Part 4
After settling Ansh back down she finally had a chance to think about what had happened earlier. How could she have been so weak? She knew what kind of man he was. She knew that for him that was just a past time, not to be taken seriously. She had the scars to prove it. She just fell into his arms so easily. What would have happened if Ma didn't interrupt them? She had to be stronger, for herself and her child. For her it could never be a physical act only. For her it was only love. She had loved him and that is why she gave herself to him then. But she was over him wasn't she? Then why did she re-act to him like that. Why? She was so confused. She closed her eyes, but that only brought to mind what had happened earlier. And it made her body re-act involuntarily.
"No, no, no" she cried. This can't happen again.
He was also lying in bed. He was so angry with her. He hated how she acted with her boss. The thought of her with that man, with any other man was driving him insane. He asked the question out of anger and insecurity but he knew she would not have done that. But she was so passionate. How much longer before she found someone else. Even if it was not Khanna, it would be somebody else. He could not let that happen. He was her first. She would only be his. After all if she was to leave, he would stand to lose his son to another man and he would not let that happen. That was the only reason he wanted to have her stay with him. And of course, having her in his bed would not hurt either. Unfortunately had had to leave for Dehli for two weeks for a project. But after that he would make it happen.
"So the party went off very well didn't it?"
"Yes Aaman."
"Tell me. Is there still anything between you and Ansh's father?"
"No. Why would you ask that?"
"It's just that he seems very involved in your lives"
"He is Ansh's father and that is all. We never had a relationship. We worked together. What happened wasn't planned. It was a mistake on both our parts. But we got our little blessing out of it. There was never a relationship between us and neither will there ever be." She was trying to convince him as much as she was trying to convince herself.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Why?"
"I have developed feelings for you Aarti. I would like you to consider that. I would like to ask you to be my wife."
"Aaman?"
"I love you. I loved you since the first moment we met. I want to marry you."
"Oh Aaman. I wish I had met you 2 years ago. But now my life is just too complicated. I wouldn't be fair to involve you in it."
"I don't mind. I can handle complicated. Please just agree to think about it."
She smiled and nodded her head.
"So don't you think that I should get to know Ansh better as well?"
"Yes."
Yash was fuming. He was so eager to see Ansh and to tell her about his decision but they were not home. Ma had told him that they went to the park with Aaman. Why would her boss be taking them to the park if there was nothing between the 2 of them. He was pacing up and down. Finally he heard a car pull up. And he rushed to the door. He saw him getting out first and opening the back door for Aarti who was carrying Ansh. They were smiling at each other very cosily.
Ansh was the first person to see him. He shouted "Pappa, Pappa" and wiggled so his mom could put him down. He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him to his father. At this moment that was the only thing that calmed Yash down. He scooped his son up and hugged him tightly.
"I missed my boy so much. Did you miss your Pappa?'
"Ansh miss Pappa"
"Pappa has a pressie for you. Come lets go see." He managed to give Aarti a meaningful look.
Aarti, greeted Aaman at the gate and went inside to where she knew a storm was brewing. Luckily he was still playing with Ansh and he knew he wouldn't say anything in front of Rahda ma.
Finally Ansh was asleep and Ma had retired to her room.
She was sitting in the lounge reading a book. She heard him come down stairs but didn't look up. Her attention was not on the book at all.
"I ask you again Aarti. What is going on between you and Khanna"
"You are my son's father and nothing else. You have no right to ask me personal questions."
"Where it concerns my son it is. What gave you the right to take my son on a date?"
"It wasn't a date. We took Ansh to the park."
"He has a father. He doesn't need anyone else to take him to the park."
"You weren't here."
"No I was working. For my son"
"Like you don't already have enough money" she whispered under her breath.
"What?"
"Nothing"
"Say what you want to say to me Aarti"
"How many women did you go through in Dehli? I'm sure in two weeks it was quite a number."
"Are you jealous?"
"Of course not" Wait was she?
"Well for your information, I wasn't with anyone. And you want to know why?"
"No" but she wanted to know.
"I will tell you anyway. I was thinking of those moments that we shared after the birthday party. And I didn't want anyone else"
He moved close to her.
"No, she said again, swallowing hard. She was scared. He couldn't be allowed to touch her. She didn't know if she could resist him.
"Aaman asked me to marry him and I am going to accept." Om my word. Had she just said that? That was the only thing that she could think of to stop this.
The word had its desired effect. He stopped right in his tracks.
"What!"
"You heard me. I am marrying Aaman"
"I will not allow it"
"You are not my father"
"But I am Ansh's father and I won't give him up."
"I would never ask that of you."
"So how do you envisage this Aarti. Me seeing my son every alternate weekend when you are married? No., I won't stand for that. I want access to my son whenever I want to see him."
"We can arrange something"
"Yes we will arrange something. I will have custody of my son and you can see him every second weekend."
"No Yash."
"Yes. I won't be a part time father.
"And yet at one point you thought it was a good idea to get rid of him"
"That was a long time ago Aarti and now he is everything to me. He is mine. I won't give him up. You can have visits every 2nd week. Make no mistake. I can make that happen." He walked away from her.
"By the way, congratulations on your impending marriage." he said as he walked out the door.
He sped away there like a maniac. He knew it. He knew there was something between them. It drove him crazy. The last time he saw her, they shared such passionate moments and now she wants to marry someone else. He only knew of one way to stop her. She would never let Ansh go. And he would never let her go."
How could she forget for a moment what type of person he was? He hasn't changed. Till that moment she had not decided that she would marry Aaman. But she had to. She had to get away from him. He had a strange power over her. A power that she couldn't resist. If she was married she would be out from under his spell. But now he threatened to take her son away.
