Author’s POV.........

After the long wait finally, Arpana is getting married to the love of her life. They started off as neighbours then they became best friends and even without realising, they fell in love. Neither Vihan nor Arpana ever confessed their love. Gradually as time went on both realised their feelings for each other.

It was when Vihan first got his job in the navy, they both realised how much they missed each other. When Vihan came back from the navy on his first leave, he informed Arpana that he wanted to be properly committed to her. That's how Vihan told his parents about the relationship between him and Arpana. Vihan's mom Damini and father Ashok said no instantly, mainly because she was from another cast and culture. In the same way, Arpana's parents were against this marriage too. They threatened Arpana with all sorts of things to try and make her back out from the relationship.

Arpana was in a house arrest for a long time. Her parents wouldn't allow her to see Vihan or even phone him. Vihan was ever so stressed when his leave finished and had to go back to the navy thinking about Arpana. He was very scared thinking whether her parents will force her into getting married to someone else. But luckily when he came for the next leave, he found out that they haven't got her married to anyone else.

Finally, when Vihan's parents got fed up, they agreed to get Arpana and Vihan married as Vihan was not agreeing to marry anybody else. Arpana's family only agreed when she started giving suicide threats. Due to certain beliefs. Vihan's mother checked both their horoscopes. Unfortunately, both of their horoscopes did not match at all. Even though Vihan's mother tried her best to convince Vihan out of this marriage, he remained stubborn. By this time, the relationship between Vihan and Arpana's families became bitter but for the sake of their children, they acted civil and got their children married.

                         ................
                   Vihan's and Arpana's
                      Wedding Day

March 15th 2014

It's the happiest day in Vihan's and Arpana's life. Finally, after facing so many obstacles, Arpana got married to the love of her life. Words are not enough to describe how happy she is. Arpana found the day to be magical. She was draped in a heavy pink saree and matching jewellery which was all gifted by Vihan. Their wedding consisted of both Tamil and Telugu rituals.

Throughout the day, Vihan helped her walk in her heavy saree and jewellery. Never in her life did Arpana felt so happy. Neither Arpana's nor Vihan's family were exactly happy but for the sake of their children, they pretended happiness.

Nevertheless, Arpana's and Vihan's marriage only lasted for 3 months. Just one month after their marriage, Vihan had to return to the Navy. A week after Vihan left Bangalore Arpana found out that she was 2 weeks pregnant; she informed the happy news to everyone. For once everyone was happy for her and Vihan; Even Damini who acted cold towards Arpana actually began showing love and attention towards her.

(Found this picture of Shriya and Prithivraj on Google! Please feel free to imagine this as their wedding picture).
 
                         .................

                    2 months later

                         .................

Arpana woke up hearing the not so gentle sound of the wind howling to complete the misery rain was chucking down as well. Its felt like a scene from a horror movie, the whole ambience seemed a bit scary for Arpana. Her darkroom wasn't making it any better either.

Slowly she pushed the blankets away and stepped out to the cold floor. Something didn't seem right today, the day didn't seem bright as it usually is. Just like every morning, Arpana spoke a few words to her baby, she doesn't have any idea if her baby can hear anything she's saying at the moment but it's something Arpana enjoys to do.

Arpana slowly walked up to the window and drew the curtains, for a few seconds she looked out through the window and observed the storm; her trance broke when her phone started ringing. Thinking it must be Vihan she rushed to answer the phone but to her dismay, it wasn't Vihan. It was her little sister Devika. It's been a few days since Vihan has called her. Worry and tension increase for Arpana when she doesn't hear Vihan's voice at least once in the day. 

After ending her call with Devi, she focused her gaze onto the wall. It showed 7:30 AM. Arpana sighed seeing the time. Slowly she walked towards the washroom for her morning chores not failing to notice the clouds swirled heavily in the sky through the window.

After completing her morning chores Arpana went downstairs to join the rest of the family. Arpana left her job after her marriage.
Thankfully the coldness she experienced when she first came to this family after marriage was no longer seen in the face of Vihan's parents. Thanks to the new member who's soon going to mark its presence in this world.

"Arpana, your appointment is today. After breakfast go and get ready quickly. Amma will come with you ok?" Damini told her daughter in law to which Arpana nodded. Arpana really wanted Vihan to come with at least one hospital appointment before her due date but if he can't Arpana can completely understand because Vihan doesn't always get leave for holidays.

Arpana dressed herself in a dark blue Kurti and white leggings and clipped her hair to the side. After feeling satisfied with her looks, she joined Damini and together they went to the hospital for Arpana's appointment. Arpana wasn't enjoying the weather at all, observing the weather from the bus all she felt was gloomy. Somewhere in her heart, she felt as if something bad is going to happen today. In fact, she had that feeling since morning. She tried many times to shake it off but it keeps coming back making Arpana feel ever so disturbed.
Finally, they reached the hospital after waiting for 30 minutes and the doctor finally called in Arpana. After doing the necessary tests the doctor informed Damini and Arpana that the baby is perfectly fine and healthy. However, she told them that Arpana's body is a little weak therefore advised her to be careful. And then prescribed Arpana some vitamin medications. 

