Chapter 20 The Resolution

The morning had its chill. The sun was still playing hide and seek behind the mountains. Neither Awnirudh, nor Vandita spoke the entire way. There was an unsaid tension, an incomprehensible air of twitchiness between the two.

Awnirudh got down from the car and held the door open for Vandita. She slowly got down and followed Awnirudh inside without any complaint.

"I have had your room prepared upstairs Vandita. Freshen up and come down for breakfast. I need to talk to you." Awnirudh said.

There was a subtle enchantment in his tone and Vandita suddenly felt awed.

The breakfast was served in a proper English style, with bacon and sausage accompanied by bread toast. Koeli had done a wonderful job and Vandita ate silently.

"I wanted to tell you that you are not a random orphan whom I saved from the street." Awnirudh broke the silence. "I married you... I ..." He stopped before finishing his sentence.

Vandita looked up. She saw a veil of sadness overshadowing Awnirudh's face. His sadness touched her heart.

"Vandita, this was your birthday gift." He handed her the documents which she had left on the table with the car keys the previous day.

"What is this?" Vandita asked curiously as she opened the folds.

"A property deed? This house? Barrister Babu... What are all these?" She was baffled, and somehow no further words came out.

"This means, you are legally the owner of the house, and I'm your guest." Awnirudh smiled.

"I can't possibly take this." Vandita cleared her choked voice, but Awnirudh smiled. There was something in that smile... a helplessness, and it made Vandita's heart twitch in pain.

"You can." Awnirudh sighed softly. "

If you don't chose me, accordingly to the law, I'm to provide you with an accomodation and expenses till the time you don't decide to marry again." Awnirudh was painfully calm. His voice was clearly stricken with pain.

Vandita couldn't hold her tears any more. With a choked voice she just murmured,

"And what if I choose you?"

She got up from the chair and ran up the stairs without waiting for Awnirudh's answer.

The air of sadness prevailed.

Awnirudh realised that he had hurt Vandita again, but what he failed to understand was the reason.

Everytime, he had felt about doing something right, he had always ended up hurting her.

'You are not the marrying type.

I have finally decided to part ways legally..', aren't those exactly what Vandita had said. He questioned himself. 'Then why is she upset when I'm just carrying out her wishes now.'

Why was it getting so difficult to understand his little Vandita with every passing day?

After a considerable amount of self debate, Awnirudh finally decided to ask Vandita one final question.

'What is it that she wants?'

.........

The entire day Vandita had locked herself up in her terrace bedroom until Koeli knocked to lit up the evening lamp in her room.

Vandita quietly opened the door.

Koeli saw her swollen eyelids and tear strained face.

She slowly lit all the lamps one by one before she finally opened her mouth to speak.

"Vandita malkin... I know it's not my place to speak .... But..."

Vandita burst into tears before Koeli could complete her sentence.

" Koeli didi..." She cried. " What wrong have I done? Why is he behaving like this ? Why does he not want me? Since the time I have had my senses, I have only wished for him.... Then why Koeli didi... Why?" Vandita's sobs were getting louder and inconsolable.

Koeli hugged her tight as she buried her face in her arms and continued to cry.

"Vandita Malkin", Koeli spoke slowly wiping her own tears. " You are getting it all wrong." She paused. "Men are not like us. They wants to make us happy and hence they buy us gifts. The truth is they are clueless about the intricate emotions which we feel." She patted Vandita's head lovingly. "Awnirudh Babu is only listening to your words and following them. He thinks that's what would make you happy, although it's killing him from inside."

Vandita looked up wiping her tears.

"What do you mean?" She asked in a choked voice.

"I have seen him pining for you." Koeli smiled." I have been seeing him since he was a little boy and he has always been the mature one." She paused. " But now, it's just that I see a different version of him.. restless, impulsive.. He, himself, is not able to comprehend how he feels for you and what is the right thing to do."

"Then what do I do Koeli didi?" Vandita asked innocently.

"Make him confess his love. You are a woman Vandita. In Gita, they say women are like water, that can take any form as per the vessels they are kept in. Show him the women in you Vandita beta."

Vandita nodded her head slowly at her words. She hugged Koeli like a small child and sat for a long time, thoughtfully , before she finally felt comfortable to speak again,

"I'll make him realise his feelings Koeli didi, bless me."

She smiled with teary eyes.