Bengal, Choudhury House

"My heart feels satisfied seeing you start a new life," Tapas softly smiled, while helping his sister arrange her ornaments inside the boxes. Saudamini halted with her pace of removing her bangles and gazed at him briefly. She saw him press his lips, trying to hold back himself as his throat choked. 

"I don't know what to say, Mini...." He looked with a remorseful look on his face, "I wish I knew the truth-"

"Dada, please," Saudamini wrapped her palm around his and squeezed it, "Don't burden yourself anymore with the past."

"It was my fault." Tapas trailed his eyes towards her, his vision blurring as his sister's grip over his hand loosened. If anyone who was traumatized equally with Satyakaam's death and regarding what happened between them, was Tapas. Satyakaam and him were almost inseparables once upon a time. 

Yet, he failed to read his eyes. 

"I shouldn't have..."

"It wasn't your fault, Bhai. Please stop tormenting yourself, you just wanted me to be happy," She softly ushered, her heart feeling heavy as a stone. 

"The fact is that we wished for your happiness, but that happened in a surface level," His voice quivered. 

Saudamini exhaled deeply. Tapas held his head within his palms, gently rubbing it. She shut her eyes for a moment, those ugly memories that she had locked within the deepest depths of her heart had begun to resurface. Again. 

Her heart thudded against her chest, as she closed the box of ornaments. Tapas gulped, gently tapping her sister's arm, and shifted closer. She rested her head gently on his shoulder, lowering her lashes as he tousled her hairs, soothing her. 

.

.

.

Cool zephyrs began to rustle the dry leaves of the coming winter, the charm of night was entirely different. The crescent moon shone unabashedly, with the fluffy clouds fluttering around with the winds.

Saudamini closed the windows of her room, and was about to draw the curtains, when her gaze fell upon the Chakravarty house a few distance away from the window that was opposite her bed. 

The same view, from her window. 

And memories flashing as to how she used to peek at that house from her window once upon a time and smile to herself. 

Stupid, naive her.

Stupid and utterly delusional. Her teeth began to grit against each other, as those thoughts which were once a bliss had started to prick her like thorns of roses. She had experienced her share of roses, and it was now time for her to walk on thorns.

Punishment for her naivety, pride and delusion. 

Her nails unconsciously pricked her palms, as she bit her lips, heftily drawing the curtains and rushing towards her bed. How much mad she was, how much of a dumb-head she was. She deserved this sorrow.

She held her breath for a good while.

She deserved to lament for everything she did. 

It was her time to lose the colors of her life. Her moon of love won't shine, it will burn. 

"I swear to God I haven't seen such an utterly selfish woman like you Saudamini," Abhijeet heaved, with tear stained red eyes, in front of Satyakaam's lifeless body which was to be taken for funeral, "Such a vile woman you are!" 

He was seething with anger, as Saudamini blankly gazed at him with soaked and puffy eyes. 

"A spineless woman like you deserves no happiness! For your happiness, you stole the happiness of my only brother!" 

"Abhijeet...." Mr. Chakravarty placed a hand on his shoulder in a warning tone.

"Let me vent myself out Baba, not today...." He exasperated, "For you couldn't see through her nature which I did! You all had planted thorns instead of a flower in this house!"

"She ruined my brother's life!" 

Saudamini allowed herself to slide on the bed, firmly clutching the bedsheet, as tears relentlessly rolled her eyes. Her entire self convulsed as she sobbed, her hairs messed on her back, burying her face deeper into the mattress. 

So much punishment just for loving someone? 

Her sobs intensified as hot tears fell, she so wished she could rewind the time and halt herself from taking this step. She wrapped her arms closer to her forehead, to hide herself more. 

It would've hurt, true, but it was better than this one. 

It would've been better if she had never fallen in love. Never.

Love shatters. 

★★★★★★★★★

A/N

🌝💔.

Signing off for today!

Nushkie