You are mine only

7. Truth

Ranjana followed Manish obediently, her anticipation growing. Manish led her to a darkroom, and as he switched on the lights, Ranjana was taken aback by the scene before her.

"What happened here, Manish? Why is there blood and all these things...?" Her gaze then landed on a large photograph hanging on the wall, and she was overwhelmed to see herself in it.

"Manish, whose house is this?" Ranjana asked hesitantly.

"Come with me," Manish said, leading her out of the room. Ranjana followed him, her mind filled with a mix of confusion and curiosity. They entered another room, and as Ranjana's eyes fell upon the man lying on the bed, her expression turned into a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"Ranjana, I have been witnessing Virat's condition for the past eight years. No matter where I am in the world, I always find my way back to him because I care about him deeply. The person you see in that photograph is the only one in Virat's life, and it will remain that way. The decision is now yours to make." With those words, Manish exited the room, leaving Ranjana alone with her thoughts.

As she stared at the man lying unconscious on the bed, the realization struck her that she was the woman in that darkroom photograph. There was no other woman in Virat's life. Tears welled up in Ranjana's eyes, and her body trembled with conflicting emotions. She had spent eight years searching for her love, and now that she had found Virat, she found herself tangled in a web of uncertainty, contemplating the possibility of leaving him once again.

Ranjana gazed at Virat's limp figure, his white shirt stained with blood. A wave of sorrow washed over her as she realized the pitiful state he was in. This was not the Virat she had known eight years ago. Moved by compassion, she gently removed his shoes and placed them on the floor. Taking a blanket, she tenderly covered him, ensuring he was comfortable. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she sat down beside him, her trembling hand finding its way to his forehead. As she touched him, a flood of memories from their golden days together surged through her mind, intertwining with the present moment.

In the morning...

Virat's head throbbed with pain, a reminder of the events from the previous night. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and there she was—Ranjana, the image etched in his heart, peacefully asleep with her head resting on her hands near Virat's shoulder. A faint smile played on her lips, indicating that she was lost in a pleasant dream where Virat was present. Virat's gaze fixated on Ranjana's innocent face, as if he were in a trance, forgetting the ache in his head. In that moment, it felt as though Ranjana's presence was not just a dream, but a tangible reality that he had longed for.

Confusion clouded Virat's mind. How did Ranjana end up in his bedroom? Had she spent the entire night with him? The thought of Ranjana's husband discovering that she had stayed overnight with her ex-boyfriend sent waves of concern through Virat. Yet, amidst the whirlwind of questions, his eyes remained locked on Ranjana's face. After eight long years, he was finally able to observe his beloved so closely once again. His heart whispered, "Ranju, stay asleep like this, and I will cherish the sight of you for the rest of my life."

Virat took a deep breath and sat up on the bed, his gaze fixated on Ranjana's innocent face. He noticed that she had been sitting on the ground, perhaps falling asleep while waiting for him to wake up.

As Ranjana opened her eyes and met Virat's gaze, he felt an overwhelming desire to embrace her. But Ranjana couldn't bear the intensity of Virat's loving, red eyes, and she looked away, unable to respond.

"Spending the night in a drunken man's house was not the wisest decision," Virat said slowly, breaking the silence.

Ranjana remained silent, her eyes lingering on the bandage wrapped around Virat's hand. Virat, too, glanced at his wounded hand before returning his gaze to Ranjana, searching for answers in her eyes.

"You should leave. My driver will drop you," Virat said firmly, standing up and removing the blanket from himself.

"Virat..." Ranjana stood up and reached out to stop him from leaving. Virat turned around and looked at her, his expression guarded.

"What if I don't want to go?" Ranjana asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"I don't want to cause trouble in your marriage life. I can't keep you here," Virat replied coldly, his walls firmly in place.

Ranjana took a few steps closer to him, closing the distance between them.

Virat noticed tears welling up in her eyes, and a tinge of yellow tinted his face at the sight.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't like seeing these tears." Virat's voice softened, his heart aching at the sight of Ranjana's tears.

"These tears have been waiting for you for eight years. I have been waiting for you. Where have you been all these years? Did you ever think that I would live or die without you?" Ranjana's voice trembled with indignation.

"Ranju..." Virat tried to interject, but Ranjana clung to him, saying, "I hate you, Virat." For a brief moment, Virat's hands hesitated before completing the embrace.

"Where were you? You should have come to me and asked!" Ranjana's voice cracked as she cried.

"Ranju, this isn't right. You're married," Virat said, his tone cold and detached. Ranjana released the embrace, her face filled with a mixture of pain and determination. She realized that she needed to tell Virat everything now.

"Virat," Ranjana wiped away her tears, composing herself for a moment.

"I'm not married to anyone. I ran away from home just a day before the wedding." Ranjana looked into his eyes and spoke slowly, her voice filled with sincerity.

Virat's heart sank, and he stared at Ranjana with a mix of confusion and disbelief.