Chapter 43
It was certainly the longest day of Yash's life. He had had an almost wedding, found his lost wife, cancelled the wedding, cajoled the kids, spoken to the doctor, been with his family members as they came to terms with the development. And it was finally just him and his Aarti together... alone at last.
What had the doctor said Yash recollected as he sat down on chair next to his study table. Stress or fatigue related fainting...his eyes drifted to Aarti who was still asleep on the bed.
Where was she all this while? Why would she be in Bhopal yet away from the family, from the kids...from him? Her running towards Aakash was something he did not wish to relive again but the picture just refused to go way from his mind. What was the nature of her relationship with Aakash? It was clear that Aakash did seem to know Aarti rather well. Should he have given him a chance to speak up? But he could not do it in that state of mind of his.
All matters will be cleared once Aarti wakes up he thought, and felt a bit better.
He had not changed out of the sherwani till now. Now the clothing were proving to be a painful reminder of the sin he had almost committed. So he decided to change out of the dress into his usual nightwear.
Just then Aarti stirred. She murmured something but was incoherent so Yash went closer and leaned to listen more closely but by then she had stopped mumbling. Just when Yash was about to straighten he was held back.
Held back at seeing the face that had haunted his days and nights ever since he lay his eyes on her all those years ago. He wanted to curse the fact that this woman in front of his eyes now, held so much power over him. It seemed hugely unfair for her to be the one person to decide his happiness and have such a grip on him which made his life revolve around her. What was it about her he wondered that kept him in this condition with no scope of ever coming out of her spell?
Unknown to him tears were flowing through his eyes unchecked. When she turned the other side with her back to him he did not know what came over him but he climbed the bed along with her. He spooned his body behind her and tried to get closer to envelope himself in her warmth and when the contact happened he jerked uncontrollably, a sigh resonating from the depth of his soul found its way out. With feverish shaking hand he wanted to trace her body from the side. His hands almost touched her shoulder but he avoided actually touching her for the fear of disturbing her. He moved his hands just an inch away from her body and traced her form out. He inhaled deeply drawing in her fragrance, her smell was so familiar so unique that it filled his senses and made him close his eyes as tears stung. How much he had missed her? How much he had yearned for her? How many sleepless nights he had lain awake thinking about her wanting her like this with him.
Oh to have her now...here with him was proving to be too much for him. He wanted to kiss her. Just kiss her. Hold her in his arms. He wanted to drive away the desolation he had felt for the last ten months. The need to possess her started to make itself known. His body wanted her as a drug.
God how weak he was where she was concerned. He had absolutely no control over himself and his body. It just always reacted in the most predictable of ways. With disgust he turned the other way.. but then.thinking that he was not strong enough to control his urges tonight he decided to sleep on the sofa away from her. To intentionally keep some distance between them so he started to get off the bed but the sound and the movement made her wake up.
She shot up immediately to a sitting position.
"You pervert...what the hell do you think you are doing?" she hissed through her teeth jumping off the bed on the other side keeping the bed as an obstruction between them.
Yash was too shocked at first to react he just stood still, watching her every move. He saw her groping in the semi-darkness for something. He saw her make a dash towards something. He wondered what she was up to. It was only when she had a paper-cutting knife in her hand did he get an idea as to what she was up to.
"Don't you dare come near me. You...you...all men are alike...they just see a woman and their tongue starts to salivate. I was not in my senses and you decided to have your way with me" she accused disgustedly.
Yash could not believe his ears, he had thought of hearing many things from his wife when she woke up but this scenario never crossed his mind. He made an attempt to reach her.
"Stay right there...I repeat...don't you come near me. I swear other wise I will just stab you with this. Don't underestimate me" she said with fear written clearly in her eyes. She was inching closer towards the door. He thought she was trying to make an escape from the room.
"Aarti...if you would just calm down. You are acting very very weirdly..." Yash said and continued to come after her.
"Weird...what do you expect, that I would lie back and enjoy what you were thinking of doing to me. You creep..." she again said taking steps back not lowering the knife nor her eyes from Yash.
"Aarti...just listen to me...you need not panic...you are home now...safe" Yash lifted his hands to try and make her lower the knife.
"What's with you...what are you talking about?" Smriti asked with fear and confusion taking over.
"Aarti" Yash said gently sensing his distress.
"Cut that off...my name is Smriti...and if you don't...owch" she yelped and dropped her knife as her leg hit something to make her lose her step. Yash immediately picked up the knife from the ground not wanting Aarti to hurt herself with it. Then he tried to help out by trying to hold her but she help up a hand stopping him from coming nearer.
"Don't" She said in a loud voice.
"Aarti...just relax...calm down will you. You are not in danger. Do you really think I would cause you any harm?" Yash asked seriously hurt that she could be behaving in this way. And thinking what would happen if the household would wake up because of this commotion.
