Ep. 10 Meera's Confession

Ritik reached his father’s house, fuming in anger, and rushed to the upper floor. He kicked open Roma’s room door, and she startled, looking at him. Before she could register what was going on, Ritik took furious steps in her direction and slapped her across the face.

“What the hell, bro? Why did you slap me?” Roma yelped in pain, rubbing her cheek. She turned and walked to the dresser to look at herself in the mirror. She found his hand imprinted on her cheek and blood was oozing out of the corner of her mouth.

“I am going to ask you some questions and I expect honesty,” Ritik said, sitting on the couch, crossing his legs and Roma faced him.

“I am calling dad, right now!! How dare you slap me? Day by day, your anger issues are increasing and you need counselling.” She said and took her phone from the bed, but before she could connect the call, Ritik snatched her phone away and threw it outside the window.

“What is wrong with…” Before she could complete her sentence, Ritik slapped her again on the same cheek.

“I am going to ask you a few questions and don’t you dare try to move. Sit down and start answering.” Ritik said in a dangerous tone and Roma sat down on her bed staring at him, and by the expressions she had on her face, she looked scared because she knew Ritik could even kill anyone in his anger.

“Do you like Aahil?” He asked and she widened her eyes at his question.

“What are you saying, I…..” bu, and before she could complete, Ritik interrupted her.

“Cut the crap and answer me,” Ritik yelled at her and she started shivering.

“N-no, I don’t l-love him.” Roma stammered out the word, looking at him fearfully.

“Then why the hell did you propose that son of a bitch yesterday?” Ritik sneered while scratching his neck.

“No... No, He proposed to me. I didn’t do anything, he proposed, and I rejected him.” She ranted and Ritik smirked.

“Oh, so you mean that yesterday, he proposed to you in the club upstairs, and then he came down on the stage to propose to Meera? Do you think I am mad?” Ritik sneered and Roma looked down without uttering a single word.

“You know what, I hate him but I know one thing for sure that he never lies, and he said that you proposed to him yesterday and he rejected you, and I know, he was speaking the truth. So, now open your fucking mouth and tell me the truth, or I will beat the shit out of you.” Ritik threaten her and Roma shivered under his icy gaze.

“Why the hell you proposed Aahil?” Ritik asked again in a high pitch and a few seconds later, Roma answered with tears in her eyes.

“I saw you talking to Meera, expressing your feeling to her, but she rejected your feeling, harshly. I knew that Aahil and Meera are quite close, and she might be rejecting you for Aahil. So, I came up with a plan to propose to Aahil and take him out of your and Meera’s story. But he insulted me, called me a whore, bitch, and what not, and rejected me for Meera.” She paused, wiping her tears, and her eyes met with Ritik.

“I don’t know whatever I did was right or wrong, but I did it for you, brother. I love you so much and I cannot see you sad because of that girl.” Roma said and started sobbing, “I am so sorry!!”

Ritik got up from the couch, and as soon as Roma saw him approaching her, she stood back on her feet and started trembling with fear. She thought Ritik was coming to slap her again, but he cupped her face in his rough cold hands.

“I am so sorry, Roma! You did all this for me, you humiliated yourself in front of him for me, and this is what you get from me in return.” Ritik regretted his actions and slammed his fist into the mirror. “How can I raise my hand on you?”

He was remorseful. “I am so sorry, Roma. But I promise you I will take our revenge on them. This is all happening because of Meera and I promise you I will make her life hell. She has to bear the consequences of rejecting me.” Ritik said in a determined tone and Roma looked up at him.

“What are you going to do, brother?” She asked.

“Just wait and watch, my little sister. You will witness her begging in front of me, very soon.” Ritik said while caressing her cheeks and left her room.

Roma stood in front of the big broken mirror and inspected her bruised cheek, “Thank god I came up with this story at the last minute, otherwise bro would have killed me today!” Roma sighed, rolling her eyes and stared at her beautiful face in the broken mirror, admiring her beauty.

“How can you reject me for that bitch? She is just an average girl with zero dressing sense, she can’t beat me in figure and looks. You made a big mistake rejecting me, Aahil!” Roma said slamming her hand on the dresser and smiling sinisterly. “Anyway, my brother will take my revenge. Just wait for him, he is gonna end your so-called unconditional love and soon you’ll be begging me to be your girlfriend.”

