Invincible Love

Read Prelude, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4

Part 5 (Concluding Part)

Arnav went in to see what was taking Kanishka so long to come back. He saw her sitting on the floor shocked.

"Tashu? What happened?"
"Tashu?"
"Say something kya hua?"

"Vik...Vikrant...Accident...", was all she managed to say and she started crying..
"What? Where is he? Stop crying Tashu...”
"Apollo hospital...”, answered Kanishka
"Let’s go. Nothing will happen to him. He will be alright", assured Arnav and they both rushed to the hospital.

Vikrant was in I.C.U.

From the initial investigations it was found to be a case of hit and run as Vikrant's car was badly damaged from the rear end. There were no eye witnesses which made the case more difficult. 

Arnav and Kanishka reached the hospital.
 

"Doctor, how is vikrant? Is he alright?", inquired Kanishka
"Ms. Sharma, Vikrant is in I.C.U. He has got severe head injuries and a lot of blood has been lost. I am sorry but we can’t say anything right now. Next 24 hours are very crucial for him. If he survives that, we would still have some hope.", told the doctor
"Please doctor, save my husband. Please.", She pleaded with the doctor
"We'll try our best", said the doctor

Arnav took her outside and brought water for her.

Everything was fine till morning. They both had been so happy together. Their love grew stronger and stronger with each passing day. She used to thank her stars that she got such a loving and supporting husband.

Vikrant had been planning from past two weeks to make this day special for her. But now he lay in the hospital bed, fighting for his life.

Kanishka felt her world tearing apart. All she wanted was her Vikrant back. She prayed and hoped that Vikrant gets through the next 24 hours.

Kanishka thought her prayers had been answered, when the doctors told her about the improvement in Vikrant's condition. But her happiness was short lived. Vikrant couldnt survive till morning.

Kanishka was devastated. Vikrant was no more. She couldn't come in terms with Vikrant's death. She refused to believe that he had left her forever.

"Vikrant, you know I don't like such pranks. Please get up. Look what these people are saying. They are saying you won't come back. Tell them that you are alive. You can’t go; you promised me that you won’t go. Get up Vik", she shouted

Arnav tried to console her and took her home.

Kanishka tried hard to accept the reality, the reality that her Vikrant had gone, but she couldn't. She found him in every corner of the house. His memories became the decors of their house. She found his memories everywhere she looked,

in the kitchen- when he used to make her favorite food, and she used to sit and stare him,

on the couch- where they used to have small fights over the TV remote and eventually they would fall asleep in each other’s arms,

in the bedroom- which was the witness to their ever increasing love,

at the entrance door- where Vikrant used to kiss her forehead, every day before leaving for work

She broke down. How can she ever forget Vikrant when every single thing reminded her of his presence! His memories made it more difficult for her to come out of this shock. But she knew she had to move on. Vikrant always wanted her to be happy. And she would never let him down. She had to move on just for the sake of Vikrant.


Two weeks later...

"Tashu, I want to tell you something", said Arnav
"I am not in a mood to talk Arnav, please leave me alone.", said Kanishka
"It’s something very important. It’s about Vikrant.", continued Arnav
"What do you want to talk about Vikrant?", inquired Kanishka
"Tashu I .. I lied to you.", confessed Arnav
"Lied? About what?", asked Kanishka
"I wasn't a colleague of Vikrant. We never worked for the same company.", said Arnav
"Then how did you knew him? Why did you lie to me?", asked Kanishka
"I lied because I couldn't gather the courage to tell you the truth. I couldn't tell you that I killed your husband", said Arnav

Kanishka was shocked.


"You? What did you say? You...You killed my Vikrant?? How could you? How could you do this to me Arnav? You didn't even bother to tell me that Vikrant has met with an accident? He was my husband damn it!"
"Get out of my house right now!", said Kanishka angrily
"Tashu, please listen to me once", pleaded Arnav
"I don't want to listen to anything Arnav. Just get out! And don't you ever come back again. I don't want to see you ever”, shouted Kanishka and stormed out of the room.

