Rejuvenating Love

9) Her share of peace.

Kuhu returned to the present era via the time-piece and recollected herself when Sonya asked,"Kuhu! Can I talk to you in private? She raised her eyebrows to Sonya's question, out of curiosity. May be Raghav didn't hear this 'cos he was busy enjoying his moments with his close friend Raunak. She took Sonya to a secluded room. Closing the door Sonya spoke- 

"Kuhu, listen to me very carefully. After that day at farewell party, everything changed in our lives."

'I don't want to talk of that. Not now, not ever!' She spoke stern and straight.

"But you need to know the truth otherwise I will have to live my whole life guilt-ridden." Sonya pleaded before her.

'Truth?' Kuhu's eyebrows squeezed at the facts that still remained unrevealed to her.

"Yeah, the truth. You blame Raghav; you curse me. You don't spare yourself from getting hurt either. May be my words of reality are gonna save three of us from such a miserable life." Sonya sighed and seeing her not resisting she continued,"Who doesn't die upon the handsome and popular guy Raghav? Even I wanted him all for myself. But not the way that occured at the party. I wish I could rule over his heart like you do. Everyone knows how jealous our colleagues were about this particular relationship of yours and Raghav. It was just a foul game that Rakesh provoked drunk Raghav into that day. You know how boys play dirty games at the end of their farewell party, right? Raghav seemed a bit upset on something before the game, so he wanted to leave but it was Rakesh who instigated him. He made him drink to deprive him of his soberness. And what doesn't a drink make of a good person? It makes even a tiger dance to the tunes." A fake smile evolved from Sonya's sad face.

'You don't have an affair with Raghav?' Kuhu couldn't stop herself from asking her on realising Raghav's situation that day.

"Affair?" "Raghav!" Taking his name Sonya laughed loudly. "He never pays attention to any other girl after you have taken over his heart. He never cheated on you. It was just the drink and the instinct to win that led him to commit that act. Trust me Kuhu he is innocent. Even after that incident he never came to me as I dreamt of being with him. All of us know you both are made for each other. Start a new life, a new journey with Raghav. And please do forgive me." Saying this Sonya kneeled down infront of her for mercy. Sonya wiped her tears immediately and without waiting for Kuhu's words left the party over-ridden with her guilt.

Sonya left a wailing Kuhu who cried aloud only for the walls to hear. Kuhu mistook Raghav as a cheater? Should she forgive him? Has the touch of change rejuvenated him? But what about her confrontation with Raghav regarding the prior incident that night? Does he trust her in that regard? She still didn't have an answer to the expectations of their marriage. Her heart couldn't accept that everything was alright and solved between them. She entered back to the party running those questions in mind. Keeping the fake smile to her lips she acted as if nothing happened, before Raghav and others.

"Dinner time for the couple!" Rashi exclaimed.

Rashi took them to a cornered table for dinner and left them alone and secluded. Dinner went silent. None spoke of them anything with the fear to end up fighting like in every previous meet and aware of the fact that they're under the strict observation of their friends and cousins. They enjoyed the romances of silence.

She examined his face and thankfully he focussed only on his food. Can his face explain if he was innocent? Was leaving him for two long years a wrong step from her side? She moved to the washroom after they both finished. After refreshing, to wipe her face she looked into the mirror and there stood Raghav behind her who gazed at her through the mirror.

'Raghav, what are you doing here? Someone might enter. It's a ladies' washroom for lords sake.' She warned him but didn't turn towards him.

"Kuhu", he called. She paid attention to him through the mirror."What sort of pranks and jokes did you play that night?",asked the fierce Raghav.

She turned without looking at him. Continuing drying her hands with a towel, she exclaimed, "Its you who is creating plans to get married, not I."

Raghav held her arms tight enough to hurt her and pulled her towards him. Her face hit his chest. She wriggled under his hold on her which was full of strength. All those life saving efforts of her failed only when looking into his confident black dominating orbs she realised it was worthless struggling to get rid of his arms. Now distance was much negligible between them. Eyes got themselves involved in fights of pain and dominion. Lips were merely about to touch with a space of thin hair-line of air in between. His warm breath moistened the skin of her face. This feeling and position of theirs was not new for her, it's not alienating, it's just that after many years they again seemed new and fresh.

'Ouch! It hurts, Raghav', she winced in pain engrossing her attention to his distressing hold on her arms.

