I know I am so long overdue with some other stories and I promise I have an update on at least one other this weekend. But for now there is something new. This is very loosely based on one of my favourite chick flicks, Sweet Home Alibama
Chapter 1 - Below
Chapter 2 - Page 4
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4672967&TPN=4
Chapter 3 - page 8
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4672967&TPN=8
Chapter 4 - Epilogue - page 10
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4672967&TPN=10
Sweet Homecoming.
"Sir?"
"Priya, I told you that I don't want to be disturbed. I have to prepare for the board meeting!" He responded annoyed without looking up at his PA.
"I know sir, but ..."
"But what, Priya!"
"There is someone here to see you."
"I can't see anyone. You know that." it was unlike her to behave like this. She was the best PA he had and she knew how important what he was doing now was and that he needed complete peace and quiet.
"I know sir. But she won't leave."
"Who won't leave?"
"The lady. She is at reception. She said that she has to see you."
"She doesn't have an appointment does she?" he said wondering if he might have forgotten something.
"No sir, I didn't make any appointments for you these 3 days because I know you are preparing for the board meeting."
"Then send her away."
"We tried. But she won't go. She said that you will see her and that she won't leave till you agree. She said she won't be long."
"I don't care. I am not seeing anyone."
"Sir, she said we should tell you her name."
"What difference will than make?"
"She says her name is Aarti Yash Scindiya?"
He was shocked!
"Where is she now?"
"At reception. They would not allow her up to the executive suite."
He quickly looked at his other laptop and logged into the security cameras. His breath caught. It was her. She was just as beautiful as always. More mature now. She had developed curves in all the right places. Her hair was still long. She had it in a ponytail. She was wearing jeans with a shirt and jacket and stiletto heels. She had always been into high fashion, except for the time ... He didn't want to think of that time. It had been 8 years since he last saw her. And here she was at his office demanding to see him. He wondered what she wanted. Why had she come to see him after all this time?
"Sir, should we send her away."
"Huh?"
"Should we send that woman away?"
"No, no. Tell her I will see her in 20 minutes."
"But sir. The board pack?"
"Priya, can you do one thing that I have told you to do today and stop questioning me?!" he chided her more harshly than he should've but the wind was taking out of his sails and he had to gather his thoughts. And he wanted to do it on his own. He needed her to leave.
"Sorry" she said and left the office.
He continued watching her. She was clearly nervous. She was chewing her inner lip as she used to do always when she was nervous or shy. She spoke to the receptionist and nodded her head and she continued to pace. Then she answered her cell phone. Suddenly she was smiling and she was talking on the phone. What a beautiful smile, that reached to her mesmerising eyes. He wondered who was on the other side of the phone that made her look so happy.
He remembered that look. He also remembered the look the last time he saw. He saw the pain in her eyes and the anguish in her voice, the tears streaming down her face. It had haunted him for a long time. It still did from time to time now. But the excruciating pain and guilt had eventually became just a dull ache. But he had never ever forgotten her.
She was standing there, waiting. The demanding tone of her voice, belied the nervous shaking of her innards. But she couldn't waiver. She had to do this. It was time. No it was way, way past due. Years and years in fact. She wished she didn't have to but there was no choice. She was finally moving on with her life, finally happy again. She needed to do this. She needed to keep to her resolve.
"Ma'am I'm sorry, Mr. Scindiya is busy. You need to make an appointment for another day."
"I am here now and I want to see him, NOW!"
"Unfortunately ..."
"Unfortunately nothing. You let him know that he has a visitor that needs to see him urgently. I will not leave here until I see him. I won't take up much of his precious time. But he WILL see me."
"I will try and speak to his PA again, ma'am."
"You do that." she said.
She waited for a response.
"Ma'am she says that he is unavailable for the whole day."
"You tell her he will be available to see me. Just tell her to tell him my name and he will see me."
"I don't think ..."
"Aarti Yash Scindiya. That's my name. You tell her that."
