Aarya SS - You're impossible! Part 21 pg 142 - Page 6

Part 3

They stood staring at each other behind their bedroom door. He could see curiosity in her eyes. He wondered how to start.

"For someone who wanted to tell something to me, you are awfully quiet."

"Aprita is my best friend. We met in college 10 years ago. She is now the Group Financial Controller of our Company. I am in love with her, she is married to Aman, I am married to you. End of story."

Arprita is married to someone else? This is all too perplexing for Aarti.

"End of story? Mr Yash Scindia, as the CFO of one of India's leading companies, you seem to lack the ability to present yourself clearly. Aprita is married and she is having an affair with you? I do not..."

"What is wrong with you? Aprita and I are not having an affair! You know what? I should not have mentioned anything to you. You are twisting everything in your head."

He slammed the bedroom door in exasperation and stomped out of the house. He was not ready to discuss his feelings for Aprita. And how dare Aarti think that Aprita would have an affair?

Yash ignored his younger brother. He knew Prateek would flood him with questions later since Prateek had pretty much nothing to do in the office. Yash wished Prateek would be more serious about his career. He had graduated three years ago and joined the Company as an engineer. He was not promoted to Senior Engineer during the last promotion review and yet he did not care - most of the staff is due for promotion two years after serving the Company as an engineer. Pankaj was always asking Yash to have a "chat" with Prateek. Prateek was contented to take things easy while Yash strived hard to be the best, just like Arprita. Perhaps that was why he fell in love with Arprita - they were so alike. Both he and Aprita had joined Scindia & Sons as Assistant Accountants upon graduation and worked their way up to where they were today.

That was it? She leaned against the door and closed her eyes as dejection consumed her. She felt like packing up her bags (not that she had unpacked anything actually) and calling up her dad to get her. She did not want to be married anymore!

"Aarti, do you want to eat?" Vidhi babhi asked as she knocked on their door.

She was famished so she stepped out of the room and followed Vidhi babhi to have breakfast. She could never think straight on an empty stomach anyway. She answered Vidhi babhi's and Maaji's persistent prying on Yash's behavior with silence.

After breakfast, she was too occupied to think about Yash and Aprita. She had to help out with lunch preparation as many relatives and friends were dropping by later apparently to meet her. Maaji recited a list of chores that was to be divided among her, Vidhi babhi, and their two helpers - Ram Dulare and Prashant. How exciting! Bua passed a remark loud enough for everyone's benefit questioning Maaji's decision to leave the frying of the samosas to Aarti. Aarti plastered a smile on her face and asked Bua if Bua wanted to fry the samosas herself to ensure the quality was not compromised. That chased Bua away from the kitchen and Aarti and Vidhi babhi shared a smile.

Lunch was an uneventful and chaotic affair. All the elders she was introduced to told her to be a good wife, daughter-in-law and to have a child soon while the young women she interacted with were gushing at her good fortune as her husband was hot and charming. She wished she could join Vidhi babhi, Ram Dulare and Prashant in handling the food and drinks instead. They seemed to be up to their necks replenishing the food that disappeared at a faster pace than the advices the elders were compelled to bestow upon her.

The only entertainment she had was watching the children run around as though the living room was a playground. Payal, Yash's five year old niece, was running after a young boy and accidentally knocked down the jug that was on the edge of the table. No one reacted except, of course, Bua.

"Mere baghwan ke kasam," Bua sighed as the jug smashed into pieces and orange juice spilled on the marble tiles.

"Ram Dulare, please help to clear this mess! These children think this place is a circus! I wonder who is responsible for this. Parents no longer teach their children how to behave. I tell you..." Bua continued to no one in particular. The adults were too engrossed in their conversations and gossips and the children were too busy playing so no one paid any heed to Bua.

It was at around six that Aarti finally had some time alone - the last few guests had left at four but she had to help out with clearing up thereafter. She sat on the bed in her new bedroom staring at the three pieces of luggage beside the door. That was all there was of her which she brought to her new "home." She was missing the sanctuary that she was familiar with when her handphone rang.

"Aarti! I miss you so much! I guess now that you are married you have no time for me! The whole day in office was so boring without you. And how is being Mrs Yash Scindia? Tell me..." Mansi's cheerful voice greeted her.

"Mansi, I miss you too! But right now I am in the middle of something. I am very sorry. Promise I will call you back. "

"Oh...Nah, it is ok! I know you would be busy. I just missed ya! But do call me back. And see you in office next week!"

Aarti did not feel like talking to Mansi or anyone in particular. She went to her luggage, took out the two photo frames that she had brought along - a picture of herself and her parents and another of her and Mansi and held them close to her heart. She was a daughter, a best friend and now someone's wife. How does it feel being Mrs Yash Scindia?

Yash stepped into his bedroom and tripped over a luggage, a reminder that this room no longer belonged to him alone. Could she not keep her stuffs properly? And he could see that she had not unpacked yet as the contents spilled from the luggage. Should I put them back or will she mind me touching her belongings?

He was saved from having to make a decision as Aarti stepped out from the bathroom having just finished showering. She was dressed in a pink salwar suit and she was drying her hair with the pink towel. She stared at her clothes on the floor and lifted her head up to look at him, her eyes questioning.

"I tripped over the luggage. I do not recall it was placed in front the door. I thought the luggage was beside the door..." Yash tried to explain himself.

"Of course it is my fault. I am sorry that I caused you to trip!" She interjected sacrastically.

Aarti dumped the clothes into the luggage hurriedly and moved it back to where it belonged.

" No, that is not what I meant. Listen..."

Yash was interrupted when Payal stepped into the room. She ran and hugged Yash.

"Yash Uncle, you are back from work? Is Daddy back? Is Prateek Uncle back? Is Dadaji back? "

"Yes, everyone is back. How is my Payal? What did you today?"

Payal was the darling of the family. She was the only person who could lift any of their moods with her smile and her presence.

Payal ignored Yash's questions and turned to face Aarti instead.

"Aunt Aarti, Mommy call you to go to the kitchen. We need to prepare dinner."

Aarti groaned inwardly. One week of leave and she could see that she would be spending all her time slaving in the kitchen! But she would rather help Vidhi babhi than face Yash right now. She hanged the towel on the rack next to the dressing the table, brushed her hair, took the duppata she had laid on the bed, draped it over her and made her way to the kitchen.

"Aunt Aarti, wait for me! I want to prepare dinner too..." Payal ran after Aarti and held her hand.

Yash closed his eyes and sighed. He had a bad day at work after being questioned by Pankaj bhaiyya on the budget for the Oceanic Theme Park. Even Prateek backed off from stepping into his room. Both he and Aprita had worked so hard on it yet Pankaj bhaiyya was not satisfied and had asked him to relook at the numbers again. He knew he would be up late tonight doing just that and Aarti was definitely not helping his mood!