Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Ranveer's POV

No.

I am not like him.

But the scar on her forehead says otherwise.

I am not like him.

You are just like him.

Like father, like son.

"Ranveer why are you crying?” Naina asked as she wiped my tears.

I went and quickly took out the first aid kid and put the band-aid on her forehead.

"Are you okay?" she asked as I couldn't control my tears and tears were continuously rolling down my cheek.

I am not like him.

I am not a monster.

"What happened?" she asked, as she once again wiped my tears.

"Ranveer look at me.” she said as she cupped my cheek and our eyes met.

"I don’t know why you are crying but I can't see you crying like this. Ranveer look at me,” she said as she once again wiped my tears.

"I love you. I have only loved you. The day we met Sameer confessed that he likes me. When Dad told me that I have to marry you I went to Sameer and asked him to marry me but he said he can't get married to me for the next few years and then he told me to get married to you and divorce you after few years because if I don’t get married to you then I will have to give you five lakhs and I didn't have that much money and I stupidly agreed,” she told me.

"But from the day we got married slowly I was attracted towards you. Your love and respect for me, your kind nature. Each and every second we spend together was falling for you more. Each and everything I said and did with you was natural. Nothing was fake, Ranveer. There is only one person I love and that is you, I never loved Sameer. He was my foolish mistake. I love you, only you. If not, I would have gone when you came to know about my plan but I didn't because I love you and want to be with you. Each and every moment we spend was true. Look in my eyes,” she said and once again I looked in her eyes.

So she fell in love with me after we were married but I am not good for her.

I will only hurt her and make her cry.

"You always understood what I felt by just looking at me so just look at me and you will get your answer. You will know how much I love you and there's only one person in my heart and that's you." she told me and I was just looking at her.

After so many weeks I actually looked at her properly keeping aside my pain, hurt and anger and she was right.

I saw the love for me in her eyes.

I looked in her eyes and as if her eyes had a path to her heart and I realized she is telling me the truth.

She loves me but I know I will only hurt her.

Just like he did.

No.

She cannot be with me.

I am just like him.

Like father, like son.

I walked out before I could even hurt her more.

I went and sat in the car and started driving.

I don’t know where I was going but I just wanted to leave before I hurt Naina more.

Flashback.

"Mommy are you okay?" I asked hugging her as I saw my Dad slapping her before leaving the office.

Why Dad slaps her?

Mommy said we should never hurt the people you love.

I love my Mommy.

I love my teachers.

I never hurt them.

Then why Dad hurts Mommy?

Everybody who comes in our house says that my Mom is lucky to have Dad as he gives her everything and loves her.

Then why he hurt her everyday?

"I am fine, Ranveer. Have you done your homework?" she asked.

"Yesterday only I finished all my homework." I told her.

"Now that’s like a good boy. Listen Ranveer I know you are just eight years old but always remember you never hurt the person you love. You always protect them," Mom said.

"Just like those prince charming in fairy tale save their princess?" I asked and she laughed even though tears were rolling down her cheeks.

I wiped her tears.

Why Dad make her so sad ?

"Yes you should always save your princess, never hurt her," she said.

"I promise Mom I will never hurt my princess because you always say we should never hurt the person you love,” I said and she hugged me.

"I just hope you do not turn out like him,” she mumbled in my neck.

No.

I will never hurt my princess like my Dad hurt my Mom.

*****

As soon I came from school I noticed my Mom lying on the bed.

Today her condition was very bad.

She had bruises all over her body as Dad hit her with a belt.

I wish I would study hard, grow fast and take my mother out of this house but I was just ten years old and I could not do anything.

Why Dad does this ?

What does he get by doing these?

What pleasure he gets by seeing the marks on her body?

In school also these question roam around my head and I could not concentrate on anything and don't feel like talking with anyone.

In school, only one question runs in my head.

Is my Mom okay today?

I can’t wait to finish the school and go to house to check on my Mom.

"Aah."

her scream bought me out of my thought.

She was trying to wake up but couldn't.

There were bruises all over her body and a big scar on her forehead.

I took out the first aid kit and band aid the scar as tears were rolling down her cheeks.

I will never be like him.

I will never hurt the woman I love.

I will always protect her.

I put the band-aid on the scar and I tried to control my tears but I couldn't.

I started crying loudly.

I never cried in front of my Mom.

I used to go in my room and cry but seeing her like this I couldn't stop.

I can't loose her.

What will happen if Dad hurt her so much that she died?

No.

"Ranveer come here,” she said and pulled me in a hug.

"Mom when will these stop?" I asked crying loudly.

"I can't see you like this Ranveer. I can bear the pain but I can't see you so broken. Pack your bag. Let's leave Ranveer. I cannot ruin your present life for a better future. I cannot ruin you emotionally and mentally just because he can provide you a good education and good life. What's the point of living here when we both are hurting so much. Pack your bag. Let's leave, we will find something,” Mom said and for the first time I smiled.

We will leave.

We will be free from that monster.

I hurriedly went and pack my bags and she packed her bags.

In an hour we were both ready to leave.

"Mom where will we go?" I asked.

“Mom can’t we go to grandma and grandpa’s house?” I asked.

“They will not accept us,” she said.

“They will not even look at us if they found out I left him,” she continued.

But why?

They are so nice.

We don’t have anyone other than parents of my Dad because grandparents of my Mom’s side died few years back.

“And aunt had also sold your grandparent’s house as she needed capital for business. She is herself staying in a hotel so I can’t even go there,”she told me.

Yes, aunt said that one day she want to own her own company so she studies very hard.

"Don’t worry I had talked with one of my friend and we will stay there till we find a home,” she said as we were walking.

We were walking as my eyes drifted on something.

