CONSEQUENCES (a fiction)-updt Chapter 16 (pg 51) - Page 15

CHAPTER 10

"Hello Mansi," she croaked hoarsely.

"Aarti, are you okay?" Mansi asked and Aarti laughed bitterly. She was farther from okay than she had been in her entire life and she told Mansi so. "You know Yash is right, you've done nothing wrong or to be embarrassed about. He's crazy with worry about you!" Mansi told her and Aarti flinched with a fresh flash of pain realizing how unfair this was for Yash. She realized it was hard for him to understand.

"Tell him I'm sorry but it's not his place for him to worry about me anymore," Aarti told her friend but now Mansi laughed bitterly.

"You can tell him that yourself. Honestly you can't be serious Aarti, if he doesn't worry about you then who will?" Mansi asked and Aarti felt a little irritated by her friend's harsh tone. It was clear who was going to worry about her, the only one who really had been there for her no matter what in her whole life, her father! She had to fix things with him; he was the only one who would always be there for her.

"Please tell me you don't believe that bull shit your father piled up on you. Yes Yash told me about the whole "disappointing your mother" crap! Don't you believe it Aarti, that idiot only wants you to be his perfect little lap dog," Mansi went on. "It's Yash you should be worrying about! You crushed him by saying what you did was wrong!," Mansi told her angrily and Aarti frowned. She knew she'd hurt him a lot, but it had to be done.

She knew she dragged Yash into this mess and she already apologized. There was nothing more she could do. "Mansi you don't understand. He is my father; I have to believe in him and I do believe him when he says that he's only doing what is best for me! He made a promise to my mother to take care of me! To raise me right, and how am I repaying him and my mother? By ruining every good chance he's had in his life to better the company and himself!" Aarti argued feeling a fresh batch of tears threatening to fall.

"I don't believe that for a minute and neither should you! Can't you see what he is trying to do Aarti? He said that on purpose so you will feel bad and come running to his feet begging forgiveness!" Mansi snapped at her and Aarti grew really angry at her friend. Why was she fighting against Aarti so hard on this when Mansi is supposed to be comforting her instead?

"No, you're wrong; you have always been wrong Mansi," Aarti shot back at her. Why did everyone want her to go against her father, he was her last and only family, how could she ever do such a thing. He needed her and she only hurt him.

"Now you're sounding like your father!" Mansi told her with clear bitterness in her voice.

"Good, maybe I will start growing some common sense for once in my damn life and stop making a complete fool of myself every time I get the chance," Aarti snapped back just as bitter.

"No you will only just end up being a cold bitter prick like him," Mansi replied causing Aarti's blood to boil, she couldn't believe her friend was doing this to her!

"Maybe my father was right about you, maybe you are just the bad influence he always talked about, nothing but trouble!" Aarti lashed out at her but she instantly regretted saying it and cringed at the sudden silence from the other end. She knew she now had hurt Mansi too.

"Aarti Satyendra Dubey, I've only tried to get you to live your life if only a little, and break you out of the cage your father has put you in your whole life! We've been friends since preschool and you're like a sister to me, I thought that would mean something to you. I guess you really are your father's daughter after all," Her friend told her with hurt filling her voice.

Aarti wanted to apologize but Mansi hung up on her before she had the chance. She let out a loud scream of frustration as she kicked and punched the bed. Her father disowned her, she cut Yash out, and Mansi was offended by her. How did she manage to screw things up so badly? She thought as she buried her face in the pillow and began to sob all over again.

The next day her body demanded desperately for food but she didn't have the strength to get up from the bed. He heart was completely shattered but managed to still ache terribly, her head throbbed as if someone had a vice around it and was tightening it more and more.

She moved her head slowly towards the window to her right and stared at the bright morning. She scowled at the weather, how the powers that be dare make today a beautiful day when it should be cloudy with lots of rain, thunder, and lightening. She turned back towards the ceiling staring at it trying to fight back more tears. She was surprised she had any more water left in her for fresh tears.

