Chapter-14 Revealing the Past

Muskaan frowned on his question, looked at his face very keenly and replied softly, “No, Never, not at all. But what happened to you? Why are you suddenly asking this only? Do you have a problem with my studies, then me...?

Kabeer said immediately in between," no Muskaan, I never have a problem with your college or studies. Don't think this."

Perplexed, she asked again," then what is this for?"

Kabeer elaborated on his question and asked again," Muskaan, Muskaan when you stopped saying something, wasn't that that you never wanted to get married? And it's obvious too, since you believe that after marriage one can't continue studies, you would never want to marry before your studies finished, wouldn't you? Tell me Muskaan, was it your family pressurized you for this marriage and that is why you didn't want to go there? Am I right?"

Muskaan replied hurriedly and worried too, "please, I don't know what are you talking about suddenly. This is never the case. This marriage happened on my will. "

But he was not convinced yet. So, asked again," no Muskaan, I don't believe this. I believe there is some secret between us. Tell me what is it?"

Now Muskaan took some deep breaths and asked him," is it mean you don't know anything? Grandpa never told you anything, did he?"

Kabeer was shocked at this. He thought, " it means, there was something that he didn't know but Grandpa knew. Why didn't he tell me." and he?

Asked, very perplexed now," Muskaan, please don't beat around the bush, I just want to listen to the truth."

Muskaan took a few minutes to think. She was visibly uncomfortable but he was feeling like his heart was tearing apart, so he didn't stop her to reply. That night he really needed some answers. And he waited for that until she decided to answer. After a few moments Muskaan replied slowly, "okay, come with me then."

Kabeer frowned," where."

Muskaan replied," trust me. Please come on the terrace with me, and I will tell you everything."

Kabeer stood up like an obedient kid and told her to go on the terrace. And Muskaan followed him to the terrace.

Muskaan asked as soon as they reached the terrace and settled on bamboo chairs near the parapet, "now tell me what exactly you want to know."

"Everything."

Muskaan said, taking a sigh, "have you never felt that me and grandpa know each other for a long time and not for some weeks."

Kabeer frowned as in the morning only he was thinking this. But replied with a nod of yes.

"I met grandpa 3 months ago in the temple. You know, he was always very kind to me. I addressed him as 'uncle' that day, but I don't know why, he blessed me very dearly and told me to address his grandpa from then on. I don't know how, but since that first meeting a kind of affection bound us together. We used to..."

Kabeer asked her, because he didn't find her talk go with his question," Muskaan, I am asking about our marriage."

Muskaan nodded and replied with a dim smile, “yes, marriage. Actually, this study, my graduation, was always my top priority, my dream, but that didn't mean that I never wanted to marry. Like any other girl, I too wanted to marry, I too wanted to be a bride, but somewhere, I always believed that this can never happen. My marriage can never happen."

Kabeer frowned, “what do you mean, never happen… why?"

Muskaan lowered her eyes, and replied with a shivering voice, “Don’t you know about my parents? I am an orphan, already living like a huge burden on my uncle's house. Then, who was there to think about my marriage? Isn't that already enough, I have food on my plate and a shelter on my head. How could I ever think even of marrying or something.”?

Kabeer felt a pang of pain in his heart. For once he cursed himself to ask her this question, that made her wonder in her painful past. But then curiosity got the better of him and he asked again, "then our marriage."

Muskaan replied softly," coming on that only. After two years of my elder cousin Shweta's marriage, my aunt started to look for a good alliance Nandini. Though her studies were not completed, uncle did not agree heartily, but my aunt convinced him. Then, started the groom searching program. Lots of families came to meet and see Nandini, but somehow, they were denied every time. This was the time I met grandpa in the temple. I was there to pray for her alliance only. This was already strange, awkward and exhausting, but then..."

Kabeer asked restlessly," then what. What happened after that, Muskaan."

Muskaan took a deep breath, lifted her legs up on the chair and sat resting her head on knees, encircling her arms around," I don't know how or why, but my aunt started to believe that until or unless, my marriage will not be done, she can't find a groom for Nandini. I didn't want to marry them. I tried to protest, but no one was there to understand me. I feel all alone that time. Finally, thinking of some scenarios, I agreed, believing that groom selection will take time for me too. But this didn't happen. The first alliance that came to meet me, they agreed on the proposal and my engagement was fixed."

