Aryan didn't get it! What did she mean by....leave?
While Tara stood still, though what she was spelling out hurt her, she didn't wish to show it out!
"What do you mean.....by leaving?" Aryan managed to ask, stepping forward, attempting to take hold of her hand!
But Tara stepped back again. "I mean, what I say!!" her voice was firm.
"I want you to leave now!! To leave and never come back!!"
Tara stressed the words so that he couldn't be able to find any loopholes, and she watched his face changing colours.
Aryan watched her, trying to find if she meant what she really said, or was he hallucinating?!
"Come again!!" his questioned seriously taking a step ahead again, tough that made her step back again!
Their gazes fixed on eachother!
Tara stared into his hazel eyes which were now fierce. For the first time, she could see this side of his!
She forced herself.
"By today! I will as well give off your payment! And...thank you! For everything!!" she decided to no longer continue this and just make an end! She gazed him for the last time before turning back, to leave!
However, Aryan didn't let her, instead, he grabbed her by arm, pulled her closer, forcing her to look up at him, "Say that again!!" he demanded.
Tara stared up, wondered by the newfound strength of his!
His eyes pierced through hers, demanding, forcing and challenging to dare to say that again!
"You want to hear it?" she began.
"Then hear!! I'm done experimenting you, and I know the result now!! I'm no longer interested in this! So leave!"
"Please." she added.
Aryan's breath hitched, experimenting? He thought he changed her perspective, didn't he? No longer interested?!
He could understand her distancing him, but leave?
Why the heck would he?
"I won't! I can't!!" he stressed.
Tara didn't know what to do now! What could she even say more? Whatever she said was already too much, yet this man is insisting!
She really was in no position to take any more pain in, but she needed to, for their good!
She felt a mix of emotions, all at once!
The tears he was holding back, his fierce gaze, her throbbing head, heavy heart, even his hold on her hand which was beginning to pain her, everything, hurt a lot!
And the most painful pain, pushing him away!
While Aryan just kept staring her, he knew, she was suffering, and so was he!
All he wanted is not to suffer, or better, suffer together!
But her decision was lame, for the first time!!
As if his gaze felt uncomfortable for her, she looked away!
Aryan pulled her even more closer, forcing her to look back again!
"I....accept!" his voice felt restrained, yes, he was trying to restrict his pain out!
Her eyes searched his, what he really meant it?
"I accept....that I always obeyed you!!"
"Whatever you did, I obeyed!!"
"But.....not this time, Tara!!"
Tara inhaled, trying hard to remain her head up! Her heart beginning to betray her, as unbearable pain began to conquer her slowly, yet she didn't want him to know it, she just wanted it to end!
All for once!!
However, Aryan continued, though his eyes burned, head ached, his voice never stopped.
"It was you....to begin everything!!"
"Reaching me, offering me, asking me to move in! Wasn't it you?!" he questioned, almost making her look away again, but he pulled her now even more closer, leaving no distance between them, putting more pressure on the hold!
"However.....it was me ...who allowed you! I accepted you, in every way, it was.....me as well!"
"I....am included, in every possible way, now, Tara!!"
"How can you force me, to do something....that hurts me? More than.... the pain I was meant to suffer??"
Though his voice remained firm, his pain was evident!
"Do not....force me!"
She knew he pleaded, a tear gently making its way down his eye!
Tara felt the most painful sting in her heart!
As if the pain helped her gain strength, she with all her might, pushed him away, getting her hand free which soon turned red after getting set free!
"Do not....force me as well!!" her voiced raised.
Aryan who was pushed back, still never left her gaze!
"Does it hurt you? Leaving me hurts you Aryan?!"
"Then know, living with you, staying with you, hurts ME!!"
Her words sank in piercing through his heart, making him step back with no conscious.
"All I want is.... no harm....for us!!"
Tara meant it sincerely this time!!
He remained staring her in silence! Her words echoing, his own heartbeat audible to him.
After minutes of silence, he spoke up, his voice almost faint now!
"Do you....really wish for me to....leave?"
"Do you...?" he asked hoping a denial!
But...
"Yes!" she said without blinking, but her eyes betrayed her, letting a tear fall down.
He felt numb! She didn't even hesitate, even for once!
Was it....that easy for her?!
"Alright!" his voice now even more faint!
"If you wish for it, then...take that off!!"
Tara's eyes blinked now, unknown of what he meant!
Aryan pointed his finger at the chain she wore! "I can't leave you, with that thing still existing!!"
"If you want me to leave, take that off!!" he challenged!
Tara's eyes widened, her hands subconsciously reaching for the chain, her thumb squeezing the locket!
'As long as it stays, you're mine!!'
Her grip tightened around the locket as she remembered him saying it!
"Will you leave if I take this off?"
Aryan stared her for a moment more before a chuckle out of pain escaped, she even asks for it?!
"Can you?"
"Will you?"
A moment of silence followed, and she could see, he was struggling, his eyes showing the mixture of pain, disbelief, hope, and anger.
With a painful sigh, from different sufferings right now, her hold on the chain tightened even more, while his gaze remained settled on her!
