Part 13 | Wounds of his Past

Don't be ashamed,

I see your scars as a

symbol of the storm ,

that you have bravely fought

and survived.

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

NAIRA

" Then will you tell me the truth If I ask something about my family? " He nodded.

" About the women in the portrait I found in your room. " I asked him in a whisper wondering how he would react.

" I know you have a lot of questions in your mind but I may not be the best person to give the answers.

Brother knows better! "

Those were Rudra's words when he revealed nothing but the name when I spotted the photos in Kartik's cabin this evening.

" Who's Nisha? " I felt him taking a quick breath, his body stiffened.

" My twin sister! " His voice was empty, but it held some emotions I couldn't decipher.

Somewhere I felt relieved that the pics wasn't related to his ex girlfriends or something.

He simply stood up and turned his back towards me as he walked inside the villa.

Did I upset him by asking him the question?

" Kartikk " I called out as I got my legs out of the pool waters and followed him to his room.

The small room within his room was now wide open, as if he was permitting me inside the closed walls of his heart....

He stood before the portrait with hands shoved inside his pant pockets. I slowly walked to his side.

" Nisha is my twin sister." A shaky breath escaped his lip. " Was. "

My head snapped at him in shock.

" I have seen her as an active and a naughty kid, grow into a curious and smart teen then into an independent and gorgeous women. She had done her masters in management, never gave anyone a chance to point fingers at her. She was the princess of our family! "

His fingers traced her face on the portrait, " she was the most beautiful women I had seen in my life next to my mother. You will always find her wearing that beautiful smile on her face no matter what." My eyes roamed on the portrait, a smile made it's way on my lips. Nisha had the same hazel orbs like her twin brother.

" While in College, She fell in love. They dated for 3 years after which they got married at the age of 24. "

So those photos I found in Kartik's office was taken at Nisha's wedding.

I know what you thought!

Nevermind.

" She loved to write fictions. She was amazing at it. " He smiled as he ran his hand through the pages of a book which was lying on top of a pile of other dairies and book. Probably they too contained her writing. " She wanted to publish her novel but alas.... " He sighed.

" Everything was perfect until " he paused. I saw a flash of anger in his eyes, his jaw clenched " that day when I found her husband cheating on her. Just after a year of marriage, that too with her best friend." My eyes widened.

" I confronted Nisha, but she remained silent. I was so furious and all I wanted was to teach the man who broke my sister's heart a lesson he would never forgot his entire life.

She pleaded me not to hurt him, she was defending the man who cheated on her. She was so selfless, my innocent twin was so in love with the wrong person. I searched for him the entire night, everywhere in and around the city but couldn't find him. I didn't see him there after. " He turned towards me.

" Since our birth Nisha never left my side until...... two years back when I found her unconscious in her room that night. I don't know for how long she was passed out but she never woke up again. The doctors stated the reason of her death as ventricular fibrillation." a lone tear escaped his eyes.

(Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is an abnormal heart rhythm in which the ventricles of the heart quiver instead of pumping normally.

it's a rare condition and without immediate treatment it could be life threatening. )

He fell on his knees, "Kartik!! " I held his shoulders as I kneeled beside him.

" S-she asked me to stay Naira..... That night she wanted me to stay beside her, she needed me. But What did I do! I didn't listen to her, despite her pleadings and refusal, I went behind her coward of a husband leaving her all alone. " Tears filled my eyes hearing the agony in his words.

" Chances of surviving could have been possible if she had got medical support early, the doctors said. Had I listened to her and stayed that night.... she could have been treated early, she could have been saved. " his voice cracked, "She would have been her with me today."

" Kartik, It's not your fault. " he shook his head furiously. I rubbed his shoulders, trying to calm him.

" No... It's my fault! I should have saved her... She meant everything to me! " He hid his face in the crook of my neck as he broke into sobs.

I sat there at a loss of words.

The man who the media portrays as fearlessly strong and powerful, the man who is the CEO of one of the largest company acing the game of business royally, the man who people could hardly imagine to shed tears even at a funeral..... Was now breaking down in front of my eyes.

My heart felt heavy seeing him devastated. I silently cried for the pain he had to go through. Life sometimes can be so cruel and unfair without reasons. I do understand the feel of losing a loved one, specially when the person means the world to you, I know what it feels like.

After some 10 minutes his sobs subsided and he rested his head on my lap. His hands was wrapped around my waist in a tight hold just like a scared kid who fears darkness.

I kept caressing his hair gently, trying my best to comfort him. Today he had let me see his wounds of past. The fact that he trusted me enough to show me the weaker side of his, the fact that I was able to comfort him, made me feel good.

I uttered no word to comfort him, letting the soothing silence heal him. We stayed like that for around 20 minutes or so after which he stood up, his eyes moist and red.

" Mom used to cry in dad's arms who stood strong but I could see the father in him weeping for the loss of his daughter. Rudra couldn't just come in terms with the truth of Nisha's death. Everyone were heartbroken and I just couldn't do anything.

It took me 6 months to pull myself together after Nisha's death. Nothing was same without her. I kept myself locked in this house for weeks, not wanting to face the world wherein she wouldn't be there.

The pain was too much to handle, I spent sleepless nights due to the nightmares with the company of drinks, didn't involve myself in business, didn't visit even my parents.

My family got worried seeing me like that, and Arjun gave me an earful to make me realise what I was doing. I was hurting them. They already had lost one of their child and I wasn't helping them overcome their pain. I collected myself and got back into work, infact drowned myself in it for it kept me busy, else I would spend time thinking about my sister all day.

To live without her is difficult but I learnt to live with her memories and the love she left behind. Nisha was not just my twin, but a soulmate. We shared more than just blood. I can never forget her." He ended with a sad sigh.

I smiled," I am sure wherever she is , she will be proud of you! ". I held his hand in mine.

" whatever happened was unfortunate but It wasn't your fault Kartik.... Don't be hard on yourself. " He remained silent.

I raised on my toe tip and placed a kiss on his forehead.

" It's going to be 12. You need to sleep. " He hummed in response.

" Good night " saying I hesitantly turned around to leave his room, taking slow steps.

" Naira.... " I quickly turned back,

" before this day ends, Happy Birthday wife ! " Saying he kissed my cheeks and smiled.

Weren't you waiting for his kiss!

Of course not.

Liar!

I was about to enter my room when I turned back and found his door closed.

" I was shocked when he was okay with marrying you. Kartik doesn't do relationships Naira! He is scared of commitments and relationship"

Arjun jokingly told me earlier once when we had a random chat in the cafe.

A sudden thought struck me.

He had lost a person who he loved and was too closely attached with. He had gone through a terrible pain and this would have surely impacted his way of seeing love and relationship. It would have created a fear in his mind and that's why he doesn't do relationship.

Our marriage wasn't based on love or commitment. It was just a win win deal.

What if he never lets me close to his heart? Is there no chance of love in our relationship?

The gifts I recieved today was laid on the bed.

My eyes fell on the two tickets that peeped out of the envelope.

************

Honeymoon calling!💥

Will the trip bring a twist in their relationship?

Stay tuned to know

Before I end for today,

Guys I have a few entrance exams for college coming up next month.

I will be a bit busy with studies and will have to make out time to write the story.

There will be weekly updates for sure but I am sorry I may not be able to give you an early update.

So all I ask for is

Please be patient with me 🥺

And

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