SS: Aru Ki Sapney ~~ Chap- 7 Updated pg - 13 ~~ - Page 3

Chapter-3

Aru had been giving Mr. Rathode a tour of her factory and explaining what products she had been using in her work when she noticed he kept glancing at her forehead.

"What?? Why do you keep staring at my forehead?" Aru couldn't keep quite anymore when he looked at her forehead once more.

Vijay quickly hid his smile of surprise at her directness. Not a girl to mince words. "You still have colour stuck in your head." He pointed with his fingers.

"Oh..." Aru tried to rub her hand over her forehead getting self-conscious, "Woh... I can't get all the colour off...it is still stuck in my scalp."

"Here let me..." Vijay tried to rub off some colour close to her hairline. There was one particular spot in the middle of her forehead where the colour was concentrated giving the impression she was wearing sindoor. Somehow he didn't like it...he didn't like seeing her in it when it was not in his name. He knew it was absurd thinking but still he didn't like it and he tried not to ponder on it instead he tried to rub that particular spot off.

But before he could do it, Aru fend him off. "It's okay, I will do it. All will go away once I shower." Vijay hid another small smile seeing her so prickly of him touching her. She is still so innocent!

When he was waiting for her to comeback half an hour ago, he had quickly opened the scanned contract files from his email to check who was their supplier, something which he hadn't felt the need to do before. He saw the contract was drawn between them and one Ms. Arundhati Nanavati of Ahmedabad. Just Amazing! So young and already such a successful entrepreneur all by herself. And when she was giving him the tour he had seen how dedicated and passionate she was about her work. Not everyone could yield so much respect from their employees but he had seen how much all her workers respect and love her. He couldn't help but be more impressed with her.

At that time, a bit hassled looking Patel entered. "Arey Aru ben kemcho? Sorry for the delay you won't believe what happened... our ca--- "he stopped talking when he saw who Aru was standing with.

"Vijay Sir, you are here?? I have been so worried for you when you vanished like that...I tried to call but couldn't reach you." Patel exclaimed, knowing how his boss's son was like. No interest in business at all.

"As you can see I am alive and well. There is network problem in this village that is probably why you couldn't contact me. But see I have reached where I am destined to be. Ms. Arundhati has been giving me the brief." Vijay said flicking a wistful look at Aru. "And I must say I am quite impressed."

Patel smiled good naturedly. "I told you, you can trust her."

"You never told it's a 'her' and that too so young. Good thing you never mentioned I wouldn't have believed anyways."

Aru smiled embarrassingly at his praise as she resumed her tour again with both of them. She was finishing up when a panicked looking Mastana arrived and signaled her that he wanted to talk to her alone.

Mastana being panicked was nothing new, he only needed an excuse to start panicking at drop of a mere hat but still Aru excused herself and went to him quickly. Before he could say anything she thrust her hand forward, "At last!! Give it to me quick."

"Dau thau gaiyyo!! What?? "

At Manstana's confusion Aru slapped his arms.

"My mangalsutra or what?"

"I don't have it??" Mastana replied confused.

"You don't? Rami ben didn't give you?" Aru asked crestfallenly.

Mastana shook his head.

"Then why have you come here?" Aru was seriously feeling pissed , this was the worst day ever.

"Woh, Mukhiyani bhabiji, Mukhi bhaiya ko pata chal gaya and he is super angry. I have never seen him this angry in my life."

"What did he get to know?" Aru asked carefully.

"That you jumped in front of a tractor and almost died."

"But--but..but... I did it to save his Chammo's life. " Aru said worriedly.

"I don't know. But he is super angry at you and coming here to-- to--"

"To...kill..me.. "Aru whispered in dread finishing his sentence. Mastana regretfully nodded his head in agreement.

"You are so good Mastana bhai to give me heads up. I will remember this help. "Aru said and quickly turned towards her clients smiling too brightly.

"Patel Bhai, Mr. Rathode. It was so good you came here today. Hope you are satisfied with the work." Aru said talking as fast as she could. Before letting any of them answer, she continued, "Woh I suddenly remembered I have this important job. Very important...matter of life and death... so I have to leave. But you guys stay...look around this factory...Kajol ben will attend you and answer your further queries. And I will talk to you Patel Bhai, over phone...bye. Jai shree Krishna."

Before even giving them a chance to answer, Aru vanished. Vijay stood stupefied. Yea ladki hai ya bullet train?? He would be damned if he let this be their goodbye. He was not done with her yet. He had to know her; he needed to stay near her. He frustratingly looked at Patel discussing their order with who must be Kajol ben. He was so not interested.

