Always,Only You--(fiction) THREAD 1 - Page 72

Chapter 18

After a long time Aarti finally slept. Yash however could not sleep. His brothers' troubles were troubling him too. Looks could be so deceptive. Both Pankaj and Pratik were so happy and seemingly had a perfect marriages, but Pankaj had to face a lot before he could now breathe easy and Pratik would have to face many sleepless nights till he could reunite with his wife. He made a vow to not let Pratik and Paridhi suffer unnecessarily. As these thoughts were going through his mind he heard a gush of wind blowing outside. The doors of the open window in the bedroom started to shut making a loud sound. Yash immediately got up and closed it. As he returned to the bed he heard rain start along with thunder and lightning. He walked back to the bed in a trance as his mind immediately returned to the last time there was such a storm.

He could so easily drift and play that night in full detail. Yet he had not allowed himself the pleasure to relive the night even in his memories. The night which was so magical, so incredible and so memorable for him had an equally shattering morning after.

The morning after USS RAAT in Mumbai:

Such a feeling of well-being and completeness was never felt by Yash. He knew the reason for it and he let his hands go and touch the source of his contentment without opening his eyes and when he made contact he let out a deep sigh which came from the depth of his very being.

Aarti...yes Aarti finally became HIS AARTI.

8 long years ago she had captured his heart and thoughts in a flash. He had tried his best to bury his obsession, yes that is what he had labelled his illogical and unexplainable feelings as.

His marriage was his knee jerk reaction to counter the hurt he felt when he got to know that Aarti could not be his. He had stayed true to Arpita in not just actions but also in thoughts all through his first marriage. But all it took was one glimpse of Aarti's photo just over a year back for the flood gates to open and the emotions he had so long denied and ignored to come pouring out.

Only he knew how amazed he was to see the photo. At first he thought he was hallucinating that his mind was playing tricks on him. After Arpita and what he had gone through with her he had long lost any interest in getting married ever again. He could not even do it for the sake of his daughters. He was sure he could carry on looking after his daughters as he had always done. He could give them both maternal and paternal love and not make them feel the absence of a mother.

He had with great reluctance had a look at the latest edition to the long list of girls he had rejected on sight. But then he was in for a shock. It was her... Aarti Sharma he did not even have to think hard to recollect her name. It seemed as if she was always just inside him somewhere and was waiting for him to reach out for her. She was still a part of him.

So she was Aarti Dubey now. A widow...

Yash painfully recollected the hazy image of a man he had seen with Aarti. It was indeed sad that Aarti was now left alone with a son to take care of. But a little corner in his heart he was ashamed to admit was jumping out of sheer joy at the prospect of having a second chance with her.

They were meant to be together he concluded. It was finally their time now. Why else would GOD send her back to him again like this he questioned.

He had such hopes...he built castles in the clouds, dreamt of having a happy life together with her, the whole marriage was a bit rushed he had to admit but he did not complain as he was so eager to have Aarti with him. He did not even question Aarti's lack of enthusiasm throughout all the ceremonies. He made excuses for that.

Maybe she was stressed out...or sad at leaving her in-laws. Maybe she is scared to start all over again. Don't you worry Aarti I will make you the happiest woman on the face of earth. I will shower you with my love that you will forget the life you led before meeting me. I will make sure of it.

He was willing to ignore anything that did not fit in with his picture of a "happily ever after".

So what happened on the suhaag raat came as a rude reality check.

"Yashji...this is awkward but I have to tell you, I married you ...just for Ansh's sake. I wanted him to have a father. I have no expectations from you as a husband. Please do not have any from me as a wife. I beg of you...I don't have anything left in me to give you...I am sorry. But that's how it is with me"

Yash could not believe his ears when Aarti uttered those words.

She is still in LOVE with her ex-husband. Oh why did I not even think about this possibility? Will I always remain a compromise husband? Is there really no chance for US. I wanted to shout out loud, but all I could utter was:

"I understand".

Oh he was quick to bounce back from that disappointment. He was optimistic that given time Aarti would see him in a different light.He knew that love could not be generated at will so he was forced to let fate take its course, even if every second was costing him dearly.

It was still enough for Yash that they progressed from being strangers to being friends quickly enough. Sharing parenting responsibilities helped to break the ice and awkwardness that she felt on her part. And Yash was happy counting the small blessings.

