Thank you everyone who have voted and shared your views on my previous chapter.

Please do Vote and comment on this chapter it would encourage me a lot.

Vikrant's POV

I woke up to this dull hospital room with a throbbing pain in my shoulder. These sedatives have kept me asleep till so late. The wall clock shows 11 now.

"Careful....I'll help you." I saw mom coming to help me sit upright.

"How do you feel now." she enquired caressing my hair.

"Much better mom." I replied with a small smile playing on my lips.

None of us spoke anything for quite some time now. The silence was making the atmosphere more dense. I could not even look at mom properly. My eyes kept wandering around the whole room wondering if I made the right decision by walking out of everyone's life.

After a while mom broke the silence by offering me some soup. It's disgusting to eat this tasteless food but that is what I get for now. Its better to eat it because my stomach is already growling.

"Where's everyone else?" I questioned her because no one else was seen in my sight. Neither Dad nor Naina nor Arushi.

"At your tiny apartment to pack your stuff." I heard Rahul almost screaming from the door.

"What? Why are they packing?"

"To take you back home. And you better don't protest or Aunty will kill you with her bare hands." He said walking towards me. I looked at mom. Her face was blank though her eyes were red like she would almost cry any moment.

"Mom I don't want to." my voice came out like a whisper but it was enough to burst Mom's bubble.

"Nobody asked for your choice. You are coming back its final."

"But..." she did not even let me finish another word.

"What But Vikrant? You did what you wanted right? Not bothering about anyone else? Now we are not bothered about you. We will do what we want." nothing can be worse than an angry mother. But she needs to understand me as well. I cannot afford to hurt my loved ones. So its better I stay away.

"I left you all for everyone's good." my voice was flat without a hint of emotions because all the emotions were locked in my heart making it heavier. I just can't fall weak infront of them. I need to be strong to stay away.

"What good? What good has happened? Your wife lay there half dead for 6 months. And once she was fine she wanted you but you were gone. That girl never said a word about how hurt she was. She kept hiding everything and still acted like nothing happened. Your grandfather kept blaming himself for spoiling Arushi's life because you left her. Your dad keeps stressing about work and spoiling his health even though he has a son who could have rightfully taken care of his work. And Naina....she had to sacrifice her dreams because of you. Because you were not there to help your father and she could not have left him alone to handle everything."

"Aunty please calm down. You'll spoil your health. Please drink some water." Rahul helped mom and made her sit. Her eyes were clearly reflecting her pain. All my thoughts of 'be strong to stay away' had crumbled down. I couldn't even imagine everyone was affected so deeply by my actions.

I only wanted everyone to be safe and happy I did not want them to be troubled by me I did not want them to be hurt because of me but again I am the reason for all their problems.

"Now tell me what good have you done by leaving everything and everyone." I heard mom speak again. I did not have an answer to her. I have really messed up everything.

"I told you Vikrant you were wrong. But still you were adamant and did what you wanted. It's high time now. Stop letting your stupid fear from overpowering the truth and reality. Running away from everyone has only hurt you and everyone else as well. Face it now. They need you and you also need them. After hearing to Aunty I really feel I should have told them everything about your whereabouts rather than helping you hide from them. I really hate myself for helping you. And somewhere I am also responsible for everything because I have supported you in the wrong. You are not running away now." Rahul said in a stern voice and walked out of the room.

My eyes had already welled up. I never wanted to hurt them but unintentionally I have caused a lot of damage. Rahul was right. They need me.

The whole day passed by in a blink. Even Arushi's parent's were here to visit me....most unexpected because after what I have done they should have hated me for spoiling their daughter's life.

I only wanted to keep her safe. Even now my mind is a bit hesistant about the fact that I will be back with everyone. Won't I be hurting them again? Won't they have to face troubles because of me? Will everything be back to normalcy? What will I answer to everyone if they asked me about my sudden disappearance? Greater of all what will I answer to Arushi's questions? Will she still want to be with me?

'You were the one who left her.'

Ya I know I left her but I was atleast satisfied with the fact that she was safe away from me. Will I endanger her life again?
.
.
.
The next morning when I woke up Arushi was here. Rahul had stayed over at night where is he now? Maybe gone out to freshen up.

Mom Dad and Naina went back to Mumbai last night handing over the responsibility of bringing me home after discharge to Arushi and Rahul. The doctor's said I could be discharged today. Though Mom wanted to stay they needed to go back. Dadu was at the hospital they needed to see him and even Dad had some work.

"Oh my god....What have you done to yourself Vikrant." I heard a loud squeal from the door.

It was Neha. My colleague and my friend. But how come she's here? Who informed her?

"If not for you friend I would have still been searching for you. How are you now?" she said coming towards me I saw Rahul walking in from behind.

"I had been to your work place to inform them everything. She met me there." Rahul answered my unasked question.

"I am good Neha. How are you?"

"Very much fit and fine." She said and almost jumped on me for a hug.

I know she's a bit loud and has this habit of greeting everyone with a hug though that person might be a stranger but for heaven's sake I have an injured hand and its pains.

"Neha ouch....It pains."

"Oh my god....I am sorry really really sorry." she said raising her hands in surrender.

"It's ok."
.
.
.
"That's your wife right?" Neha questioned me after she had finished all her talks.

"Yup."

"Hey Arushi. I am Neha. Vikrant's colleague and friend." Neha went forward and introduced herself.

"Hii" is all that she replied. But Neha being the chirpy self went on with her chatter.

"You know Vikrant always spoke about you. The way he spoke I wondered if someone like him could really be whipped so much in love."

Why did you have to say that Neha.... oh god this girl's stomach can't digest anything. But Arushi's reply really felt like my heart had stopped beating.

"I am sorry but I guess you are mistaking me. I am Arushi his unwanted wife not Natasha."

Unexpected but It hurts....It hurts more than the physical pain I have. Her face was blank. Void of any emotions. It looks like she has mastered the art of hiding but her words were enough to show how much I have hurt her. To keep her away from physical pain I had given her all the emotional torment.

"But he..." I stopped Neha from speaking anything further. It's not the best time to speak to her.

"I guess I'll leave now. Take care of yourself and stay in touch. Don't lose her because of your stupid fear." Neha walked out after whispering the last part to me.

I wonder what's with everyone asking me to overcome my fear of losing people. Do they feel that my fear baseless?

•••••••••••••••

I hope you guys liked it. The past will be revealed very soon.

And what do you think about Vikrant's fear? Is it baseless?

The chapter is a little short but the next one will be posted very soon I promise.

Until then dont forget to vote for the chapter and comment your views.

See you very soon.