Always,Only You --(fiction)-- THREAD 2 - Page 66

nice part loved it hate maya bua.

Very intriguing Deepti! Me likey...likey the thrilling suspense.😃

Loved how you portrayed the layered Maya. What can I say about Yash? His heart is in the right place...and theheartbeats convey the presence of her living breaths. How can he give up then?
Fantastico!!!👏

wow wow deepti dear so wonderful.

Originally posted by: rutu83

hey- sorry for the late reply. busy busy busy with work😕

and for some odd reason they don't accept "deepti's got the next chapter up and i've got to read it" as an excuse 😲😕 my coworkers can be so unreasonable...

anyway- fantastic update though i'm so sad for ansh❤️ and i can't even blame yash for it (though i want to 😡)

now aarti...hmm very curious there

looking forward to more 👍🏼

Originally posted by: kdsubs1

Ah Deepti - i love you and your story too much. Can't stay away for long.

I can understand Yash's anguish - but man,this is Ansh, your son. How can you?? Aarghh - in a true sense, Ansh was orphaned today 😭.

Loved the whole scenario with Sattu - at least in your story he is an honorable man. But what is Maya upto? Dore dall rahi hai? Raasta saf nazar aaya toh chaloo pad gayi??

😆 😆 - couldn't stop laughing after reading the last part. Not that it was funny - but it was!! You made Akash into a terrorist!?! Ektoh the CVs have made him into a gunda and a potential matri-hatyara, and now terrorist!! 🤣

Waise, you and Jyo should start your own hindi tv serial scripting company. Your twists and turns and Jyo's predictions are way more fun and palatable than what gets dished out these days (and i am not talking just PV here).

Originally posted by: lulujjj

nice part loved it hate maya bua.

Originally posted by: InduG64

Very intriguing Deepti! Me likey...likey the thrilling suspense.😃

Loved how you portrayed the layered Maya. What can I say about Yash? His heart is in the right place...and theheartbeats convey the presence of her living breaths. How can he give up then?
Fantastico!!!👏

Originally posted by: pvejani

awsome😃

Originally posted by: maha9

wow wow deepti dear so wonderful.

Poor yash is so hurt for losing arthi and he ignores ansh !!!! And the last part makes me guess arthi might have seen something related to the blast. so she went to coma ah !!!

continue soon dear

Chapter 34

"Swamiji, please let us know of the list of items you will be needing for the ceremony tomorrow" SP asked the pandit who had come over on their request as they were seated in the living room.

"This is an exceptional case Suraj Pratapji. We will have to follow the rituals which is applied in case the body of the deceased is not recovered like in the case of drowning or gone missing" Swamiji informed both SP and Gayarti.

"Yes swamiji...I trust you to follow the rites as per the Vedas and ensure that it results in our daughter in law Aarti's atma finally getting a proper farewell" said Gayatri. They were very religious and believed in doing the right as per the vedic scriptures.

"My condolences once again Gayatriji it must be very hard on all of you for this to happen like this" Swamiji said feeling sorry for the family which he had known for a long time. He had also performed the last rites of their previous daughter in law Arpita and what a gruesome death that was too. It seemed their son Yash was jinxed that way. He could never find lasting happiness. If only he could lay his hands on his horoscope he could suggest some puja to rid him of his misfortune his bad stars were causing. But for the moment he kept his focus on the task at hand.

Just then SP saw Yash come out of his room and going towards the guest room where Satya was recuperating. As usual he was in his own world and was going straight into the other room, not even bothering to look towards his parents.

But SP knew he had to have Yash know about what they were planning for tomorrow. Without his participation it would be impossible to go through with the ceremony otherwise. He just hoped Yash would willingly agree to it.

"Beta Yash...do come over. We have something to discuss with you" SP called out but Yash kept going away as if he had not heard his name being called.

"Yash" Gayatri said loudly to make Yash stop and turn towards them.

Gayatri noted how pale Yash had become and how his eyes had lost the glow they once had. She knew that if they would allow Yash to continue on like this they would surely lose him completely. This cremation was the closure she was looking for that would end the limbo Yash was living in.