"Mom what's an NGO?" I asked looking at the board 'Dhara NGO for women'

"That’s an NGO which help women who are in need of help,” she said looking at the direction I was looking.

"Mom when I will grow up we will also help women who are in need,” I said and she smiled.

"If we can we will son,” she said and we went towards the NGO.

*****

"Mom what is divorce paper?" I asked as she was looking at the paper.

We were finally in a small home .Mom sold her ornaments to give the deposit of the house and Mom said she was lucky to find a job as a receptionist so soon in a nearby company.

"When a couple who is married do not want to stay with each other they decide to seperate they decide to take a divorce but I think it’s not easy Ranveer,” she said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Your Dad is a professor, and as he is rich he is powerful, so I think it will not be easy,” she told me.

"But we are right Mom,” I said and she smiled.

"Yes we are right but we don’t have money like Dad and.."

"We have to earn a lot of money to be powerful?" I asked, confused.

"No it's not like that. Money does not bring power. People like your Dad thinks money gives power and maybe they are right in some way but I want to tell you Ranveer that money is important but you should know the importance of it and value it and help other people with it if you can. How you are as a human being is more important than how much money you earn,” she said and I understood.

I have to be a good person and earn money.

"I just pray that to keep his reputation in front of everybody he will not fight with me and take the matter in court and sign the divorce paper and free me out of his grasp without any fight," she said signing the divorce paper under her name.

End of flashback.

*****

Naina's POV

Why was he crying?

I was so confused.

I went in front of mirror and looked at the scar covered with band-aid on my forehead.

It was an accident.

I know he will never hurt me.

I went in the hall and sat on the sofa waiting for him.

Where had he gone?

What is going on in his head?

Today I was feeling a bit relaxed as I told him everything I can in those few minutes we were together.

Why was he crying?

Was he crying because he thought I betrayed him ?

But after telling him everything his tears didn't stop.

He was still crying.

But why?

I don’t want to go crazy with all the questions and no answers so I put on the television and started scrolling through the channels.

After few hours he was back and looked at me and then before I could say anything he went in our room.

After some time he came back and I noticed he had changed his clothes.

He sat at the dining table.

What?

For the past so many day I don’t know when he eats or even  if he eats or not.

Today he wants to have dinner with me?

Like we used to do before everything changed.

I quickly warmed up the dinner and served it in a plate.

He was having the dinner quietly and not once looking at me.

His whole attention was on the plate.

I also didn't want to start a conversation.

What if I try to speak something and he left?

I chuckled realizing how our relationship has changed so much that we could not even talk to each other.

Previously we used to share everything and even if we were silent it was a comfortable silence but now this silence was dreadful.

I can't sit with him like this.

I quickly finished my dinner, washed my plate and went to my room.

I changed into my night suit and slept on the bed.

I felt the bed dip and realized that he was sleeping beside me.

What?

He is sleeping on bed with me.

The last time he slept with me was when I had cut my foot and pleaded him not to leave me.

I turned around to face him.

He looked at me and our eyes met then he looked at me and turned away and I was looking at his back.

I wanted to touch him, caress him, hug him but I was afraid that if I even get closer to him he will leave.

I never wanted this.

I just wished to be happy with him but everything changed.

Today something happened. Something I could not understand. I asked myself so many times but never got an answer but I was glad that I told him that my heart only craves for him and maybe he realized it and we are making a progress.

He turned around in his sleep and now I could look at his handsome face, his beautiful feature, eyes which were now closed but I noticed dark circle under his eyes and even in his sleep he was looking so upset and sad.

By looking at him I realized I am hurting him so much.

I realized how much pain I have caused him.

"I am sorry, Ranveer,” I said and thought of caressing his cheeks but was afraid that he will wake up.

There were days when we could not sleep without being in each others arms and now I could not even dare to touch him but this way I can look at him as much as I can without any restrictions.

I was happy just by looking at him and today I don’t want to close my eyes.

I am afraid that if I fall asleep the sun will rise and again he will go away from him.

I was just looking at him.

And I did not even realize that it was 7.00 a.m.

The alarm rang and he stretched his arms and I knew he will wake up.

I quickly closed my eyes pretending to sleep.

He woke up and I felt him looking at me.

I felt his breathe closer to me and I felt that he was trying to touch me but then I heard some sound and realized he already went to the washroom.

Why everything changed so much?

He came out of the washroom, got ready and went downstairs.

I realized he was leaving for office but he bought me breakfast.

Breakfast?

Our thing?

Are we really progressing?

He kept the breakfast beside me and I went to freshen up.

I quickly freshened up so that he will not leave and came out to see that he has not left.

He was sitting there.

I sat beside him.

We are progressing. Today when he will come from office I will sit with him and explain him everything.

Yesterday I told him everything in few minutes but today I will take my time and tell him everything.

We will be together.

We had our breakfast silently but I was okay with it.

Now I will be happy with whatever he is giving him. Even if he is not saying anything at least he is sitting with me and having breakfast.

His mobile phone rang bringing me out of my thoughts and he washed his hand and picked up the mobile.

By listening to it I realized it was some business call.

He went in the hall.

Look!

He has forgotten his bag here.

I decided to give him his bag bag so that he does not have to come back.

I took the bag and the chain was open.

Really!

Sometimes he is so busy that he forget everything.

While I was closing the bag my eyes caught something.

No.

It can't be what I am thinking.

No.

He can't do this.

With shaking hands I took it out and I could not believe my own eyes.

I heard the foot steps and quickly put it in the bag, closed the chain and placed it where it was,controlled my tears and sat on the bed.

"Lock the door,” he said and left.

"Ranveer, why are you doing this?" finally I screamed loudly as my tears were not stopping and was continuously rolling down my cheeks.

*****