Chapter 20: LIFE WITHOUT HER

A year had passed. Current Day,

Rishabh found himself immersed in the paperwork of his office unit. The screen of his laptop lit up, reminding him of an upcoming guest lecture invitation at an MNC in Delhi. Despite his successful mission and his return to Ghaziabad, life hadn't been easy for him after his breakup with Avani.

In his office, Vikram, Rehaan, and Kabir entered and took seats in front of him.

The breakup had left him with a lingering sense of guilt and pain. He had made the difficult decision to end things with Avani, believing that his dangerous mission had slim odds of success. He couldn't bear the thought of her waiting indefinitely for him. Even though the mission had been successful, he couldn't find the courage to face her again.

That one heartbreaking decision which he took a year ago, had left its scars. The memories of their breakup haunted him, her tear-streaked face and pleading eyes replaying every time he closed his eyes. He longed to hold her, to apologize, but fear held him back. The fear that she might not forgive him.

As he contemplated his decision, his phone rang, and an unknown number appeared on the screen. The caller informed him, "She just left her home, walking to the office, sir."

"Is she looking, okay?" Rishabh inquired.

"Yes, sir, she appears calm and not upset like in previous months," the voice on the other end reassured him.

With the call concluded, Vikram, Kabir, and Rehaan stared at Rishabh, astonished.

“What?” Rishabh asked while reading the invite on his laptop.

Kabir eventually asked, "Don’t tell me, you are keeping watch on her like a stalker."

"Rishabh, you asked me to take care of her," Vikram said, "And that's what I'm doing, even though Avani has strictly forbidden me from her territory. Smriti has also asked me to keep my distance as she is still mourning inside."

"I think it's time you go to her and told her everything," Kabir suggested.

But Rishabh's eyes remained fixed on the invitation on his laptop. He could not gather the courage to face Avani and confess his love after what he had done. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, his hands covering his face. After a brief pause, he picked up his phone.

He dialled a number, and the recipient answered. "Hello, Mr. Singh, it's Major Rishabh Malhotra. We are accepting your invitation as a guest lecturer. We will be there at 3 in the afternoon." The call ended.

Vikram, Rehaan, and Kabir exchanged amused glances. "Finally!" they exclaimed, high-fiving each other in celebration.

"I'll inform Smriti," Vikram said, reaching for his phone.

"No, don't tell her. If she accidentally spills the beans, Avani might not show up. You know how she is," Rishabh cautioned Vikram.

"And Smriti will kill me. It will be your patch-up and my break-up. You have no idea what my wild cat can do!" Vikram replied, shaking his head. Kabir, Rehaan, and Rishabh burst into laughter at Vikram's colorful description.

Later that evening, Rishabh returned to his bungalow, stepping into the echoing emptiness of his home. His laughter masked an endless pain, the pain he had inflicted upon Avani. He Closed his eyes and her lovely face appeared before him, her tears and pleas haunted his thoughts...again. His eyes were swollen and tired; not a single day had passed since their breakup when he didn't see Avani's tear-streaked face in his mind. Sleep eluded him, and he found no peace. He made his way to the bar inside the house, pouring himself a drink and downing it immediately. He poured another one and gulped down again.

"Sir, should I serve the food?" the house servant asked.

"No need, I'm not hungry," he replied, his voice low. With that, he retreated to his room, carrying the weight of his decisions with him.

Upon entering his bedroom, Rishabh's phone illuminated with a video call notification. It was from Neetu, Rishabh's mother, and he promptly answered.

"Hello Rishi, did you have your dinner?" Neetu inquired.

"No, Mom, I didn’t. I am not hungry, just tired. Is there a reason you are calling at this hour?" Rishabh responded.

"Can't a mother call her son at this hour? And what is this? Skipping dinner again? Rishabh, it's been a year. You need to move on or go and apologize to her. I cannot bear to see you like this," Neetu insisted.

"Mom, did you call just to tell me this? You know well, why I did, what I did a year ago. Even though things are settled now, I am still cautious. I can't let any harm reach her," Rishabh explained, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I understand, son, how much you love her and care for her. It is not hidden from me. is it? Anyway, I called to let you know that Siya's marriage is fixed for next month. You are familiar with the groom, I believe – Anish, Avani's brother. It seems you and Avani are destined to be with each other. Destiny is giving you another opportunity." Neetu, Rishabh's mother said, raising an eyebrow. Rishabh looked at his mother and she continued.

"But Rishi, act before it's too late. You've already kept her waiting for seven years, and you can't keep her waiting forever. No one can love you more than her, and I cannot accept any other girl as my daughter- in-law. So, go to her, apologize, and she will forgive you," his mother said to him in commanding tone.

"Son, your mom is right. Go to her, talk to her. Clear your misunderstandings," Rishabh's dad chimed in.

"It's not that easy, Dad. She will not forgive me easily," Rishabh replied, shaking his head, and looking up, taking a deep breath.

"Love is not easy. You will not understand its depth if it's easy," his father said, offering a perspective born from experience.

"Okay, guys, I want to sleep. Good night and give my love to Kriti. Tell her I will call her later," Rishabh said, on the verge of disconnecting the call.

"You are coming, right? You must come; it's a family function," Rishabh’s mom insisted.

"Okay, Mom, I will come. Now, I really want to sleep. Good night, Mom. Good night, Dad," Rishabh said before disconnecting the call.

His screensaver popped up, displaying Avani’s picture, the only way he could feel close to her in the past year.

‘I am coming for you, my love, and this time I will make you mine forever,’ he thought, closing his eyes, preparing for sleep, yet haunted by the thought of what lay ahead.