30/12/2019

Aparna's P. O. V :

The salty breeze and the calm dusk felt like a dream. The waves breaking on the shore and the eroding sand brought back so many memories.

The rolling in sand, the laughter, the kiss that nearly happened on this very place.

Shwetha was sitting beside me and silently reading my face.

" Why are you staring at me? " I asked her.

" Are you really okay ? " She asked me.

I nodded my head silently.

" How can you be so calm? Even if Shiva had gone insane, shouldn't you have slapped him back to reality? " She asked me.

" He is completely under the delusion that I am his competitor. I can't do anything. The only thing that I am happy about is that Hari is with Shiva. " I said.

" Hari resigned his job " Shwetha told me.

" What? " I asked her.

" After everything Shiva did, should Hari still support him? , You know what Aparna, some people will understand the value of anything, only when they loose it. Shiva took everyone around him for granted. Last time you were there to console Hari and Karthik. This time even if you try, you can't glue them back. " Shwetha said shaking her head.

I let out a long breath and looked at the dark sky.

" Maybe I should give up. I don't have any energy left. I just want to stop everything. " I said.

" Why didn't you tell anyone when you were stuck in your pg fearing Michael? " Shwetha asked me.

" I honestly don't know. Karthik was already depressed. Sometimes I did think of calling Shiva, but I wasn't ready to handle any more harsh words from him. So I decided to wait it out. " I said.

" You used to be a really bold girl. You were even ready to murder Michael. But why did you loose yourself? Why are you scared now? " She asked me.

" I am not scared. I am just tired. I don't want to fight anymore. It's clearly useless. Being a girl, I have finally understood the limits I can go. " I said.

" Just because two bastards are trying to screw you over, it doesn't mean you are not talented or competitive enough. " She said.

" The worst part was they both knew about me very well. And they both were people who I used to value so much once. " I said.

" Your life doesn't revolve around them. It is all about you. Just forget about them. You don't need such toxic people. We will find a way. Don't give up hope. " Shwetha said.

Shwetha stood up from the sand and dusted off her kurti.

I stood up after her.

We walked for few minutes and then decided to go back home as it was getting cloudy.

Hari welcomed us inside and his face looked dull.

" Shiva threw a fit on me "he said as we sat on the couch.

" You should have listened to me. You should have just punched him! " Shwetha said.

" He looked broken. I didn't expect that at all. With the confidence that he threw Aparna and Karthik out, I thought he would at least be arrogant to me. But he didn't. " Hari said slightly pulling his hair.

" Do not fall for that! I repeat to both of you! Do not fall for his pleading! I will never approve of him after what he did to my best friend " Shwetha shouted at Hari and walked back inside the kitchen.

" I gave him good scolding. I told him everything I should have told him sooner. I hope, he understands you very well now " Hari said to me.

" Thanks Hari. But it wasn't necessary. You know, friendship is not something like that. Shiva shouldn't need another person to understand me. Shiva by himself should have that much trust on me. If not, whatever you do to make him see what he lost, it will only make me look pitiable. I don't want pity. I just hope he doesn't write a long regret letter after 10 years and show up in front of me. " I said and walked back to the guest room.

Shwetha followed me.

I sat on the bed and my legs were shaking.

" I think you should go home! Being here will only aggravate you. " Shwetha said slowly.

I nodded my head silently.

" Instead of going to my home, I ll go and stay with Prerna for few days. " I said.

" Yes, that way Michael can't torture you. I will book the bus tickets for tomorrow night. " Shwetha said.

"Thanks " I said and started packing my bag.

Hari came in and looked at me.

" Sorry Aparna. I just wanted Shiva to know everything you did for him. He should know what he has done. He shouldn't take this lightly. I wanted my friend to know that he had lost a really wonderful person. I always wanted the best for him. Even if he regrets mistreating you, he should face the same pain that you faced. " Hari said.

I huffed a bit and smiled at Hari.

" He won't wake up from his delusion Hari. Please don't hope for that. I was the blind one. I shouldn't have jumped into this one sided relationship. " I said.

" You are right. Let's forget about everything. Tonight is your last day here. I hope you can rest well in Bangalore. Let's have dinner " Hari said and walked out.

Shwetha served the food and we were eating silently.

Suddenly, someone was knocking the front door harshly.

" Hari! Open the door! " Shiva shouted from outside.

