The sound of utensils and rain echoed. There was no budge from the members sitting because they knew that before the eldest member of the family, whenever he was angry or something,no one had the courage to speak out. That was when the food arrived and Vijay spoke.

"Hmm? Now tell..
Can't you even call us..hun?"
Siddhant who sat with his head downcast, was ready to get an earful from his father.
"Arey!
You all are grown ups and do have a phone but No! What really do you think you are?"

"Papa..actually... phone was dead..
I thought to inform you but...it was dead by that time...
Moreover, I couldn't escape the..huge traffic that..surrounded my car.."
Siddhant spoke more like a whisper.

"Whom do you call or talk with,that your phone turns out to be dead in these times?"
Vijay's voice trembled with outrage.
"You should have told anyone of us. If not us You could have told to Avyakta, only. But no!! This King's son will do only what he want."
He roared,while others sat quiet.

Avyakta brought the curry in a vessel and put it on the table. She didn't even dare to look at Siddhant and busied herself in the work.

"I-I thought..that the each one of us....would have been tired..so why not bring..dinner from outside...
I'm sorry for going without..letting you know and making you this tense..Sorry Papa, Sorry Maa.."
Siddhant whispered while playing with the spoon in his hand.

"Papa..Leave it,no? Now..what could he do... Never mind but..Don't make it a big issue..
Just Forgive him?"
Ruchi tried to take her brother's side but she had gathered much courage to take out these words from her mouth. In return, she got a glare from his side.

"Don't become a good sister by taking his side..It's better you keep your mouth shut..It's between me and Siddhant.. "
Vijay spoke making Ruchi pursed her lips,together.
Avyakta was serving Chapati to everyone. While coming towards Siddhant, she skipped him and gave it to Priya who was sitting beside him. His head, instantly shot up and noticed how she skipped him. Avyakta, was in no way,mood to give him and went to kitchen.

Priya noticed them and shaked her head sideways,with a sympathetic smile, at him who wide eyed looked at her retreating figure. She provided him her extra Chapati, patting his shoulder.
"Look,How people treat when you try to make the things easy? I just wanted to reduce that load you women have,to make the dinner.."
He whispered.

"Bhaiyaa.. I know..Don't be sad..Okay? Have food..
Forget it.."

They all ate in silence, while in between discussing about today's function. Whereas,Siddhant sat there like a kid who was in a punishment, realising the mistake he did with head bent low. Avyakta,too ate with silence. While, having his dinner, when his gaze went towards her,silently eating her food. He noticed her face and stared to get her attention but the stubborn Avyakta refused to even give him any heed.

While everyone had their dinner, Avyakta and Siddhant stayed there.
After, completing all their kitchen works and not so- long chit chat, the ladies and men  decided to announce it a day. Avyakta peeked from the kitchen and found Siddhant, who was still there in the dinning area.

"Why isn't he going to room?"
Spoke Avyakta while gulping down water.
Siddhant, sat on the chair, with an old magazine, probably a month ago's, purposely to have a word with her. Reason, just to know the ignorant behaviour of hers towards him, suddenly.

After, completing her work, which she intentionally did to stay away from him,she saw him still sitting there. Giving no heed to him, she walked past him and in instant, he too stood up and stalked her. She knew he would  ask her the reason for being this angry but she being her would not tell.
She walked to the washroom after reaching her room and waited infront of the door.

"You'll come here..too?
With me?"
With a stern voice,she spoke and getting his senses back he paused, looking at her going inside.

"Avyakta..Listen!"
She closed the washroom door at his face. But still,he waited there. No one is talking to him,atleast she being his wife,should atleast give him attention and listen to him.

After waiting for 20 mins, she came out in her maroon kurti. She looked at him incredulously but didn't wait and moved towards bed but not so soon. A strong pull and she was pushed on the wall. While, Siddhant who pinned her stood, too close.

