PV SS - Reluctant Relation (Epilogue - part 12 ) - Page 7

Part 8

Aarti was checking in to a Calcutta Resort hotel with her partner Aaman. Honestly she would have rather stayed back and manned the office. But Amaan insisted that attending this conference would be great exposure for their company. He wanted her along as she was the better engineer between the two of them and she had left him to run the business side and marketing of the company.

She had bought into this small engineering company in Dehli 2 years ago with some of the money that her dad left. Her partner Amaan was an awesome person and a great business man and they had hit it off immediately. He had so many plans for the company. His enthusiasm for their future was infectious. She had become fast friends with his wife Arpita. She was their office manager and she ran both her and Aaman's lives to a strict schedule. There was however one thing that they did not know about her. Her real identity.

She had officially changed her name to Aarti Sharma, her grandmother's maiden name. She didn't want them to know about her affiliation to SD Incorporated. She had retained her shares in the company but had given her father in law or rather ex-father in law proxy to act on her behalf. Through the circulars she received from him she had found out that Prateek had taken over running SD UK with the help of Yash's assistant director. Yash had now taken over as CEO from his father as he decided to take things a little easy. Pankaj was still in charge of the legal and compliance side of SD Inc. and its affiliated companies. So he (Yash) was living in India full time now. Aarti was still in contact with the members of her ex-in laws but the subject of Yash never came up.

"Maybe we can pick up a nice husband for you here. If he is an engineer you will have lots to talk about as you have no other interests" her teased.

"Whatever, Aaman. It is enough that you dragged me here, don't expect me to socialise. You are the marketer of this company so I will leave all of that to you. And behave yourself, I will keep a close eye on you. Any step out of line and Arpita and I will be on your case."

He pinched her nose and said "Yes mom" They both laughed and he gave her a side hug. She didn't see the eyes that were staring at them in anger.

It's been a while since he had thought about her and here she was flirting with another man. He wondered if she was married again. He couldn't hear what they were saying but it was clear that there was a relationship between them.

His life revolved around only his work now. Since he had taken over as CEO, the success of the company soared. He had moved back to India and lived in the family home. He knew that they were still in contact with her but they never brought up her name in front of him. He also sat in the Indian Engineering Association board and was a guest speaker at this event. He didn't expect to see her here. He hadn't heard anything about her in the industry since she left. He couldn't believe he still reacted to her mere presence after all this time. He made his way to the lift before she could see him.

The conference had started and it was very interesting. There were so many new developments and Aarti found it very fascinating. They had a break and she was chatting to a few people that she knew when she heard Aaman's voice.

"Aarti, excuse me. I would like to introduce you to someone."

"Aarti , this is Mr. Yash Scindiya. He is the CEO of SD Inc. It is possibly the largest most successful engineering firm in India" She didn't know why she was surprised to see him at this event. Of course he would be here.

"Mr. S this Aarti Sharma my partner that I told you of."

Before Aarti could react she heard a familiar voice,

"Bhabhi, you're here." Prateek hugged her. "Still looking good my ghundi bhabi. How are you?"

Aarti couldn't help but smile. "And you are still as cheeky as ever. I am fine and you."

"I am fine. I'm loving England."

Aaman was totally confused. Why did this man call her bhabi. As far is he knew she wasn't married?

"It appears your partner does not know who you really are." It was Yash addressing her.

"He knows what matters about me."

"Are you sure. You have many faces Aarti ... Sharma is it?"

"Aarti?" said a very confused Aaman.

"Let me enlighten you Mr. Gupta. Aarti is not a stranger to our family. But we never knew her as Aarti Sharma. She used to be a manager at SD Inc. and handled most of our high profile clients. In fact she owns quite a substantial amount of SD shares. Oh yes, I almost forgot, she is my ex-wife. And this is my younger brother Prateek that is still insisting on calling her bhabi even though she is no longer a member of our family."

Aaman was totally shocked. He could never have imagined this.

"You have an excellent business partner. She will do whatever it takes to make a success of herself but I'm sure you know that already. If you will excuse me please." He left.

"Bhabi. I'm sorry about that."

"Don't apologise Prateek. What happened between Yash and I is not your fault. We must get together and catch up before the conference is over, ok."

He nodded.

Later when Aaman and Aarti were alone she told him the whole story. Leaving out some parts like the London incident and their passionate encounter before marriage. She was weeping in his arms after she told him about her miscarriage and Yash's reaction to it. Aaman understood her need for anonymity.

