Bound by Vows novel Chapter 61

"Dude because of these new rules made in the college, we can't comment on someone even if, a godess passing by us..." Another one whined while i rolled my eyes.

Yes, i have heard about the new rules against harassment in college campus. Strict action will be taken even for a single complaint against anyone.

As we know how boys usually harass girls not physically but verbally too. And not only girls, i would say even boys are not safe. I have heard many cases of boys harassment too...

"Yes and this is all because of new trustee... He suggested these rules to the committee. And if i am not wrong he is behind yash fiasco too..." Another one said.

Who is this new trustee? Well i stay away from these management related things, so i have no idea about the change in management.

"Also, i think this trustee is somehow related to Ms. Payal. Otherwise, why would he take risk to go against yash. Don't you know, how powerful yash's family is?..." They continued their talk while i got confused who is this trustee, my well wisher?

I thought to check on it by looking at the names of our trustees. I might get any clue.

I hurriedly opened our college website in my phone and searched for trustees list.

I walked ahead while looking at my phone...after clicking on the link i waited for it to load.

Soon i bumped into someone resulting the phone slipping from my hands.

"Shit, my phone..." I said looking at my phone graced the ground.

"I am so sorry miss...i am really sorry" voice of a male made me to look ahead.

"Thats okay. Actually its my mistake i was not looking ahead..." I said while bending down to pick the phone.

But the Stranger beat me in it and handed my phone back to me...

"Thank you..." I mumbled slowly.

Thank god, its working.

"Thats fine...By the way, my name is Bharat Joshi. I have joined as a economics professor today only" Stranger introduced himself while extending his hand for handshake.

I hesitated but then shake my hand with his.

"Hello, I am Payal Khurana." I introduced myself.

"Umm...i will take your leave. I am getting late for the class..." I said walking straight for the next lecture.

After few hours...

I reached home feeling exhausted. I will take a nap to refresh myself.

I laid down on bed when i remember i didn't checked the list. I checked my phone and opened the list.

I scroll down the list but didn't found any known name until my eyes read the very familiar name.

My eyes pop out like a socket and mouth opened like a fish. How? When did he became trustee of the college? And why i didn't know anything about it?

Did he do this for me? At this very thought, i felt a very unknown happiness in my heart. I need to ask him this first.

I smiled at the very thought of my Kabir being my knight in shining armour.

My? I flushed profusely. Oh god!!! I am behaving like a teenage girl who blush at the very mention of her crush.

Kabir is not my crush but my husband.

Did you start loving him Payal? I asked myself.

I don't know the definition of love. I never loved someone. I once tried to love Avi but before i reached that stage, god snatched him away from me.

I lost my smile at the very mention of his. My heart filled with sadness. But i have decided not to sulk myself in depression as kabir said it was not my mistake. It was all our destiny.

I composed myself and lay down for a nap.

Kabir's POV

I rang the bell for the second time as nobody opened the door yet.

I waited patiently for the other person to open the door.

Soon door opened much to my relief.

"Namaste ma" i said touching her feet.

"Kabir beta, what a pleasant surprise. Please come inside." Ma welcomed me inside.

"How are you both doing? And where is Amaya?" I asked after settling down on the sofa.

Yes, i am at their house as after hearing everything. I couldn't stop myself to see this wonderful lady.

"We are fine. Amu went to nearby grocery. But this is not done, amu told me you paid her college fees last month and you didn't even let her tell to Payal. Beta, you don't need to do it..." She said.

Well, yes i paid her fees because i feel that these two are also my responsibility and i should do as much as i can from my side.

"Why ma? Don't you consider me your family?" I asked her.

"No beta, its not like that. But how can we take your money" she said with hesitation.

"Ma, by saying this you are making me outsider. I consider myself, your son just like Avi?" I said then realised what i said.

She was shocked hearing me.

"Y—you know ab—about my Avi?" She asked with some tears in her eyes.

"Yes ma, Payal told me everything about her past." I said

"I am sorry beta...i didn't wanted to hide anything from your family but you know mother's love to see her daughter happy and settled made me do this..." She said bending her head down.

"You don't need to say sorry. I can understand your concern." I said.

"My request to you—please take care of my Payal. She went through a lot at a very early stage of her life. After avi, she handled everything as you know avi was our sole earner...After avi, it was very difficult to cope up the emotional and mental loss we got...I lost my only son. I still made myself tough for both of my daughters. But this society, it was very cruel for her...they called her names..." She said sniffing.

I hugged her to give a comfort. I know i cannot compensate their loss but i will try my best to support them.

"I know ma, i know...Payal told me everything..." I said consoling her.

"She is broken from inside. She consider herself responsible for his death, which was not in her hand definitely. But these accusations affected her health mentally. She went into depression...." She said making me shocked as i didn't knew about it yet.

"And i made up my mind, if i want this girl to live...i will have to leave Bangalore and shift somewhere where this past would leave her forever. And her suicidal attempt made me to take this step and left everything behind..." She said making me startled.

My Payal tried to commit suicide?