Strong knock on the door caused her to jump. She pushed herself stiffly from the bed but paused when she heard Yash's voice. As much as she wanted to run and open the door to throw her arms around him and feel his around her, she knew it would be wrong and only hurt him more. She ignored him for both their sakes, she knew if she saw him now she wouldn't be able to say no to him.

She silently begged him to leave as he continued to beat on the door and calling to her. Just when she couldn't take it anymore he suddenly stopped and she heard his car leaving. She quietly thanked GOD while getting up from the bed. She knew what she had to do now, she didn't know how she was going to accomplish it but she had to try.

Aarti glanced at the setting sun, and then towards her watch. It was nearly six in the evening. She had spent the whole day thinking of what she was going to do and now it was time to do the correct thing for once in her life. She lifted her chin in determination as she patted her hair lightly making sure it was still in its immaculate bun. She smoothed over her dark skirt and blouse then started towards the house.

She was sure if he saw her making an effort, then he would forgive her. She tried to ignore the little voice in her head telling her she didn't really want to do this. That her father and her job could all go to hell. She stiffened, and told herself resolute. "No, this is the correct thing to do; this is what I should do. I need to stop acting like a stupid child who thinks she knows better than everyone else," Aarti told herself quietly as she walked towards the elegant door of her childhood home. Her plan of coming to him had to work, if it didn't she didn't know what she was going to do.

She knocked on the door and her father opened the door almost as if he was expecting her. "What may I do for you?" he asked coldly and Aarti gave him a pleading look. "I thought I made myself clear yesterday!" He snapped and Aarti lowered her head nibbling on her lip feeling so ashamed of herself.

"I wanted to apologize. I realize now that you have been right and only have been thinking of my best interest. I also realize that I have done nothing to thank you for your efforts and in fact I seem to have done everything possible to make it harder on you. I know you're angry with me but I promise I won't cause you any problems again," she explained looking at him hoping desperately he would forgive her.

Her father stood there in silence for a moment and looking at her intensely as if he was examining her soul. "What about Yash Schindia?" He asked and she shook her head side to side slowly.

"I told him it was a mistake. I realize that I was only thinking of myself and not of how it would affect you or the company. I will no longer see him outside the office," she explained, feeling her heart ached as she said it but she tried to swallow the pain. He opened the door wider so she could come in and she knew he had forgiven her.

"Well, then that will be not at all. I fired him today," her father told her as he closed the door and Aarti's head shot up in surprise.

"You fired him?" She asked and her father eyed her with suspicion. "I mean I thought the company really needed him," Aarti added, trying to sound like she didn't care whether Yash was fired or not.

"That was before the idiot decided to sue me twice," her father spat angrily and she looked at her father confused.

"He is suing you, what for?" She questioned not understanding why Yash would do such a thing.

"First, due to I fired him because he refused to disassociate with persons that could bring harm to my company. Secondly, because he actually was pretending you two had a serious relationship and that because of my "harassment" you two were having relationship problems," he explained laughing as if what he just said was the funniest thing of the century. She chewed her lip trying to fight off the fluttery feeling in her stomach. Yash was seriously willing to fight against her father'for her.

The idea almost made her giddy, but Aarti shook her head in refusal. No, whatever Yash was doing wasn't for his feelings for her, it was probably something as silly as pride. Yash couldn't really care for her like that, the only one who cared was her father and she wasn't about to betray him again. "I had just finished speaking with my lawyers, they actually want me to reach some agreement with that idiot, I guess his lawyer had made a good case for the harassment lawsuit," her father snapped then looked at her with a hard determined face.

"Maybe I can talk to him and get him to drop it," Aarti said chewing on her bottom lip till it became raw wondering how she could fix all this mess she made.

"No, that isn't enough. No one messes with me like this and gets away with it. Now that you've come to your senses you're going to clarify that I didn't cause any relationship problems and what's more there never was a relationship to begin with!" Her father commanded her callously. Looking at him with a shocked expression while her stomach knotted painfully Aarti knew she couldn't do that; she would embarrass Yash if she claimed that!

"That would make him look like an idiot in front of everyone, I am sure I can convince him to drop it and there would be no need to embarrass anyone," she pleaded with her father but his face only grew colder and harder.

