Chapter 44
Smriti woke upto severe hunger cramps, when was the last time she had anything to eat she thought. Her captor sure had not fed her she thought crossly. Instead of feeling fear and panic she was feeling anger which was not the reaction she should be feeling at being present in a strange place. How could she feel save here? That part worried her.
Where was he anyway, gone away to hunt for someone else to trap in his dungeon? Some dungeon more like a palace she corrected herself. Maybe he would do that too who knew? And just because he had an innocent looking face did not mean a thing. With that she cautiously got down the bed. And for the first time in the morning light had a good proper look around the room. That was enough to stun her on seeing her photos all around her. Some solo, some with that stranger and a group photo with children all three of them two girls and a boy. Who the hell was that woman who looked exactly like her? Oh! that headache again she brushed off the onset of the uneasiness.
Ok so that is why the man mistook her for his wife, that explains it. Obviously he is suffering from some misunderstanding. She would just have to explain to him that it's a case of look-alikes. Didn't they say you could have upto seven identical people like you across the world? It was just a weird coincidence that she had taken the place of one such person here.
"Aartiji how are you feeling now? (to which Smriti did not respond) Yash asked as he came out of the washroom in a towel.
"Maybe we should go to the doctor for a thorough check-up?" He suggested but again was greeted by silence.
"Are you still Smriti?" finally Yash questioned.
"Very funny. One does not forget one's identity in a night" Smriti answered back at first glaring at him and then lowering her eyes and turning her face away at seeing him in a towel; deliberately not commenting on his attire to avoid any mention of it.
"Oh really you seem to have totally forgotten about your identity as Aarti quite easily though" Yash shot back.
"How can I forget something that was never mine to be forgotten? I think there is a very simple explanation behind all this. Your "wife" (she said raising her hands and pointing to the portraits around) obviously resembles me. I think you should give a police complaint...in case...in case she is lost or something. This locking a person up just because she happens to look like her is not a correct way to go about it" she said in a mocking way meeting his eyes defiantly.
"Why would I do that when I have her right in front of my eyes" Yash said as he pulled on a pair of trousers and a T-shirt not bothering that it was proving to be very embarrassing for the woman in the room.
"For the last time I am not your wife and I am done convincing you of the same. Why bother? And if you remember you did promise me to take me home, my own home that is. Now if you are a decent man you better keep up your word"Smriti challenged.
"I do remember what I said last night. But just as I do not believe you being anyone other than my wife, once you leave this room my family members too would not believe you and crossing them and going out of the house is just out of the question" Yash told her in matter of fact manner.
"You cannot keep me here. Just because you are in need of your missing wife I cannot be forced into taking her place" Smriti said tired of repeating herself over and over again.
"No one is going to force you to. But if you want an easy exit I suggest you do as I say" Yash said as he tried to come up with a plan.
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When Yash and Smriti stepped out of the room together all fresh and well dressed with Smriti carrying her soiled clothes in a carry-bag and wearing Yash's wife's clothes. They were immediately greeted by Gayatri.
"Oh finally...finally you are awake. How are you feeling now Aarti bahu? You must be famished go have some breakfast. Let some food go in you. You look as if you would faint all over again" Gayatri said as her happiness showed clearly on her face on seeing her son and daughter in law together. She had already decided on going to the dargah to pay homage to the peer baba for causing this miracle.
Smriti stood awkwardly and she felt she was being inspected from head to toe by the older woman. She suppressed her uneasiness though and played along. She did mention breakfast, now where was that Smriti thought as her stomach was making growling sounds. These people did owe her a meal for making her stay overnight in their house against their wishes. The coffee she had had in the room was hardly sufficient.
"This way" Yash led Aarti to the breakfast table.
"Maa what about everyone else?" Yash asked on reaching the dining area. He knew it was still early for the kids to wake up as they were up yesterday for a long time out of excitement. So must be worn out completely he decided.
"They will come shortly. Why don't you have something in the meanwhile" Gayatri said and started serving both of them.
"Maaji wont you sit down we will serve ourselves" Smriti asked her manners making her say it.
"Don't worry about me bahu...but...why are you calling me Maaji...it was always mummyji before" Gayatri asked suddenly finding it odd.
Smriti looked at Yash for help but he just kept muching his breakfast.
"Slip of tongue mummyji, please do not mind" Smriti tried to save the situation as she heard Yash chuckle softly and shake his head.
Oh this is rich. I am doing what he wanted me to do and he is laughing at my predicament. Just not done she thought and cursed him for putting her in this situation.
"Mummyji...we would like to go out now...if you don't mind that is?" Smriti asked abruptly getting up from her chair after some time. She could see that Yash had not yet finished his plate but she did not care. Faking to be someone else was proving to be difficult especially when his mother was looking at her with such happiness and wonder.
"Aarti bahu...there is so much to know...so much to talk about...where are you two off to this early in the morning?" Gayatri asked feeling confused and her anxiety building up.
"Doctor check up maa" Yash replied hoping that would suffice as a good enough reason to make a hasty exit.
"Why did he ask you to come over? Oh! don't answer that... he might have asked just come over for some tests. She was out the whole day yesterday. Something could be wrong. Yes go before the kids wake up and make it difficult for Aarti to leave" Gayatri insisted and thought once her daughter in law was strong enough all her questions could be answered, for now it was enough to see her alive in front of her eyes.
Smriti thanked god for making her exit smooth.
