CONSEQUENCES (a fiction)-updt Chapter 16 (pg 51) - Page 12

The next morning Aarti woke up slowly, with her eyes still closed she snuggled into her pillow. Curious as to what time it was, she slowly forced her eyes open. Her breath hitched in her throat when she realized she wasn't in her bedroom. Aarti started to get panicked. She remembered passing out on Yash and he saying something about taking her home...but did he mention to which one...his or hers? Oh GOD, why me?. Aarti was nearly in tears.

She carefully turned around and glanced at Yash, who was still sleeping. An unknown feeling stirred her stomach and a smile forced it's way onto her shocked face and there was no denying to herself now, she'd in fact had fallen for him. He wasn't only incredibly handsome and sexy but she relaxed completely when she was around him and could be herself. Aarti enjoyed his company immensely, strangely even when he was irritating the hell out of her. Honestly now that she thought about her life before him, it seemed to be so drab and dull that she was a little unsettled.

Aarti turned away from Yash feeling guilty, embarrassment and doubt eat at her. Why is she doing this to herself...again! Did she actually fell for his trick and slept with him? That must be it! Otherwise why is she in his shirt...but the thing is she can't remember a thing, unlike the last time, she remembered everything though she was drunk. Funny, why isn't she upset now as she was the last? What is going on with her? What is this new sensation she's getting in her stomach and why does her heart flutter like a butterfly whenever she sees him? She hadn't felt this way when she was with Prashant...she'd never felt this relieved, contended and fulfilling in her life before...everything seems to be so lovely and beautiful. Unknowing to Aarti, a little smile escaped her lips while her eyes sparkled. Was doing this, being with him, the right thing to do? She closed her eyes and silently prayed that it wouldn't end badly. Dear GOD, please don't let him end up seeing me like Prashant did, she pleaded. Her throat tightened with anxiety and she just had to get up out of the bed and away from Yash. Carefully she pushed back the blanket and got up from the bed but apparently not carefully enough.

Yash's arm suddenly wrapped around her waist and pulled her back down onto the bed. Aarti gasped in surprise as Yash rolled on top of her. "What is it with you and sneaking out of bed when I am asleep?" He asked her with a hurt expression that she could tell was serious.

"I am not sneaking!" Aarti demanded and couldn't help but notice how the anxiety that forced her from the bed had vanished.

"Right, Gollum! Then what exactly do you call it?" He asked with a playful grin on his face.

"Gollum?" She gasped in horror. "You did not just compare me to that little monster," she cried with the best frown she could manage and tried to push him off of her.

"Yes I did, now get over it and answer my question!" He replied as he pinned her down with an evil glint in his eyes and she growled at him trying hard to look pissed but it didn't seem to be working.

"I was just getting up; I don't believe I need your permission for that," she said, raising her chin with stubbornness.

"Actually I think I like that idea; from now on you can't get out of my bed until I allow you," he said grinning down at her and she laughed at him not believing what an arrogant and absolutely attractive jerk he was being.

"Oh really, and what if I say no?" Aarti shot back trying hard not to smile.

"Then you will have to suffer the punishment," Yash replied simply as he looked at her seriously, but her expression turned sombre looking at him dejectedly.

"What's wrong Aarti?", Yash asked cupping her cheek. "You've punished me enough, you got what you wanted last night. I'm just your toy, Yash. I'm just doomed and the whole town now knows that am no different than Nida Khanna", Aarti ended in her choking voice while her eyes glistened with tears threatening to drop in any second.

Yash got up abruptly pulling her up with him. He forcefully pulled her face to face him. She could see his confused expression turning to anger and there's hurt in his eyes. He clenched his jaw and pressed his lips tight as if he's controlling his fuming anger.

"What is with you Aarti", he spoke after what seems like an eternity. "Why are you doing this to me and yourself. What exactly is your problem. Why aren't you giving us a chance, and what exactly do you think happened last night?", Yash was almost screaming while his eyes were shooting daggers at her and his long fingers were gripping both her arms tightly as if he's going to crush her bones anytime. Aarti flinched in pain but was adamant not to show her pain. Yash immediately loosened his grip seeing her and regretted his action. He can never ever hurt her, even if she hurts him so deeply.

