Chapter 26 (b)
"I love you Yashji"
"What? Come again.. I could not hear you"
"I said I LOVE YOU YASHJI" Aarti spoke louder.
"I can't believe it... I just can't believe it" said Yash.
He closed the distance between them and took Aarti by surprise as he lifted her in her arms and twirled her around. This was so sudden so unexpected, his joy knew no bounds.
"You BETTER believe it Yashji (Aarti said mock sternly). Oh my Yashji...Oh! Yashji...stop...stop... not so fast. I might fall down" Aarti requested in a breathless voice laughing at the same time.
"No you won't...no you won't Aarti...ji(the 'ji' taking a bit longer to come out)...I will not let anything happen to you. You are my life...and I LOVE YOU TOO" Yash refused to listen to Aarti as he put her on the bed and joined her there.
"Please Yashij we do not have time for this...please Yashji listen to me...please" Aarti said pushing Yash away and sitting up.
"We have to get up and go...you know that" she further urged.
Yash could not believe Aarti being so casual after confession. What was her rush to get away when all he wanted was, to spend all his time right here with her? This was a momentous occasion, for him it meant the world. This needed to be celebrated.
When he felt her hands on his chest he wanted to stop her, pull her down again. Suddenly he felt there was something wrong with the whole thing and frowned trying to pinpoint what exactly was wrong. Where exactly were they?
"Yashji...please we might get late for the party. Wake up Yashji" Aarti started to shake Yash.
Aarti wondered what dreams he might be having that made a frown appear on his face. She knew this party was the first step in the expansion plans and how important it was for the family business, and knew Yash would be hard on himself if they became late for it. So she redoubled her efforts to wake him.
All of a sudden Yash grabbed her tripped her in such a way that she was lying under while Yash lay above her .
"Uh! Yashji...a..r..e you all right" Aarti asked stammering, frightened and confused as she was taken completely by surprise.
Yash was breathing hard just like Aarti and it took him a moment to realize that the dream he was having had ended and he was lying on top of Aarti in the bed in the hotel room. He closed his eyes and shook his head hoping against hope that the dream was not a dream but a reality. Yet he himself knew that it was too good to be true and that's why even in the dream he thought something was off.
Finally when he opened his eyes and surveyed her face. Her beautiful lovely face, her cheeks that were growing pink, her lips had parted her eyes that had opened wide showing her surprise and then on seeing him stare at her like that she lowered them immediately.
He knew he had to get off her. He had no excuse to continue as they were. But the position was giving him immense pleasure and as a result his body disobeyed his mind.
"I was having a dream" Yash finally spoke but did not go away from Aarti. His body was making him prolong the moment for as long as he could.
"What time is it? Are we already late?" he further questioned.
"Ah!...actually we still have time. Provided...provided you take yourself off me" Aarti muttered.
Her senses were going to overload if he did not remove himself from her. FAST. This was the closest they have got to each other physically in a long time and her deprived body was making its needs known very... very clearly. And as usual Aarti was left to say things she did not really mean.
She found it hard to remember that this was not how things were between them, that they were nowhere near having this closeness between them.
"Yes of course. Sorry "Yash mumbled yet not finding an atom of remorse at finding himself in this position. He still did not move and Aarti started to squirm which made Yash even more aroused. He knew what he was doing was not correct that he was taking advantage of the situation. But for the life of him he was not able to let go of her.
"The party Yashji...at this rate we will be late" Aarti reminded and pushed Yash hard this time which gave an opportunity to escape his grasp and come to a sitting position. She immediately jumped of the bed and put as much distance between them as she could.
"I'll use the bathroom first" she said and almost ran away from the room.
*************
Aarti sat on the settee in front of the mirror, giving finishing touches to her make-up. She did not believe in loud and in your face make-up but rather preferred subtlety. Her make-up was done but it looked like she was having a wardrobe malfunction.
She disliked having back opening blouses. This one was giving her trouble as she was not able to hook it properly.
I guess I am forced to take his help.
Just then she heard the bathroom door open. Yash stepped out with a towel wrapped around his body.
"Yashji if you don't mind. I need your assistance in fastening the hook of my blouse" Aarti called out to him.
She was facing the mirror and Yash came to her and placed his hands over hers.
"Let me do it" Yash said slowly. Aarti removed her hands from under his and allowed Yash to hook the blouse.
Do not look at him Aarti. Please for the love of God...do not look at him. I know he is in towel. I know he has just come off from the shower. I know you want him. I know he smells all lemony and divine but please save yourself from embarrassment. Close your eyes damn it. Close your eyes. Cut off the temptation.
