It was around midnight. Tahir and Javin were sitting on the terrace. They were drinking together after a long time. Javin was drinking to enjoy the moment but Tahir was drinking to numb his inner turmoil. They were talking about random things and suddenly Javin spoke up, his tone taking a slight serious turn, "Aaj subha khane ke time par tujhe waise nahi aana chahiye tha.. I mean khana bina khatam kiye." (This morning at mealtime, you shouldn’t have left like that… I mean, without finishing your food.)

Tahir sighed taking another sip of his wine, "Mann nahi tha mera." (I didn’t feel like eating.)

Javin kept his glass on the table with a soft clink. He then turned to face Tahir completely and spoke,

"Dekh Tahir... mujhe pataa hai tune Aaj waisa kyu kiya. Kheer toh tujhe humesha se pasand thi na aur aaj tune wahi khane se manaa kar diya? Yn bhabi ne itne pyaar se tere liye banaya tha..soch toh woh kitni hurt huyi hogi. Woh bhi aaj unke pehle rasoi ke din."

(Look Tahir… I know why you did that today. You’ve always loved kheer, right? And today you refused to eat it? Yn bhabhi made it for you with so much love… just think how hurt she must have felt. And that too on her very first day cooking in this house.)

Tahir's jaw clenched slightly but he remained silent, gulping down the alcohol in one go. Javin looked at him with eyes that showed genuine concern.

"Dekh Tahir.. Aaradhya chali gayi..ab uski yaadon mein agar tu apne aap ko aise barbaad karega toh.. it's not rational. You have a life to live. Ek beti hai teri aur ab ek biwi bhi."

(Look, Tahir… Aaradhya is gone… but if you keep destroying yourself in her memories like this, it’s not rational. You have a life to live. You have a daughter… and now a wife too.)

Tahir looked at Javin with bloodshot eyes which were filled with unshed tears. He spoke, his voice coming out slightly slurred, "Meri life meri maarzi...Tahir Singhaniya ko ye pataa hai ki uske liye kya accha hai aur kya bura hai. Mujhe aapne aap ko aise hi Aaradhya ke pyaar mein barbaad karna hai toh main kar raha hoon."

(My life, my choice… Tahir Singhaniya knows what’s good and what’s bad for him. If I want to ruin myself in Aaradhya’s love, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.)

Javin rubbed his temples in frustration and spoke, "Dekh Aaradhya ke jaane ka dukh tujhe jitna hai..hume bhi utna hi hai. Par jo chali gayi woh toh wapas nahi aa sakti hai na. Main ye nahi keh raha ki tu use bhul ja. Woh toh ek angel thi..char din ka moh jataakar hum sabko akela chor ke chali gayi. Par apni life aise barbaad matt kar..move on kar. Pehle jo jagah Aaradhya ki thi..ab woh jagah Yn bhabi ki hai. Use woh pyaar..wo saath de jo tu Aaradhya ko deta tha."

(Look, the pain of Aaradhya’s loss is just as much ours as it is yours. But the one who has gone cannot come back, right? I’m not saying you should forget her. She was an angel… after a short-lived attachment, she left us all alone and went away. But don’t ruin your life like this… move on. The place that once belonged to Aaradhya… now that place is Yn bhabhi’s. Give her the love and companionship that you once gave Aaradhya.)

Tahir abruptly stood up hearing Javin's words and spoke with a clenched jaw, "Aaradhya ki jagah mere dil mein koi aur nahi le sakta. Ye baat maine Yn se bhi kahi hai. Tu Aaj ke baad mujhse ye kabhi matt kehna ki Aaradhya ke liye jo mera pyaar hai woh main kisi aur ko de doon..main aisa karu..ye toh dur ki baat hai..main aisa karne ki soch bhi nahi sakta."

(No one can ever take Aaradhya’s place in my heart. I’ve told Ym this as well. From today onwards, don’t you ever say to me again that I should give the love I had for Aaradhya to someone else… it’s not just that I won’t do it, I can’t even imagine doing such a thing.)

"Yn bhabi kaha koi aur hai woh toh teri biwi hai Tahir." (Yn bhabhi isn’t someone else, she’s your wife, Tahir.)

Tahir spoke, his tone firm and distant, "Biwi hai meri jaanta hoon. Ek husband hone ke naate main zaroori zimmedariyan bhi nibhaunga. Par ye shaadi pyaar ki nahi hai. Yeh bas ek samjhauta hai. Tanishka ke khatir mujhe ye shaadi karni pari warna mein kabhi kisi aur aurat ko mere zindagi mein nahi aane deta. Aaradhya ki yaadein hi khaafi hai mere liye. Toh I don't care who says what. I'm not going to give my love to her. I can never."

