Part 6
Yash had woken up very late the next day. It was the first time in a long time that he had slept well. She was gone. He was disappointed. He wanted to wake up with her next to him. Not because she is grieving or ill but because she is his wife and he loves her.
Last night surpassed his wildest imagination. It gave him hope for the future. On some level he wished he could have stopped himself because she was not ready. She had gone through a lot of trauma over the last couple of months. But he was not strong enough to refuse her. He had never thought after what he had done to her that she would have given herself to him so freely, so passionately. The way that she had vocalised her need for him was overwhelming. It was a struggle to control himself. The only thing that kept him was the thought of her pleasure. And when it she reached the ultimate of pleasure, her re-action rocked his world. He was eager to see her so he got up showered and got dressed.
Aarti was helping preparing with breakfast. Vidhi and Ma had tried to stop her from working but she said that she was fine. She woke up this morning, naked in his arms. She felt flushed with embarrassment. She couldn't believe what she had done last night. But she had no control over her actions. She needed him so badly. More than just physically. He had been so considerate of her. Even trying to stop but at her insistence they had made love. She had expected pain again but what she had experienced was unbelievable pleasure. She was worried about his re-action this morning. What if he still thought she was easy because she begged for him? Her feelings were all over the place. She felt so drawn to him but she was scared that he would turn back into the person he was before. She felt confused with these feelings that she has for him. She felt guilty that she had indulged in pleasure while she should still be grieving for her dad.
He was at the table when she came out to serve breakfast. Every fibre of her being was aware of him but she could not look him in the eyes. She went about serving breakfast, clearing the dishes and went for a nap after the men had left for the office because she was not fully recovered yet. She knew he wanted to speak to her but she avoided him.
She didn't even look at him when she served him breakfast. He just wanted her to look into his eyes once. He wanted to read what was in them. Did she regret what happened or was she happy? He did not have an excuse why he couldn't go to the office because she was obviously feeling better. But tonight they would talk.
It was the longest day ever. He came from work early, but she was busy helping the kids with homework. Then she helped in the kitchen and then it was supper time. He had retired to their room as soon as possible waiting for her. He was working on his laptop but his mind was occupied elsewhere. He was impatient to see her.
Aarti came to the room and sat on the bed. He got up from where he was sitting at the desk and sat at the opposite side of the bed.
"Aarti we need to talk."
He didn't know how she managed to get to his side so quickly. But she was next to him in an instant. She wrapped her arms around him tightly."
"I don't want to talk, Yash. Please just hold me." She cried into his chest. He couldn't do anything but hold her. He rubbed her head gently, until she fell asleep.
Both of them had fallen asleep in their clothes and it was once again the early hours of the morning that he felt her snuggle closer to him. He hand rubbing his chest. He grabbed her hand and moved out of her grasp. He had already lost control last night and he didn't want her to do anything that she wasn't ready for.
Aarti felt completely rejected. She turned around and silent tears flowed from her eyes.
He knew she was crying.
He moved close to her again, took her in his arms and said," Aarti, please don't cry. It breaks my heart."
"Why don't you want me? Am I not good enough? Do you still think I am a ... a loose woman"
"I do want you. You know I do. I've wanted you from the first time I saw you but I think you need more time."
"Leave me." She struggled to get out of his arms. "You don't have to make up excuses. Let me go Yash." He grip on her tightened as she struggled to get out of his hold. The more she struggled the more aroused they both became. Eventually he gave into her, once again.
It was their first anniversary and he wanted to make it special for her. And he wanted to be alone with her. They never did have the talk. He didn't want to pressurise her. But they were together. He enjoyed going to the office with her and working on the same projects. And he especially enjoyed the nights that they spent together. It was a wonder that they were so productive with so little sleep. In fact they could barely keep their hands off each other at work. He was not convinced that their assistants were not aware of what they were up to when they asked not to be disturbed and disappeared into her office. He did not have an office as this was not his base, so he worked mostly in hers.
He had secretly seen to it that her schedule was clear for that day. He woke up early and left a note with a single red rose on the pillow. The note contained her itinerary for the day.
Aarti woke up and was instantly disappointed. For the past 2 months or so she had gotten used to waking up next to her husband or by her husband. She blushed thinking of the ways he sometimes woke her up. But then she saw the rose and the note. She opened the note excitedly. It said, "Happy anniversary, Mrs. Scindiya. For our anniversary I have planned a special day for you. And don't stress about work. I am taking care of everything and your schedule has been cleared for the entire day. So get ready. Your special day awaits. She felt giddy with happiness.