"No, you will do this! That boy wanted to do the same to me, and if he thinks he can make a fool of me then he has another thing coming. If you really meant everything you just said, then you will do this," Her father demanded and her gaze drifted to the floor seeing no way out of it and nodded solemnly.

"Yes father, you're right. I'll do it," she said defeated trying not to sound as crushed as she felt.

Once back at home she paced her living room back and forth feeling sick. Her father had literally written out exactly what she was going to say tomorrow morning when they meet with Yash and his lawyer. She really didn't think she could do it, it was lying and wrong. There was only one way out, she thought as she picked up her phone and turned it on. The phone started to ring almost immediately and she saw it was Yash. She smiled for a second weakly, thinking it must be a sign. If she could convince him then there would no need to lie.

"Aarti! Thank GOD, you finally answered," Yash said sounding relieved when she answered the phone and her insides twist with guilt and shame. "Please let me come over so we can talk! Give me a chance. I know we can figure this all out," he pleaded her desperately. She bit down on her lip hard realizing that it was going to be so much harder than she imagined.

"I don't think that is a good idea Yash," she managed to finally say. He started to reply but she cut him off. "Are you really suing my father?" She asked focusing on her irritation that he would do such a thing and making it so much easier to do what she had to do.

"Yes," Yash answered after a moment of silence. "He is wrong in what he is doing to us Aarti," he said and she shook her head in negation even though he couldn't see it.

"No he isn't, you shouldn't have done that," Aarti told him angrily. Why couldn't he just accept that this wasn't meant to be, it was so clear to see!

"Aarti listen," Yash started again but she cut him off. She couldn't let him speak or she would break down and she had to be strong to do what needed to be done.

"No, I want you to drop it Yash. You can't do this to him," she insisted.

"And what about us, Aarti? He can't just make us do what he wants with us," Yash replied sounding angry.

"There is no "us" anymore! I told you that it was a mistake," she told him silently begging him to just stop all of this and accept that it was over.

"No," he snapped, "Aarti, I refuse to believe this was a mistake!"

"I am sorry Yash, but it was," she insisted sadly.

"No," he shouted and she jumped slightly with surprise. "Say you're scared, say you changed your mind, but don't say it was a mistake because it wasn't. I don't fall in love by mistake Aarti," Yash argued and her stomach drop to her feet, he couldn't have just said that, he...loved her. That was impossible!

"Y-y-you don't mean that, you can't," she said her voice shaking terribly.

"I can very well mean it Aarti'and I do," he replied with a calmer voice.

Aarti shook her head in denial, how long does he know her, he barely knew her; he can't be honestly in love with her! "Yash, drop the lawsuit please," she begged going back to the subject at hand, not wanting to hear him say the "L" word again. Yash sighed loudly before he spoke again.

"Sorry Aarti, but I have to do this, I won't let him bully me around and you don't have to either."

"He doesn't bully me around; he is my father! I must do what I can for him, please, please, drop it," she begged.

"I won't Aarti, no matter what you say I won't. He is doing all this for himself not you. He may be your father but he doesn't love you'not like I do. You don't have to do as he says Aarti; I promise that I will be here for you, always!" Yash replied with a pleading tone.

Aarti felt her chest tighten, how can he say such things. How could he dare to promise to be there for her always? No one in her life had ever been there for her always, no one except her father of course. She ended the call without saying another word. She just wasn't able to take any more. She fell down on the sofa tears streaming down her face. Her world was upside down and turned inside out. She wasn't so sure what was right any more. Aarti begged silently that someone tell her what she should do.

The next day Aarti was shaking as she got stepped out of the car; she didn't feel prepared for what she had to do. She stared at the building trying to prepare herself for what was going to be quite possibly the hardest day of her life. No matter how hard she tried not to, yesterday's conversation kept running through her head. Yash is lying; he had to be, she told herself. There was no way after such short span of time he could feel that way about her. But why else would he be fighting so hard with her and her father?

