"Why don't you understand..." Ajabde cried, her sobs making it difficult for her to speak.
"Yes, I don't understand. Then tell me. Explain it to me." Pratap held her forearms in frustration and helplessness. He had had enough.
"I... I am not some noble person sacrificing myself for others. I had no one. She was... I had no one... She was the one who gave me a reason to live..." she sobbed uncontrollably.
All his anger melted away at once. He knew about her loneliness. He knew everything she had endured. But this was the first time he truly understood the depth of what Phool meant to her. He cupped her face in both his hands and rested his forehead against hers.
"I cannot hurt her..." she whispered, her eyes shut as tears streamed down her face.
In the orange glow, with nothing but their shadows around them, only her sobs and their heavy breaths broke the silence.
"By sacrificing our love... by hiding it... you are hurting her even more, Ajab. Her life will be ruined too."
He paused before continuing softly. "I cannot love her. You may choose to let go of your love, but you cannot make me love her. Heck... I cannot make myself love her even if I wanted to."
When she cried harder, he let out a weary sigh. "Tell me... could you ever love someone else?"
She did not answer instead sobbed harder which was answer enough.
"Then how can you expect me to? Is that even fair?"
YOU ARE READING
Atma Bandhan (Coming later)
Historical FictionPratap Singh - Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Mewar, he wages an unrelenting war against the Afghans and Mughals to protect his kingdom and Rajputana. Amidst the weight of this immense responsibility lies the one thing he treasures most. A girl he l...
