Basically this one is dedicated to my friend shubhika, who wanted me to write an OS. It's my version of how I want Aarti's truth to be disclosed. Leave your valuable comments please
Au Revoir Derniere!
Aarti wrapped her arms around her slim body as she felt another chill air sweep across her.Gazing at the moon, from the terrace, and talking to Yash under the moonlight everynight, had always been her favorite time of the day she overlooked.
She shivered, not because of the cold air, but because of the fleeting memories, that rushed in her brain. She had herself confessed calmly in front of the entire family that she was a divorcee and as expected, Gayatri Scindia , had been so harsh and abusive that Yash cut her in.
Yash's words rang in her ear, yet again, making her feel a chill down her spine.
"All I needed was a mother to my children and I am happy that I found the right one. It doesn't matter if she's a widow or a divorcee. And I expect everyone in the house to treat Aarti ji the same way as before"
Aarti's heartbeats accelerated when she heard footsteps behind her. Preparing herself, she opened her mouth to speak.
~*~
"I fell in love with Prashant at college" she told Yash as soon as he came and stood beside her.
"We were perfect together. With loads of fun and bunking classes, we felt we were destinied to be. Prashant had already spoken with his parents about me, and I was ecstatic that they accepted me whole heartedly.
"We did not have a very elaborate wedding. Months passed, and Prashant's business slowly began to face losses. We tried all we could to make it stable, but someone else got there first-Nida.
"Nida was Prashant's business partner and she had looks to die for. Already our relationship was going through a tough phase when Nida entered. It was a big blow for me. Prashant's interest in Nida was evident. I was scared-scared that I might lose him the same way I lost my parents.
"And that was when the miracle happened. I found out I was carrying his child-our child-Prashant's own blood!" Aarti paused. Yash slowly cocked his face to look at her. There was a glow in her face-the same glow when he always had seen her with their three children.
"I thought things would change for better. But I was wrong, very wrong. Nida had offered him a part of her property so that she could help Prashant stable his business. They started touring together.Nights, I waited to tell Prashant my good news. I waited for days to tell him-waiting for him to come .
"But he never did. Then one day, he finally came back. But, " Aarti swallowed a lump, "He handed me some papers. I felt the world fall apart-they were divorce papers. I begged, pleaded, for him to come back. To give me another chance. I called him so many times, only to receive the same answer, he told me I was selfish.
"I broke down. I was very weak and the doctor had advised me to take good care of myself or else, I'd have to lose Ansh too. I started being strong. I wanted to live. I wanted my son to see the world. I knew I would.
"Many nights, I craved for something unusual. Like tarts for instance. I would stay awake all night because I wouldbe starving and there wouldn't be anything in the kitchen to satisfy me! I missed Prashant. I often dreamed of him coming back and giving into all my demands.
"I dreamt of our happy little family. But it never happened." Aarti's voice broke as she felt a tear drop roll down her cheek.
Yash ignored his blurry vision and continued staring into the distance. He felt suffocated. Never had he thought she would have such a horrible past! He looked at Aarti who had her head bowed. He knew she was crying.
After his internal debate, he slowly reached out for her hand and squeezed it whispering, "Don't"
She looked up at him wiping her tears with her free hand and spoke to him, "Yash ji I never wanted to keep you in the dark. I always wanted to tell you this truth-the truth of my cursed life. But I was petrified that you'd ignore Ansh.
"I was a bad mother, Yash ji." she chuckled before continuing, "I never wanted Ansh to be deprived of a father's love. That is why I married you and that is why I hid this truth from you. I am sorry. I truly am!"
Aarti lifted up her eyes bravely and looked into his deep brown ones. She saw a layer of moisture lining his eyes and felt a squeeze in her heart. Smiling warmly she said, "Arpita di is lucky. Very. She has a husband who loves her still though she isn't with him. Unlike me."
Turning back on her heels Aarti, rushed downstairs into their room.
*_*
When Yash walked into their room, he saw Aarti curled up like a ball on the couch snoring deeply. There were trails of dried up tears and as Yash walked towards her, he saw her holding the picture of their children close to her heart.
Yash's heart ached. He yearned to cradle her in his arms. He wanted to tell her that everything was fine and she did not need to worry about anything. But sadly, he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to speak to her that he was allright with her past, and he did not care about it. Feeling utterly defeated at the hands of fate, Yash looked around and for the first time in his entire lkife time, felt Arpita unwanted in the room.
Arpita.
His brain was frozen at the pictures of Arpita decorating the walls of their room. For a moment, he felt foolish-utterly foolish. He imagined himself in Aarti's place for a fleeting second and understood how much pain she would have felt seeing him doting over his first wife when she herself was lost in the memories of a failed marriage.
For a moment, Yash closed his eyes and was amazed at the vision of Aarti cross his mind! At that moment, his eyes snapped open and he knew what he had to do. He knew very clearly that, a part of him would always love Arpita in all the years to come. And he very clearly knew that Arpita would never mind him giving another chance to love.
Yash walked towards Arpita's picture and slowly removed each one of them one by one from the wall. Taking a step back, Yash stood admiring the clean white walls with the outlines of the pictures hung. He heard Arpita's cheery voice in the background saying, "There! See? Giving life another chance wasn't too hard, was it?"
Feeling a grin spreading across his face, Yash turned around as he saw Aarti's sleeping form illuminated by the silvery moonlight. Yash could feel his insides warm up reflexively as he bent down and kissed her forehead deeply.
Their past didn't matter anymore and all that would matter would be the future they would be weaving together holding hands and never leaving them for eternity.
Au Revoir Derniere!
The End.
*phew*
How was this? Boring?Good?Crap?
Do share your lovely feedbacks.
Lots of Love,
Sally.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
