Chapter 31:- Epilogue (II)- The Pain of Unrequited Love.

ONE MONTH LATER

Armaan was fumbling with the wrist buttons of his black dress shirt when a knock on his door grabbed his attention.

"Come in please." Armaan frowned and picked his right hand crutch to stand up from the bed noticing Rahul on his door.

"Please be seated Armaan. You don't need to stand." Rahul eased him with a small smile which Armaan reciprocated and kept his crutch back. He came and sat on the couch near the bed.

"I'm Tal... Khwaab's friend, Rahul." Rahul corrected himself knowing very well that this nickname for her is reserved to Armaan. He had called Khwaab once in NY and heard Armaan calling her with this name in the background.

"Yeah I know. She told me about her family and friends." Armaan responded with a small smile. He was feeling gawky and clueless to carry on the conversation with Rahul as he had assumed the latter to be in love with his girl and when Khwaab denied all of that saying that they were just friends, not even close enough for anybody to assume like that, he felt strange. He had observed the way Rahul was concerned about Khwaab, how he had ran behind him in the backstage. His stare never conveyed that he was just friends with her but Armaan trusted Khwaab and let it go.

"Well I'm quite surprised to know that she actually talked about me." Rahul chuckled as she hardly talked to him when they were in Bangalore so hearing that she mentioned about him to Armaan was actually surprising for him.

"You are her friend Rahul and she can never forget any of her friends ever and I can say this by experience." Armaan defended Khwaab immediately.

"I totally agree with you on that. She still makes sure to call my nephew every Sunday, the pact she made with him." Rahul shared with a genuine smile and adoration twinkling in his eyes for Khwaab which he wasn't able to hide today. She was his nephew's favourite even though he was autistic, a special child and hardly interacted with anyone except his mother and him, but that little boy became fond of Khwaab instantly and that was the time Rahul fell in love with her seeing her for the first time in the garden along with his sister and nephew.

At that time he was unaware that she is Sia's friend who works in the same sector with him. And when he saw her again with Sia, he couldn't stop himself from knowing her and he was glad to do so, even though she will always be his friend but her presence will always be there in his life.

All his emotions and feelings resurfaced today, maybe because he was seeing her for the last time. He got promoted and was transferred to US coincidentally but unluckily after they all had returned from there. Maybe destiny never wanted them to be together for she was pre-ordained for another soul.

"Do you love her?" These words escaped from Armaan's mouth unknowingly, reading those feelings that Rahul's eyes expressed for her, somewhere close to what he feels.

"Rahul don't take me wrong I just wanted to clear my confusion."

Rahul came out of his thoughts with his words and saw him tensed.

"I do." All the blood from Armaan's face drained out hearing his confession. His heart beat raced that his assumption was never wrong.

"But she loves you." Rahul immediately added finding him stunned about it.

"And I'm shocked that we haven't met but still you could see my love for her but she was oblivious about this for the past two years. Maybe because you already had her heart and soul." He assured Armaan as he never wished to create any misunderstandings between them, not when Khwaab is the happiest he has ever seen her in these years he had known her.

"Don't worry I'm not here to come in between you guys. I want to keep her in my life just as my friend, knowing that I cannot make her happy the way your love makes her smile. Trust me Armaan, in this past two years I've never seen her this happy. The shine in her eyes that I always felt missing, is back. And I'm sure you know the reason." Armaan released his breathe of relief knowing his intentions aren't harmful. Infact he seemed a nice guy to him (Armaan).

"I trust her Rahul and I'll always do. And I've always said that I'm the luckiest that Almighty has blessed me to be her soulmate. But in all this I won't lie that I feel bad and protective, knowing that there is a guy out there who loves my girl the way I do. At the same point knowing your intentions are pure, I feel bad that your love will remain unrequited." He explained truthfully whatever he felt at that moment. But a thought flashed in his mind - what if he was on Rahul's place?

"I don't know whether the depth of my love is close to yours or not but maybe few years down I'll discover, by meeting my true soulmate or maybe there won't be any. You know Armaan, people move on, when they get to know that the other person had lied or betrayed them in any way. The same happened to you but you chose to stick to your friendship and that isn't easy. You didn't know what she was doing in her life, where she was and with whom, nothing. But still she was the only one in your heart. Such kind of love is never easy and I'm happy that she got you and at the same time you got her. That thing is rare, this love is rare and I wish you guys cherish it all your life. Just remember if she gives you stability and solace then it's only you, who is the reason she is happy and at peace today ." Rahul briefed about what he deduced from their love, the trust and faith which didn't let them lose even after being away, for so many years, with so many questions and misunderstandings.

Armaan and Khwaab grew separately without growing apart.

"Thankyou." Armaan thanked him with a grateful smile, his eyes were moist remembering the years he'd spent waiting for her, even after so much uncertainty of her arrival in his life.

"What are you doing Armaan? You are still not ready. This will happen for the first time that the birthday girl is ready and the organizers are late." Khwaab barged into his room promptly breaking their comfortable silence and started complaining about the empty house.

She was already ready for her birthday celebration which she always wanted a small one but nobody listened to her as the leader of the opponent team was Armaan. He has kept everything as a surprise for her and therefore the entrance of the garden was sealed and she wasn't allowed there. Every member of the family was there except them and she was dying out of curiosity to know what is behind the curtains.

Armaan kept gawking at her, for she looked ethereal in that red silk flurry gown. Rahul cleared his throat and stifled his giggle seeing him bowled over and somehow brought him back to the real world.

