Existence in Emptiness Chapter: 16

I came home and went straight to bed.

I don't know if the girl was telling the truth about Tiyas. But my mind isn't working—if he values life so much, why does he force people into such thoughts? Like he did with me?

Has he done this to many other girls?

Why did he do it? If he understands so much, why doesn't he understand himself?

I've spent so many days thinking about him. This time, I need to do something that will make him reveal the reasons behind his actions on his own. I called Mom and told her I was going to do what she suggested.

Then I called Ryan Bhai.

As soon as he got my call, he seemed to come alive, throwing a barrage of complaints at me with a lot of resentment.

He said I don't pay attention to him, don't talk to him, don't answer his calls, and many other childish things.

Amidst all his words, I said,

___"I'm going to make wedding cards. For your and my wedding!"

There was a stunned silence on the other end. Maybe he heard me, but he couldn't believe his ears. I laughed out loud and said,

___"Oh, don't worry, it's not a real wedding. We're going to organize a fake wedding. We'll invite Tiyas together. I believe he won't be able to hide anything after that. I admit he's committed many wrongs, deceived many girls, but deep down, he loves me. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come back like this. And the pain of losing love is more destructive than any drug. At its peak, Tiyas won't be able to hide anything. He'll have to tell the truth. I hope you'll help me."

There was a deep sigh from the other end. In a somewhat pained voice, he said,

___"Alright, but if you find out that the reason behind Tiyas's actions is something forgivable or justifiable, will you accept him?"

I laughed and said,

___"What could possibly be justifiable? There's nothing justifiable about playing with people's emotions and ruining lives. Now, tell me, will you stand by me?"

Ryan Bhai said softly,

___"I've always been by your side, and I always will be."

I felt an invisible smile on my lips. Then I hung up and lay down.

Two days later, Ryan Bhai called me downstairs. I got ready without much fuss and went down. When I got there, I saw he had made the fake wedding cards just as I had asked. They were beautifully designed, and I really liked them. I held one in my hand and asked,

___"How many did you make?"

He stepped forward and said,

___"500 copies."

I was shocked and said,

___"Have you lost your mind? What will you do with so many cards? Are you going to give them to 500 people? And are you going to tell people about your wedding? Then they'll come and see there's no wedding ceremony and no bride. Hahaha!"

Ignoring my words, he asked,

___"Did you tell Tiyas where to come?"

I nodded and said,

___"Yes, I told him, and he said he'd come. Then I blocked him again."

He looked at me thoughtfully, then called a rickshaw.

He got in first and extended his hand to help me in. Without thinking much, I took his hand and sat down.

We reached a narrow road near an open field, a place where not many people come. Ryan Bhai had deliberately chosen such a spot. As soon as we arrived, we saw Tiyas standing with his back to us. He was wearing a white shirt that billowed in the wind.

As we approached, he turned around. He was surprised to see Ryan Bhai with me since I had only mentioned meeting him, not bringing anyone else.

I handed him the wedding card and said,

___"Our wedding is next Monday. You must come."

Tiyas looked at both of us, forced a faint smile, and took the card. He opened it, stared at it for a while, and then said,

___"Prili, I've been running away from you for months. Just because I had to tell you the bitter truths about myself! For some reason, I don't feel like saying it. But I've decided I'll tell you everything. I'll reveal all the reasons behind everything I've done. I don't want an opportunity—I just want your forgiveness."

I slowly stood beside Tiyas. Ryan Bhai was behind me. The wind was strong, making it hard to hear. I raised my voice and said,

___"You haven't just wronged me. You've wronged many others. How do you think you can seek forgiveness from everyone?"

Tiyas looked up at the sky and said,

___"How I think is an important question! But I won't seek forgiveness from anyone but you. And I'm not just a wrongdoer—I'm a big wrongdoer. I'm worse than you think."

I held back my emotions and asked patiently,

___"Why do you do all this?"

Tiyas sat down on the grass. We both sat down with him.

Tiyas began to speak slowly,

___"My uncle had two sons. The first was my father, and the other was much younger, whom I called 'Little Papa.' I was in fifth grade then, and he had just started college. He was brilliant. My father couldn't give us much time because of his job, and my uncle was sick. My grandfather had passed away long ago. So, when my mother was busy with various tasks, Little Papa would take care of me and even feed me.

As I grew older, I spent more time with Little Papa. He studied so much that I'd get annoyed and sometimes beg my mother to let me stay with her because his loud studying kept me awake. But my mother said staying with him would make me brilliant too. Because Little Papa would sit with me every day to study and only let me sleep after we were done.

But after I entered fifth grade and he went to college, everything changed. The first four or five months were fine, but then he became distracted, always looking around. Sometimes, I'd see him whispering to someone. I didn't understand it then.

