Chapter 4: The Past

Samar immediately went to the hospital and asked the receptionist about Avika. He rushed to her room. She was sleeping. He slowly went to her, and his eyes were filled with happy tears for finding her. He bent and slowly kissed her forehead which made Avika woke up. She was shocked seeing him and pushed him away.

"Why did you come again? Why are you torturing me like this? Go away from here," Avika shouted at him.

"Avika, please listen to me. I love you," Samar said.

"I hate you. If you don't go from here, I will kill myself."

She said and grabbed her glass bangle. She broke it and threatened Samar saying that she will cut her wrist with it. He didn't understand why she is behaving in this way, but for the first time, he saw love for him in her eyes along with hidden pain. He immediately came out to stop her from attempting suicide.

He was disturbed and felt helpless. He didn't understand how to make Avika understand his pure love. He loves her so much. He can't imagine anyone else as wife in his life except Avika. His eyes were showing the pain of his heart in the form of tears. He wanted to heal her. He wanted to keep her happy throughout his life. But for all this, he should know her past and the reason behind her broken heart. He sat on a bench in the hospital premises. He remembered Akshara. Yes, only she can help him now in knowing the reason behind his soul mate's heart break. He called Akshara and met her in the clinic.

"Doctor, I want to know about Avika's past. I want to know why she is running from me," Samar asked Akshara.

"I can't say that to you, Samar. It is against the principles of my profession," Akshara said.

He was frustrated with her answer. Now he lost his patience. His love, Avika was in the hospital bed for trying to take away her life. He was unable to convince her through his love, as he didn't know the reason. He threw everything on the table and Akshara was shocked with his insane behavior.

"A doctor's duty is to save lives, but now, if you don't tell me the truth, you will indirectly be the cause of my death and Avika's suicide," Samar said.

"What? What happened to Avika?" Akshara asked.

"She attempted suicide. I can't see her in pain. Now if you don't tell the truth, I will kill myself," he threatened.

He took the knife from his pocket and cut his wrist. His hand was bleeding, but he didn't allow Akshara to aid him. Akshara was shocked seeing his love on Avika and convinced to tell the truth. She did first aid to him.

"Avika had a very dark past. She faced hell in her life. She is almost dead, but her courage and confidence kept her alive until now. I will tell you the truth, but I didn't know how you will react to it," Akshara said sighing.

Akshara closed her eyes for some time.

She started telling Avika's past.

"Girls in teenage confuse between infatuation and love. They trust flirts and spoil their life. I am not saying all arranged marriages are successful, but at least they will have family support if anything goes wrong. Okay, let me tell her past,"

A girl was under a blanket in sleeping mode and slowly took the blanket off. It was Avika. She stretched her hands and opened her eyes. A beautiful smile was on her face. A smile which is pure from her heart and was visible in her eyes. Her room was beautifully decorated with color papers and balloons.

"Mom, I need a coffee," Avika shouted.

"Happy birthday, baby," her grandmother wished her.

"Happy birthday, dear," her grandfather said.

"Good morning, baby. Happy Birthday" her dad and mom said.

"Wish you many more happy returns of the day, sweety," her brother and sister-in-law said.

Avika smiled and got up from her bed.

"Thank you, grandma, grandpapa, mom, dad, brother, and my dear sister-in-law. I love you, all," Avika said happily.

She got ready in a half sari and took blessings from the elders. Her brother came in with a newspaper.

"Hey! Listen, everyone, Avika's results were out. She topped in the university," her brother told her.

"We are proud of you, doll. You always make us proud," her dad said caressing her hairs.

"Thank you, papa."

In the evening a grand party was arranged for Avika's birthday. She cut the cake and fed her dad and mom.

In the family, everyone treated her with love and affection. Everyone valued her words and trusted her. One day, her father asked everyone to gather in the hall.

"We got a marriage proposal for Avika. His name is Samar Kumar Agarwal. He is a young and successful entrepreneur. I chose him for our Avika because he became successful with his hard work and dedication," her dad said.

"But, Dad, we need to inquire about him. Until then, don't make any decisions because we must be careful. We are giving our Avika to him. The rest of her life, she should be as happy as she is with us," her brother Akshay said.

"Yes, our Avika should get the same love that we are giving now," her grandfather said.

"Avika, why are you silent? See his photo once and tell us your opinion," her dad asked her.

"No, I... I.." Avika stammered.

"Are you in love with anyone?" Avika's father asked her.

"Dad," Avika was scared to answer.

"It is ok, princess. Tell us what is there in your heart. If the boy is suitable to you and good, I will talk with his parents. We never compel you to marry a person whom you don't like," her dad assured her.

Avika hugged her dad and told the details about the person.