For a moment, shutting her eyes as if preparing herself to do so, she opened her eyes.
As she attempted to take it off, his hands clenched into fists in anger!
Even before she could take the chain off her neck, a hard slap landed on her face.
A sting of pain went through her jaw, as she now looked up at him, a chuckle of pain, surprise, and wonder, escaping her!
He indeed was daring!!
Aryan grabbed her by shoulders this time, looking straight into her emerald eyes.
"How could you?"
"What do I even mean for you Tara?"
His hold tightened as he spoke, "Am I nothing for you?"
An eerie silence followed for a moment, another tear making it's way down his cheek, "What we went through..... doesn't that....matter to you?"
His voice pained.
Their hearts pained!
Tara remained speechless, his question stabbing her already suffering heart!
"It does!!" she claimed!
"But nothing lasts forever!"
"Then you shouldn't have asked for it!!" his elevated voice almost startled her.
"You shouldn't have.... given me hope then!!" his voice descended again.
With a heavy breath, he let her free from his hold, stepping back!
"It's enough, Tara!" his hand ran through his hair as he let it out, his eyes fixed back on her again.
"I...know you!"
"This is....hurting you as well!!"
She looked away!
Aryan took hold of her hand, this time, being gentle. Yet, she remained avoiding her gaze!
"Pushing me away..... isn't the solution!"
"We could.....lead a better life! Together!" he tried to change her decision, pleading her with all his might!
"Exactly!" her voice descended again, as if fed up.
"You could lead a better life!!"
"When did it become you and me, Tara?"
"It was....always we!! You didn't change the vision all by yourself!! I was there!!"
"To hold you when you collapse, to take you in my arms, to take care of you! Care for you!!"
Her gaze still avoiding him, yet, she remembered the moment he took her in his arms, took care of her, even after coming into conscious!
Yes, he was there, always!!
"And you...."
"You were there as well!!"
"To embrace me, console me, care for me!"
"It was....always us!!"
"Us, Tara! Not you, not me. It's we!!"
Tears streamed down her eyes!
Tara dared to gaze him, his stare alone paining her!
"And it is not only our problem that's suffering us!!" she took a step forward as she said it, looking into his eyes, letting her hand free from his gentle hold, only to cup his cheek!
"There's another problem that's suffering us as well! The one.....which we are unknown of!!"
Her thumb caressing his cheek!
"The devil we know is better than the devil we don't!!"
"My life....it might be short! But I don't want to lead a regretful life, even though it's short!"
Her other hand cupped his cheek as well, "By losing you!"
"I understand you can't leave!" her voice felt affectionate as her hand carried up itself, caressing his hair!
Aryan watched her, his hand now resting gently against her cheek as Tara tiptoed, planting a gentle kiss on his forehead, making him briefly shut his eyes.
"And so, I'll leave!!" she kissed his cheek as she said, parting away!
Without looking at him again, she turned to leave, her steps distancing, leaving him behind who still had his eyes shut, his hand still raised, feeling the absence of her touch!
A smile out of pain covered his lips faintly!
Tears streaming down their eyes, evident to the pain they were going through!
"Do you remember?" he asked, daring to open his eyes!
Tara's steps halted. But she didn't face him, out of fear! Fear of giving in! Surrendering!!
"What I said!"
"When you have asked, what if a hell actually already exists?!"
And Tara, dared to turn back, to look at him.
"Our hell would be our heaven then!!" Aryan reminded, stepping forward!
"Don't you know Tara?" his steps slowly reaching her until he was at the mere distance.
"It's the darkest before the dawn!!"
"You want me to leave?" his hand raised, his knuckles stroking the gentle skin of her cheekbone.
"I'll leave! As you wished!!"
Tara who heard it, remained speechless, her breath paused. He accepted!!
However...her heart.....still pained!
Why?
"But....let me stay with you....until atleast the dawn!" the back of his hand kept stroking her skin.
"Once we see it...." he stepped closer, "And you....if you still then want me to leave....I promise.... I'll leave!!"
Aryan looked down his hand which held hers now, making her look down as well.
"Let me...stay with you....until you make through the dark!!" a drop of his tears fell on his hand which held hers, making her look up!
"Please!!" his voice pleading, his eyes shutting, more tears streaming!
Tara tried to swallow the undeniably stinging lump of suffering she felt. "Why?"
"Why Aryan?"
The question forced him to look up, witnessing the green in her eyes swirling with water!
"Why do you....want to?"
"Even after....what all had happened....!"
"Just...why?"
Aryan smiled faintly, "You don't know?" his also other hand coming up, completely cupping her face.
"Cause I'm not just into you Tara! I'm not just into you!"
Aryan took a step more further, their breaths colliding.
"I love you!!" Aryan confessed.
"Do you love me?" he asked hopefully.
Aryan leaned closer, "Do you?"
His voice felt hypnotising, tempting her to give in!
However, the fear of upcoming pain was strong enough to conquer the temptation, as she forced herself to say, say something she never wished for.
"I don't!!"