CONSEQUENCES (a fiction)-updt Chapter 16 (pg 51) - Page 37

Yash stood outside the club, feeling surprised by how nervous he felt. Sameer had already gone in before him. He took a deep breath and entered the crowded club and looked around. He felt his breath stop when he saw her at the table in a corner talking with Aman. He rubbed his still sore jaw while he watched the two, till Aman looked up and saw him standing there waiting, just like they had planned. Aman gave him a discreet nod and Yash returned it.

Aman made his excuse and he frowned watching Aarti beg Aman to stay, making him feel so jealous and angry. Aman freed himself from her and a smile crossed his lips as he watched Aarti pout with her chin resting on her fist. Serves you right, he thought bitterly as he stood there watching her even after Aman had already left, he felt stuck in place.

He couldn't believe that after so many long months she was right there, but he also recognized the change in her. Her brown eyes that had sparkled with life six months ago were now dull and haunted, she was paler and thinner than he remembered, and she had a general air of defeat about her. Slowly, he managed to get himself walking towards her. Just as he had gotten to her table, she got up suddenly and ran straight into him.

"Whoa easy there Jalebi, now where are you running off so quickly." Yash told her, not being able to resist the irony. He felt her stiffen and slowly she looked up at him with surprise painted all over her face. Her legs gave out from under her and he grabbed her so she wouldn't fall, surprised at how much she was affected by him. Aarti opened her mouth several times but she didn't seem able to get any sound to come out of it. He couldn't help, but smirk down at her seeing she was at total loss for words.

"Wow! I knocked you off your feet and left you speechless?," he teased her and she turned into a bright shade of red that made his heart skip a beat or two.

"Is it really you?" she finally managed to ask, catching him by surprise once more by the hopeful look on her face.

"Yes Aarti, it's really me," he said coolly and suddenly she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself against him and kissed his lips. Yash's jaw dropped in surprise as all of his blood seems to go haywire and rushing all over his body in record time. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, not being able to stop himself from returning her kiss just as intense.

They finally broke the kiss, Yash was breathless and becoming confused. Aarti seemed to be just as surprised by her actions as he was. She gasped quietly turning once more bright red removing her arms from around him, and yet again he was surprised by the fact that he didn't want the loss of contact between them despite his original intentions.

Aarti started to clumsily mumble to herself, but he couldn't quite get what she was saying but he was guessing that she was chastising herself. She looked back up to Yash biting her lip. "I…I sh-" she started with a look of insecurity, but he interrupted her with a gentle kiss before taking her hand and led her to the dance floor without saying a single word.

They fell into rhythm easily with the music and Yash found himself mesmerized with her lips that she insisted on chewing on so nervously. He wondered what was so special about them that they made Aarti's kisses so incredible. So incredible that he had never been able to find a woman that kissed half as good as she did. Feeling his resolve starting to slip, he looked away from her lips onto her face. She was looking at him with an expression he couldn't read and that irritated him, he felt the need to know what she was thinking.

"I'm so sorry Yash," she said suddenly. He could see tears in her eyes threatening to fall with her face filled with sadness. Yash wasn't sure what to reply back to her. He told himself long ago that even if she dared apologize he would never accept it, she didn't deserve it. "I've been such a horrible person to you and I really have done nothing more than step all over you," she explained.

"Yes you have," he replied with a slight bitter tone that caused her eyes to fall downwards, filled with tears.

"I can't even begin to know how I could ever fix what I have done or if that is even possible," she continued. It's too late for that, was all Yash could think with bitterness. He started to tell her so, when she spoke again. "I know you probably don't care by now, but I just want you to know that...I DO LOVE YOU, even if I have a horrible way of showing it. I love you and will always do...till my last breath," she finished with beautiful tears in her eyes and Yash felt his whole world stopped when she said "will always do..till my last breath".

Aarti stepped away from him and Yash felt more confused than ever. He didn't know what to do, he had come here for the sole purpose of revenge. He wanted to make her worse fears come true, to humiliate her the way she had done to him, but now he wasn't sure if he could do it. She had finally said what he had wanted her to say that day, more than half a year ago, and now she had said it willingly. It was clear that she had suffered as much as he did.

Yash came out of his thoughts and realized that Aarti not only had stepped away from him, but she was walking towards the door to leave. Panic seized him as he lost sight of her. He bolted in the direction she had gone, realizing that he couldn't possibly lose her again. It would simply crush and destroy him beyond the point of return. He pushed through the mass of people, ignoring their complaints till he caught her by the hand. She turned and looked at him with her tear streaked face filled with confusion.