I enjoyed it because Little Papa didn't force me to study anymore. He didn't even study himself. A year and a half passed, and everyone was shocked when he failed his finals. After that, I'd often see him crying like a girl at night, spending hours on the balcony. My father even beat him once because he had started doing drugs. My mother didn't want me to stay with him anymore. But for some reason, I couldn't stay away from Little Papa. I'd throw tantrums and cry until they let me stay with him. But my father would often take me away in the middle of the night.

But that Saturday, I stayed with Little Papa the whole night. He was unusually quiet that day. He didn't cry. I fell asleep hugging him. When I woke up in the morning, I screamed in horror. Blood was dripping from his mouth, and his body was cold. I fainted. Then everyone took me to the hospital, and they dug a grave for Little Papa! Yes, he had committed suicide that day!"

Tiyas's voice broke. He was crying loudly. I asked softly,

___"Why did he do that?"

Tiyas took a few deep breaths, wiped his nose, and said with regret,

___"For a girl! Because he lost in love, because he was betrayed!"

I interjected,

___"After seeing all that, why do you do the same? What if someone ends up like that because of you?"

Tiyas looked at me with tearful eyes and gave a strange smile. He said,

___"In this world, people compete with each other in everything. Forget money, but why do they try to suppress others in education? Do you know why that girl pretended to love Little Papa? To take the top spot by pushing him down! Huh, that top spot! She won the bet, but not just in results—she defeated Little Papa in life too. And my Little Papa gave up his life for some girl. He didn't think about what would happen to me. I loved him more than my parents. Then my sick grandfather also left us, grieving for Little Papa.

Since then, I made a vow—I wanted to see at what point people choose the path of suicide. And from that moment, a different kind of desire for revenge grew in me. I learned to hate the idea of being first. And my anger turned toward that girl. I wanted to see how much one could change after sacrificing love. When everything ends and the person you love leaves, why don't they think about the countless people who cared for them, their mother, father, and relatives? But no, I haven't found anyone like that. Everyone has risen after falling. I look at the sky and shout to Little Papa, 'Why were you so foolish? If you had waited a few more years, your life would have changed, and you would have changed too. Then, even for a moment, you could have said from your heart that living is joyful, so joyful!'

Prili, I don't want to hurt anyone, but I want to make people understand. I want them to understand themselves. I want to show them that even without the person who came into their life briefly, there's so much more to live for. You have to move forward. I know you'll be hurt, you'll suffer, but you won't lose yourself in blind trust. You'll learn that living is for yourself! Yes, I've succeeded, you've succeeded, Dipti has succeeded, every girl who fell into my strange trap has succeeded. They've learned that life isn't so trivial that it can be thrown away for some worthless person. They've stumbled but haven't broken. In this world, there's nothing more vile than giving up your life. I want to make everyone understand—you're not alone just because one person leaves your life! Be strong, move forward with hatred for the betrayer. Give them the response they deserve. And yes, one more thing—it was me who told Ruhi to call your father that day, to make you understand. I knew you could do it, you could rise again."

I was stunned and stammered,

___"Y-you… you!"

Tiyas exhaled and said,

___"Yes, me. Prili, love comes into almost everyone's life, and the first breakup shatters them deeply. They feel like they don't exist without that person. Do you know who does that? People like you—simple, straightforward, and focused on studies. They succeed but are so accustomed to it that they can't accept defeat, even ready to give up their lives if needed. I may have deceived a few people like that to make them understand—you live in this world, you'll lose and still win. You're not alone; your entire family is watching over you. Become so capable that you can crush such people. Believe me, after Little Papa's death, I thought I'd make someone else die too. I'd take revenge. But as I grew up, I realized I was making the wrong vow. I shouldn't do that.

Instead, I channeled that urge differently—I made some people understand the value of their lives! Prili, I know you'll say, 'Why punish the innocent for someone else's crime?'

But tell me, what was Little Papa's fault that day? Why did they take his life away? I've thrown this question at life, but I still haven't gotten an answer! You know, women are stronger than men. Men can't rise easily, but women can, after some time."

I listened in silence. I had no strength to speak.

Tiyas continued,

___"Ryan Bhai is a very good person. I've looked into him—you're his first love. I'm bad, very bad. I don't know when these urges will leave me, when I'll reform. But amidst everything, I've realized I love you deeply. Dipti was the first act, but you were the first face of my deception. I still vividly remember the year and a half I spent with you. In all these years, I've only searched for your presence in your absence! But I'm not worthy of you. I'll live clinging to this existence from afar. I can do it! But Ryan Bhai can't!"

Hearing this, I turned to look at Ryan Bhai and was startled.

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T/N: If you like it please vote with power stone please. More stones equals faster release.

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