Bound by Vows novel Chapter 49

"I will... I will come soon, baby... I am sorry Mumma is struck somewhere but will definitely come to meet her doll soon" I said trying to hold back my sadness.

I have decided i will go back to his house even if he denies our relationship. I can't ignore my baby...That day i took impulsive decision-which is my specialty-note the sarcasm.

"Come back soon mumma...i am missing playing with you...these days daddy is also not playing with me..." She said while my mind goes back to Kabir.

Is he fine? He never ignores his doll, then why now?

"Mumma will come back soon. I promise..." I said though i am not sure when will this soon come.

I talked with her for some more time... then Kunal started talking when she went out of his room.

"Bhabhi, where are you now?" He asked me suddenly.

"I...i told you na Kunal... I am staying with m-" he didn't let me complete.

"I talked with Amaya...she clearly told me she is missing you that means you're not there..." He said shocking me.

Though one thing came in my mind that how come he talked with Amaya? But I let it go... this is not a matter of concern.

"Tell me bhabhi? What happened? Did you both fight?" He asked me.

"I...i am staying at my papa's house..." I told him as he already knows and I don't want to drag with more lies.

"Your father?" He asked with confusion on his face.

"Yes...there is a thing which you don't know Kunal...just you know that I have another family which consists of my father and brother..." I said.

"Okay. But why are you not coming back home? You know it's getting hard now to make aashi understand. She needs her mother" He said.

"I...i will come back. Kunal, please try to recall...did you really give that letter to your brother which I gave you before marriage" I asked him.

"Yeah... but what is the issue? You asked me before too about it" He asked me.

I kept silent as I don't know how to say it to him...what he would think about me.

"Bhabhi... you're like my elder sister. If you think of me as your brother. Please tell me...maybe I would help you..." He said with utmost sincerity making me spill the beans.

"I...actually it contains something very important about my past and now Kabir thinks that I...i kind of hide it from him about it. And we had an argument over it. And..." I hesitated to say further.

"And???" He stressed.

"And I left the home..." I told him.

"What???? Did Bhai tell you to leave? I will tell mom right now...how could he do this to you..." He said in shock and anger.

"No no... don't tell mummy... and your Bhai didn't tell me exactly to leave but you know..." I stopped in the middle.

"I will talk to Bhai then..." He said.

"But-" my words kept hanging in the air as he cut the call.

Kabir's POV

"How much you'll drink Kabir?" Rohit asked me as we are sitting in my cabin.

"You know what she hates when I drink," I said gulping the drink in one go.

"Then why are you drinking?" He asked.

"Because I want to hurt her as she hurt me," I said.

"Do you really think so? I think you're mistaking her again. She is not someone who would betray you. And you idiot because of your so-called man ego, you told her to get separate. Did you even gave her a chance to explain?" He asked me.

I told him everything that happened that day and he is behind me since then stating she is innocent and cannot betray me.

"I gave her the chance to explain but she kept her mouth shut. What I should imply with it?" I asked him.

"Your anger overtook your sensible mind. I am telling you that you calm yourself and think sensibly before going into any conclusion" He said

"Yeah...I have decided I will go and ask her to come back. Whatever happened was her past and I am ready to overlook it." I said because this is the fact.

That day I was super angry and I didn't stop her but I never wanted her to leave. I love her really but it hurt me deeply that she hides and I said many worst things which I never meant. I just hope she would agree to come back.

"That's great but I still feel that you are an idiot..." he said while glared him feeling offended.

I pour another glass to drink. Suddenly cabin door opened with a loud crack.

"What is this Bhai? How could you order my bhabhi to leave her house? Huh?" Kunal asked making me surprised by the fact that he knows.

"You don't know anything. So, fuck off" I told him as I don't want to hear another lecture. At least not from my younger brother.

"I know everything. You had an argument with Bhabhi and you told her to leave. Just because you think that she hide something big from you. Right, brother?" He asked with an accusing glare.

Why everyone is taking her side?

"How do you know about it?" I asked him placing my glass back on the table.

"I have my own ways," He said rolling his eyes. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You tell me didn't you read the letter?" He asked me.

"What letter?" Rohit asked on my behalf.

"I gave him one letter before their marriage which bhabhi gave me saying it is very important and I hand it over to him. Now, will you tell me?" Kunal asked me.

I tried to remember it.

"Yeah, I vaguely remember that you gave me a letter but I got busy with the office and then I don't remember where I kept it," I said now clearly remember it.

Fuck!!! Whether she mentioned that in her letter.

"What??? You didn't remember it. Bhai think about it where did you keep it" Kunal asked dramatically.

"It must be somewhere here in my cabin in between the files," I said looking around.

"Let's search for it then. Why waste the time" Rohit said while I nodded.

After 1 hour...

"Where did you keep it Bhai? We have almost searched the whole cabin" Kunal said taking a deep breath.

