For You

Chapter 31

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And if you hurt me
That's okay baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
Wait for me to come home

Oh, you can fit me
Inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen
Next to your heartbeat where I should be
Keep it deep within your soul --- ED SHEERAN

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Disclaimer: The content in this chapter is for mature readers 18+

Ajay reached home, still in a state of shock, trying to process everything Shyam just told him. The most touching part was that Shyam cared more about his and Ammu's happiness, and decided to break his promise to Ammu, to tell him the whole story. He was glad he sent Shyam home safely in a taxi.

No amount of alcohol could entice Ajay after what he heard today. He kept wondering if this was really true. On second thoughts, nothing else made sense or explained Ammu's sudden change of behaviour all those years ago.

Like a fool he never even considered that Ammu was heartbroken too. He was so busy wallowing in self-pity and hate towards Ammu, that he never thought of any other explanation. He put his phone on charging next to the TV, freshened up and changed into pyjamas, while his mind was still elsewhere. Without even realising, he slowly entered his second bedroom, where he stored all his memories of Ammu, and started browsing through different boxes.

When Ammu had a big fight with her father Brijesh Mehta and left for US, in a fit of fury, Brijesh asked Ajay to clear her room, so he could use it as a spare room for study purposes. Ajay packed away all her things and kept them in safe storage, till he bought his own flat few years ago, and he had kept them with him ever since.

He was looking at the poems Ammu had written, and was so lost in his thoughts, that he never heard the doorbell ring. After sometime, his phone started buzzing. He was still clutching her book, as he slowly walked back into the living room to pick up his phone, when someone started banging his door.

Confused, he went and opened the door, only to find a frantic and anxious Amrita.

He was staring at her blankly.

"What happened to you? I rang the bell 10 times and then called your mobile. I was so worried. Shyam sent me here saying you wanted to meet me urgently. Why are you looking at me like that? 

Are you OK? You are not sick or something..." She threw her purse down on the floor as she touched his forehead and cheeks with her hands, and checked his temperature by placing her knuckles against his neck.

Ajay's heart burst with joy at the sight of her. The one person he was so desperate to see at that very moment was standing right in front of him at the door. He didn't listen to a single thing what she said... it was all like background noise coming from a distant hollow source.

Amrita was getting worried at the sight of him. It looked as if  none of her words were getting through to Ajay. Was he in a shock?

She placed her palms around his cheeks and gently shook his face. "Ajay, are you even listening to me?"

"Shyam just told me everything." He was surprised how his voice sounded so parched and husky.

Amrita stilled suddenly, and her eyes widened, as she took a moment to understand what he meant.

Suddenly she felt as if she couldn't breathe anymore, and her heart skipped a beat. She tried to move her hands away or lower her gaze but simply couldn't. His was the face that she dreamed about in her loneliness all these years, those were the eyes that she just wanted to gaze into for her heart's content.