"It should! Kuhu remember one thing. My possessions are mine. I don't share them with others. Not even in my dreams. And you are one among those possessions now, which holds top priority in the list. So before you speak anything absurd about yourself think twice, because now, you just belong to me." His words couldnot be decoded as the signals to her brain 'cos of the pain he lended her arms.

'What absurdity do you talk of Raghav?'

"About your f*****g ex-boyfriends and the pranks of 6th and 7th ones that you played with me that day." His manly ego roared in his dominating voice to which she lost her temper.

'Raghav it's you who came with the marriage proposal. I didn't go to you. You already know my pasts and even if the 6th and 7th part was true how does it affect you? You were over me at that time already. Moreover you are just marrying me because of your obligations.'

"The 6th and 7th boyfriend part of your story can't be true because I know how deep the impressions of my love is left in your heart. It still says you are mine." His smile emerged victorious but the eyes did show the wrath of the colour red .

To cut him to size she declared in the washroom,"Mr. Raghav Rajput don't be so confident of yourself. I have already moved on in my life. You don't even have a pinch of your memory left in me let alone any deep impression." She gave him a clearcut assertion.

"Sooo... ....now that no remnant of my love is left with you. Why shouldn't I imprint one in your mind?"showing an evil smile he came forward.

'What!' She barked with her brown dilated pupil.

She couldn't comprehend his words. But his actions were apprehensive. He walked towards her like a hunter hence she moved backwards in reflex until her back hit the basin tubs. Pointing him her finger she warned-

'Ra..Ra....Raghav behave yourself. Being my fiancee doesn't guarantee you any right on me.'

"You don't need to remind me of my rights. I know how and when to claim them very well." He held her waist tight. Before she could speak- 'Raghh......'

He crushed his lips to that of her. The kiss was composed of an intolerable pain for how roughly he brushed his lips on hers. He poured all his anger of the last two years and of the silly prank on her innocent lips and the traumatic pain was unbearable when his one hand held her waist, the other one pulled her long open hair tight. The kiss sharply sensed his dominance that she never gave a damn to anyone's. Being reluctant to the invading efforts of his tongue, she pushed him at his chest with a sudden jerk. He moved back from his place budging a little in comparision to her huge effort on his giant musculature.

"Much energy, my little tigress!!" He smiled smugly.

With overflowing teary eyes she was breathing hard.

'No wonder whatever impression of yours you leave in my mind, You will never be a person to win my heart. No matter how hard I try to build a beautiful space for you in my heart, You end up hurting me to the pains of infinity. However hard I try, you will never change. I hate you Raghav, I hate you.' Sobbing and crying she left the washroom.

Moving out of the washroom she tried to wipe all his impressions away from her lips. But Alas! These impressions were not removable. She could wipe out the smudge of lipsticks but what about the imprints in her mind? This reminder weakened her more and more. And the uncontrollable tears further worsened the situation. She sat on a chair beside to control her tears and heart because both were overwhelmed with immense pain by now.

They all set to leave for home. Mrs. Rajput kissed her forhead and wished her a goodnight. Her father-in-law blessed her to stay happy forever. But all the way from washroom to home she remained absent minded. She didn't realise any of the happenings in her surrounding.

On reaching home, she went straight to her room. She threw all the jewelleries on the floor. The designer saree which was the cause of excitement in her, now felt over- burdening. She removed them as fast as possible and went for a shower hoping, that might wash off all the impressions and punishments given by him today.

With every stream of water running through her body a new question provoked her mind. Will he hurt her like this always? Does she have to surrender to him this way? Should she tolerate all his emotional tortures? Why is he so dominating? Time has walked past two years; still leaving him untouched of the changes needed. Although she was away from him she did enjoy her sets of freedom. She lived her life. Not that she couldn't fall for anyone after him but she didn't want to let go of her liberty which felt free like a fire on staying out of a relationship. Relationship with Raghav was too suffocating!

Turning off the shower she decided. 'No' she wont let him a chance anymore. After what he did to her, it is he who deserves the punishment not she. She wrapped herself in her bathrobe as if she controlled and held herself strong. And with a determined head she moved out of the bathroom. Switching off the bed lamps she recalled she's not any silly girl. She's Kuhu Rathore who knows how to teach people their lessons well. She slept but out of her assurances that night the moon relieved a deep sigh of relief.

Next day at Rajput Mansion.

"I hate you Raghav, I hate you."

"I hate you Raghav, I hate you."

"I hate you Raghav, I hate you."