Yash cleared his throat "Aarti, nothing...absolutely nothing happened between us last night. At least not what you were thinking. You were drunk, Aarti! I mean seriously "drunk" last night. You couldn't even stand straight for heaven's sake! Worst, you puked and had a nasty fall and hurt yourself", he said in such a resigned tone and hurt in his eyes. Aarti 's heart gave a tug seeing him and immediately regretted her words, but she's not convinced.

"Then, why am I in your shirt. Why didn't you take me to my house or get Mansi to assist", Aarti said softly raising her eyebrows questioningly at Yash.

"Because "your" Mansi is equally drunk as you, and I didn't want to leave you all alone in your house, that is why. And for your record Ms. Aarti Dubey, you've dirtied your shirt and skirt completely with the fall, and not to mention, wet it too", Yash snapped at her.

"So, I had to change you into my shirt as I "don't" keep women's clothes in my wardrobe and I've no intention of dirtying my bed with you in your dirty clothes", Yash said in a tone dripping with irritation.

Aarti lowered her eyes, ashamed of herself. Oh GOD, she'd completely made a fool of herself and behaved idiotically with Yash. Aarti virtually smacked her stupid brain for thinking ill of Yash. He's a gentleman after all. "I'm sorry", Aarti murmured in a voice that for a second Yash had mistaken it as mouse squeaking somewhere in his room. Yash's lips curved into a smile seeing his Aarti pouting, her eyes were so beautiful and innocent. She looks nothing more than a child who just got an earful for being mischievous. GOD, why do she have to be so innocent, beautiful and vulnerable all at the same time. Why, he can never even get upset with her for a minute. Yash had this indescribably insane feeling creeping up at him at that moment. He just wanted to embrace her and kiss her ever so passionately...not letting her off his sight for ever and ever. Oh Aarti, you're going to be the death of me one of these days. Yash pulled her into a tight embrace and both fell on the bed with Yash on top of Aarti. He cupped her chin and kissed her lips softly which turned passionate and deep. Aarti pushed him softly and smiled embarrassedly.

"Aww Aarti, you're doing it again", Yash said looking at her with desire.

"What...what am I doing?", Aarti asked innocently and blushing. She can feel her face turning into deep shade of pink and now red.

"That sweetheart, that blush and you're not helping me to control myself here", Yash purred against the nook of her neck nibbling her skin. Aarti could feel her whole body reacting to his kiss and touch dangerously and she wants it to continue. What? Continue...no no no, not now at least!

"Please, you don't scare me Mister!" She returned and managed to get out from under him and up from the bed. She stuck her tongue out at him in a childish show of victory.

"You were warned," he told her, grabbing her quickly and pulling her back onto bed. She shouted in protest as he pinned her wrists above her head. "I warned you, Aarti, now you have to suffer your punishment," he told her and with his free hand began tickling her sides. She squirmed in a fit of laughter, soon with tears running down her face. How did he seem to know her every weakness?

"Okay, okay, you win," she cried after a while feeling the lack of oxygen starting to affect her and her sides started to hurt from laughing so much.

"See now was that so hard?" he asked then gave her a quick peck on the lips and releasing her wrists.

"Yes very," she pouted, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Now let me up! I am starving," she told him and he shook his head.

"First you have to ask me for permission," he told her slyly and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Yash, you can't be serious," she said pushing him a little harder but he didn't move. Aarti gave another growl and relented. "Fine, Yash may I have your permission to get out of this bed before I starve to death," she said sounding bored and he seemed to think for a moment. "Yash," she cried as she gave his arm a playful slap.

He laughed and rolled off of her and she looked for her clothes. He handed her his track pants, "I think this would look great on you," he told her with a flirty expression.

"Oh please that is so clich," she said rolling her eyes but put it on anyways.

"Maybe, but my shirt and pants does look good on you." Yash told her with a wink that still made her insides turn to mush.

Yash insisted on fixing her breakfast and Aarti hesitantly agreed worried about how well a city boy like him could cook. She sat at the small wooden table eyeing him nervously and he finally set a large cheese omelette in front of her. It looked really good but she wasn't sure yet.