Aarti did close her eyes but then just opened them slightly so as to covertly have a look at him in the mirror.
Yash's fingers shook. He could not do the simple task of fastening the hooks.
Why do women wear these things? Utter nuisance. But his eyes were not looking at the task at hand but instead were roaming all over her.
The deep cut of her blouse. The exposed waist the curve of her hips.
Cool down Yash. Cool down.
His towel started to slip for obvious reasons.
"Oops!" Yash withdrew his hands from the blouse and held on to the towel. He quickly tied it back and hastened to finish off with the blouse.
Then immediately turned back counted till 10 to calm his raging libido and started to walk away.
"One more thing Yashji" Aarti called him again.
Now what woman? Do you wish to be ravished right here right now. I am a hair's-breadth from taking you, regardless of whatever your thoughts might be on the matter.
"Yes Aartiji?"he squeaked and enquired what she wanted again.
"This necklace...this too needs to be fastened too" she held it to her neck.
Yash was shocked to see it.
Oh my god. This is the same one that I had got for her. The same one she had rejected all those months ago.
Yash slowly walked back towards Aarti.
Aarti kept her eyes opened this time around. She wanted to see Yash's reaction to her surprise. Yash was careful not to touch Aarti in anyway and took the hooks in his hands. His gaze met Aarti's in the mirror. It was intense. It held a million questions. Aarti did not break the eye-contact in the mirror.
Yashji think what you may. Understand what you may. But I am done hiding my feelings for you. I have not done anything wrong. I love my husband. Its as plain as simple as that. Now the ball is in your court.
"I knew it would look good on you" was all he said. He retreated and got dressed.
Both stepped into the car and sat as far away from each other as possible.
Yash failed to understand what had happened between them. With the buffer of kids and family gone between them, they were left totally exposed. They could not hide anything anymore.
He could not ignore the significance of the necklace. It was a sign he had wanted and needed to state his feelings without the fear of rejection.
They reached the venue of the party. Yash went to the other side of the car, opened the door, and held out his hand for her. She took it and both went inside the mansion.
Yash glanced at Aarti from the corner of his eyes and took in her appearance.
She is breathtaking. I have the most beautiful woman with me and I get the privilege of taking her back with me. I must be the envy of everyone here.
Yashji is the most distinguished looking man here. He looks so dashing in this black suit of his. I can sense all the female eyes on him. Beware everyone. He belongs to me.
They went and sat down. Both grinning for no particular reason. Once they were served drinks, Yash excused himself when he saw someone he had to talk to. Aarti kept watching Yash from afar as he mingled with the crowd.
Ah! he is such finesse at talking to people. He could make everyone agree to his point without having to force anyone accept it.
He laughed at something someone said and Aarti's heart jolted at the sound. She was reacting to everything today. Had become highly sensitive.
"Awww...which stupid man left such a beautiful woman all by herself" a voice asked from nearby and Aarti blinked her eyes and turned her face to look at a man to whom the voice belonged.
"A lady in need of some rescuing from boredom?" the voice continued.
The man was a flirt, thought Aarti. But a charming one at that, so she gave him a smile.
"Most certainly not, but you are welcome to have a seat. It is a free country after all" Aarti replied.
Yash wanted the party to be over fast. He had to get back to Aarti. He hated being away from her. Yet he continued to talk with the minister about how SEL-AC&Sons combine would do justice to the work if it is handed over to them. It was difficult to talk about his partner having not met him in person. All their correspondence was via emails or over the phone. Yet from what he had studied up on AC&Sons this partnership would indeed be beneficial to both parties concerned.
Yash shook hands with the minister at the end and immediately was drawn to where Aarti was sitting. His view got blocked by a man sitting before her.
Who the hell was that man who was chatting up his wife? And why did Aarti have to laugh quite that much at whatever that fellow was saying. Yash purposefully started to walk towards their table, but was once again stopped by another person of importance. Yash gritted his teeth. He had lost his concentration and kept getting diverted to their table. He forced himself to pay attention to the conversation at hand. And thanked god when it was over. He again set his legs to walk towards the table.
He laid a hand on the man's shoulder and forced him to turn towards him.
"Look here Mister..." Yash started to say but was stuck dumb when he realized who that man was.
"What the hell..." said the man who lost his balance at being forcefully yanked from behind.
"Yash...Yash Scindia. Unbelievable" he regained his step stood up and hugged Yash.
Yash hugged the man back not having fully recovered from the shock.
"Aman...Aman Choudhary" Yash said when he finally found his voice.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Cricket
