"If you remember me, then I don't care if everyone else forgets." —Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami
Sree
It was a really busy day, and I had made up my mind to talk to Vikram once I reach home.
I reached home and was going through my things. A lot of them were related to Vikram.
I took the photo frame of us and kept in on the dressing table.
The door bell rang. "Was it Vikram? But he usually has the key with him."
I moved down the staircase. I noticed that Mary moved forward to open the door.
"Who is it Mary?" I asked. There was no response. I came down and was horrified to see
Manoj.
He looked older than the last time i had seen him. His hair was half greyed and he still had that intimidating look about him. He was wearing a formal attire as he stared icily at me and scowled.
Before I could react, he entered the house.
"Vikram! Vikram? Where are you", he shouted
"Vikram is not home sir, you can come back later", I said
He turned his scowling eyes back to me.
" YOU married Vikram?", he asked ,each of his words filled with disgust.
"Yes", I said
"No one even told me! Don't you remember what i told you 3 years before. Stay out of Vikram's life.. I thought you did, but imagine my surprise when i heard you became his wife!" he stated in a furious manner.
His eyes were glaring daggers at me and i was wondering what i should do.
I didn't reply to his statement and stood there glaring back at him.
"You don't belong in my son's life or in his house, Get Out!" he shouted at me
"Let Vikram come home, if he asks me to go, ill but I'm not going anywhere", I said
"You will not listen, if i ask you like this", he said and came near me.
Before i could react, he grabbed my arms and pulled me towards the door. I struggled and shouted
"Let her go sir, how can you behave with a woman like that", Mary asked, trying to free me from his grip.
"You servant! Stay within your limits" , he said and continued dragging me.
He was so strong, that my struggle was vain.
"Help! ", I shouted to the security, but they stood bewildered looking at Manoj..
He went to the gate, asked the security to open it and pushed me.. I fell down due to the force and my forehead hit a rock.. I looked up at Manoj, my eyes red
"I wonder how a person like you is even a successful businessman shame on you! ", I cried out..
He muttered something and closed the gates behind me..
My forehead seemed to burn and i put my hands on top of it,.. I took my hands away and saw blood, I was bleeding! And humiliated
There were a few passerby s on the road staring at me. Not one came to help. I tried to get up.. My ankle pained, but i managed. My phone.. was inside and i had no money..
I could perhaps go to Akshara or Raya's place and pay.. I didn't know when Vikram would come..as soon as i thought that i saw Vikram's car on the road..
He stopped the car on seeing me, and opened the door and ran towards me..
He looked at me shocked
"Sree? What are you doing here? How did you get hurt? What happened" he asked concerned
My words were stuck in my throat for a moment.
He looked around at the people staring at us..
"Come in, we will talk inside", he said and took my hands..
I hesitated to move.
He looked back at me. "I don't think i am welcome inside", i said
"What? What are you talking about?" he asked
I was silent. I was furious on the way Manoj behaved towards me.. and i was shaking.. Was it so easy for him to just push me out , and I couldn't do anything! I was so helpless!
The gate opened and Mary came out from there. She came towards me. " Are you fine ma'am, I'm sorry I couldn't help you", she said
"What Mary? Can someone tell me what the hell happened" ,he said, his voice raised
Mary explained in detail... I looked up with Vikram to see his eye blaze in fury. I almost thought he would not be ready to face his father, but I was wrong.
He held my hand.. "The person who should be pushed out of the house is him", Vikram said and asked the security to open the date.
They did so..Vikram glared at them..
"So...how could you even allow him to behave with her like this, If your employer is mistreated, will you just spectate? Is that what i pay you for?" ,he shouted at the security men.
"Sir, but it was Manoj sir and he..."they started
"Whoever it is, even if its the prime minister , it doesn't matter, All of you are fired!", he stated..
They begged him, and apologized to me, but Vikram didn't heed their pleas, he moved forward to the door, holding my hand.
He used the key to open the door..
"Mr Manoj!", he shouted..
Manoj came out, hearing Vikram. "At last you are here Vikram", He said
"Marrying this girl, without my knowledge, wrong decision, you know she spoiled your life", he said
"Enough! Stop acting as if you care about my life, how do you know anything about it and for your information, this girl is my wife.. who are you to push her out of her house", Vikram shouted, a frown on his forehead
" Her house?" Manoj asked
"As my wife, its her house, and I'm thinking of transferring the deeds to her name, the person who should be out is you, will you go by yourself or should I call the security?" ,he asked
"What Vikram, you are talking to your father like this? How did you get this courage?", He said and moved closer .
Vikram's grip on my hand tightened
"I'm not scared of you! Security!" Vikram called
The security ran inside.
Manoj raised his hand, stating he would walk out
"No.. Grab him and push him out", Vikram commanded
"You will pay for this Vikram!" , Manoj shouted as the security dragged him out.
Vikram
I couldn't believe it. The nerve this man had to come inside my house and behave with my wife like this!
I called the police and asked for a restraining order. I knew it wouldn't probably work against a person like Manoj, but I couldn't just stay doing nothing.
I never expected facing him so confidently.. When I heard what he did with her, I got so angry, that i didn't have any fear left..
It was because of her... I looked at her, standing still looking into oblivion..
"Come", I gently said and brought her to our room,
I made her sit on the bed.