She saw shock register on the receptionist face and then a look of pity. She obviously did not know he was married. No one did.
She watched as the receptionist spoke to the PA and obviously waited for her to speak to him.
She was distracted by her phone ringing. She saw it was Prashant. She felt happy immediately. Just hearing his voice would surely calm her nerves.
"Hi baby, miss me?" She asked.
"Always. How is it going in Mumbai? Are your meetings going well?"
"I'm not sure. There is one meeting that could go either way. But I am hoping for the best." she said.
"I know you will nail it. You are the best at what you do and your reputation precedes you. They would be stupid not to give you a contract."
"Thank you for all your support, baby. It means the world to me. I am already feeling more at ease."
"I wish you had let me accompany you."
"No, you can't look after me always. I need to do this on my own."
"Fine. But I miss you and can't wait for you to come home."
"Me too. I love you Prashant. I am so lucky to have you in my life."
"I love you too. And I can't wait to make you my wife. Bye, sweetheart, all the best with your meeting."
"Thank you, see you soon."
He did really make her feel better. He was the best thing that had happened to her. He loved her unconditionally and finally she had agreed to marry him.
She hated keeping secrets from him, but she didn't want to involve him in the mess that was her past. He knew some of it. But not all. Time has definitely healed her wounds to the extent that she could once again see a future for herself. She had a man that loved her, encouraged and supported her. He would not leave her. Never regret being with her like ... Well that was the past. The past that she now came to deal with.
She had once thought that she would never be able to have this. A career, love, a family. She was stripped of everything. But even when she thought she was alone and desolate, a few angels appeared in her life, that helped her carry on to this place in her life where she could smile again, plan a future again, love again. She was brought out of her thoughts by the receptionist.
"Mr. Scindiya will see you in 20 minutes."
"Thank you" she said and unconsciously started chewing at her inner lip again.
She was led into his office by his PA. She clutched her handbag like it was her lifeline. She was here to see him but coming face to face with him again shook her more than he she thought it would after all this time. He was standing against his desk, obviously waiting for her. He was handsome then but now he was even more so. The years had been more than generous to him. He looked like he still worked out. The only thing that was the same was those beautiful black pools that always seemed to penetrate her soul. She felt weak in the knees. Just like she always felt when she saw him before. Her mind went blank. She just stared at him.
He had a chance to compose himself. Even so being in the same room with her again shook him. She was so gorgeous. He resisted the urge to rush to her and kiss her into oblivion.
"Hello, Aarti"
"Hello"
"How are you?"
"I want a divorce." she blurted out. She held the documents in her shaking hand.
"Here are the documents. You just need to sign." He took the documents from her, deliberately touching her hand and she pulled away as if she was shocked.
He put the documents down on his desk, not even looking at it.
"Wow, not even a how do you do."
"What did you expect my visit was for. We haven't seen each other in years."
"I suppose you are right."
"Please will you sign?"
"I have to get my lawyer to look at it before I sign."
"It's not necessary. It's very straight forward. I am not claiming anything from you."
"Still I think it is prudent to have a legal professional look through legal documents before signing. But I could sign ..."
"What?"
"Will you have dinner with me tonight? I will bring the documents with me."
"No"
"Ok, I will contact my lawyer. I'm not sure when we will be able to meet up though. We are both very busy."
"You wouldn't ..." she said angrily.
"It's just dinner Aarti, for old times' sake,"
"The old times were not good times as I recall."
"They weren't all bad. So what is it? Dinner or wait for the documents."
"Fine. Where do you want to have dinner?"
"Where are you staying? I will have a driver pick you up."
"Not necessary. I can get there."
"My driver will pick you up. Give your address to my PA on your way out."
He said dismissing her.
She was shaking, but this time in anger. How dare he? He was playing with her. But she was desperate. So he had the upper hand. And he knew it.
She turned around and started walking out when she felt the tug on her ponytail. She stopped. He removed the band from her hair.
"Much better" he said as her hair cascaded over her shoulders and back.
"Don't tie up your hair later, I don't like it."
