Kisi ko khokar bhi usi ko chahte rehna
Har kisi ke bas ki baat nahi hoti

                                             ~Gulzar

★★★★★★

"Stop" Vansh screamed, huffing anxiously.

There wasn't much light, everything was dark. He sprinted taking longer strides  toward the retrieving silhouette. His eyes never leaving her even for a second.

"Stop please"

No matter how many times he had called, she didn't stop.

"Ragini stop"

He howled when he saw a truck coming toward her side. He rushed to rescue her a minute before the collision and was about to pull her to the other side but failed. He wasn't able to hold her hand even though he tried, so many times.

The next second her body collided with the truck and she landed on the road with a thud, just in front of him. Blood pooling out from her body. He took steps back hastily, dreading the outcome. But landed on floor when  her face came in his view.

She wasn't Ragini.

"Riddhima" He mumbled incoherently before his body touched the ground.

Vansh blinked his eyes vigorously, switching to the sitting position, taking sharp intake of air from his mouth, he was trying to breath. Sweet dripping down his face. He anxiously moved his hands here and there for a minute. Tears pouring out from his blazing red eyes.

It was a dream.

A dream

A dream

His brain was chanting.

After a minute, when he got a hang on his air intake,  he took the water filled glass from the side table and chugged it down noisily, some of the water dripping down from his chin.

When done, he removed the comforter and moved out of the room, he went toward the lawn to get some fresh air maybe that can help him to calm his raging heart down.

Before moving out he saw the time. Four in the morning, he won't be able to sleep after this, he knew it. He sat on the chair in a comfortable position and gazed at the sky.

Few minutes later, his breathes were stable and normal but can't say the same  about his tangled thoughts. He couldn't stop himself pondering over these nightmares. These were a common occurrence since Ragini's demise. Since then, rarely the sleep knocks at his door and when it does, these nightmares tag along with it.

Ragini died in a car accident. She was driving the car and it collided with a truck and she took her last breath there on the spot. Within seconds everything had changed. All of a sudden his happy family wasn't happy anymore. She wasn't there. She was gone but she didn't go alone she took his happiness, his dreams, his laughter, his heart and most importantly his love. He doesn't have anything to give to anyone now and especially to Riddhima.

But the thing that wasn't leaving his mind was why he saw Riddhima in Ragini's place? Every time he had those nightmares, he always had seen Ragini. Today  he saw Riddhima instead of her.

This girl was making his not so complicated life more complicated. He didn't want to marry at the first place but he had to, thanks to his dad. Note the sarcasm.

I don't even remember the rituals I followed during the whole wedding fiasco. My body was present there but not my soul. At the end of the day I was dread tired both physically and mentally. I wanted  peace so I wanted to go to my room. When I moved the knot was about to untangle and the look Riddhima gave me was like I had committed some crime which added rage to my annoyance. Not able to take it anymore I went away removing the cloth and throwing it at her.  I freaking wanted peace. Was that too much to ask for?

I went to my room and slept there. In the morning when I didn't find my clothes in my room. I asked the servant and he told me that all my clothes are in her room. I went to the room she was given and grabbed the handle of the bag and went out.

The most annoying thing was her smile. There was  a constant smile on her face and a different kind of glow. And these days happiness and me repels each other. So her smile was making me frustrated.

After a couple of hour,  when I came out of the washroom she was standing there inside my room and looking at the frames hanging, the pictures of Ragini and I.

Can't I get some freaking alone time for God sake?

She stuttered when I asked what were she doing there. I was irked and knew i would say something mean so before that happen I told her to get out. Well she herself got into this mess knowing everything. I can't help it.

In the evening, Maa told me to pick her up from her house it's a ritual. I was reluctant but eventually gave in front of Maa and went to her house. That stupid girl stumped on my feet.

That was the first time when me and Riddhima were silently sitting inside the car because it hadn't happened in the past but the silence was soothing I was feeling  at ease. Then she said thank you. I didn't get why she was saying thank you so she briefed me, for coming even though she thought I won't come. I was flabbergasted, she knew I didn't want to come. So I said  "at least you know I didn't want to" And when she realised I was forced she made a perplexed face which irked me. Why was she acting so suprised? It was so irksome. And when I was making tea she had to poke her nose in it also. So I yelled at her saying stay away from me and what surprised me was she did. It had been a week and I have seen and encountered her much.

Why did she agree to marry me? Didn't she know how much I love Ragini?

