Continue from last part....

Happy reading folks.... (But I hope you all don't end up crying till the end)

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Point of view: Mahir's POV....

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And it was enough when Bela's mom started calling her words and started talking about her dad who is not even with her. I knew I had no right to tell her to leave yet I did. Because this was it. She took alot anyways. First when she asked me to wait in her room, I already figured it out that she is suffering. I saw some pills there on the side table. As I went to check what they were, I was shocked finding sleeping pills. And then I connected the dots that why she drinks and smokes alot. It's her way to divert her mind off things. But this is not done. She can't risk her life like this. That's why I frowned when she knocked at the door. But she needed support then so I didn't say anything.

I was quietly listening to her excuses and savage replies and it was all okay. I thought they can't be that bad then, if Bela is just commenting not breaking down. But then suddenly I heard her loosing her calm, where she said that James, he tried to rape her. And this was it. I lost all the respect for that man. And then when her mom tried to cover it up by saying that he was drunk, I lost respect for her as well. How can she justify someone inhumane actions by saying he was drunk. And also Bela said he wasn't drunk. God. This world is cruel. And she has been facing it all alone till now. But I won't let her face it alone now. That's why I asked them to leave.

As soon as they left, she broke down. She sat on her knees while bursting out into tears. And I didn't know what to do. But at least I can hold on to her.

So I sat beside her on my knees too holding her by shoulders when she was crying.

"I am sorry you had to see that. Mahir, I didn't want you to know all that. I just don't know why my life is so messed up."

"Shh. Don't be sorry for something which isn't your fault. I said already and I repeat. You don't know how strong you are. So do not let them affect you. Okay?"

"Are you not feeling disgusted by me?", She said snapping her tears brimming eyes towards me only to make my eyes widened.

"Why would I be?", I asked.

"Um. Nothing.", She cuts herself off. And even I let it go because just now she needs comfort.

"Come with me.", I tell her suddenly.

"Where?"

"Trust me?"

"Um. Yes."

"Okay then come with me."

With this I led her out, and then we make way to my car. Getting in, we drove off. The drive was silent when she was just looking out and I was just trying to make her let it out but I knew it's not easy for her. But finally we reach where I wanted to take her.

I brought her to this lake side, far from city life.

"Bela we are here.", I said to break the trance she was in. To this she snaps her eyes open and looks at me and then in front of us, with an unreadable look. To this I get down from the car, opening door for her and forwarding her my hand. She held my hand and I lead her out towards the bench. Then I just sign her to sit, and I sit beside her.

We sit there calmly in silence just looking at the lake. And finally I think of breaking the silence between us.

"Bela, I know that opening up to someone is really difficult. But I promise, I am here for you whenever you need. And yes, I won't leave or judge if that's the issue.", I said in one breath when she was still silent.

After a few minutes, I felt a hand on my hand and I looked down only to see Bela holding my hand. So I quickly flipped it holding the back on her palm in my hand and squeezing it to provide her support. And then suddenly she starts speaking.

"Mahir. I don't even remember how old I was when they started fighting. My mom and dad I mean. From the time I remember, I used to hear sounds of things being thrown, and shouts, their yells, and I used to sleep hearing them and getting scared every second. Marilyn used to go clubbing and used to come home drunk. And I even saw dad getting drunk while sitting alone in his room in midnights. They never did let me get affected by this, neither my studies, nor my life. But still I used to feel that void whenever my other friends' parents used to be together at school's events. And I was 14 I guess, when, something happened. Marilyn's friend Elina came to pick me up at school in place of dad, and then she took me to some other place, not home. It was then when I noticed it's a court. And there I got to know that Marilyn and dad are getting divorced. I cried Mahir. I cried in the washroom when they brought up my custody matter. I cried when I got to know that I would be choosing between them. Mahir I loved both. I didn't want to be without any one. I wanted them together. But still it all had to happen. They got divorced."

I was continuously looking at her when she was telling me all this. She was sobbing, then crying, and then started sniffling after crying too much. She really faced too much.

