Chapter 2
“Tara ?!” Raghav uttered.
Dhruv picked up the letter and read.
“So the letters were for Tara. Who could have written it, and why did Tara deny knowing about the letters when I asked?” Raghav expressed his doubt.
“You already asked Tara about this?” Asked Dhruv.
“I did not mention what is written in those letters; I was just mentioning about letters as it’s her dad’s space. She told me she doesn’t know anything.” Raghav said.
“What do you think?” Dhruv asked.
“Tara cannot lie to me. She could be genuinely unaware, or is this kind of a prank for me? I should probably read all the letters.” Raghav said.
“It could be some other Tara as well, right?” Dhruv said.
“Even if I accuse Tara on gunpoint, she wouldn’t come up with this excuse.” Raghav smiled.
“Fine. You seem to be chill. Didn’t expect that.” Dhruv said.
“Tara is the girl we are talking about; of course I’m chill. But its important to ask her about this; tomorrow shall we speak to her?” He asked.
“We?” Dhruv questioned.
“Come on, I don’t want to talk to her alone. I will lose my patience,” Raghav said.
“Not convincing enough for me to come!” Dhruv said.
“I will invite Roomi as well,” said Raghav.
“Fine, so lunch then?” Dhruv smiled.
“Only God knows what business you have with Roomi.” Raghav said.
“Bye Raghav,” Dhruv greeted.
….
“Roomi, today we will lunch with Raghav,” said Tara.
“You have started lying to me, Tara? Raghav invited you or you forced him?” Asked Roomi.
“I know you won’t believe me, but Raghav called me yesterday and invited me for lunch. He asked me to bring you as well. It is surprising for me, but I know he would come around. After all, he does like me, right?” Tara smiled.
“You are not only dumb but annoying as well. I think he wants to cut ties with you publicly, which is why I’m invited as well.” said Roomi.
“What are you saying?” Asked Tara with a concerned face.
“Yes, he is going to dump you, and you will faint, so there has to be someone to take you home, right like the guy you helped a few weeks ago.. remember? That’s why I’m invited.” Roomi rolled her eyes.
“We have to start in 2 hours; get ready,” Tara ordered Roomi.
“Yes, when you faint, the whole restaurant will watch you, so obviously we should look good,” Roomi sighed.
At the restaurant
The girls look out for the table. The restaurant was nearly empty after all, rainy season it is. They saw two guys waiting at a table and approached them.
Raghav noticed both girls and signaled Dhruv. Dhruv looked above and saw Tara and Roomi beside him. He saw Tara approaching Raghav and greeting him happily. Roomi was shocked to see Dhruv.
“I thought you would never appear to our eyes after Tara’s engagement; here you are!” She smirked.
Raghav welcomed Roomi and introduced Dhruv. “Tara, I don’t know if you remember him; he is Dhruv. His cousin and me stayed together in the US. So that’s how I know him.”
Roomi turned Tara’s face from Raghav to Dhruv. Tara threw away Roomi’s hand and smiled at Dhruv. “Yes, of course I remember. You introduced him to me in our engagement. Hi Dhruv!” Tara smiled.
“Well, of course Tara remembers Dhruv’s introduction. After all, that’s the only sentence Raghav spoke to her during the whole day!” Roomi taunted.
Tara ignored Roomi and asked Dhruv, “Nice to see you after a long time; how are you?”
Dhruv smiled at her and nodded. Raghav interrupted and requested,Actually, I want to talk to Tara about something very important. Do if you guys could allow us a few minutes, please.” He took Tara and went to the lounge.
Dhruv saw Raghav and Tara going outside the preview and grabbed Roomi to his side.
“Even I thought I would never come before you, but here I am because of your deeds.” Dhruv said in a rude tone.
“Ouch, that bad.” Roomi released herself from his arms.
“Do you remember what I asked you to do on Raghav’s engagement?” He asked.
“Yes. I do remember. FYI, I did not do what you said!” Roomi said sternly.
“Are you mad? Do you even know what it has led us to now?” Dhruv scolded her.
“What ?” Roomi asked, irritated.
“I specifically asked you to destroy those letters. As you didn’t care to do it, Raghav has got his hands on those, and now he will question Tara as well.” Dhruv said.
“Really ? Wow ! Finally, it paid off. Firstly, you did not ask me to destroy it; you cried in front of me to do it. Secondly, I read those letters, and I don’t think it has to be destroyed. So I left those for Tara to read, which she didn’t unfortunately. How did I forget that?” She laughed.
“Are you serious? How can you be so chilled? Your sister is going to be blamed for something she is unaware of. Don’t you feel bad about this?” Dhruv asked.
“If you are taking about Tara’s respect, then leave it; she has sold all that to Raghav. And why are you worried? You should celebrate now. The universe has given your love a second chance.” Roomi patted his shoulders.
“I don’t understand,” Dhruv loomed confused.
