Part 8:
After him covering for her mistake (although a justified one) and seeing Naani in pain Chandni felt guilty and left the room. “I shouldn’t have hit him, he is in pain now and his pain is disturbing Naani, how could I do that?” she was scolding herself for hitting him. “Yes he is a monster and he deserved it but he could have died… Yes, I hate him but I’ve never killed an insect in my whole life and he is a living breathing human… how could I stoop so low to his level? He has hurt me and destroyed my life and if I do the same in return it will be justice but it wouldn’t make me any better than him…” Chandni was reasoning with herself over what had transpired between her and Advay. “But how dare he to propose me for marriage… what does he think that he’ll marry me and everything will be fine again, that I’ll get happy again, he will be able to undo the damage, sorry Mr. Advay Singh Raizada but I’m going to find a way to make your life a hell, I want you to feel the same pain that I’ve felt and I’ll find a way” she vowed to herself with determination.
“Naani you have one of your friend’s function to attend in the evening, I think you should think about getting ready for it, don’t worry I’ll be fine” he asked Naani to go “but Cheeku how can I leave you alone in such a condition my child?” Naani’s tone was perplexed “Don’t worry Naani Murli will be here with me” he assured Naani. “Are you sure Cheeku you will be fine while I’m gone” Naani was not easy to satisfy “yeah Naani, I’ll be fine” he emphasized.
Few hours later Naani along with Shilpa went away to attend the particular function, while Advay, Murli and Chandni remained at home, Advay due to his injury, Murli to look after Advay and Chandni never wanted to attend any social gathering and she had confided herself in Naani’s room since Advay was in her room the only person she hated in this entire world. “How are you feeling now Bhaiyya?” Murli asked him concerned “I’m fine now Murli, something bothering you?” he asked with questioning eyes “actually Bhaiyya my sister’s wedding has been fixed so my family needs me there and I have to leave for my home today” Murli told him reluctantly.
“Murli it’s okay, I’m fine now you can go but before that I need you to shift me back to my room” he told Murli politely. “But Bhaiyya isn’t that your room? So why do you need to go other room?” Murli asked with hesitation. “Murli do as I told you and ask Chandni to come back to this room after I’m gone and check that doors are properly locked, it’s raining heavily today with storm outside” he instructed Murli with a stern face. After shifting him back to his room Murli went away to check all the locks and to inform Chandni to go back to her room. “Bhaiyya, I can’t find Chandni Jiji anywhere in the house” Murli told him in an agitated voice “what?” he barked at him “did look everywhere carefully?” he asked Murli angrily.
“Yes Bhaiyya I have” Murli replied afraid of Advay’s anger “okay, I think you should leave for your home it’s getting late, I’ll look for her myself” he ordered Murli to go while handling him a large amount of cash to his sister’s marriage “thank you Bhaiyya” Murli hugged him with tearful eyes and went away. “Where could she go? She must here somewhere? Is she outside? How she can be outside when it’s raining heavily?”he was thinking to himself while searching for Chandni inside the house when he saw the door leading to the backyard garden of the house ajar. “Is she there? I should go and check on her” when he went there what he saw was enough to panic him, Chandni was on the ground unconscious drenched in rain while her body was cold and her lips were turning blue.
He hurriedly went near to her “Chandni” he patted her cheeks but the moment he touched her face it felt like he had touched an iced stone “Chandni you are freezing damn it, Chandni!” he lifted her in his arms and strode inside. Taking her to the room where she was staying, he looked around for something to cover her as she was shivering badly. “What should I do now if she remains in these wet clothes she will catch pneumonia and I can’t let that happen… Should I change her clothes? Yeah I have to there is no other option…”
he placed a blanket over her and without looking at her he hurriedly took off her wet clothes and changed her into one of his shirts and wrapped her in a blanket, but her shivering didn’t get any less “Damn it what should I do now?” his agitation was increasing with every passing moment when an idea struck his mind “she will kill me this time for sure but I don’t care I have to save her life” he quickly changed into his dry clothes and laid beside Chandni wrapping her body with his to induce as much body heat as he could. After sometime her shivering lessened and she nuzzled her face against Advay’s chest while hot tears started to stream down her face “please let me go, don’t come near me… please let me go, I didn’t mean to abuse you… please help me, save me from this monster please…” she was continuously pleading to him to let her go.