"After that, dad got my custody. I was with him. I used to ask him when will mom come. I wanted to see her, to meet her. I used to call her mom then. I had a void in my life, but dad tried his best to fill that up. He used to play songs which I liked every evening and we used to cook together.", She said this when her lips curled up to a smile, while tears were rolling down her cheeks before continuing, "Well he used to cook and I used to assist him. I was always a mess at cooking", she laughs making me smile too.

"One day I saw dad seeing someone's photo. It was some girl's. And she was looking Indian. He snapped his eyes at me, but I left the room. Then he himself came to my room to tell me who was she. And what he told me was unbelievable. He said that she was his wife. And they had divorce before he got married to my mom that is Marilyn. And the reason was that he cheated on his first wife. And I didn't know what to do Mahir. I used to idolise them. Even after them getting divorced, I used to idolise dad that he is the best. But he, cheated once. And the one for whom he cheated his wife, that is Marilyn. She left him. That day I got a different mindset. That nobody in this fuckin' world is yours. There is nothing like love. It's a crap. But still he was my dad. I couldn't envy him. So it was going just like before when...-"

She broke down completely before continuing further. So I just wrapped my arms around her and asking her to let it out.

"Bela you don't need to tell me this if it's this painful for you. I don't want to give you pain you know right?", I said to which she looked at me for a second before nodding in yes.

"But I want to tell. It's for the first time that I am opening up to someone after 7 years.", She said smiling sadly, which is most beautiful smile of this world. A person like her, whom every stage of life left broken, and her smile after facing it all, it's no less than some magic. I sign her to continue while nodding.

"I was 16, when i got to know that dad met an accident. And he died on the very place. Um. I didn't know what to do Mahir. I didn't know how to handle this alone. I couldn't control my tears when people asked my to stay strong because I was all that dad had. But suddenly someone came to hospital where I was after his death. A familiar face. Marilyn. I hated her for the way she left me at that young age. But as soon as she came to me and wrapped her arms around me, I broke down in her embrace. It was looking like nothing happened between us in those years and she is still my mom and I have her. I felt that I can rely on someone. We did dad's last rituals and then she took me to her home with her, since I was a minor, and I couldn't be allowed to live alone. For first few days, I was distant, but then I started talking to Marilyn and smiling. But then the bubble broke when one day I met James. Mom told me it's a family dinner, when James was there. And I didn't know who he was, when mom told me he is her boyfriend. See, I was right, there is nothing like love. I didn't say anything. But in night, I cried to sleep remembering the days which I spent with both of my parents. You know, I attended wedding on Marilyn and James in front of my eyes. And again I started getting distant. I used to talk less and smile less. But the incident on my 17th birthday broke me to the extreme. Marilyn went to bring cake. I was getting ready in my room. When I was doing my hair, I heard a knock on door. I opened it thinking it must be Marilyn but no. It was James. And before I could have said something, he pushed me to the wall and started touching me. I was startled will be an understatement. But I knew this is not what I should allow. I knew that I need to save myself. And then j pushed him with a force, I never knew I had. And I ran Mahir. I ran. I spent my birthday on streets of London sitting and crying on a bench. At around 3, Marilyn found me. I was brought home. She asked me what happened to me, when I told her everything. But she believes James more than me when he said he was drunk and didn't intend to do that. I knew then that Marilyn is not mine. And there is nothing like love. So I was just waiting for my 18th birthday since that day, so that I can live alone on my own. As soon it happened. I moved to hostel at first. Then as a paying guest I started living somewhere and then I started up my event planning firm for a living when I was in college myself. And fortunately, it started getting successful so I after college I continued it. And here I am. All alone, broken and despised by others."

I didn't know how to comfort her. I didn't know how to calm her down. This is alot that she faced. And I had no idea what should I do. So I sit there holding her when she was crying. And it was then that I realised that my cheeks are damp. I didn't know when tears started rolling down my cheeks seeing her crying.

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