Chapter 67

"Jayant beta! Come out of your room. It's been four hours since you've locked yourself in. Please beta!"

Maadhavi said from the other side of the door. She's been trying to convince Jayant to talk to her but he's locked himself in and was not even providing her with replies. She was just talking to herself.

Upon getting no reply once again , she sighed nad sat down where she was.

"Okay. Don't reply. You want this old lady to suffer right? You want your grandmother to suffer what else? You don't care for me right? I don't know why you care for Sameera so much? That girl has become more important for you than your own old granddaughter? You-"

"I don't care for her. But she should not bear the punishment for something she has not done. She's not at fault. You are."

He gritted out venomously and Maadhavi stood up.

"Beta please eat something. It's been more than 10 hours since you've last eaten."

Jayant looked at his grandmother with cold, emotionless eyes.

"Let Sameera didi eat happily again and I'll eat t-"

"Sameera! Sameera! Sameera! What's there in Sameera? Why can't you see my pain?! Why can't you see the pain I've went through? Why is her pain so important?"

Maadhavi shouted gripping her hair.

Jayant's eyes softened. Whatever she may have done, she still was the lady who has taken care of him and she still was his grandmother. And he cannot see her like that.

"Because she has done nothing. She doesn't deserve any of it. And Shrithik, he has been punished enough dadi. He has been punished enough. T-"

"No! He has killed my love. He has killed your grandfather. I have suffered because of him and I'll make him suffer too. Even worse than that. I'll-"

Her angry voice was cut of by Jayant soft and small voice.

"Can you tell me more about Grandpa? More about what you actually are?"

Maadhavi stopped. She looked at Jayant and sat down on a chair. A sad smile graced her lips.

"I was a yakshini. I lived in forests, mountains and anywhere close to nature in remote areas. And one day I saw him. He was kind of a saint. Not fully but on the way.

I was angered that who dared to interfere in my solitude but when I saw him, I instantly fell in love with him. I followed him and took this body to be more close to him. And it was not long before he too was in love with me.

We were happy. But one day he jumped off of the building. That was because of that damned guy Shrithik. He was able to hurt your grandfather so much mentally that it was unimaginable. He was able to hurt the heart of a saint. Already he was born weak physically. And this mental torture worsened the situation.

You grandpa had a sister, 16 years younger than him. During her birth his mother died and his father was a useless fellow. His sister was like a daughter to him and for me too. Shrithik made him feel like he was useless and that he would not be able to take care of his sister.

After he died I took care of his sister. Afterall she was like a daughter to me too. I made her study, I provide her with love and care of a mother, father brother, sister and everyone. I didn't let her feel deprived of anything.

I even married her off to a nice guy as she was ready for an arranged marriage. Soo they were in love too and they had you. You were so small when born. Like a baby panda, even smaller than my hand. My daughter was so happy to have you.

But she died along with your father in a car crash. Even before you turned one. And since then you are here with me. I never wanted to tell you any of this. I already had all my loved ones taken away. I never wanted you to feel like you were not blood related to me and that all my love and care was just a formality. I-"

She explained but Jayant cut her off with his sweet voice once again.

"It must've hurted a lot when grandpa and mumma died right?"

He asked and Maadhavi nodded with that small sad smile.

"A lot. More than you can imagine."

The her face turned dark.

"And that's why I want them to feel the same as I did. The same intensity of pain I was made to go through. I will make their life a li-"

Once again she was cut off by Jayant hugging her.

"No dadi. You are wrong. You know how much difficult it was to go through all that. You know the pain. Then why make someone else go through it? And that also Sameera didi? You know she has a heart of gold. Then why should that heart be broken? I know she's always been one of your favourite students. And if you'll hurt her this way you will do no different from what was done to you dadi.

Forgiveness is a way to start a new life. Forgiveness is a way to start friendships. And forgiveness is first step towards peace. Please give Shrithik back to her. Please."

He said softly and it stuck Maadhavi in her heart.

"You cannot become like that. You are my grandma. My grandma cannot hurt anyone."

______________________________________________________________

"Oh man! I think some water has seeped through it."

Sameera spoke shaking her bike.

It was two days later that she was standing in her college's parking lot.

It has been raining continuously for three hours and the loss of shed in the parking lot was rising the possibilities of some water seeping inside her bike as it was not starting. Afterall it was more than 25 years old.

Sighing she crouched down and patted the engine of the bike hoping for the water to come out.