I instantly stood up from the chair and looked at Shwetha, she was equally shocked as me.

" If you don't open now, I am going to break this door! " Shiva shouted and he was kicking the front door.

Shwetha signalled me to go inside the guest room.

I ran inside and locked the door.

I pressed my ears against the door to listen to what's happening outside.

Hari opened the door and Shiva walked in forcefully. I was able to hear his unbalanced breaths.

" Shiva, what is this? Why are you causing such nuisance here? " Shwetha asked. I can imagine her evil stare.

Shiva ran through the living room and he was walking here and there.

" What is your problem? " Hari asked.

" Where is she? " Shiva asked.

" Who? " Hari asked.

" Aparna " Shiva said and I took a sharp breath hearing his words.

" She is not here! " Shwetha said sternly.

" No, She is here! " Shiva said.

" Even if she is here, she doesn't have any need to see your face. " Shwetha said.

" Please Shwetha, just let me talk to her once! " Shiva pleaded.

I was slightly shaking hearing his words. He seems too hurt. I constrained myself from caring about his state.

" No, Shiva. You have said enough to her. Get out of here! " Shwetha said.

" Aparna! " Shiva shouted and I froze on my position.

" I know you are here. I know that you are listening to me. We have finally arrived at the same point where we started. Enough of your hide and seek game! Come out! Please! " Shiva and he walked close to the guest room door.

I can hear his breath.

I took a step away from the door.

" Shiva, enough. Get out. " Hari said and dragged him.

" Just let me talk for a minute! " Shiva broke away from Hari's hold.

" I am sorry, I know I can't say anything more than this. But I am sorry. You always looked so care free. I mistook that fake smile as true one. When I was fighting my battle, you were fighting your own silently. Why didn't you tell me? Why? Don't you trust me even that much? " Shiva asked.

My eyes opened wide on hearing his words. Maybe he found out about my license cancellation case, but how.

" Enough of your drama Shiva. You have no rights to talk about trust " Shwetha said.

" You were right. It was my insecurity. And some people made use of that. I became their puppet. It's too late to beg for you to forgive me. And I am okay with that. Don't forgive me. I deserve the state that I am in now. Inturn, I am asking just one thing. " Shiva said and I was already crying.

Hearing his broken voice, the hopeless words, I knew that I was once again going to take the wrong decision of choosing him.

" Give me one day. Just one day. That's our deal remember. After that you won't ever see my face again. Just stay with me till tomorrow night. I won't ever bother you. Hate me all you want, just give me one day! " Shiva said banging the door.

I sat on the floor and gasped for air. I closed my mouth with my hands and was crying silently. I shook my head and rubbed away my tears.

Don't fall for the weak words. Don't fall again.

" That's enough Shiva. She won't ever do anything for your sake. Stop this and go home to your Anjali! " Shwetha said.

" This is not for my sake! I know what is going to happen tomorrow. I know that Aparna has been denied a chance to explain her side! The trial is happening unfair! " Shiva shouted.

I was totally shocked as Shiva knew everything. Even if he rummaged through my mail, he wouldn't have been able to find this.

" Do you think we don't know that? Aparna did everything possible! She bloody moved on from that only now! Don't bring back that trash to her! " Shwetha said.

" Let me try! Yes, I know nothing about the rules of that fucking council, but I am not going to play by any of those rules. Aparna, please, just give me one day. I am begging you! " Shiva said.

His voice didn't have a tiny bit of lie. He was being as truthful as possible. Shiva was back to his old self, he is broken too. After a really long time, I wanted to hug him and cry my heart out.

" Aparna has faced enough, you do not deserve another chance! please don't mess up her again! " Hari said.

" Aparna, I haven't promised you anything before. But this time, I promise you that you won't loose this. Please trust me. Just one day. " Shiva said.

He had forgotten his previous promise. He might forget this one too.

Only a stupid will believe him again.

But, isn't love stupid?

I stood up from the floor rubbed my tears. And opened the door.

I do not have any hope of winning. Maybe I am making the biggest mistake of my life by opening the door again. Maybe I would get hurt a lot more than before. Maybe I would fall deeper and wouldn't be able to get back up.

I haven't forgotten or forgiven anything. Maybe this was my biggest weakness, his broken heart.

There was no light at the end of that tunnel. But just for once, I was going to trust again. Even if I had to walk blind folded into that tunnel, I will do it, if he is going to hold my hand.