AARYA SS - TELL ME I DO... (part 3 pg 4)

PART 1

She stared at him in disbelief. She did not expect to see him here. You could hear the intake of breaths and gasps when he stepped into the house. Everyone was in awe of him. Someone even remarked how he was much more dashing in person than on television. You could also hear whisperings about how he was two days too late.

Her eyes never left him as he sauntered in the house like he belonged with a carry on baggage in his right hand. His jeans hung low on his waist the way he like them and he wore a flannel shirt. A day old stubble covered his jaw and his brown eyes were hidden from view by his oversized Rayband. He was indifferent to the chaos he created as he walked into the living room searching for someone.

"Where is Pankaj bhaiyya?" He asked Ram Dulare, their helper, as soon as he saw a familiar face. The house was filled with strangers.

"Upstairs Yash sir," Ram Dulare answered, a look of bewilderment etched on his face.

She moved behind the pillar to be out of his sight as he made his way to the staircase. Her heart was racing and beads of perspiration covered her forehead. She realized she missed him much more than she thought possible. Part of her wished he had spotted her and he would walk over and they could go back to when life was not complicated. Another part of her hoped that he had not seen her as she was too afraid of her reaction if he approached her. She did not want him in her life anymore but she could not trust herself with him. And if he noticed her and disregarded her with a casual nod of acknowledgement, she would crumble in heartache. She had to mean more than that to him although it had been two years since he last contacted her. Her emotions were in turmoil and she prayed for sanity. She was always in disarray when it comes to him.

She heard his footsteps up the stairs and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Aarti, is it true? Yash is back? Did you see him?" Vidhi asked as soon as she spotted Aarti leaning against the pillar, her right hand on her chest and her eyes shut. Vidhi was in the kitchen when she heard murmurs that Yash was back and had dashed immediately to the living room.

Aarti merely nodded as she tried to calm herself down. The fast beating of her heart refused to slow down and she wondered why he was back.

"Are you ok Aarti? You are all flushed. Where is Yash? Did he speak to you?"

"He is upstairs. He is looking for Pankaj bhaiyya. Could you get my handbag for me please? I left it in your room. I need to leave," she had to get out of the house fast.

"I will go up and get your bag and meet you at your car? You parked it outside right along the street?"

Aarti nodded as she dragged her confused self out of the house.

Yash found Pankaj bhaiyya in his room on the bed. He was staring at their mother's photo in his hand with tears in his eyes.

"I still cannot believe she is gone Vidhi," Pankaj bhaiyya muttered, thinking Vidhi was the one who had opened the bedroom door.

"Pankaj bhiayya," that was all Yash could muster to say.

Pankaj bhaiyya immediately sprung up from the bed and stared at him.

"What are you doing here? " Pankaj bhaiyya asked, his eyes and voice full of contempt.

"Well...This is my house too. I can come back anytime I want," Yash challenged. That was not what he had planned to say but he was not expecting Pankaj bhaiyya's hatred.

" You have not stepped foot into this house for the past two years and you walked in two days after our mother was cremated and said that you can come back anytime you want? You did not come back when dad died despite mine and Vidhi's pleas to show up just to appease Mom! This maybe your house too but this my room so please get out. I do not want to see your face! " Pankaj bhaiyya bellowed.

"Well, that is too bad cause I plan to staying for a while and'" Yash was interrupted as Vidhi babhi stepped into the room.

"Yash...It...well...it is good to see you," Vidhi babhi said although her face only showed puzzlement as she eyed Yash suspiciously. She did not miss that her husband face is flushed with anger. She went to pick up a handbag on the dresser table while her gaze went back and forth between her husband and Yash.

"I need to pass this to my friend and I will be back soon. In the meantime, do not get into trouble, " she said as she headed towards the door.

"Whose bag is that?" Yash asked.

"Er..well...My friend. She is going home. You do not know her," Vidhi babhi stammered.

Yash knew he was right. He had felt her presence when he stepped into the house just now.

"Here is your bag. I need to get back up. I am afraid they may end up at each others' throat by now. Are you ok Aarti? I will call you later tonight," Vidhi bade Aarti goodbye as Aarti retrieved the car keys from her hand bag.

