CHAPTER 19
The Next Morning
Prisha opened her eyes to the sound of her mother's voice. She walked out of her room and saw her mother and Tina in the living room. She overheard her mother asking, “What are you doing here?”
“My friend had to move back to her town and I had to empty her flat. Don’t worry, I won’t stay here for long. I’ll leave once I get a job and a place to live,” Tina said dismissively as she walked to her room.
Their mother sighed heavily, disheartened by Tina's unchanging attitude. Prisha approached her and hugged her tightly. “Mom, it’s alright. She’s right, it’s her house too,” Prisha said reassuringly. Her mother nodded, then walked to the kitchen. As she knows, Tina wouldn't listen to anyone.
Shaurya’s Cabin
Shaurya sat at his desk, gazing at a framed picture of Prisha from their honeymoon. It was the cutest picture he had of her, so he’d made it into a frame. He was lost in thoughts of her when a knock on the door jolted him back to reality. He hurriedly shoved the frame into a drawer and called out, “Come in.”
Shivay marched in, his face a storm of anger, and threw Shaurya’s wallet onto the desk. “If you love her so much, why are you doing this?” Shivay demanded. He had found Shaurya's wallet on the floor last night and was shocked to see Prisha's photo inside.
Shaurya sighed, realizing there was no point in lying. “Because I don’t deserve her. She deserves someone like Aditya.”
Shivay looked at him in shock. “Shaurya, why are you saying this?”
“It’s the truth. I’m a man with so much emotional baggage. I have childhood traumas, I can’t control my anger,” Shaurya said, walking over to the window.
“Shaurya, if Prisha was there, you could change yourself,” Shivay insisted. He knew Shaurya had a point but also believed that with Prisha by his side, Shaurya could transform.
Shaurya chuckled bitterly. “No, Shivay. I can’t change. Seeing Prisha's innocence, caring nature...I couldn't stop myself and started falling for her. It was never my intention, I just wanted to take my revenge. "
"She is perfect wife, anyone would be lucky to have her. She deserves someone perfect, not someone like me with so many flaws.” He added.
He continued, “You know, when I realized I was falling for her, I tried to quit drinking but failed. I tried to control my anger but failed. Didn’t you see last night? I couldn’t control my emotions. It’s for her betterment that I left her, yet I reacted like that. And Aditya, he cares for her. He’s a gentleman, just what she deserves.” His voice was filled with controlled pain.
“Shaurya, she loves you,” Shivay said, trying to convince him.
Shaurya chuckled sadly. “After everything I did to her, I don’t think she even wants to see my face. Moreover, she wants to be a mother. She loves kids, and I can’t give her that. You know my fear related to children. I never wanted a child because I’m scared. I’m sure I’d become like my father. I don’t want any child to have childhood like mine. I know Prisha would be an amazing mother, but I can’t be a good father.” Tears welled up in his eyes. Shivay sighed, understanding the depth of Shaurya’s fears. Shaurya’s fear about fatherhood stemmed from his own traumatic experiences, and he remembered how even Tina had agreed with him on this matter, which is why he had agreed to marry her.
Knowing about his friend's feeling for his wife, Shivay prayed silently for Shaurya's happiness.He knew that Prisha was the only source of true happiness for Shaurya, and hoped that somehow, they would find a way back to each other.