Chapter 27
Aastha looked at her watch.
“It is quite late now. I think we should leave now.” She said to Samyak after a long silent pause.
Samyak also looked around. It was dark and the crowd is also less now.
“Hmm… let’s go” Samyak replied as they have nothing in their mind as of now to say or console each other. The feeling of losing each other is overpowering everything else.
“I will come to the airport tomorrow” Aastha said sitting in her car.
“I will wait for you” Samyak said as his cab has also arrived.
Samyak reached back to Aditya’s house after some time.
“Samyak… where were you?” Aditya asked as he entered.
“I am sorry bhaiya. The meeting went quite long. And my phone’s network is not proper so couldn’t inform you.” Samyak said with a dull voice.
“What happened? You look very tired. Come let’s eat something.” Aditya asked him worriedly looking at his sad face.
“Ohh nothing bhaiya… not used to Mumbai’s traffic so got a little tired. I had something outside. I want to rest for some time.” Samyak said as he is in no mood to talk or eat anything.
“Ok, no problem. You go and take rest. We will talk tomorrow.” Aditya also doesn’t pressurize him much and let him go.
Samyak lied on the bed and closed his eyes. Everything Aastha said is running into his head. He is trying hard to think about a solution but all in vain. He was feeling helpless as his love is getting distant from him.
He started thinking that whatever Aastha said is right, it's not just about us. One side is love and another side is our families, our duties, and responsibilities towards them. We cannot just ignore everyone for our sake. We have to think about them first. But how will I live without her? Just thinking about it is breaking my heart. I would be shattered if she will go away from me. Tears start coming from his eyes without his knowledge and he doesn’t stop them.
Aastha reached home with a heavy heart. She opened the door with the keys as it was already late so her father and sister must be asleep. She went to drink water and someone came from behind.
“Didi… where were you? You got very late today.” Jiya was standing behind her.
“Ohh Jiya… you are still awake. Actually, the meeting took long.” Aastha drank water and tried to look normal.
“Ohh… you must be very tired. Let me serve dinner for you.” Jiya went to get a plate.
“No Jiya… I am not hungry. I will take some rest now. You also go and sleep. Has Papa slept?” Aastha asked.
“Papa is sleeping. I gave him dinner and medicines.” Jiya replied.
“That’s good. Ok, Jiya… good night.” Aastha wants to run in her room as she is not able to control her emotions and she doesn’t want Jiya to feel anything is wrong.
“Good Night didi… Didi…” Jiya called her from the back.
“Yes, Jiya…” Aastha turned and looked at her.
“Are you okay Didi?” Jiya asked as she felt something looking at her.
“Yes, Jiya… It just that the day was quite hectic.” Aastha tried to say normally.
Jiya smiled getting assurance from her sister and Aastha went to her room. She closed the door and sat on the floor. She started sobbing thinking about the conversation she had with Samyak.
They both are feeling helpless. They were reliving all the moments they have spent together. Both of them couldn’t sleep that night. The only thing in their eyes were tears.
The next morning Samyak got up and freshen up. He has to catch an evening flight so he packed his stuff. Aditya came to his room.
“Hey, how are you feeling now?” Aditya asked.
“Good Morning bhaiya. Feeling better.” Samyak plainly lied.
“Doesn’t look like. I guess you couldn’t sleep the whole night. Is it because of the place change?” Aditya looked at his eyes.
“Ahh… ya maybe because of that but I am fine.” Samyak rubbed his eyes.
“Cool then its brother’s time. You have an evening flight also so you can have lunch and then I will drop you.” Aditya instructed.
“Ok bhaiya. Let’s go.” Samyak is in no mood of going anywhere but he cannot refuse Aditya. They went out for a stroll and lunch. He tried to act normal. Samyak was physically present there but his heart and mind were only thinking about Aastha and their conversation. After lunch, Aditya dropped him at the airport.
After Aditya left, Samyak was standing in the waiting area as there is still time for the check-in. Aastha came after 5 minutes.
She was looking dull same as Samyak. They looked at each other sadly. Aastha broke the silence after a few minutes.
“Are you upset with me? Do you think I am wrong? Please say something. I am feeling guilty that I hurt you.” Aastha couldn’t bear his silence.
Samyak looked at her and smiled, “You know Aastha, you can never hurt me. I am not angry with you. Whatever you said yesterday, it needs compassion and strength to say all that and after listening to your views, my love and respect for you have increased. You thought about our families and I completely agree with you. So you need not feel guilty for anything. I guess that’s what destiny has planned for us.”