Avyakta was in no mood and her eyes still showed that she cried. She tried to hide it infront of everyone but couldn't hide from him.
Both stared at each other. She gave him a fury look and he in confusion.

"What??
Let me go!!"
She tried but was pulled back again.

"Avyakta.."
He called her,softly, directly staring in her eyes,while she turned her face away. He was inching closer but soon he felt a palm stopping him from coming forward and looked down that it was her hand.

"Avya..
You cried na? Why so?"
He stood infront of,towering over her. Taking in each and every detail of her face, he moved away the hair strand that came on her face, with his fingers.
"Avyakta..Avyakta.."
She looked at him with anger filled, puffy eyes.

"Are you angry with me?
Speak something!"
With his soft eyes,he looked at her. Her face was glowing in the dim darkness of the room,such that he would kiss her chubby cheeks but halted. He put his left hand beside her against the wall.

"No..let me go.."
She was about to push him away when a chocolate packet came infront of her face. She sniffed and gazed at him.

"Who will eat it then?..
If you will walk away?"

"Better give it to Sanyukta.
I don't want."
She looked downcast and stood infront of him again, exhausted.
Again, he brought his palm infront of her face and wiped away her no-tears face.
"Why did you cry? I can sense."

"Tch.
You stop being so innocent. Okay?
You are at fault. Don't you know how much they all were tensed about you..hun? No calls, no information.. nothing. Before being so smart,  no! Oversmart, think what you are doing.
You know, Maa and papa got petrified, why? That day's incident roamed infront of their eyes.
Do you even realize that?"
She swayed away his hand off her face and her eyes well up while she spoke in anger filled tone. Siddhant had a guilty smile on his face.

"But what's the need to cry for that Avyakta?"
He asked her.

"I didn't cry.."
She whispered and pushing him off her way, she walked towards bed.
The reason she cried remained unknown to her,even. The tears,had some deep feelings behind,that came through the strings of her heart. It hurted her and relief washed down upon her,at the same time,to see him back.
She remained quiet and dozed off. While, he smiled quizzical, because he knew the reason behind that silence and tears. She cared for him but denied to give any hint.

Eyes emit thousands of emotions and he felt that.

.
.
.
.
.

The soft breeze hit her face as she pulled down the car's window. In reflex, a smile crept on her face. Meanwhile, Siddhant glanced at her, occasionally.

"Sid-Siddhant..
We turn towards that way, Right?
You left that behind?"
Avyakta, turned to him as she saw him drove to the other road.

"Wait, Avyakta!"
After this, he kept quiet and drove to his respective place. Avyakta remained silent,thinking that he might be taking a new way today and busied herself looking out.

But to her surprise, he turned his car in a jungle and stopped infront of a cliff. He got out and stood at a distance. Avyakta, baffled with his actions,too came out of the car.

"Siddhant? What happened?"
He turned and looked at her. Holding her wrist within the trap of his fingers, he took her to the room behind their car.

As soon as they entered inside,all they could see was the darkness engulfing the whole room. She furrowed her eyebrows together,baffled. Walking through the darkness, he made her sit on a chair and himself lost in the dark room.
Few doubts occupied her mind. A scary thought popped inside her. What if Siddhant brought her inside to..do this and that..
But she believed him, that he would never do something that would harm her, inside-out.

The source of light in the room was only the light coming inside through the gate. She called him out and seemed quite terrified,if he had left her there only. But to her relief, she saw a small source of light, probably Siddhant.
He kept the candle infront of her and to her vision came a table infront of her,that was lost before in the captivating darkness.

"Mm..Sorry, No light.
Have to manage with this small candle."
Spoke Siddhant, sitting on the chair.

"Okay!? But..Why are we here?"
Confused,Avyakta asked.

"Av-Avyakta..
I need to tell you something.."

"You could have told me,outside the room also..Why here?"

