59. The Realization

Rishi's PoV

I couldn't believe what I saw when I entered the house. She slapped Smirthi for the second time? It's outrageous. She can't do this to her. Whatever the situation may be. When I saw Smirthi, she was bleeding on her lip and almost on the verge of fainting which is not good for her condition. I lost my cool when I saw her like that and I immediately regret doing that.

I feel so guilty now for raising my hands on her. Danya is a delicate and fragile girl. She cannot withstand my wrath. But what she did was wrong too. I neglected her and took Smirthi to our room to give her some time to relax.

"My head is pounding, Rishi!" Smirthi said.

"Don’t panic, Smirthi. Wait, I will call your doctor."

I called her doctor and he said to give her her medicine. If she was not alright after 2hours, he asked me to bring her to the hospital. She had her medicine in her bag. I gave her one.

She laid on the bed after taking medicine and slept holding my hand. I now feel bad for Smirthi. I cannot give her hopes like this. She cannot mistake my anger on Danya as love for her. I should tell her that she holds no place in my life as soon as her surgery is done.

All my heart is with Danya. What I did was completely unacceptable. Just like I said, it's outrageous! I should have not laid my hands on her whatever the situation may be. I felt the sting in my palm. I'm a monster. How could I do this to an innocent little girl?

I'm making too many mistakes. Even after she opened her heart to me, I keep on hurting her. I'm making the gap between us bigger by every act. Whenever we had a chance to talk, I spoiled it by doing something else.

My conscience is killing me. I fist bumped hard on the table in front of me. The glass top broke into pieces. I deserve every possible pain to this hand that hurt her.

After an hour Smirthi woke up. She overreacted seeing my bleeding hand. I disregarded it and asked her if she was ok. She looks ok to me and she said the same. We went down together. There was no one in the hall. I decided to talk to everyone after dropping Smirthi at home.It's getting out of hand. Whatever it is, I should not have laid hands on Danya. It's totally wrong. I took Smirthi to the car and dropped her at her place.

"I'm so sorry for whatever happened at home, Smirthi. She shouldn't have done that." I told her.

"It's ok, Rishi! I'm actually happy that you displayed it to everyone who is important to you."

"No Smirthi, you are getting it all wrong. She is my wife. I have my love and trust in her. I have told you already that you no longer have a place in my life after that humiliation I went through because of you. I am very sorry to tell you that what we shared was not love at all in the first place. I know it now because I love my wife. I hope you understand and don’t come to my home ever again. Now you need rest. Take care. Will see you later. Bye!" I told her and she stood there in shock.

I drove back home, ready to face the consequences of my act. I'm sure I have to do immense work to compromise everyone. I should apologize to Danya. She must be really worried and angry at my reaction. I hurt her again. I literally don’t intend to do that. But it happens anyway. I sat on the couch. I scanned the house for Danya. She must be with Ravi.

"Ravi!" I called out loud.

No answer? Chinna came with a cup of coffee.

"Ravi is not home, chinnayya(Rishi)! Dinner will be ready in half an hour."

"Where is Danya?" I asked him.

He stands there looking at the ground.

"Chinna? Where is Danya and Dad?" I asked him again.

"Periya ayya is in his room!"

"Danya?" I'm losing my patience.

"Why are you shouting at him?" Dad came from his room.

"Where is Danya, Dad?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? Has she gone out with Ravi?" I asked him.

Something tells me it’s not good. I'm getting impatient by the minute. I placed the cup on the table and looked at dad. But then I saw a photograph on the table. I took them to see. I now see all red. Who the hell took these photographs? That Rohit is a dead meat. Who is this? Looks like he is hurt or something. Why are these pictures here?

"What is all this dad?"

"Why don't you ask these questions to your girlfriend? She is the one who came with these pictures. She said Danya had a bad relationship with a man in Karthik's office. She said Danya has very low moral values that she walks hugging a man on the road. She said Danya is a home wrecker that she doesn't even leave a married man like Rohit. She also said something about Ravi and Danya that..."

"Dad!" I couldn’t hear anymore.

"Don't shout Rishi. Only when Smirthi talked about Ravi, Danya slapped her. I feel so guilty for marrying her to you. I spoiled the life of a precious girl. I lost my lifetime friendship with Guna. I really hate to see you Rishi. I have booked my flight tickets to Canada on thursday. You can do whatever you wish. She is gone. Gone for good!" He said.

He went into his room and locked the door. What did he mean by she is gone? What has happened? What have I done? God!

