▪ Word Count : 2349 ▪

It has been 6 months since he had been searching for her. Exploring every corners of Mumbai, he felt disappointed upon the fact that he couldn't find Maya.

He had called her numerous times only heard that the number doesn't exist anymore. The news had soon spread like wildfire when assumptions were brought in after she didn't appear for the launch of her new film. She had dismissed Savita and her bodyguard after paying them a wholesome amount of money.

And all the more, her cryptic post on her website made him feel guilty...

"We all love to take lessons from the past but when we have a horrendous past, how can the past be forgotten? Eyes bleed and body still suffers from that trauma. Reminding and rewinding won't help you rather drown in depression.

Forget and Move on! If you need to forget someone, you need to walk miles away from that person. Forgetting is not easy when it is etched to a past you loved. In a past where there were several memories which makes you smile every morning. The past which helped people to get out of the miseries of their past.

Forget and Move on so am I.."

It had made him every emotional of the fact that he might not see her again.

These 6 months had made him secluded. The cool person had changed into a serious version of himself. There were many things to be happy around but the fact that SHE wasn't there changed the whole matter. If she had bothered to get back during the trial and at her house, it was turning out to be the same for her.

As he stood in the elevator, his mind played in the tune of the past where she was there with a blindfold waiting to see what surprise he had held. A small smile was playing on his lips. As the elevator opened, he opened the door to feel exhausted.

Closing the door, he broke down emotionally. Who said men are meant to be powerful? They too can cry! He was missing her like anything, and their abode which was designed by them made him feel guilty all the way.

There were the photo frames of Maya and Rudra along with her quickies.

Maybe, if he had just accepted her fact. She at least understood his motive right? When the person whom you love leaves you, you start weighing words. All the verbal spats, her replies,  everything he had said and quarreled about made him serious and mature for the past 6 months.

He was so tired carrying this emotional trauma with him for the past few months that he could literally shout his feelings for her if he was asked once..

He hugged his knees to his chest and hid his face in between his legs. He let himself out for him.

He didn't know why but the day that he had found her missing, he ran like a man searching for her in every nook and corner of the city.

In the process of asking where Maya was, he had given his number to several random people to inform him if they had ever seen her.  He had informed police and asked them to investigate secretly. But they also had let it loose since Maya had called them informing that she was fine.

He expected her to return on their 1 year anniversary. Why did he except that when he himself said to move on? He knew that his feelings for her would never change as a friend or as a lover!

He had gone to the place where he had last proposed her to find the ring she had gifted him after a few days of her missing.

He searched it for almost half a day after when he had found it half buried in sand. He had worn it the same day when he had found it with a pool of tears in his eyes. He had found the ring but the owner of the solitaire ring was far beyond his reach.

As his phone rang, his trance was broken and he saw Arjun's post which made him smile. It was a baby girl! Mallika and Arjun were blessed with a Baby Girl.

He remembered a moment from the past when he had inserted his finger into Maya's palm. He had asked her to curl her fingers around his which she found it amused. He remembered him asking Maya..

"Will you curl your fingers in the same way when our baby is born?"

Maya's fingers curled around his finger and a small kiss was placed on his cheek. The memory made him let out a deep breath arching his head behind against the wall. 

As he arched his head against the wall, he felt very suffocated. He asked closing his eyes.

"Maya, where are you?"

....

Preparing a cup of coffee, he stood next to the balcony where the sun was just raising above the horizon pushing the blue hues aside. The orange hues had made him happy reminding him of their kiss in the sunlight.

"I terribly miss you.." He muttered and took a sip of coffee. He didn't know if he was hallucinating but he heard his ringtone. Keeping the cup on the ledge, he rushed to pick the phone.

He saw that it was Arjun's call. Silencing his phone with a sigh, the phone rang for the second time. Groaning in frustration, he attended the call to hear the news he wanted,

" Maya is here."

...

As Arjun looked at Maya who was cooing and playing with the baby who was in Mallika's arms, he spoke," I need to talk to you."

Her body stiffened and she got up from the chair. She moved a few meters to where Arjun stood since she didn't want to disturb the baby.

"Do you know how much Mallika was tensed about you leaving like that?" Arjun questioned while Maya smiled and said,

"Mallika knew everything.  I was the one who asked her not to reveal anything. We were in constant touch through mails and all.." Arjun looked at Mallika who nodded. His head snapped to Maya's side as she spoke,

"Even Rishi knew everything that Mallika knew.."

"You told everything to my wife and Rudra's brother avoiding the both of us? For what?" Arjun questioned.

"I needed some time.." She spoke playing with her fingers but sparing him a look too.

"Me and Rudra broke our relation before I went so I decided to take a break from everything which includes my surroundings as well."

She spoke and he asked," Where were you for these many months?"

"Uttarakhand." She spoke and continued," I went to my parents."

"Your parents?" Arjun asked with a shocked face while he saw Rudra standing there as he was facing the door. He was also very much confused..

Since she was standing opposite to door, she spoke," Neha had her marriage in Uttarakhand. I hadn't gone for her wedding but she told me that she had gone to an address she knew to invite them. They had asked for me indirectly. So I thought.."