Aastha’s eyes turned wet and she said with a heavy heart, “I can’t thank enough to God for sending you into my life. No one can ever understand me better than you but I couldn’t make your life happy and beautiful the way you deserved. Please don’t get sad and move on in your life, that’s the last thing I am asking you.”
Samyak looked at her in disbelief, “You are asking me to forget myself. I am not anything without you. If I have to forget you and move on, maybe I need to forget myself first. Look Aastha, I understand we cannot be together but don’t ask me to do something which is impossible for me. Getting married and living together don’t complete our love. My love for you remains forever and that’s the only thing left with me. Please don’t ask me to give up that and that’s the last thing I am asking you.
Aastha couldn’t utter a word and her heart is filled with emotions. She can’t control and hugged Samyak. Samyak hugged her gently and they both felt the warmth and love of each other.
Samyak’s flight is announced. He wiped her tears and said, “So I guess that’s it. I should get going now. You take care of yourself.”
“Hmm… you also take care. See y…” Aastha couldn’t complete her sentence and realized that it might be the last time they are seeing each other. Talking and meeting each other will make things more difficult for them. So they have to stop doing all that.
Samyak waved at her and she waved back. Samyak turned with a wrench as this is it for their story. He showed himself strong and positive in front of Aastha but he is shattered from inside.
Aastha remained standing there until Samyak disappeared in the crowd.
Chapter 28
Samyak reached back to Hyderabad. His face was dull. His parents and brother thought it might be a hectic journey for him. They had no idea what had happened. They don’t have a clue about Aastha. As Aastha and Samyak both asked Mohit and Kavya not to reveal anything to their parents. Kavya and Mohit tried to make them understand, they gave them various workaround but finally, they had to give up. They were so sad and disappointed as a love story which is started and blossomed in front of them, is ending and they are helpless.
Samyak started to concentrate on his work. But this time he didn’t cut off himself from the world. Aastha’s love and positive attitude have that influence on him. He dials her number many times but always disconnects before it gets connected. He types messages and deletes it without sending it. It is very difficult for him to keep himself away from her. On the other side, Aastha’s condition is no different. She feels guilty for being the reason for sadness in Samyak’s life. She always felt if she would not have come to his life, he would have been happy. She is also busy in the office and at home and taking care of everything. She also thought of calling Samyak many times but then stopped as she doesn’t want to keep reminding him about herself and maybe ruining a chance for him to move on if there is any. With passing days, they both decided to themselves to spend their lives with love in their heart for each other and fulfilling their duties and responsibilities with positivity.
Almost three months have passed since they last met. After that, there were no calls or messages. They just pray and wish for each other every day silently. It was a weekend. Samyak was watching the FIFA world cup sitting in the living room when his mother came and sat opposite him. After a while, Vivek also joined them. Vedant was in his room and working on something.
“Samyak… We want to discuss something.” Anita said.
“Yes, Mummy… tell me” Samyak said while his eyes are on TV.
“Actually, an alliance has come for Vedant. The girl is relative of Saloni, Aditya’s wife.” Anita said.
Samyak’s attention broke as he thought the conversation will go in an unwanted direction. Maybe his parents will force him to get married before they fix Vedant’s alliance. He can’t even think about any other girl. He has firmly decided not to get married. He doesn’t want to be rude to his parents but he thought, he will be straightforward and say no if they will insist on him for marriage.
“Samyak… what happened? Where are you lost?” Vivek asked looking at him.
“Ahh nothing Papa… Yes, Mummy… tell me what were you saying.” Samyak asked his mother.
“So girl’s family wants to meet us” Anita said.
“That’s nice. So when are they coming?” Samyak asked happily.
“Actually they are not coming here. They want us to come to their house. So I think we should go and meet them.” Vivek continued.
“Ok… so when are you guys planning to leave? Is Vedant also going?” Samyak asked.
“Yes, we are thinking it would be good if we all meet at the same time. Taking any decisions would be easy. So we want you also to come with us. You talk about leaves in the office.” Anita told Samyak.
“Mummy… what will I do? You and Papa will be there. I don’t think I am needed.” Samyak tried to avoid it.
“You are needed bhaiya. Without you, I am not going anywhere. I need you as my support. You have to come with me.” Vedant said coming out of his room.
“But Vedant…” Samyak looked at him.
“No, but, bhaiya… please for my sake. Please come with us.” Vedant pleaded him.
“Ok ok fine. I will come along. Tell me when we have to leave and by the way, we have to go where?”
Vedant smiled and replied, “Thank you bhaiya… Next week… Mumbai. I will book the tickets.”
Samyak’s face turned pale listening to Vedant. He murmured, “Mumbai…” He wanted to deny but looking at Vedant’s excitement he couldn’t refuse. He has to go there for his brother and family.