Vijay was thinking of ways to meet his dream girl again when a middle-aged man entered the factory and everyone seemed to scurry around him at once. His stance exuded power and demanded absolute attention without even his trying.He walked inside as if he owned this place and stood in the middle with a vicious scowl in his face. " Aru kaha hai?" he demanded the people around him but to Vijay's utter astonishment everyone looked as if that was the first time they heard her name. That man shook his head exasperatingly and shouted, "ARU??...ARU ??"

Little did Vijay know that everyone already knew about Mukhi's anger and was trying to save their pyaari Mukhiyani from her husband's wrath. He came forward and tried to be helpful.

"Aru just left."

"And you are?" the middle aged man queried still looking pissed.

"I am Vijay Singh Rathode, I am Aru's client."

"And she left you in the factory like this?" The man asked in shock.

"Yes, she said she has something important to do, a matter of life or death...she left."

Vijay was not sure but he thought he heard the man say something like 'daffor' under his breath. The man suddenly smiled which turned his harsh features approachable. "Don't worry about her. Tell me, did you guys have a pleasant journey here?"He asked conversationally.

By the time that man left, Vijay was shocked and feeling happy for the first time after reaching India. That man was the Mukhi of this village, Raidhan RajKatara, not that anyone could tell seeing his humble behaviour. Hearing about their car problems, he offered Vijay and Patel to stay in the Panchayat Resthouse tonight and that he would send someone to fix the car. He even invited them to attend a village function that was going to be held tomorrow. Vijay wondered whether Aru was avoiding meeting this man??Was that why she left like that?? But whatever it was he was sure this nice man Mukhi would be the cupid of his and Arundhati Nanavati's love story.

"DI, what are you doing?" Aru exclaimed as she entered her bedroom and saw Dharmi drying her wet hair with a towel in front of the dressing table. Dharmi must have just gotten out of shower, because she was obviously wet and so was her dress...it was almost see through. Aru quickly went over and draped a dupatta over her sister.

"Di what are you doing here?" Aru asked again.

"Woh my shower was not working so I thought of using your bathroom. Why are you back from work so early?"

"I came home because--- Di, you should be more aware how you dress, this is the time Mukhiji comes home, what if he saw you today in this state of undress in this room instead of me?"

"Oh Aru, don't be a prude, I am fully clothed. My clothes would have dried within minutes." Dharmi rolled her eyes and threw away the towel carelessly and started going through Aru's dressing table.

"Phir bhi---" Aru started to say but screeched when she saw what caught Dharmi's attention, " Di, Dont-- put that down."

Dharmi stopped wearing the jhumkas but she didn't put them down.

"What is your problem Aru? I am just trying these jhumkas not killing anyone."

"Di, please give those jhumkas to me, you can't try them."

"Enough of your insults, I understand I am living under your roof, but that doesn't give you right to treat me like this, don't forget these all should have been mine, but you got it because of sheer luck and my bad luck. You have no right to all these. You have no right to behave like this, specially with me."

"Di, why are you saying like this? Try something else but not these...These jhumkas are very special to me because Mukhiji gave them and it has some----it is just special to me...give them to me"

Hearing that, Dharmi became angrier. "Are you trying to show off??Mukhiji gave me this, Mukhiji gave me that...He gave you so much already...all those expensive jewelries you flaunt, all those fine clothes in which you like to strut around, but still you can't spare these jhumkas to me?"

"Sorry Di, No I can't" Aru snatched those jhumkas from Dharmi's hand. "And don't come to my room when I am not around." Especially half naked, She kept the latter part to herself though.

"Why? Do you think I am a thief? I will steal all your jewelry?" Dharmi spat.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore. Leave. My. Room. "Aru bit out.

Dharmi left in a huff giving Aru a cold stare. Aru didn't know what's wrong with her sister. She was sick and tired of her sister's taunts and crazy behaviour. What had turned her once upon a time sweet sister so venomous? Aru knew all people had different way to cope with grief and given the hurt Anshul gave Dharmi, she had to be in pain still...But Dharmi was going too far...Sometimes Aru felt like Dharmi was trying to impress Mukhiji... as if trying to... Aru shook her hand...no, her sister couldn't do that...she couldn't be that bad...she was just coping with her grief.

Aru went to take a shower feeling wretched.

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"Aru?" Mukhi entered his room still angry at his wife. When would she grow up? Enough of her childishness. Enough of her impulsiveness and stupidness, he was done treating her with kids gloves. Today he would shake some sense into her.

"Aru" he thundered again. She must be hiding again. Mukhi was not pleased at her juvenile antics in fact her these actions keep highlighting their age gap more making him feel ancient like a mummy.

"Aru--" He called out again and was about to go search her outside when he saw her silhouette in the veranda. Mukhi was surprised seeing her standing so still and looking melancholy lost in her thoughts.

"Aru?--" he called out with less heat and this time she heard. She turned to look at him and smiled, "Oh you came back?" Mukhi knew his wife's every smile and this was a fake smile.