"Because I want to.
And..the thing is..How should..I tell you.. this..I'm like.. I don't want to tell this..but.. Avyakta.. I had to.."
He fumbled on his words.

"What happened Siddhant?
Why are you stuttering? Everything fine?"
Avyakta asked with worry engulfing her. Siddhant turned to her.

"Siddhant? Don't scare me okay?
Tell me fast. Will get late for our offices.."

"How do you feel,in all these,when you were with me?"
He moved forward,while his palms,were clasped. The sudden question made Avyakta, purse her lips.
"Speak Avyakta."

"Why do you ask?
I feel good. You never made me feel uncomfortable Siddhant. Your care touched me..I shall remain thankful to you for my whole life.."
She spoke while all she could hear, was his sighs and breathing.

"Hmm..
Now..Listen.
Avyakta, whatever you feel for me or like about me,is just a mere small thing for me. I saw your vulnerability, in these times but still you remained bold as ever, I appreciate that. You said my caring nature touched you, hmm...
But Have you ever noticed my actions deeply? Like,What hidden emotions it had..

No! Never!"
He drummed his finger on the table,while Avyakta kept all quiet with uncertainty.

"Time passed. Season changed.
Winter went. Summer,too gone and now,Monsoon. It shall too pass.
But,you...
will never change. I feel."
Siddhant spoke,with sarcastic tone.

"Siddhant? What are you speaking even?"
Avyakta asked,quite bewildered.

"What am I speaking?

Avyakta..
You spent much time with me..Right?
Ever tried to feel what I feel for you,hun? Ever?"

"Siddhant?"

"Ever felt the way I look at you. I smiled at you. Ever felt the way I touch you. Ever felt my words.

Avyakta, Ever felt my respect, the admiration and...the love,I have for you?
No!

Avyakta...I know how toughest of the tough phase, would it have been for you..You lost many precious memories you had with me,with our family. The identity you had in these past lost years, is vanished. But...

You know..how much it hurts and hurted me,when you ignored me, shouted on me and ah! Slapped me?
Your words came out as bow,panging straight into my heart but still I remained calm. Why?
Because I loved you.

But now,Avyakta.. I'm seriously tired. Tired of this thing.

I feel glad you remained with me all these while, and this was all because, your condition was miserable,wanted to help you.And I just wanted to make you realize the things..That's it. I just told it to clarify if you have any doubt,after that.

I cannot live a life this way. I promised forever to be with you but..maybe, God forbid me for breaking this promise,today. I can't. I can't live this way."
Avyakta was left all speechless. She couldn't decipher the situation. Siddhant was not like this. What was he speaking? He stood up as he gulped the lump formed in his throat.

"What actually do you want to say?"
His ears hit her voice.

"I don't love you the way...I did.."
With this, he walked away, lost in the complete darkness,After giving her a last, sad smile. She was left rooted on her spot. She didn't want it to happen this way. He walked away, tears brimmed her vision and when she came back to her senses,he was soon gone.

"Siddhant!! Siddhant!! No!!.where are you??"
She came out and saw nothing but the silence,in the whole vicinity. Tears made down its way and she panted. He was nowhere. She turned maniac, while wiping her tears away.
"SIDDHANT!!
I LOVE YOU..
DAMMIT!! LISTEN!!
SIDDHANT!!!"
She broke down crying as she, saw him nowhere. Her saree ruffled and with a thud she fell down on the ground.
She cried..cried..and cried..
"If you would have given me,time. I would have confessed..I Love you Siddhant! I Love You...."

Avyakta woke up with a jolt as reality dawned upon her. Beads of perspiration covered her whole body. What was that?
She rubbed her face as she saw, Siddhant soundly asleep,beside her.
Looking out of window, she guessed that it was midnight.

Just a dream, she sighed as relief dawned upon her.

She felt the uncalled shock and then, two things were clear. One, Siddhant was one in a million, if anything happens to him, she would die, he was precious. Second, She loved him. Loved him, like no one could ever imagine.

