Chapter 11: chapter 11

Sandhya couldn’t sleep alone. She had slept earlier as her heart had a feeling that someone was there in the same room. She was praying to God and meanwhile, Maggie called her. She felt a bit relieved talking to Maggie and hung up. Days were passing by…Surya wasn’t able to focus on work as constant thoughts about Sandhya were haunting him. He wasn’t able to focus on the office work either and his heart was in chaos.It’s been a week since Ravi left home. Surya visited the garden twice in the meantime. He enquired about her as she sounded weak. She replied that she couldn’t sleep at night.He felt compassion and realized that he couldn’t do anything but wait for some more days.Ravi dialed Surya and he picked up the call anxiously, “Ravi? Where have you been, man? It’s been so many days!”“Surya, I will reach home in two hours. I will explain everything in detail,” he said and hung up.Surya was worried and tensed about the news that Ravi was bringing. He was waiting for Ravi at the gate and he saw Ravi’s car coming in. His heart was racing. As soon as Ravi stepped out of the car, he hugged Surya. Surya asked, “ Ravi, what’s the matter?”“Let’s go in, come,” he said and both of them walked in, rested on the sofa.“Tell me now, What happened?”Silence conquered Ravi for a couple of minutes and Surya was even tenser now.“Surya, you were utterly wrong regarding Sandhya. She isn’t with you because of your money. I went to her in-law’s home and enquired about everything. Do you know how difficult her life was? Her drunkard husband ignored her all the time. He didn’t even mind asking her if she had her meal, at least for once! He got bedridden right after she gave birth to a girl. His own family members rejected him but Sandhya’s father tried to save him by selling their house. But he didn’t survive. Sandhya was drowned in an Ocean of sadness but she survived for the sake of her daughter”“Meanwhile, they found out that the baby had a heart problem!”Surya's heart was stuck for a second!“Yes, Surya. Sandhya wasn’t able to bear it. She tried every possible way by taking her to all the hospitals and every one of them suggested that she should be taken to the states for treatment which would approximately cost 80 lakhs. She was clueless and broke. She decided to commit suicide as there was no other way and that was when your mother reached out to her. She assured her that she would take her of the baby’s operation and in exchange, she made a deal that Sandhya should marry you!”Surya was flabbergasted.“Surya, I feel very sad for Sandhya. Your mother made a deal with her by taking advantage of her situation. Just think how terrible Sandhya would have felt. Tell me who’s the villain here? Is it Sandhya who married you or is it your mother who made a deal with her by taking advantage of her weakness!”Surya was in utter shock and was out of words.“Ravi, there has been a huge mistake. I behaved impertinently with Sandhya. She must have felt terrible. I wasn’t aware of all of this! I would have definitely helped her if I knew about all of this. I was full of pride that I’m perfect at everything but I’m losing myself now. I’m furious with mom for the first time in my life. She is torturing someone for my sake,” he said, downhearted.“Surya, it is not your fault!”“No dude, I broke her mobile to pieces! I was an idiot and ended the only mode of communication between her and her daughter.”“Surya, what do you conclude now?”“Ravi, I have decided! I’m dedicating myself to her. I promise that I no longer have a place in my heart for any other woman except Sandhya. I will take care of her daughter as my own. I will take care of her all through my life and I will make sure she is happy.  And if she doesn’t want to be with me, I will remain single for the rest of my life.”Ravi felt ecstatic, “Surya, that’s my friend! I’m so proud of you. You will win at love!”“Thanks, man, you are my best friend! You worked so hard to know everything about Sandhya. Thank you so much.”“Okay, let it be. What’s your plan now?”“I met Sandhya as an anonymous woman, became closer to her, and made her my friend. I didn’t spill my name to her. I introduced myself as Karthik. I will have to act as Karthik for a couple of days, I don’t have any other choice.”Ravi interrupted him, “Ohh and what else then? You are gonna unleash your real name and tell her that you are her husband? Will you justify your betrayal and ask her to love you?”“Dude, why are you saying that?”“What else are you expecting me to say? Surya, listen to me. Go to the garden and meet Sandhya, tell her who you are and don’t tell her that you got to know about her past or that you love her. Tell her that you got to know she is your wife just now. You lied to her that you are in love with someone else, right?”“I didn’t. That someone is Sandhya. I love her!”“I know, but Sandhya doesn’t know about it. She is thinking that you are in love with someone else, let her thoughts be. Tell her that the reason you behaved rudely with her is that you are in love with someone else!”“But what if she wants to walk away from me because I love someone else?” it was arduous for him to even think of that.“You have a time of 10 months, Surya. Win her. I completely trust you and I have faith in my friend. You will never lose her! You will achieve whatever you want, be it business or love. Go for it, man. All the best!”Without further ado, Surya rushed to the garden. Sandhya was watering the plants and Surya saw her from a distance.Sandhya eyed him, “Hey Karthik, what’s the matter? Do you need more flowers?” she asked, smiling.He remained silent.“What’s wrong, Karthik? You seem a bit off. Oh hell! Did you propose to her and she rejected you?”“No!”“Then why do you seem lost?”“I got to know about the truth, Sandhya. I was flabbergasted as soon as the news reached my ears.”“What is it?”He inhaled and said, “Sandhya, listen to me very carefully, please. You got married recently, right?”She nodded her head.“It..It was me who you married!”Sandhya was immensely shocked. She stood still like a statue.“Sandhya, don’t misunderstand me, please! I was discourteous to you because I wasn’t ready for this marriage and love. My mom wanted me to marry in the name of the horoscope,” and he was about to say something, Sandhya walked away furiously.Surya didn’t dare to stop her. He eyed her walking away and his turned moist.