The Men in Dark | Episode – 18
K L V Saivardhan Reddy
Love & Forgiveness: A path to Healing
What happened previously? Click here to read
Aarushi hugged the pillow close, a warm smile on her face. “It really was a powerful experience with TMD.”
Prerna leaned forward, eager. “So, what path did your friend choose, and how did that conversation go?”
Aarushi took a deep breath. “I was nervous, honestly. TMD’s guidance was to lay out all her options, without suggesting or pushing her in any direction. That’s hard because, as friends, we’re used to advising. But TMD reminded me that this decision had to be hers, fully. So, I stuck to that plan, presenting each option and explaining the consequences of each choice without judgment.”
Prerna listened intently as Aarushi continued, “After hours of thinking, she made up her mind. She decided to tell her parents what happened and to leave her boyfriend—but not to press charges against him.”
Prerna’s face twisted in shock. “What? How could she just let him go like that?”
Aarushi sighed, understanding Prerna’s reaction. “I know, it surprised me too. But after listening to TMD, I realized that people heal in different ways. For her, moving forward without dragging him into a public fight felt right. It was her way of taking control of her life again. And TMD helped me see that sometimes, real strength is letting people make their own choices, even if we don’t agree with them.”
Prerna let out a long, helpless sigh, her eyes fixed on Aarushi. “So… what happened then?”
Aarushi’s face softened with a sad smile. “There was this deep silence between us. Neither of us spoke for a while. Then, out of nowhere, she grabbed my hand and asked, ‘Why didn’t you question me about not pressing charges against him?’”
Aarushi paused, her voice low. “I was quiet because I didn’t want to say anything that might make her doubt herself or add more confusion. But then she broke the silence herself. She looked up at me, her face red and tear-streaked, and whispered, ‘I love him, Aarushi. I can’t bear to see him suffer.’”
Aarushi’s eyes glistened as she remembered. “She kept leaning on my shoulder, repeating in this fragile voice, ‘I love him… I love him…’ until she drifted off to sleep, clinging to those last words as if they were all she had left.”
“Oh my God! She still loves him,” Prerna gasped, her hands covering her mouth. “She’s so pure-hearted. He doesn’t deserve her.”
Aarushi nodded slowly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Yes, she truly is. That kind of unconditional love is rare. He was lucky… at least, until that day.”
She took a deep breath, then continued, “After she finally fell asleep, her boyfriend showed up, demanding to see her. He was frantic, creating a scene right there in the hospital.”
Prerna leaned in closer, her curiosity growing. “So… what did you do? Did you let him in?”
Aarushi shook her head. “No, I couldn’t. Not after everything that had happened. I told him that it wasn’t the right time, that she needed rest and space. He was angry, pleading with me, saying he had to talk to her, but I stood firm. I knew she needed peace, not more chaos.”
Prerna nodded, a look of admiration on her face. “You did the right thing, Aarushi. She needed someone to protect her from him, at least for now.”
“But when she woke up, she asked me to let him in,” Aarushi continued, her voice soft. “I didn’t feel right forcing my decision on her, especially since she was in a stable state and making her own choices now. So, I allowed him in.”
Prerna sighed, a skeptical look on her face. “I thought maybe he was there to beg her not to press charges, or worse, to threaten her against it.”
Aarushi shook her head, her expression thoughtful. “That’s what I feared too. But it wasn’t that at all. As soon as he saw her, he broke down completely. He actually got down on his knees, sobbing, and apologized. He said, ‘My friends got me drunk and pushed me into this, saying things that made me so angry and out of control. I wasn’t thinking. I made a terrible mistake, and I don’t know how to live with this. I’m so sorry. I love you. I’ll go and surrender to the police myself if that’s what you want.’”
Aarushi looked at Prerna, her face reflecting the weight of the moment. “It wasn’t what I expected at all.”
Prerna’s eyebrows shot up, clearly surprised. “Wow… I didn’t see that coming. But… I wonder, does an apology like that even come close to making things right?”
Aarushi took a deep breath, hugging the pillow tightly to her chest. “After a long, tense silence, she finally spoke up. She looked at him and said, ‘Prudvi, if you really need an answer from me, please wait outside.’ Her voice was shaky, like she was holding back tears.”
Prerna, looking stunned, pressed her fingers to her temples. “Oh my God, Aarushi! Then what happened?”
“She called me to sit beside her,” Aarushi continued, her expression softening. “She rested her head on my shoulder and whispered, ‘What do I do now, Aarushi?’ I had no words. I was just as lost as she was. So I made a call to TMD, hoping he’d know what to do.”
Prerna’s face flushed with anger. “What did he suggest? I hope he made sure that guy would pay for what he did.”
Aarushi sighed. “I thought the same, but TMD told me it had to be her decision. He reminded me that she needed to choose her own path. So he asked me to put the phone on speaker, and then he spoke directly to her. His question was simple: ‘Do you still love him and want him in your life?’”
Prerna looked at Aarushi, her face a mixture of frustration and disbelief. “I don’t understand. How could she even consider it after what he did?”
Aarushi gave a sad smile. “I know, Prerna. I was struggling with the same thoughts. But TMD’s question wasn’t about forgiveness or what was fair. He wanted her to listen to her heart and decide, without any pressure, what path would truly let her heal and move forward.”
Prerna let out a long sigh, processing everything. “And what did she say?”
