Link to Chapter 7: https://www.tellyupdates.com/riansh-it-ends-with-us-chapter-7/
It Ends With Us β Chapter 8
Riddhima tossed and turned on the bed, trying to adjust the pillow beneath herself. Flights tended to tire her and she sighed mentally, wanting to sleep. Sheβd to wake-up earlier in the morning the next day to finish the household chores before returning to work again. A second later, she felt the weight on the mattress shift and she turned around, shutting her eyes tightly.
As a few moments passed by, she felt the dark engulf her and she blinked, trying to look around the room. When she started seeing in the dark, she saw him get under the covers and staring at the ceiling. She stared at him, his stubble becoming prominent with the little moonlight that lit the room.
Vansh: Youβre right when you say that stares are intimidating. (chuckling) Get some sleep, Riddhima.
Riddhima: I was just thinking about something. In fact, Iβve been thinking since I talked to Ma.
Vansh held his silence and stared at the ceiling, not wanting to intrude. Heβd realized that if she were willing to share, she really would; his pushes often tended to result in reverse.
Riddhima: Donβt you want to know?
Vansh (turning his face toward her): The question would really be, do you want to share?
Riddhima sighed deeply and turned around, staring at the ceiling. Sheβd always buried emotions deep within herself, but somehow, that had not been working in a marriage. Or perhaps, it was not working with Vansh. He wanted to know her behind the faΓ§ade and while sheβd been away from him, sheβd realized he wasnβt wrong. After all, he was always ensuring that she knew him better than anyone else did.
Riddhima: You know as a four-year-old, I remember looking at dad and thinking that he was my hero, my idol. He was that person I wanted to become, so strong, so understanding and so loving. I remember waiting by the door for him to return home in the evenings knowing that heβd pick me in his arms just after he returned. (smiling sadly) He never cared about being tired, you know? His world revolved around me and till this date, I canβt forget how happy he was when the first thing Iβd said was Papa.
She choked on her tears as the wounds from before began hurting her. Sheβd never talked about the time sheβd spent with her father after heβd moved out of the house. Her mother had tried to get her to talk several times, but sheβd always told her that she was okay. She felt the warmth along her fingers and looked at Vansh as he laced their fingers together. He turned toward her and smiled softly.
Vansh: I am listening.
Riddhima: But things changed in a minute when Raima was born, you know? I remember returning home a week after she was born and seeing my grandparents look at Ma with resentment because sheβd given birth to another daughter. You know they werenβt there to see Raima, see that one-week-old baby that Ma had cradled in her arms. They were there to take away Papa. There wasnβt a word shared, not a look shared. They just said βsamaan baaddhoβ and can you believe, he actually, did it?
She exhaled a sharp breath and tried to keep her emotions at bay. The past always had a way to overwhelm her and she hated that it helped the power to make her seem vulnerable.
Riddhima: There was not a moment of hesitance, not a moment of contemplation. He just packed his bags and left, didnβt even look at me once. He acted like he couldnβt hear me crying, couldnβt see me pleading. He just left like I β or even Ma β never mattered to him. (smiling sadly) But we probably didnβt, you know? Thatβs why it was so easy to leave and send the divorce papers almost immediately.
She turned around and looked at Vansh, a smile almost instantly pulling her lips upward and a pride fleeting through her face. He could see her eyes glinting against the dark and heβd probably never seen her any happier. She looked like sheβd risen from the ashes.
Riddhima: And then I saw Ma rise so fiercely, so independently that I couldnβt remember why Iβd ever idealized Papa, you know? She was this woman I grew up seeing, I wanted to be and even though, she believes Iβm so much more than what she is, I am never going to believe that. (pausing shortly and continuing softly) How can I achieve anything more than she is? Which is exactly why Iβve been so afraid. If my mother couldnβt sustain a marriage, then I wouldnβt be able to, either.
Riddhima (moments later): Right?
She heard the room fall in complete silence, his breaths becoming distinctly clear against the quietude. She felt the blood within her pumping rigorously, almost beginning to feel that her fears were turning true. Would he really love her behind the façade?
Vansh: Ishani was six years old when sheβd come to me this one-night crying because sheβd gotten scared sleeping alone. I remember having read some novel just recently and when sheβd complained about our parents being so different from others (chuckling) β so bad, Iβd told her those lines Iβd read. That no oneβs ever bad, itβs just the situations. But now when I look back β and I kid you not, I think of that night a lot β Iβm glad that I never let my frustration out in front of her. Sheβd have hated Mom and Dad.
Vansh inhaled a deep breath and looked at her in the eye. As he looked at her, he felt his insides eliciting with happiness. Heβd never thought that she would share about her past and insecurities with him, but as he looked at her, he couldnβt stop admiring her. Sheβd so much pain within herself and despite what had happened in her life, she had never given up.
