Anitha was looking through the darkness in the bedroom window. She was too blank to think about anything. The gentle knock on the door startled her, she was looking puzzled as Vijay entered into the room.
Vijay with deep steps, in a slow and steady pace manner reached her, his gaze was piercing through her as though to assess her state of mind.
Anitha took a deep breath, as his eyes piercing hers like a needle, she just lowered her gaze...
"Don't be panic, I am not here to jump on you", he said in a low husky voice with the same piercing gaze. " Not believing me even now?!
"No.. not like that... " anitha mumbled, she didn't even think about it. Why his voice so intimidating.. she thought herself.
He let out a sigh...loosened his shoulders and changed his gaze to the outside darkness, after few minutes he asked, "got fury?" Now his voice soft and soothing.
Anitha said nothing.
"Go ahead.. punish me for hurting your feelings this much... I am ready to accept, it can be anything except parting this bond between us...pls don't do anything to endanger your life...", after a gap he added, "I won't have life afterwards, I will be coming with you then...." He said in a blank voice.
Now Anitha was looking at him in wide opened eyes... Is he confessing?!!!
Actually she is not angry with him about the morning chaos, she only felt dejected and melancholy. "I wish I wanted you to have a bright and happy future, but why did you end up with me?!...", She regretted herself but didn't say that.
He didn't turn to look at her, he continued,
"Not only me.... nobody could ever replace a person like Arun, he was a 'man of character'. Forgetting him is really unthinkable.. even I can't do that, then how can you..."
Now both of them looking at the dark, Anitha's heart swelled with emotions, tears were pooling her eyes, lips trembling in grief, she took great effort to calm herself. There was silence everywhere, the breeze is so cold and blowing with a buzzing sound...
After a pause, he started again, " I promise you.. I never ever take any chance of my right as a husband on you without your permission...I wanted to happen this marriage early because hereafter we will be having ourselves for each other...it can be any kind of relationship.... just friendship or beyond that....but nobody be able to question us..."
"Try to take some rest..." Without looking at her, he turned and left the room.
*******
Vijay lying on his bed in another room with one hand under his head and other hand flexed and placed on his chest, his eyes fixed on the ceiling...
"why was I acting so rude to her?! She is in deep agony, instead of consoling, I am intimidating her, what the heck!!..
Actually i wanted to ask sorry, but the moment I saw her, standing like a sad painting in that shadow, I just want to hug her tightly, calm and comfort her saying " please don't", I am here for you, whatever it is leave it to me, I will take care of everything about you...", but there's an undrawn line in between us... unable to cross that, I get frustrated and that was immediately coming out as anger...oh shit...how stupid I am, I wanted to slap myself.."
"Morning she was so beautiful in that saree with a smiling face.. all ruined by me...", then he remembered Gayatri's words "don't worry, she will be alright soon"..
"Everything is only for you my dear..I know if I proposed to you earlier, you would have never accepted...You are my destiny.. hereafter I want to see only happiness in your face..I will do my best for that...he vowed himself and get calmed by that..
He brought her smiling pretty face into his mind, after all it's their wedding night, with a cute smile on his lips he drifted into sleep.
********
Next day morning, Vijay booked a cab, along with Anitha, he went to the same temple in which their marriage took place yesterday, to collect his two wheeler and dropped Anitha to her apartment in that.
"You can be here in your place free and comfortable until you change your mind however long it may be... until then I will be coming here as usual..." He said to her and turned to leave.
" What will you do if I don't..till the end" Anitha murmured herself with head lowered down.
"No, definitely you will.."
"How do you so sure about that?!" She blinked.
"On the next day of your attack, you had been waiting for me, not even so sure I will turn up or not..I also had the same confusion to come here or not, but finally I decided to show up.. once you opened the door and saw me at your door step, your face got lit up, your eyes got brightened, you relieved of the stress you bore all alone these years... I know how hard it will be, being alone without anyone in this world..."
With a gap he added, " it will take time..but it will happen...I am waiting..." He left the place leaving behind Anitha rooted to the spot.
******
To be continued.....