Kabeer shifted uncomfortably in the chair, then stood up and walked to the parapet, leaned on back crossing his arms in front, he waited patiently for her to continue.

"For the first time, I protested, I said no, I cried, I said that I want to study, but… My second aunt, she didn't listen to anything. In Fact, she… she burnt all my books, my notes, and my dreams too. Everything was finished then. There, I just..." She continued, but the trembling in her voice and pain in her eyes was so much to ignore. And now it was too much for him to bear.

Kabeer took big steps, came near her, held her hands and said, " Muskaan, let's go, I don't want to know anything now."

Muskaan looked at him, smiled a little and said, “I am fine, don’t worry." And kept her hand on his.

Kabeer said again," but Muskaan, you."

But she patted his hand, nodded and continued, "you know what, suddenly like a miracle or perhaps like a dramatic show, that alliance has been called off. I couldn't even understand whether to laugh or cry, but then my life became somewhat like those melodramatic tv series. Alliances used to come, then a yes and then suddenly a no. I was very agitated by all this. Amidst all these things, one day I met grandpa in a temple. You know, he was very happy that day, because his irritating, obstinate and angry young grandson finally agreed to marriage.”, They both smiled heartily for the first time in the full conversation.

She continued," and then suddenly, he asked me whether I will marry his grandson. For the first time in my life, someone was asking for my opinion and it was enough for me. And also, I was always touched by his warm caring and love. I agreed. Grandpa took my address, my uncle's phone number and a promise that I won't go back on my words. Well, I never intended too. And then it happens. But the drama that happened in uncle's house after grandpa asked for alliance was just too much. Now, I can understand why he took that promise to me?"

" Why so?", the question came Naturally from him.

Muskaan sighed and continued," because, when he came, everything turned miserably strange on me. No one was talking to me. I was a target of all their taunts. And the second aunt accused me of trapping such a rich guy by some… some extremely unethical practices. And this was all happening, when I didn't even know that..."

Kabeer couldn't help but asked," that… that what."

Muskaan looked at her, smiled heartily and replied sweetly," that the obstinate grandson of grandpa is none other than The KABEER MITTAL himself. I was so scared, when I got to know this."

Kabeer asked again," then."

Muskaan replied smiling," then what… then I am here telling you all this."

" Then, why did you say that your dream is finished and can never come you now?", One more question arose.

Muskaan replied," coz, I didn't know you well. I didn't understand your views on this. I was confused."

Kabeer nodded his head and tried to understand her perspective. Meanwhile Muskaan stood up, straightened her clothes and asked," any other questions."

"Yeah. There are many."

"Such as."

"Such as, why didn't you tell all this in the room only?

Why don't you visit temples these days?

And above all, how do you manage to smile when all this happened to you?

Muskaan shook her head in disbelief," since the day I came here, that room was witness of our good moments, I don't want to add this darkness of my heart in those bright moments. That is why, i. We came here." And she walked to the stairs.

Kabeer followed her, observing her every movement. They went straight to their room and Muskaan took her side immediately, avoiding any eye contact, and turned as her back now facing him. Kabeer could sense the unease in her body language.

He laid on his side, spread his arm to her side but didn't touch her, just asked," Muskaan, can I ask a last question? Please"

"Yes."

Kabeer asked," do you really think that by turning your back to me you can hide your emotions? Is our relationship week?"

After some moments of utter silence, Muskaan rolled on and in swift move came near him, hiding her face on his shoulder, clutching his t-shirt very tightly in her fists, she gave him the answer he wanted. Her tears were drenching his t-shirt, but he was not bothering about it this time. She sobbed and cried her heart out, but he didn't tell her to calm down or to stop. Because he wanted her to shed all the unshed tears, she held back in all those years. He wanted to provide a shoulder of trust, understanding and support. He was stroking her hair every now and then, but not told her to sleep. And after sometime when her sobs subsided by hiccups and then sleep, he tightened his hold on her gently and caressed her hairs all the time lovingly. He wanted to soothe her, to heal her and gave her wings of dreams. And he promised himself to do so before closing his eyes and dropped some feather light kisses on her hairs.