She poked the food with a fork. "Really, your confidence in me is astounding missy," he said shaking his head and Aarti couldn't help but smile.

"Well if I end up in the hospital, I will be sending you the bill," she threatened as she finally cut off a piece of the omelette. She stuck in her mouth ready to grimace but surprised to see it was really good. "Wow this is good!" Aarti admitted when she had swallowed.

She eagerly took another bite and he laughed as he sat down next to her. "I may be from a big city family but I am resourceful and not some spoiled punk expecting everyone to do everything for him," he explained just before he took a bite of his own omelette. Aarti eyed Yash as they ate. She realized that in the three weeks she'd known him, she knew nothing about him.

"Tell me about your family Yash," Aarti requested as she continued to eat.

"Well my parents have been married for nearly thirty-seven years, I am the third of four children. My father is a renowned lawyer in New York and Nevada, having his own firm, and so is my elder brother Pankaj, but he's married and lives in L. A. My mother is a housewife but your typical high class social bee, my sister Neelam is married to an Investment banker and lives in Missouri, leading the soccer mom life. My younger brother Prateek is a doctor and recently got engaged, he's practising and living in San Francisco. And as you already know, am an Accountant. Hmm...there is really not much more to the Schindia's family," he explained a little monotonously, "What about you Aarti, do you have any siblings, and your mother?" He got up picking up the empty plates from the table once they had finished.

"There really isn't much to tell about me. I was born here and raised here, in fact I've only been out of town once," Aarti told him with a small smile that he shared. "I don't have any siblings, and my mother died when I was little. So it's always just been my father and me," she said with a small shrug.

"I'm sorry," Yash told her sitting back down beside her.

She smiled at him brightly noticing he wanted to say something more but she knew there was nothing to say. "Thanks, but don't be it was a long time ago, I was three at the time. I don't even really remember her too much," Aarti told him with a shrug. "Well I should probably head back home," she announced as she got up from the table.

"Don't leave yet Aarti, please," Yash asked her, getting up as well.

"I need to take a shower and put some real clothes on. I can't stay in your shirt and pants all day," Aarti replied.

"You can take a shower here and why can't you stay in my clothes all day. It makes you look even sexier," he told her with a sly look on his face. Before she could say anything Yash lifted her up to set her on the kitchen counter. "Besides I want to spend my whole weekend getting to know you better Aarti...I just can't tear myself away from you," he told her pleadingly with eyes full of hope and love...yes, love...love which meant for her and her alone. She couldn't stop the blush from forming on her cheeks. How can she ever deny him now...GOD, this man is full of surprises, and how can one resist falling in love with him. Yes, fall in love...in love...Aarti Dubey has officially fallen in love with Yash Schindia. A tiny smile escaped Aarti's lips looking at her Yash with eyes full of love and desire...the desire to make him hers forever...till her last breath...finally, her destiny has found her.

Aarti smiled as Yash and her sat on the couch watching a movie, she wasn't sure what it was. She'd never seen it before and wasn't really paying attention. Her mind was running over the events that had happened during the day. Yash had been fussing around her all the time trying to keep her occupied with his questions and they even had a Chinese take-out for lunch and spent their time in each others arm all day. Yash barely left her side.

Aarti had never felt so treasured before and she had to admit she loved every minute of it but doubt gnawed at her too and refused to go away. Thoughts of Prashant kept running around in her head. Aarti chewed on her lip remembering at the time she would've sworn Prashant loved her as much as she thought she loved him. Being with Prashant seemed so real and so meant to be but it wasn't real or meant to be.

The night he dumped her, Aarti thought he was going to propose to her. Instead Prashant confessed how boring she was, especially when it came to the bedroom because she refuse to have sex before marriage. Her one principle she'd always held close to her heart, but until now she couldn't fathom what made her to loosen her grip on the principle, when it came to Yash. Well, that's when Prashant gave her the "friendly warning" that she just didn't have what it takes to keep a man interested in her for very long. Her chest tightened painfully as she remembered how she begged and pleaded him to tell her what she was doing so wrong and how she swore she'd change whatever it was.

