Just then, staying in the same posture, still embracing him, I exclaimed -

"Abhi...Abhi...

"I want to share a good news with you."

"Abhi...listen"

"We are going to be parents."

"Whatttt..." with a loud noise, he simply pushed me behind.

My head still hung down, and after 10 seconds of utmost silence, while I had big tears, flowing down my cheeks, I exclaimed angrily -

"Kavya spoke the same words to you."

"Am I not right Mr. Abhimanyu Mantri?"

He was taken aback.

"Kavya ne yeh same words tumse kahe the -

That "Kavya and Abhi" are going to become parents.

Isn't this the TRUTH Mr. Abhimanyu Mantri?"

He had no answer, as he simply cried.

I rushed back to remove my clandestine asset - my red bag. I opened my bag and removed the pink colored box of Prega News from it.

I walked back towards him - and showed the box to him, which had the initials - KM ­- written on it.

"Yeh box dekh rahe ho...." I held the box, right in front of his eyes.

"Yeh Prega News ka box Kavya ka hain - yeh dekho, uske naam ke initials bhi hain -

KM - which stands for Kavya Mundhra"

And this machine, rightly had 2 pink colored lines - in front of the letters - C and T.

These two pink lines - clearly state that Kavya was going to become a mother.

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"And nobody can deny this fact that -

If Kavya was supposed to have a baby, the father of the baby is none other than Mr. Abhimanyu Mantri."

Both of us were crying.

On one hand, I was crying in anger and sorrow, while he was crying in guilt and sorrow.

"Toh aisa kya kiya tha tumne Abhi...

That Kavya committed suicide?" I shouted at him angrily.

He couldn't control himself.

Indignantly, I screamed at him again -

"Aisa kya kiya tha tumne Abhi...

Ki Kavya ko suicide karna padha..."

He broke down as he dropped himself on his knees, sitting on the terrace floor, crying heavily with his head still hung down.

This time, with my utmost frustration and antagonism, I shouted -

"Abhi...just freaking answer me -

Why the hell did Kavya commit suicide?"

"Noooooooo" that was the loudest NO, I would have ever heard.

"Kavya did not commit suicide. It was me, who pushed..."

He was no longer able to control his tears and was not able to complete his statement.

"What...tumne...?" I was flabbergasted.

"Tumne Kavya ko push..." before I could complete my statement, with utmost hostility, he nodded his head, as big drops of tears, fell from his eyes, onto the ground.

I walked towards and gave him three tight slaps.

"Why the hell did you do this Abhi?"

"Kavya tumse itna zyada pyaar karti thi..."

"Kyu kiya tumne aisa?" I continuously screeched at him.

"Main darr gaya tha" his illogical yet blunt reply.

************************************

Now, Abhimanyu Mantri is telling the real and true story.

'I' refers to Abhimanyu Mantri.

"Jis din Interview ke results aaye the, uss din main bohat zyada khush tha - because mujhe Infosys mein - meri dream job mil gayi thi."

At 7:00pm, in the evening -I called Kavya.

Kavya..." I spoke in an apprehensive tone, on the call.

"Aaj raat mein - 8 baje - meet me at our favorite spot."

I spoke and declined the call, without hearing a single word from her.

I was really very excited to share my good news, first with the person - who inspired, motivated and prepared me the most - to receive this good news.

I reached the place, exactly at 7:50pm, and just like today, I stood on the edge of the terrace.

Sharp at 8:00pm, I heard her calling my name -

"Abhi..."

I turned back sharply, and both of us rushed towards each other.

We hugged each other tightly as she gave a passionate kiss on my cheeks. Both of us walked towards the edge, and unfortunately, this time - she was standing on the vulnerable/open side.

I hugged her again and exclaimed delightfully -

"Kavya...finally - I got the job Kavya, mujhe meri dream job mil gayi."

While we still embraced each other, the big curve of smile on my face, decreased, when I heard her saying -

"Congratulations Abhi...we are going to be parents."

I screamed anxiously," What...?" since I had no control on my senses, I moved behind.