Vansh: Have you ever thought that if it hadnβt been for your father, youβd have never been who you are today. Iβd have never come across such a beautiful, strong and independent woman and probably, Iβd have never fallen in love.
Riddhima (smiling softly): Ab tum apne mohabbat ke kisse na padho!
Vansh (sighing deeply): But honestly Riddhima, Iβd never ever leave you stranded in this marriage. Iβve said this to you many times, but this marriage is as much of mine as it is of yours and Iβd literally do everything in my hands to sustain it.
Riddhima: Do you never feel frustrated at your parents for what they did, Vansh? Like, I donβt think Iβd ever be able to forgive Papa for what he did.
Vansh: You know my Dadi used to say that we need not be the version weβve disliked of someone elseβs. Itβs like becoming that person you never wanted to. Sheβs always asked me to just believe the time in life because with time, people just realize somehow.
Riddhima (smirking): I donβt think Papa would ever realize. He would never think that his daughters could have easily made him proud, he did not have to want a son for that.
Vansh: I think the reason he distances himself from you all is because he realizes. I canβt think anyone who knows you can ever not be inspired from you and your father, Iβm sure, he realizes that.
He stared at her and as the moonlight filtered through the curtains and fell on her face, running his fingers over the contours of her face softly. She felt her skin ignite at his touch as he continued pressing his finger over the edges on her face. She inhaled a sharp breath as his fingers entwined with her hair strands and he pulled her closer, his palm flattening against the back of her head.
She looked at him in the eye, their breaths mingling in the distance between themselves.
Riddhima: You didnβt answer my question from before. Do you think Iβd be able to sustain the marriage even if my mother couldnβt?
Vansh: I donβt have the courage to challenge what a mother feels about her daughter, but Iβve never seen you fail, Riddhima. And I donβt think Iβd ever be able to see, either. So, if thereβs ever a need, I know youβd do anything so that our marriage doesnβt shake, even. And thatβs what even Iβd do unless you want to be left. (inhaling deeply) I donβt know how to hold onto someone whoβs already lost.
Riddhima smiled softly and freed herself from his grasp, before shifting her pillow closer to his and sleeping right beside him. As he looked back at the ceiling, she turned to him and closed her eyes shut.
Riddhima: Unless I find someone whoβd postpone their work for me to sleep, I donβt think Iβd even think of leaving you.
Vansh: Kaisi khudgarz aurat ho na tum!
Riddhima (chuckling): Night, Vansh!
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What did you guys think of the conversation?
Hi there! This chapter took a little long because of how difficult I find it to write emotionally expressive chapters. Thank you for reading nonetheless and stay safe everyone!
56 Comments
Amazing episodeπ. Loved it. You portrayed the emotions really well.
thank you, Prabhleen!
Amazingπ€
thank you.
Dear Riaa,
Honestly I am lost for words, it took me half an hour deciding what I should write as part of my comments as the content today is so amazingly beautiful. Such a talented writer you are.
The setting of the story is simple i.e. in their room but the intensity of the conversation is truly mind blowing. If someone asks you to become a director of a show/short film but with a very low budget, you are one person who can make it work successfully :), you don’t need a lavish setting or many characters to make your story work, all you need is 2 persons conversing; and it still came our perfect. Wow!
I am glad to see Riddhima slowly opening up to Vansh and I loved the way Vansh approached it, i.e. (1) he gave her time, (2) he did not force her, and (3) based on his past experience with her where many a times their conversation ends up in arguments, this time around he did not intervene. I think that’s my take-away today.
Thank you for another outstanding episode.
Haha, thanks so much Jayanthi! That definitely means a lot to me. This story was always intended to be simple and I did not want an increased influx of characters either. I just wanted to write about the growing relationship between two individuals and I think, post-marriage content is always my favourite!
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I’m so glad you liked this chapter, there’s a little more of this story left until we wrap-up, but I’m trying to make them as insightful and practical as possible π
awesome
thanks so much!
Post soon
Thank you. I’ll definitely try!
Amazing episode
Amazing ππ Their conversation was mature ones.Yeah I loved how Riddhima is sharing her inner feelings with Vansh.Vansh is really very patient β€
Thank you, so glad you liked the chapter!
Amazing
thanks Aisha!
Awesome
thank you.
Amazing π
thanks so much!
Fabulous
thank you!
Episode is wonderful post soonβΊοΈ
thank you so much, that means a lot!
There convo aas some emotional and u nailed it tooπππ.. amazing episode dear… Superb.. very nice.. post soon
thank you so much Aarushi. So glad you liked the chapter!