"I really don't care what you like or don't like." she said as she grabbed the band out his hand and stormed out, banging his office door.
"Still my little spitfire." he smiled to himself. "And you will always be."
The bed in her hotel room was a mess. She had taken out everything she brought along. And she never travelled light. She was not sure where he was taking her so she didn't know what to wear. She didn't want to be too dressy to make him think she dressed up for him. And she didn't want to be too drab and let him think that she lost her spark. She was so frustrated with herself. How was it that this man had this crazy hold on her mind after all these years. And why did he have to be so damn Adonis like. And he still smelt so good. He always smelt so good. She felt herself getting hot and flushed as she thought of him. She could still remember touching his hard muscular body. She shook her head as if to clear it.
"For heaven's sake Aarti. Stay focused. You love Prashant and he loves you. You are here to get this man out of your life not to get into his pants. AGAIN!!! Look where it got you the first time." she chastised herself.
Finally she settled on a tight fitting jeans with a flowing top that hung off her one shoulder. She tied up her hair in a bun. Her measure of defiance. She wore stilettos again and applied some light make up. The driver had to wait for her about 20 minutes. But she didn't care. He could wait.
She was very concerned as they drove away from town.
"Excuse me, sir. Where are we going?"
"To Mr. Yash."
"But where is he?"
He didn't respond and just kept driving.
Finally they reached a house. I was a lovely home. The kind that she loved. It was big enough to be comfortable, yet small enough to be cosy. It was simple yet, elegant. She wondered whose house it was. She loved the house so much, she even forgot for a moment why she was there.
"Good evening, love."
She was brought back to reality.
"What is this place Yash?'
"It's just a house."
"Why are we here?"
"I told you. For dinner."
"Who lives here?"
"No one. Yet."
"I don't want to have dinner here. Let's go somewhere else."
"Everything is already prepared here, Aarti. Let's just go inside." He reached out for her hand. She averted it and walked past him.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw the single table in the middle of the room. Other than that, the house was not furnished. It was very simple. A round table with a single red rose in a vase as the centre piece. The table settings were simple. The plates were white with a silver rim and silver cutlery. Champagne flutes were next to the glasses and a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne was in a silver ice bucket next to the table.
She was even more nervous now. He walked past her, to the table and held put a chair for her. She looked at him and started walking slowly towards the table. Eventually sitting down and he pushed the chair in for her.
He smiled as he stood behind her. He knew exactly why she had tied her hair up. But it didn't work as she had hoped. The top that she was wearing was exposing the alluring nape of her neck and part of her back and shoulders that always enticed him. He breathed in her fragrance. She smelt like heaven. He trailed the back of his hand down her neck. He could feel her response at this touch. His lips softly touched her exposed shoulder before he moved to sit down. He was happy that he still had that effect on her. No matter what she said with her voice, her body was contradicting her. He knew her responses then and apparently it hasn't changed.
"I hope you are hungry." he said.
"Please just give me the signed papers so I can leave." Her voice was a hoarse whisper.
"Why are you in such a hurry Aarti? This is just dinner. Wait. I will get it for us."
He came with a pizza box.
"This used to be your favourite." He said as he put a slice of Mushroom pizza on her plate.
It still was, but she did not have an appetite. Her nerves were frayed. She attempted to lift the slice of pizza with her shaky hands, but she felt weak. It fell back down.
"Shall I feed you? You used to like that. In fact you used to insist on it sometimes. Do you remember?"
Her face turned crimson as she had flashbacks to those days and where those meals led.
"No, I can do it." She grabbed the slice and hastily bit off a piece and ate so fast that she started choking.
He jumped up and padded her on the back and when the piece of pizza dislodged from her wind pipe, he gave he a glass of water.
"Are you ok baby?"
"Fine. And I am not your baby."
"You should have let me feed you. That would never have happened."
"I am not an invalid." She sat down and started eating again, trying to ignore her.
Can I pour you some champagne?
"Fine"
"So why do you want a divorce all of a sudden."
