Jai Shree Krishna
Chapter 4
With a heavy heart and weary limbs, Tiya dragged herself through the motions of getting ready, her movements slow and mechanical as she forced herself to carry on with the day's chores. Each task felt like a monumental effort, the weight of her grief pressing down upon her with suffocating intensity.
As she stood before the mirror, her reflection blurred by the veil of tears that threatened to spill from her eyes, Tiya's hand instinctively went to her belly, the memory of her lost child still fresh in her mind. A wave of sorrow washed over her, engulfing her in a sea of pain and longing as she struggled to come to terms with the emptiness that now resided within her.
"Maa, I'm going out," Tiya murmured softly, her voice trembling with emotion as she informed her mother-in-law, who sat at the laptop, engrossed in her work.
Her mother-in-law glanced up, a flicker of concern crossing her features as she took in Tiya's subdued demeanour. "Sure, sweetheart. Take care and stay safe," she replied, her voice filled with warmth and genuine concern.
Though her heart ached at the sight of Tiya's pain, her mother-in-law couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope stir within her. Perhaps, she thought, going out would provide Tiya with a much-needed distraction, a chance to momentarily escape the suffocating grip of her grief and find solace in the outside world.
And as Tiya stepped out into the world, her eyes still clouded with tears but her resolve unwavering, her mother-in-law offered up a silent prayer to Mahadev, hoping against hope that the fresh air and change of scenery would bring some measure of peace to her beloved daughter-in-law's troubled heart.
As the car glided through the bustling streets, Tiya's thoughts swirled with a mix of apprehension and determination. The passing trees blurred into a green blur, and the honking of horns filled the air, but Tiya remained lost in her own thoughts, her mind consumed by the impending meeting with Sanjana.
Eventually, the car pulled up in front of the café, and Tiya stepped out onto the pavement, her heart pounding in her chest. She smoothed down her clothes, straightened her posture, and took a deep breath to steady her nerves before striding purposefully towards the entrance.
Once inside, Tiya ordered herself an espresso and settled into a seat by the window, her eyes darting nervously around the room as she waited for Sanjana to arrive. Twenty minutes passed in tense anticipation, the minutes ticking by slowly until suddenly, Tiya heard the distinct sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor.
She looked up from her phone to see a woman approaching, dressed in a sharp white business suit, her bob haircut framing her face in a sleek and polished manner. Behind dark sunglasses, Tiya could see a pair of deep red lips curved into a confident smile as the woman extended her hand towards her.
"Mrs. Tiya Shekhawat, I believe," the woman said, her voice smooth and composed. Tiya rose to her feet, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and determination, and nodded in affirmation.
"And you are Sanjana," Tiya replied, her own voice steady and confident as she met Sanjana's outstretched hand with a firm handshake.
As Sanjana approached, her gaze concealed behind dark sunglasses, she sized Tiya up from head to toe with a critical eye. Beneath her simple flared jeans and a high side slit white and red kurti, Tiya stood with an air of quiet determination, her pale skin and big brown eyes betraying a sense of vulnerability masked by her outward composure.
Sanjana's eyes lingered on the nuptial chain adorning Tiya's neck and the small speck of vermillion on her hair partition, and she felt a pang of discomfort stir within her at the sight of these symbols of marital commitment. Suppressing the unease that threatened to bubble to the surface, she pushed her sunglasses back onto her head and regarded Tiya with cool detachment.
"So, why have you called me here?" Sanjana asked, her tone tinged with a hint of skepticism as she settled into her seat.
"It's about you and Karan. I know you both were college sweethearts," Tiya began, her voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in her stomach.
"And?" Sanjana prompted, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"And I would like to reunite you both," Tiya announced, her words hanging in the air with a weight that seemed to catch Sanjana off guard.
Sanjana's expression shifted from one of skepticism to genuine surprise, her features softening with a hint of disbelief. "Reunite us?" she echoed, her voice tinged with a mixture of astonishment and uncertainty.
"What on earth! Is this some joke?" Sanjana exclaimed, her voice rising with disbelief. "Then let me tell you, it's a sick joke," she thundered, her frustration palpable in the air.
But Tiya remained unfazed, her calm smile unwavering in the face of Sanjana's outburst. "It's not a joke, Sanjana," she replied softly, her voice steady despite the tension crackling between them. "Karan still has feelings for you. And as far as I know, you broke up with your last boyfriend a year ago. So, do you still like Karan?"
Sanjana fell silent, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She wrestled with the memories of her past with Karan, the echoes of their shared history resonating within her heart. And as she contemplated Tiya's words, a flicker of realization sparked within her—a glimmer of longing for the love she had once known.
"Yeah, I think so," Sanjana finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she met Tiya's gaze with a mixture of uncertainty and hope.
Tiya's smile widened at Sanjana's confession, a sense of relief washing over her as she recognized the possibility of a future filled with second chances. "Perfect," she said simply, her voice filled with quiet determination. "I will arrange for you two to meet next week."
But Sanjana couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity mingled with apprehension. "But why are you doing this?" she asked, her brow furrowed with confusion.
"Because two lovers separated because of circumstances deserve a chance together again," Tiya replied, her eyes shining with conviction. "They belong with each other. Karan will never love anyone else because his heart belongs to you. And I accepted har kisi ko jabardasti apna nahi bana sakte.” (Can't force everyone to be yours)
As Tiya sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers trembling slightly as she carefully folded her clothes and essentials into a suitcase. Each item she packed held a memory, a fragment of her life with Karan that she couldn't bear to leave behind.
With a heavy heart, she reached for the marriage album nestled amongst her belongings, her hands tracing the familiar pages with a sense of longing. Gently, she plucked a few pictures from the album, images frozen in time that captured the joy and love of their wedding day. She tucked them away in the folds of her suitcase, a silent tribute to the happiness they had once shared.
Next, Tiya retrieved her wedding saree from the closet, the soft fabric warm beneath her fingertips. She caressed it lovingly, memories of her special day flooding her mind with bittersweet nostalgia. That day had been the beginning of a new chapter in her life, a day filled with laughter, love, and the promise of a future together.
Unbidden tears welled in Tiya's eyes as she remembered the warmth and acceptance she had felt from Karan's family, the sense of belonging that had washed over her like a tidal wave. They had embraced her as one of their own, showering her with love and affection in a way she had never known before.
But amidst the flood of memories, Tiya's gaze fell upon something that stirred a different kind of emotion within her—a pregnancy test, its result unmistakable. Two lines, confirming the joyous news that she was expecting a baby. The memory of that moment, of the overwhelming happiness and anticipation she had felt, brought fresh tears to her eyes.
"Oh, how happy I was when I found out I was going to be a mother," Tiya whispered to herself, her voice choked with emotion as she cradled the pregnancy test in her hands. The weight of her loss settled heavily upon her shoulders, a reminder of the dreams that had been shattered and the future that would never be.
And as she sat amidst the remnants of her past, surrounded by memories both bitter and sweet, Tiya allowed herself to grieve for the life she had envisioned, for the baby she had hoped to hold in her arms, and for the love that had slipped through her fingers like grains of sand.
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Are you guys already with your tissues? 🤧
Cuz I am...
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Hare Krishna