Aarti tried to swallow the ugly insecurities that started to rear their heads and hissed that she'd go through the same with Yash. That he'd grow bored of her and toss her to the curb no matter how bad she'd beg him. "Hey Aarti, what's wrong?" Yash asked, cupping her cheek turning her face towards him. She looked up at him, his face filled with concern and for the first time Aarti wondered if Prashant could have possibly been wrong. Could she keep Yash happy and at her side, or was the only man destined to stay with her is her father?

"Nothing Yash, I am fine." She told him with a small smile and leaned against him resting her head on his shoulder, not ready to express her thoughts to him.

"Doesn't look like nothing by the expression you had," Yash replied wrapping his arms around her and hugging her. Aarti's smile grew feeling the warmth of his body fill hers. "You know Aarti, you can tell me anything. No matter what, I am here to listen," he added and Aarti felt pleasantly surprised.

"Thank you Yash, that means a lot," she told him, kissing him softly wrapping her arms around his neck, praying silently that Prashant was wrong because she really wanted to stay like this with Yash forever.

"I'm fine, why would you need to worry about me?" she asked as she sat down at her desk trying hard not to smile that much.

"Gee, I don't know you left with Yash Friday night and have been M.I.A. for the whole weekend. Speaking of which I haven't seen Yash either," Mansi replied with an impish smile and Aarti's blush and ear to ear smile betrayed her. "Aha! Just what I thought! I want all the details," Mansi demanded excitedly and Aarti laughed lightly.

"Talking about me?" Yash asked walking up to Aarti's desk, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Of course we are, you pretty much kidnapped my best friend during the whole weekend," Mansi reproached.

"Well I wouldn't call it kidnapping, but yes I suppose you could say that I kept her busy," he replied with a large grin.

"Can you two please stop talking like I am not even here," Aarti told them both shaking her head.

"Wow, possessive already?" Mansi asked and Aarti felt her cheeks burn red as she rolled her eyes while Yash just laughed.

"You two are horrible, now if you will excuse me, some of us have real work to do," she said pointedly at them preparing the papers she needed to give her father.

"Hey I just call them like I see them," Mansi teased her with a evil grin then turned to Yash. "Treat her right, or else, Mr. Schindia, you're a dead meat," she warned him and Yash's smile grew.

"You don't have to worry about a thing Ms. Patel, I plan on doing exactly that," he replied and Aarti's cheeks continued to burn with her embarrassment. Mansi smiled brightly and Yash turned to Aarti again. "Well I guess I should get to work. I'll see you later Aarti," he told her with a sigh that made her smile.

"Yes you should, see you later Yash," she told him, standing up to present the papers to her father. Starting from that evening and continuing throughout the days and weeks Yash came to her house or she went to his apartment. They did spend quite a bit of time in each other's arms in their respective homes, and at times they spent some quality moments outside of it, simply by holding their hands together. They'd chat while watching a movie or just simply lay together on the couch in a comfortable silence. Before she knew it two whole month flew by and so did the weekends.

Aarti smiled happily as she walked into the office on yet another Monday. No matter what she did, she couldn't keep a smile off from her face as she worked throughout the day. Though by lunch time, her mood was dampened by her demanding stomach. Aarti organized her papers and stood to leave when Yash called her in his office. She moaned quietly, couldn't whatever he needed her to file wait till after lunch, she complained silently.

"What do you need Mr. Schindia?" she asked with a professional tone as she entered in his office. Yash closed the door behind her and pulled her towards him. "Yash what are you doing?" Aarti gasped in surprised and he gave her that look that she learned by now that meant she wasn't going to be getting her lunch anytime soon.

"I missed you," he told her kissing her. He sat on his chair and pulled her along with him. She sat on his lap with a thump and her hand accidentally hit the stationery stand. Yash ignored the things that fell onto the floor.

"Yash, what are you doing? We can't be behaving like this here," Aarti told him after breaking the kiss and trying to push him away from her. He pressed her against him and trailing kisses along her neck, making her laugh giddily.

"Everyone is leaving for lunch and technically we are off the clock so it's our time," he replied to her strengthening his grip on her waist. She felt her capacity for reasoning fade away and giggled as his hands snuck under her shirt and tickled her sides, and made him smile at her reaction.