No! She told herself, he was lying and because of that she hurt and betrayed her father! Her father had been there with her all these years, and would be, until his dying day. Who knows how long Yash would really be interested in her, despite what he had said. "You don't have what it takes Aarti, to keep a man interested for very long," Prashant's words keep ringing in her head like a warning.

Remembering that day Prashant dumped her, Aarti didn't allow herself to believe that Yash really loved her; he was so out of her league. It would be only a matter of time before he realized it and passed her up for someone else much more attractive than her. Then she would be alone, completely alone. She shoved all the sadness, guilt, and shame she felt deep down inside her till she felt nothing, then she walked inside. "Good morning Aarti" Mrs. Arora greeted her warmly but Aarti just nodded as she made her way to her desk.

"I thought you got fired?" Mansi asked her in a whisper when she sat down.

"My father gave me my job back when I apologized," she said momentously revising what she had to get done.

"So that's your choice then," Mansi said frowning at her clearly disappointed. Aarti was tired of people judging her all the time.

"Yes Mansi this is my choice! I chose my father over some guy I have only known a couple of months and whom I met when I was drunk in a club," Aarti shot back at the woman before her.

"Well "that guy"made you the happiest I have ever seen and "that guy"really loves you. You should've seen the mess he's been these past couple of days!" Mansi retorted and Aarti flinched at the "L" word, then plastered a cold smile on her face.

"No he doesn't! If I did what you asked and choose him over my father, what am I to do when he moves on to something new and I am alone with no one?" Aarti told her friend, wondering why everyone didn't get it, she and Yash weren't meant to be.

"So that is your excuse? Better I dump him before he dumps me. I got a lot of experience with men Aarti. So I really know them, and I can pick out a player, a prick, or a good guy a mile away. Yash is a good guy Aarti and he isn't going to be around a few months then go away! He seriously wants to be with you," Mansi argued but Aarti shook her head again refusing to fall for their false logic.

Just then Mrs. Arora ushered Yash and his lawyer to her father's office. Aarti ducked her head toward the table as they passed so he wouldn't see her. Her heart raced and she felt so awful noticing how haggard Yash appeared. She cursed silently feeling panicked but she closed her eyes forcing herself to stuff all of the dangerous feelings away before they threaten to overtake her.

"Stop being such a coward Aarti, and take a real gamble on someone for once," Mansi pleaded with her when they had entered in her father's office and Aarti shook her head feeling numb once more.

"I won't, I can't! Yash and I are not going to happen," she hissed standing up as her father motioned towards her. "And after today, we will never happen at all," Aarti added flatly.

"What are you going to do Aarti?" Mansi asked looking at her worriedly.

"What I have to," she replied. She entered in the office. Yash sat with his lawyer across from her father and his. She avoided looking at Yash as much as possible.

"Aarti what are you doing here?" Yash asked surprised.

"I work here," she said numbly not looking at him afraid of what would happen if she looked into his eyes.

"What is the meaning of this Mr. Dubey?" he demanded of her father and she could feel his gaze still locked on her and she kept avoiding his eyes and telling herself she was going to be doing the right thing.

"She is here to contradict your claims of harassment. Go on Aarti tell everyone here your account," her father demanded with a happy sneer. She took a deep breath, she had to do this, there was no other way, and exhaled slowly.

"I am not in a relationship with Yash Schindia nor have I been. We have merely seen each other on a couple of times but it was an only attempt on my part to cause problems for my father and his company," Aarti stated robotically, she had memorized her lines to perfection. Yash stood up so quickly that he knocked over the chair.

"Stop it Aarti! You know that is a lie," he shouted at her and she grimaced and keeping her gaze on the floor, feeling so guilty and ashamed for lying. She didn't want to lie like this but he didn't give her any other choice, she begged him to just drop it. "What the hell did you do to make her say that?" he shouted at her father, glaring menacingly.

"He didn't do anything, I am here on my own free will," she said with a flat tone, desperately trying to keep from crying and letting her true emotions spill.

"I don't believe you Aarti! Don't be afraid of him, you don't need him. I told you I am here for you and will always be, but you have to stop this," he pleaded and moved closer to her. She tried to back away from him but he grabbed her hand. She gasped in surprised looking at him for the first time since she entered the office.