"Chinna what happened?" I asked him.

"You decided everything so hastily. Smirthi talked so badly to Danya. She even called her 'bitch'. She bad-mouthed Danya. When you slapped her, she let out a lone tear. She didn’t cry after that. After you took Smirthi to the room, Danya defended herself for every accusation Smirthi put on her." he said.

"And you all let her explain?" I nearly shouted. I can’t imagine what she must have gone through. She is so pure like a newborn. It’s all my fault. I failed to stand on her side and the worst of all, I made the situation even worse if it was even possible. How dare Smirthi? I never thought that she was capable of pulling something like this.

"No! Ravi thambi stopped her. Periya ayya said she didn't have to explain. But lawyer sir, me and savithri were also there. So Danya said it’s her responsibility to clear the doubts." What have I done? I hit her in front of everyone? Shit!

God, I think her love for me is at extinction. She is going to hate me. Can I live with her hate? Will I even survive without her? Without her in my arms every night and morning? Without her childish plays around the house? Without seeing her dance? Without listening to her songs? Without hearing her laughs? Where is she now?

"She said that you already know about the man at Karthik’s office. About this picture, she said it's her friend’s brother. She has written their numbers here to cross check. About Rohit, she stabbed his hand with scissors when he misbehaved with her. It happened today at noon. He has arranged for someone to take pictures. He must be with Smirthi. Danya was about to tell periya ayya after lawyer sir leaves. But Smirthi came with these pictures before that!" He explained what exactly happened and how much of an idiot I am to react without knowing the whole story.

"Where is she?"

"She left the home. Ravi took her to drop her in her friend's place. He also left home."

I don't know what I feel like now. Never in my life have I ever felt this useless. I went to our room. I feel a sharp pain in my heart. I erased all my doubts about her when she said 'I love you' to me. I hit her because she hit a sick girl. I was afraid of Smirthi's condition. But I never thought about Danya’s feelings. That was the biggest mistake I made. What did she think when I hit her? Did she think that I will believe whatever trash Smirthi told?

If she thought that, then I completely lost her. I felt like crying.

I tried calling Ravi. He is the only one who knows where my love is now. He didn’t pick the call. I tried again but this time he switched off his phone. He sure will be angry at me. He is not going to help me.

I tried calling Danya. Her phone is switched off too. I slumped on the couch. I made a big mistake. How dare Smirthi! It's all because of me. I gave her the courage to step into my home. How dare she call my wife 'a bitch'? She tried character assassination on my wife. She tried to frame her bad, partnering with Rohit!?

Rohit! He is a dead meat.

I called Arjun.

"Dei Arjun, I need help!" I told him what I wanted to do with Rohit. With what Arjun said, Rohit will be behind the bars for at least 3years. I will make sure he will eat his own shit when he comes out of jail.

When I went to our room, I saw Smirthi's tablets. I left it on the side table when I gave her medicine. I now remember What Ravi said. He said, 'whatever Smirthi says to hold you is a lie'.

I took my phone and called Kishore. He is my friend and doctor.

"Hey Kishore, How are you da?"

"Dei Rishi, What's wrong da? Why are you calling me at this hour?" I looked at the watch. It says 8pm.

"Are you done with your shift at the hospital? I need to talk to you." I told him.

"I'm free now da. Tell me. Anything serious?" he asked me, his voice laced with concern. I read the name of the tablet to him.

"What is this medicine taken for da?" I asked him.

"It's not a medicine. It's a multivitamin tablet. You can buy it over the counter in medicals if it’s under 200mg. Anyone can take it. But usually ladies after 30yrs will take it as a supplement."

I felt like a total Assh*le now. Why didn’t I suspect Smirthi when everyone around me did? Why didn’t I listen to Karthik when he talked about Smirthi? Why did I hurt Danya? I deserve everything that Danya is going to give me. I went down to talk to Chinna. He is the only one that will talk to me now.

"Chinna, do you know where she went? Please help me find her."

"I truly don't know. She spoke to her friend on the phone. Her name is Archana. I don’t know anything else. She asked lawyer sir to file for a divorce, chinnayya!" he said with pity.

What?! I deserve it. It hurts me like hell hearing that word. How many times have I told her the same word. I hurt her to the maximum extent that she doesn’t wanna be with me anymore. I should let her go if that is what she wants. But not before apologizing to her. Not before telling her I love her. Not before accepting every mistake I did to her. Not before accepting my feelings for her! Not before she forgives me!