***

Aman and Aahil filed the complaint about the anonymous threatening message, and the cop assured them they will look into the matter and will inform them if they get any leads. They left the police station and walked to the nearby coffee shop when Aahil got a call from Meera “Good Morning, princess,” He said and Aman rolled his eyes at him.

“Good Morning, babe. I called you to discuss something important. So just listen to me without interrupting, okay?” Meera asked.

“Okay, what is it?” He asked when their coffees arrived.

“I hope you won’t get mad at me!!” Meera said and took a deep breath. “Okay! Today, during breakfast, dad suggested I should get married and that one of his friends is interested in me for his son.” Meera said and Aahil clenched his fist.

“Congratulations then!” He sneered. “When is the wedding?” He asked, taking a sip of his coffee and Aman knitted his eyebrows.

“Shut up! I confessed to Dad about us.” Meera said and Aahil choked coughing badly.

“Hey! Are you okay?” Meera asked concerned while Aahil composed himself still unsure of what he heard was correct.

“You confessed about us?” He raised an eyebrow, looking at Aman, and the latter covered his mouth in shock.

“Look, I know this wasn’t the best time to confess, but I had no choice. My family has started to think about my marriage. Some of our relatives are looking for a suitable match...” Meera continued to explain when Aahil cut her off.

“How he reacted to this news?” Aahil asked.

“Well, I thought he’d get extremely angry, but he asked me to call you for breakfast on the coming Sunday!” She exclaimed in a high pitch, beaming with happiness while Aahil was too stunned to react.

“You are joking, right? You can’t be serious. Did he really agree to meet me?” Aahil asked.

“YES!! YES!! YES!!” Meera screamed so loudly that Aahil had to remove the phone from his ear.

“But I didn’t tell him about our religious differences. I couldn’t muster up the courage and he was getting late for his meeting, so I just skipped that part.” Meera said. “Honestly, I was scared to break this news.”

“You can wait for me if you want. We will tell him together.” Aahil suggested.

“I don’t know, Aahil!” Meera sounded confused. “I spent sleepless nights thinking about how he will react to our relationship, but everything went smoothly. Maybe he reacts to this news positively as well.”

“Isn’t that little too much expectation from him?” Aahil asked. “He might not be comfortable knowing who really I am!”

“He is my dad!! No matter how much we’re distant from each other but he will always think about my happiness.” Meera smiled. “Anyway, you are going to stay at Alina’s place.”

“Alina’s place?” Aahil asked, gazing up at Aman. “What will her mom think? I can stay in a hotel somewhere.”

“You can talk to Aman regarding this. I have to go. Love u, bye.” Meera said.

“Bye, Love u too,” Aahil smiled and ended the call, shifting his focus to Aman. “Why am I going to stay at Alina’s place? You know her mother doesn’t welcome me at all!” Aahil said.

“Chill bro, she is not going to say anything to you this time,” Aman replied calmly.

“And why is that?” Aahil raised an eyebrow.

“Because I am going to be her son-in-law and she will not utter any nonsense this time. I am sure.” He answered, taking a sip of his coffee.

“What!! Congratulations man, I am so happy for you!!” Aahil congratulated with a broad smile on his face. “When is the wedding?”

“Twelfth of the next month,” Aman answered, but he wasn’t very enthusiastic about it.

“Oh, my god! Just fifteen days are left,” Aahil said. “But why so soon?”

“Because Alina wanted,” Aman replied.

***

Present Day,

Because of locomotive failure, the train stopped in the middle of the forest for the next six hours. It was nearly four am in morning. The ascetic was sitting under the tree while the group of students surrounded him to know to hear what next happened in Aahil and Meera’s story.

“I am so happy!! Her father accepted their relationship!!” Heena smiled, clapping her hands and the other kids were happy too. In the country, where a number of couples are killed in the name of honour killing, Aahil and Meera’s love story seemed to find a happy ending.

“Do you really think real love stories are that easy?” Ascetic asked her and slowly her smile dropped and they prepared themselves to hear the next twist of fate in their love story. Unaware to them, there was also another guy in the red hoodie who was resting against the tree with his hat on his face and was keenly listening to the story.