Part Six
Aarti was totally disheartened with her experience with Prashant. She spent many days grieving over the loss of what could have been. Vidhi was Aarti's constant companion, as both of them experience almost the same fate it was easier to empathise with each other. Misery loves company, so they leaned on each other for support, they cried and laughed together. Slowly Aarti moved away from feeling hurt and pain to feeling relieved that she found out Prasanth's deceive sooner. All was returning to normal until her family decided to talk to her about the one matter she dreaded and so far cleverly avoided.
"Aarti, please don't be upset or angry with what I have got to say," her father said.
Aarti fidgeted and shook her head.
Dubey continued, "Your mother and I want to see you settled in life, you are still young."
Aarti knew what was coming and she protested it in her mind. After a pause her father said, "We know it is too early after Prashant but we might not get another proposal like this again. At least meet the guy first then you can decide, if you don't like him you can say no."
Aarti looked blank trying to comprehend what's been said, since young she had never disagreed with her father so how could she let him down this time. She nodded and Dubey breathed a sigh of relief.
Aarti hated her situation more than anything yet comforted herself by thinking things couldn't be worse than what she went through with Prashant. "I only have to see this guy not marry him," she said to herself.
So the next day the person called her up, chatted a while and asked Aarti out for a lunch date. Aarti agreed to it because in the back of her mind she wanted to get over with it as soon as she can.
She met the guy who looked much older than she anticipated. He turned out to be such a brag, ranting about his hot shot job and to top it all brought his ex-wife into their conversations multiple times. Finally lunch over and Aarti was ready for the date to end only to hear him asking her to join him for a movie in a mall nearby. Aarti reluctantly agreed and later regretted her decision.
From the moment they sat to watch the movie, he tried every move to touch her. At first he did the arm over shoulder move and then he attempted to touch her legs. Aarti was annoyed and frustrated and when he gently placed his hand on her thigh she just freaked out and ran from the place. He followed her from behind but she outran him.
When she was out of the mall she still walked fast just in case, that was when she heard someone calling, "Ms Dubey."
The voice was so familiar to her and then her brain triggered, "Yash Schindia, Oh! Dear God he is the last person I want to see." She pretended she didn't hear him and walked on but he caught up with her. He tapped her shoulder, she stopped and turned all the while cussing her luck.
"You seem to be in a hurry, where are you going?" he asked.
"Ummm... I running late I need to go back home. Excuse me," she answered turning the other way and continued walking. He walked together with Aarti surprising her with his action.
"Uhh... Prashant..uhh," he hesitated to ask.
Aarthi sighed upon hearing his name and said, "I don't know what are your issues with him yet it is sufficient for you to know that he is my ex-husband and yes we got back together briefly but we are no longer together. So I will appreciate it if you don't mention his name in front of me."
"So it didn't work out with Prashant, I'm delighted to hear this," he replied, which irked Aarti because here she is trying to nurse her broken heart and he is rubbing it in.
"Are you and God in this together?, if you are trying to make me feel worse, you don't have to bother I'm already feeling bad now."
She walked faster and tried to flag any public vehicle to go back home and away from this irritating man.
"Aarti... Look I know I have been rude to you before and for that I'm sorry," he said.. paused a while and later added, "Uhh... what I'm trying to say is despite appearances, I like you very much."
Aarti was still stuck at "Aarti" not "Ms Dubey" that everything else registered slowly into her brain. She looked at him confused.
"Have you forgotten the fact that I'm divorced and I'm sure my unladylike manners haven't gone unnoticed?" she questioned him still doubtful about what he has just said.
"No.. I mean Yes I know all this.. I like you very much just as you are," he answered rendering her speechless and more puzzled.
As soon as he said this, a taxi stopped in front of her and she hopped in. The taxi moved, she turned to look one last time and found him still standing there.
"Did he really mean it?" she thought to herself. "How can he possibly like me?"
"Don't I hate him, why am I thinking so much about him?". All these thoughts running in her head simultaneously.
Aarti was muddled, to clear her mind she went to Vidhi's place. She also wanted to avoid the inquisitive questions about her date. Vidhi was extremely cheerful, she was all smiles.
Before Aarti could ask her the reason Vidhi pulled her and said, "Aarti.. I'm so happy today, everything is good again. Aarti...Pankaj called me and the wedding is on."
"Really, I'm so happy for you. How did this miracle happen, I thought nothing will change their minds?" Aarti asked.
"Well I don't know the details but it has something to do with Yash," Vidhi filled her in.
"Yash..," Aarti said loudly.
"Hmmm... interesting, this Yash has given me two surprises today," she said to herself.
Edited by Sdaren - 12 years ago
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Arjun