She went into her room and locked up herself.
She hated herself for spending time with Vikrant's killer while he was fighting for his life in the hospital!
She hated herself for loving Arnav.
And more than that, she hated Arnav now.

The person, who taught her the meaning of love, was the same person who snatched away her love.

That was the last time Kanishka ever saw Arnav. She wanted to punish him for what he had done. She told Inspector Rohit about what Arnav said, but Arnav couldn't be tracked.

After 6 months Kanishka received a call from Inspector Rohit. He told her that they have found Arnav and asked her to come to the police station.

"Ms. Sharma, Arnav has committed suicide. We recovered his body from his apartment today morning. In his suicide note he has accepted that he was responsible for Vikrant's accident.

He left this note for you.

Kanishka read the note


Kanishka,
Tashu, I am sorry.
I am sorry for snatching away Vikrant from you. I know I have hurt you a lot. And I know my sorry won't give you your Vikrant back but I want you to know what exactly happened.

That day I was the one who was driving the car. The road was slippery due to rains, I couldn't control the car and it collided with Vikrant's car. I went to help him and rushed him to the hospital. On our way to the hospital he asked me to deliver those flowers to his wife as it was their anniversary. I promised him that I will do that. I tried to contact his family members and that’s when I saw your number and caller ID in his cell phone. I was shocked to know that Vikrant was your husband. I called you up to inform you about his accident but couldn't say anything. I admitted him to the hospital. I got your address from his diary and sent you those flowers.

Kanishka couldn't control her tears. It was as if she was living all those dreaded moments again.

  

I always wanted you to be happy Tashu. I never knew that I'll be the one to snatch away your happiness.  I want to confess one more truth. I have always loved you Tashu, from the college days itself. I couldn't gather the courage to tell you at that time but now when i am ending my life, I want you to know this truth. You remember you asked me why I didn't try to find you? It was because I was hurt to see you with someone else. I never knew that destiny will be so cruel to me and I'll meet you in such circumstances. I know when you got to know that I was responsible for Vikrant's accident, you wanted to punish me. I can’t live with this guilt anymore. I can’t live anymore, knowing the fact that I am responsible for your tears, for the tears of that girl whom I loved the most. I can bear anything except your hatred. Please forgive me Tashu. I am sorry...
Arnav

What an ironical situation it was. One part of Kanishka was sad to lose her first love, her friend, a friend who loved her and the other part of Kanishka was happy that justice has been done to Vikrant. She forgave Arnav.

Two men who loved her immensely were no more with her. Arnav, the one taught her about love and Vikrant, who taught her how to love.

Vikrant and Arnav are still alive in Kanishka's heart. Though she has moved on with her life, she can never ever forget them.

"If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on, is to never stop loving them. Buildings burn, people die but real love is forever"

                            ~ The End ~

"tere honthon ke kisi kone mein,
hassi ki tarah main mehfuz hoon.."

Invincible Love

Read Prelude, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

Part 4

Vikrant was a successful engineer working for a leading IT company. At an age of 25, when most of the people are confused about their life and career, Vikrant had scaled new heights of success. He had everything he wanted - a good job in one of the leading company's of the country, a beautiful and loving wife and money to provide enough luxuries to the love of his life. He was the most popular guy in his office not only because of his brains but for his looks too. He might have been termed as the "Most Eligible Bachelor”, had he not got married to Kanishka.

Kanishka was dumbfounded when she saw Arnav. Numerous questions filled her mind but she wasn't able to say anything. Arnav, sensing her surprise, broke the awkward silence.

"Wont you let me in?", winked Arnav
"Oh! Yes yes come in. I am so surprised to see you here. How did you know my address? And these flowers? Ye tumne bheje hai?”, Kanishka fired series of questions at Arnav
"Relax Tashu relax! Main kahan bhaga ja raha hun, I’ll answer all your questions", assured Arnav
"I am so sorry, I really did not expect you!", Kanishka said embarrassed.

Kanishka went to the kitchen and brought tea and some snacks while Arnav made himself comfortable in the house.

Over the cup of tea they talked about their college days while Arnav updated Kanishka about their other friends.