"I think you should check the fuel tank. Water in fuel tank also prevents the vehicles to start."

A voice said and she nodded.

"Possible. Let me check."

Saying this she took out the screw driver she used to keep from her lower's pocket and loosened the screw of the fuel tank.

And fortunately the water started coming out. She concentratedly watched it and quickly tightened the screw back when the water changed into petrol.

She cannot waste the petrol as it has become immensely expensive. Wiping her hands in her lower she stood up and turned around.

"Thank-"

But her breath hitched when she saw who was standing behind her. Her heart skipped a beat and suddenly she laughed.

"God old man! Now I've even started seeing you. Like seriously now I'll imagine you?"

She asked smiling widely looking at Shrithik and he smiled.

"And why do you think you are imagining me?"

He asked and Sameera's wide smile slowly faded. She turned around so that now her back faced her.

"Do you want the truth?"

"Can you lie to your own self?"

He asked and she sighed. Turning around she started walking, aware of him following her.

"It's been seven months. Since Maadhavi mam captured you. I've.......I don't know what to think. I wasn't able to find you. And those dreams. In which you got beaten, if they were true then there's no chance that you'll even be alive."

She said and rubbed her face.

Then looking back at him she smiled softly.

"I always thought that it was just senseless how in movies they showed someone imagining someone and talking to them. But now here I am."

She spoke and he smiled softly without saying anything.

"But that's nice. At least in this way I'll not be too lonely. And for the first time today I.......I accepted it. I accepted that, that you aren't going to come back."

She spoke and bit her lip. Her heart felt heavy and her eyes filled with tears. She looked away and wiped those unshed tears.

And then trying to compose herself she spoke

"But I hope......that you will be there with me always. You will not leave me right?"

She asked and he nodded, with one of those soothing smile of his.

"I'll not. I'm there in you. I live in you. How can I be away from you?"

"Man! Your cheesy. Like extremely cheesy. But I like it."

She exclaimed turning around and heard him laugh.

"Where are you going sweetheart? You were fixing my bike because you wanted to go home right?"

He asked chuckling and she turned around on her heels.

"Oh yes! You are right. I was going home as my classes are over. Come on let's go. I'll take you too."

She smiled and started the bike. It took two minutes but then it started.

Shrithik sat behind her and she drove them back home.

"It's been so damn long, old man. Why now?"

She asked walking beside him with a decent distance between them.

She knew it will break her if she will not be able to feel him.

"Because now is the right time."

She snorted.

"Right time my ass. You are saying as if you are actually back.........I think me imagining you and talking to you would fill your place. If you will be there permanently. Then what will happen to the real you? Will I forget you?"

He stopped and turned around.

"Wouldn't that be great? At least you will not have to suffer more."

She nodded and hugged herself.

"I don't know what sin I've committed that I've to go through all this. But I surely must've done an even greater job that I actually met you. I-"

"I should be the one saying that. I must've saved a whole universe to get you."

She laughed.

"I'm flattered."

She shook her head laughing and made her way towards her house.

She must be really arrogant that her own imagination is saying that.

Opening the door she let him in.

"Well......the house has not changed at all."

"Oh yes it is. Now I'm not the only one living her. Maaya too is there."

She said and opened her room- Shrithik's room."

"So you gave her your room and are living in mine? Not bad, not bad."

He smiled teasingly and she chuckled.

"Still teasing me?"

"Of course I am. And look at you....... you've taken everything that belonged to me. First my heart, than my room, clothes, phone, my bike and even my credit card."

He pouted and she sat on the bed.

"For whom were you earning for? And I'd say that all these things along with your heart are at their right place."

She argued and he smiled. He looked at her with so much adoration that Sameera started thinking that he was real. But it can't be.

"Do you know what I like the most ab-"

"Me. You like me. You love me the most."

She cut him off and took of her tshirt. Then changing into a new a pair of clothes she turned towards him to find him facing the opposite side with slight blush covering her cheeks.

"You can disappear now. After turning around as I'm going to sleep."

She ordered and he nodded.

"Sure. I'll do that. But first you should eat. Otherwise I'm not gonna leave."

He smirked and she rolled her eyes.

"You still are a nuisance. Now give me way so that I can fulfill this stomach of yours."

She said and he laughed giving her way.

They both entered the kitchen and Sameera started serving herself in a plate. When she was satisfied that this much food will be enough she turned towards Shrithik to show him the plate.

But he was not there.

She smiled.

"Still like that only. My sweet little nuisance."