Author's pov
Orni came to the place where Rudraksh told her to come. It was a beautiful place in the mountains surrounded by beautiful greenery. The place was so calm and so refreshing that it can vanish anyone's mental disturbance.
Orni's jaw dropped and her eyes widened seeing the decorations in front of her. A small tent with different types of flowers amazed Orni. Her mouth started watering at the delicious aromas from her favourite dishes.
But, suddenly Orni memory turned back in time when she was with VR
But, suddenly Orni memory turned back in time when she was with VR. Tears started gathering in her eyes recalling that day when she arranged something like that for VR. It was one of the best days of her life but Alas!! Everything is ruined now.
Noticing tears in Orni's eyes Rudraksh apologized nervously," I am sorry if you didn't like it."
" Shhhhhh," Orni hushed him placing one of her index fingers over his lips.
She answered controlling her tears," You just made me emotional by all these."
Removing her fingers he held her hands gently and then looked into her teary eyes. His eyes softened and his heart clenched inside his chest sensing the hidden pain inside her. Slowly he rinsed off her tears with his callous fingers.
" I don't know how should I console you. But, the only thing I can say is that you don't deserve to cry like that," He said and she smiled looking down.
Then, he asked taking her to the tent," Did you like it?"
" It's beautiful. But, did you cook all these?" Orni asked looking at the food amusingly.
He answered hesitating," I am not a great cook. But, I tried."
" Let's taste then," Orni replied sitting in the tent.
Taking a piece of butter chicken inside her mouth, Orni moaned at the taste of it. She closed her eyes feeling the meat so tender, juicy and creamy. Rudraksh let out a chuckle seeing her reaction.
" God!! It's so tasty. You are really a husband material," Saying that Orni looked at Rudraksh and winked at him playfully.
He literally forgot to chew after seeing her reaction. Realization hit her hard noticing his straight glare on her face. Biting her tongue she let out an awkward chuckle.
" I mean to say....umm......." Orni wasn't finding proper words to say.
Rudraksh replied laughing," I am relieved to know that."
Orni bit her tongue again. After that, they finished eating while chit-chatting with each other. Then, they looked in front of them. At the horizon where the sun was just setting. The place was quiet it was a soothing sight to see.
But, Rudraksh's inside wasn't quiet. There was a strong cyclone arising inside him. He was trying hard to start a conversation but due to nervousness, he was failing every time. Specifically, he was afraid of Orni's reaction to know his true feelings about her.
Letting out a few breaths he gathered all the courage inside him and cleared his throat to catch her attention. But, Orni was lost on the horizon.
He opened his mouth to say something when she said diverting her eyes at him," Say. What do you want to say?"
He blinked his eyes nervously realising that she has been noticing his turmoil secretly. Putting aside all his turmoil he held her hands gently. Kissing her knuckles he looked into her eyes. She was already looking at him with questioning eyes. She was wondering what will be his next move.
" Orni, I don't know how to sugarcoat words or make cheesy lines to impress someone. I will tell you the truth honestly," He said nervously.
Pausing for a few seconds, he continued saying," I like you a lot. I know there is a difference between like and love. At first, I thought you are just one of my clients. Nothing else. But, the more I got to know about you, the more I talked to you and spend time with you. I started feeling something else for you. Unknowingly, I grew feelings for you."
" Whenever I remember your father's words about how painful was your past. I don't feel pity for you. I feel anger that I wasn't there to save you. I wish I met you earlier," He opened up to her about his feelings while Orni listened to him silently.
Holding her face gently he promised to her," Orni, give me a chance to make you smile. Give me a chance to erase all the horrible memories in your mind. Give me a chance to shower you with love. The love you deserve."
Asking that he started leaning close to her lips. He thought Orni will push him away but she didn't. She just sat there patiently. She was looking so calm but only she can feel the writhing sensations inside her.
When they were just a few inches apart and Orni can feel his hot mint breath fanning on her lips, he asked for permission," May I?"
Orni didn't answer anything. She just closed her eyes which Rudraksh took as approval. Slowly he placed his lips on hers when a drop of tear rolled down her cheeks. Before Rudraksh could deepen the kiss Orni pushed him away.
" I am sorry," Orni apologized crying.
Rudraksh asked worriedly," What happened?"
" I am sorry, Rudraksh. I can't be with you," Orni responded standing up hurriedly.
Rudraksh asked holding one of her wrists," Why, Orni?"
" I won't force you to accept me. I will always respect your decision. But, why are you deceiving yourself? I know that you love me too," He said genuinely.
This time Orni yelled at him," If you marry me then you will never be happy. You can't get anything from me."
