10

Souls don't meet by accident

"Your parents used to abuse you?"Reyansh asked aardhya who stared at him blankly.

The atmosphere was tense,noone uttered a word.

"Answer me aardhya"

He felt a deep sense of concern and protectiveness.

His heart ached at the thought of her suffering at young age.

A wave of vulnerability washed over her as she grappled with the painful memories.But she didn't answer him.she wants to share her pain with someone.but this someone can't be him.he is also one of the reason of her pain.

"Aardhya answer my this question only please,did they?"

"Yes"her voice merely audible but he heard it loud and clear.

Reyansh's heart sank as she said yes.

He felt a surge of empathy and sorrow for her suffering.

"W-why?"his voice trembled.

This was really a rare sight for aardhya to see him this way but she cared less about him now.

"You said for only one question"she said and left from the room.

He sighed,she doesn't want to tell him.

Why would she?when you are also a reason of her misery.

His subconscious mocked him.

"Right"he muttered and a bitter chuckle escaped his mouth.

He wished if he could go back in time and correct everything.

He vowed to keep her happy and help her come out of trauma she suffered whether her parents gave her or him.

----------------

Reyansh's admiration for her grew each passing day. Despite the suffering, she stood determined.he couldn't help but fall for her strength and spirit.

But guilt also increased with passing days.he hasn't seen her smile in these months.

He has seen how his brother cracks up a joke but she doesn't laugh anymore.

How his mother pats her head but she does not smile shyly anymore.

Each day,the weight of his remorse grew heavier, gnawing at his conscience.

The realisation that he had contributed to her pain haunting him, making it difficult for him to find peace.

As his feelings blossom for aardhya,so did the guilt.he couldn't reconcile his feelings with the person he had been,internal conflicts tormenting him.

Reyansh feared,she would never forgive him.

The fear of losing her added to his guilt, making him hate himself more every passing day.

He felt no matter how much he tried to make amends,it would never be enough to erase the pain he caused.

The sense of inadequacy weigh heavily on him.

Reyansh found himself often lying awake at night, replaying his last actions in mind.

The guilt kept him from finding rest,as he struggled with the regret and guilt of his previous behaviour.

"Beta tell me,is something or someone bothering you?"Amravati,her mother in law asked her softly on the dining table.

Reyansh's hands freezed,he stopped eating.

He isn't scared of the reality coming out infront of his mother and brother.

He loves his brother dearly and maybe his brother might hate him for it,doesnot matter really because he deserves it.

His mother,he maybe still loves her but he has become distant from her since his grandfather's death.

His father died after a few years.he was a great father for sure but maybe not a good husband.

"Nothing happened ma, don't stress"she said,her voice softening a little but her face still blank.

Amravati wasn't satisfied by her answer but she refrained herself to dwell more thinking she will tell her by herself when she is comfortable.

"Bhabhi maa you can tell us everything,we won't judge you for it.you don't need to buy your emotions within your heart"Aryan said smiling softly at her.

She nodded,her blank eyes softened.

But a smile—was missing.

___________________________________

"Hey madman"Dhruv Malhotra said entering inside reyansh's cabin.

He is his best friend since childhood, who was foreign for 8 months due to business and is back now.

"Heard Mr is married now?"he said giving a teasing look.

Reyansh smiled bitterly at him.

Sensing something off he sat on the couch and asked"what happened bro?you okay?"

"I messed up everything dhruv"he murmured.

"Tell me Reyansh"he said so that he could understand the situation.

Reyansh took a deep breath and began"I did not marry Neha"

Dhruv abruptly stood up from his seat.

"The fuck!"

"I married aardhya,the girl my grandfather promised to get me married to.I married her for the sake of dadu's promise.due to anger of not able to marry Neha I treated her harshly.soon Neha broke up with me which made me even more angrier.

I  a-abused her"his voice broke down.

Dhruv grabbed his collar and landed a punch on his face.

"When did you become this immature?"dhruv shouted on his face.

"H-her parents also used to abuse her and maybe she expected her husband to love her and i-i abused her too,she didn't deserve it"

Dhruv's grip on his collar loosened.

His bestfriend was breaking down for a girl.he was falling in love,dhruv knew it.

But what about the poor girl who suffered this much?

"How long have you been abusing her?"he asked seriously,his face hardens.

"Almost 6 months"he whispered.

"Fuck you bastard,you are not the Reyansh I had known for years"dhruv clenched his fists in anger.

This is not what he wanted to know after returning back to the country after months,his bestfriend ruining a poor soul's life.

"How are you going to make it up for her?"he asked.

"I don't know dhruv, I do not know how to fix it.i apologized but you know a sorry won't fix anything.she stopped smiling not even at mother and aryan.she always has blank face,all because of me.i snatched away her peace.she used to cry due to pain I gave her but later she didn't even cry just silently take the punishments.i snatched her emotions from her.i am a monster"a tear escaped his eye.

Dhruv placed his hand on his shoulder.

"You shattered her heart into pieces,collect them even if they pierce through your skin and bleed,collect them before it's too late"dhruv stated,still angry on him—he never thought his bestfriend would abuse a woman, specifically his wife.