Marriage In Echo

13

Chapter 13

Karan crouched in front of Tiya, his heart heavy with pain as he reached out to hold her hand. But she pulled away, her expression cold and distant.

"I am here to take you back home, Tiya," he said softly, his voice filled with longing and desperation.

Tiya's eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions as she regarded him sceptically. "Which home?" she asked coldly, her tone cutting through the air like ice.

"Our home, Tiya," Karan replied, his voice tinged with hope. "Maa, Meera, Adit, everyone is waiting for you."

As he raised his hand to cup her cheek, Tiya recoiled, grabbing his hand to stop him. "Don't touch me!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp with pain. "And I don't have any home. No one is waiting for me. I am an orphan. Don't you know?" He saw the hurt in her eyes, and it only added to his own anguish.

Karan's heart shattered at her words, the realisation of her pain hitting him like a tidal wave. He felt helpless, unable to find the right words to ease her suffering. All he could do was gaze into her eyes, silently pleading for her to let him in, to let him help her bear the burden she carried.

"You are not an orphan, Tiya. You are my wife," he insisted, his voice trembling with emotion.

Tiya's eyes widened in surprise at his words, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face before she quickly masked it with indifference. "Did Sanjana refuse to get back with you?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He felt a pang of frustration at her assumption, but he quickly composed himself. "Tiya, please don't think unnecessarily," he pleaded, reaching out to touch her hand.

"Why are you here?" Tiya asked again, her tone guarded.

"I am here to take you home, Tiya. Rightfully, the place you belong," Karan replied earnestly, his eyes pleading with her to understand.

Silence hung heavy between them as Tiya processed his words. She wanted to say so many things, to let out the pent-up emotions swirling inside her, but she felt drained, both physically and emotionally.

"Mr. Karan Shekhawat, I don't have time for this new game of yours. Please kindly leave. And never come back here," Tiya finally spoke, her voice tinged with resignation and exhaustion.

Tiya slowly rose from her seat, her movements tired and heavy. "Please close the door behind you," she said softly before turning to leave the room. Karan remained seated, his hand resting on his head as he tried to process everything that had just transpired.

No, he couldn't leave like this. He couldn't abandon Tiya in her time of need. Determination settled in his heart as he made a decision. He called the hotel and arranged for his belongings to be sent to the address. Soon enough, his belongings arrived, and he wasted no time in moving them to a spare small room, likely a storage room, in the house.

He cleaned the room meticulously, clearing away the dust and clutter. Then, realising he needed to freshen up, he gathered his clothes and toiletries and made his way to Tiya's room. She was asleep, her fragile form barely stirring as he quietly entered.

Stepping into the bathroom, he stood under the warm water of the shower, lost in his thoughts. Life had taken such a drastic turn, and he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the weight of it all. As the water cascaded over him, he couldn't shake the image of Tiya's brokenness from his mind.

Exiting the shower, he returned to Tiya's side, sitting on the edge of the bed. Gently, he leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead, his heart aching as he looked at her emaciated form.

Karan's gaze lingered on Tiya's hands, once adorned with vibrant red chooras, delicate gold bangles, and elegant rings. Those hands had woven dreams, caressed his face with love, and held his tightly during difficult times. But now, they bore the marks of her struggle.

Instead of the shimmering jewellery, her hands were marred with black and green bruises, and angry red rashes. Tears pricked his eyes as he realised his wife didn't have much time left.

As Karan traced his fingers over the bruises, a wave of sadness washed over him. He wanted to take away her pain, to heal her wounds, but he knew he couldn't erase the scars that marred her delicate skin. All he could do was offer his love and support, to be there for her in whatever way she needed.

Karan gently clasped Tiya's hands in his own, silently vowing to stand by her side through it all.

With a sense of urgency, Karan began rifling through the green folders in search of Tiya's medical documents.

Finally, he came across a folder labeled "Sunrise Hospital." Karan's hands trembled slightly as he opened it, revealing a stack of papers detailing Tiya's medical history. His eyes scanned the documents, searching for any mention of her current condition and the doctor overseeing her care.

There it was, in bold letters: "Dr. Rishab Saxena.”

The rain poured outside as Karan sat beside Tiya, holding out a bowl of steaming vegetable soup. "Here, have some," he said gently, his voice breaking through the quiet of the room.

Tiya blinked, her eyes fluttering open as she looked up at him. "Why haven't you left yet?" she asked weakly, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Karan smiled softly. "Look at the weather outside. It's pouring. Where would I go in this weather?" he replied, his eyes reflecting a mixture of warmth and sadness. "And besides, home is where my wife is.”

Tiya's lips curved into a faint sad smile at his words. "Wife?" she repeated, a soft sarcastic chuckle escaping her lips. "You made this?" she asked, gesturing towards the bowl of soup in his hand.

"But I have hardly ever seen you in the kitchen," Tiya remarked, looking at him curiously.

Karan chuckled trying not to get affected by her skin burning sarcasm, "Well, there's a first time for everything, isn't it?" he said, brushing off her observation with a light-hearted tone. "Besides, I thought you could use some homemade soup to help you feel better.”

Tiya's voice trembled as she finally let out the questions that had been weighing heavily on her heart. "Why are you doing this? What do you want?" she asked, her emotions breaking through. "You never bothered in the three years of our marriage! I even doubt if you ever wanted that child," she added, her voice filled with pain and bitterness.

Setting the soup on the nightstand, Karan crouched down in front of her, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I know I treated you horribly. I know I am responsible," he began, his voice filled with remorse. "But please don't say that. I wanted that child just as much as you did. I was over the moon when you told me you were pregnant... I was ecstatic," he admitted, his voice catching with emotion.

"Give me a chance, Tiya. I'm trying. These seven months without you have been pure hell. You know everything about my past now. I was in a dark place. I regret neglecting you, neglecting our marriage," he continued, his voice pleading. "Give me one more chance, Tiya. Please. I'll be the best husband in the world. Just give me a chance. Please," he begged earnestly.

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Hare Krishna