Why did she have to face all this, and it was because of me.. I shivered thinking of Manoj behaving like that to Sree..
"Im..sorry..for all this, i don't know what else to say,..it was very wrong and you didn't deserve it.. Ill never let him come near you again.." I said..
She didn't look at me.. I saw the blood from her forehead.. and i noticed that her arms had scratches probably from the struggle.
I went to my drawer to get the first aid box.
I took some water and wiped the blood off, the wound on her forehead.. Then i applied
some antiseptic. She flinched due to the burn caused by it..
"Its ok", I said and went closer to her..i brought my lips closer to her forehead and blew at the wound.
It was then when she turned her attention to me. I took the bandage and placed it there..
I took cream and applied on her hands.. " Anywhere else, are you hurt?", I asked
She shook her head.
"Try to forget this incident, he wont disturb our life again", I said
She nodded.
"So,how about I make us dinner tonight?", I asked hoping that will change her mind.
"You can cut veggies if you want" I said
"But..Mary, she cooked", she said
"Yes, ill distribute the food to the security, or others", he said
"Didn't you fire them", she asked
I smiled thinking. "They can have one last meal here",
"Ok", she said
"So, go freshen up and come down", I said and moved to the kitchen
Sree
I felt happy that Vikram supported me and it seemed he cared for me. Or was it simply sympathy. I didn't want sympathy, I wanted him to be doing all this because he likes me. But that wasn't happening.
I washed my face and went down to the kitchen. He was chopping vegetables.
I tried to recollect the last time he had cooked for me.
I went to him. " I'll cut", I said
He handed over the knife and went to the stove.
We cooked for an hour.. But I enjoyed being with him.
I went to the dining table..
"Not here, today we are having dinner at the small garden indoor", he said and placed the food on a movable food trolley
I walked with him.. I hadn't entered this place for a long time. He had proposed to me here, so it was painful to come here.
I hesitated outside..
" Come.. ", he said
I followed him.. To the center.. He switched on the lights which illuminated the place.
He pulled the chair for me. The food was delicious.
We ate mostly silently.. The black sky covered over us...
We ate and washed our hands.
I turned back to move inside when he held my hand..
I looked back at him..
"Yes? ", I asked
" Let's stay here for a while shall we", he asked
"Ookk", I said
He took a sheet out from the trolley and placed it on the ground.
" Let's sit on the ground ", he said
I followed him and sat down.
" Do you like the stars? " He asked..
"Ya.. Maybe", I said
" You know these movies, where they say your loved ones became stars, I had seen them.. And I wanted to believe that too..
So every night I'll look up from my window at the stars, thinking that my ma, Bhanu ma was there up looking at me.. And happy for me.. When I was a child..
Manoj.. I guess you know what he did, I have no idea how I told you that, because that was too sensitive,.. Anyways.. When I was scared of him, I went to the stars for courage..
Seeing them shining in the dark black sky, made me believe, that there is hope.. Somewhere..
They made me calm.. Come... Lie down.. ",
he said and lied down asking me to follow him
I did as he told.
I lied down next to him and saw the dark sky, with the bright twinkling stars adorning the sky..
The moon shone bright.. Alone in the middle of the sky..
"See that star shining bright, that's her" he said
"I know it's childish and filmy and I'm the last person you would expect to be filmy, but it's my childhood habit.. ", he said and searched for my hand and held it, entangling his fingers with mine.
A cold breeze passed us.. His palms felt warm against mine.. He was so close to me, that I could hear my heart beat in response.
He suddenly turned and looked at me..
I turned too.. He moved his hand across my tresses..
"I don't know why, I feel like telling you this, you are probably thinking I'm mad" , he said.. His eyes focused on my hair..
"No.. Of course not", I said..
He then glanced into my eyes.. The way he looked at me..
The moon light shone on his face, enhancing his features..
He moved closer to me.. Was he going to..
But then he stopped.. A few inches from my face..
" I want to know.. ", he said
" What? ", I asked
" I want to know the past!, that year which I don't remember, I want to hear from you, about our story, life", he said
I opened my mouth in surprise.. I hadn't prepared for this! I remembered each moment, I had thought about each moment many times.. But telling it to him?
How would he react? I didn't know
"Why, suddenly? ", I asked
" I just want to know ", he said
I mustered up my courage to tell him, about our story...
His face had various expressions at different times..
I spoke for more than an hour, explaining in detail.. On how we met, when I locked him in the room, to the misunderstandings.. About Karan, Gautham, when we got engaged..
About his proposal..
I felt a little flustered to tell our intimate scenes so I just briefed..
Then.. When I told about during the end, of my kidnapping and him getting shot and what he told to me then, there were tears in my eyes..
That moment I still remember very well as if it were yesterday,..
He seemed shocked too..
I looked at him eagerly to see his reaction..
"So? ", I asked at the end..
He got up..
" I.. I need some time to clear my mind, you sleep.. I'll be back when I'm done ", he said and left the place..
" What wait... Where are you going at this hour? ", I called after him but he had gone away..
Was this a mistake.?
I went to bed, but I couldn't sleep.. Where was he? I tried calling him but his phone was switched off.. I wished he was fine..
I woke up in the morning, but he wasn't there still..
I ate my breakfast and headed to his office, probably he is there..