"Thanks Vidhi. Please help me tell Pankaj bhaiyya that I am sorry I could not stay and help with the pooja. You do not have to call me if you are busy Vidhi. I am fine. Take care of Pankaj bhaiyya. He is still grieving for Gayathri Auntiji. "

Vidhi hugged Aarti. "I still cannot believe Maaji is gone. Pankaj is so upset and I am afraid Yash being back will make things worse. And why did he come back only after she is cremated? She was always praying for his success and was so proud that her son is a famous singer. And to think he treated her that way eventually. "

Aarti shrugged as they broke the hug and tears welled up her eyes. She did not know Yash anymore. The boy she knew when she was seventeen was so different from the man he had become.

"You better go up Vidhi. Pankaj bhaiyya needs you." Aarti said to Vidhi's retreating figure.

She was about to step into her car when a familiar voice stopped her.

"You are leaving without offering your condolence to me?"

She looked up and saw the boy she thought she would be married to. He had removed his shades and his gaze never left her face as he approached her.

She swallowed and moved backwards and bumped into her car. Her heart beat quickened again.

"I was told you offer condolence to people who need sympathy and is experiencing grief or loss. I do not think that is you right Yash?"

"Wow, no one seemed to be missing me over here. It looks like I have made a wasted trip back."

Yash closed in on her and their faces were inches apart. He could smell her perfume and realised she had no make-up on. Apart from the dark circles on her eyes, her flawless skin glowed. She was the most beautiful woman to him. And despite dressed in a simple white salwar kameez, she was still a vision. Unconsciously, he lifted his right hand and fingers traced her cheekbones. Her eyes widened and she pressed her lips together.

"I missed you so much. Much more than I thought possible," he whispered and leaned in towards her.

Every fiber of her being wanted to give in and let him kiss her senseless. She wanted to go back to when they were in their teens and youths when just being with him made her feel complete. But she had made up her mind that he was no good for her and being with him was too cruel to herself.

She pushed him away with all her might and he stumbled a few steps back as a result of the unexpected force. Surprise registered on his face as he stared at her. A gush of cold November wind blew and the leaves began to fall. Neither of them spoke. After a while, she opened her car door and stepped into in. Aarti was astonished when Yash climbed into her passenger seat.

"I could use some company. Please, for old time's sake?"

PART 2 - page 2

Oh my god...this is amazing! You have me hooked already! Really good.

loved dis i hpe u can cont. it even if its an os

Brilliant .. Nice story.. Continue please

😊nice ss
do continue soon


pls pm me if possible

wow what a awesome update😃

Thank you for the comments and encouragement! I will post the next part soon as I am almost done with it...😊

Welcome to the forum. Love it!

PART 2

She was tempted to tell him to get out of her car and that she wanted to be alone. She preferred to head home and cry her heart out. She would look through their old photos, the scrapbooks they created, the letters he wrote to her when he first moved away, the emails he sent her when he was struggling to get a record deal and the postcards he mailed her when he was on tours and ponder where those days have gone by. But she took one look at his forlorn expression and her heart melted. She was always weak when it came to him and she hated herself for it. She had disappointed her family and worried them endlessly because of him. She was the only child and her parents' hopes and dreams of having grandchildren all laid heavy on her small shoulders.

She saw exhaustion on his face and sadness in his eyes. Somehow she believed the boy she knew back then was still lurking behind this man she disliked. He must be grieving the loss of his mother. No matter what she knew that he loved her and he used to tell her that she and Pankaj bhaiyya was his motivation. She wondered who his source of inspiration nowadays was.

"Where do you want to go?" She asked as she started the car.

" Shall we go to Mystic Park? I could use a walk," Yash suggested. He put his shades back on and turned his gaze towards the window. What he could really use was a bottle of beer but he knew if he started he could not stop. Instead he drank the view of the town which had changed so much since he was last back.

The short ride to Mystic Park was filled with silence. When they finally arrived, she took the pink sweater from the backseat of her car and put it on before stepping out of the car. Yash seemed unbothered about the cold weather as he strolled towards the park. Aarti trailed after him.

"Do you remember how we used to come here after school everyday?" Yash suddenly spoke.

Aarti nodded and they continued the walk lost in the memories.

Back then, Yash would bring his guitar along and wrote songs while she did her schoolwork and they would only make their way home when it was dinner time. They were in high school and believed their future had held so many possibilities. Yash had always been interested in making music and would always talk about becoming a singer one day. She thought he would probably grow out of it but was forced to accept that this was his dream when he decided against going to college after high school and wanted to head to Hollywood instead. It was a struggle to get a record deal in Hollywood and it was harder when you are an Asian. But his mother and brother were supportive and as much as she wanted him to have something to fall back on, he was adamant that he did not need it as he was going to a singer and have his songs played on the radio. She reckoned he must be living his dream now while she still struggled to make it as a journalist. She was working for the local newspaper and although they had promised her that she would be a journalist when she accepted the post, she was merely a copywriter. And to think she had worried endlessly back then for him afraid he would never amount to anything and proved her parents right.