The words echoed through the walls of Raghav's room and reflected back to him everytime through an air of thick tension. This is what happening with Raghav from yesterday's sleepless night till today's unhealthy morning.

Raghav thought definitely Kuhu had a reason to hate him, but he never got a chance to stand up for himself and rationalise his views and situations before her. She never gave him a chance to ask for her forgiveness. Everytime they meet they fight even more than a 10 year old couple does. He doesn't even understand where his sorry evaporates from his dictionary everytime he sees her. She melts his heart by her innocent eyes. He's desperate to meet her today. Let it be a fight, he does enjoy it with her. He smiled blushingly as he realised the last line.

'So its the effect of Kuhu, isn't?' Mr. Rajput asked his son to know the reason of his mysterious smile.

"Dad! I was just deciding whether to handover the project to Bansals or Mukherjees at the negotiation table." Raghav tried to hide his emotions of heart.

'You know son, I have already been through your age. So I know what projects you were thinking of staring at the roof and smiling all to yourself.' Mr. Rajput used his wit again.

"Dad, I..." Raghav trailed off 'cos he knew he was left with no more excuses to give to his father.

'These are the legal papers of the shares of Rathore Constructions. Kuhu's signature is needed here. Go! There is a plea to visit her. Go! I use to cancel all my work for 3 months to watch your mom work for the NGO'S from a distance. You need to be a step ahead of me, son.' Mr. Rajput winked at his son.

"Thanks dad." The excited Raghav hugged his father and left for Rathore Constructions with a smile full of blushes.

At Rathore Constructions.

'I must say I have left quite a good impression. Those bite marks of mine still preside over your swollen lips.' Swaying his thumb swift on her lips and clearly checking them out he asserted these lines playfully in her office room. He held her chin lifting her face up towards him. He was actually leaning over her whereas Kuhu sat on the office chair surprised by the thought that how could someone be so ruthless about the other's mere innocent feelings.

"You know what? You are obessive about your imprints. Do you know why? Its because you are unsure of your love. Being self-obessed you don't trust yourself in regard to your emotions. That's the reason, you try to prove it to others by imprinting and branding." She moved out of his hold on her chin and smiled as she spit the bitter truth.

'Love? Where did that come from? Just remember you an obligation for me, and nothing more than that.' He faced away to say this confidently.

"These are your papers. I have signed them." She surrendered him the papers directing the conversation to an end.

'I must leave. Will see you soon',said Raghav facing Kuhu but taking backsteps. His heart hadn't had enough of Kuhu yet. He was plastering his last glances on her for another some hours that he would spend without her. She was necessary for his survival. His absent mind wasn't ready to leave when suddenly he hit the coffee tray and the peon spilled two of the full mugs with crunchy frappe on his white shirt which seeped the chocolate drink instantly to a larger space on the fabric.

'What the hell!!! You blind i***t. Kuhu don't you cross-check your employees before appointing? Fire himmm...' His words faded away in the air when the person's face got clearly analysed by his brain.

"I'm sorry sir. I couldn't balance it. Please don't dismiss me from my job ma'am. I need money for my wife's medical bills." The employee asked for his forgiveness.

"It's okay, Mr. Jackson. No need for beverages anymore he is already leaving. Send someone to clean it up." Kuhu sent him off to point out before Raghav his own mistakes.

"Okay, ma'am." The click sound near the door ensured the peon's exit from Kuhu's office.

"Raghav you didn't pay attention. That's clearly your fault. Have concern for the poor and their professions. The chair you sit on is all; the day and night hardwork of these employees whose salary is even less than your school time pocket money." She crossed her arms on her chest to speak when she realised the miserable condition of Raghav. "You can use my washroom. By that time I'll have ordered a shirt for you from the mall nearby." His discomfort affected her.

Despite getting worried about the nasty condition of his shirt Raghav's mind was still stuck with the dark, wrinkled face. Bemused with the incident that occured with the employee he considered leaving immediately to be safer in a way. 'I must go! I can manage. Don't worry.'

"But Raghav! Wait. Listen."

She looked out of the windowpane as he left her office briskly. How could she believe him? That he doesn't love her? She knows him. He chooses breaking over bending. She will have a hard time dealing with a bipolar in future. She sighed. Right then she wanted to abandon all those; the provoking questions, her uncertain future with Raghav, the expectations of their parents, the breaking down Rakesh. She needed a space out of that deceptive world. Just for herself. She knew where to head for. She wanted her share of tranquility!