She had a smile on her lips and said in an emotional voice," They were really happy to see which contradicted to what I had thought.. In the end, it's our parents right? So, stayed with them and enjoyed their care after 12 long years. So, I informed them about my decision and they were happy for me.."

"What decision?" She heard Rudra's voice and turned to see Rudra near the door. Their trance was broken by the baby who had started to weep. 

As Maya looked at Mallika, she understood that the baby needed its feed. Moving out without another word, she exited the hospital covering her face with a scarf.

With her scarf being pulled out, she looked back at Rudra who exposed her. She stopped in her tracks while he held her wrist and said," Come."

....

As they reached the beach, Maya had folded her pants to just below her knees. As she walked forward, he too walked with her.

He had a stern face as he asked," Do you have any idea how tensed I was?"

"Forget and Move on.." She repeated that only to face him right in front of her. Face-to-face.

"Maya, I... Did you ever try to forget everything we shared? Even if you tried, could you ever do that?" He asked in an angry yet soothing voice to which she shook her head in negative.

"You were there with me even when I remembered about the night which took my vir..." He closed her mouth.

She remained strong as she removed his hand and said," The day I was literally raped due to my arrogance and nature.."

He sighed at that since she still remembers the words spoken to her by him. It was the same words. As she walked along, she was turned harshly by Rudra using her elbow. A small rose appeared between their eye lock.

He was numbed as he didn't expect this. She spoke extending the rose," We've been terrible. You have been a dork and I have been incorrigible but when we are together, I don't know what happens. I know I have hurt your feelings and your emotions for May 8th. I..."

She was interrupted as he moved closer and cupped her face. 

"We had difference of opinions. Neither of us were selfish. We had our reasons which we couldn't avoid. I humiliated you 6 months back. I am sorry for all the words I used. I just cant live without you. Can we.."

She interrupted by extending the rose again while she held the rose in front of his lips which curved upwards. As he accepted it, he noticed that it was artificial. She gestured him to look at it. It was made of paper but the petals which were painted in blood red had many one-words written on them.

"Family, Sacrifice, Love, Care, Share."

He looked it and averted his gaze to her.

"My parents have accepted me and asked me to take this decision for my happiness."

He knit his eyebrows at that and she spoke," I have acclimatized myself to live alone and I have decided to..."

"No! You can't decide it for yourself. You can live without me but I cannot live without you. I need you.." He  shouted his thoughts while cupping her cheeks a bit harshly.

Biting her lower lip, she hissed in a bit of pain. Realising that he was hurting her, he joined his forehead with hers and eased his hold.

  "Maya..."

"You won't force me will you?"

She asked with her hands on either side of her cheeks. He shook his head in negative while she said,

" I Quit!"

He removed his hands which were on either side of her face. He nodded at that with his lips which were pressed tight. Placing a small kiss on her forehead, he said," I am sorry for everything.."

She interrupted while keeping her finger on his lips,

" I am quitting the Showbiz Industry.."

He couldn't believe what he had heard. He said unable to believe it," Come again!"

"You have heard it right Rudy! I am leaving the Bollywood industry.." She spoke stressing every word of her second sentence.

"Maya, you will regret for it. I know that there have been many problems due to your career but it doesn't affect me now and it won't affect me since I won't be a part of you.."

She sighed and said,

"I won't regret it Rudy. 11 years back, when I entered this industry, I felt very elated on achieving my dream. This industry has given me many lovely things and things which shouldn't happen to a woman! More over, this industry gave me you! I need you forever and for the same reason I am quiting my acting career. "

He couldn't believe his ears. Did he hear that she wanted him?

As she leaned against his chest and felt his heartbeats under her palm, she confessed," The same way you need me,  I need you."

He wrapped his arms around her frame which leaned against him tightly and whispered," I missed you Maya.."

They basked in each other's warmth until Rudra pressed his lips on her forehead and said, 

"Maya, you will feel guilty and I will feel the same when I think that the reason behind you leaving the industry was me. Me alone.."

She announced her looking into his eyes," No Rudra. This decision is something I took the moment I stepped out of the court 6 months back. There's nothing for you to regret here. I am the person who took this decision. Did you love me for my fame and career?"

She questioned cupping his cheek while he retorted it immediately," No!"

"That's enough for me. You have loved me as a person and that's the greatest blessing I have received. If you ever feel that I am guilty for leaving the industry, just make me feel blessed for having you beside me."

"Maya, but..." He retorted while she kept her finger on his lips.

"Rudy, this is the best for both of us. This is the first thing of mine which I want to give you. I will not blame you nor accuse you because I am sure that I won't regret taking this decision for people whom I care.."

As he kneeled down, he felt so low about himself while she knelt down and cupped his face. He refused to look at her. She peppered a few kisses all over his face..

"I am sorry!" He spoke in a guilty tone while she said,"Don't be Rudy! I had fallen once but I rose because of you!  This is not the only dream I had in my  life! I need you to be with me in whatever decision I take.."

Removing his hands from her, he hugged her closer and said,

"I will be with you till God separates us at death.."

- To Be Continued -

A

/N: I seriously don't know what I have wrote.. *nervous laugh*