A man with a Saint Bernard walked past them and they instinctively looked at each other. They were taken back to the time when they were in the park and a Saint Bernard had run after Yash. The owner had loosened the leash during the walk momentarily to adjust the collar and the dog suddenly headed for Yash. Yash had run helter- skelter around the park and Aarti had a good laugh. It was a sight watching the dog after Yash and the owner after the dog although Yash had claimed that his life was in serious danger and Aarti had not cared about him enough. Aarti had even teased him that she wanted a Saint Bernard when they are married while Yash had told her then to choose between marrying him and having a dog.

"You never did answer right Aarti if you would choose a Saint Bernard or me?"

"It does not matter anymore does it Yash?"

"Well'I would marry you if you pick me."

Aarti stopped in her tracks and looked at him. He had been fleeting in and out of her life for the past ten years and totally disconnected himself from his family and her for the past two years yet he could joke about marrying her.

"What happened to you Yash? Where is the Yash I know? I want the old Yash back!" she was desperate to hold on to her believe that the boy she knew was still there.

"What is wrong with you Aarti? Why are you shouting for no reason?"

"Your mom just passed away Yash and you act as though you are back from a holiday. You are aware right Yash that for the past two years, you completely disappeared from our lives? You cannot come back and pretend that everything was back before you left. Do you know how worried Gayathri Auntiji was about you? Do you know how disappointed she was when you forgot her birthday? Do you know'"

"Shut up Aarti. Just shut up," Yash screamed and sprinted away from her.

Tears streamed down Aarti's face as she watched him run away. Aarti sank to the ground and sat there as realization sank in that she was holding on to a futile hope that her Yash would return. Pankaj bhaiyya and Vidhi had given up on him when he did not arrive after Vidhi had told him of Gayahtri Auntiji's demise. Gayathri Auntiji had always told her that Yash was just lost for a while and he would come back to her but she was not so sure now. Gayathri Auntiji had always introduced Aarti as her bahu to her friends and relatives and insisted that Aarti addressed her Gayathri maaji. She had wanted to but then the scathing remarks that made rounds around town about how she was trying to hold on to Yash by being close to his mother refrained her from doing so. However, secretly she had always regarded Gayathri Auntiji as her mother-in-law and she knew Gayathri maaji was aware of that. She was the only one who was supportive of her relationship with Yash especially since the last couple of years.

Even Vidhi who was her best friend and probably the reason why she and Yash were together had started hinting at her to move on. She could still remember how Pankaj bhaiyya, two years their senior, was interested in Vidhi and had invited her to prom. It was a big deal when a senior asked you to prom when you are sixteen and she and Vidhi had been giddy with excitement. They had combed the whole town to find a suitable dress. Even after Pankaj had gone to college, Vidhi and him continued to date. Vidhi would share all her dating stories and Aarti felt a little left out as no one asked her out. She guessed it must be due to her not being pretty and thin enough. She wore spectacles back then and always tied her thick hair in a ponytail. Vidhi must have sensed that and had arranged a double date with her. Pankaj bhiayya had brought along his brother Yash who was in the same Geometry class as Aarti. They both felt awkward and sat watching the movie quietly. After the movie ended, Vidhi and Pankaj were engrossed in their own conversation while Yash and Aarti struggled to fill the silence between them. Yash suddenly asked her what she thought of the song they played when the credits rolled and Aarti replied that she could not remember as it was just a song. Yash had then gone on about how if a song had the right elements, it would connect with the audience and listeners and it would be more than just a song. Since that day she and Yash had started hanging out more often. They enjoyed each others' company very much that eventually they were hanging out everyday after school and talking on the phone each night. And one day she realised they were "together" when Vidhi started teasing that she would be Aarti's babhi. Yash never did officially ask her to be his girlfriend but she guessed she became his girlfriend the day he had kissed her in the park. Like their first date, their first kiss was awkward too. She started giggling when she felt his tongue in her mouth and they had ended up laughing like two crazy souls in the park that day. The same night he had kissed her again when he dropped her at her house and she felt the tingles and butterflies that Vidhi spoke of. She had spent that whole night thinking about their kiss and planned their future ahead together. But nothing about her and Yash turned out like how she had envisioned them.

Part 3 - pg 4