Part 5
Aarti was in the kitchen helping Vidhi and her her m-i-l with preparations for supper. It was a special dinner and her parents had also been invited. Her husband was coming home today. It was his parent's 35th Wedding anniversary and a big party was being planned for them. Hence Yash was on his way home. She has not been in contact with him for the 4 months that she has been at home, but for business e-mails that they would on the odd occasion direct to each other.
Shortly after her return to Bhopal she had been approached by her father in law to take a management position in the company. She was sure that it was at her husband's request. She loved her job. It was one of the things that kept her going. She excelled at it. Even Suraj was impressed with his bahu's abilities. She had even been allowed to wear western clothes during working days.
Today she had not gone to the office as she knew it was expected of her to stay at home and await her husband's arrival, although she would have given anything in the world not have been there. It was evident to all when she came back that something had gone horribly wrong in London. They tried to find out but Aarti always just said that she missed home too much. She had gotten to really love this family that had opened their home to her. They accepted as her as one of their own. She was happy there, well as happy as she could be under the circumstances. She has the best mother in law in the world.
She thought back to the night that she was sitting in the balcony trying to concentrate on working on her laptop. Her mother in law came in sat next to her.
"What happened in London bahu and don't tell me that you missed home. I can see the sadness in your eyes and I can hear the concern in my son's voice when he asks about you. You two are not even speaking to each other. Did he do something to hurt you."
"Things happen in marriages ma, that's all."
"Aarti, you know I love you like my own. The men thought they made this decision but I would never have let this marriage happen if I did not think that you were the best choice for my son. But I can see that you are hurting. You don't have to tell me what happened but let an old woman give you some advice. If you can forgive Yash for what he did, then stay in this relationship. If you are not able to forgive him, then you have to leave him. For your own good. I can see how you have changed since you came back from London. That sparkle in your eye is gone. You are not the same happy, lively girl I met when we made the proposal. Whatever you decide I will love and support you. Don't ever doubt that"
"I don't know what to do Ma. Why does it have to be so hard?" She fell in her mother in laws arms and cried till there were no more tears left. This moment was probably the biggest contributing factor in her decision to stay. She had never felt the love of a mother as she did right then.
She heard a commotion as the family rushed to welcome him. She stayed in the background. She was not ready to face him yet.
Yash wondered what reception he would get from his wife. He was surprised that she was there, living at their house. He still hated himself for what he had done. He had managed to convince his father to let her work for the company. At least she would like that. If only he had given her the job in London that she had asked for then none of the insanity that happened after would have taken place. But it was too late for regrets now.
He came in to the house. His eyes searching for her first. His family were all excited to see him but she was standing in the background with her eyes down. She can't even look at him, he thought with disgust. When he had greeted everyone he went to her.
"Namaste Aartiji."
"Namaste Yashji, please go freshen up. Would you like me to bring you tea or juice?
"Juice, please."
And she left.
She brought the juice to their room and put it on the dresser.
"How are you Aartiji?"
"Fine"
"Aartiji..."
"I have to help Ma and Bhabi with supper. Please excuse me."
She left and he cursed himself for the umpteenth time. Later at supper he was amazed at this girl who always demanded her right for equality and to work served him and his family although this type of thing did not come naturally to her. It was clear that she loved and respected his family. When she was asked to sit down next to him she made some excuse that she had to do something in the kitchen. He was disappointed but not surprised. She went to bed shortly after her parents left. When he eventually came to the room he saw her sleeping on the couch. He noticed that the gift that he brought her remained unopened on the dresser. He took a shower and went to bed but he didn't sleep. He was too aware of her. He even heard when she got up in the morning. First she went to help with breakfast, came back and dressed in a beautiful corporate pants suit and they all went to work in the same car.
Aarti had especially dressed very corporately today as she was doing a presentation for the board of directors. She was so nervous. She was well prepared, but he was going to be there. She was scared that she would make a mistake and he would realise why she shouldn't be working here. She was pacing in her office when Prateek came in. He has been job shadowing for a college project.
"What is wrong Bhabhi?"
"Just nervous about the presentation."
"Nervous about the presentation or nervous because your darling husband will be there,"
"What if I make a mistake? I can't make a fool of myself in front of him. I can't stay at home and not work."
"Bhabi, you are good at what you do and my bhaiya knows that. Stop stressing. Just picture him naked," he left the office laughing.
That was not amusing at all to Aarti.
Unbeknown to them yash, was in earshot of this convo and decided that he can't be the cause of her discomfort and fear.
Aarti had set up everything in the boardroom and all the directors and CEO was sitting there waiting for her. She was shaking like a leaf inside. Suddenly a phone wrong rang. It was Yash's.