Her heart ached terribly, as she saw the pleading look on his face, his eyes filled with emotion and sadness, and her hand warmed at his touch. She wanted to run to him, bury her face on his chest, hug him tightly and kiss him, to never let him go and believe that he would always be there for her, but she knew that was only a beautiful dream. She jerked her hand from his and forced her eyes back to the ground. "No he is my father and you are," she started harshly returning back to the script, "a co-worker..that I used. I'm sorry," the last part she softly mumbled under her breath.

"He may be your father but he is using you like a puppet. We both know that he forced you into lying for him. I love you Aarti and I will ask only one more time," Yash told her with anger and desperation dripping from his voice. Aarti felt the world stop; he had said he loved her in front of everyone there. Did he really mean it? She had never wanted something to be true so badly in her life, but she couldn't give in to him and betray her father again. "Don't do this Aarti please, don't let him rule you like this," Yash begged her with a softer tone but she shook her head.

"There you have it. I believe that removes all grounds you could possibly have for your harassment case," her father said smugly. Yash's lawyer started to say something but Yash cut him off. His face turned to a cold hard emotionless mask.

"We didn't lose any grounds; your daughterwould have to explain on how she planned using me to cause you problems, when she didn't even know I was going to work for you, when we first met and slept together in Las Vegas, all without knowing each other's names," Yash told her father harshly and her father's smug smirk disappeared into cold stoic expression then he turned his icy glare towards her.

"But forget it, obviously I was wrong in thinking I had something with her! I hope you're both very happy together," Yash finished coldly and Aarti felt the words cut her like a knife but she knew she deserved the pain. This is for the best...for both of us, she thought keeping her stare on the floor.

"We still have the matter at hand about the unlawful termination," Yash's lawyer began and her father coldly dismissed her. Aarti nodded and left the office quickly. She went to the bathroom as quickly as she could without running. She entered in the first stall she could and threw up. She began to cry and it was impossible to stop the stubborn tears as she crumpled to the floor of the bathroom wailing, while the tears gushed down her reddened cheek. If she was doing the right thing, why did she feel so horrible she thought as she hugged her knees.

Aarti wasn't sure how much time passed when she got up exhausted. She walked over towards the sink and glared at her reflection in the mirror. She sighed heavily feeling as if she aged forty years. She grabbed some tissue to clean her face and left the bathroom. She sat down at her desk gathering papers that need to be filed feeling empty and drained of life.

"That was the dumbest thing you have ever done," Mansi hissed at her and Aarti just shook her head. "He will never want anything to do with you after this," she added bitterly.

Aarti grabbed the papers angrily. "You think I don't know that! It had to be this way. Now, I have got work to do, leave me alone!" She demanded and stomped off with the papers.

"Aarti," Her father called from his office a few hours later. He was now the only one in the room. "You failed to mention that you met Yash in that silly little trip of yours to Las Vegas," her father shot when the door was closed and she flinched with his harshness.

"I'm sorry I didn't think-" she started staring at the floor.

"No, it's obvious you didn't. Let this be the last time you keep something from me understood," he demanded and she flinched again and nodded in agreement.

"It didn't matter in the end; neither of the lawsuits will go to court. We came to an agreement, he agreed to leave the company quietly and I have given him a generous severance check and a good recommendation. I am happy to say that he is going back to Nevada where he belongs!" Her father explained with a large smile on his face.

Aarti felt her heart ache hearing Yash was leaving and knew for sure that she would never see him again. "That is good. I am glad that despite my stupidity things have ended well," she told him and he nodded dismissing her from his office. Leaving her father's office, Aarti went to file the papers she'd held so tightly until her knuckles had turned white.

This is good...this is good, she kept assuring herself. Now her life could return to the normal routine that she had so desperately wanted, when Yash had arrived and messed it all up, but somehow this victory didn't seem as good as it did a few months ago. Aarti could feel her heart bleeding. Her whole world seems to be so empty and hollow...she failed...failed, yet again!

I love this story!!! Poor Aarti and Yash!!!