PARTH

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'Hhhhell...Hello...Hello Mr.Kapoor!!! Hhho...Hhhhope you are enjoying the arrangements sssso far!!!' I tried to blabber whatever came into my mouth but damn the man's straight gaze, fierce look even at this age made me stutter like a child. I gulped trying to compose myself although my palms were sweating. When he didn't reply to anything and simply continued staring at me I wished the earth swallowed me right away.

However I tried to smile like an idiot when the man simply looked at me top to bottom while pushing back his black and gold rimmed glasses while his fingers playfully held on the roaring lion head of his wooden walking stick. I had heard about this man and his business adventures from Di but he was even more intimidating in person.

'I have lost the love of my life to my stupid ego and a hurtful childhood which had made me feel marriage was a cage. She walked away silently without a word and it tarnished me beyond words. It's only when I met her again I realised that I could do anything to have her back and I did. I played the dirtiest to have her back and once I did, I never let her go again.

Today even after spending 51 years of marriage, I cannot stay away from her even for an hour. I would never want to live longer than her because I know I cannot tolerate the pain of separation from her. I can't define my emotions for my Ishaani even after all this. It's that deep. But then all of this is true only because I love her!!!' he said while looking into my eyes and something sharp twitched in my chest.

I cleared my throat trying to look away from him because I couldn't handle his gaze anymore when he added 'I also did mistakes in my past but I never lied to my partner whereas your entire existence was a lie. My granddaughter fell in love with an illusion whereas she doesn't even know who the real you is!!! Also...I don't know if you ever had any feelings for her. It's my experience, if there are feelings involved with full honesty, then fighting for it is always worth it!!!' and that moment my head snapped up in his direction to meet his eyes.

I was shocked. I was expecting him to yell at me, shout at me, hate me for breaking his granddaughter's heart but here he was giving me life lessons.

My mouth closed and opened a couple of times but nothing left my mouth when he added 'And if there are no feelings or emotions involved, then please walk away. Please don't cross her path, because last time when you broke her trust she was alone, but this time you try and create any kind of a ruckus for my child, I swear... You pretended to have confusion about your sexuality but this time I'll make sure your every pretense turns into reality.

Bahut shauk he na Puttarji Namard banne ka...Trust me... Dev Kapoor aaj bhi jis tarah apne pure parivar ka har sapna pura karne ki taaqat rakhta he...usse zyada uske bacchon ki raksha karne ke liye kisi ke zindagi ka sabse bura aur sabse bhayanak haqeeqat banne ki bhi junooniyat rakhta he!!! Dum he toh aazma kar dekhlo!!!  ('You have a great desire to become impotent, don’t you, Child?… Trust me… even today, Dev Kapoor not only has the strength to fulfill every dream of his entire family… but even more than that, he has the obsession to become the worst and most terrifying reality of someone’s life in order to protect his children!!! If you have the guts, then try and test him!!!')

Think twice before you approach my child this time. I don't interfere in decisions of adults but I also DON'T let people hurt my loved ones. I simply rip them apart. You can think of it as a suggestion or a warning, your choice. Take care. Oh...Also... have some water, you look dehydrated.' saying he walked away from there leaving me alone with my thoughts.

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'Wow!!! Congrats Dada for getting a threat from an eighty something year old man!!!' Oni said circling his arm around my shoulder when I simply shot him a look and he slowly undid his hands to tie it infront of him as he stood obediently without much of a word when I rolled my eyes and Di smiled while serving me food saying 'He is "The Dev Kapoor" Oni...You might have not heard enough about his adventures but man he and his best friends also to some extent his family has such dark and crazy adventures in the past. Not just the business world but even his grandchildren look up to him like an idol. That old man is no less than a celebrity but then he's also called the devil. You better be careful if you are under his radar Partho!!!'

When I slowly looked at the direction from where I could hear a loud laughter and just the sound of it deviated my thoughts completely, only to be mesmerized by the scene enfolding in front of me when Mishka and Taapsi both were teasing Dhara. Looks like Dhara was on a phone call with someone but these two robbed her phone and were now trying to misuse her height to be their advantage and trying to not give it back to her.