"We are going to have Aarti's cremation ceremony tomorrow. I suggest you be prepared for it" SP told him firmly in a tone that ordered Yash to just obey.

There was a sudden transformation in the demeanor of Yash. His eyes lit up with rage and the slumped body became rigid, his spine flexing in an effort to hold onto his anger from erupting.

"Maa what non-sense are you talking. Please tell me you are not serious about this" Yash spoke out against the ludicrous plans that his parents were hatching. Why were they plotting this way against his Aarti? He just did not like it one bit.

"But I am Yash. We have to do this as per the religious scriptures else Aarti's soul would not rest in peace" SP told him quietly, ignoring that Yash had not spoken to him directly.

"Maa you have said this once out of ignorance but please never repeat this again. Aarti is not (shook his head not wanting to use the word)...Aarti is alive. And NO religion ever says anything about performing last rites while the person is alive.

Swamiji we are sorry to trouble you but your services are not required you may please leave." Yash said ignoring his father again and addressing his mother and then asking the guest to make himself scarse.

"Yash...where are your manners. How can you be so rude? Swamiji please do not mind...he is...he is still in shock and does not know what he is talking about" SP intruded feeling ashamed of his son's behaviour.

"Oh! but I do Bauji. I do know what I am talking about, it is you who are not knowing what to do. Kindly refrain from taking such wrong steps. (He turned towards swamiji then and said) I am sorry for my tone but I do insist that you leave"

"Gayatriji please allow me to take your leave" Swamiji immediately got up not wanting to be present when a family dispute was going on.

"Swamiji...I am so sorry" SP said apologising.

"It is alright Suraj Pratapji I understand" Swamiji said not wishing to make the other man feel guilty as he made his way out of the house.

"Yash...this is unacceptable. Why are you acting so unreasonably? We need a closure for this. How can we move forward if you are stuck in this fantasy world of yours?" SP questioned feeling frustrated with his son.

"Maa I do not want to hear anything right now and neither do I have any intention to discuss this matter again. I request you to kindly stop from ever raising this topic again" Yash again did not answer back to his father but conveyed his opinion via his mother and left the room.

SP made a move to stop his son physically by Gayatri held on to his arm and shook her head urging him to leave Yash for the moment. SP turned and gave Gayatri a pained look which conveyed his helplessness in helping his son to recover from his loss.

Gayatri heaved a sigh and held on the sofa with her other hand so as not to fall as she was indeed feeling very shaky seeing both her son and husband at loggerhead.

-----------------------------

"Beta Yash you should get some rest too you know. How long will you be playing my nursemaid?" Satyendra asked feeling guilty that Yash was serving him hand and foot even now when he had recovered sufficiently.

"I am sorry if you are feeling crowed because of me. I...just...I just want to ensure that you are on the mend. Did you have the tablets after your dinner?" Yash asked trying to change the topic.

"Yes I did. Now go and get some rest. I have not seen you get any rest these past few days. I have only seen you wandering aimlessly around the house, stuck in this room with me or locked up in your own room. How long are you planning on doing this Yash" Satyendra asked concerned.

"Please bauji...please do not start this again. I am just not in the mood to listen to this right now" Yash said trying to curb his growing irritation. First his parents and now Bauji what was wrong with everyone why could they not just let him be.

"You have stopped going to office. Why?" Satyendra asked not giving up.

"Pankaj bhaiya is more than capable of handling things. And I am not in the right frame of mind for that. Its better I stay away from work" Yash said defensively.

"Have you at least bothered to talk to the children yet?" Satya asked next.

Yash made himself busy by tidying up an already clean room in order to avoid answering Satya's questions. How could he explain that he could not bring himself to even meet their eyes let alone talk to them?

"How long Yash? How long are you planning to do this? Aarti is not going to come back...she is not going to come back... ever.

You have to accept it and move on. If not for yourself, then for the people around you, especially for your children.

