FF - |As Fate Would Have It| Chapter 9 June17 - Page 14

This is Awesome...Waiting for more

CHAPTER 8

A married man must, if he wishes to have an order in his marriage, know the art of negotiation. He needs to know when to object, when to step up, and when to remain quiet.

Giving himself the mental talk of being honest as soon as she seated herself in the car, Yash thought of the ways in which he would negotiate his position. A simple "Aarti, I messed up last night. I don't love Arpita anymore" would not suffice. She would, if she didn't already, think of him as a crazy bipolar lad, out to ruin her life. Taking calming breaths, he finally saw her – and what a vision she was! With her sari pallu no longer resting on top of her head, the wind was flirting with her hair, and in an effort to control them, a smile toyed on her lips. The first real smile he had witnessed!

Grabbing her hair, and placing them on one shoulder, she held on as she quickly walked towards the car. She looked into his eyes, and her expression changed instantaneously.

What was YashJi doing gaping at her like that, she wondered. Shaking herself of any discomfort, she sat in the passenger side, as Yashji opened the door for her.

Coming around the other side, he secured himself with the seatbelt, and when he was about to start the car, Aarti spoke up, "we cannot go yet."

"Excuse me?" was his response. Why could they not?

"Yes, Mummyji has asked Prateek and Paridi to come with us," she continued.

Closing his eyes in frustration, he could not believe his luck. The woman – his mother – who had offered him the unknown opportunity to have a few moments alone with his wife, was the same to take it away.

"Why? Why do they have to go with us?"

Before Aarti could articulate her response, Prateek and Paridi appeared beside their car, and made progress into sitting in the backseats.

"Chote. What is this?"

"Oh-Ho bhaiyya. Don't you remember? Mummy had told us we would be going the next day as our families could not really mingle before the wedding. A few representatives had to be with you guys from the Schindia family, at least for conversation sake" he winked at Paridi.

"Yes Yash bhaiyya. Plus, as I will be the next bahu for this family, I need to know the rituals that go in making the wedding possible. Of course, if you rather us not go, and give Aarti bhabi more reasons to, erm, have bags under her eyes, we fully understand. Right Prateek?"

As they laughed, Yash tried to control himself. Of course his family would tease them. Had he not led the teasing brigade when Pankaj Bhaiyya had married Vidhi Bhaibi? Had he not also teased Chote when he had proposed to Paridi during a night out with his family – much to the shock of the elders? This was, he figured, his slice served by karma.

"nahi nahi, you guys are welcome to come with us," replied Yash, and as an aside said, "pura khandaan ko bula layte"

"Oh bhaiyya can we? I know Vidhi bhabi and Pankaj bhaiyya wanted to come to" teased Paridi, but before she could run out the car to bring them with, Yash started the car, and was already on the main road. No way was he going to invite more people to watch him make a fool of himself.

During the banter between Yash, Prateek and Paridi, Aarti had been a silent spectator. How she wished she could have been a part of this family, only she knew. While she saw a friend in Prateek and Paridi, she saw an older sister in Vidhi bhabi, and a brother in Panjak bhaiyya. During all the wedding festivities, all four of them had teased her, and welcomed her whole-heartedly, and the same effort was evident the next day. Alas, one does not always get what they wished for, and who better to attest to that, than Aarti herself. Telling herself she would be a part of their family banter next time, for she wanted to keep as many memories as she could, Aarti found a little comfort, and continued to listen to Paridi and Prateek poke fun at Yash and his speed with which he drove out.

As the Dubey's, the Schindia's were received warmly. After the merry conversation during lunch, the gift exchanging ceremony took place. When it was almost tea time, Maansi, grabbed Aarti and excused the both from present company.

Forgetting to close the doors, Maansi dragged Aarti to her room, and asked "So Mrs, Yash Schinia. How was it?"

Unwilling to meet her eyes, Aarti sat on the bed, and refused to answer.

"I can take that both ways: either he has shocked you with what happens between a man and woman, and you are confused with which words to use, or my pretty friend has yet to experience the true sense of marital bliss."

When Aarti continued her silence, Maansi made way to the bed, and cupping her face, gently leveled her face so their eyes could meet.

Upon seeing a distinct sadness that had been trademark Aarti since the Dubey's had brought Aarti home 8 years ago, Maansi pushed, "what happened? I want to know." A simple request she could not refuse.

Maansi was the only real friend Aarti had. Since she had been welcomed into the home of the Dubeys, Maansi, who was a next-door neighbor, had taken it upon herself to make the sad girl smile. With her sharp tongue, and her silly antics, she had won Aarti's heart, and resolved to be there for her no matter what! She would be her friend, her confident, and most of all, she would listen.

"He loves someone else."

Maansi knew that when Aarti spoke up, it was better to leave her to finish her thoughts completely. Reacting, or urging her to speak would just make her go back to being quiet. Silently urging her friend to continue, Maansi took both of Aarti's hands in her own.

"After you guys left, he came into the room, and told me he loves another – Arpita – but since both families were against the wedding, I was chosen to be his bride. Hence the rushed wedding; hence the marriage without a dowry. A marriage made to fit my requirements, but sadly, a marriage where I was also the pawn." Two tears escaped, and the emotions she had kept so well hidden since last night, finally found a release. Maansi was her best friend; she was allowed to see more than just the perfect emotionless mannequin Aarti had willed herself to become.

Aarti continued, "As a girl growing up, I had compromised with my situations, and believed that despite being second best in all my relations: niece, daughter, friend, I would never be seconded when I married. When I would finally get the chance to be a part of my husband's life, I would be his only, and I would do it well! It was a dream growing up, the only dream i had that helped me sleep at night that helped me bear the beatings of my relatives." Too spent to say anything more, and too broken hearted to continue, Aarti wiped her tears as Maani grabbed her into a fierce hug.

As the two girls hugged Paridi, who was at the threshold of Aarti's room, felt her heart squeeze with pain.

Another awesome update. Seriously, I am in love with the way u write. Terrific!

It's great...Dying to know what will be Aarthi reaction to this new discovery of her husband...

Lol I am sure readers wont mind if you don't respond to their comments.. just an update a day is enough for us.. atleast for me! 😆 Hope the marriage you're attending inspires you for your following updates.. ;)

double WOW!!! that was an update worth waiting for 👏👏 and Mansi, i like this kind to be back on the show, sharper in tongue and meaner than buaji to go against her..😃 again, that was too good 👍🏼 ⭐️ and i'm trying to be more patient for the next one😃

amaziiinggg update!!! 👏

wow superb update loved it totally !!
awesome job 👏

Dear Fari, i'm spellbounded in ur writing. u make me shade tears with Arti today at the last part...waiting eargerly for ur update dear