The Confession - Two

Kaaya was stunned by Kriya's reaction. She was head stuck with what was happening and how she should be responding to all this. She called Kriya, "Kriya, what are you talking about? What it is?" Kriya wiped her tears and held her hands tightly, "You're his epic love Kaaya. You're his essence, the very reason he risks loving, AGAIN!...

Now I know why he loves you unconditionally. Yes, he does love, his heart belongs to me, but HE BELONGS TO YOU! IN ALL HIS ENTIRETY... HIS HEART WAS TOO HURT TO LET GO OF ME AND THEN YOU HAPPENED. IT RISKED LOVING YOU."

Kaaya stumbled upon the situation; she could not process what was happening. What were Akaay and Kriya talking about? What was she feeling? She needed to clear her mind. In amidst conversation, Nimish came. All saw him stepping out of his car; as he was approaching the ladies, Kaaya waved at him and hinted at him to stay there. "I'm sorry Kri, I cannot think straight at this point. I am too overburdened with this situation, and I need to clear my head. We'll get back to this conversation soon. Bye." She rushed towards Nimish and both went in his car.

"To where Kaaya?" Nimish asked as they got out of the building. "Take me nowhere Nimish. Just keep driving. I don't know where I'm heading in life." Nimish kept driving. Kaaya opened the window. She put her head on the window to let in the air. Nimish pulled her back. She slid her head towards the window. Tears fell down her eyes as she was all lost. Nimish was quietly watching this. After driving for an hour he stopped the car. "Get down." Nimish held her hand and Kaaya followed him blindly. Then, they stopped at the top of one mountain pass and sat quietly.

It was weirdly tranquil, but the hurricane of thoughts was going inside Kaaya's head as she was still in the process of handling the reaction of Kriya and what Akaay had stated. Nimish was sitting quietly watching her. He didn't interrupt her. After another hour, Kaaya took a sharp breath. "It's hard!!!" "Maybe you're being hard on yourself." "Easy to say!!! It's crashing to see and find yourself in the same pit of darkness which you've overcome with the greatest strength. It was impossible for someone like me who innocently and anxiously got attached to someone Ray... Even he had his share of sorrows but it was too much for me. I did everything to piss him off; I started getting angry, hated him but still couldn't get over him, and made him hate me so maybe something could be done... I succeeded. For anyone who approaches me, I've got nothing to offer to them! I am not the victim of his love; I'm a victim of my own attachment and trust! I don't approve of taking any man's sympathy when I'm low; I had and have my girls to take care of me. I was indeed approached by 3-4 people; I tried to find him unknowingly, but he wasn't there. They were not him, not even close to his essence. They showed a willingness to take care of me, but I didn't want to be taken care of by them but by him! Now I have got nothing to give it to anyone. I'm telling you this is because some part of me was drawn to you. But I cannot do justice to your feelings, Ray. The other night, I overheard your conversation with Samu; I heard you saying you caught feelings for me. I hate to accept the fact I cannot see you with the mutual feelings Ray. I'm feeling guilty. I enjoyed your company. You gave me the emotional support and space to heal. You, at some point, made me forget him, but on Kri's birthday, I realised there's a part of me which couldn't accept anyone's love after him. He was the last person, I loved him with everything I've had." Ray, "Look at me!" He teased her, "Why do you take so much stress, Kaaya? I never expected the love I give you to give it back to me. And I wanted to be the support for you; I didn't expect you'd fall for me while I was there as a support. It was meant to be like that. Please don't feel guilty. Samu had told me everything. And to be honest I don't want you to love me to forget him or love parts of him in me. I am willing to wait for your love. I have already waited 16 years, a few years more...." "Wait what? 16!? We met a few months back!" "Hahaha..... We met 16 years back Kaaya. Or to say ***" "Hey, that's my nickname; my dad calls me by that name. How you know!" Nimish laughed and took out his wallet. He then showed her an old photograph, "Wait, that's me... Samartha... And this guy, I don't know who is he... This is from my uncle's wedding in Bangalore. But I've got a vague memory of it and this guy. He and I were resistant to get off the wedding swing, and my grandfather said you guys are married now, this kiddo started crying, and as he was getting off, I held his hand, saying Grandpa was kidding... They had to offer Kot many chocolates to take us off that swing. My grandfather always teased me, saying I've found a suitable groom for you in Bangalore, and I always thought it was some funny story about me destined to be with him... I tried to find that picture but there's no copy... But this seems to be one..." Nimish laughed and said, "This is me, the crying little lad... Yes, it's from the same wedding. I never forgot you; rather, none let me forget you. I took out this photo from the album so my family could forget. They did, but I didn't. Since that day I never let this photo get away from me. Slowly, I started to adore this pretty girl, and when I was 16, I once visited my aunt's home, which is obviously your uncle's place. I inquired about the girl in the picture, and your uncle told me about you. You stay in Mumbai and everything. I decided to find you and reach out to you, but I was just 16. 4 years later, Samartha, my best friend, was in Mumbai for her grandparent's anniversary, and she happened to post a few pictures. There I saw you, and the moment I saw you, I found a resemblance to the little girl. Your face hasn't changed much. When Samartha came back to Bangalore, I showed her this picture, and she instantly recognised you two. As she was clearly older than you, she knew this story, and we laughed. I requested her not to tell you about me, and I wanted Destiny to let us meet. By now I know everything about you... I saw your recent pictures and I fall for you even harder. I saw you and heard you many times when you and Samu were on calls. I fell more for you each time..." "It's like a movie scene God!" But wait, you already know everything about me and how you wanted destiny to let us meet? Destiny clearly gave you thumbs up already..." Ray smirked and said, "Indeed. Then I visited Pune for my psychology conclave. After the conclave, we all headed to a nearby mall. While I was on the escalator, I saw a girl in a Blue one-piece dress who was smelling books from the book exhibition down on the ground floor. I came down and walked in front of her, but she didn't notice. I stood in the corner adoring this girl, and when she noticed me, she thought I was some creep checking her out." "Oh god, that was you? Obviously, I would think of you as a creep!!! All these things are unbelievable, and how they're unfolding is too much to take in. We have known each other for about 6-8 months now. Why did you choose this time to show me this picture today? Why not earlier." 

"Today, I want to make myself clear to you, you take no pressure, but I want to come clean. My intention for you and me is to get married. To spend eternity together, to cry in each other's arms, to laugh at each other's stupidity, have healthy quarrels and many more. Even if your answer is no I'm willing to wait for you. And I had been waiting. Those are not empty words. I never allowed any girl to enter my life; for me, it has always been you. I paused my love life for you, and I'll have no regret. I never dated anyone because I believed from my core that we were destined to be together; call me stupid, but yes. It's said memories make us weak, but with each day after meeting you, I've cherished you and your smile. You held my hand as a child, and I never let it go, not even in my dreams. Many girls told me I'm heading pointless, it'll take me nowhere, I'll end up alone and I never mind being alone left with your memories of those 15 mins." 

Kaaya was surprised by this revelation. She didn't know how to respond. Nimish asked to head back home. As they were in the car, it was dropped dead silence, but both had smiles on their face. Does Kaaya's smile mean a yes?

10/12/2024

08/01/2025