Chapter 6: Past Violence, Present Release

When I walked out of Meera's office building, Arjun's voice sounded behind me.

"Kabir."

He quickly walked up to me, deliberately fiddling with his expensive suit.

I could tell it was bought by Meera.

Because she had bought the same brand for me before.

"Thanks for letting us be together and letting go of Meera."

I saw the pride and smugness on his face and in his eyes, like a victorious general showing off.

I could practically hear the theme music playing in his mind—Bollywood hero style. But I just smiled to myself, not letting him see what I really felt.

"Koi baat nahi. Bas dekh, baad mein pachtana mat."

I chuckled lightly.

Consider it a warning from someone with experience.

Arjun's smile faltered for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

"Main kyun pachtaunga? Dekh toh liya hai Meera ka pyaar mere liye."

He was talking about something that happened a long time ago.

At that time, Meera took Arjun to a gathering with her girlfriends.

At the party, one of Meera's friends unintentionally mentioned me and Meera.

One of them revealed:

"Once Meera was out late for work, Kabir was waiting for her on the bench outside and was actually harassed by a drunk."

At that time, Arjun was holding Meera.

Hearing this, he frowned and made a disgusted noise.

"Ganda hai yaar."

I didn't know if he meant me sleeping in the garden,

or being harassed by the drunk.

Anyway, the room burst into laughter.

I was standing outside the door.

Originally, I planned to catch them in the act.

Unexpectedly, I overheard all this, feeling like falling into an icy hell.

Cold and hot, tormented.

What made me unable to move was Meera's attitude at that time.

She sat on the sofa, leaning lightly against Arjun.

While everyone laughed and mocked, she just smiled silently, looking indifferent.

As if they were mocking someone irrelevant—not the person she once sincerely cherished.

And in the final game session, Meera enjoyed sipping wine passed by Arjun's mouth.

At his command, she said the words "Kabir, ganda hai."

The words stung sharper than any slap. It was as if my whole past with her had been erased, replaced by laughter and cheap wine.

This should count as one of Arjun's victories in provoking me.

It was obvious he was very satisfied with it.

His smile grew even deeper.

I looked at him, not forgetting to remind him,

"Bhool gaya kya us din kya hua tha? Yaad dilana padega kya?"

Arjun's face changed instantly.

I could tell he hadn't forgotten.

That night, I stormed into the private room in a rage.

I dragged Arjun away from Meera.

Before anyone could react, I punched Arjun twice.

Then grabbed his neck and pressed him onto the coffee table.

"Hans raha hai? Bohot mazaak lag raha hai? Jaanta hai us drunkard ka kya haal kiya tha maine?"

I was furious, smashing a glass.

In the sound of shattering, Arjun screamed loudly.

I held the sharp end above his cheek,

letting him tremble and shiver in fear under my hand.

"Aaj bhi, samjha diya."

"Kabir."

"Kabir."

No one in the private room dared to breathe.

There was a stunned silence—the air went still, someone’s glass tipped over, and outside the window, the distant call of a chaiwala echoed faintly. Everything felt suspended for a moment.

In the end, it was Meera who stopped me.

She pushed me away hard, throwing me aside.

Arjun shrank behind her, face pale, like a weakling.

"Meera, dekh le isko."

Meera's eyes brewed with anger. She raised her hand and slapped me hard.

Just as she was about to slap me a second time,

she suddenly stopped when she saw the crimson hatred in my eyes.

"Kabir..."

There seemed to be a trace of heartache in her eyes.

"Meera, thappad marne ki himmat nahi hai na?"

I dared.

In Meera's moment of distraction,

I slapped her across the face.

I used almost all my strength.

Because after the slap, my hand was trembling uncontrollably.

That was the beginning of my break with Meera.

After that day, Meera asked me for a divorce.

She moved out of our former home and started living with Arjun.

After that night, the city felt colder. I stopped visiting the old chai stall; even the dogs stopped barking at me. Something inside me had snapped, beyond repair.

Arjun didn't dare mess with me.

After all, I really go crazy when I lose it.

He glared at me resentfully.

"Ab toh Meera ne divorce de diya, ab bhi itna attitude?"

I shot back: "Tere ko kya lena dena," then turned and left.

After returning home, I started packing.

Although I wanted this flat, I didn't plan to stay long.

Thinking back on these years of mutual torment with Meera, I was immersed in it.

Now, seeing everything in this flat only made me feel more estranged.

I put the flat up for sale as fast as I could.

And started buying plane tickets.

After all, Meera gave me so much money, I should spend it well.

I decided to travel for a while and come back when it was time to get the divorce certificate.

The day before I left,

I received a new message.

[Hello Mr. Kabir, I am the vlogger Time Capsule. Your street interview video will be posted at 7 pm on Sunday. Just to confirm one last time, you really don't mind?]

Seeing this message,

I wasn't surprised.

You might not believe it—

The day after I saw Meera and Arjun's video,

I was wandering aimlessly on the street.

Unexpectedly, I was also approached as a passerby for a street interview.

The same vlogger, the same interview question.

At that time, I found it laughable.

But what a strange coincidence.

I didn't refuse the interview, and when I answered, I couldn't help but wonder—

If Meera saw my video,

what would she feel?

[No issue, boss. Post kar do.]

I replied.

At the same time, I finished packing my last item and left with ease.

There was no heaviness, only a strange sense of release. The city’s sounds faded behind me—the call of a kulfiwala, the distant honk of a BEST bus. Somewhere, a cycle bell rang, and I knew life was moving on. So was I.