Chapter 2 : End everything

Arav:

Unable to find rest, I tossed and turned on the bed. Having slept through much of the afternoon, my body wasn't ready for sleep. I decided to go outside and walked to the beach, hoping the soothing sounds of the sea would bring me some peace.

Sitting on the sand, I looked out at the moonlit waves and the star-speckled sky. The rhythmic crashing of the waves was calming, but my mind was tangled with thoughts of Prem. The heartbeat I felt earlier, mixed with the sound of the ocean, created a tumult of emotions within me. I felt a strange blend of happiness, security, and confidence, but there was also an underlying fear.

Every time I closed my eyes, Prem's face appeared, and my heart would race. It was a mix of emotions I couldn't quite decipher—a confusing rollercoaster of feelings that left me feeling both exhilarated and unsettled.

I shouted into the night, "Oh God, it's so confusing! I can't handle these mixed emotions. Help me!" My outburst was met with the distant barking of a dog, as if even the universe was irritated by my turmoil.

Embarrassed and feeling a bit foolish, I muttered an apology to the night and made my way back to the room. I crawled into bed, and despite my racing thoughts, sleep eventually found me.

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I opened my eyes to find the sun high in the sky. It must have been afternoon. After a quick bath, I decided to head out and retrieve my mobile from Prem.

The walk to the restaurant took about fifteen minutes. As I approached, I saw Chotu playing with a ball while his mom, Leela, fed him. The scene was heartwarming and filled me with a pang of longing for the affection I wished I could have from my own mother.

Leela spotted me and called out, "Oh, Nani, come inside! Why are you standing there?"

I entered and took a seat beside her. "Did you have anything to eat yet?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No, not yet."

"Wait a few minutes," she said. "I'll finish up with Chotu, and then we can eat together."

I took a deep breath and asked, "Sis, where is Prem? I left my mobile with him yesterday."

Leela replied, "He went to Kadmat Island to pick up some essentials for the restaurant. He should be back around 6:30 p.m."

I nodded, understanding the situation. For now, I would wait and enjoy this unexpected moment of camaraderie with Leela and Chotu.

"Thanks, Sis," I said, handing her the mobile. "I'll wait for Prem here."

Leela nodded, understanding my situation. She went back to tending to Chotu, who seemed to sense my mood but looked up at me with a curious, innocent gaze. I made an effort to engage with him, playing along with his games and chatting about the things he liked.

Despite the earlier distress, I found some comfort in the simplicity of these moments. The warmth of Leela's hospitality and Chotu's cheerful presence provided a brief escape from the tumult of my own life.

I just remembered about my mom, I took the mobile from her and dialed the number, it was ringing, after few seconds, my mom answered the call "Hello,"

"Hello" I responded, I was thinking that she would have recognized my voice, but "Who is this? from the morning, I am feed of answering the calls, if this is media people please cut the call, I am not in the state of answering your questions." my face turned to disappointment after listening to my mom's words, "Sorry, mam" I said and the phone has been disconnected. I see that Chotu is watching my face, and I clearly visible that he was bit off after seeing me, to cherup him, I changed my face and stared to act as if nothing happened.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as the news about my wedding continued to play. The sudden switch-off of the TV brought a brief respite from the uncomfortable situation, but the unease lingered.

Leela quickly composed herself and went to the door, opening it to reveal Prem, who had just returned from his trip. He looked at me briefly before turning his attention to Leela.

Prem entered the room and immediately noticed the tension etched on my face. "Did something happen?" he asked, concern lacing his voice. Sis, standing beside him, also glanced at me, their eyes probing for answers. "Nothing," I muttered, avoiding their gazes and heading towards the door. I couldn't stand the weight of their stares.

I stood outside by the gate, trying to steady my breathing. A few moments later, Prem approached, handing me my phone. His eyes were gentle yet searching, and I felt exposed under his scrutiny. Desperate to escape, I turned away. "I'm leaving for the resort," I said, not meeting his gaze. "Tell Sis." Without another word, I walked away, feeling his eyes on my back.

In the room, I tried to unlock my phone, only to realize it was out of battery. Frustrated, I plugged it in and waited for it to power up. As soon as it did, a flurry of messages from Indu flooded the screen. My heart raced. I immediately called her, anxiety creeping into my voice. "Indu, what's going on? You called and messaged so many times. Is everything okay?"

"Why was your phone off? Did something happen?" Indu's voice was tinged with concern.

"No, I just forgot to charge it," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Is something wrong?"

There was a brief silence before Indu responded, "No, nothing to worry about." Her tone seemed dismissive, and before I could probe further, she abruptly ended the call. It felt like she was hiding something.

Feeling uneasy, I opened YouTube, curious about any updates after I left. As I scrolled, a video caught my eye: "A Letter for Her with Disappointment." My heart sank as I clicked on it. The video showed a letter supposedly written by me, addressed to my dad, where I allegedly revealed knowledge of a secret relationship between the bride and her boyfriend. The narration claimed I left the wedding after discovering this, apologizing to my parents for such a drastic decision.

I stared at the screen, stunned. This wasn't what I wrote in the letter. How had it been twisted into this narrative? I scrolled through the comments, seeing a mix of reactions—some praising my supposed actions, others accusing me of seeking attention and damaging the family's reputation for selfish reasons.

A wave of confusion and anger washed over me. This wasn't my truth, but now it seemed like it had taken on a life of its own.

I opened Google and checked the company's share value. It had risen by 20% compared to last month. My heart sank. So, the scandal had a silver lining for them. My gaze shifted to the latest news article—an interview with my mom and dad. I clicked on it, dreading what they might have said.

In the interview, they calmly stated that the letter shown in the video was entirely true. They claimed that I left the wedding for the bride's sake, allowing her to marry her boyfriend publicly. They framed it as a noble gesture, a selfless act to avoid scandal. My parents had expertly spun the narrative to protect their image and, apparently, the company's interests.

I felt a surge of anger and betrayal. I thought they genuinely cared about me, but it seemed their priority was damage control and maintaining the family's pristine reputation. They were playing a different game altogether.

In a fit of frustration, I hurled my phone to the side. It hit the wall with a thud and fell to the floor, a small but satisfying act of defiance. My mind raced, trying to process the reality of my family's machinations.

I sat in the corner of the room, my head bowed, tears streaming down my face. The weight of my parents' actions pressed heavily on my heart. I couldn't understand why they never loved me the way I needed, why money and reputation always seemed to come first. The pain was overwhelming, and I sobbed, feeling utterly alone.

Unable to stay in that suffocating room, I left and wandered down to the beach. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was oddly soothing, and I found myself drawn to the water. I walked closer, my thoughts consumed by memories of my parents and the longing for their love and care.

The cold water lapped at my feet, but I kept walking, feeling the pull of the sea. The waves rose around me, but I didn't stop. I waded deeper, the water now up to my chest, then my shoulders. I felt numb, the coldness matching the emptiness inside me.

As I continued, I suddenly found myself submerged, the salty water filling my lungs. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. My body sank deeper into the ocean, the weight of my despair dragging me down. There was no struggle, no fight left in me. I closed my eyes, and everything faded as I lost consciousness, sinking into the depths.