A beautiful spring evening, the sun in its pinkish glow was illuminating the last hours in the sky, as the dusk approached near. Suman sat on the bench, her right hand caressing the preety, blooming flowers near her. It had always attracted her, the spring season, the bright duvet of flowers all around. She felt like they inspired her, showing her how wilting of flowers didn't stop them from flourishing again. A small smile decorated her pale face, as she wiped the lone tear that sat in her heavy, wet eyelashes. Maybe, still there was hope, maybe her Shravan would come around. A bitter chuckle escaped her soft lips, at the stupidity of her naive heart. It had been more than 24 hours that Shravan insulted her in front of the entire media, broke every relation with her and she left her home. She wondered how Malhotra Mansion had become her home, so soon, much more dear to her than Tiwari Killa. Maybe because it was related to Shravan and anything that had his essence in it became dear to her anyway.
The sky by now had turned more of purple-orangish and the sun was bidding adeiu for the day. The already deserted park became more lonely, and it scared her. As much as she was afraid of being left alone, misunderstood, it all had came true to her. The sudden thought left her in tears, and a few saline drops made their ways out. She hurriedly wiped them, and turned to leave when she caught his eyes. He was there, right behind her, gazing at her, unblinking. Suman wanted to go hug him, but the incidents from before flashed in front of her eyes. His word, his lack of trust, his abuses, his insults. Everything rang in her mind and her big, expressive orbs, reflected pain mixed with hurt to him. She didn't speak, but her eyes told it all to him and he stood, bearing the guilt of his deeds, and still looking at her. Suman fisted her hands in rage, all the love that she had, now overpowered by anger. His words rang in her ears like painful sound.

" You exploit people emotionally, hiding behind the facade of self respect, and middle class label"

"She had a relation with Aditya Ahuja"

" You are a mean, selfish and self centered women"

" I hate you Suman Tiwari, and I end all my relations with you, henceforth"

Suman didn't realize when he had crossed the physical distance between them and stood in front of her. It was when he took her hands in his that she came out of the trance. He kept his forehead on her hands, and she felt something breaking inside her.Trying to jerk away her hands, she pushed him back and he stumbled, leaving her hands. She was still mum but this time her eyes caught his, which were filled with nothing but pain and regret. His forehead was frowned, orbs bloodshot, a corner of the shirt was peeking out of his belt, his eyes had huge bags and the hair he was so particular about, was dishevelled. Suman started at him, wide eyed, how could she not notice this before? All her rage now laid forgotten, as she leaped to hold him but before she could, his knees gave up and he fell on the grass. Suman sat beside him, and cupped his face. Shravan's eyes were filled with tears, and a silent plea of forgiveness, clouded with a huge amount of guilt and regret. He was mum too, but his eyes did all the talking and her eyes replied him. There could never be a sin, Suman couldn't forgive Shravan for. She held his shoulders, and pulled him close to her chest, and that was all it took for him to breakdown, the sobs leaving him shaking head to toe, as he drowned in depths of the despair, the knowledge of truth had pushed him in. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined his life to be this twisted, where his own father manipulated him against his mother as well as his lady love, where his lady love had been given a choice between love and family. And it was needless to mention, both Shravan and Suman had always chose family over themselves. Only this time, it had ripped apart both their hearts, hers in a try to push him away, his in the agony of feeling betrayals again and again.

Shravan rubbed his chest to sooth the pain and started finding it difficult to breath. Suman, alarmed at the sight, rubbed his back and ruffled his hairs softly, until everything inside his stomach came out. She bit back her lip, as his tormented state reminded her of the day, when they thought Ramnath had died in the plane crash. Indeed, there were only two people who ruled Shravan- his dad and herself, and only because he had always priortitized them over his own heart. And both of them had equally smashed him. Enough now though, Suman stood up with a newfound determination. She was done with ego against egos, revenge for revenge clashes. It was time for some peace and happiness in their lives, in Shravan's life. She pulled him up, he looked at her with a look that almost had her heart. She could not see him this defeated again, and she knew what she had to do.

Pushing open the door to her room in Tiwari Killa, she pulled out her treasure box from the cupboard. The proof of her love to him. His love had already been prooved to her. A ton of cards, letters, photographs, memories welcomed Shravan and as he realized what all of it was about, Shravan smiled. A content smile. Standing up he cupped her face, before touching his forehead with hers. Tears dropping down his choclate eyes, mingled with the ones from her black ones, as their hearts beated in unison, finally.

Shravan chuckled as he finally held Sumo close to his heart, his arms wrapped around her. How he had wished her to confess to him, how he had wished her to explain her actions, how he had wanted her to tell him her desires. And today, all his wishes were fulfilled without a single exchange of word between them. They didn't speak, but the enunciating silence between them, said it all. The love they had craved for so badly, today filled their hearts with happiness and yet, neither of them needed words. He smiled at his stupidity, how they had wasted time, energy and words in hurting each other. And today, silence united them. Neither of them gave explanation. Neither confessed. Neither asked questions. And yet, they were at peace, content in each other's arms, happy in love, finally.

"Sumo", Shravan spoke, and Suman looked up at him. His face had a kind of glow she didn't remember seeing ever. Leaning in, he dropped a long kiss on her forehead, followed by her eyes, her cheeks and she in took a sharp breath, as the blush stared adorning her cheeks.

"Shravan", her breaths went erotic as she grabbed his collars, their eyes locked in a universe of their own, and he then, captured her soft petals, in his rough ones, sealing their promise of love forever. The sunset today, had indeed paved a way for their new dawn!

Kitne door door ho, hum dono k raaste,
Mil jate h jo bane, ek duje k vaste!
Ek duje k vaste!
Jaise dil h dhadkan h, ek duje k vaste!
Jaise aankh h darpan h, ek duje k vaste!
Jaise barkha sawan h, ek duje k vaste,
Ek sajni ek sajan h, ek duje k vaste!
Ek duje k vaste!
Ek duje k vaste!

Us rab ne jab dil diye, dil k do tukde kiye,
Dono pe ek naam likha, ek radha ek shyaam likha,
Ab ye dil dhadakte h,
Milte aur bichadte h,
Ek duje k vaste!
Ek duje k vaste!
Ek duje k vaste!
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Hey! I wrote this piece for likhavat, that's an online writing competition about Shraman.
And this is also a continuation after the prologue of this story. So I thought of posting it here.
Do drop your views!