"Dad, his name is Jashwesh. He is my classmate. He had no one, but he is good," she said.

Avika brother inquired about Samar and her love Jashwesh.

"Dad, Samar is a gem. He loves our Avika from two years, but he didn't propose. He was her senior in college. He settled in his life and now approached us through his parents. I think he is perfect for our Avika. His family is also sweet. I am sure they will give her the same love which we gave her until now. She will be happy with Samar. Samar makes her every moment with him as a memory," Akshay told his father.

"What about Jashwesh?" Avika's father asked.

"Dad, I am sorry to say. Jashwesh is a jerk. He just pretended as if he is good before our Avika. His family too left him because of his behavior. He is such a jerk who loved many girls and trapped them. One of the girls went to his room, and when she is changing her dress, he took photos through the secret camera. He forwarded those pictures to his friends. That girl committed suicide. Police arrested him, but as there was no proof, he was released from the jail," Akshay explained about Jashwesh.

They told everything to Avika, but she didn't trust them as Jashwesh brainwashed her saying that her parents never agree to their marriage as he is poor. Her family tried to convince her but if no use. Finally, her dad decided to do the engagement with Samar against her wish. Avika disagreed with them. She kept a letter and went off from home. Her engagement was canceled.

Jashwesh took her to a temple and married her. He took her to his room. She is happy for marrying him. They consummated their marriage. In the morning, she woke up and was shocked to see someone else in bed with her. She immediately got up and tried to remember what had happened last night. She just remembered having milk given by Jashwesh. She was unable to remember anything. She shouted, and Jashwesh came inside.

"Who is he? What's the hell is this?" Avika yelled at Jashwesh.

"I married you just for money. But you disagreed to go to your family after our marriage. You are not ready to ask for your share in the property. So, I sold you to my friends," Jashwesh said.

Avika felt as if the Earth under her feet was broken. She tried to escape, but Jashwesh slapped her hard. She fell unconscious. By the time she woke up, she had found another one in bed. Five people raped her and tortured her for one week.

Finally one day she got an empty alcohol bottle. She broke the bottle and injured Jashwesh with the broken glass bottle. She threatened others and escaped from there. She reached an NGO as she is already a volunteer in the NGO from her college days. They helped her n contacted police. Police tried to arrest them, but they didn't find anyone in the room, not even Jashwesh body though she suspects he was dead. They informed to her family.

"For us, already our daughter was dead at the moment she eloped. Now we are not concerned whatever happened to her," her dad said and disconnected the call.

Avika stayed in the NGO for three months. She was a living dead who lost all her hopes of life. She cried day and night. She was unable to digest the pity looks of the people around her.

She decided to leave the place and people who knew her past. She came to the city and sat in the railway station having no idea where to go and how to live. This world is big, but she was alone in this world. The Mother in the orphanage saw her and brought her to the Home.

Akshara told Samar about Avika's past.

"Just her courage kept her alive until now. Now tell me Samar, are you willing to marry her? Can you stay with her throughout your life? I know you can't because society is like that.

A boy can have many affairs but will be respected by the society. But if a girl got cheated and anything happened like this, society blames her. I am not supporting Avika's step of going away with Jashwesh. But mistakes happen in life. The decision that she made in one second changed her entire life. Can you forgive her and accept her?" Akshara asked Samar.

Samar went off from there without answering her. He came to his room and locked it. He destroyed everything in the room. He threw his table and bed. He broke the mirror by punching it. His hand was bleeding. But he again hit the wall with his bleeding hand. He was unable to control himself. Tears were flowing down from his eyes.

Suddenly his phone rang. It's a new number, and he attended the call.

"Samar, this is Avika. Akshara told me that she revealed about my past to you. Please, I am sorry. Don't hurt yourself," Avika said on the phone.

Samar was fuming with anger and pain. Her words increased his anger "Shut up, Avika. Who asked you to call me now? Don't show your fake concern for me. Just shut up. You want me to leave you, right? Yes, now I am leaving you. I never want to see your face again in my love. I hate you."

Samar disconnected the call. His voice is so rude and harsh. Avika first time heard his voice that harsh. Her eyes filled with tears. She knows no one will stay with her but still it was hurting to know that Samar left her.

Samar was crying. His phone vibrated. He saw his phone, and it was a message from Avika. He tried to delete it, but he couldn't do that and opened the msg.

"Samar, I am sorry but please don't hurt yourself. I regret missing you. The days which I spent with you are the most memorable days in my life. After a long time, I smiled again with your words and behavior. Thank you.

I won't show my face to you again. Take care. Forget me and be happy."

Samar deleted her message and threw his phone away. He cried sitting on the floor leaning backward the door.