Originally posted by: aryapdane
Part 9
Over the course of the week, Virendra re-learnt the importance of trusting his instincts. He should never have allowed the boy to stay back, least of all under his own roof. He should never have fallen under the spell of her smile. And now, he was suffering for it.
His mood had worsened with each passing day. He was never an easy going man but now, the slightest mistake ticked him off into a rage that was hardly appropriate or justified. His kids were on their best behaviour. His family tiptoed around him as if he was a lion nursing a terrible toothache. Even Munshi ji avoided any interaction with him unless it was an absolute necessity.
The only person who could approach him without risking bodily damage was Purvi. But he had hardly seen her outside the time they were preparing for bed, so busy was she trying to ensure her friend was comfortable.
What made it worse was that he could do nothing to improve his beastly mood. He could hardly toss the boy out on his ass without flouting every rule of hospitality at best or looking like a desperate lunatic at worst. So he was left to direct baleful looks at the two of them. He was doing just that from the balcony overlooking the garden as they laughed together at some stupid joke.
"Didi bohot khush lag rahi hain."
Virendra turned around at the unfamiliar voice and found his sister-in-law standing behind him. He furrowed his eyebrows in a disapproving frown, hoping she'd take the hint and leave him alone to his brooding. He had never spoken two words to her and didn't want to start just then. Not when the topic of their scintillating conversation was going to be how happy her sister looked, now that she was reunited with her oldest friend. But the girl proved to be just as undaunted as her maddening sister. With a smile, she came to stand closer to the railing of the balcony he was standing in.
"Vipul aur woh bachpan se humesha saath rehte the."
"Achha?" Virendra murmured, trying to think of something to excuse himself.
"Unn dono ki toh shaadi bhi hone wali thi," Priyashi supplied with another gormless smile.
Every cell in his body froze in place. Only the jealousy that had made a home in his belly moved, coiling tighter and tighter, itching to strike at something, anything, sink it's fangs in.
"Oh? Toh ke hua? Kyun na hui inki saadi?"
"Pata nahin kyu Vipul wahan se chala gaya. Aur didi ki shaadi aap se ho gayi."
Virendra nodded with a little smile that did little to mask the anger he felt coursing in his veins, poisoning his blood. He strode away without another word.
He came back late in the evening, oscillating between wanting to break something and tear at his own skin. The anger he had left with, had mounted into a red hot rage instead of quelling. He made a beeline for Sakshi's room, the one room in the house he was sure he wouldn't have to face her in. For it would only be a mistake. It was too soon. In his present state of mind, he would most likely make a fool out of himself.
"Oh, you're home."
Her voice caused a twinge in his heart, stopping him dead in his tracks. He turned around almost involuntarily. So much for not facing her.
There was a smile on her face, a smile that lit everything around her. And the jealousy in him flared at the sight. What right did she have to look so happy, so content when he was feeling so miserable. His fingers tightened into a fist and he pivoted on his heel, striding into the room where he kept his paintings.
He made a prayer to whichever God was listening that she wouldn't follow. But all the Gods were deaf.
He could hear the tinkering of her anklet as she entered the room.
"Where were you all day?"
"I'm surprised you noticed I was gone," he said with a sardonic twist of his lips, his voice lowering into a deceptively soft tone.
Her eyes widened in surprise, as if she couldn't fathom why he would say such a thing. And why would she understand? What reason did she have to find out what was bothering him? She didn't even have the time to glance at him.
"Why wouldn't I notice? You weren't at home. And I have eyes," she snapped.
Virendra grinned at her mirthlessly. "Where is your friend? Varun, is it?" he asked with a slight frown.
"Vipul." She corrected him.
And even amidst his towering anger, he was fascinated with the play of emotions in her eyes. She had the most expressive eyes he had ever seen, changing to show the emotions she was feeling. They turned soft when she was happy. They blazed in anger. Right now, they were filled with a sort of wariness. Like she was afraid of him. As she should be.
"Whatever. Where is he?"
"He left today."
Virendra turned away and walked further into the room, not trusting himself anymore. She had come here because the boy had left. She was only seeking him out, because the one she really wanted to be with wasn't here anymore to keep her company. He closed his eyes briefly.
I love you, she had said. But how much of it was true he wondered now.
Surely she had felt something for that boy. They had grown up together. They were even going to get married. Of course she had felt for him.
"Is that why you are here?" he asked her before he could stop himself.
She came to stand in front of him. "What do you mean?"
He lifted his shoulders in what he hoped was a casual shrug. "Well, you know."
The confusion was replaced by anger now. "No, I don't know what you mean."
He tried to turn away from her but her hand encircled his arm. "Is this about you being jealous?"
"No," he snapped at her. Well, it was. But that was neither here nor there. Virendra turned his head towards the large windows in the room, gazing out as he tried to frame the next words in such a manner that it didn't make him sound pathetic. "You could've told me, you know."
"Told you what?"
She hadn't let go of his arm and he felt the warmth of it on his skin like a brand. She let it go at his next words. "That he wasn't just your friend. That you were going to get married to him."
"It's not like that."
"No? You weren't going to get married to him," Virendra asked, tilting his head to the side. "Because I've heard differently."
"I mean we wereâŚ"
"And you didn't tell me," he bit out. "How hard could it have been? Mukhiji, this is Vishnu, my childhood friend. We were going to get married."
"His name is Vipul."
"I DON'T CARE," he bellowed. "Why did you lie to me?"
"I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you. It's not the same thing," she gritted out.
"You're still not answering my question. But you don't need to. I already know," he said. The bitterness was thick on his tongue but he pressed on. "You have feelings for him."
"What? No, Mukhiji."
"Of course you do. Why else would you hide it from me?"
"I wasn't hiding anything from you," she said, her chin held high and even in that moment, all he could think was how easy it would be to kiss her now. He would just have to bend his head slightly.
"You were right to hide it from me. Because I won't let you go. Not until you pay back every penny that I gave your father," he said, taking a step closer to her. "Do you understand that, Purvi?"
She tilted her head higher, to keep her eyes locked with his. "You're afraid."
Virendra took a deep breath, trying to calm the heart in his chest. Everything in him wanted to mock her, to send her running with a scathing reply. But all he could do was repeat the word afraid like a mindless idiot.
"You're afraid I'll leave you. But you told me you only loved Sakshi ji."
"I only love Sakshi," he said without hesitation.
She closed her eyes for a moment, as if his words had caused her physical pain. "Then, what do you want from me?"
His hands rose to cup her face in them. "I don't know what I want. Only that my desires will destroy me in the end."
His mouth descended to cover her's. She trembled in his hands before folding herself to him, as her mouth moved against him. His fingers found the locks of her hair, tangling with them as he kissed her with a desperation he didn't know he had in him. Her arms entwined around his neck, as she pressed closer to his body.
A knock on the door caused them to break free from each other, both trying to catch their breath.
***
I'm so sorry this took so long. I was really busy today. Also, I apologize for how lengthy this became. But once I started writing, I knew he was going to kiss her. And I couldn't stop until he did. One more thing. This is unedited. So if there's any mistake, please ignore it. I'll correct it later.
Ciao
Arya.
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