Rey and Rajib were at their regular cafe. They came so frequently that the majority of the staff assumed they were a couple. If one included their shenanigans, it was normal. Rajiv hadn't seen Rey so happy in a long time. He, like Sharmishtha, had tragic elements. Little by little, Rajiv let Rey in on the secrets that Sharmishtha had shared with him.
"I must say, what a horrible set of parents!" Rey remarked after learning that her mother had abandoned her at an orphanage following her divorce. "Who would do that to their own child? Abandoning them in order for them to live a better life? This woman was completely selfish in my opinion! She not only sent her to a childcare facility, but she also sent her to boarding school after marrying a better person. She was living a happy life while her child was suffering! What kind of person could be so cruel? Rey was having difficulty understanding these people!"
Rey felt a surge of empathy for the lady and couldn't imagine what it must have been like to grow up without a mother's love. As he continued to learn the rest of the story, he hoped that there would be a happy ending for her.
"Furthermore, her biological father was a drunk who abused his family for fun. In what world do people weave such fates? Didn't she deserve a little happiness? What could a small child possibly have done to bear all of this?" Rey's tone was enraged. Rajiv gave a small smile.
"I know it's hard to understand, but unfortunately, life can be cruel and unfair sometimes. But we can only hope that things will get better for her and that she will find the love and happiness she deserves," Rajiv replied calmly.
"How can you smile?" Rey growled at Rajiv. "There's nothing worth smiling about here."
"I never expected to see Reyansh Roychowdhury become so personally offended by someone else's anguish." Rajiv smiled once more.
"The Reyansh Roychowdhury you are referring to right now is beyond me. He does not exist. I killed him, and he would never rise again," stated Rey rigidly.
"We can only hope. In any case, I prefer phoenixes to zombies. Back to Sharmishtha, everyone deserves at least a drop of happiness; I believe this is where her stepfather comes in!"
"Yes! Bless that man for finding her and taking her in. I presume he nurtured her into this fine woman?"
"Well, to some extent, she does have his influence. With him and her two stepbrothers around, she was living a better life. They held her in high regard. I had read in her journal once that they referred to her as 'Shri'. Shri, in case you didn't know, means beautiful, independent, and strong-"
"And the goddess of happiness and prosperity," Rey said, interrupting Rajiv. "I know." He laughed. "It's perfect for her. I'd like to thank them for bringing her some relief. So, where have they gone?" He inquired eagerly.
"All dead!" Rajiv stated grimly.
"Wh-at?"
"Yes. Her stepfather died of a heart attack during her final year of college. The rest of the family died four years ago in a car accident. It was a massive crash. They were all dead on the spot, and the biological father is still estranged. It's not like it really matters."
Rey was dumbfounded. He couldn't say anything. Roy went on to say, "Of course, it all took its toll on her. Her stepfather's death was devastating. She reportedly had two nervous breakdowns after that and was unable to speak for two years. The previous incident has still had a negative impact on her. You won't usually see it, but if anything tense happens, it comes out. Working as an investigative journalist is more stressful than you can imagine."
"This is getting more depressing with every word, I must say," Rey exclaimed, sipping his coffee quietly.
"Oh, this is still nothing. Wait until you see the evidence of her biological father's abuse and her six years of living on her own on her body."
"What?"
"Her entire body is covered in bruises. Some belt marks, some chain marks, some lathi marks, some knife marks, and one burning scar on her back Her mother had apparently once thrown a hot ladle at her. Include your two bullets as well."
Rey was unable to comprehend everything in such a short period of time. "Wait, what? What? What?"
"Yes, if you do that for ten years, you might start to understand what she went through. She was also subjected to sexual assault. I don't know from whom. She didn't tell me anything. But I am aware that she has experienced sexual trauma. As a result, I want you to be extremely cautious in your approaches."
"What? What the hell is going on? But seriously, what the hell is going on? And how in the world did you learn all of this?"
'Well, it's not like she told me directly. I learned it over the course of four years."
"Rajiv?" He called in a low, clear voice.
"Yes?"
"Tell me the truth. How did you know?"
"So, um... I once stole her journal and planned to announce a portion of it on her birthday as a joke. But..." He came to a halt.
"That would be a disgusting thing to do," Rey replied.
"Yes, that's why I stopped. I didn't do it. She also suffered another nervous breakdown. So I tried talking to her. She broke down quite a few times, and we concluded that she was in dire need of therapy."
"Does this story get better at any point?" He asked grimly.
"Well, it is supposed to. That is why we are here having this conversation so that you don't add to her misery."
"Well, I must say, you chose the wrong person for this. There is no way a selfish person like me would be able to help her in anyway."
"I understand your concerns, but I believe that everyone has the capacity for empathy and compassion. Perhaps you could start by just listening to her and offering your support. It could make a big difference in her life." Rey continued, "Well, you did want to do it. Just yesterday, you were getting all 'I will protect Milady from everything', and now you are back to 'I can't do this'. Come on, just make up your mind already."
Rey remained silent. In his darkest nightmares, he never imagined her life would be so dismal. However, who could? Who knew what storms she was hiding beneath her beaming smile, which radiates the energy of a thousand springs? Who could have guessed that this woman, whom he perceived to be so warm, kind, and peaceful, had lived through such turbulent currents? His misery seemed insignificant in comparison to hers. Except for that one year when he met Sharmishtha, he had lived a normal, peaceful life. That had robbed him of everything. He understood the agony of loss, but he couldn't imagine the agony of things that never existed in the first place. He wondered how she managed to keep her spirits high despite the hardships she had faced. He realised that sometimes the people who appear the happiest are the ones who have endured the most pain.
Rey's silence had irritated Rajiv. "I knew you were a leech and a scum and all that, but I didn't know that you were far lower than that!" he scorned. Rajiv was preparing to leave when Rey held his wrist firmly.
"Wait!" he cried. "I don't know what to do, but I really don't want to lose her."
"Well, you have only this weekend to decide. Go on this date and decide what exactly you want to do. This is still at the point where it wouldn't cause her such heartbreak. But remember that this is your only chance. I will myself revoke all other chances if I see you unable to keep up with your responsibilities. Understood?"
Rey nodded quietly. "Also," Rey continued, "If you make any advances on this date without her consent or without taking any further responsibility, I promise you that hell isn't a fantasy and I will arrange a personal trip to hell for you." Shaking off Rey's hands, Rajiv stormed out.
Rey knew that he was not joking at all. If he wasn't a school friend, Rajiv would probably have done that much earlier. But he could not understand what to do after hearing Sharmishtha's past. As he was pondering over the question of 'what to do', while waiting at the tube station for Sharmishtha, he was greeted by her beaming smile as she walked towards him.
Rey realised how simple it was as he gazed at this beautiful woman, who had the most radiant and alluring smile. He had thought about it in such complicated ways, but wasn't it simple? His heart inquired. He could almost see the long-suppressed tears glistening at the corner of her eyes today. He could almost see her broken soul beneath that unfazed, beautiful face. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he realised what he needed to do. It was straightforward. He would love, respect, and cherish this woman for the rest of his life, possibly even after her death. He would never forgo or abandon her. He would defend her. If he couldn't defend her, then he would suffer with her, but he would never leave her side. He would care for her till his last breath, till his soul ever forgot her, but it did not seem possible for his heart to ever forget her beaming smile!