It was almost 3 AM when Rohit sat down on the sofa in his bedroom. The only sound in his ears was that of all the electronics devices kept around Raima to help her breathing. The nurse and the attendant sat near the bed pondering through a magazine. He made sure that he moved heaven and hell to make sure Raima is comfortable. One he was sure that Raima is safe and sound, he dialed Ravi who picked up the call in one ring.
"Sona"Suman called her again slowly patting her head. Suman was not sure if Sona was actually sleeping. Her heart ached to see her daughter withering in pain. The whole humiliation at the Sippy house, Rohi's father's venomous words, Rohit's family's unusual silence, Suman was ready to take everything in her stride and move on, but not her daughter's tears. She was not sure if she could comfort and help Sona to move on as she did four years ago.Four years back, the whole fiasco between Karan and Sona ended up in such a bloodbath. Suman knows how Sonakshi moved heaven and earth to save that wounded girl from the lecherous goons and Karan. Suman reached that scene to see a frightened Sonakshi with torn clothes surrounded by goons. Suman, who came with the policemen, was able to save Sona from the molestation attempt. Sona devastated at the betrayal and badly shaken after the whole drama, could not even utter a word to Suman for about an hour. They should have gone to the police against Karan. They should have done everything in their power to bring those perpetrators in front of justice.Suman cursed the day she decided not to file a complaint against Karan and silencing Sonakshi to stay silent. Along with Raima, her daughter was also a victim of that horrific violence. Suman was not sure why she did that. Sonakshi's new show KPKs talks were in progress. Suman did not want any distraction over a Molestation case and she did what a mother should do. Sona protested for days but she herself was shaken and broken beyond repair.I have no regrets. Suman wiped her tears.I did whatever I could to protect my Sona. And even today I will do the same.Suman sat down near Sona's bed as if in a trance. As the hours pass by, Suman willed her mind to stand beside her daughter no matter what tomorrow brings up.Nothing will happen to Sona as long as I am alive. If I know how to bring her back to life after that gang rape attempt, I know how to stand behind her like a rock during this break-up.Suman's steel will give her new energy and confidence. She pulled over the blanket over Sona, Switched off the light and moved towards the door."Goodnight mamma" Sona rasped, with her broken voice.Suman, quickly wiped her tears and closed the door and begin walking towards the hall. She should never see me cry.It was almost 4 AM and Suman sat down in the balcony with a cup of Coffee. She noticed Rohit's car entering the community and a hooded figure getting down from the car. She did not want to create a scene and disturb up Sona so she got her sweater and got out of the apartment waiting for Rohit. In another 5 minutes, Rohit, still in his tuxedo came out of the lift.Suman's glaring eyes never left him the moment he entered the hallway outside the apartment. His arrogance, his rudeness towards Sona and his complete lack of regard for Sona's emotions boiled in Suman's mind. Her discerning eyes were never wrong before. when Sona was with Karan, Suman had warned her about him and it turned out to be true. But with Rohit, Suman was sure, she could see nothing but love for her Sona in his eyes. But today, She was proved wrong. His past seems to have a hold on him and her Sona was nothing in front of that. Suman's heart ached at her Daughters plight who gave her everything for the love and got scorned twice."Sona...?" Rohit did not waste time explaining why he is here."She is sleeping," Suman replied coldly and Rohit did not even wait a second before passing Suman and entering the apartment. Suman was confused for a minute, she wondered if he is here to take revenge for Raima. Suman followed Rohit to Sinakshi's room.Part 3
Sonakshi's mind weaved a thousand alternate realities as she tried to wrap her head around what happened. Her eyes swollen with all the crying, was heavy but sleep eluded her. All she could imagine was Raima's accusing fingers and Rohit's coldness. Along with that, a flood of memories flashed through her mind. Her body shivered at the thought of that fateful night, where some strange hands were all over her body, tearing her clothes, scratching her soul. She felt the helplessness once again. It had taken her a thousand nights to forget that day and today a row part of that night has come alive in front of her.She wanted to should to everyone around her that she was a victim too. She was also in trauma for the last four years. A thousand four hundred and sixty days, she had lived with those memories. If it is not for her mother, a strong pillar in her life, she would have taken her life long back. Sonakshi's mind whirled back to Raima.Is it me who took the four years of life from