Chapter 5: Sealed in Forbidden Bond
Then, one day, his uncle announced that he was leaving for Europe for two weeks. Varun saw this as his chance to reach out to Sailaja again. After his uncle left that evening, he approached her and said, "Auntie, please look at me and tell me you don't love or want me anymore. I'll leave your life forever if that's how you feel. I can't bear to be so close to you yet so far away."
Sailaja immediately broke down, tears streaming down her face. Varun stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her and whispering, "Shush, Auntie, don't cry."
Through her sobs, she said, "I'm sorry, Varun. I could see how much pain you were in, and it broke my heart. But it wasn't easy for me either. I wanted to come to you many times but didn't want to corrupt you further."
She paused, then continued, "The other day, you asked me if you could impregnate me, and that's not a small thing. If we continue this relationship, there is every chance of that happening, and it is not as simple as just being together. I felt miserable pushing you away but thought it was for the best."
Sailaja's voice faltered as she confessed, "I yearned for you every day. I cried when no one was around, but I told myself it was better for me to move on. You are young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. Meanwhile, your uncle's frustration over my inability to conceive has made my life unbearable. He has taken his anger out on me repeatedly. I thought about ending it all, but I could not leave my daughter behind."
Her sobs grew softer as she explained the torment she had endured--the mental pain, the mistreatment, and the hopelessness she felt. Finally, she said, "Yesterday, when your uncle told me he was going to Amsterdam for two weeks, I made up my mind. If you still want me, I will continue our relationship."
Her words hung in the air as she looked at him with a mixture of vulnerability and hope, waiting for his response.
Varun stood frozen, his heart pounding as he tried to comprehend what Sailaja had just said. His mind was racing, his emotions a whirlwind.
"You mean... that we... we...?" he stammered, his voice shaky, almost afraid to believe her words.
Sailaja's gaze softened as she nodded gently, her eyes filled with an emotion he couldn't quite place. "Yes, we can be together again if you want," she said quietly, her voice tender yet resolute. "But we must take things one step at a time, Varun. I want this, but it has to be right."
His chest tightened as relief swept over him, followed quickly by an overwhelming rush of love and longing. A tear threatened to slip from his eye, but he blinked it back, not wanting to show his vulnerability. "I can't believe it," he whispered, reaching for her, his arms pulling her into a tight embrace.
"These months without you... I felt like I was drowning like nothing mattered anymore. I didn't know how to live with this ache."
Sailaja closed her eyes as she pressed her forehead against his, her voice trembling with emotion. "I never wanted to hurt you, Varun. I thought... I thought keeping my distance would be best for both of us. But every day, my heart broke, too. I could feel your pain, even when I tried to hide it. I could not just move on from this... from you."
Varun pulled back slightly to look at her, his hand gently cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear she had not realised had fallen. "It was never easy, but I promised myself I would wait for you and be patient because I love you, Auntie. I always have, and I always will. No matter how long it takes, no matter what."
Sailaja's breath caught, and she looked at him, her eyes filled with something raw--guilt, regret, and undeniable love. "I don't want to hold you back anymore, Varun," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "I want us to build something real, not in secret, not in shame. I want a future with you, but it has to be right. It has to be honest."
Varun's heart surged with hope. "I want that too. I want to make this work, Auntie. I want us to be together the right way. Whatever that takes, I'm ready."
Sailaja nodded slowly, her gaze never leaving his. "You have no idea how much I've longed for this. How many times have I wished we could be together like this? But I needed to know you were truly ready for everything this would mean. For everything we would face together."
He kissed her forehead softly, a quiet promise lingering between them. "I'm ready. I've always been ready. And I'm never letting you go again."
They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the weight of their past and the promise of their future hanging between them. For the first time in what felt like forever, Varun felt whole again--like he had found his way back to the one person who truly understood him.
"I have to tell you something," she said
"What?" he asked
"Something significant," she smiled innocently.
"What? What?" he implored her.
"I want to have your baby," she said softly.
"Huh!" he grunted. "What did you say?"