Payal's POV

"How could you do this? Did you not thought about me before taking such a big step?" Kabir's voice startled me.

I was sitting idly in our room. I was waiting for him to come early so that I can ask him about the trustee's matter.

But his words confused me as well as startled me.

"What are you talking about, Kabir?" I asked him standing on my feet in front of him.

He is looking somewhat disturbed. What has happened suddenly? He was perfectly fine in the morning.

"How could you think to take your life? Huhh? Tell me?" He asked me holding my shoulders in a tight grip.

I am confused totally, not understanding anything.

"Kabir, you're confusing me...what has happened to you?" I asked him by cupping his cheeks in my hands.

"Why did you try to take your life in the past?" He asked while i can see some unshed tears in his eyes.

My hands automatically left his face and i looked at him with a shocked face.

"H—how did you know about it?" I asked him.

"Ma told me...I went to her home and she just shares it with me thinking I already know about it...But why did not you told me about this yesterday? Huh??? Tell me? Were you planning to hide this from me?" He asked me holding me again in a tight grip.

"Kabir... you're hurting me..." I said wiggling in his arms.

What is with this anger? Why he is too angry with me?

"And you hurt me by taking such step... I cannot even imagine a brave woman like you can think to take her life?" He said with a hurt and pain face.

"Circumstances made me do this...I am not a brave woman like you think about me...I was broken at that time. Everyone and everything around me screaming only one thing that I am responsible for his death. I made him left the house on that rainy night to buy an icecream. I didn't know that my childish tantrum will take away his life..." I said while crying.

"He met with an accident...His bike hit with a truck...And...and when i met him for the last time on the hospital bed...he was smiling...Can you imagine Kabir? He was smiling and telling me he is fine, which was not true...his body didn't able to take that much of pain and suffering... and...and he left us alone..." I explained crying hysterically.

My knees gave up and i sat down hiding my face in my palm.

At that time, i thought its better to not live. At least i would be free from guilt and pain.

I felt him taking away my hands from my face and pulled me up in his arms.

"I already told you and telling you again... don't consider yourself responsible for it...it was his fate...its not in our hand to control one's life or death..." He said trying to console me.

"But if i didn't send him out that day, maybe...he is alive today..." I said with hiccups.

"If not this way, then some other way... god would have taken him..." He said.

"Why god is too cruel with the purest souls? What bad he did? He was always a best son, brother and a best friend too...But God had to show his cruelty to him only..." I asked him looking in his eyes.

"Maybe cz those purest souls don't belong to this place. That's why god called them back to his place..." He said.

"Then god should never send those souls here. Because it's heartbreaking to see our loved ones going away from us..." I said sniffing his shirt.

His cologne is making my senses relaxed.

"But you taking such an insensible step was not at all okay. Suicide is not a solution to anything. Whenever you have this kind of feeling, just think about those who loves you unconditionally..." He said stroking my cheeks.

"But i—at that point of time— lost everyone around me, i felt i am a burden for everyone...i felt like my presence always snatched away the happiness in whosoever life i entered..." I said my innermost thoughts which i never ever shared with anyone else.

"Still i won't appreciate your doings...that was the most cowardice step you took... whatever may be the circumstances you should always be positive and eliminate these negative thoughts from my mind..." He said.

"Now promise me you will never ever think about these stupid things...You are too precious for me...i...i cannot afford to loose you" he said with many emotions in his eyes.

How come I become so lucky to get such a supporting life partner? I don't know how to thank almighty for this blessing for the second time.

We stayed like that, me in his arms till i calmed myself.

"Promise me..." He nudged me again.

"I promise you...i will never thought about it and how can i when i know you are with me always..." I said with a small smile on my face.

He immediately captured my lips in a blissful kiss. He savoured every inch of my mouth. I kissed him back with equal passion. His hands on my waist and mine in his hands doing wonders in my body.

I don't know when and how his kisses become so addicted and welcoming.

Many unsaid words and emotions were poured out in his kiss... His confessions, me being his precious life makes me feel wanted.

We parted when i felt short of breath. I take a deep breath composing my heart.

"I...i want to ask you something..." I asked him slowly.

"What?" He asked me.

"When did you become my college's trustee?" I asked him.

"You? I...a month back i guess..."he said scratching his neck nervously.

"And may I know the reason behind it?" I asked him narrowing my eyes.

"Actually, It was benefiting me to invest there...so..." He said, which was a pure lie in my opinion.

"I want the truth" i said while crossing my arms under my bosom.

"Okay, fine...It was necessary...I needed power for throwing that bastard from the college." He said making me shocked.

"This is not done Kabir, you cannot interfere like this always... I have to fight my own battles...you can not be always there for me..." I said making him understand.

It's not like that I don't appreciate his efforts but it is too much.

"You have already fought many battles alone. Now, I am there for you...I will do everything in my power to not let pain inflected on you. It has to face me before it rea—" he was saying this but i did not let him complete as i pounce on his lips starling us both.

I felt him stiff when my lips touched his, maybe because it is the first time i initiated it.