"So...What brings you here?", Kanishka asked
"Your husband", joked Arnav
"My husband? How do you know Vikrant?", Kanishka inquired
"Well, we both work for the same company. I recently got transferred here and that's how i met him. I didn't knew that he was your Vikrant till I saw your photograph on his table. He told me it’s your anniversary today so we both planned to surprise you and i guess we both succeeded in that", smiled Arnav
"Oh so this was the surprise Vikrant was talking about", Kanishka said
"I think so. And the flowers that you were talking about, yes those were sent by Vikrant, and i only asked him to write Tashu instead of Kanishka", answered Arnav

"Waise tell me something Tashu, why did you just disappeared after the farewell party? I called you so many times but you never attended my calls and eventually you changed your number. Why did you break off all the contacts with your friends? And with me?", asked Arnav

Kanishka didn't knew what to answer. How can she tell him that she did that because she loved him! No, she can’t do this. And now that Arnav and Vikrant are friends, telling the truth to Arnav will spoil everything. Moreover she loved Vikrant and was happy with him.

"I never really had any friends in college, Arnav. I knew that once the college is over no one will bother to call me or text me. And that's what exactly happened. So I thought it’s better to move on with life and besides I got engaged soon after my graduation.", answered Kanishka

"You never took me as your friend? Haina?", Arnav asked

"I did, and I still do. But you were so busy in your life that I thought maybe you didn't consider me your friend. In all these years, you didn't even try to find out where I was.", accused Kanishka

"Okay okay. I am sorry. You know how I was at that time, but of all my friends I missed you the most. Sachi. And now that I have found you, I will try my best not to lose you again.", said Arnav

"You will always be a lazy guy", Kanishka smiled

A phone call interrupted their conversation.

Kanishka rushed to the living room to attend the call.

"Hello"
"Hello. Is this Vikrant Sharma's residence?"
"Yes"
"May I know who am I talking to?"
"I am his wife, Kanishka, but who are you?"
"Ma'am I am Inspector Rohit. I am sorry to inform you that your husband has met with an accident and he has been admitted to Apollo hospital. He is in a very serious condition. Please reach there as soon as possible."

The receiver fell from her hand.

"Hello? Hello? Ms. Sharma? Hello?" 

The line got disconnected.

Kanishka felt the ground beneath her move. She felt numb. She was too shocked to react.

Invincible Love

Read Prelude , Part 1 and Part 2

Part 3

She again disconnected the call and tried calling Vikrant.

"The number you are trying to call is currently switched off"
Kanishka was surprised. Vikrant never used to switch off his phone. She stood there staring at the card confused. She sent him a text asking him to call her as soon as possible.

She glanced at the clock. It was 6 p.m. She hurried to the kitchen and started preparing his favorite dishes. She finished the chores till 7:30 p.m. and went to freshen-up and quickly slipped into the turquoise colored saree which Vikrant had gifted her on her birthday.

She checked her phone and saw 5 missed calls by the same unknown number and wondered why this unknown number was calling her again and again.

"Who is this caller? Should i call back? It might be an important call", she thought.

She called back on that number but her call wasn't received. She decided to attend the call next time around. She waited for the phone to ring but it didn't.

"May be I am thinking too much. It was just another call, or a wrong number perhaps", she told herself.

She diverted her mind from the phone call towards Vikrant and remembered how he had gate crashed her farewell function and proposed her for marriage in front of all the teachers and hundreds of students.

It came as a surprise to her, she had no clue that Vikrant was planning to do something like this. Though she was in a relation with Vikrant but she had never thought of marriage. She was too young for marriage, after-all she was just 21. She would have rubbed it off as an out-of-love incident but the way it all happened, the way he proposed her, it happened so fast that all she could say was "yes".

She still doesn't know what made her say yes to Vikrant, that too at such a time when she was finding it too hard to let go Arnav.

"May be I had accepted the reality that I would never be able to make Arnav mine. Or it may be that I realized that I loved Vikrant too much", she smiled to herself.

Just then the door bell rang, startling her. Thinking it to be Vikrant she rushed and opened the door but was shocked to find Arnav standing in front of her..