She was jumping, laughing and even threatening them both while these two were thoroughly enjoying her helplessness. And I.. couldn't help but admire the view in front of me.

'Taapsi!!! Just give it to me and stop behaving like a child!!!' she yelled

'Ohooo...soooo desperate huh??? Why why??? Even we wanna listen...'

'Shutup Taapsi!!! For heaven's sake you are a bride, behave like one!!! Gimme the damn phone' she shouted when Mishka yelled

'Hayeeee...someone cannot stop blushing already. I just can't wait for him to arrive for tomorrow's engagement ceremony. Uffff...I guess someone would definitely turn into a ripened tomato. Blushy Blushy!!!' she teased her again only for her to laugh and push her away when amongst all of it my mind encountered a simple 'Him' that changed my expressions.

Who is this him???

And throughout the function that one question kept revolving around my head but I didn't get my answer to that question. Has she moved on? Does she like someone? This 'him'...is he a boyfriend? A potential suitor? Ohh wait a minute...that Sydney based designer?

Somehow the questions never left my mind and I desperately wanted answers for them. I knew Taapsi would never answer them so Mishka was my only hope.

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'And why did you think that if Taapsi didn't answer you, I would? How did you assume that I'm any less upset with your deeds Dada?' she asked as she was folding her lehenga. The function had gotten over, Dhara and her family had left and it was almost midnight but my mind was still revolving around that one 'HIM'

'Also!!! Why do you care Dada? Hadn't you walked away from her years ago? Now why do you care?' and like always I didn't have an answer to that question. Mishka was right. Why did I care? Why?

So I simply started walking away when I suddenly heard it from Mishka's mouth

'Jiju's grandfather Aaryavardhan Daadu wanted Dhara Bou-... I mean Dhara Di to give herself and life another chance. They wanted her to get married again.' and my steps froze. I slowly turned around and looked at her when she added

'And just like that Piyush Jiju who was waiting for it proposed her hand to his best friend and their family friend. I haven't met him and I don't know much but I know that he's a rich businessman too. Everyone loves him a lot. He's also Dev Naanu's good friend's grandson.'

'And Dhara agreed?' I asked when she simply walked towards her cupboard to keep the clothes when she said 'I don't know but I have heard Dhara Di is very fond of him. They have also met each other a couple of times and I've heard from Taapsi that they hit it off quite well. The family is extremely positive about their bond. In fact he is going to join the engagement ceremony tomorrow. The whole intention is to get Dhara Di to say yes to the proposal so they could immediately plan their wedding post this one!!!' and that very moment I felt like someone had pierced a burning iron rod into my chest.

I couldn't stand there anymore. My heart was going to explode. I slowly started walking away from there when Mishka said 'I know whatever you went through wasn't fair Dada... your mothers only faced injustice in several ways and it was all wrong but you punished Dhara Di for something she never did. You hurt her a lot Dada. And I don't know if you knew but she loved you!!!' and that very statement filled my eyes with tears.

AGAIN.

'I hate you for what you did to her but I can't stop loving you because I'm a selfish sister who wants to see you both with each other because I know somewhere deep down I see a hope for both of you. Please don't hurt her this time Dada!!! Because this time not just Dhara Di and your relationship but Taapsi and Piyush Jiju's marriage would also be at stake!!!' and for the first time I felt the weight of my decisions.

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The entire house was decked up like a bride for our little Taapsi's engagement ceremony. There were smiles and laughter everywhere but my eyes were hopelessly glued to the doors. They wanted to see her. Would she be with 'him' tonight? Her future husb- whatever!!!

I didn't have the guts to say it out loud to my own self inspite of trying to repeat it to n number of times to myself that she's not longer bound to me. She wasn't my wife anymore and that we were divorced. She was free to live her life on her terms and conditions.

I had accepted it. This is exactly how I spent the last five years. I kept telling myself that she's happier somewhere else and now that she actually is, and it's all infront of my own eyes I didn't want to accept it. I didn't want it to be true. Why did I want it all to be a stupid joke. Secretly within, I wanted her to not agree to that damn proposal. I knew this was selfish and wrong on so many levels altogether especially because I had hurt her so much.