Raima? Is it me?She remembered that night and tried to imagine every alternative where she could have got medical care for Raima early.What have you done God, You made me the exact person who ruined Rohit's life. Am I responsible for that? Is it me?Whatever way Sonakshi imagined, She could only find herself to blame. She is the one, She is the one who is wearing the scarlet letter. She should be punished. She could have saved Raima somehow, She could have saves Rohit's life. She could not. She failed. Wallowing in guilt, Sonakshi's mind pulled herself into a black hole of depression.Rohit opened Sonakshi's bedroom door and stood in the darkness for a minute before taking a step. He could hear her labored breathing in the silence of the night. He could hear the slightest of the slightest whimpering of Sona. His mind, confused and anxious over the things happened in the last few hours, focused on Sona, his Sona.He remembered the first time meeting her, her calmness, her eyes, and predominantly he remembered her insatiable need to help people. He can not remember a time when Sonakshi wanted something for herself. Her heart, which he had grown to respect, stood before him as pure as an angel. No matter what Raima says, he could never imagine Sona doing anything selfish.He took long breaths to calm himself down before approaching Sona. Today, he is facing the toughest challenge of his life. His whole work, his career he had strived to achieve is standing on one side. Fate had given him what he was looking for, Raima. He gets to correct the mistake he has done four years back, he should be thankful for that to God. Today he got a chance to be a 100% doctor, he gets to ease his burden. But he never thought it would make him stand opposite to Sonakshi, his heart.I want both. My career and my love. Rohit was sure about it.He moved towards Sona's bed with determination. Her breathing intensified and he could tell Sona sensed him. He sat down the exact spot where Suman had been sitting and touched Sona's head."Sona, I know you are not sleeping."Rohit paused while he collected his thoughts and formed his next words. He remembered her shivering body when he was stitching her ripped dress. He remembered her lowering of eyelids every time he held her, he remembered her shy smile as his hands graced her back, he remembered her tears as he declared his love for her."Sona, I love you"He could not find any other words to tell her. He wished to say many things to her but all he could come up with is a succinct I love you. Sona's breathing stopped. Another second passed and still no response from Sona. Rohit again whispered in the dark."I love you Sona." It was more of a reminder to him to sort out his head than to her.He removed his slipped and slipped under her blanket, hugged her with a feverish pitch and continue his whispering,"I love you Sona, Sorry I was caught up with everything, I could not come earlier. I wanted to make sure Raima is alright. I wanted to make sure she gets the best care. I could not come early. Are you alright? "Sonakshi lay still under his embrace, tears threatened to fall out of her closed eyes. She could not believe what she was hearing. All this while she was readying herself for the nasty words that would be hurled at her by the everyone. She was pondering over whether to live a life where she would be hated by Rohit. She was wondering if she could run back to Delhi where she can hide from Rohit. After all, she was responsible for everything.Rohit hugged her even more tightly and fell silent. She could sense the storm he was carrying. It might have taken him all his love for Sona to come here and talk to her after all this."Rohit, that night..." All Sonakshi wanted to tell him her side of the story. All she wanted was Rohit to understand her plight that night. She had no idea how Rohit takes the whole thing happened that night."Shhh Sona, I do not want to talk. I don't know what to do now. I do not know where things are gonna take us from this moment onwards. But there is only one thing I am sure about"Rohit paused and whispered in Sona's ear."I love you Sona and I can not live without you"Sonakshi lay silent in his embrace. She would not even dare to move thinking he may leave. She sat there as a thousand questions raise up in her mind about the future. For the first time, Sonakshi was confused and her mind raced in a whirling storm.On the contrary, Rohit's mind was calming down, Among all this chaos, he could find a beam of light in her love. Rohit realized, the only thing that binds him to sanity is his love for her. Sonakshi is his anchor, the only thing that his soul is tied to and everything else is immaterial. He loves her and loves her to bits. No matter what explanation Sonakshi is going to give about it, it is not gonna change his love. Irrespective of what happened that day, he knows Sonakshi enough to love her unconditionally.1He patted her back to put her to sleep. He could feel Sonakshi's stiffened body relaxing and he caressed her hair till she was deeply