"Yeah, I have searched in your secretary cabin too. But didn't find any letter or envelope" Rohit said sitting on the chair.

"Hmm... We have searched everywhere except for the bulk of files which are completed or abandoned" I said thinking the possibility.

"Yeah, let's search that shelf then," I said getting up.

"We wouldn't have to work this hard if this idiot brother would have read it at that time," Kunal said huffing in annoyance.

"I heard that," I said...

"So, Do I fear you?" He asked suddenly sounding confident.

"You may leave. I don't need your help" I said.

"Who said I am helping you. I am helping my bhabhi" He said searching the floor.

I shake my head at his comment.

Another half-hour more, we are still there where we were initially.

"Where did I kept it?" I thought and picked up the next file. Now only 10 more files left. If I didn't find it...I will have to look at my home office.

I checked the file and threw it on the floor as I am getting frustrated with all that.

My gaze falls on the letter which falls down on the floor when I threw the file.

I immediately picked it up.

"Finally!!!" I said in joy...

"Ufff!!! We found it" Kunal said in utter happiness.

"Leave me alone" I announced and they both left the cabin.

Finally, its time to read the letter.

I unfold the letter after taking a seat.

Hello Mr. Khurana,

I guess you would be reading this letter after our meeting in the restaurant.

I read your letter and I really appreciate that you come clean with all the conditions.

Before we proceed further with this proposal I would like to tell you something very important about my life.

You might be thinking that when we met, why did not I tell you anything but I have my own reasons that's why I am writing this letter to you.

What could be her reason for not telling me in person but through this Letter? I thought in my mind.

Though you clearly mentioned that our relationship won't be a normal one even I am not expecting any normal relationship with you still I want to be clear because in my opinion every relationship is based on trust and I really don't want to start a relationship based on a lie.

"You are a liar. Fucking liar" My own voice echoed in my head.

The biggest truth of my life is that I am a WIDOW.

Shocking Right???

Yes, to say I am shocked would be an understatement. I...I thought she might be a divorcee but widow, I never imagined.

Shit!!! Another realisation hit my head. She never lied to me. I am the one who didn't read this letter before. What did I do?

Yes, you read it right I lost my husband three years back in a road accident.

A tear stain was visible on the paper. She must be crying while writing this. I felt a pain in my heart.

I never thought she is bearing that much pain in her heart. She always smiled but I never understand that a lot of pain was hidden behind that beautiful smile of her.

You might be surprised because my mother did not disclose it earlier. But as a mother, she is only concerned about my future. But for me, it is very much important for you to know this harsh truth of my life.

You can reject this proposal I won't mind because I have faced this before also and seriously it doesn't concern me because I don't want to get married, to be honest.

By these words, I can presume that she faced rejections in the past. And it is no surprise because, in our country, society perception changes for a woman if she is a divorcee or widow.

And I really don't understand why? Why only women have to suffer why not question men too.

If you still want to continue with this marriage, I would like to clarify certain points.

As you already mentioned that we won't be sharing husband and wife relationship and I would like to confirm this thing that I don't want this either so you don't have to worry about it.

I laughed at this. Because though I was the one to put this condition and I am the only one who broke it.

As far as your daughter is concerned, I will give her motherly care, love, and affection everything and I don't want anything in return so you don't have to worry about it.

Yes, you very well succeeded in that. Our doll won't be able to get a mother better than you!!!

"You must have thought what is the harm of marrying a man who is a father as you will be leading the luxurious life" My own words repeated.

I am sorry for saying this. I am really sorry.

And I don't know why you write this in your letter, but let me clear you that I belong to a very sophisticated family and my parents bought me up with good values. So there is no point of me being a wh***...I can't even write the word you used...

I can imagine her anger while writing this by looking at the scratches on the paper at the end.

"You are also like that bitch and I don't even know whether you are loyal..."

How could I compare my pure and innocent wife with that bitch? How could I even utter these words?

I am glad she slapped me that day because I very well deserved this. I felt a tear in my eyes.

As far as your money is concerned, I don't need any of it. I am an independent woman and I believe in earning it with hard work and not to be a charity case.

Also, you mentioned about divorce...I don't know why you think about it. But for me, marriage is a sacred bond and I am against this divorce thing.

So, I am warning you beforehand, never think about it!!! Because you won't be getting one from me in the future...

I almost laugh amidst tears at her indirect threat.

"I think it would be better if we get separated..."

Oh god!!! Why I am having a flashback of my mean words I told her???

Though there are many other things related to my past which I want to convey, I think it is not the right time to tell you because we are practically strangers but in the future, if you came to know anything.

Before coming to any conclusion, discuss it with me because I believe relationships are based on trust and the communication gap only leads to misunderstandings.

~~

Payal

I kept the letter in my coat and put my hands on my face.

I was so wrong in judging you. I don't know she will forgive me or not. But I have to go and bring her back at any cost.