It was a 4 day conference and as much they tried to avoid each other it seemed that they were always bumping into each other. She was in Prateeks room catching up and as usual they were having a good time. They had ordered some food and drinks and were eating on his bed. He was telling her about the new girl in his life. Her name was Paridhi. She had grown up in England and was very modern. He wanted to marry her but she wasn't sure if she would fit into the family. He was telling him about all the mistakes Parihdi made that shocked his parents when she visited with him the last time. Aarti was screaming with laughter. She imagined G3 & Suraj's expressions at their prospective new daughter in law's behaviour. They heard a knock on the door and assumed it was another delivery. When Prateek opened the door, it was Yash. He gave her a disapproving glare. She lowered her eyes.

"Ma is trying to get hold of you and you are not answering your phone. Call her back" he said angrily and left.

It was the third day of the conference. It had been a long day and having Yash around was stressing her out. She had excused herself as had intended to have an early night. She rushed for the lift and reached there just in time before it closed. When she was inside she realised the only other occupant was none other than the person that she was trying to avoid. She turned around, not wanting to look at him. The lift opened again and a multitude of young people that were obviously a bit drunk from a party and was going from one room to the other to continue the party. The all barrelled into the lift. There were so many of them that she had to move all the way back. The literally pushed her into him. Her body re-acted to him in the same way it always did. His fragrance was all around her and she trembled. She felt his arm encircle her waist and his cheek nuzzle the top of her head. And she rested her body against his.

The lift stopped for the rowdy youngsters and they all got out, leaving only the two of them in the lift. Neither of them moved even though there was ample space now.

The lift stopped at her floor and she moved to go but his hold on her tightened. But not so tight that she couldn't get out of it had she wanted to. She didn't want to. They reached what she assumed to be his floor. He took her hand and led her out of the lift to his room. He opened his door, they both put their laptops down and the hunger that they could no longer deny overtook them.

They didn't even make it further than the door. He was kissing her senseless. They were desperate. Their hands unbuttoning each other's shirts, their lips all over each other's body that were now exposed.

"I can't wait" he said.

Her hands found and unbuckled his belt. She removed the barriers that kept them from each other. He lifted her skirt and removed her panties and lifted her on top of him. The moved in unison. It only took a few thrust for them to reach their climax. And he held her to him, her head rested on his shoulder and they were both panting.

He carried her to the bed while they were still joined. By the time he reached the bed, he was ready for her again. She felt the movement and gasped. He sat on the bed with her on top of him. He took off the unbuttoned blouse that she was still wearing and her loosened bra. He had no intention of removing her skirt just yet. He did not want to be apart from her.

"Make love to me, baby." His voice was hoarse with passion.

His words hardly left his mouth and she started to move. Giving them both equal amounts of pleasure. When they were finally lying in bed, now completely naked she asked.

"What are we doing Yash?"

"I don't know. But whatever it is, we can regret tomorrow. Right now I want my fill of you." And he started kissing her again.

They made love as if there was no tomorrow. Like they knew it was the last time. The made love the whole night long.

Aarti woke up and snuck out of bed. She got dressed and left the room.

He had woken up when she got out of bed, but he pretended to be asleep. She had asked what they were doing last night. He still didn't know. He couldn't face her before he figured that out. He thought he hated her but last night all those feelings that he had for her came back. He didn't know why. She never even loved him. She didn't want his child. She was probably happy now that she was a career woman with nothing to hold her back.

Aarti was sitting in the shower crying her heart out. She loved him so much. She knew she should not have done it but when the opportunity to be with him just one more time presented itself, she could not say no. She didn't care what the consequences would be.

She went down for breakfast and the rest of the day was a blur. He spoke again and she was so proud of him. The way he spoke and held himself. It was like he was still hers. After lunch everyone would be on their way. She didn't have much of an appetite so she left early to complete her packing. When the knock on the door came, she knew who it was before she opened the door. She let him in.

"Aarti about last night..."

"Let's just forget that it ever happened and go our separate ways."

"We didn't use any protection."

She turned around as she couldn't let him see the pain in her eyes.

"Nothing will happen."

"How do you know?"

"Because ... because of the accident. The doctors said it would be highly unlikely that I will ever... ever conceive again. And Yash it was really an accident. I would never have done something like that deliberately. Especially to my own child."

He knew that she didn't want children, still she sounded so sad. He reached for her.

"Aarti... Can we..." She knew what they both wanted.

"No Yash," she interrupted "we can't. Too much has happened. It is what it is. I have made peace with it.

He just stood there for a while. His hopes for them dashed again. Then she heard his footsteps and the door closing behind him.

She sat down on the bed with tears rolling down her eyes. She wanted him so badly. She loved him now more than ever but she also knew that he wanted children and she couldn't give him any. She could not do that to him. He had so much love to give a child. She had recognized it when she watched his interaction with Vendant and Vedhika. So she had to let him go again.