First she was taken by the driver to most luxurious hotel in Bhopal. She got to the suite that he had booked. On the bed was a dozen red roses and a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. She went for a full day spa treatment. She was so relaxed after that she took a short nap. After the nap she took a quick shower and got dressed just in time. She was supposed to be done by 6 on the dot. She heard a knock on the door and when she opened the door, there was a waiter at the door with another single red rose and behind him, there were other waiters with a table and chairs. They set up a dinner table beautifully on the balcony and left. She was impatiently waiting for her husband.
She heard another knock on the door and ran to open it. It was him finally. He was standing there with a rose in his mouth and a gift in his hand. She burst out laughing.
"Mrs. S. That was not the re-action I had hoped for" he said in a mock disappointed voice.
"I'm sorry" she said still laughing.
"Come inside. What's in the box" she said in one breath
"For you, Ma'am" He handed the box to her.
She opened it hurriedly. It was a matching necklace to the earrings that she received earlier.
"It's gorgeous. Thank you." she gushed.
He was looking at her. He was so happy. She looked as beautiful as he thought she would. She had worn the red saree that he gave her on his parent's anniversary.
"Please put it on me."
He took the necklace and put it on her. "You look beautiful, sweetheart."
She turned around and said, "I knew you would like it." and she kissed him. It got more passionate than they had intended. They were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was another waiter with a trolley of food. He was there to serve them for the evening.
The dinner was lovely. They were both in 7th heaven. When dinner was over, the waiter cleared the dishes, collected the trolley and left.
"Have I told you how hot you look tonight, Mr. S.?" He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt. Simple but on him, stunning.
"No, you haven't. But I'd rather prefer you show me how hot you think I look" He moved to her. But she moved away and said. "No, please let me freshen up and I will give you your gift.
"You didn't have to get me a gift."
"When you see it you might change your mind, she winked.
He was standing on the balcony waiting for her. He had not heard the bathroom door open.
"Yash, do you like this watch."
He turned around and she was standing with her arm stretched out to him. His breath caught. He hardly noticed the watch. What he did notice was his wife standing there in nothing but the jewellery he had given her and the shoes that he had brought for her from her London. She was also wearing her mangalsutra and was playing with it.
"You didn't answer me. Do you like your gift?"
He had no words but his actions said everything as he strode to her purposefully.
Much later, as they were lying in bed Yash said, "Aarti, I have to go back to London soon. I cannot put it off anymore." He felt her stiffen.
"I want you to go with me."
She didn't answer.
"Aarti, why are you not saying anything."
"Yash, I ... I still have a few projects that I am busy with. I cannot just leave."
"I have been running Scindiya Dubey Uk from here for the last couple of months. So don't use work as an excuse. What is the problem Aarti?"
They were now sitting up in bed, the glow that were on their faces a couple of minutes ago, gone. Aarti got up and wrapped a sheet around her.
"I am not ready to go back Yash."
"Why not"
"I don't know."
"Aarti, you know I live and work in London. I have to go back. I have already stayed here much longer than I should have."
"I need more time, Yash."
"How much more time do you need, Aarti."
"I don't know"
"Will you ever be ready?"
"I don't know."
"So what have we been doing these past months? Playing house? Do you want to be married to me Aarti?"
"Yes"
"But you don't want to live with me?"
"I do but I don't want to go back there."
"Aarti. I can't undo what happened in the past. There is nothing that I regret more than hurting you like that. I hate myself for that. All I can do is apologise and try and make up for it. But I thought that at least that there was hope for us. I love you Aarti and I want you with me."
She was shocked. He said he loved her.
"Do you love me, Aarti"
Tears flowed freely from her eyes.
"I don't know."
"Is there hope for us? Will we ever be able to live together as a normal married couple?"
She didn't answer.
"Let me guess. You don't know."
By this time he had also gotten up. He got dressed and he said,
"Aarti, you decide what it is you want and let me know. I am leaving for London in the next 2 days. I hope you will be with me. If not, then maybe we should make a decision if we should continue with this marriage or not. I don't want to be the cause of your unhappiness."
He walked to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from here."
He didn't come back till the morning and she spent all night crying. She didn't know what stopped her from what she knew in her heart that she wanted.
She had packed his things and he was now ready to leave. She was sitting on the bed as he came to get his luggage. She cried bitterly.
"Goodbye Aarti"
She got up and ran to him. She threw her hands around him like she always did when she needed to be comforted. It was with great difficulty that he contained his tears. He loosened her arms from around him and left.
She sobbed on the bed for hours.
Seher Hone Ko Hai