"You're a silly woman Aarti," he told her with a pointed tone and her face twisted even more into confusion as he pulled her up against him and lowered his lips to her ear. "I love you too, silly...I have always, since the first time I laid my eyes on you," he whispered and she jerked back in surprise.

"Seriously? Even after everything I've done to you?" she asked with surprised tone and she did look so surprised and confused, that he couldn't resist a small laugh.

"Yes, seriously," Yash replied with a smile on his lips. "But only if you can really love me, not only in words but in actions as well. I need you Aarti...I need you to let me in your heart and life...let me be the one who cheers you up when you're depressed...the one who you'll tell your day to day happenings during the evening...the one who you'll confide your dreams, wishes, and fears to...and I want to be the one who wakes up next to you every morning...I want to be the first thing your eyes sees in the morning. I need you to do all of this and never let something like what happened six months ago happen again. I couldn't pass through that phase again, and I don't think I'd survive the next time...it would just kill me. I need you, Aarti...I need you so badly in my life...I'm just incomplete without you...you make me, Aarti...Yash exist because of you Aarti. Do you think you can do that for me?" he asked looking intently into her teary eyes, waiting desperately for her reply.

Every second that passed with her silence was ripping his heart into pieces...her silence were killing him, and the fear that she'd again walk away from him was growing, and he knew it would crush him worst than what it did to him the first time. "YES," she whispered slowly and quietly, and he had never felt more relieved in his life...his heart skipped a few beats and his stomach churned in a way that he literally feel he was floating in the air. His lips curved into an impish smile which grew wider.

"Sorry, I didn't hear that," he told her and she pressed her lips together nervously, only making his smile grow, aww...how he missed teasing her.

"Yes, you did hear me," she said with a small smile and he shook his head in denial. "I said YES," she repeated a little louder emphasizing the "yes" and he shook his head.

"What?" Yash repeated with a strained expression.

"YESSS!!!," she shouted this time causing several people to give them an irritated looks.

"Oh yes," he repeated and grabbed her lifting her up into his arms and spinning her in circles. He was feeling happier than he ever had in his life. Yash kissed her again as he slowly set her back on the floor. "GOD, it took you long enough," he told her pinching her waist. She squealed jumping away from him slapping him lightly on the arm.

"Hey, watch those hands," she scolded him with a playful look that made him want to throw her over his shoulder and run to his apartment with her as quick as he could. He pulled her against him once more.

"No, you're mine now and you will just have to get used to it," he told her evilly and she blushed once more.

"I don't remember agreeing to that condition," Aarti replied with a pointed tone but playful look on her face.

"Some things don't need to be said Jalebi, it just comes with the package" Yash replied back and she just rolled her eyes at him. He lowered his head to hers, so he could give her another ardent kiss.

"Well, I will take that as a good sign," he heard Aman tease and Yash groaned silently as Aarti pulled away from him, turning to Aman.

"Hey Pansy, couldn't you have waited a little longer. Can't you see that we are busy?' Yash snapped a little acidly and Aarti gasped looking at him horrified.

"Don't worry too much Ass, I just wanted to wish my friend a good night," Aman replied.

"Aman!" Aarti exclaimed turning her horrified look to her friend who gave her a wink and she looked back to Yash, then back to him. "You two….have met?" she asked surprised.

"Yes, we have. Who do you think set up this little meeting?" Yash told her and she looked at Aman who nodded and gave a little shrug.

"I knew it! I knew you two were up to something," she replied then doubled her fist and punched him in the arm.

"Ouch, what was that for," he complained and Yash was nearly doubled over with laugher.

"What's that for?! It's for not listening to me!" she snapped, resting her hands on her hips.

"Well, someone had to do something. You're too GOD damn stubborn to do it yourself!. If it wasn't for me, you'd still be in Indianapolis with your typical pout, buried in mountains of books," Aman told her and she rolled her eyes at him.

"That is so beside the point!" Aarti glared at him. "I guess that explains the busted lips," she said with a matter of fact tone as she gave him a sharp look and looked back at Yash. She seemed to notice for the first time that he too had a split lip.

"I am sure you will find a way to forgive me, Study Bunny. See you tomorrow," Aman told her musing her hair and she shrieked batting him off with her hands. Yash felt a small pang of jealousy, but successfully ignored it since it was his arms around her this time.

"Don't bother going to the hotel either, your things had been packed up and sent off to where it should rightfully be" Aman winked and told her rising up two key cards, and she gawked at him in disbelief all over her face. Aman winked at her again with mischievous smile and disappeared once more into the crowd. That guy wasn't so bad after all, Yash thought.