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Yash could not believe he was actually taking his wife out of the house never to return again. How could he be this calm about it? What was he waiting for, divine intervention?? But then he needed answers and what better then to go to the one person that connected his Aarti to this new Smriti.
He had called Aarti's father yesterday but did not tell him anything over the phone and had just asked him to come over today. Yash hoped that by the time he arrived today things would be a bit clearer.
All through the car drive both were silent. Smriti kept anticipating her near return to her home.
When the car stopped at the place where Smriti had asked she immediately jumped off the car and went straight towards her home. Yash could only gritt his teeth at seeing her eagerness to be back to Aakash. He slowly got out of the car himself and debated whether to chase after Aarti or wait and watch. He decided on the later. But after a brief wait he slowly walked towards the small house in which Aarti had entered just a while back. He stopped near the window and tried to have a look inside though he could not see anything clearly.
"Oh how I missed you darling. Did you sleep well? Aww you missed me too didn't you" Yash could hear Aarti's voice.
"Oh! naughty...naughty you do know how to get revenge don't you not" she continued as the dagger kept going deep inside Yash's heart.
"I love you...I love you...I love you so much sweet heart" he heard her say, and that made him pull back from the window, the shock at hearing so much love in his wife's voice for another man was not something he could withstand. Why did he come here he wondered again? Why did he bring her here...he should have not allowed her to come here. Now what could he do? His wife thought of herself as this different woman who was in love with this man and he was helpless to do anything about it. What if what if he could take her to some doctor for some treatment? But how would he convince her of that. He could not force her like he had said earlier.
As he kept walking deep in thought he bumped into someone. He started to apologise and was shocked to see Aakash in front of him.
"What the devil..."Akash said as he to recovered from the man crashing into him.
"Oh! it's you bhaiya. About time, I was expecting you here. So where is Smriti? Let me guess inside with her sweetheart right?" Aakash said as he started going towards his house.
Yash was still in a daze. Who could be Aarti's sweetheart if Aakash was here outside he wondered and with apprehension he followed Aakash inside.
When Aakash stepped inside he was greeted with the most hostile greeting ever.
"You scoundrel, how could you just leave me all alone like that in a strange place? What were you thinking? No don't try to talk your way out of this one" Smriti said as she came onto Aakash in an attacking mode.
"What was I to do? I saw you photos in the house. I thought you really were the house's mistress or something" Aakash said defensively.
" Yeah right? And that excuses everything. You did not even think about how he would manage without me" Smriti accused angrily.
"Well maa did take care of him you know. He hardly missed you" Aakash said trying to make light of it.
"You you you..." she started to punch Aakash and he started to run around to avoid being smashed by Smriti. The mood had lightened between them and they started laughing while chasing.
Yash who had entered in the meanwhile stood like a mute spectator taking in the scene.
Just then there was a shrill cry from inside.
"Oh my God Aayu" Smriti said and dashed inside.
Yash looked at Aakash in confusion. And Aakash just gave him an enigmatic smile. Just then both men were joined by an old woman.
"Aakash you did not say we had guests at home" Radha looked at Aakash in reprimand.
"Maa this is my employer Yash Scindia" Aakash informed his mother who looked like she lost some of her color at the mention of Yash's name.
"Oh! what a pleasure to have you with us? Aakash where are you manners you did not even offer him a seat (she again gave Aakash a stern look and turned her attention to Yash) Beta welcome to our humble abode. Please make yourself comfortable"
Yash smiled as his manners kicked in and he took the seat that was offered all the while his eyes in desperate search for Aarti who had still not come out.
"Would you have some tea beta?" Radha asked.
"Maa he is not here to enjoy our hospitality" Aakash spoke up not able to stop himself.
"Then...?" Radha asked looking confused.
"Your laadli Smriti's past you keep wondering about? Well he is the blast from that past" Aakash said trying to explain the situation to his mother.
"What do you mean?" she asked suddenly growing tense.
"Maa whom you and Aakash are referring as Smriti happens to be my wife Aarti" Yash intervened.
"Oh my god"Radha said feeling shocked at the revelation.
"I had thought I had lost my wife in a bomb blast in Delhi...but yesterday out of the blue most unexpectedly she turned up at my residence apparently to give lunch to your son" Yash continued to give her the gist.
Yash got up while he said his piece, feeling very uncomfortable recounting the details.
"Then she wakes up and says she is this woman called Smriti and she has absolutely no recollection as herself being Aarti. It's like that part of her life never existed for her" Yash concluded his eyes giving away the pain of seeing Aarti like this.
"I want your help...I want you tell me how she ended up here with you. I want you to help me bring my wife back to me" he pleaded.
"Oh! beta... I wish I could help you...but..."Radha was stopped midway with Smriti's entrance.
"You naughty fellow...how long will you say no to milk. Your mumma will win the battle you will see" Smriti said to the baby in her hand.
"Oh Aayu come now why don't you finish milk and then play your games. Mumma is asking you nicely is she not?" she said totally lost to her surroundings and focused only on her baby.
Yash kept looking at Aarti and the baby in her hand in horror. Not able to understand a single thing. Who was this baby? Why was Aarti calling herself this baby's mumma? Oh God was this Aakash and her son? Had she totally distanced herself from her past to that extent? Was there no going back?
TO BE CONTINUED...
PS: Predictable YES but yaar could not keep Aayu out.
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