It was raining very heavily when Damini and Arpana came out of the hospital. The umbrella didn't seem to help either. Quickly they rushed to the bus. By the time they got into the bus, Arpana and Damini were a little wet. Trying to show motherly protection and care Damini tried to dry Arpana's hair using the ends of her saree even though it wasn't very beneficial.

Once the bus journey came to an end, Arpana and Damini started walking towards their home. Within 5 minutes they reached, it was still raining heavily but this time, Damini and Arpana cooperated with the rain.

Arpana and Damini felt very suspicious and tense when they saw the big crowd in front of the house. As they walked further to inspect what was going on they saw an ambulance. Arpana's heart started beating very fast seeing the atmosphere of the house. When Arpana entered the house she saw the most disturbing and upsetting scene. Her husband Mr Vihan Ramakrishna's lifeless body was placed in the middle of the house. Arpana could not believe what she was seeing. Arpana couldn't exactly see Vihan's body because it was not in a good state... She understood it was his body seeing the picture on top of his coffin.

Arpana wanted the ground to swallow her...

Feeling so numb Arpana went closer to the coffin to actually see if it's her Vihan. She mentally prayed to God to make all this a nightmare but God did not answer her prayers because she inspected it from a closer angle, it was her husband’s picture on top of the coffin.

Immediately she felt a hand on her shoulder, it was Sakshi's hand. Sakshi's eyes were red and swollen.

"He left us Arpana."

Arpana's heart stopped...

"Am I dreaming, Sakshi?" Arpana asked Sakshi in broken words because everything felt like a nasty dream to Arpana.

"No, this is the reality of Arpana. A "malfunction" on board led to a toxic gas leak. It was the Navy's one of the most disastrous disasters. Around 18 people died. Unfortunately, your husband and my brother are one of the 18 people." Sakshi had begun crying at this point.

"Is God playing with me? This can't be real!! God cannot be this harsh. We only married 3 months ago and I'm here nurturing his child. He can't just leave me and my child like this!!!" Arpana couldn't control it anymore. Tears started streaming down her face uncontrollably. She dropped herself onto her ground and wrapped her hands around Vihan's coffin. "Please wake up and tell me you are joking!! Please tell me it's a silly prank of yours!! Vihan please" Arpana said whilst crying her heart out. The love of her life was laying in front of her as a dead body not even in a state to open to open the coffin.

Suddenly the happy memories of hers and Vihan started flashing through her mind. Their childhood, the first time they realised their feelings. The first kiss they shared, their marriage. The one month they lived together as husband and wife and finally when she told Vihan through video call that she was bearing his child. The happiness she saw in his face cannot be put into words. Arpana cried hardly thinking of all those beautiful memories.

Arpana touched his coffin and closed her eyes for a second. In a few seconds, she felt Vihan's presence and felt as if he was comforting her.

Seeing Vihan dead was like she was dead.

She questioned herself on why she is still living but then immediately the little life being formed in her stomach flashed through her mind. Arpana had to remain strong for her child, for her little Vihan.

Arpana regretted not being able to spend one last moment with Vihan. She regretted denying him the final kiss when he was leaving the Navy after his last holiday. She only did it as a joke then but she deeply regretted it now. In fact, she regretted not being able to do everything she wanted to do with him. They had so many dreams but Vihan left her without completing many of their dreams which they had planned together.
She remembered how she felt butterflies in her stomach whenever Vihan held her hand out in public to protect her. How they used to sneak out of their homes to spend time together before marriage and how happy they were for each other when Vihan got a job in the Navy and when Arpana got her first job in the bank. Ever since then, they both had started saving up for the beautiful future they had dreamt of.

"I hate you, Vihan! Why did you leave me and our baby by ourselves? Vihan, please!! Please open your eyes!! Don't we have loads of dreams to still complete!!  Arpana said and cried harder. Her hold on Vihan's coffin got tighter and tighter. Everyone was crying. None of them were able to hold back their tears. Devika tried to comfort Arpana as much as possible but even she failed to comfort her sister. No one can. Just when their symbol of love formed inside Arpana, God took Vihan away from her.

Finally, it was time to take Vihan's body for rest of the procedures, but Arpana wasn't willing to, so she clutched onto the coffin tightly. “You’re not taking him!! Get lost!! Please go away." Arpana screamed in anger and pain Sakshi and Devi forcefully pushed Arpana to the side. Arpana tried her best to get out of their hold but she failed. Before she could do anything else, she collapsed.

"I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with you

and then I realised...

You spent the rest of your life with me
I smile because I know you loved me till the day you went away

and will keep loving me till the day we're together again..." 

..................................................................

So here is the first official chapter of this book.

I am extremely sorry to have started it off with a sad beginning...

I hope I was able to convey the emotions well and it wasn't too bad...

Will Arpana's baby ever see the world? Or will God take the child away from her too?

Poor Vihan!! He loved her a lot just like how much she loved him...

Sometimes life js cruel... Too cruel

Hopefully, she'll gain the strength to carry on with life...