Someone cleared their throat and Aarti remembered why she should never do anything even remotely against the rules, as she pulled away from Yash to see her father, looking at them with stern disapproval. She always got caught, without fail. Her face burn with a deep blush and Yash stepped away from her with a sheepish expression on his face. Aarti quickly pushed herself off of Yash's lap and straightened her shirt which had been pulled out from her skirt.

Her father looked to her and then to Yash with a look that demanded they explain themselves. "Um, hi dad," she finally said not knowing what else to say. Apparently Yash didn't either; he just stood there rubbing his neck nervously.

"Hi, that is all you can say," he told her coldly and Aarti bit her lip looking towards the floor.

"Mr. Dubey'" Yash started but her father held up his hand for him to be quiet.

"I had heard the rumours, but I didn't believe them. I was sure you would never do something this stupid," he snapped at Aarti harshly and she bit into her lip harder. "I finally got a top class employee, and you had to go and'.and seduce him!"

"Mr. Dubey, I wouldn't actually'." Yash started again but her father cut him off,

"No don't, I thought you would be more professional than this, after all I heard about you. What would your father think if I told him how you allowed yourself to enamoured by her," he snapped at Yash using a nasty sneer when he said "by her". Aarti felt humiliated and ashamed, just like she did that night Prashant dumped her.

"Now what do you think will happen to this company when this fling you've tricked him into inevitably falls apart," Her father asked with a condescending tone. Aarti bit her lip, not sure what to say to appease her father. "Did you forget what happened with Prashant, the disaster that was'for the both of us?" He demanded and she looked at him horrified, how could he even mention Prashant there in front of Yash like that.

"No father I didn't forget but Yash'" she started but her father cuts her off.

"Is what? Different? What makes him so different Aarti Dubey? Prashant treated you the same'for a time. Or did you forget that I found Prashant and you like this once too? You know how embarrassed you made me with that whole mess; everyone was talking about it for weeks! Don't you forget either that it was me who had to fix everything. I'm the one who took you back, nursed you when he kicked you out of his life," he lectured her.

"And it was my company that suffered because my brilliant employee had to leave to the west coast because he just couldn't stand my daughter as his girlfriend any longer!" Her father lectured her.

"Now wait a minute," Yash shot looking angry but her father gave him a hard cold glare.

"Don't you dare say anything, I get it. She can be pretty at times and appear to be really charming but she's not. I don't know where I went wrong, but this girl is a walking tragedy, and sooner or later Yash, you'll get tired of cleaning up the messes she leaves behind. I'm her flesh and blood and even I sometimes have a hard time doing it," he told Yash and Aarti never felt worse in her life. She knew what her father was saying is the truth.

"Aarti Dubey, I swore to your mother on her death bed I would do everything I could to raise you right so you would never suffer her absence," her father stated looking back at her. "But this company is my life's work and I can't allow it to become a victim of your destructive talents. I've tried everything I can, to try to make you into something resembling, a successful and driven person but between Prashant, the clients you drive away, and now possibly ruining my next best chance at a great employee, I don't think I can do it anymore. I just don't understand how could you be such a stupid fool. Your mother would be so disappointed in what you've become!" Her father told her sadly.

Aarti stared at him, her eyes blurry with tears. He'd never told her that before and now she felt like horrid monster. She never meant to embarrass him or her mother. Would her mother be ashamed of her? Her humiliation increased tenfold realizing that everyone had probably been laughing at her the whole time and whispering about what a silly fool she had been. How could she really think that someone like Yash would want to be with her?

His face darkened as he continued, "I can't do this anymore Aarti Dubey. May Shoba forgive me, but I just can't continue! I have tried so hard but I just can't do it anymore! If you are determined to make a fool of yourself, then so be it, but you're not taking me, my reputation, or my company that I worked so hard to go down with you!" Aarti felt her heart stop. "I disown you Aarti Dubey, you may have the Dubey name, but you're not my daughter any longer," her father finished harshly and she gasped, not believing what he was saying.

"Papa, you can't mean that!" Aarti exclaimed. He looked at her with his cold dark eyes and she didn't see any love in them but cold disappointment.