"All of a sudden? How is this sudden? We haven't been together for the last 8 years."
"8 years 2 months and 17 days to be exact."
She looked at him shocked again. Amazed that he knew how long they have been apart up the day.
"If you say so. We should have done it a long time ago."
"So why haven't you come before?'
"It didn't matter to me before" she said.
"And why does it matter now?"
"I ... I am getting married."
He expected something like that, but it still rocked him to the core. He could not see her with anyone else.
"So tell me about him" he forced ahead.
"Why?"
"I am interested."
"No, I don't want to."
"Ok. Do you love him?
"Of course I love him. Why else would I marry him? I love him very much." to her own ears it sounded like she was trying too hard to be convincing.
"Does he love you?"
"Yes, very much."
"And he doesn't mind that you are married."
"He ... He doesn't know."
"Oh. Why didn't you tell him?"
"Because it is a time in my life that I want to forget." she said still looking down.
"It wasn't all bad Aarti."
"Yash, you can delude yourself about that time if you want to, but I remember it exactly for what it was and what I lost."
"What you lost? And me? Did I come off unscathed?"
"It seems that way to me. Big shot CEO of the family business."
"And you, a successful interior designer."
"It did not just fall in my lap, like your job. I had to work for it."
"Aarti ..."
"I am not discussing this anymore. Sign the divorce papers please. I want to go home."
"Dinner is not done."
"I have finished dinner."
"Desert. We must still have desert"
Her heart sank. She didn't want to stay here. She didn't want to be with him. All those old feeling came back.
"I love Prashant. I love Prashant" she whispered closing her eyes tightly. That would remain her mantra while she was with him.
"What are you saying?"
"Nothing."
"So here is dessert. Hot jalebi with ice cream. I hope it is still your favourite."
Damn, how did her remember all of this and why?
He didn't' ask this time as he started feeding her. And as much as she wanted to refuse. She couldn't. Not only was this desert her favourite, so was he at one time. He fed her and himself and he was quite close to her now. He put a piece of jalebi in her mouth and he started eating the same piece from the other side till their lips met. Their mouths stilled for a moment as their eyes were glued to each other. Familiar feelings and memories flooding both of them.
Neither remembered who initiated the kiss but their tongues were wreaking havoc on each other. Soon she was not on his lap as his mouth started making her crazy as it found its way to her neck and bare shoulder. She was lost. His hands found its way under her shirt. His palm moving up from her stomach to her breasts. Then his hands went around her back to undo her strapless bra. He tugged at her already taught nipples. She moaned in pleasure. Soon her top was lifted over her head. And he his hand were unbuckling her belt and then opening her jeans. His hand found the source of both their pleasure and rubbed her till she shuddered in and clutched his arms in pleasure.
Then he removed both their bottoms and mounted her on top of him. She didn't need an invitation as she started her desperate movements on top of him. And when he felt her shudder again, he lifted her up with him and put her on the table while she was still throbbing. He started thrusting wildly, making her orgasm continue for longer and it when it stopped, it happened again and again. Until he too let go.
She was weak with passion as he carried her to the bathroom, and turned on the shower. He had to hold on to her as her legs were too weak to stand on her own. She turned her back to him, he knew what her favourite position in the shower was. He pushed her up against the wall, with her hands against the wall, still holding her at the waist as he entered her from behind. Until they once again found their release.
Then he washed her and dried her and carried her to the bed. The only other piece of furniture in the house.
"I have to go" she breathed.
"Not yet" he said as he moved down and gave her pleasure with his mouth. This carried on till way after sunrise. They preferred not to talk. Just to enjoy each other.
She woke up in the afternoon. She was confused at first. Then the memories came flooding back. She saw the envelope and knew it was the divorce papers. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes. By the time she checked for his signature the tears were flooding down her eyes. It was there she saw through the blurred vision. He had signed it.
She got up, got dressed and left. He had left the keys. She locked the door as if she was locking the door to her heart. It was finally the end.
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