How can you not see how anguished they are at losing their mother. Payal and Palak have already lost their mother once this is a nightmare for them to suffer like this again while Ansh...he...he does not know how to go on. His entire life he had Aarti with him and now she is gone...just like that. You have to reach out to your children Yash. They can be the salvation you need at this hour just like you can be theirs as you soothe their pain with your presence" Satya stopped noting that his words were falling on deaf ears. How can you help someone who did not see any need for help?

"Bauji I just remembered that I had somethings to take care of. If there is anything else you required just let me know" Yash got up and almost ran away from the room in a rush.

Satyendra sighed feeling utterly miserable at finding Yash in this state. He could sympathesie with Gayatri. How could a mother see her son waste away like this?

---------------------------------

"Bauji we just lost another contract" Pankaj told SP gravely.

"What was it this time?" SP asked with resignation.

"The clients were not satisfied with the designs we showed them" Pankaj relayed the reasons. Feeling disappointed at how things were shaping up with their business.

"What are the designers we hired doing? Are they not experienced enough or not qualified enough to get new and imaginative ideas for events" SP questioned knowing full well the true reason behind their failure.

"Bauji without Yash I am afraid even our team seems disheartened and unable to show any real zeal. Its like a rudderless ship I am afraid. The morale of the company and the workers is down too" Pankaj confirmed what SP already knew.

"This just will not do. First we lose out on the partnership with AC&Sons and now we are losing out on our share of the local market too. At this rate we will soon lose our ranking as Bhopals top events planning company" SP said aggrieved. During tough times his trusted son was not available. Infact his absence was causing some of the disruption in the business.

"We could insist on Yash coming back to work Bauji. That should turn the tide for us" Pankaj said hopefully.

"How can I force him to do anything Pankaj? You have seen how he is of late. Do you think he even cares one way or the other? It breaks my heart to see him that way. When Arpita had passed away Yash had bounced back by devoting fully to work. It was as if he was chasing some demons away. But at least he was alive and he was active. But this...this has taken its toll on him. I am dreading how long it might take for Yash to recover from this" said SP.

"My only fear however, is would he recover...ever?" said Pankaj.

--------------------------

"What are you doing sitting here all by yourself Yashji" Aarti whispered softly.

Yash was shaken out of his thoughts as he focused his eyes on the woman in front of his eyes.

There she was as beautiful as ever, in a yellow saree smiling at him as she waited for an answer.

"You came back Aartiji. I just knew you would" Yash told her as his eyes moistened with tears of happiness.

"Come with me I want to take you to a special place" she got up and gestured him to follow her.

And as if in a trance he did her bidding.

Aarti led him through the corridors of the mansion, on to the stairs that led to the upper floor. She kept looking behind as if checking if Yash was following her or not.

Yash wanted to laugh. Did she even doubt that he would even think of doing otherwise? He just wanted to hold her in his arms. It had been so long since he held her in his arms. It had been so long since he had heard her laugh. He just wanted to be with her that's all. He needed her like he needed air to survive. He needed her like Oh! he just NEEDED her beyond any other need he knew of.

Aarti led him on further and then turned and held out her arms. Yash just smiled. His whole world was beconkning him, he just had to go into her arms to find peace that was missing for so long now. He kept moving, inching towards her smiling at her as she smiled back at him. His eyes giving away his pain of being denied her presence for this long, and also his happiness in the hope of finally finding his heaven in her arms.

"Yash" Pankaj called out to his brother.

They had seen Yash walking away in the corridor as if he was under a spell and had gone after him to ensure he was alright.

"YASH" Pankaj yelled when he saw that Yash was not hearing to anything and was just walking away as if he had some death wish.

"Oh my god. Someone stop him" Vidhi cried out panicing.

"Yash bhaiya" Pratik yelled as he climbed up the stairs of the water tank and pulled back Yash just in time before he was about to commit suicide jumping off from there.

Yash jerked then. His Aarti had vanished just like that. He was being dragged by Pratik. He tried hard to break free and go after Aarti but a sinking feeling made its way in his brain which made him realize that he was hallucinating and was only an inch away from his death.

TO BE CONTINUED...