Drishti's POV :

Home sweet home.

But this isn't how I had imagined my homecoming to be. There were police cars outside the house and it felt like I was walking into somebody's funeral. The place was so serene.

As I opened the gate, the officers spotted Jaaiz and dragged him inside.

Shibani aunty was the first person I saw in the living hall. She started behaving like she saw a ghost, completely terrified.

"Ruhanna." She shouted out to Maa."They have found Drishti."

"I found Drishti....not they." Jaaiz snapped in, throwing a cold look at the officer who handcuffed him. I told the officer that Jaaiz saved me but he stubbornly replied saying an order is an order.

I chuckled looking at Jaaiz.

Maa ran from the kitchen when she heard Shibani aunty. I was so excited to see her that I ran to her and jumped up to hug her. She bend down and hugged me so tight that I thought she would make me a pasta. She was in tears. And like always she thanked all the gods in the world.

She kissed my dirty cheeks and looked up at Jaaiz, standing like a prisoner. The officer said, he won't be released unless they receive Siddhant's order. Maa walked up to him and slapped him before I could even blinked. My hand flew to my mouth instantly. This is the first time I saw my mother slapping somebody. Mothers are usually supposed to be caring and kind, but my mother was a walking volcano every time.

"Why the fuck do you keep slapping me every time without knowing the truth?" Jaaiz yelled, pressing his cheeks, his eyes burning in the flames of anger.

"Because that's what you deserve--"

"No Maa...." I cut in the middle. "He saved my life. This is all a misunderstanding."

Jaaiz showed me a thumps up and signalled me to continue while my mother threw all these confused stares at me.

"How many burgers and pizzas did he feed you to say this?" Maa asked, her hand on her hip.

Am I a 5 year old kid?

I could not stop myself from rolling my eyes at her stupid question.

"Do you think I take bribes, Maa?"

"From him..." She turned to Jaaiz and then looked at me, "Yes, you can."

"I ain't corrupt Maa. I am saying the truth. This guy saved my life. I swear to Shibani aunty's life." I concluded.

"Why me? You want your mother to face the tragedy of her best friend's death???" Shibani aunty snapped in.

"You are not going to die, aunt. Trust me." I assured her with a smile and looked at Maa.

"Siddhant will be here any minute. Let him decide." Maa declared and asked me to take a bath and change my clothes.

I obediently went to my room and took a long bath. My skin transformed into a toad's skin in these days.

By the time I finished bathing, there were echoes of loud voices in the house. Before I could figure out what was going on, Shibani aunty dashed into my room and informed me that Siddhant was asking for me. I rushed downstairs to find all of them debating like mad people.

"Drishti...." Siddhant gave a relieved smiled.

I smiled back. The first thing I noticed were his dark circles.

The other people in the room especially my mother stopped debating when Siddhant asked me to sit down. He sat opposite to me and gave a shrunk look.

"I am going to ask you some questions and you need to be very honest. Alright?"

I nodded like spring.

"Did this person save your life?" He asked pointing at Jaaiz.

"Yes."

"Can you elaborate? I want it to hear it from you."

Thereafter, I told him everything from the beginning till the end. Siddhant took a deep breath and nodded.

"How many people were there?"

"One." I replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Only one." I confidently said and saw Jaaiz smiling. I always keep my promises.

"Can you recognise that person if you see him?"

"Perfectly."

"Good." He smiled and signalled the officer to release Jaaiz.

"Siddhant, you are rele--"

Siddhant didn't let my mother to finish her sentence. He looked at me and said with surety, "Drishti is telling the truth. He is innocent."

Thank Go! He didn't ask me about food bribery like my mother.

Jaaiz stepped forward and grunted at his brother, "Will I get an apology from you now?"

"You will, brother. But first help me screw some people."

Jaaiz smirked.
"I will."

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Ruhanna's POV:

I went to Gitarth's study room and picked up a dry leaf from the table. The room was a mess with dust particles everywhere. Since the last three years it has been like that, undisturbed and away from this chaotic little world. I step into this room every time I am afloat in the waves of dilemma.

Siddhant has asked me out for dinner tomorrow which is not just any ordinary dinner. I am not ready of what he is expecting from me. I keep saying to myself that I need to move on. I have got a man who loves me in the present, who loves my daughter as well. One who is ready to do anything for my one simple smile. But this heart. The heart is a messy place. It clings to the past, afraid that the future is an unsafe place. Scared of facing the same fate twice.

Dusting off the dust from the chair, I sat down and touched his books. I took a fat book in my hand. It was a book of Civil Engineering. I had no knowledge of the subject, yet I kept turning the pages one by one. His fingerprints were still alive in them, turning each page gently for me. In the middle of the book, I came across a letter, folded very properly. The edges still so sharp. Perhaps, some official letter of his, I thought. I kept the book and opened it.