They carried with their normal routine. They avoided it each other where possible. The tension between them escalating as the days progressed.
And finally it has come to this. She was sobbing. She couldn't believe he has gone so far. She had received a legal notice that he was suing her for full custody of Ansh. She had broken down crying. Rhada-ma tried to console her but she was inconsolable. He was really trying to break her. And she still had to face him every day.
She had spoken to Amaan about the situation. He was still keen on marrying her and fighting with her for Ansh. But she knew there would be no point. The Scindiya's were too influential. They would never be able to win against him.
Yash had left his office was just about the get in his car when he was sucker punched the ground.
"You selfish asshole. Why are you doing this to Aarti"
"What is the reason? Why can't she get married?"
He got up. He was livid as he faced Aaman.
"I am not losing my son"
"Come on. You can fool Aarti and even yourself but you can't fool me.
Admit to yourself that you want her and stop wasting everyone's time. And stop hurting her. She doesn't deserve it. If you can't, then do the right thing and let her go." Aaman shouted. And with that he walked off.
Yash felt his jaw. Than man sure packed a punch. Not only with his fist but also his words. He couldn't believe that he didn't hit him back. But he was right. He did want her. It was not just about Ansh. He hadn't been interested in anyone really since he met her. Even his sexual exploits had become less and less frequent. He had gotten no satisfaction out of it. He wanted her only. She was the only one that could satisfy him. But after all he did and said would he be able to win her over. He didn't even know where to start and no matter what he tried, it always turned out so wrong. But he had to try. He loved her. He wanted his family.
When he got to Rhada ma's house, she ran to him and started hitting him with her fists. She was crying.
"How can you be so heartless to take my baby away from me?"
He eventually managed to grab her arms and held her firm to stop the blows. Everyone was hitting him today he thought.
"Calm down Aarti"
"Don't tell me to calm down."
"I have withdrawn the petition."
She was shocked.
"Why"
"Let's talk calmly after Ansh has gone to bed. He will not leave me now."
"Fine" She said and walked away.
He had put Ansh to sleep and she was waiting for him in the lounge. She was sitting on the coach just staring front of her.
"You wanted to know why I withdrew the petition?"
"Yes"
"I don't want Ansh to grow up without you. And I don't want him to grow up without me either. He loves and needs us both equally."
She failed to see where he was going with this.
"I know you are angry with me, you probably hate me for everything that I have done to you but despite it all we have one thing in common. Our son's best interest."
She was still just sitting and staring in front of her. Not looking his way at all.
"Marry me, Aarti"
"Yash please"
"I'm serious Aarti. What better gift can we give to our son then a complete family?"
He was serious. But they didn't even like each other. They only every fought with each other. What kind of marriage would that make? And all the other women in his life? Would he be able to give that up?"
"No, it's not possible for us to be married. We can't even stand each other. And all your women. Am I expected to share you with them?"
That hurt him.
"Aarti, I will be faithful to you. I promise. I only want you."
She could not believe what he just said. He wants her.
"You want me. Does that mean that mean that you only want your bed warmed at night. I have given myself to you once and look how that turned out,"
"That's not what I meant. I want you as my wife. I love you."
"You love me? You don't have the capacity to love, Yash. You are standing to lose things that you deem your possessions and now you are trying your utmost to keep them."
He was crushed. It was the first time that he ever said that words to anyone but his son. And this was the response. He could understand how she felt after they first made love.
"I know that you won't believe but it is true. I don't expect anything from you. I just want us to be a family. We don't even have to share a room."
Aarti did not know how to respond to that. She was could not comprehend what was happening. Her heart screamed yes but her head knew differently.
She needed to get away from him. She needed space. Why would he say all these things? Was it just another way to hurt her? But he has never lied to her before. He was perfectly honest in the callous way he had treated her before.
She got up and started walking away.
"Where are you going Aarti."
"I need to go. I need some space. I need to think"
"I will give you space Aarti. I won't come around again till you tell me to." With that he left.
He was prepared to stay away from Ansh till she told him to. Ansh was his world. He would never stay away from him without good reason. Was he sincere? She was so confused."
He stayed away for 2 days. Ansh was so cranky. He wanted his daddy to put him to sleep.
Yash hadn't slept for 2 days either. He missed them so much. He was sitting his office trying to concentrate on his work but he struggled. His PA interrupted his train of thought.
"You have visitor's sir"
He was not expecting anyone,
Then he saw them. "Pappa, Pappa" Ansh shouted. Running to him. He got up from behind his desk to scoop him up in his arms and held him tight.
He was so happy to have him in his arms. He missed him so much.
Aarti couldn't help to smile at the sight of them. He finally looked at her.
"I didn't say you couldn't come around to our house Yash. Ansh missed you. If you have time, he can stay with you for an hour or two while I go shopping"
"Why don't the 3 of us go for lunch" he suggested.
"Ok" she said. They needed to talk anyway.
They went to a restaurant but it was not really possible for them to talk with Ansh around. Eventually he had to go back to the office and she went back home.
"See you later?" She said.
He nodded. He was happy that she came and happier that he could go back to them later.
Dinner was happy affair. Rhada ma beamed from ear to ear. She sensed the difference in the atmosphere.
Later after he managed to get Ansh's clinging hands off his neck he went back down to the lounge where she was waiting for him again. He was nervous. Just because she brought Ansh didn't mean anything.
"I will marry you. For Ansh. Don't expect anything else from me" she said
That was enough for him. For now...
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