Loved him? How and when? She facepalmed and the shock she felt in her nightmare,left her all dazzed. She wanted to cry,evn in reality,too. Wiping her face,she looked at him and saw his face in the darkness of the room. She wanted to hug someone, and that someone was Siddhant only at that time,No one else, because the night's incident, when he was not at home,left her all fear gripped, plus the dream she saw. She wanted to feel him,that he was with her.

Adjusting her clothes, she tiptoed to the balcony but before that,her gaze went towards the side chair,where kept the unopened chocolate packet. Taking it in her hands, her gaze met with the walls,where hanged the pictures of his and hers. She touched them and adorned.
Things will get normal soon.

.
.
.
.
.

There was nothing to stare at except darkness but just buildings which were lighted, randomly like her heart which was developing the small feelings inside the dimness of her heart whenever,he did something for her,in these past days.

She looked up into the vast sky. Her eyes went towards the shining object, only to see a small star,that shone bright in this vast dark night sky like him. She wondered, him to be like this, one in a million.

There was no wind but the weather remained cool. She looked back to see him facing his back to her, asleep.

"When did it happen? What's wrong with me?

Why do I name that attraction I feel towards you?
Is it that feeling? Something.. Something.
Love?

He's angry but never raised his voice for even once on me.
He's shy but remains an open hearted infront of me.
He's selfless for me.

Why..Why..did..it happen..
Why does his subtle smile made me joyous amidst all the uncertainty and doubts?

Even being a stranger, again, he won my heart.

His caring nature touched the bottom of my heart.Though, I might not like him in beginning but the way he made me have food. The way he hugged me,in those times when I needed someone, to console me. His slow yet meaningful kisses,though left me all shocked,always,but the deep attached emotions it had,made me realize it, the love he had for me.

Why are you like this,Siddhant?
I slapped you still..still..you never left me..
Maybe,if someone,sees me talking,with myself,in the middle of the night,will not leave a chance to call me fool.

But..I want to enjoy it. Enjoy this time to the fullest because I got something back which,though,I haven't lost but forgot it,in this meanwhile. The love I had for him.

You won Siddhant.. You won..
Changes happen.. and to change me,you were successful. I might have left myself all gloomy,if at the right moment you never might ever held my hand.

This is all Beautiful. My heart thumps, whenever I see him, or his hand brushes mine. . .
Your mere words,make me  feel all magical. Your kind respect makes me feel all special.
What is to love ourselves,you helped me to recognise.
That's why I fell for you. All unimaginable... but it's for real.

If Amma would have asked me now, if I could live without him,my answer would be no..
He proved himself to be an important part of my life.
The void I felt when he was not at home, was unthinkable and unknown. Maybe, it was just to make me realize that I have fallen for him.

Why did I forget those things? Those memories? Siddhant?

In all these times, I would be undeniably thankful, to you. . .
Not just because you gave me a ray of hope but just because always holding my hand...

Hey Parmeshwara! Give him whatever he wants now... His love..

I will remain debted to whatever things he did to me..
It will be a journey that is travelled by us being together."
She wiped the lone tear that came out, much to her restrain. She didn't had the care of the time but just wanted to sit in the silence because that darkness filled with silence, eventually helped her meet to a stranger, who when realized was her love. She felt a deep longing towards him after the nightmare she saw. She didn't want it to delay it further, maybe that is what the dream wanted to make her realize her feelings.
Her gaze went towards the light bruises she still had in her hands and again a small tear trickled down through the soft cheek.
"Don't know why it happened but..
Maybe, fated wanted us to fall in love,again.."

Then,gradually, her gaze went to the packet she had in her
hand, and soon a smile made down her face with a tear that escaped her welled eyes.

'Smile :)
For Darling!
From Darling of the Darling!'
The words wrote on a slip pasted on the upper side of the packet.