"Sorry everyone, I have to take this" and he left the boardroom.
She then started with her presentation and was so engrossed in it that she was not aware that he had returned the boardroom and was standing and watching her with pride. When she completed her presentation, she received applause from all the board members but the approval of only one mattered to her. She finally saw him standing in the corner of the boardroom. He gave her a nod of approval. She had not realised how tense she was till that moment and she relaxed a little bit.
Then it was a mad time with all the preparation for the anniversary party. They had invited everybody, family, friends, colleagues, business associates. It was a huge event. It was a great party. Yash was catching up with some of his friends when he saw her. She looked beautiful in a black and silver saree. But he was disappointed because he had gifted her a red one to wear to the event this morning. Her actions spoke volumes. He had to draw is attention from her as Ishita was talking to him.
Aarti had deliberately not worn the saree he had given her or the shoes he has brought as a gift for her from London. She was very surprised that he had remembered. One of her passions was shoes and she has multitudes of them. On one rare occasion that they had gone out in London to meet one of his friends for lunch, he parked the car and while she was waiting for him she had ducked into a nearby shoe store and tried on the most magnificent pair of manolo blahnik high heeled pumps. It fit her perfectly although she could not afford it. He caught her trying on the shoes and offered to pay for it but she declined. Yet so many months later he brought her this shoe as a gift. A gift she would not have opened if it had not been at the insistence of Vidhi. She still would not accept anything from him. And here he was once again with that Ishita woman. She avoided him the whole night.
This routine of avoidance carried on for two weeks. Then her father in law announced that they would be going to Mumbai for a week on vacation. She tried to make an excuse to stay but no one in the family would hear of it.
She was glad she went. She had a wonderful time with the family. Especially Prateek. Vendant and Vedikha. The latter were Pankaj and Vidhi's kids. They would go out every day and she especially loved the beach. Yash tried to interact with her but got no response. She would just walk away every time he was in the vicinity.
Aarti had arranged to meet an old college friend for the day. Yash had insisted on taking her. He would also be meeting with a friend. He dropped her at the mall where she met her friend. They spent an awesome day together. They had lunch, shopped and went to her apartment for the afternoon. Yash picked her up just before supper time. He had asked her if she would accompany him for dinner. She didn't want to go but she agreed. He asked her where she wanted to go and as normal she was non-committal. He chose a cosy little restaurant on the beach front. He managed to draw her out. First they spoke about work. Then he brought up the kids. It was obvious that Aarti loved Vendant and Vedikha. How lucky were those munchkins to have her love. She actually participated in the conversation. And when he told her stories of Prateek and the pranks he pulled when he was younger, she laughed spontaneously. She looked beautiful and happy. When they left the restaurant there was a shift in the relationship. He was hoping that they had made strides to at least becoming friends.
It was Yash's last week in Bhopal and he was doing a sight inspection with Aarti when her phone rang. He saw her face go ashen."
"What. Oh no. When. I'm on my way."
Her father had been in a serious vehicle accident and was admitted to hospital.
Aarti was beside herself when she saw her father attached to all the tubes. Her mother was there as well but as usual she was not there for Aarti. They were not able to console each other even in this desperate situation. Two days later it was decided to switch off the life support system. Aarti was inconsolable. He had been her whole world for so long and now he was gone. For weeks after the funeral, Aarti was still depressed. She would wake up in the middle of the night and start sobbing. Yash was there always to take her in his arms and calm her down. After a few days he gave up sleeping on the couch and slept with her on the bed. She would sometimes just clutch his pyjama top in search of comfort. She even called for him if he wasn't there.
The turning point of Aarti's depression came 2 weeks later with the reading her fathers will. Yash went with her but waited outside the lawyer's office. It turned out the her father left some money to a few long standing domestic servants, a small amount for his favourite niece and nephew, the house and a large amount of money to her mom and the bulk of his estate and all his shares in Scindiya Dubey Incorporated to Aarti. Her mother was livid. She shouted at Aarti accusing her of turning her husband against her. Finally Aarti had enough this woman who had never really been a mother to her.
"Mother, no one had to turn daddy against you. You did it all by yourself. You just always assumed that he was stupid and didn't realise that you only loved him for his money. He did everything to please you but it was never enough. You had me as an insurance policy to make sure he stays with you. You refused him any more children even though he desperately wanted more. And for what, cause you wanted to keep your figure intact. You had me sold in marriage to the highest bidder so that you could retain a lavish lifestyle. Even in his death it is not enough. The money that he has left you is more than most people can spend in a lifetime but you are so ungrateful. And besides, what do you know about this business. You would have just sold the shares anyway. At least with the shares going to me, a Dubey will still be involved in the business that has been built up by my great-grandfather and grandfather."