“Dhruv, from the moment I knew that you love Tara, I wanted you guys to end up together. Look at Raghav and Tara; they are a misfit. It should be “Dhruv and Tara,” don’t you think so? And tell me something: who can love Tara the way you do? She deserves you, and you deserve her.” Said Roomi.
Dhruv looked at Roomi’s excited face. He stared at her barely.
“Listen, Dhruv, let me tell you how it is done. Now Raghav has a clear reason to break this engagement, so he will not leave this very easily. Also, you go to him and tell him the truth. He will be very happy if he knows about your love. He will get you hooked up with Tara.” Roomi explained.
“Why will he do that?” Dhruv asked her.
“Because it’s a win-win situation. He is also getting freed from Tara, and he can trap you with her instead.” Roomi said.
“Trap?” Dhruv asked confused.
“Look, Dhruv, you should not step back now. You should have thought about all this before falling for Tara. And also, you and Tara are very similar. Both are weirdly dramatic people. So you guys will make a good pair.” Roomi extended her hands to Dhruv for a hifi.
Dhruv twisted her hands and said,Don’t speak nonsense. We are not in any film that these fairy tale endings will occur.”.
Roomi grabbed his collars and said,When you wrote the last letter in tears and walked away shattered, you did not realize this is not a film? Listen to me carefully; Raghav is a very practical guy. He will surely do the right thing. All you have to do is tell him the truth.”
“What if Raghav doesn’t do as you said?” Dhruv questioned.
“First tell him; at least let the secret be revealed. He deserves to know it. Tara too. Let’s hope for the best,” Roomi said.
“Will Tara agree if Raghav agrees?” Dhruv asked.
“Tara will die if Raghav asks her to; after all, he is going to ask her to accept you, so she will. Even if she doesn’t, I will convince her. She should be lucky to have you in her life,” Roomi said.
“Why does Tara love Raghav so much?” he asked.
“Not just Tara; the whole family keeps him above their heads. I think he does black magic at night; otherwise, why would everyone listen to him blindly?” said Roomi.
“Do you listen to him?” Dhruv asked.
“Not even in my deathbed,” she said, and they laughed.
Roomi saw Raghav and Tara approaching them; she whispered to Dhruv, “Don’t forget what I said. Tell him everything!”. Dhruv nodded.
“Can we order I’m already hungry.” Raghav said and sat next to Dhruv.
Later in Dhruv’s car
Dhruv looked at Raghav, who was silent and occupied in his phone. He hesitantly asked him, “I saw Tara smiling the whole time. Figured out that you did not speak to her about the letters. Why didn’t you?”
Raghav smiled and said, “You answered your own question.”.
“Haven’t you become more considerate towards Tara?” Dhruv asked.
“How big of a prick I was to Tara; I realized it when I read the third letter,” Raghav said.
“You already read the third letter?” Dhruv asked.
“Yesterday night. The guy just described how Tara is in his eyes. He saw Tara in the same restaurant enjoying an Italian dish. He said from today it’s his favorite. He doesn’t know the name of the dish, but it has become his favorite. He also said he doesn’t like Rain, as it will not give him a chance to look at her as she will be in her home adoring the rain.”
Before Raghav could say more, Dhruv interrupted, “It’s sounding creepy.” Raghav laughed and said, “Yesterday even I thought the same, but today when Tara was before me, I realized that guy is just in love, crazy love. In fact, all the things he did for Tara are something Tara always does for me. Today she ordered my favorite dish for her. She is out with me talking in the rain instead of spending time at home. She has always expressed her love for me, but I never appreciated her. How hypocritical I would be to think the love I read in these letters is pure and judge Tara’s love for me as obsession. If Tara is lucky as per the letters, then how lucky would I be to get Tara’s love?” Raghav said passionately.
Dhruv just stared into Raghav’s teary eyes and said, “Are you changing your feelings for Tara after some 4 stranger’s lines?”
“No, I’m regretting my cold behavior towards an innocent, sweet girl who devoted all her life to my love. Thanks to those letters, I realized it soon. Today, when I looked at Tara, she was different. All these years, I think I always liked her. I was just upset when she didn’t listen to me. Even that disappointment comes from the rights I bestow on her.”
“Raghav, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I had to tell you something important.” Dhruv said to Raghav impatiently.
“Go ahead,” Raghav said. “Do you know who wrote those letters?” Dhruv asked.
“No, neither I want to know. I’m glad I read that, but I don’t want those to come into me or Tara’s life. In fact, I’m thinking to destroy them before Tara or another person finds it!” Raghav said.
Dhruv couldn’t believe what Raghav had said. Before he could digest, Raghav requested him, “Dhruv, please don’t mention anything about these to Tara or Roomi. Tomorrow I have invited them over dinner at my house. You should also come. I want to heartly apologize to Tara for my rudeness and want to have a fresh start with her. So please let this be a secret between us.”
Dhruv uttered to himself, “Looks like things are always meant to be unsaid between me and Tara.” He controlled his tears and posed a bare face.