But every time he saw Aarti he wanted more. He was not just her friend and father of their children...he wanted so much more. He wanted all that Aarti had in her. As long as he was not sure that he had it for himself he felt empty during his weaker moments. He could not settle for anything less than her total capitulation.

Any attempt made by him to change their relation was met with a stone wall resistance from Aarti. His attempt at gifting her a necklace was rejected...it was then he thought he could not compete with her dead husband's memory and he started to withdraw from her.

When Aarti reacted to it...he again became hopeful...started to dream a little just like that in a snap. Only to have her say that she wanted to know his whereabouts as a friend and nothing more.

Then they had gone to Mumbai that first time and he came to know of the reality of her past. It was then he fell in love with her all over again seeing her in a new light all over again. Here was the woman who had suffered at the hands of a jerk and yet stayed strong for the sake of her in-laws and her son. Here was the woman who had come into his life and made it meaningful. And he was rushing her into returning feelings for him.

He made a vow then to give Aarti as much time she needed without becoming demanding or seeking anything more than what she was willing to give.

He could not even keep that promise when on their anniversary he got that sms from her:

"Meet me at hotel blue lagoon

PS: I am coming all alone."

He had willed the hands of the clock to move faster that day counting each hour, each minute, and each second to go and meet her. To finally see his heart's wish of seeing the love he had in him reflected in her eyes. He could not trust his luck that she could be his so quickly, that she returned his feelings.

He had gone there with such high hopes. He had ordered a truck load of flowers to be delivered to the hotel after what he thought a reasonable interval of time when both of them would have confessed their love for each other.

But again fate played a cruel joke on him. When he got to know that Aarti had not sent any sms that, she herself was tricked into coming there his disappointment turned to anger.

Anger, that his family was not helping him keep the resolve of not crowding Aarti, of not pressurizing her into doing something, against her wishes. He was glad that at least he did not blurt how he had felt for her before knowing the whole truth. But he had lost his cool and had fired Pratik harshly for which he had regretted immediately.

How can you be mad when all they ever wanted was for him to be happy? But all his happiness apart from his children was locked in Aarti and until she did not unlock her heart and let him in...there was always something missing.

So having all this in the background last night seemed too good to be true. But as usual the needy Yash won. He was willing to believe that Aarti had a change of heart...that even if she were not in love at least she was attracted to him. He had so much love in him for her that they could survive on that. It was enough for both of them. He knew she enjoyed last night, the way she reacted to his touches and kisses could not be faked. Just thinking about her was making him aroused yet again.

He wanted to start a campaign to build on what they now had...to woo her further...to make her addicted to him...so that slowly...somehow...she too would love him. God! But, he was desperate, grasping, at straws even.

It was still early morning as he tried to get down from the bed. But he did the mistake of turning back to have a look at her.

He mind blanked out and he missed his train of thought at the sight in front of him. A lock of hair fell on her face and she had a half-smile on her lips. He looked further at her cheeks which were still flushed from their early morning love-making. He hoped the dreams she was having now featured him in it. He laughed at that thought.

God I cannot even leave her alone in her dreams. Why can't I get enough of her? She has made me insatiable I want her again and again and again.Better go away fast before I take her again. I have to allow her to sleep. She must be exhausted. After nearly drowning in water I seemed have drowned her in my passion.

He smiled and shook his head at that notion. He was putty in her hands without her even trying for it.

Yes she needs rest and when she wakes up a hot cup of her favorite coffee and some healthy breakfast in bed would be just the perfect start of her day.

God! I am famished not just for Aarti...some food would do both of us some good. She needs to recuperate I seem to have worn her out.

He made himself get off the bed wrap a towel around himself, adjust the blanket more securely around Aarti and head towards the kitchen after freshening up. The mess made in the room did not seem to affect him anymore.

He went down humming a romantic song. It was a good thing Chagan and his wife were on leave today. He wanted the house to himself for a while. Just then he saw the message light blinking in the answering machine.

He immediately checked his cell phone to see any missed calls were there too. None thank GOD.He felt better as the message could not be from JoJo's place about the kids. But then who could have left a message and when? He surely did not remember hearing a call last night.

He went over and played the message... he had a smile when he heard who it was and what the voice was saying but then slowly his smile disappeared and Yash turned pale as if life got sucked out of him.

TO BE CONTINUED...