Arakshi TS : Bittersweet Moment...*Complete pg 8*

"Nani.. mela dooshla naam Tikli kyun hai?" A baby Sakshi asked as Nani was carrying her and taking her around her house... trying to make her eat her porridge..

"Tikli ka matlab hai maang tika... jo hum sar pe laga te hai... yeh dekh rahe ho... tumhare Nana ne jo diya... woh..." Her Nani explained...

Toh main aapke shal be beith javun..." Sakshi asked... her big big eyes twinkling as she played with the fountain propped on top of her bobbing head...

"Na mera shona baby... par jaise iss tika ko pehenke main sundar lagti hoon na... waise tere wajeh se meri naam hamesha roshan hoga... ab understood?" Her Nani completed and fed the remaining part of porridge to her...

"Acha... ab muje woh blave lani aul laja ka kahani shunao na!" the 4 year old Sakshi snuggled on her Nani's lap...

"Acha... aur humari pari humse kuch nahi sunna chahegi?" her Nana came suddenly...

"Naaanuuu!!!!" baby Sakshi jumped and hugged her Nana... "Na.. humari sweetu Tikli ko koi raja ki zaroorat nahi.. hum unhe sirf ek rani ki baare main batayenge... sabse brave waali... acha Tikli... do minute ke liye aankh band..." Her Nana told her...

"Okay nanu..." she said and put her soft hands on her eyes...

He smiled and looked at his wife... he quickly went forward and planted a small kiss on her cheek...

"Nanu... kishi ho gayi?" A naughty Sakshi asked...

"Tikli!!!!" They both screamed and ran behind a little Sakshi... her little fountain pony hobbled left right and her squeals of laughter filled the room...

Flashback ends...

Her Nani remembered the day Sakshi had got married to Arjun.. truth be told she was frightened... no... she had seen the care in his eyes for Sakshi...and he wouldn't betray her... but afraid if he will be able to keep her happy...

The grief and darkness in his eyes were so much... that she was afraid that it could consume Sakshi... but then his intense eyes held another look when he had gently held Sakshi's shoulder at her bidaai... that look gave her hope...

She kept her faith on God and let things go in its course... but today when she saw Sakshi at the doorstep her fears had realized...

Looking exhausted... her kaajal had run out... she was wearing an oversized shirt - probably Arjun's... all her hopes about their happy married life was in ruins...

She went back to Sakshi's room to see her clutching his shirt... while sleeping she softly mumbled his name...

Nani came out and sat on the living room... taking a small kerchief and wiping away her tears... she closed her eyes and prayed to the lord above to resolve the issues...

If she came to know that Arjun had hurt her dear child... if he had betrayed her... then swear on the Lord she prayed to ... he would never get Sakshi back...

But then the question propped in her head... would he even come to take her back?

If only she knew that the Lord answered her question right then and there...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sitting in the car Arjun looked outside... the lights that flashed before his eyes... his eyes darted to the setting sun... this was the favorite time of Sakshi... she loved twilight... no she didn't tell him.. wait... after marriage did they even speak to each other?

He often found her in the balcony.. looking into the horizon... and precious tears dripping from her eyes... which jabbed him again in the heart... and shouted at him that she deserved a happier marriage...

Often he felt of reaching out to her and telling her... speaking to her... but she never waited for his words... and he never stopped hear hers...

He snapped out as he heard something fall... "Woh... sir... meri phone... it fell... can you..." Ayesha started and Arjun passed her her phone...

He silently looked at the equation Rathore ... Sameer and Ayesha shared... silent... yet precious... for them the silence worked in their benefit... but for him and Sakshi.. it pulled every cord at which their marriage was standing on...

He closed his eyes... he was being selfish... khudgarz... as they say... he was the most unsuitable guy for Sakshi... but unfortunately now he wanted her back... maybe the relation could have started better... maybe if he could convince her that he too felt something.. maybe it was hesitation and a tone of regret that stopped him... maybe he could forego them and see a future of Sakshi and himself...

There were many possibilities of maybe...