Advay felt someone had punched him in the guts and tears started to stream down his face, he tightened his embrace around Chandni and lifting her face in his hands, he wiped away her tears and placing a soft kiss on her forehead he choked on his words “I’m so sorry Chandni I’ve ruined your life but I promise you that I’ll make everything okay for you” he rested her head against his heart and patted her head reassuringly which subsided her sobs making her calm. In the 32 years of his life he never felt that peaceful, it was the first time when he was able to bear the horrific memories of his childhood without a stabbing pain, Chandni resting against his heart had a calming effect on him. He looked at her angelic face and placed a kiss on her thick-haired head.
(Note: While reading this part do listen to this song to understand Advay’s pain and why he is the way he is.)
“My Demons” by Starset
Mayday! Mayday!
The ship is slowly sinking
They think I’m crazy but they don’t know the feeling
They’re all around me,
Circling like vultures
They wanna break me and wash away my colors
Wash away my colors
Take me high and I’ll sing
Oh you make everything okay, okay, okay
‘Kay, Okay, Okay
We are one in the same
Oh you take all of the pain away, away, away
‘Way, away, away
Save me if I become
My demons” “I just wish that I hadn’t met you like this, I hadn’t done what I have done to you, I love you but I know you hate me with every part of your being and I deserve it” he caressed her soft cheek and there were tears of anguish in his eyes.
“I cannot stop this sickness taking over
It takes control and drags me into nowhere
I need your help, I can’t fight this forever
I know you’re watching,
I can feel you out there
Take me high and I’ll sing
Oh you make everything okay, okay, okay
‘Kay, Okay, Okay
We are one in the same
Oh you take all of the pain away, away, away
‘Way, away, away
Save me if I become
My demons” “Whenever I look at you, the fear I see in your eyes when you look at me makes me to kill myself for that. I’ve been a monster to you and I guess I’ll be a monster for you for all my life, no wonder you couldn’t forgive me or stop hating me, and because of your hatred for me I’m living in a hell” he was pouring his heart out to an unconscious Chandni.
“Take me over the walls below
Fly forever
Don’t let me go
I need a savior to heal my pain
When I become my worst enemy
The enemy
Take me high and I’ll sing
Oh you make everything okay
We are one in the same
Oh you take all of the pain away
Take me high and I’ll sing
Oh you make everything okay, okay, okay
‘Kay, Okay, Okay
We are one in the same
Oh you take all of the pain away, away, away
‘Way, away, away
Save me if I become
My demons” “And the most funny thing is that Naani always used to tell me that there will be a girl somewhere in this world who will love me for what I am and not because of my being a successful business tycoon. When I first saw you in that restaurant, struggling with your skirt to cover up yourself I just wished that you will be the one, but I’ve ruined my chance of happiness with you with my own hands, I just wish that I could turn the time and make everything between us good” he was now whispering into her ears.
“Take me high and I’ll sing
Oh you make everything okay, okay, okay
‘Kay, Okay, Okay
We are one in the same
Oh you take all of the pain away, away, away
‘Way, away, away
Save me if I become
My demons” “I just needed someone to save me from the demons of my past, it could have been you but I’m sure I’ve lost the chance of being saved and now I’m doomed for my whole life” a lone tear escaped his eye, he again placed a soft kiss on her head, he picked his phone from the side table to call Naani ask her their time of returning home, he was a little perplexed to know that they had to stay at Naani’s friend till morning as the roads were closed and he gave one last look to Chandni’s face before he went into a deep slumber.