"Haan Abhi...we are going to be parents." She was very elated at this fact, while I had these horrible thoughts in my mind -

What if the world gets to know that I have become a father, at such a tender age, that too without marriage?

Then - I would be removed from my institution.

Then - I would lose my job.

Then - I would never be able, to be successful.

Then - I would never be able to earn money and help my mother financially.

Then - I would never be able to have a good future.

With these scary and horrible thoughts in my mind, I had no control on my senses, and mistakenly I pushed her.

"Kavyaaaaaa....." I shouted loudly, as I could see - the most important girl of my life- falling down from the TERRACE - to her death.

I promise Ayesha - in that one instance - I had died a thousand deaths.

I tried very hard - to jump from the same spot - same terrace, and give away my life. But I had no courage.

Unfortunately, while I was myself,, about to jump - I saw some people, gathering around her dead body.

I was unable to make a decision and in that turmoil and commotion, I hurriedly ran back to my room.

After some time, when her body was taken to the hospital - Sri Sir called me personally in his office and asked me - as to what happened, since he was aware of the relationship between Kavya and me. I did not speak anything.

I cried a lot that day and the next 4 years of my life, uncontrollably.

Yes, I was definitely scared, what if the police reports checked for her pregnancy

- But this investigation did not take place and it was declared a suicide.

But, I am the culprit Ayesha, I am the freaking culprit.

*************************************

Abhimanyu was lying down on his knees, with his head hung down, weeping like hell.

No matter what,

But before the revelation of this truth - I loved this man, so I couldn't control myself and rushed towards him.

"Abhi...." I, Ayesha Thakur, spoke in a hushed voice.

He started blabbering again -

"Ayesha...yeh joh mere haath pe cuts hain" he showed both his hands and wrists.

"Maine usi din raat ko koshish ki thi - ki simply suicide kar lunga - right hand ki nerve kaat ke."

"Cut kar bhi liya tha - lekin tab hi, suddenly Pratyush aa gaya room mein."

"He rushed me to the hospital and unfortunately, I couldn't die."

Finally he looked up, his red dreary eyes - were as dangerous as an injured soldier of a war.

"Ayesha...uss din se aaj tak - har roz, har raat - sirf yeh ek hi sapna aata hain - aur neend, har raat - kharab ho jaati hain."

"MBA ke baad mein - maine zindagi ke chaar (4) saal - bohat mushkil se bitaaye hain!"

"Har woh cheez joh Kavya ko pasand thi - kabhi karne ki icha nahi hui."

"Unn chaar saalon mein - na main zindagi jee paaya aur na main izzat se mar paaya"

I held his face, in my hand and wiped his tears.

"Ayesha...inn chaar saalon ke baad - zindagi jeene ki icha khatam hi ho chuki thi."

"Lekin tab - tum aa gayi!"

"Humaari pehli mulaqat - woh filter coffee - Terrace talks - har yeh moment - mujhe Kavya ki yaad dilaata tha."

"Dheere dheere pata chala - ki shayad meri zindagi mein, ek aur ladki aayi hain -

Jisse dekh kar dil kahe - ki saari zindagi, sirf ussi ke liye jeeyu."

"Tumne mujhe phir se zindagi jeena sikhaya -

Aur Kavya humesha yahi chahti thi - ki main ek haseen zindagi jeeyu."

"Ayesha - you made me live my life, the way Kavya, wanted me to live - and this is the reason - I started loving you.

"Aur ek time pe aisa laga - ki Kavya se zyada, maine tumse pyaar kiya hain!"

I was shocked at his confession and I could not control my tears.

Moreover, I was actually regretting my decision -

The decision to force Abhi to come to the terrace of IIM INDORE and relive that entire scene - which took place between Kavya and him.

The decision to force Abhi to reveal the entire truth and ruin his life again.

The decision to force Abhi to accept his mistake, but at the same time - sending him back into depression.

The decision to take such a horrible risk - a risk which includes the person - whom I loved the most - my MAN - Mr. Abhimanyu Mantri.