He couldn't let go of that... after that... it's her decision... he always would respect that...

He recalled their wedding night... it had been anything but romantic... clad in a simple wedding dress and minimal jewelry Sakshi looked breathtaking...

He still remembers the intricate details of her... the kajal lines that artfully designed her deer like eyes... there was a slight bit of blush on her cheekbones... a red bindi with stones placed in between her eyebrows... her lashes were untouched... yet they looked voluminous ... she fidgeted as she sat on the bed... her nails were painted in light white - pink color... there was little bit mehendi... not too much because he had shown his open dislike for that...

But even in the candle light he noticed how deep the color had turned too...

She had a few locks loose around her face which just enhanced her beauty... her eyebrows scrunched as she didn't know what to do... by now she had counted the number of flowers on her hand... the middle parting of her forehead filled with vermillion...

Slight specks of it was on top of her nose as well.. she bit her pink lips when she saw him approaching...

As he sat on the bed.. she lowered her gaze... her heart started pounding.. she closed her eyes in anticipation...

"Sakshi?" he called her softly...

"Hmm..." she answered but kept her eyes shut...

"Sakshi.. we need to talk.. please..." he said... hesitating... her pretty eyes shot open and she stared at him... the look in her eyes put a pang of guilt in his heart...

"See.. I don't guess main yeh shadi nibha pavunga... agar tumhare papa ke saath yeh promise na hota aur agar tumhare woh relatives waise na kehta then I wouldn't have married you... I need some time to accept things... even though I can say that I care for you... but I am afraid I won't be able to accept you as my better half... you know na in what situation I married you..." he said looking aside... when he turned aside he found her staring at him... her eyes turned like crystals as tears started brimming on her eyes...

"Yeh shadi majboori thi..." she whispered to herself but that didn't miss his ears..

His stance stiffened in shock...

She didn't know it was against his wish!

She got up from the bed... throwing the petals away.. "Sakshi main..." he said...

"It's fine Arjun... main guest room jaa rahi hoon.. tum yahi so jao..." she said quietly and left... but he held her hand... "Sakshi... main.. hum..." he started...

Sakshi wiped a tear away.. "No problem Arjun.. bas pehle ek baar keh dete that it was forced... and yeah... agar tum chahte ho toh.. then we can... like... part ways... " her voice chocked on that...

"Arjun don't mind... in front for I might be your wife.. but over here Roshni will always remain your wife... I wouldn't take her place... trust me..." she said quietly and left his hand and went to the other room...

Arjun stood still... she had got it wrong... he didn't want her to think or neither did he say that she would be taking Roshni's place...

And from there hesitation started... he started becoming more careful while speaking to her... he didn't want to hurt her further... and she kept away from him.. so as to he doesn't feel uneasy...

But in reality they just widened the gap between themselves...

Whenever he came back late from office he would find her typing a report... she started working for longer hours... so sometimes they would come back home together... food would be cooked more... in the late hours he would heat her prepared food but then there would be left for another person to eat as well... his clothes would be ironed and ready... so would his cutting chai... along with the newspaper... she would often sit next to him... stealing glances.. then turning aside and take a deep sigh...

Finally Arjun thought to break every barrier and speak out... when a new member joined the team... - Karan...

He was everything that Sakshi was...chirpy, talkative, a great sense of humor, witty, flirtatious... and deeply loyal to his work... but he lived on fun on the run theory...

He was everything that Arjun wasn't...

He had seen Karan whispering some things to Sakshi and she would slap him on the arm... after 3 years he had seen glimpses of the old Sakshi back in her... and jealousy surged in his blood..

What was it that Karan had that he didn't... she could easily chat with him while he sat with her and chatted with her... but whenever she sat with Arjun she would be silent... just sometimes looking at him... but mostly remained quiet...

The jealousy increased to a level that he used to leave the without breakfast... and whenever she joined him for any meal he would get up and leave...

Sakshi just stared at him... tears rolling off her eyes...

Arjun jerks back to present state when the car halts at the airport..