I had lied to her, broken her heart, shattered her trust, my very existence was a lie. No I wasn't expecting her to forgive me. Heck I didn't have the guts to apologise to her, fuck I didn't have it in me to even discuss that topic but still that didn't mean I had it in me to see her belong to someone else. I knew I was behaving like a chauvinist pig and I'll probably rot in hell for not wanting her to be with someone else but honestly the thought alone frightened me.

What if she really arrived hand in hand with that designer businessman whom her grandfather had chosen for her?

What if-

And just when I was trying to shut down that thought alone, like my worst nightmare came true there she was dressed in a gold colored saree, big long jhumkas kissing her pink cheeks. Her hair was tied into a lazy bun decorated with a string of beautiful jasmine flowers.

They were turning out to become my favorite flowers now. Addictive indeed.

A small diamond bindi shining on her forehead, simple and elegant while a little diamond stud shining on her nose.

Wait a minute!!! She got her nose pierced? Damn it. Why did she hurt herself. Her nose is already so delicate and sensitive. Just a simple cold would make it turn red like a tomato. She must have avoided it. How much it must have hurt that tiny button like nose of hers.

But she looked beautiful.

I admired her head to toe as she was wrapped in that gold colored saree shining the brightest in the hall, god alone knows how many hearts had she gotten on a marathon looking like that. Wait a minute. Why are guys staring at her like that? Idiots. Can't they look at their partners. Assholes.

No one can look at her like that except -

And that's exactly when I noticed a man next to her dressed in a three piece suit with thin rimless glasses. She slowly moved closer to him as she whispered something in his ears making my hands clutch onto the table that I leaned onto, when suddenly they both laughed out loudly and the very next moment his hand circled around her thin waist as he pulled her closer and whispered something into her ears again and I wanted to plug out those hands from his shoulders like Bheem did in Mahabharata to Dusshasana.

However she looked happy and she was smiling at him.

Was he the designer guy? Was she going to marry him?

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Author's POV:

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The room echoed with loud applause as the couple exchanged their rings. Shobha's eyes were filled with tears realising that soon a piece of her heart will leave her childhood home and finally build a home of her own. Her husband, her kids, her family, her little bird will have her own nest now. Subroto slowly circled his arm around Shobha's shoulder pulling her into a hug as he wiped his tears too.

There was laughter and happiness filled inside the Chakraborty Mansion after all the entire family was celebrating something joyous after 5 years.

5 years...

After 5 big years of that incident that changed several lives. Bonds and relationships broke overnight. New beginnings came at the cost of tearing apart a beautiful family. However with Taapsi and Piyush's relationship, there were both new and old bonds coming together. Some that looked pleasant and some that itched a certain someone who silently kept sipping upon his fourth serving of champagne.

His grip was firm on the flute that held the shining liquid that he kept gulping down without a second thought as he stood silently near the bar counter asking the bartender for a 'refill'. His aura like that of a lion, waiting for its prey. His expressions, ice cold. His demeanor extremely lazy however every time that man's hand circled around her waist something fierce ignited inside the pit of his stomach. Something so fiercely consuming and poisonous that he needed alcohol to forget it.

Alcohol? Hehehe

He chuckled at his own thoughts as his gaze fell on the champagne flute in his hand. He wasn't a drinker. He would take a peg or two only when he attended business parties, just to accompany his associates. But tonight was different. Although he did not like the taste of alcohol, it felt essential tonight.

Essential to keep himself under control. A liquid that makes you loosen up, makes you go insane, makes you lose control and is actually keeping him under control. He needed it tonight. He didn't want to lose himself. At least not in front of her. He didn't want to fuck it up again.

She was happy.

She was happy with someone else.

She didn't blame him.

Heck she didn't even bother to address their past. Then why was he feeling that gnawing pain in his chest? She must have fought him. Blamed him. Yell at him, scream at him, slap him hard. But she did nothing. Nothing at all. And that hurt like a bitch.

They were divorced. She signed the papers 5 years ago and walked out of his life yet...it felt like yesterday. It killed him everyday. Until he met her, he always feared her reaction, her questions and accusations but now that she was in front of his eyes with someone else, he wants those questions, he craves that detention, he wants to be punished.