asleep. When Rohit was sure Sonakshi slept, he got up and pulled the blanket over Sonakshi. On his way out, he carefully closed the door of her bedroom and the hall bracing for a tomorrow that is gonna test his love for Sona. Nevertheless, for the first time, he was sure what he wants.Rohit opened Sonakshi's bedroom door and stood in the darkness for a minute before taking a step. He could hear her labored breathing in the silence of the night. He could hear the slightest of the slightest whimpering of Sona. His mind, confused and anxious over the things happened in the last few hours, focused on Sona, his Sona.He remembered the first time meeting her, her calmness, her eyes, and predominantly he remembered her insatiable need to help people. He can not remember a time when Sonakshi wanted something for herself. Her heart, which he had grown to respect, stood before him as pure as an angel. No matter what Raima says, he could never imagine Sona doing anything selfish.He took long breaths to calm himself down before approaching Sona. Today, he is facing the toughest challenge of his life. His whole work, his career he had strived to achieve is standing on one side. Fate had given him what he was looking for, Raima. He gets to correct the mistake he has done four years back, he should be thankful for that to God. Today he got a chance to be a 100% doctor, he gets to ease his burden. But he never thought it would make him stand opposite to Sonakshi, his heart.I want both. My career and my love. Rohit was sure about it.He moved towards Sona's bed with determination. Her breathing intensified and he could tell Sona sensed him. He sat down the exact spot where Suman had been sitting and touched Sona's head."Sona, I know you are not sleeping."Rohit paused while he collected his thoughts and formed his next words. He remembered her shivering body when he was stitching her ripped dress. He remembered her lowering of eyelids every time he held her, he remembered her shy smile as his hands graced her back, he remembered her tears as he declared his love for her."Sona, I love you"He could not find any other words to tell her. He wished to say many things to her but all he could come up with is a succinct I love you. Sona's breathing stopped. Another second passed and still no response from Sona. Rohit again whispered in the dark."I love you Sona." It was more of a reminder to him to sort out his head than to her.He removed his slipped and slipped under her blanket, hugged her with a feverish pitch and continue his whispering,"I love you Sona, Sorry I was caught up with everything, I could not come earlier. I wanted to make sure Raima is alright. I wanted to make sure she gets the best care. I could not come early. Are you alright? "Sonakshi lay still under his embrace, tears threatened to fall out of her closed eyes. She could not believe what she was hearing. All this while she was readying herself for the nasty words that would be hurled at her by the everyone. She was pondering over whether to live a life where she would be hated by Rohit. She was wondering if she could run back to Delhi where she can hide from Rohit. After all, she was responsible for everything.Rohit hugged her even more tightly and fell silent. She could sense the storm he was carrying. It might have taken him all his love for Sona to come here and talk to her after all this."Rohit, that night..." All Sonakshi wanted to tell him her side of the story. All she wanted was Rohit to understand her plight that night. She had no idea how Rohit takes the whole thing happened that night."Shhh Sona, I do not want to talk. I don't know what to do now. I do not know where things are gonna take us from this moment onwards. But there is only one thing I am sure about"Rohit paused and whispered in Sona's ear."I love you Sona and I can not live without you"Sonakshi lay silent in his embrace. She would not even dare to move thinking he may leave. She sat there as a thousand questions raise up in her mind about the future. For the first time, Sonakshi was confused and her mind raced in a whirling storm.On the contrary, Rohit's mind was calming down, Among all this chaos, he could find a beam of light in her love. Rohit realized, the only thing that binds him to sanity is his love for her. Sonakshi is his anchor, the only thing that his soul is tied to and everything else is immaterial. He loves her and loves her to bits. No matter what explanation Sonakshi is going to give about it, it is not gonna change his love. Irrespective of what happened that day, he knows Sonakshi enough to love her unconditionally.1He patted her back to put her to sleep. He could feel Sonakshi's stiffened body relaxing and he caressed her hair till she was deeply asleep. When Rohit was sure Sonakshi slept, he got up and pulled the blanket over Sonakshi. On his way out, he carefully closed the door of her bedroom and the hall bracing for a tomorrow that is gonna test his love for Sona. Nevertheless, for the first time, he was sure what he wants.Writer: Mayad07