Sammer fussed in taking the luggage and stuff while Arjun just walked... after all procedure as he settled on the seat of the airplane he once again resumed his thoughts...

One day Sakshi returned late from home... Arjun had retired to his room... hearing the click of her heels he got up and went out to speak to her... like if she had dinner... when he hears her speak... "Haan Karan.. haan ghar pohoch gayi... arrey abhi tune drop kiya na! Haan re... ghar main kuch hoga zaroor... khaa loongi... tu bhi khale... arrey..." her voice faded as she walked into the kitchen...

Arjun fisted his palm in anger... why should he bother about Sakshi... Karan is there right! And Sakshi almost forgot that she was married to Arjun... to him...

But had he heard the rest of what was spoken between them then he wouldn't have ever come to this conclusion...

"Arrey Karan... aisa kuch nahi... mera pati hai khadoos... but you know... I love him a lot... and I am sure he does... haha... humare bachche! Haan... solid honge I swear... don't worry... haan pakka you will be the Godfather... par I'll only send my daughter to you... not my son... I don't want him to be a flirt like you! Tuj jaisa maama milke humare bachche ka kya haalat hoga!" She sat on the counter and dangled her legs in the air...

Arjun had stepped into the hall hearing "humare bachche ka kya haalat hoga.." his steps froze... she had never talked to him about anything... and over here she and Karan thought about their kids?

It's true that Arjun wanted time and space... but this wouldn't mean that Sakshi would go closer to another guy... seeing Arjun she cut the call...

She immediately got down... "Arrey.. aap... jaag gaye kya..." she said..

"Sakshi.. neeche khade kyun hoyi? Upar beitho na... araam se baaton karo... main toh aaya tha sirf tumse baat karne ke liye if you had dinner or not..." he said stiffly..

Sakshi had a small smile on her face... just then he saw Arjun nearing her... "Arjun?" she asked puzzled...

"Kya kami hai mujh main Sakshi?" he asked her... his eyes locked with her...

"Arjun... kya..." she asked.. perplexed...

"Kyun... mujhse baat kyun nahi karti?" Arjun asked cupping her cheek...

"Arjun.. aisi baat nahi hai..." she said softly and closed her eyes in contact of his palm against her cheek...

"Toh kaisi baat hai?" He asked huskily... pinning her to the wall...

"Tum waqt chahte the..." Sakshi said... her eyes still closed...

"Main jo bhi chahta hoon tum woh karogi haan?" he asked... looking at her...

She nodded... he cupped her cheeks in his hands and brought his lips near hers... stroking her cheek he blew little bit of air on her lips... she clutched his hands tightly... he liked this... she should only feel for him...

Why? He didn't have that answer.. or maybe he did...

Just as he was about to claim her lips her phone rang.. the name showed - Karan...

He sprang apart from her... fuming... "Baar karlo..." ha said...

Sakshi was puzzled... "Haan... kya? Hum abhi aa rahe hain..."

"Arjun... ETF office main attack hua hai..." Sakshi informed...

"Kya?" Arjun left with her...

"Sir... sir..." an air hostess called him...

"Yes.. sorry..." he excused himself...

"Sir.. would you like to have a cup of coffee or tea?" the air hostess said...

"T.. coffee..." he said and took the cup of coffee...

Sameer had dozed off... he was sitting in between Ayesha and Arjun...

"Sir..." Ayesha poked at a sleepy Sameer... "Hmm..."

She signaled him to come close... he felt something when she placed her lips near his ears... but what she said next shocked him... "Arjun sir took coffee... instead of tea... " Sameer looked at Ayesha disbelievingly...

"Rawte..." Sameer called him...

"Haan Rathore..." Arjun answered...

Ayesha slapped her forehead... back to Rawte and Rathore!

"Tum aur coffee?" he asked...

"Kyun... main coffee nahi pee sakta?" Arjun asked...

"Tumhare aur Sakshi ke beech hua kya tha..." Sameer asked...

Arjun placed the cup down and thought what happened yesterday...

Scroll down for the last part of the 1st update...