He hates this silence between them.

He hates why she's being so nice.

He hates that she's so kind to him.

Why?

Why was he so complicated?

Why is he constantly at war with himself?

Why is he never at peace?

He achieved everything he always wanted but why did losing her feel personal? Why?

He smiled painfully at his own thoughts while taking another sip from his champagne flute laughing at himself. Laughing at his fate. Nope!!! At his deeds.

After all Parth Chakraborty, the CEO of one of the fastest growing business firms in the country - The P2B Group was doing fantastically well on his business front but his personal life was a mess. His past had destroyed his present and his 'could have been' future was already in someone else's arms.

Suddenly music switches from soft musical to something more fun and peppy only for the man to extend his hand asking her for a dance. She shakes her head denying to join however the man insists and she finally laughs out loud and places her hand in his as she is pulled into his arms. He slowly circles his arm around her waist again and her one hand slowly goes up to his shoulder while the other rests on his chest. Just above his heart, only for Parth's grip to tighten on the champagne flute as he asks for a refill ...again.

Undoing his blazer and he kept it aside. His entire body feels like it was set ablaze, on fire. The centralized air conditioning, Kolkata's chilly winters, nothing was helping. He didn't know if the fire within was due to the alcohol he consumed or the scene his eyes consumed which kept slowly enfolding in front of his eyes that he was supposed to tolerate. His eyes burnt in fury while his heart ached in pain but he was supposed to tolerate it. After all he had it all but he ruined it himself.

Self destruction supposedly.

And then he saw his little Taapsi running towards her and hugging her warmly while the man holding her, now hugged Piyush. She returned the hug warmly and then she slowly adjusted Taapsi's dupatta and her necklace while Taapsi had a beautiful smile on her face.

Parth's face reflected the same happiness. At least his Taapsi is happy. At least she has her around in a faraway country like Sydney after marriage. And then the photographer requested them for pictures. Taapsi and Piyush were accompanied by that man and her.

'Boudi...just us please!!!' she requested and at the mention of the way Taapsi addressed her, his head snapped in that direction. He saw her smile as she stood hugging Taapsi while the photographer captured a picture of theirs.

Taapsi still calls her Boudi.

'Stop staring at her so much Dada!!! And stop drinking so much. Maa is getting worried' Aniruddh said leaning closer to Parth while trying to take away the champagne flute from his hand although he failed miserably. Parth slowly looked at his mother standing in the corner. She looked worried. He smiled and tried to compose himself.

'Don't try that!!! It looks super fake. We all know how affected you are!!!' Aniruddh said when Parth looked elsewhere saying 'I am not!!!'. He was trying to walk away when Aniruddh said 'Talk to her Dada!!! Please!!! I know it's hurting you. It's been hurting you and it would forever...if you don't apologise!!!' he whispered keeping a hand on his shoulder when Parth smiled looking at her who was laughing at some random joke.

'Do you see that?' he asked Aniruddh who also looked at an extremely happy and content Dhara. Parth smiled thinking, she never looked so happy when she was with him. She never laughed like that when she was with him but now that man was making sure she was always happy.

'She has moved on Oni!!! And all I care about right now is for her happiness and nothing else!!!' and then suddenly her eyes met his and she stopped laughing. Parth's breath hitched as he gulped trying to take a deep breath. Her one gaze was enough to make him lose his mind and then she passed him a warm smile.

'How can she be so calm? How did she forgive me so easily?' Parth asked himself when she slowly pulled the man in her arms hugging him warm as she whispered something in his ears making him laugh out loudly only for Aniruddh to yell at once 'What the hell Dada!!! Can we have someone bring us a first aid kit please!!!' and that's when her Parth came out of his reverie and he noticed how her eyes met his again however they moved towards his palm. He followed her gaze only to realise that his hand was a bleeding mess right now. He had crushed the champagne flute with his bare hands.

Her worried eyes met his again while pain and worry lurked in her eyes. Suddenly it felt li

ke there was no one else in the entire room. That emotion her eyes reflected felt like a soothing balm to his aching heart.

She cares.

At least...she cares.