his fingertips. He cradled her in his arms and picked her up in a swift. He pressed his cheek against hers, his lips brushing against her ear as he murmured words of despair, "No no no, not you."

He took place on a couch with her on his lap. He held her tightly, his arms a protective shield around her fragile body. Time seemed to stand still as he rocked back and forth, a silent prayer on his lips. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision as he cradled her lifeless form in his arms.

A drop of tear slipped down on her forehead and he blankly stared at that drop. He touched it so softly, so feathery. He looked at this reflection on window glasses.

He's crying

His gaze dropped at the figure in his arms. He shuddered really bad and pressed his lips against her ear, "Wake up, I'm sorry."

A faint sigh escaped her lips, barely audible amidst the stifled sobs that shook his own body. His heart skipped a beat as her eyelashes fluttered, really slow, revealing a sliver of life in her beautiful eyes.

Her chapped lips stretched into a small smile. "Hey."

"Shut up." He pulled her to himself. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her arms wrapping around him, as if seeking solace and security in their embrace. She breath in his cologne, as if pushing away all the thoughts that was eating her up. "I'm so sorry." She heard him whispering.

She coughed in an attempt of uttering anything. Failing all his attempts to move up and get water, she scooted closer and rested herself on his chest. She licked her dry lips and looked up. Her breath hitched when his welled gaze immediately connected with hers. Her hands traveled to his cheeks and wiped the tear stained part, but had no effect. It needed some efforts. To mend the dry walls.

She tried scooting closer to his ears, but the next second he himself bent down to her level. Lowering his head and lending her him. Her pearls shined in those eyes and lips whispered nonchalantly. "I'll move in." His head snapped at me and she nodded slowly.

He pulled her close, his embrace a lifeline in the depths of uncertainty. In that moment, they clung to one another. Nothing crossed her mind at that point. The vulnerability that brought them closer, reminded them of the fragility of life and the strength they hold in it.

"Tere naal umar di kaid mile, eda koi gunnah kar lein.
Rehena wahi hai mujhe, tere sab nu bhi apni pehechan dena hai.

Mein sabar kar ae sab kuch paawan di, tu wada kar kisi hor da nahi hoyega.

Kyuki pathar nahi aan, mere vich bhi nami aan.
Dard bayan nahi karti, bass eh hi kami aan."

~
Anonymous

Thought but never said.

End: