17

Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder

A few days later after their encounter in party, reyansh had sent flowers daily but she would always throw them in the bin.

Aradhya found herself at a charity event organized by a mutual friend. The event was held at a beautiful garden venue, with twinkling fairy lights and elegant decorations creating a magical atmosphere. The evening was dedicated to raising funds for a children’s hospital, and the air was filled with a sense of purpose and camaraderie.

Aradhya was mingling with the guests, her smile genuine as she engaged in conversations about the cause. She felt a sense of fulfillment being part of something meaningful. As she moved through the crowd, she spotted Reyansh across the garden, talking to a group of donors.

'why is he everywhere????'

She quickly turned her face to other side hoping he wouldn't see her.

Reyansh, however, had already noticed her. He excused himself from the conversation and made his way towards her, his heart pounding with anticipation.

“Aradhya,” he greeted her softly, his eyes reflecting a mix of hope and apprehension.

She clenched her fists and turned.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, trying to keep the conversation light. “It’s a wonderful event, isn’t it?”

"It was,until I saw you"she retorted and he just kept smiling at her.

Reyansh took a deep breath, his heart aching with the weight of his emotions. “Aradhya, I know I can’t change the past, but I want to create new memories with you. Ones that aren’t tainted by pain.”

"I also want to create new memories but the memories in which you don't exist"her reply acted like an arrow to his heart which bled internally.

the event’s host announced that it was time for the silent auction. The guests began to move towards the display tables, and Aradhya and Reyansh found themselves standing side by side, looking at the items up for bid.

As they browsed the auction items, Reyansh noticed a beautiful painting of a serene landscape. “This reminds me of the garden in our mansion ” he said softly, pointing to the painting.

Aradhya’s eyes flashed with irritation as she looked at the painting, memories of the painful days flooding back. “It does,” she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and bitterness.

Reyansh who said it with hope of making her happy felt guilty to bring it up.The once garden which gave her peace is now filled with bitterness.

Reyansh took a deep breath, his heart aching with the weight of his emotions. “ I am sorry Jaan"he whispered.

She turned to him, her eyes hardening. “You think it’s that simple, Reyansh? That you can just waltz back into my life,say sorry and everything will be fine? The pain you caused doesn’t just disappear.”

“I know,” he said, his voice unwavering. “But I want to try. I want to be there for you, to help you heal. Even if it takes time, I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

Aradhya’s heart churned with conflicting emotions. She wanted to believe him, but the scars of the past were still too fresh.

"Stop trying,you are just wasting your time on a slut like me"she said and stormed off from there.

'what did she just call herself???'

Suddenly a memory of his own deeds flooded into his mind.it was him who called her that.

His Breath hitched as more of his harsh words were recalled.

"I am not able to collect the shattered pieces of her heart,how am I going to heal it?"he questioned himself.

"How will the dead flower bloom,when i crushed it under my foot?"his voice filled with loath for himself.

Feeling the weight of his past mistakes pressing down on him, Reyansh found himself in the gym late at night. The regret and guilt were overwhelming, and he needed an outlet for the storm of emotions raging inside him. He approached the punching bag, his jaw set with determination.

With each punch, he tried to expel the pain and remorse that had been building up. His fists connected with the bag in a relentless rhythm, the sound echoing through the empty gym. As the minutes passed, his punches grew more intense, driven by the memories of the hurt he had caused Aradhya.

His knuckles began to bruise, the skin breaking and bleeding, but he didn’t stop. The physical pain was a welcome distraction from the emotional torment. He punched harder and faster, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The bag swayed violently with each hit, but Reyansh was relentless.

Eventually, the punching bag couldn’t withstand the force of his blows. With one final, powerful punch, the bag tore from its chains and crashed to the floor. Reyansh stood there, his chest heaving, his hands bloodied and raw. The gym was silent except for his labored breathing.

He sank to his knees, the adrenaline fading and the reality of his actions settling in. The physical pain was nothing compared to the regret that gnawed at his soul. He knew he had a long way to go to make things right, but in that moment, all he could do was face the consequences of his past and vow to do better.

As Reyansh knelt on the gym floor, his chest heaving with exertion, he became acutely aware of the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. It was sharp and bitter, mingling with the saltiness of his sweat. Each breath he took seemed to amplify the taste, a stark reminder of the intensity of his actions.

The blood coated his tongue, a tangible manifestation of the pain and regret he felt inside. It was a taste he couldn’t ignore, much like the memories of his past mistakes that haunted him. As he caught his breath, the taste lingered, grounding him in the reality of his situation and the long road ahead to redemption.

Dhruv’s eyes widened in shock as he saw Reyansh’s bruised knuckles and the blood trickling down. “What happened to you?” he exclaimed, rushing over to his friend. The sight of the injury made Dhruv’s heart race with concern.

Reyansh winced, trying to downplay the situation. “It’s nothing” he muttered, but the pain in his voice was evident,the pain wasn't of being physically hurt but maybe of his heart which was also bleeding.

Dhruv gently took Reyansh’s hand, inspecting the damage. “This doesn’t look like ‘nothing’,” he said, his voice filled with worry. “We need to get this cleaned up and bandaged. Come on, let’s go.”

As they walked towards the first aid kit, Dhruv couldn’t help but feel a mix of anger and sadness. He hated seeing his friend in pain and was determined to help him heal. “You need to be more careful, Reyansh,” he said softly, trying to keep his emotions in check. “I don’t want to see you hurt like this again.”

"You did it to yourself didn't you?"dhruv asked,concern and anger lingering in his voice.

When Reyansh didn't answer he continued"how many times reyansh?how many times?how much more will your hurt yourself physically?you have been doing from last 5 years.stop it please"

Reyansh shook his head, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. “I can’t stop, Dhruv. Not until Aradhya forgives me,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “This pain… it’s nothing compared to the pain I caused her.”

Dhruv’s heart ached for his friend. He placed a comforting hand on Reyansh’s shoulder. “Hurting yourself won’t change the past or make things right with Aradhya,” he said gently.

Dhruv’s heart sank as he thought about the past five years. Reyansh had been on a self-destructive path ever since the incident with Aradhya. It started with small things—skipping meals, isolating himself, and pushing away those who cared about him. But over time, it escalated.

Reyansh began to inflict physical pain on himself, as if trying to atone for the guilt he carried. He would punch walls until his knuckles bled, just like toda,he punched punching bag.There were times when Dhruv found him with cuts on his arms, hastily bandaged but still raw and painful. Reyansh’s eyes always held a haunted look,filled with guilt and regret.

Dhruv had tried countless times to intervene, to make Reyansh see that hurting himself wouldn’t change the past. But Reyansh was stubborn, driven by a relentless need for self-punishment. “I deserve this,” he would say, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. “I need to feel this pain.”

Despite Dhruv’s efforts, Reyansh’s self-harm continued. It was a painful cycle of guilt and punishment, one that Dhruv desperately wanted to break. He knew that Reyansh needed to forgive himself before he could hope for forgiveness from Aradhya. But until then, Dhruv vowed to stay by his friend’s side, offering support and hope, no matter how difficult the journey.

But One day, Dhruv walked into Reyansh’s room, only to be greeted by a sight that made his blood run cold. Reyansh had his back turned, and as he changed his shirt, Dhruv saw the scars. They crisscrossed his back, some fading but still clearly visible, like the marks of a brutal whipping. The sight was horrifying, and Dhruv felt a surge of anger and sorrow.

“Reyansh, what happened to your back?” Dhruv asked, his voice trembling with a mix of shock and concern.

Reyansh stiffened, then slowly turned to face Dhruv. “It’s nothing,” he said, trying to brush it off, but the pain in his eyes betrayed him.

Dhruv stepped closer, his eyes scanning the scars. “This isn’t nothing, Reyansh. These scars… they look like you were beaten with a whip. Who did this to you?”

Reyansh sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I asked one of my best men to do it,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “ I felt I needed to punish myself for what I did to Aradhya. I thought… I thought if I felt enough pain, it would somehow make things right.”

Reyansh’s emotional turmoil is a complex and painful struggle. He is caught in a relentless cycle of guilt, self-blame, and sorrow that has consumed him for years. The incident with Aradhya haunts him daily, and he feels an overwhelming sense of responsibility for the pain he caused her. This guilt manifests in his self-destructive behavior, as he believes that inflicting physical pain on himself is a way to atone for his past mistakes.

Every scar on his body is a testament to the emotional scars he carries within. The physical pain, in his mind, is a way to balance the emotional agony he feels.

He is tormented by the thought that he deserves this suffering and that it is the only way to make amends. This belief has led him to extreme measures, such as asking his best man to whip him, showing the depth of his self-loathing and desperation for redemption.

The emotional weight he carries affects every aspect of his life. It clouds his judgment, strains his relationships, and prevents him from finding any semblance of peace. Reyansh is trapped in a prison of his own making, where the bars are forged from his unrelenting guilt and the key to freedom seems forever out of reach.

अकेली थी, अकेली हूं और

अकेली रहूंगी

तुम आये, साथ दीया, पास रहे, प्यार किया, निकल लिया

शुक्रिया 💔🩹