"You care more for your business and in laws than you do for me." He mother accused.
"They care more for me than you ever did!"
"Is that what you are telling everyone? That I was a bad mother. You had the best nannies that money could buy."
"Yes mother. I had the best nannies but I never had my mother. Goodbye, mother." And she left.
The death of her father and the showdown with her mother took its toll on Aarti. She had a very high fever for the next few day and had to stay in bed. Yash would not leave her side. He had decided to stay in India indefinitely and worked from home most of the time.
Aarti was delirious for most of the time while she had fever. She cried for her father and what saddened him the most she would dream of the incident and would beg him to stop. Those times Yash wept with her.
"I am so sorry my love. I have ruined what we could've had. But I promise that I will take care of you from now on. I love you." He said to his sleeping wife.
Aarti woke up and in the middle of the night. Her fever had finally broken. She was lying in Yash's arms. He was fast asleep. He looked so beautiful, she was tempted to touch his face. She was vaguely aware that he was there all the time that she was sick, that he had tried to feed and given her medication. It occurred to her that she did not find his touch abhorrent anymore. That she had found it comforting when he held her while she was crying for her father. She needed him then and he was there for her. She wasn't scared of him anymore.
She decided to get up and take a shower. She felt sweaty and grimy from the fever. She got up and looked at him again, trying to figure out what this new feeling was that she felt for him. She couldn't decide. The only thing that she knew for sure was that she needed him. She made her way to the bathroom.
Yash woke up and discovered that Aarti was not there. He went into a mad panic. He jumped and looked on the balcony and ran into the bathroom not thinking. His only aim was to find her and make sure she was ok. What he found there what he least expected.
She was taking a shower. Her head thrown back so that the water was running over her freshly washed hair and over her body. He has never seen such a delectable sight. He just stood there watching her. She finally noticed him and at first she was shocked and then her expression changed. She looked him back in the eyes and said.
"Yash, I need you."
His head said no as his feet was carrying him closer to her. He joined her in the shower still wearing his pyjamas. They stood looking at each other. Not touching,
"I need you."
"Are you sure Aarti,"
"I need you." Tears were mingling with the water that was dripping down her face.
He took her in his arms and just held her for a long time. She cried into his chest and then she moved away.
"Please, I need you."
He lost his control and he kissed her. She responded. His hands were in her hair, her moved lips down to her shoulders and he went to stand behind her. Kissing the nape of her neck and suckling her ears all the while kneading her breasts. She involuntarily fell back against his hard body. Aart felt his need at her buttocks. She shivered. She was not sure if it was pleasure of fear. She still had that incident at the back of her mind.
He came back around to her front, his mouth now replacing his hands. He took her breast in his mouth, sucking and kissing her nipples. He placed the palm of his hand on her stomach and moved it down slowly to her secret place. They both gasped when his hand reached his destination. Her because of the pleasure she felt and him because of the moistness that he felt there that had nothing to do with the water from the shower.
She was unsure of what she had to do. She had never done this before and in a shower? She had always been well prepared for everything she ever did. Now she was at a loss. "Yash, what do I do" she asked.
"Nothing "he said. All you need to do is to let me love you." He tongue dove back in her mouth. She stepped closer so that her entire body touched his.
"Your clothes, Yash."
He chuckled and said. "Are they in the way Aarti?" He moved away from her and removed his clothes. Her eyes devoured him. "Do like what you see."
She turned around. She was embarrassed now. He moved to her and held her to him, skin on skin. "Is that better Aarti." She nodded. "Then can you turn around." She did. She gasped she felt his arousal near her most intimate part and moved away from him. This was too intimate.
"Do you want me to stop Aarti."
"I don't know. I'm scared."
"Aarti, we can stop. We don't have to do this."
He soaped the sponge and proceeded to wash her. This had the complete opposite effect of what he had intended. He body was aflame. She was trembling. She grabbed his face and kissed him hungrily.
"I need you," she mouthed against his lips"
"Aarti..."
"I need you, Yash."
He lifted her and as he was about place him on his throbbing manhood, he saw her close her eyes. She was expecting pain. He continued his action and saw her open her eyes wide in amazement. There was no pain. Only immense pleasure. He started his rhythmic movements. She was in heaven. They were both lost in complete ecstasy.
"I need you Yash, I need you" She screamed that all the time and her pitch got higher and her voice got louder when they reached climax."
She collapsed against him completely spent. He dried her and carried her to bed. They fell asleep in each other's arm. Each wondering what the morning would bring.
Edited by B-onesie - 9 years ago
Anupamaa
CID