And the first phrase read...

To my beautiful wife,

I hope this letter has reached to you safely. I now regret for never writing a love letter to you, but life has given me this opportunity to write a death letter.

This wasn't the best place to hide this letter, for I know you will never open these fat civil engineering books unless you don't know what to do in life or you have actually lost your mind. But, that is when you will need my advice, isn't it so?

I must be probably dead by now. Wait, I am dead. But my love, do you hear the sound of that wind? That is me whispering in your ears that everything will be alright. I don't know how many days, weeks, months or years have passed now. All I know is that these words are reaching you. I am reaching out to you in times of your turmoil. I am sorry, Ruhanna. I never wanted to leave you and Drishti so soon. I wanted to see Drishti grow up into a wonderful woman like you in front of my eyes. But God has his own ways you see. I had to leave you to make you rise on your feet so strong that no wall is higher for you and no problem is unsolvable for you....."

I stopped reading, this was getting hard to continue reading it. I looked at the letter, unable to control the flood of intense emotions which made my heart drown in pain.

I gripped the page, feeling his every word written so neatly in his slender handwriting. A tear trickled down and fell on the paper. I wiped the tear drop from the paper before wiping it from my face. This letter was the most precious to me.

Taking a deep breath, I let myself in. I was ready to hear what he had to say.

"...Don't start crying now. Wipe those tears and put up that smile for me. And don't cheat. I am watching you, darling..."

I quickly wiped my tears and looked around the room. His love was still in the air. A smile curved on my lips without trying.

"I ain't cheating...I just miss you." I responded to the empty room and looked down at the letter.

"My apologies for making you emotional, sweetheart. How is our little devil by the way? She must have grown tall and beautiful, isn't it? Do render my love to her. And please, I beg you, don't scold her. I understand she is hard to handle especially with that sharp tongue and curious mind of her's, but after I leave her, there will be no one to protect her from your regular scowls and scoldings. However, I want someone to be there.

Don't get me wrong. I can never doubt your parenting skills. I know how strong and independent you are. You will give her all your love, both as a father and a mother. But you know what? Drishti needs a father. She is just 9 year old now. If only I could trade a father for Drishti with my life. Alas, I can't. My wife has to love that person as well. And I cannot force you to fall in love.

Maybe you are with that person right now and confused, or you are still searching for that person in someone or you are just sitting on my table crying over the past. I want you to get up Ruhanna. I want you to go out there, meet new people, interact like the social butterfly you are, and fall in love with life once again. Please don't shut yourself within this four walls, Ruhanna. You are way too amazing for that.

The world is a scary place, you must have known by now. You will meet many men, from the high orders to the low orders. There will be men who will want to take advantage of your beauty and siren you into their trap. There will be men who will do everything to bring you down Ruhanna, they will want to use you as a bait. There will be certain men who will question your chastity. But I trust you. My wife is not only composed of beauty, she has got a brain too. She can't be fooled so easily.

Far away from the land of evil, there is a good world too my love. You just need to open your heart.

There will be men who will selflessly protect you. There will be men who will look into your eyes with the kind of love you have never seen before. There will be men who will stand up for you without any dual motives. There will be men who will bow their head in respect instead of staring at your cleavage. Trust me, they are everywhere, only in a lesser number. And once you find one of their kind, don't let him go. Hold onto him. Let him know that you are ready to build a future with him.

If you are still confused, go to my little devil and ask her if she likes that man for you or not. If the answer is yes, don't think twice. I believe, my little devil is smarter than you.

Look into your heart my sexy wife, listen to what it says. Doesn't it say that I am there? But, there is still enough space for another man. I would love to share that space with him. If I like him more than myself, I shall give him the entire space to wipe away every teardrop from your eyes. All I want is your smile. You are my social butterfly, don't forget who you are.

When you find that man send him my greetings. Tell him that I want him to love you and Drishti forever, through the bad and good days.

Cherish our memories Ruhanna, paint them with your imagination, filter them with all your effects but I cannot allow you to live in them forever.

I am not an old man to be trapped in a box of memories. I want to live even after my death. The only way I will live once again is when you will start living. I will breathe through your every breath and smile through your every smile till the end of time. Only you can keep me alive, sweetheart.

I love you, always and forever.

Love,
Gitarth

"I love you too." I whimpered in tears.

When Gitarth was alive, he picked me up every time I fell. After his death, he taught me how to pick up myself. He was never dead. I realise he lived everyday in my courage and strength.

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A/N :

Don't fret. This isn't the end.

The story has been such a prominent part of my thoughts and musings. Hard to let it go.