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A/N: Keep voting and commenting * bickering is also allowed in this chapter because I know you are going scream :P *
Video Attached: 'Bepanah Pyar' from Krishna Cottage. One of the most beautiful songs available to be admired by your ears.
Samiksha sat in the plush, high-end fashion and cosmetic store, surrounded by the latest trends and luxury. The ambiance was a far cry from the turmoil raging inside her. Her mind replayed a haunting refrain...
Yes, she is. Yes, she is.
These words echoed incessantly in her head like a blaring alarm, each repetition stabbing deeper into her heart, making the pain almost unbearable. It felt like thousands of icy needles were piercing through her, slowly draining the love she had for Krishna, leaving her heart a cold, empty shell.
She had no claim to him anymore, or maybe never... Yet the depth of her feelings was like a vast ocean, and the ice pricks felt like they were reaching straight into her soul, making her feel as if she was being tortured. Watching Krishna with another woman, especially one so captivating and charming, had shattered her more than she could ever admit. The way he'd held the child, with such affection and pride, made her heartache even sharper. That little boy looked so much like Krishna, with his dark eyes and bright demeanor, and seeing Krishna's eyes light up with love for him was like a dagger to her heart.
Samiksha wanted to cry, to pour out her anguish to Alisha but her tears refused to come. Her eyes felt burning hot as if they were about to burst into flames. The lump in her throat and the dizziness in her head made her feel like she was on the brink of breaking down. Her entire being was overwhelmed by a heartbreak she never wanted to experience.
Everyone always said breakups were painful, but no one ever prepared her for the soul-crushing kind of pain she was feeling now. It felt like her soul was slowly crumbling into nothingness, and every fiber of her being was acutely aware of it. She sat in silence, her mind exhausted from the endless loop of thoughts, her heart tearing apart repeatedly.
Yes, she is. Yes, she is.
Loving someone, she realized, could make you feel utterly helpless. Caring deeply for someone for years could end up making you feel discarded, like a piece of refuse left to rot. Her love for Krishna had consumed every moment of the past five years, and while those moments had been beautiful and cherished, they now felt like a painful waste.
Alisha's voice broke through her reverie. "Iksha, do you think this color matches my new dress?" Her friend's voice was a distant murmur, and although Samiksha saw Alisha's lips moving and registered the question, her thoughts remained far away.
The world outside seemed muted like it had come to a complete standstill, while the chaos inside her mind roared louder than ever. Memories of Krishna, his voice, his faceâeverything felt like it was dragging her further into despair.
Why did fate have to play such a cruel game with me? she wondered. If he was never meant for me, why did he come back into my life, only to make things worse by being more loving and caring than ever?
Her internal monologue was abruptly interrupted by Alisha's gentle shake. "Huh?"
Samiksha snapped back to reality, finding her friend's concerned face close to hers. She managed a faint smile. "Nothing," she murmured.
She glanced at the baby pink nail polish in Alisha's hands. "Yeah, that's perfect," she said, her voice betraying a hint of irony. She was answering her own heart more than her friend's question, reflecting on how perfect Krishna seemed, how perfect her love had been. Alisha's face brightened with a smile, oblivious to the true source of Samiksha's distress.
Alisha continued to chat, her voice a gentle distraction. "It was a good idea to leave early, wasn't it?" she said, pulling out a skin foundation tester and applying it to her wrist.
Noticing the change in Samiksha's demeanor, Alisha's concern deepened. "Doll, what's wrong?" she asked, cupping Samiksha's chin with her hand. "You've been so quiet today. I know you don't like shopping and cosmetics, but you used to enjoy helping me pick out things. What's going on?"
Samiksha tried to muster her strength, pretending everything was normal even though nothing felt right. "N-nothing, Ali," she stammered. "I'm just tired. This saree is heavier than I expected," she adjusted the pleats, hoping it would sound convincing.
Alisha wasn't buying it. She knew her friend too well. She could tell the saree wasn't the real issue. Samiksha had always loved traditional attire; it wouldn't be a cause for distress. "You're not a great liar, Iksha," Alisha said, narrowing her eyes in a playful reprimand. "But I won't push. Just know that if you want to talk, I'm here for you. Always."
Alisha's hand gently released Samiksha's chin, and she glanced at her watch. "We should get going," she said, checking the time. "It's two-thirty-eight. According to my calculations, we've got about forty minutes of travel ahead."
Samiksha nodded absently as Alisha took her hand, holding it tightly, just like they used to when they were kids. With a tug, they left the shopping mall together.
Once again, Samiksha found herself sitting silently, but this time it was on a gleaming marble platform, elevated above the busy train station. She watched as trains roared in and out, their horns blaring and wheels clattering on the tracks. Her love for trains and stations, her excitement for traveling, and her addiction to tea were still there, but now they were overshadowed by an overwhelming emptiness.
Yes, she is.
As her mind echoed with his voice, the emptiness seemed to amplify the reverberations, making her feel more desolate.
Yes, she is. Yes, she is beautiful and she is my lovely wiâ
Alisha's voice interrupted her agonizing thoughts. "Iksha, could you put this water bottle in your bag?"
Samiksha snapped out of her daze and accepted the bottle, fighting back a tear that threatened to fall. She blinked rapidly and took a few swigs of water, trying to calm herself. But a few sips of water couldn't soothe the internal storm. The pain was too profound, too ingrained. How could she ever find relief from such heartache?
How was she going to soothe herself now...?