She did and still she said yes.

The Riddhima I knew in college wouldn't have done this.What changed now?

At first I was angry at her for saying yes and then being too happy to get the tag no one deserves other than Ragini. I didn't talk to her because I knew if I did, I would have said something mean to her.

What annoyed me the previous week was her calm and composed behaviour. She didn't say a word to me when I told her to stay away from me. Why? Because she knew she did something wrong. And she should because she absolutely did.

But why after all this, it doesn't feel right?

It doesn't feel any better after saying those gross words to her?

"Because that's the stupidest thing you have ever done" Came a voice from inside.

No

"No? So you think she is a gold digger? " The voice retorted

Vansh placed his hands on his knees and wafted his hands in his hair, dreading his words. He never wanted to say that about her. He knew she could be anything but a gold digger. He had seen so many instances in college where she placed her self respect first.

All he can give in explanation is that he was exasperated and wasn't thinking before saying when he saw his dad taking her side. But the worst part was, she heard it.

He can never forget the look on her face. The tears and the blood pouring out of her eyes and hand simultaneously, when she was picking up the shreds. Hurt was visible on her face. And those sorries chant. He knew he touched the wrong nerve.

Even though he was still vexed with her for saying yes to this freaking marriage, he was also trying to say sorry to her. Keyword trying because he has not succeeded yet as he hadn't taken a step ahead. Two days ago when he saw her in the lawn at night. He took steps toward her to apologize but couldn't make up his mind so opted out.

He stood up from the chair when the sunlight fell on his face. Stepping inside he saw the time six in the morning. He went toward his room and was about to open the handle when his eyes landed on  another door.

He took a deep breath and with calculated steps moved toward her room. Without making a noise, he sneaked his face inside the room still standing at the threshold. He sighed when his eyes landed on a sleeping figure tucked in bed.

Since the D-Day I haven't seen her much. She doesn't walk around the house anymore like she owns it. She doesn't joke around with Aryan like she used to do. She doesn't comes out of her room during dinner. And I haven't seen her even on the break fast table.

I know she is hurt and it doesn't feel right I don't know why? Actually I know and that's because once she used to be a good friend of mine.

She was one of the genuine friends I had during college. I used to admire her a lot for her modesty and kindness. There are some people in your life you think are too good to be true. She was one of them for me.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Vansh came out of his room closing it and turned to go but in the process his eyes met with hers for a split second before she broke the contact and went inside her room again even though she was coming out a second before.

Vansh went downstairs. He usually goes to office at 7 in the morning but today he has a meeting at a restaurant at 10 so was working on a file in the room till 8:30.

He sat on his usual spot and began eating. He can see through his parent's faces that they hadn't forget the words and him as he wasn't getting their attention these days.

Thank god Aryan wasn't here. He went on a trip with his friends otherwise he would have ignored me like others.

"Riddhima for how long will you go empty stomach to college? " Maa politely asked when she saw Riddhima tip toeing out. Riddhina halted at her steps when she heard her and closed her eyes in displeasure. She turned and gave Maa a forced smile.

She wasn't eating breakfast?

"I am not hungry Maa and I am already getting late for the classes." She reasoned. I don't know why but Maa scrutinised her face for a whole minute and nodded her head and then she left and this whole time she hadn't looked at me for once.

When I was done I went out and saw the Riddhima's driver sitting there reading news paper. She hasn't left? But she was getting late. I looked around but she wasn't there.

"Kaka you haven't left. Where is Riddhima?" Vansh asked.

"Riddhima Madam has left already. She doesn't use this car now. Even though I tell her daily she still go to her college by calling cab." Driver shrugged his shoulder not knowing the reason but the person standing in front of him knows the reason.

He gulped, he has done much more damage than he had thought.

                          ★★★★★★

Hola amigos!! I know I am late again. It has become a ritual of sort🤪 but I have genuine reasons. At least for me they are genuine. So my exams are preponed and I have them this month that's why I didn't get time to write.

This month you all may get only two chapters including this one. I will try to write but can't promise. Obviously I prioritise my exams as any other sane person.

Bear it with me as you all have no other option😂( just kidding) Will be back soonish.😉

Don't forget to tell me how was the chapter and especially Vansh's pov.

I will be waiting for the reviews.

I won't be able to reply to all of your comments but please know that every single comment makes me smile. Thank you for liking my efforts.

Love Love ❤