Soon, her thoughts were broken by a snatch. She,gradually,moved her face sideways,to find Siddhant, who snatched the chocolate from her hand,which she was holding since,the time she came in the balcony.

"Si-''

"Shhh.."
He pressed his finger against her lips and with a smile,looked at her.
"Keep quiet!"

She could only stare at him,with adoration and surprise,with his sudden appearance. She didn't realise when he woke up and came beside her. Meanwhile, taking out a piece of chocolate,he forwarded infront of her. Her stare at his face with soft eyes could even melt him.
She ate it silently,through his hands,while he wiped away the tear, with his pinky finger. Taking another piece, she made him have it.
Her eyes welled up,which never left the eyelock they both had.

Keeping the packet aside, Siddhant chuckled.
"I said in the temple,itself?
Staring will do something? And it did.
You fell in love with me.."

While, she shyly laughed at his words.
"How do you know?"

"Your eyes, your face, your tears,your smile, your lips, your cheeks, your everything, says it all.."
He smiled,sitting all relaxed in the chair.

"Don't you feel tired living this way. I mean with me..I could never do what you did for me.."

"Nah! Never.
I myself, discovered a new side of myself. The deep love I have for you. For which I can go to any extent. This phase will always be remembered as my favourite one.

And..What did you say? You could never do what I did for you?
Madame,..we have much life,ahead to spend together...
Show whenever you want. Who stopped you?"
He laughed and Avyakta could stare at him,with a coy smile. The feeling of being in Love was beautiful.

"You won't sleep hun?
Okay come here!"
He widened his arms asking for a hug. She looked at him and moved forward along with the chair and rested her head against his chest.
"Did you heard somethin'?
That  heartbeat of mine. Whenever you are close to me or whether you are away from me, it beats with the same rate  making me realise how much I.Love.You."
She felt his giggle sweet as honey and she closed her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her, giving her a protective embrace. She thanked to him, to the poet who was the writer of their destiny,for writing such a  beautiful poem. His slow breathes touched her heart and the gradual pats on her head. She loved him.

A mere jerk, which her consciousness gave, brought her to the reality. Again, she dreamt of him having beside her. She smiled and looked back to saw him fast asleep.
She wanted to give him the love the way he shows her,back. She took out the chocolate from the packet and ate one,enjoying tonight.
What if she's amnesiac?

He was her love.
First and Last Love.

Walking inside,she closed the sliding door of the balcony and sat on the bed. It was 4 in the morning. Her face,gradually went towards his face. The dream just scared her but not what she saw a moment ago. Siddhant close to her.

Were the feelings that enveloped her,from past few days, were really these feelings?
She looked at him. His face showed the calmness. She remembered how selfless he was this whole period. The one who was there,always whenever she felt,sad or pained. He never touched her. Never,made her feel uncomfortable.

Is he the one for her?

Tears made its way down,happy tears,all this while. Clutching her wedding chain which she vowed to never take out since the time she wore it and kissed it.

After, 10 minutes, she laid down and her stomach churned as she felt the feeling of being in love.
Not a single blink and she stared him, for sometime. The handsomness and serenity,that reflected from his face embedded in her heart.
She stood up a bit and neared him.
Bringing her face closer to his face, she pecked his forehead,slightly moving away the hair strands that came on his face and laid back to her position.

Not a single blink.
Laying down, she didn't even realize, from how much time she's been staring at him. Whenever, he would show some movement, she would intentionally, close her eyes but with a smile that plastered her face,she would stare at his face, that looked tranquil like an ocean which remain calm during the dawn. She brought herself close to him,took his hand,gradually and intertwined it with hers. The pillow that were kept as a barrier was kept aside to the couch.
And without even realizing, sleep engulfed her.

◆◆◆◆◆

So, She realized it..

How was the chapter?
Liked it?

Had to divide the chapter into two parts since it was getting too long.
So, the next part will be up today itself, in sometime. :)