"GOD, I have been set up?," Aarti huffed and he grinned at her brightly pulling her close to him.

"Yep, but he's right, you had it coming. You really are too stubborn for your own good." Yash told her then took one of her hands in his, leading her towards the door.

"Where are we going?" she asked and he gave her a naughty smile.

"Where I can have you all to myself, it has been more than six long months waiting for you to come around," he told her and she turned into a bright shade of pink.

The trip to his apartment never seemed longer as he glanced over towards her. He couldn't believe she was sitting right next to him and he was going to take her home with him to what would be a very long and happy night that would only lead to many more long happy nights in their lives. His blood was boiling and his body was burning when they got to his apartment. As soon as he closed the door, he pulled her against him and trailed desperate kisses down her neck, wrapping one arm firmly around her waist and the other hand buried itself into her beautiful ebony hair. She giggled quietly.

"You're not even going to show me around your apartment first?" she asked him teasingly with a rough husky voice. GOD, how he missed that sound.

"There is only one room you need to see right now," he told her picking her up and tossing her over his shoulder. She screamed in surprise.

"Oh GOD, Yash! What are you doing?" she shrieked as he carried her off to the bedroom. "You're going to drop me or something! Yash, put me down," she demanded clinging to him fearfully. He laughed full heartedly and tickling her waist with his pointed nose.

"Don't worry Jalebi, I'm not going to drop you," he replied setting her down when they were in his bedroom. "I'll never let anything happen to you," Yash told her huskily and giving her an intense and hungry kiss. He pulled her close and moaned as her hands moved over his chest eventually resting on his shoulders. The kiss ended and Yash felt almost dizzy. "I've missed you so much Aarti," he told her as he slowly untied her dress' strap at the back of her neck and loosened the dress.

"Really?" she asked, sounding surprised and blushing deep red. He got on his knees before her and slowly pulled her dress down, letting it to fall on the floor. He looked up at her blushing with a down casted eyes and surprised to see both her hands were slowly closing up her chest. This is not the first time for them...why now?

"Of course I did Aarti, no woman has ever made me feel like you do, no woman can turn me on like you do," he told her honestly as he moved his hands up slowly from bottom of her legs to her waist, enjoying the silky softness of them. She blushed further and a small smile appeared on her face, and a wave of want washed over him.

"So, it's just not me then," she said quietly and he looked at her confused.

"What's not just you?" he asked and she blushed, but clearly was hesitant to answer. He smiled and kissed her thigh softly as his hands continued to explore her body, reacquainting themselves with her curves. "What's not just you Aarti? Remember, you promised to let me, in all your feelings," he insisted.

Her blush deepened and he waited, almost fearing she'd pull away from him again. "It's just….well…umm...well...the thing is..." she started and he smiled, waiting eagerly to hear her answer. "Ever since...umm...that...that first night…it's never been like that for me before or ever, I've never felt this way before," she confessed and Yash felt his pride swell. "Every time you got near me …." she went on and blushed brightly, looking away from him. Yash stood up, removed her hands off her chest and softly turned her face to him.

"What Aarti, what happened? Please tell me, I want to know," he told her, needing to hear how he affected her.

"Every time you were near me...m..m...my body would go crazy. I'd feel like I was burning, but just one look from you would make me shiver all over. After that first night, it was like...I was addicted to you," she answered him, still in bright red colour, and Yash let out a long slow breath, feeling more aroused than he thought possible.

"Yes Aarti, it has been just you...only you always, that is after I met you. Even when I tried, I couldn't bring myself get an inch closer to any woman, other than you Aarti. I've never felt this way with any of my exes...you complete me Aarti" he told her, slowly removing the rest of his and her clothes. "You make me feel special and wanted Aarti, that I could never possibly get from any other women in the world...even now, you affect me the exact same way. Deep down inside I knew, within the first ten minutes of seeing you for the first time, that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, I want you to bear my children, I want to raise them with you, I want you to be my parents beloved daughter in law, I want to grow old with you and I want to hold you in my arms till my last breath" he told her in a serious yet sincere tone, whereas his eyes depicted the truthfulness of his words and love that he have on her.

The next morning Yash woke up to find Aarti staring at him. "What?" he asked curiously and she blushed pink.

"Nothing," she said quickly and looked away from him but Yash pulled her against him, nuzzling softly her cheek.

"Aarti," he started with a pointed tone. "Remember you promised, so tell me what was going through that beautiful mind of yours," he demanded and she blushed even deeper.

