21/11/2019 - Thursday- At Bangalore.

Aparana's P. O. V:

I looked at Shiva shocked. I didn't know what to reply him, but I knew the pain that he was going through.

I felt a sudden guilt, as I was part of the reason for his thoughts and pain. I held his hand across the table.

" Tell me Aparna, would it solve everything? " He asked again.

" No, it won't solve anything " I said. That exact moment, I knew what I should do.

He looked at me and smirked.

" Right now, you care about me more than my own parents " He said looking down.

I left his hand and got up from my chair.

" Life is not a road filled with flower beds Shiva. If you give up at the sight of thorns, then you won't travel to the end of it. " I said and started walking upstairs.

" How many thorns have you stepped on? " He asked walking behind me.

" As many as you did. " I said and walked to my room.

Suddenly he caught my hand from behind stopping me in my tread.

" But why I don't see any scars? " He asked looking at me teary eyed.

" Because I didn't show them to you " I said slowly.

I removed his hold and opened my room.

Shiva walked to the guest room and shut the door loudly.

That night, I cried myself to sleep again. I wanted to barge into the guest room and hug him for one last time, hug him so tight that he doesn't feel any of his pain.

I hugged my pillows and swallowed my tears.

I sat under my shower for an hour, unable to sleep through the remaining hours.

At nearly 7 in the morning, Shiva knocked on my door.

I opened the door, there he was, standing with red eyes and unruly hair. His state reflecting mine.

" I wanted to visit Prerna before leaving. Can you take me to the hospital? " He asked.

I nodded my head and went out with him. I started my car and Shiva sat on the front passenger seat.

It was cloudy again.

We drove to the hospital, at each traffic signal, Shiva was staring straight at me, waiting for me to say something. I ignored him as much as I can.

We walked into the hospital to my sister's ward.

Rajiv was sleeping on the cot, mom and dad had went out to buy breakfast. Rajiv woke up as we both came in.

Prerna was awake and looking at her phone. She was looking better.

" So, I will be leaving now. Take care Anni." Shiva said to Prerna and I felt weird hearing that word again from him.

" Stay sometime, eat breakfast " Prerna said laying on her bed.

" No thanks, I would visit you soon. " Shiva said.

" Aparna, drop him off in the bus stand then" Prerna said to me.

" I have booked the cab already " Shiva said looking away from me.

" I will go with him, Aparna be here " Rajiv said.

I sat down on a chair near Prerna.

" Bye Aparna " Shiva said.

I turned back and waved at him with a smile.

I looked at the door as his tall figure vanished with the air. My eyes started tearing up.

" Hey! " Prerna said holding my hand.

" I am sorry " I told her.

" It's okay. " She said.

I couldn't control the tears flowing from my eyes.

" He would be back, don't think about it. People who love us will never leave us " Prerna said.

I shook my head looking at her.

" I know my sister. You need not tell me. But I know everything Aparna. " She said placing her hand on my cheek.

" He will be back. Trust on love. Time has weird ways of bringing loved ones to you." Prerna said.

" I have been too selfish Prerna. I am sorry" I said.

" It is not wrong to be selfish " Prerna said.

" But someone told me, love should be selfless , true love is letting go. True love is accepting that person as such, their decisions and their paths, even if it takes them away from us. " I said hugging her and broke into tears.

Maybe, this is necessary. Me letting him go, once and for all. If I have to let him go to prove that my love was true, then so be it.

INTERVAL