Chapter 15

Karan anxiously walked in front of the house, occasionally running his hand through his hair. He had woken up to an empty house with his wife nowhere in sight. His heart raced as he watched Tiya's frail figure walking with Rani's support, carrying a brass Puja plate. Relief washed over him as he realised she had gone to the temple, a ritual she observed every Monday. Rushing towards her, he scooped her up in his arms, her small form feeling lighter than ever.

Setting her gently down on the couch, Karan tried to mask his concern with a smile, but Tiya's cold words pierced through his facade. "I am not invalid, Mr. Shekhawat," she said, her tone icy. "I am alone, and I am enough."

Karan's heart sank at her words, the weight of her pain and isolation crushing him. He knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his. "Tiya, I know you are strong," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "But you don't have to face this alone. I'm here for you, every step of the way."

Tiya's eyes softened slightly as she looked into his, but the walls around her heart remained intact. "I appreciate your concern, Karan," she said softly, "but this is my life. I have always done things on my own. No one has ever been by my side."

Karan felt a lump form in his throat as he realised the depth of her resolve. He longed to take away her pain, to carry her burdens for her, but he knew he couldn't force her to accept his help.

Gently squeezing her hands, Karan nodded. "I understand, Tiya," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But please remember, you don't have to face this alone. I love you, and I'll always be here for you."

Tiya smiled. “Where were you when I lost my child? In the office thinking about how beautiful your life would have been with Sanjana? ” She asked. Karan was at a loss of words. “Don't force me to say things I don't want to Karan.”

Her words pierced through Karan's heart like shards of glass. "Tiya, I—" he began, but she cut him off with a bitter smile.

"Save it, Karan," she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "I don't want to hear any excuses or apologies. I just want to live out my last days in peace."

Karan's throat tightened as he struggled to find the right words to say. He had been consumed by his own pain and regret, but now, faced with Tiya's raw honesty, he realised the depth of her suffering and the hurt he had caused.

"I'm sorry, Tiya," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know I can never make up for what I've done, but please know that I love you.” He finally managed to confess.

Tiyas’ heart momentarily paused. The words she had eagerly wanted to hear all these years. Her smile softened slightly at his words, but there was still a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“When will you leave?” She asked, her eyes almost watering. “I will never leave, Tiya. I will sleep outside your house if that's what you want.” He said, holding her hand gently.

Tiya shook her head, “You don't love me Karan. You only love the fact that I loved you madly.”

Tiya's words hit Karan like a bolt of lightning, leaving him speechless for a moment. He struggled to find the right words to respond, but Tiya's eyes bore into his with a mix of sadness and resignation.

"Tiya, that's not true," he finally managed to say, his voice cracking with emotion. "I love you, more than anything in this world. I know I haven't always shown it, but please, believe me when I say that my love for you is real.”

Tiya looked away, her expression unreadable. "I don't know what to believe anymore, Karan," she said quietly. "All I know is that I can't keep living like this, in constant fear of what tomorrow will bring. I know death is around the corner…I need to find peace, and I can't do that with you hovering over me all the time."

Karan felt a lump form in his throat as he listened to her words. He had hoped that by staying by her side, he could somehow make amends for his past mistakes and earn back her love. But now, faced with her rejection, he realised that life is not always kind enough to provide a second chance. Tiya was his second chance at life.

As Karan watched her walk away, a sense of emptiness washed over him. He knew that letting her go was the right thing to do, but that didn't make it any easier. All he could do now was hope that one day, she would find the peace and happiness she deserved, whether he was a part of it or not.

It was evening , he quietly entered Tiyas' room, the soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated her delicate features as she lay peacefully asleep. He approached her bed with a mixture of tenderness and anguish in his heart. Sitting down beside her, he couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the sight of her fragile form, her once vibrant spirit now dimmed by the ravages of cancer.

His eyes welled up with tears as he gazed upon her, his mind swirling with a torrent of emotions. Would this cruel disease truly rob him of his second chance at happiness? Tiya, the woman he had come to love deeply, was slipping away from him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Memories flooded his mind – the moments they had shared, their engagement, wedding day , honeymoon, birthdays, and the joyous news of pregnancy. But now, in the quiet of her room, all he could feel was the weight of uncertainty and despair pressing down on him.

She was his wife, his partner, his soulmate. And yet, even in her weakened state, there were times when she turned away from him, her pain and resentment driving a wedge between them.

Karan wiped his tears away, he gently shook Tiyas awake. "Tiya... Tiya, have some juice," he whispered softly as her eyes fluttered open. She slowly reached out to take the glass, her fingers trembling slightly.

Sipping the juice, Tiyas looked up at Karan as he spoke. "Tiya, I will leave next week. Can we go out tomorrow, please? One last time," he pleaded, his voice filled with a mixture of longing and sorrow.

Tiya hesitated for a moment, her gaze searching his face before she nodded silently, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Will you not be ashamed of my appearance? I don't have hair anymore. I don't look like before anymore," she murmured, her voice tinged with sadness as tears welled up in her misty eyes.

Karan reached out to gently cup her face in his hands, his eyes filled with love and tenderness. "Tiya, you are as beautiful to me now as you have ever been. Your strength, your courage, your love – they shine brighter than any physical beauty," he whispered, his voice filled with conviction.

Leaning in, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, his heart overflowing with emotion.

As night fell, Karan quietly slipped into Tiyas' room as usual, the soft glow of the moon casting a gentle light upon her sleeping form. With a heavy heart, he crawled into bed beside her, enveloping her in his arms as he held her close, seeking solace in her warmth.

But even as he lay there, his tears falling silently onto her pillow, Karan couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of despair that gnawed at his soul.

Morning came, and Karan stirred from his fitful sleep, his eyes red-rimmed from hours spent silently weeping. With a deep sigh, he gently extricated himself from Tiyas' embrace, careful not to wake her as he slipped out of bed.

Determined to make the most of their remaining time together, Karan set about preparing for their date.

As he brewed her favourite blue tea and prepared a light breakfast, Karan's mind raced with thoughts of the day ahead. This was their no ‘his’ last chance.

Rani gently helped Tiya into the vibrant yellow ankle-length kurti. With gentle care, she wrapped a traditional Uttarakhandi scarf around Tiya's head, the colours blending beautifully with the soft hues of the kurti.

Tiya looked at herself in the reflection of the window, her smile tinged with sadness as she realised there were no mirrors in the house anymore. She couldn't bear to see the reflection of her altered appearance, the physical reminders of the battle she was waging against cancer.

"Memsaheb, aap bahut Sundar lag rahi hai," Rani remarked, her voice filled with genuine admiration. Tiya mustered a small smile in response, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she whispered a quiet "Thank you."

At that moment, Karan entered the room, dressed in a crisp white shirt with rolled sleeves and black pants. His smile brightened as he caught sight of Tiya, but his heart sank when he noticed the emptiness in her eyes, the absence of the spark that had once lit up her face.

Despite his efforts to hide his disappointment, Karan couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow at the sight of Tiya's emotionless expression. He longed to see her smile, to witness the joy that had once radiated from her every pore.

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Hare Krishna