Vedant

"She lost her baby?" I asked, looking at Kavya with a shocked face.

She nodded her head in a yes. "Her marriage was a disaster from the start. He was an overly possessive and jealous jerk. He used to manhandle her even if some man came to her and talk. I don't know how she survived one year with him. She tried to get away. She really did but every time somehow her father..." She trailed off and looked at me.

Clearing her throat she continued.

"I. I mean Mr. Nakul Varma convinced her to stay in the marriage. And it was on their 1st wedding anniversary she came to know that she was pregnant. She was so happy and excited to tell him. She thought the baby might bring some peace in their life, that the baby will change him. She called me from the hospital after the confirmation and went home to tell him. He was in a meeting or something when she arrived. She didn't know it she just barged into his study only to be stopped by the men in the room staring at her. She said it was fine till one of his friends complimented her; it's after that his demeanour changed. He dispersed them quickly and then he hit her and she fell down. It was really bad. He left her there to bleed. He didn't even give a second glance to her." She said and wiped the tears falling down from her eyes.

"I was scared as hell when I saw her in the hospital. Her bandage covered head, her swollen cheeks and scratched body. It still gives me goose bumps. If her father in law hasn't had come then she might have died. He came to wish them for their anniversary and saw her lying in a pool of blood. He took her to hospital but it was a bit late to save the baby. She lost so much blood and lost her baby. That's when his father came to know how about his son's abusive nature. He was the one who supported her throughout her divorce. He threatened Karan with his company. He told him that if he didn't give the divorce he will throw him out of the company." She said with a sigh.

"She has been through a lot Ved. She never had a proper family. She lost her parents at a young age and her grandpa, the only person she thought as her own kept it as a secret from her. The people she thought as her parents turned out to be her uncle and aunt and an abusive marriage. Losing her child and going through depression. When I forced her to be with you I thought you might be different from others. But it turned out that you were worse than them." She said looking at me with disappointment. I gulped and closed my eyes tight.

"It took nearly one year of therapy to get her out of the depression and for what, to just push her into it again. You don't know how much she struggled to become strong. The only thing she longed for is a little love and care. You couldn't even give her that. It will be good if you stay away from her. You married her for your selfish reasons but I think it's better if you leave her alone now. First you should try to become a better person. You don't deserve her. I was wrong about you. She is a pure soul and you are a selfish and manipulative jerk who uses others for your advantages." She said with her gritted teeth and got up from the sofa.

"I'm leaving. If she contacts me I'm not going to tell you where she is, so doesn't bother to call me again. Good bye." She said firmly and walked out of the house.

I stood there for a little longer thinking about the foolishness I committed. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and slowly walked towards my study.

I sat on the leather chair and leaned back to the back cushion. Slowly my eyes started to feel heavy.

She looked at me and smiled. The evening breeze was playing with her hair and the setting sun adds a warm shade to her blushed cheeks. The small waves were wetting her toes and she looked at the setting sun with her beautiful brown eyes. A smile crept to my lips when I see her happy face. She is as alluring and as pretty as a picture. I moved closer to her. I couldn't fight the urge to reach out her. I extended my fingers to touch her soft and warm hands.

I jerked awake from my sweet dream when my phone started to ring. I took it out from my pocket and saw my security chief's number. I rubbed away the sleep from my eyes and attended the call.

"Did you find anything? Do you know where she is?" I asked hurriedly.

"Sorry to inform you sir, but we couldn't get a hold of Mrs. Aryan's whereabouts. She hasn't reached Pune yet and she didn't take any flights. Her phone is switched off so that we couldn't trace where she is." He said.

"Have you checked with Arohi? Did she have anything to do with this?" I asked again.

"I don't think so sir. We looked at her contact details and found out who was guy followed madam to Pune and he said after he sent the photo to Arohi she gave him the money and never contacted him again. The police also interrogated her and couldn't find anything suspicious about madam's disappearance." He said calmly.

"Okay. Keep trying and let me know if you found out anything." I said.

"Okay sir." He replied and ended the call.

I sighed and kept phone on the table. That's when I saw a envelope lying on the table. I frowned and picked up the envelope.

I slowly opened it and took out the papers inside it.

I could feel my heart crushing and breaking into pieces. The tears I failed to stop falls from my eyes down to my cheeks.

Divorce; she needs divorce from me. She is not going to coming back to me. I screwed up big time with the only person I started to like.

I rubbed my thumb across her name written on the documents. I turned the pages and at the end I found the letter written in her handwriting.

Dear Ved,

As we lost our chance to be together, I don't see any necessity to continue the relationship. And I guess the people you thought as a threat to me turned out to be my acquaintances against you there is nothing for you to worry about me, so as promised please let me go by signing the documents. I am leaving the contact details of my attorney so you can contact him when you the sign the papers. He will come and collect it. I wish you all the happiness in your life Ved. Take care.