" What are you even saying?" Rudraksh asked because he was completely clueless about her words.
Orni asked angrily," Do you know that I can never conceive? I am barren now."
" Do you think I proposed to you without knowing anything properly?" He questioned back with the same intensity.
Holding her shoulder he said looking directly into her eyes," Why do we even need kids? We have two sons and a daughter. Our family is complete. Most importantly, I love you. You love me. That's it."
" No. It's not that simple. I can't accept you. I promised something to someone else. I am sorry," Orni answered freeing her from his hold and ran away from there.
Rudraksh didn't stop her. He can't force his feelings on her. If she doesn't want him then he will respect her decision always. He realised long ago that love can't be forced.
Rudraksh's pov
" Raksha, don't annoy Daddy. Open your mouth," I told my daughter who was absent-minded towards food.
I was already upset after meeting Orni since she rejected me. Here my daughter is giving me a hard time as well.
" Raksha, eat the food," I said with a glint of anger on my face.
Putting the doll beside her, she looked at me. She kept staring at me like she was analysing me.
" Daddy, are you sad?" She asked innocently.
Tilting my head I answered," No. Why would I be sad?"
Yes, I am sad. My heart was shattered when she refused to accept me. I am not understanding why she refused me if she loves me. I also didn't understand the promise she was talking about.
If she is happy without me then I am ok with her decision. I will never force her to think about me. Love should be mutual. It can't be forced. I understood it a long ago when I was with my first wife Siya.
Our marriage was an arranged marriage and it didn't go well. She loved someone else but she married me because of her parents. I tried a lot to work on this marriage but she didn't give me any chance. So, when she asked for a divorce. I let her go.
After her, I thought I would never be able to fall in love again. Indeed no woman could make my heart beat until I met Orni. It wasn't love at first sight like any movie. I don't know when I started falling for her. The simplicity of her, the innocence and the tenderness in her touched my heart. She has an amazing personality. The way she gets along with the children just makes me believe that Angels exist.
I was really sorry when I came to know about her past. I swear I felt goosebumps after hearing what she went through. When her brother told me that she almost lost her sanity because of that man I felt like I will just strangle that bastard to death. I wish I was there to save her. I wish I was there to share her pain.
I wish she gets a good person as her life partner. So what she rejected me!! She has all the right to reject me. That doesn't mean I will start hoping for something ill for her. I wish all the happiness for her.
" Daddy," I returned to reality hearing my daughter calling me.
Looking at her face I felt extremely sad that she never got any mother's love. I love her so much but still, I can feel the desperation in her for mother's love.
Author's pov
Laying on the cold floor VR was closing his eyes and thinks about all the wrongdoing he did to Orni. He was ashamed of himself that he did such things to the girl he claims to love.
Maybe he doesn't accept but his conscience knows what a brute he was. His mother was an excuse. He was abusive to her from the very first. If he wanted or just used his brain logically then he wouldn't have to see this day. He realised Orni's value in his life when he lost her.
" Someone came to meet you," A deep voice startled VR.
He looked at the door and found a constable opening it. He knows who came to meet him. It must be Akash. Except for Akash, no one comes to meet him. Living in this cell he realised how much lonely is he!!
Entering the meeting room VR's eyes widened with pure shock seeing the person standing in front of her. He wasn't expecting this person here.
" Daddy!!" Neela came running and then hugged VR's waist tightly.
For a few seconds, VR only stood like a statue. Composing his stunned expression he picked up Neela and hugged her tightly. He tried a lot to control the tears in his eyes but he couldn't. He burst into tears feeling Neela hugging his neck tightly.
" Daddy, how are you?" Neela asked him innocently.
He answered controlling his tears," I am good. How are you, dear?"
" Good. Daddy, I miss you a lot. When will you return home?" She asked looking at his eyes with hopeful eyes.
Before VR could answer anything further to Neela, Niyati snatched her away from VR's hold. Glaring at Neela she scolded her.
" The meeting is over. Let's go," Niyati said forwarding her legs while Neela looked down with teary eyes.
VR called from behind," Niyati."
Turning behind Niyati replied curtly," Don't think I came here to meet you. If I knew what kind of person you are then I would have never taken help from you. Neela was bothering me day and night for you. That's why I thought to bring her here for the first & last time."
" She is my daughter. Don't separate me from her, Niyati. I request you," VR literally begged but Niyati was firm in her thinking.
Niyati answered rudely," She isn't."
Saying that Niyati started leaving the place. Neela screamed opening his arms to go to VR's embrace but with time she was going far away from him. He raised his hands to bid her goodbye.
" Always stay happy, pumpkin," VR whispered crying.