"Here have this knife back if it makes you feel safer?" Yash offered it back to her.
That one act made Smriti finally listen to what the man was saying. But she was still very cautious. She knew how fickle men could be and low then could stoop when needed.
"Ok...I believe you...but first stop calling me Aarti...my name is Smriti" Smriti said warily.
"Smriti?" Yash repeated after her as if finding the whole thing absurd.
"Yes. And now tell me where exactly I am and who exactly are you?" she demanded.
Yash stood staring her. Her question had him pole axed. Did she really not know? Or was she pretending? Why was she calling herself Smriti. He regretted sending Aakash away without hearing out what he had wanted to tell him.
"Come now...why the silence...you seem like a good man...more or less...maybe (she said trying to make up her mind about him)...so just tell me...why are you keeping me here with you?" Smriti asked getting nervous.
"Aartiji.." Yash started.
"For the last time call me Smriti" she immediately intervened.
Yash swallowed yet decided to do as "Smriti" asked.
"Alright...Smriti..." he said.
"Oh so the "ji" disappeared now" Smriti taunted.
Yash started getting irritated yet controlled himself.
"Ok Smritiji...first tell me. What is the last thing that you remember?"
"Instead of giving me the answers you are now questioning me" she asked not amused at getting no answers from the stranger.
"Well if you want your answers you better answer me first" Yash told her firmly.
"I had come to give Aakash his lunch box but suddenly felt lightheaded and collapsed. Only to have woken up in a strange room with a stranger in a bed. So now tell me...how did I get here?" Smriti recollected what she could.
"If you would promise to keep quiet till I finish I will let you know everything" Yash waited for her to respond.
"So you promise?" he prompted when she did not reply.
She just nodded. Taking it as a yes Yash started to speak.
"You are actually my wife Aarti... when you fainted outside our house I got you inside. I do not know what has happened to you...and why you are calling yourself Smriti but..now you are in the right place where you belong in your home" Yash finished.
"Blaah...WHAT? Get out of here. This is the most unbelievable explanation I have ever heard. You think I would believe you? I am leaving. You have obviously lost your mind. I have wasted enough time here with you. I have to get back home" Smriti started to go out of the room when Yash grabbed her arm.
"Not a gentleman are you?" Smriti pointedly looked at his hand gripping hers.
"Aar...Smriti (he checked himself when he saw her give him a glare) Where do you think you are going at this late hour. Its not safe for one thing" Yash told her trying to hold her back.
"Oh and staying here with you is safe" she asked sarcastically.
"( Yash ignored her comment)Why not stay the night here and in the morning we will see what can be done" Yash tried to bargain not knowing what else to do.
"You do not understand...I HAVE TO GO BACK HOME. He is waiting for me. He has never stayed away from me. He gets restless without me. I do not understand how Akash could just leave me behind like this when he knows what will happen in my absence" Smriti said in a rush.
Yash's hand immediately loosened the grip on Aarti's hand. Bile rose in his throat.
"Aakash" Yash thought mentally and cursed the other man.
"I see...you are very attached to him are you not?" he questioned feeling as if glass was pricking his heart.
"Yes" she said.
"Can't spend even a single night away from him, is it?" again Yash asked praying that she would deny it.
"Yes" she said again breaking Yash's heart.
"Do you love him?" he forced himself to ask dreading her response to the question.
"Yes"
Her immediate acceptance was like a death blow to Yash.
"Enough...if you really know what is good for you. I suggest you climb that bed right now" Yash said with bearly controlled emotions.
"You cannot have me here against my wishes. That is against the law" Smriti argued but stopped suddenly not wanting to irk the man in front of her he felt like a volcano about to explode.
"Madam in the middle of the night do not talk about law to me. Just shut up and sleep" Yash said harshly feeling wretched inside.
"I can't...he..." Smriti tried one last time.
"Tomorrow morning...first thing I will take you to him. NOW...now will just rest. The doctor had told that you needed some rest to fully recover" Yash said tiredly.
After a long pause Smriti reluctantly agreed to do Yash's bidding. That was quite a battle within her he thought as emotions chased one after the other on her expressive face.
How difficult it was for her to stay away from Aakash. Oh my god what had happened to his Aarti.
"I am counting on you to be a man of honour. Do not break my trust. You have to take me to my home in the morning" Smriti said as she came inside the room. She wanted to add something else too but again the same weakness suddenly overtook her and as she was about to fall Yash held her. He then carried her in his arms and laid her on the bed again and covered her body with the duvet.
After that Yash who was still reeling from Aarti's declaration of love for Aakash just flopped on the sofa in misery. He just hoped that this phase with Aarti being Smriti was temporary and that somehow he would get his loving wife Aarti back. He just HAD to get his wife back too much depended on it. He kept looking at Aarti who claimed to be Smriti and at huge portraits of his loving wife Aarti and dreaded what would happen in the morning.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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