"Aru, are you okay? Are you hurt, in pain?" Mukhi asked, concern taking over his anger.

"No, I am fine. And I am ready for your lecture. Shoot." Aru said calmly.

"So yes, as I was saying---" Mukhi started clearing his throat, surprised seeing Aru so cool and not trying to weasel out of his anger. "When will you grow up and grow out of your childish antics??...you are not a teenager anymore...you are a grown married woman and try acting like one. You can't act so recklessly anymore and take your life for granted. Jumping in front of a tractor ?? Aru?? Are you serious??? What do you think of yourself heroine of some movie?? You are not alone anymore to take your life so lightly and you have to remember someone else's life is also entwined with yours now." Mukhi stopped for a bit waiting for Aru's tirade to start. He knew how much she hated being called a child. But Aru remained quiet.

"Don't you have anything to say in your defence?" Mukhi urged.

"No...go on." Aru said quietly.

"Go on??? Go on??? Main kya tujhe lohri sunah raha huun k tu mujhe bolrahi hai, go on? Look Aru, if this is some kind of your tactics to weasel out of this situation acting like this...acting sad...you can forget it. I am not going to spare you...I am so angry with you...I am done with your irresponsibility and impulsiveness...I am going to----"

Mukhi couldn't go on anymore seeing such a forlorn Aru, he took her in his arms, " Eiii Aru, Shu baat che?kya hua?? Tell me??" He said wounding his arms around her and Aru nestled in his chest like a homing pigeon. Mukhi shook her gently. " Mujhe adaat nehi hai na...tujhe aisi chup chap dekhne ki...Where is my bak bak Aru??I want her back... Why are you so quiet?"

"Kuch nehi, it is just a bad day." Aru said, still hiding her face in his chest.

"Aise kyon bol rahi hai?"

"you know about my mangalsutra,how it got torn, then the tractor incident happened, it destroyed the dyes and I have to buy them again, also fix the factory wall...I was covered in colour and dust when I met my client-only god knew what impression he got of me, when I came home, I got to know Ramiben lost my mangalsutra, now you are scolding me like this and---and my sister, she...she--"

"What did Dharmi do to you?" Mukhi said quietly. He was aware how Dharmi had been acting recently. At first he thought it was all in his mind but then he realised Dharmi was indeed flirting with him. Whenever Aru was not home she was all over him...to such extent nowadays he had been staying outside until Aru reached home. He couldn't share these things with Aru though...He didn't know how to get out of this mess Dharmi was busy creating.

"She was...she said something...I didn't like it." Aru said sadly.

"Forget all these. See what I have brought you." Mukhi gently peeled her off him and tied the new mangalsutra around her neck.

Aru gasped in surprise and pleasure seeing her new mangalsutra. She looked up to her husband holding the locket of the necklace and smiled her lovely smile.

Atlast! Mukhi sighed in relief seeing Aru smile. Mukhi cupped her face in his hands, "Now you are looking like my beautiful Aru. Always smile like this. I don't like seeing you pensive."

"Thank you Mukhiji."Aru said shyly.

"But It doesn't mean I have forgiven you. It was a very rash thing you did today. " Mukhi said sternly still holding her face gently.

Aru pouted and wound her arms around his waist trying to be cute. "But I did it to save Chammo na?? What if something happened to her?? You would have been so hurt."

"Yes I would have been hurt. True. But if something had happened to you, I would have died." Mukhi said looking deep in her eyes in all sincerity.

Their faces were too close. Aru kept looking at this wonderful, beautiful man in wonder. Dharmi di was right. She was indeed lucky...the luckiest woman on earth. Her eyes shifted towards his lips. They were so close and Aru was surprised that she didn't feel like moving away. She wanted his mouth on hers and he wanted to kiss her too...she could feel it as well. Aru closed her eyes ready to receive his kiss, offering her lips to him. Seconds tickled by and she could feel his breath on her cheeks.

Suddenly she was jerked apart and Aru opened her eyes in surprise. "I am famished." Mukhiji was saying brightly looking anywhere but at her. "Uma is making pakodas. I want them. Do you want them?? Come... "he left before Aru could even reply.

Rooted to the floor where she was entwined with her husband just seconds before, Aru's heart was still beating fast. She opened and closed her mouth like a gaping fish; feeling cheated being denied the kiss which was so rightfully hers. What the hell was wrong with Mukhiji? She thought in indignation.

That night Mukhiji went to bed first and fell asleep before she could even reach the bed. How could a person fall asleep so fast?? Aru thought exasperatingly. He had been avoiding her all evening avoiding her touch as if she got plague. Even now, he was sleeping turning away from her in a corner leaving huge space between them as if she was some persona non grata. Aru harrumphed in frustration.

Just after 12 am Aru got up. She couldn't sleep, she wanted her kiss and was gonna get it anyhow.

Next : Chapter 4