"These buttons are irritating me and then I was talking to Rahul." Hearing his reason Khwaab turned around as she didn't notice Rahul sitting on the couch and smiled at him.

"And you came here directly. You didn't even meet me and where is Akhil?" She was in a complaining mode today and asked about his nephew.

"Khwaab there are lot of people here so he wouldn't have been comfortable." Rahul reasoned apologetically and she understood.

"I understand. I'll meet him soon."

"Happy birthday Khwaab." Rahul stepped forward and gave her a small gift box wrapped with a silver paper.

"Thankyou so much but this wasn't needed." She said hesitatingly taking the gift

"Open it."

"Now?"

"This bracelet is so beautiful. Thankyou so much." Her eyes shone seeing the silver bracelet with stars hanging all over and showed it to Armaan who smiled at her.

"You like stars so I didn't find anything better than this."

"Well now I'd got back my favourite star nothing is as special as my favourite one." She said holding Armaan's arm bringing the special shy smile on his face.

"And I hope this star remains yours, always. All the best." Rahul wished them all the happiness in the world and moved towards Armaan saying,

"Congratulations Armaan. I'm glad to see you fit. Take care." Armaan nodded and shook the proffered hand in his direction.

"Why are you leaving so early?” Khwaab asked confused and Armaan wanted him to stay too.

"Khwaab I've my flight to States."

"States?"

"I've got a promotion and transfer to US so I'll be living there now." Rahul informed monotonously and Khwaab smiled broadly and mouthed,

"Congratulations and all the best to you too. We'll be in touch." Glancing at them with a small smile he walked out alone, to begin his new journey.

"And you, get ready fast. I don’t wish to be late.” Khwaab buttoned up his wrists and helped him wearing his red blazer. He stood up holding his right crutch as now his left hand is free and he can walk slowly yet firmly. He balances himself from the right hand crutch for his right arm was better than all.

"Armaan tie this bracelet nah.” He took the bracelet from her and said while tying it in her right hand,

"It's pretty. And you look mesmerizing." He placed a kiss on her temple tenderly making her grin ear to ear.

"Thankyou. I was waiting for your compliment."

"By the way Armaan , what you guys were talking about?" She asked setting his coat properly while he told, skipping his initial conversation with Rahul.

"Just random and he was trying to motivate me for the future. He's a nice guy."

"So now you are relieved that we don't have anything between us?" Her tone was tentative which drew Armaan's attention and he stated firmly,

"I was relieved then itself when you told me about it. I trust you."

"So why are you so off?" She asked noticing his dull face and he wasn't surprised with the way she reads him. Taking a deep breathe he shared what was niggling his brain from few minutes.

"I was just wondering what if you were not in my destiny? What if you didn't love me back and someone else instead? I would've died..." She cut him off instantly and was confused as to what made him think so.

"Armaan! Stop talking nonsense. If I wouldn't have been in your destiny that means I would've not been your soulmate. Somebody else would've been made for you and you would've been with her not me. And all these would have beens' doesn't matter because we are together, because we fought for each other, with our own self, with our destiny, because we are made for each other. Remove all these doubts from your brain that I deserve better and all of that. You are my best half and I want no one else if that's not you."

Armaan shut his eyes, emanating all the doubts out of his system as for him, her happiness matters above everything and she was indeed happy with him.

"Sorry for troubling you with my questions." He whispered hugging her trying to push away all his fears.

"Now I'm habitual to all of this." She complained patting his back and tightening the hug making him smile.

"One minute. Are you trying to distract me? Have you forgotten my gift? Armaan I want my gift." She demanded and he giggled seeing her so worked up from the morning. As everyone has given her something except Armaan and this wait has started annoying her now.

"What's there to laugh?" She questioned keeping her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"I guess lately we are rubbing off on each other too much." He said sobering a little and pulling her flared nose and she giggled along.

"And I'm loving every shade of yours. But you only liked my trait of overthinking only? You would've chosen something else. Like to be on time." She said the last line showing her dress, indicating she was ready and he was late.

"Just two minutes." He said moving towards the mirror to set his hair which have grown occupying his scalp completely.

"Btw your gift is ready and you'll get that after the party."

"Armaan what is the surprise that you are making me wait so much." She said nearing him and tying the wrist watch on his left hand.

"That you'll get to know soon. Just a little patience my firefly." He answered touching her small nose with his making her pout in annoyance.

"I've been patient since morning. If you would've been on my place, you would've eaten my head till now."

"As if you didn't bug me at all?"

"Anyways see what I got for you. Close your eyes." She said changing the topic as if he never said anything about her nagging.

"Why?"

"I asked you to close them not widen them. Close your eyes.” She instructed like a teacher making him sigh.

"What are you up to Talwar?" He asked closing them and standing in front of the mirror.

"Now you can open them."

"A North-star shaped brooch." He smiled staring at his gift which was twinkling so brightly because of the light reflecting from the diamond studded in between.

"Yes. Just tagging you as mine." She said with a cheeky smile peeping out her head from behind, as she stood behind him and wasn't seen in the mirror.

"You don't need to tag me. I was, am and will always be yours, just like you are mine." He said pulling her infront of him and she hugged him tightly whispering,

"Always.”

"Forever." He said kissing the top of her head.

"I love you." She promised placing her chin over his chest, giving him a toothy grin.

"I love you more." He promised too, pecking her nose.

"I love you moreee." She emphasized on more and he rolled his eyes, annoyed with the discussion for he loses always.

"This discussion is never going to end. We should get going."