"I can and I have! Needless to say you are also fired so get your things and get out," Aarti's father snapped, looking away from her.

"Dad please don't, I'm sorry I really am," she begged him but he refused to look at her.

"You have ten minutes before I call the security and have you thrown out," he told her and Aarti's mouth fell open. A pit opened in her stomach as the tears fell freely and she felt as if he had struck her.

"Sir, you can't be serious! I've only known Aarti for a couple of months, but I know she's not the person you're describing. I don't know what happened in the past but our relationship won't affect your company," Yash insisted and her father glared at him.

"Relationship? I admire the effort son, but I know my daughter more than you think. Prashant thought she was a good woman and now look where he's at, off in California. I don't want to lose you Yash, you're a valuable member to this company but I suggest you reconsider how you carry yourself and eliminate any embarrassing acquaintances that reflect badly on you," her father threatened Yash and he looked at her father dumbfounded.

"Are you threatening to fire me if I don't break up with your daughter?" Yash asked.

"I've said what I've said, you have till tomorrow to decide," her father told him coldly. He turned to leave the office but Aarti rushed up to him grabbing his arm.

"Dad, wait please, I wasn't thinking, I didn't mean to'" She begged one last time but he ripped his arm out of her grasp and walked out of the office. Aarti started to sink to the floor but Yash grabbed her and pulled her to him. She burst into tears burying her face into his chest. She felt so horrible, more than she had felt in her whole life. She had broken her father's heart with her inconsideration and bad behaviour, which broke her own in return.

"I'm sure he didn't mean that, he was just surprised that's all. You're not the woman that he just described and our relationship won't be like that," he told her soothingly running his hand over her hair softly.

Aarti shook her head and pushed him away from her. "No, he never say things that he doesn't mean. This is all my fault," she cried putting as much distance between him and her.

"Aarti, you didn't do anything wrong, you're free to have a relationship with whoever you wish," he told her with an obvious tone of irritation in his voice. She shook her head, wiping the tears from her face. If only that was true but she knew better. She knew from the start this would end badly, why didn't she listen to her instinct.

"No, he is right; this is the story of my life! No matter how mature, serious, or professional I try to be, I always end up making an ass of myself! I should've listened to him. I never should've gone to Las Vegas and I should've never met or slept with you there! I most certainly shouldn't have let myself to fall for you either when I knew you'd be working with my father!" Aarti told him as she attempted to gain control of herself and not break down like she wanted to do.

She tried to ignore the hurt look on his face. "I majorly embarrassed myself as he knew I would; now I have gone and messed up this for him too! I knew you were my father's prized employee and he wouldn't like it," she ranted feeling so angry for being so stupid! "GOD! I do have to say this was the stupidest mistake I've ever made," Aarti said with a bitter scoff at her foolishness.

"No, yo..you don't mean that, you're'" he started but she broke him off.

"Yes I do Yash, I am sorry but I really mean it. I keep stubbornly trying to be like everyone, when it's so clear that I'm not! Prashant knew it and warned me about it! My father knew and he tried to tell me too, several times in fact. If only I had just stopped and listened to them! I have done nothing but hurt the people I love and now it have gone too far and it is too late." Aarti told him angrily.

Aarti's chest ached when she saw the extremely hurt look on his face. "I can't express how sorry I am that I dragged you into the mess that is my life," she added before she walked towards the door.

"Aarti stop, your father is being unreasonable. You didn't make any mistakes or do anything wrong! Please don't do this, don't leave," he pleaded with her but she shook her head and left his office quickly. She rushed over to her desk grabbing only her handbag. She couldn't stay there any longer she was just too close to breaking down and she couldn't let everyone in that building see her lose it.

"Aarti what's wrong? I just saw your dad stomp out of Yash's office and into his own looking like he was ready to kill someone," Mansi asked worried and Aarti shook her head again.

"I can't talk about it right now Mansi. I have to get out of here," she said chokingly and nearly ran out of the building. She couldn't believe the mess she had made! She got into her car and the tears started to stream down her face again. She started cursing herself over and over. How could she seriously have been so stupid? She drove quickly and half blinded by tears, not caring if she got in an accident or not.