Amazing
thanks a lot.
Amazing episode bro π
You’re story is so unique β€
thank you, Adyyy! That means a lot.
Soooo
(Inhaling deeply)
I am sorry
But I
Just dont have any words to say,you know ,some ff s,just make me speechless,
And if talked about yours,
You know From my childhood
I loved to read stories and novels too if I got the opportunity, I loved their stories,I never thought that any novel can be there without any story,but your work, I can not believe it ,I mean there is no place for fiction in your work ,its just too too too real, its not a story.Just reality of a perfect couple, whose conversation is revealing their lives so simply and so deeply.
I think that you should get it published.
It would be create havoc.
Amazing dear
Conversation was just
So heart touching, so deep, so real .
I loved the maturity of Vansh.I loved that Riddhima finally made her heart out.
I loved it.
And how can I forget
Your English
Tell me how are you an english queen.
Thank you so much, Disha! You’re an absolute sweetheart.
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This story has been very close to my heart, especially the story from which comes the inspiration for writing this, so I’m always very careful on how I reflect issues and events in the story. I’m glad the storyline is something you all can relate to, it makes my heart full. Thank you, again!
Awesome episode dear eagerly waiting for next update
thank you Priyanka.
Oh this was just amazing! What I love aboutyour stories are that you make everything seem so simple and realistic but yet equally beautiful!
Finally, Riddhima opened up to him. I think I really need to appreciate her for that. It’s not easy to share your insecurities with anyone.
And especially that part hit me real hard where she asks if he’d be able to love her in spite of her facade?
And the way Vansh patiently listened to everything without getting judgemental….oh can I just have a Vansh please? I mean not as a husband/BF necessarily, even a friend would do, who can calmly listen to my outpouring of feelings.
.
Also I’ve been wanting to tell you since the last update. But can you show a little bit of Sharmishtha’s side of story too if possible? I mean as a single mother, it must have been really tough for her to bring up her two daughters all by herself.
And I dunno why but I also want to see the dynamics between Vansh and Sharmishtha. I think they’d bond really well considering how Vansh is a sweetheart and Sharmishtha is a sensible woman.
.
The line where Vansh says that he doesn’t know how to hold onto someone who is already lost is so deep and hit me really hard.
.
Also, I’ve been wondering, what were the circumstances that led to Vansh and Riddhima’s marriage? Like was it a love one or arranged? And where did they meet each other for the first time? I’m sorry if you already mentioned about it and I actually forgot. I’ve a bad memory, ngl.
Thank you so much, Nia! I’m always so overwhelmed by the responses I receive for this story, they always make my heart full and I’m so glad I really chose to write it π
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As for Riddhima, I was very sceptical initially and I wasn’t even sure if someone does open up in like 4-5 months, but I needed a solid ground for their relationship to develop further. It felt like they’d reached a standpoint from where they couldn’t really move on.
For Vansh, he’s learning from past and how things have turned out. I think I’d said this to someone in the last chapter that Vansh is a person who learns from experiences, so you can always rely on him for that. And ah, even I want someone like Vansh as a friend lol.
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I’d see if I can fit in those two dimensions in the story somewhere. I plan to take a trip back to their homes in the coming chapters for resolving a few issues and Sharmishtha’s side of story might fit in there. As for Vansh and Sharmishtha’s aspect, I think you can expect it over the next two chapters (hopefully).
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This circumstance was mentioned in the prologue where the scene was very similar to ZGH, so I’m not surprised you don’t remember lol. It felt like ZGH only. They met for the first time for an office project and were never on the best of terms, unless the entire event spiralled out like ZGH. If I ever can, I’ll have a conversation about their past listed in the story. It should be fun, considering they’d just reflect back to their actions.
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Again, thanks for the wholesome response!
Awesome one!!
I loved how Riddhima opened herself to him and shared it with him. Pls post the next soon
thank you so much! This chapter had been long due, I’m glad you liked it.
Amazing episode di and I loved when riddhu shared her insecurities.
thank you, so glad you liked the chapter!
Nice episode dear ππ
thank you!
Wow amazing β€οΈππππ
Thanks for updates ππβ€οΈ
It’s really super especially riansh emotional
thanks for the constant support, Jayashree! Really appreciate it.
Super ππππ
thank you.
Wonderful ππβ€οΈπβ€οΈπ
thanks, JJ!
Wow fabulous π€©π€©πππ
thank you!
Fantastic πππβ€οΈπβ€οΈ
thanks so much.
Amazing episode β¦.Loved itβ€β€β€β€β¦..Please post soon
thanks Niyati, so glad you liked the chapter.
Nice episode πππππ
thank you!