Another Half Of Me - Chapter 45

Siddha looked at Govind, who was sitting right at the corner away from the group. All the other members of the gang had looked him in the eye but not Govind. He just sat there with his face lowered. Gesturing to James to get Govind out, he went and sat down on the table.

James shoved Govind in a chair right in front of Siddha, but he still did not raise his head. Sensing his reluctance, Siddha dragged a chair and sat down in front of him. Hunching a little towards Govind, he whispered, “I can have the police deal with you, but you saved her life so, I don’t want to harm you. Tell me who is behind all this.”

But, Govind did not even move an inch. Losing his patience, Siddha just grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him hard.

“If you knew the pain she has suffered for the past 5 years then, you will not be quiet like this.”

When Govind did not relent, Siddha let him go and turned away. Walking towards the door, he said in a determined tone, “I’ll find out even if you don’t tell me.”

“It’s you.”

Govind’s hushed words echoed through the room drumming everybody to silence. Siddha turned, looking at him with shock not believing what his instincts were telling him.

 

They had used his name.

“It’s you. He used to get orders from you. Then, why are you asking me who is behind all this, when you know it was none other than you. It was you from the beginning. From the time we picked her up from the blast site till the time he ordered us to dispose her off: it was you. You and no one else. You have done all this. You are the reason for her pain. It was you all along.”

Govind slumped back in the chair exhausted and confused.

His words kept on ringing in Siddha’s ears. A strange and painful sensation grabbed every corner of his heart. Sweat trickled down his temple as the throbbing in his heart increased.

“Did she also hear him take my name?” Siddha asked, his voice shaking with effort.

Govind nodded and Siddha’s vision blurred as the pain became unbearable. He turned away and stepped out, somehow managing to sit down on the bench nearby.

Oh, god! His eyes brimmed with tears as he thought about her and the pain she must have felt.

I never betrayed you. Roshni, I did not try to kill you and our child.

Siddha clutched the hands of the bench trying hard to control the pain engulfing his body but could not. He tried to breath but somehow the world kept closing on him, choking him.

Rudy looked at him and knew something was wrong. He reached the bench just in time to catch Siddha’s falling form.

“Roshni, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry…..” Siddha kept repeating this in a painful tone till he lost consciousness.  

***************

Prashant came out of his room and looked at all of them.

“It’s better not to tell anyone else about all this.”

When everybody nodded, he continued trying to convince himself and everyone else that Siddha was fine, “He will be ok. It was just a minor Angina pain. He should be out by tomorrow. He is awake right now. You guys can see him.”

Karan and Amit followed him but Rudy and Sid stayed back. Going inside the room, Rudy sat down and took Siddha’s hand in his.

Siddha opened his eyes, and looked at him and Sid.

“I am fine now,” he said trying to sit up.

“This can’t go on, Bhai. She has to be told,” Sid said helping him.

Siddha just shook his head vehemently clearly indicating that he did not want Roshni to know anything.

Gulping down as cough, he said, “Ask James to get a sketch made of the man Govind was talking about. If we can identify him then, we will know who is behind all this.”

“I have already done that. The sketch should be ready by now. I’ll check with him,” Rudy replied getting up to call James.

Siddha closed his eyes and rested his head against the pillow.

If only he could ask for her forgiveness once.

But, no, he can’t go near her. He will only destroy her as he had done 5 years ago.

No matter what, he has to stay away from her.

But can he do that living in the same city?

No, he cannot, so, he has to go away.

Siddha sighed as he decided to leave Delhi after all this was over.

You will always be my dream. I will always see god in your presence. I will always be behind you stepping on your footsteps but I’ll never come near you. Never, ever again.

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