Chapter 3
He said
nothing and just laid down beside her, wondering what has happened to her, she
used to be so chilled out, carefree, full of life always living like there is
no tomorrow. But then what happened now .she does not react to anybody except
kids, does not talk to anyone unless and until it is necessary, always lost in
thoughts and when someone calls, she startles every time, the Aarthi he used to
know, she is not that, Aarthi. He looked at her, sleeping form, few strands of
her hair were on her face, and he could tell that it was irritating her, very
slowly; he placed them behind her ear. Her hairs, he always had some kind of
liking for them, even in college. College, a smile formed on his face, college
was so different and who thought his life would be like this, that one day,
he'll be so confused with his feelings for Aarthi that he can't even ask, what her
problem is, and Aarthi, he somewhere, always knew she loved him and she still does,
well maybe not. Noticing her behavior from their first meeting 3 months to till
now really made him believe that. Her actions, gestures, and the fear in her
eyes. in their first meeting is still a fresh in his mind and it pricked his
heart that day and whenever he remembers, it still does. That day, when they
first met, after 6 years...
***************************************
He saw
how much she has changed and, she too looked at him and he said "Aa..Aarthi you,
I mean what, you here, 6 years" to say he was overwhelmed, was an
understatement, the feeling he felt that day after seeing her safe and sound in
front of him was beyond anything. He was on top of the world, but suddenly the
anger kicked in and he shouted...
"Where
were you damn it, I searched for you everywhere and kept on wondering what in happened
that you suddenly left.Oh forget leaving, you didn't even tell it to anyone,
not even, me..and .." Just then he saw, tears forming in her eyes and mentally
chided himself for reacting like that. He immediately hugged her ,
"Oh
Aarthi, I shouldn't have reacted that way but why are you crying Aarthi, the
ultimate fighter is crying, naah, not good, not good al all."
He
parted and looked at her weirdly; she didn't hug him back, why? He thought, but
pushed that thought aside and ask her to have coffee with him, she didn't say
anything and he knew that she couldn't deny him, ever! So he just guided her to
the table and ordered coffee for both of them, while having coffee too, she was
quiet and the only kept on asking and telling things was Yash finally after getting
irritated with her silence, he asked
"What exactly is wrong Aarthi? You are I
mean..hmm..quiet and that is something, I can't take, you know that very well
and we are meeting after 6 long years, and of course you are changed, but did
you get ..hmm..married?",
The
moment he uttered the word married, she immediately got up and started to
leave actually run, he was quiet shocked but grabbed her hand, stopped her and said
"Hey,hey,...hey Aarthi"
He
sighed, came forward and cupped her face and asked "What is wrong ,Aarthi?.ok,
if you don't want to tell, then I won't ask!"
"I..I.I
am sorry..Ya..Yas..Yash.but I have to go" This was her first and last words,on
their first meeting, inside, he was somewhere feeling good, that at least she
said something.
**********************************************
"Ya..Yas..Yashj..Yashji,"
He heard
her murmuring while sleeping. "Ssh..I am here, sleep."
He sighed.
This was something new, Yash with addition of ji in it, he didn't like it, this
ever growing formality with each passing day and her being distant, only
talking with Payal and Palak, Payal ,Palak ,they always had an easy way with
her and he always wondered, what kind of a bond, she has with them. In their
first meeting, itself, they behaved like they have known each other since ages
and as if, as if she was their own mother or his Pari. Aarthi and his angels
first meeting was something, he'll never ever forget.
**************************
It was some
days after their first meeting in that cafe, and he, Palak and Payal were
coming back from school after the Parent-teacher meeting. As the teachers were
really happy with his two little princesses, so as per promise, he took them
for an ice cream, not knowing that he is going to meet someone really special. As
he entered the ice cream parlor he saw her.and he lost his breath. She was there,
wearing .Red churidaar and looking absolutely stunning. He was lost in her,
until Palak and Payal, brought him out of his reverie.
"Hmm Aa Yaa,you wanted Chocolate flavor Ice
cream, right?
"Chocolate flavor!!" Palak and Payal
exclaimed, surprised at their dad's short term memory.
"Papa, we don't want a chocolate ice cream, we
don't like chocolate, not me not even Palak di Haina di?
"Haan.Papa,
what has happened to you? We just told you that we want mango flavor"
Chocolate
flavor, damn, that is Aarthi's and his favorite, not girls, he was lost in his
thoughts when suddenly someone brought him out of it .
"Here
are two mango ice cream cups for you"
A gentle
voice echoed, and he was stunned to see her standing there with two cups of mango
flavor ice cream. The little girls were overjoyed; finally getting their most
wanted ice creams, they thanked her and she just smiled. Smiled, he was quite
surprised, relieved and felt some unknown happiness seeing her smile. Finally,
getting out of his thoughts, he said to the girls.
"Let's go, and sit somewhere!"
Payal
and Palak agreed but as they were about to go they dragged her along with them
and she couldn't deny .Finally after sitting at the table Payal and Palak asked
her name ,she was about to reply when Yash who was already lost in her, said
"Pari.."
His one word was enough to answer the girls and they exclaimed "Wow!! Pari."
Yash got out of his thoughts and mentally smacked
himself.. "Pari, what the hell is happening.what is wrong with me? Well, come
to think of it, Pari.. Totally suits her,and I was the only one who used to say
that Aarthi, you have a magic wand".
Aarthi was too shocked react, suddenly her
cell buzzed and the name flashing on It, scared her.
"Sorry,
I have to go"
Before
he could even react, she went off!
**************************************
He still wonders,
who called her that day, which scared her! Scared her, this was something, anyone
was never able to do.thinking about it, he finally slept. Another day, new
morning.Everybody was sitting at the breakfast no not everybody, Yash was
missing. Wondering where was her son, Gayatri called Aarthi from the kitchen
"Aarthi beta Where is Yash?"
"Ji wo,Yashji...he is sleeping, mummyji"
"Sleeping,
Its nine, go and wake him up".
"But Payal
and Palak"
"Payal and Palak have already went to school,
no more excuses Aarthi, go and wake Yash up and tell him to come down for
Breakfast."
Aarthi, was
scared, how in the world, she is going to wake him up?! But whatever it is, she
has to do it, no matter what. She slowly entered their room and saw Yash
peacefully sleeping. She slowly went ahead and tried to wake him up, putting a
hand on his shoulder, said in a meek voice
"Yashji Yashji .wake
up, its nine, you have to go for office."
"hmmm.let me sleep"
"Yashji..mmmyji"
Before she
could complete what she had to say, he pulled her towards him and they felt a
current ran down their spine when their lips brushed each others...
To be continued...
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