(She’s my wife, I know that. As a husband, I’ll definitely fulfill the necessary responsibilities. But this marriage isn’t about love—it’s just a compromise. I only married for Tanishka’s sake, otherwise I would never have let another woman enter my life. Aaradhya’s memories are enough for me. So I don’t care who says what—I’m not going to give my love to her. I never can.)

Tahir took the bottle of alcohol and started drinking. Javin approached him and tried to take the bottle from his hand, "Chor..itna matt pi. Yn bhabi kya sochegi?" ( Leave it… don’t drink so much. What will Yn bhabhi think?)

Tahir yanked his hand away and continued gulping down the alcohol. A few moments later he stopped drinking and threw away the half emptied bottle against the wall, the glass shattering into a good number of pieces. His chest heaved with ragged breaths as his emotions were overpowering him. Finally, he let go of his emotions and broke down right infront of Javin, falling on his knees. Javin's eyes stung with unshed tears as well looking at his once lively best friend get reduced into an empty shell of the man he was once before. He placed a comforting hand against Tahir's shoulder while Tahir wailed his heart out. This time Tahir did not say anything. He didn't ask the heavens anything about the loss of his love. He didn't question destiny about the cruel turn of events in his life. He just cried. Cried like he has never cried before.

After a few moments his cries subsided and he just sat there, gazing at the stars with a blank expression. Javin spoke softly, "Ja apne room mein jaa.. it's late." (Go to your room… it’s late.)

Tahir slowly stood up and took uncoordinated steps towards his room, the effect of the alcohol clouding his senses. Javin just sat there with his own thoughts.

Tahir entered inside his room. Surprisingly the lights were still on. He stumbled inside and saw that Yn was sitting at the desk and writing something. He slowly stepped in but tripped slightly and ended up knocking over a vase. The sound caught Yn's attention and she looked up to see him standing at the doorway, looking drunk, disheveled and completely wasted.

She approached him and stood infront of him. She could smell the strong scent of alcohol coming from his breath.

" Aapne sharab Piya?" ( You drank?)

He just chuckled and walked past her. She held his wrist and asked him softly, "Kyu? Aur woh bhi itna peekar aaye hai." (Why? And that too you drank so much.)

He stiffened for a moment as he felt her hand holding onto his wrist gently.

"Haath choro mera." ( Leave my hand)

She immediately left his hand and he turned to face her, his expression cold and distant. She gulped because even though he was maintaining distance from the start he never looked at her with such a gaze before. Yesterday on their wedding he avoided looking at her and talking to her but today morning he was behaving somewhat better. Again, now she couldn't understand the look he was giving her. She asked him slightly, her voice stuttering, "K..kya hua?" ( W..what happened?)

He took a step forward and asked her back, his voice deep and slightly slurred, "Kya hua? Kya lagta hai kya hua? (What happened? What do you think happened?)

She looked at him with confusion and uncertainty.

"So jaaiye..aap hosh me nahi hai..kuch bhi bol rahe hai." (So jaaiye..aap hosh me nahi hai..kuch bhi bol rahe hai.)

He shook his head, "Neend hi toh nahi aati..har roz koshish karta hoon." (It’s just that I can’t sleep… I try every single day.)

She remained silent and just looked at him. He met her gaze and continued speaking, "Pataa hai..tum mein na mujhe meri Aaradhya nazar aati hai. Wahi lambe aur ghane baal..wahi fikar..wahi hasi.." (You know… I see my Aaradhya in you. The same long, thick hair… the same care… the same smile…)

He gently tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. She felt her heart beating faster and her cheeks burning up. Tahir's mind hallucinates Yn as Aaradhya and he gently pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her lips. She looked at him to see him looking at her with half lidded gaze filled with fondness. He leaned closer and she closed her eyes. His lips found hers in a deep passionate kiss. Her hands automatically went to tangle in his hairs while his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. His tongue slipped inside her mouth, tasting every corner making her gasp and moan. He took her hand in his and placed it on his chest. She could feel the rapid thump of his heart pounding against her palm. But the thing he said next broke her.

"Mera dil sirf tumhare liye dhadakta hai Aaradhya.. sirf tumhare liye.. I love you."

(My heart beats only for you, Aaradhya… only for you… I love you.)

That's it guys.. chapter 4 is out. Please vote and comment and I once again beg you not to be a silent reader. It takes me hours to write and a simple response is what I ask for in return to keep going. Chapter 5 will be updated tomorrow. Do tell me what do you think is going to happen next.