"It's silly," she complained and he smiled, insisting once more before nibbling on her ear softly making her giggle "Okay, I was just thinking that I couldn't believe last night was real. When I woke up I was afraid for a moment I might have dreamed it all. Go ahead and laugh at me now," she stated, looking embarrassed. Yash cupped her face in his hand giving her a soft chaste kiss on her lips.

"I'll never laugh at you Jalebi, and that is the most perfect thing you could have ever said to me," he told her kissing her again, also noting that it was the first time he had woken with her still in the bed instead of gone or leaving it. He planned to stay in this bed with her for as long as it was humanly possible.

In fact, they didn't get up till well into the afternoon when both their stomachs were complaining from the neglect. He had insisted she wear his shirt as he found it incredibly sexy to see her in his clothing. Yash kissed Aarti's cheek softly as he prepared a quick breakfast having pinned her between him and the stove, feeling the need to have her against him at all times. "This is no way to cook Yash, you're going to burn the food, yourself, or me for that matter!" she insisted.

"Don't worry about a thing Jalebi, it's almost finished anyways," he told her, giving her soft kiss on her neck making her laugh softly which grew louder as he pulled her across the kitchen to grab some plates.

"Yash will you stop," she laughed with a large smile that was making him forget about his need for food for another need that was starting to grow to dangerous limits again.

"Well, I guess this explains why you missed our date and didn't answer the door," a woman stated from behind them. Yash cursed and wondered why the hell he ever gave that woman a set of keys to his apartment. He turned to face the woman standing there with a stern look and her hands on her hips.

"Hello mother, sorry about the lunch. I completely had forgotten about it," he stated with a smile. Aarti made an odd squeaking sound and dashed behind him to hide herself. He could almost feel the heat from her blush on his back and he smiled. His mother raised an eyebrow with a questioning look.

"Hmm..I can see that, who might that be?" she asked simply and Yash smiled.

"This is Aarti," he told her and his smile grew.

"Aarti…as in the Aarti," his mother asked and he nodded moving so she could see the woman he was so madly in love with, but Aarti gasped hiding behind him again. He tried to pull her out from behind him, but Aarti slapped his arm and complained.

"Oh! don't do that Yash, don't humiliate the poor girl," his mother scolded him with a smile. "I'll leave you two to whatever it was you were doing. I am guessing you'll want to take the week off?" she asked and Yash nodded, loving how well his mother understood him. "You can disappear from work for a while, but I fully expect to see you day after tomorrow for Christmas get together, so that I can get a proper introduction and everyone else will want to meet her as well," his mother told him.

"Of course, don't worry we'll be there," he replied and his mother smiled at him happily before leaving. When they heard the door shut, Aarti groaned loudly.

"That was horrible," she complained and Yash turned to see that her flaming blush had extended to her neck and chest as well. "How do I always make an idiot of myself! Oh GOD, what she must be thinking of me," she complained and Yash laughed.

"Don't be silly," he told her setting his hands on her hips, giving her a kiss on her forehead. "You didn't make an idiot of yourself Aarti, and don't worry about my mother, you didn't make any bad impression on her. Trust me, if she didn't like what she saw, or in this case almost saw, considering you were hiding behind me, you would know. My mother isn't one for flattery," he told her. Aarti nibbled her lip nervously still in a good shade of red. "Now don't fret on that and let's eat," he told her.

Yash started to clear the table when they had finished their meal. "Yash, are you sure its okay that you take time off of work so suddenly. I don't want you to get into trouble with your boss because of me," Aarti stated suddenly, and Yash laughed at her sudden randomness as he placed the dishes in the sink. "I can meet you after you get off of work. I can do some more sight seeing with Aman during the day," Aarti added and Yash scoffed. Like hell he was going to let that happen!

He pulled her up from her chair against him. "Aarti, it's been more than six long months since we have been together, there is no way I am going to spend the next few days at work and you off with some other man, especially Aman," he told her giving her a quick peck on the lips.

"What do you mean especially Aman," Aarti asked looking confused and Yash smiled, realizing she had no idea. Good, he didn't want her to ever notice any man that wasn't him.

"Well, I am not going to let you spend the day with a man, that if he had it his way, would be here holding and kissing you instead of me," Yash replied. She looked at him surprised and confused.

"What are you talking about? We've only been friends," she insisted.

"Only because you wanted to be just friends, I know because he told me so. Why do you think I hit him…several times actually," Yash told her and a small smile crossed her lips.

"You're horrible Yash," she told him with mock scorn before giving him a peck on his lips.

"Get use to it Jalebi, because there is no way you're going to ever be in anyone's arms but mine," he told her, kissing her passionately.