Moment of Truth
"I am not sure if this is going to work out. I - I don't think I am ready for this marriage thing yet" said Shreya broaching up the subject one night when they were walking home.
"You are not ready for the marriage or for me?" asked Siddharth which made Shreya look up in surprise.
"Siddharth... I... we are going off the track" murmured Shreya.
"Off the track?! Like, seriously?!" said Siddharth in outrage.
"Siddharth please... I..." Shreya broke off not knowing what to say.
"You are in love with Daya, aren't you?" asked Siddharth.
Shreya tensed at the mention of Daya's name and Siddharth's immediate thought was, "Shit, I shouldn't have asked that."
Siddharth watched her fidgeting with her fingers. He knew the answer already. He knew it from a long time. But he wasn't sure he wanted to hear it from her.
"Siddharth look -"
"Be honest with me, Shreya. I think I deserve to get an honest explanation after all this" said Siddharth exasperatedly.
Shreya took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. When she looked back at Siddharth, she saw hurt and disappointment in his eyes. She could see that he already knew what she was going to say. Still he wanted to hear it in her voice.
"I am in love with him. It has always been him. I have been foolish all along, trying to deny it but I realised I can't take this any longer." said Shreya.
There. She had admitted her love for Daya to Siddharth of all the people. She didn't know whether telling him was a right decison. She hadn't thought about the consequences. She had just acted on spur of the moment and spoken out her feelings aloud at last which she had hidden deep within her heart since a long, long time. She suddenly felt light, as if a
dead weight she had been carrying around had suddenly dropped.
She glanced at Siddharth who looked rather pale. Shreya knew she had acted very wrong with Siddharth. He was a nice guy and he didn't deserve all this but she would be doing more wrong to him by marrying him when she was in love with someone else.
"Siddharth... I am sorry... I know I have done wrong -"
"Thank you for being honest with me, Shreya" said Siddharth. "I would have to have you in my life but you can't force someone to love you, I guess" he said in a defeated voice.
"Siddharth..."
"It's fine, really. Well, I guess it's time for us to part. Good luck and take care." said Siddharth and he walked back to the door.
Shreya could feel her eyes brimming with tears. She had never committed a more ruthless or inhumane act in her life. She truly felt sorry for Siddharth.
She looked up and saw Siddharth stop just before he was about to go through the door. "Daya is a very lucky man to have someone like you in his life. Tell him that from me" he said, before disappearing through the door.
A/N - I might add another small chapter to this in future, maybe. Till then treat this Oneshot as complete.