"Ayesha....please forgive me...please Ayesha" he actually joined his hands, and fell at my feet.

I carefully lifted him as both of us stood up, and I held his face in my hand -

"Abhi...shhh...bas...ab aur nahi" I tried to console him, but to no avail.

"It's okay Abhi...It's okay" I embraced him tightly, as both of us - hugged each other.

"Abhi...I am sorry."

"I had no intention to do this."

"I am sorry Abhi...."

"I love you Abhi....I love you very much!"

And suddenly, he moved behind, he took a step backward - and I could see that his sniveling had stopped.

In a fraction of second, he gave a dreary look - as he stared at me and stated -

"Ayesha...I am sorry." However, his tone was no longer the previous one, this time - it was scary.

"Abhi...NO" I started breathing heavily.

"I am sorry Ayesha - par ab, yeh Abhimanyu, bina Kavya ke aur bina Ayesha ke..." he spoke the statement, which I feared the most.

Before he would complete speaking, I myself ran towards him and exclaimed -

"Abhi...nahi"

"Abhi...please, I am sorry" I held his face and screamed -

"Abhi...hum dono milkar...we will sort everything."

"I am sorry Ayesha, par ab nahi!" he removed my hand, from his face.

"I am sorry na..." I cried bitterly.

"Please aise mat bolo Abhi..."

He took another step backward and this time, I moved and held his hand tightly.

"Ayesha...sirf ek baat kehni hain tumse..."

I moved towards him, as our foreheads touched each-others and I was crying, bitterly.

"Ayesha...

Main tumse bohat zyada pyaar karta THA,

Karta hoon aur

Karta rahunga."

"Lekin, ek baat hain, jiske wajah se, main tumse humesha nafrat karunga -

He had tears in his eyes, but still he smiled and spoke the following words -

"Jis din hum pehli baar mile thee,

Agar ussi din, Infosys ke terrace pe, tum mujhse yeh sach bol deti,

Toh main khushi-khushi, apna gunaah kabul karke,

Police ke pass chale jaata."

His words were breaking my heart, as I feared the most.

Taking a deep breath, he continued.

"Par tumne aisa nahi kiya -

Tumne sirf ek galti kardi ki -"(I was shocked to hear his words)

"Tumne mujhe, EK BAAR PHIR SE,

Zindagi jeena sikha diya!" (both of us cried bitterly, as I tried to stop him, from saying anything, but he continued)

His weeping stopped, but his eyes seemed to be lifeless. He smiled, as he touched my cheek, wiped my tears and spoke -

"Toh ek baat yaad rakhna, Ms. Ayesha Thakur MANTRI-

"Ab mujhe tumhari ek aadat si ho chuki hain -

Ek aisi aadat -

joh chahte hue bhi,

Main nahi chodh sakta."

"Toh ab tum kitni bhi koshish kar lo -

Par yeh baat toh tay (fix) hain -

Ki AYESHA THAKUR MANTRI,

ab ABHIMANYU MANTRI -

Ke zindagi ka ek PERMANENT hissa ban chuki hain -

Aur ab -

mera tumse, ek permanent connection ban chuka hain -

Joh sirf, tab hi tutega -

Jab ya toh tum mar jaongi,

Ya phir MAIN."

He moved backward, while I tried to prevent him.

"Abhi...please...don't do this...Abhiii"

But this time, he did not stop.

For the first time in my life, my MAN -Mr. Abhimanyu Mantri - did not listen to what I spoke.

I ran after him, but till then, he screamed -

"I

Am

Sorry

Ayesha...

I

Love

You"

(PLEASE SCROLL DOWN)

The world says that Kavya Mundhra committed suicide,

But only I knew,

That it was -

A murder.

The world says that Abhimanyu Mantri committed suicide,

But only I knew,

That it was again -

A murder.

The only difference in both the cases is the fact that -

In the first case - it happened unknowingly

While in the second case - it happened knowingly.

Waise toh aur koi buri AADAT nahi hain hum mein,

Bas tumhe yaad karte rehne ki, ek lat si lag gayi hain.

CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.