Niharika.

The paper crumbled as my grip on it tightened. My eyes couldn't stop the tears coming out. My heart clenched in pain as her words pierced like a knife through my heart. I realised that you don't know who is important to you until you actually lose them.

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I poured more whiskey into the glass and gulped it in a go. I closed my eyes tightly when it burned my throat but it was much less compared to the burning my heart is going through.

I looked at the documents sitting on the bar counter. The bitterness I was feeling increased.

I remember the call to her attorney. I begged him to let me know where she is but he told me that he can't reveal her location and she is not willing to talk to anyone. The only relief I got is that she is safe.

She left me because of my actions. I hurt her and now I can't do anything about it. She doesn't want me in her life anymore. And it hurts like hell.

I got hold of the bottle and was about to drink when the front door opened. I looked up to see a tried and dishevelled Sid walking in. He looked at me with his blood shot eyes.

He walked slowly towards me and stood in front of me. He gave me an agitated look.

"Are you alright?" I asked him. He scoffed.

"I'm far from that." He said and grabbed the bottle from me. He gulped down a good amount of whiskey in a go.

"Hey take it easy man." I shouted. This is first time I'm seeing him this upset. That's why I never told him what really happened to dad.

"Easy? Really? How easy did you take it Ved?" He asked me angrily. I sighed and looked away.

"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" He asked again.

"I never wanted you to go through it Sid." I said calmly.

"But I had the right to know how my father died. All these years I despised him for nothing. Do you know how it feels? You should have corrected me but you kept it from me. I pitied the woman who cause his death. Why does everyone want to keep secrets from me? I'm your brother dammit you should have told me." His voice started to rise.

"For what? To become like this? To live in betrayal for the rest of your life. I know how hard it is to live like that Sid. If she didn't pull that stunt this would have kept as secret until the end. You were just a kid then and you expect me to make your life hell. You already lost one parent and I didn't want you to lose the other." I said gritting my teeth. All my pent up anger was coming to surface.

"You asshole." He screamed and then I felt a punch on my jaw. I stumbled back and looked at him in shock. He looked furious but I was no less.

I wiped my bleeding lips and lunged at him and he leaped straight into the air, dropping the whiskey bottle. He rolled over, springing to his feet and lunged at me.

I know no one is going to back down now. We both were furious and frustrated.

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We both sat on the floor with the sofa, now lying upside down supporting our backs. Our shirts were tore and we are covered in bruises and scratches.

The room was a mess. The show pieces and glasses shattered over the floor and the couch cushions were ripped open allowing all cotton flying around the room.

"I'm not going back to that house." Sid said panting. I nodded in understanding.

"You can stay here." I said.

"I. I'm sorry you had to go through all that alone. I. I wish I could have been there for you." He said while holding my fingers in his hand and giving a small squeeze.

I scoffed and patted his hand with my other hand. "It's okay Sid. I know you will be there for me always." I said giving him a weak smile.

"Where is Niharika? You talked with her?" He asked frowning.

I kept silent for a moment. I sighed while closing my eyes. "She left me." I said. Even though the dull ache is still there my voice sounded calmer now.

"WHAT?!!" Sid asked. He looked shocked.

"I fucked up big time and she is not going to forgive me. She filed for a divorce." I said and gulp down the sob trying to escape me.

"And you just let her go? You should go and talk with her. You should tell her what actually happened." He said now moving towards me.

I sighed heavily. "I don't know where she is Sid. She doesn't want me to find her. May be she will do better without me. I'm a mess and due to my selfish reasons I dragged her with me into this. I don't know if I can ever come out of this mess. I don't want her to suffer because of me and my twisted mind." I said and my eyes started to sting again.

I could feel the pity look Sid giving me. But I didn't dare to look at him.

I shook my head and lifted myself up with the help of the sofa.

"You can take the guest room. I will call somebody in the morning to clean up this." I said and started to climb the stairs.

"Ved." I stopped when Sid called me. I turned around to see him.

"I. I know I am being irrational but I need a break." He said looking down at his feet.

Creases formed in my forehead. I feel like there is something more disturbing him. He was not looking at me. "Sid. What is it?" I asked concerned.

"Nothing. I. I just really want a break Ved. Please. I will do the work from home but I don't want to go to office for some days." He said still not giving me a satisfied look.

"Sid." I was feeling worried now.

"Ved, please. Don't ask me further." He said but this time looked straight at me and I could see a pleading look in his eyes.

I sighed. "Okay." I said. He nodded in response and walked inside the guest room.

With unsteadily steps I carried my aching body upstairs. I walked towards her room.

I slumped on the bed and inhaled her fainting scent. The sobs I restrained for a long time broke out. The realization of her not being here gave more burns to my already weak heart.

Karma is bitch. I thought while hugging her pillow tightly to my chest and then slowly I fell into a deep slumber.

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