AarYa SS: Difference in Me - Part 15 (Epilogue) pg 42 - Page 26

Originally posted by: bongalisoo

Awesome updates I hope aarti finds it in her heart to forgive yash he has really changed and trying to repent ,I really love that he doesn't want aarti to know what he did for her and wants her to come back to him on her own because she loves him ,hope everything works out, update soon

thank you Lisoo 😊 yes Yash has changed but Aarti's scars run too deep! It will be a while before she can allow herself to trust...

Originally posted by: B-onesie

i shall oblige

WAITING! 😡

Originally posted by: sass8

You are on a roll with the update but no complaint here.
Part 10
Aarti treating him a child was so apropos 😆. He did behaved like a spoil child who wasn't getting his favorite toy. But she love him, consoling him about seeing the children soon is so telling. I am surprise she can instill some humor in the situation.
I don't think there is hope for the parents, going again for the same mistake, wanting to run their young son life. Good for Prateek for knowing what he want and moving out, especially after witnessing the disaster that his brother made of his life.
Poor Vidhi, between a rock and hard place, I hope she doesn't lose her marriage in turn, but Pankaj is being too stubborn although it seems Yash is the key here. At some point the brother may have to have a serious chat about the entire situation

Part 11
Yash redemption begins.
I so like this part cause it explain Mansi behavior toward Yash and I totally get her mistrust. After all she met a broken woman whom she helped put back together slowly, so I could she forgive him.
So aside from the knight in shinning armor action😊 I really love that a scumbag got off the street just generally speaking. Too many time bad people get off free just because the system😕 failed the victims, adults praying on children is simply disgusting. Obviously Prashant is a stupid greedy man cause he thought he was getting one on Yash, dumbass. At least he provided the comic relief here. I shudder to think what he is doing doing to Shoba. 😡 Will Aarti agreed when she found out remain to be seen.
Despite all, Aarti is still struggling to trust Yash, with their past I suppose she's edging on the side of cautiousness. Yash will have to be patient but I wonder for how long he can do it, he is trying though, so he get points for that. We'll see for full forgiveness.
good chapters

awww miss you Sassie Sauce! You've gotten too too quiet! And I loved your comment! 😃

yes you are absolutely right about Aarti loving him despite everything. And the Scindhias are apparently set in their ways and won't be changing anytime soon. And Pankaj is blindly following his parents, let's hope he does not realize the truth too late...

Yes, Mansi has reason for being so overprotective of Yash and she will be one of the last people to trust him... Aarti may love him but she has been hurt too deeply and can't help guarding her heart this time around. You may just be right to shatter thinking about what Yash has in store for Shoba and how Aarti will react 😕

hope to hear from you soonest Sassie Sauce!

Originally posted by: BusiMusi

When will you update chptr 12 sis. Am hungry for more.

I will soon Busi my Musi! 😃

Part 12

"Where have you been?" Yash asked Aarti the moment she entered the house; frayed with worry he did not even heed his sharp tone which made her flinch. Her reaction got him to watch his actions and he took a deep calming breath. "I have been worried sick about you! You have been gone all day without telling anybody! It's eleven pm and you are only getting home now." He accused fighting the urge to crush her to him to ensure himself that she was fine with great effort. Feeling this way for her was foreign, he knew the possessive surge she always inspired but he could not recall feeling this overwhelming need to protect her; to make sure she was safe.

He was therefore not surprised by the frown on her face. "I am fine as you can see" she answered moving passed him without further explanation. "Aarti" he called out pleadingly. "I am fine Yash, I promise. I just had something to take care of." Her words prompted Yash to take a closer look and he saw her glazed eyes and shiny forehead. That was his undoing as he pulled her to him and hugged her tightly without caring that she had not wanted him near her in a long time.

His concern heightened when instead of pushing him away like she was used to doing she held him tighter and began to cry. He didn't say a word but stood giving her silent comfort by rubbing her back and it felt so natural to place chaste kisses on her exposed shoulder. He came to when she stiffened before stepping back. "I am sorry" he said stepping back as well. They stood looking at each other as a storm of emotions flooded them; their eyes clouding with things unsaid and things that did not need saying.

As if as one they moved forward and crushed each other's lips with the strength of longing suppressed too long. So lost in the moment they did not even notice Vidhi and Mansi who had been just as worried and came to talk to her but halted atop the staircase when they noticed Yash talking to her. Mansi and Vidhi blushed noticing they were intruding on a very private moment and quickly headed back to their rooms. Although she hated Yash even Mansi could not deny the love between them.

Yash scooped Aarti up without breaking their kiss and carried her to his room. Their passion was as wild as ever as they gave as good as they got. Yet Yash realized that Aarti was a little wilder as if chased by something and adding a tint of desperation to their lovemaking. He chose not question and instead gave her the escape she sought. It lasted most of the night and they fell into an exhausted slumber.

Yash felt a surge of disappointment and a sense of deja vu when he woke up to an empty bed the next morning. Choosing not to think of the implications he went to have his shower; for all he knew she had just gone to check on the kids and things between them were on the mend. At the back of his mind he knew he was fooling himself; he knew she only sought comfort in a moment of weakness and he was there to give it. The marks on his back where her nails had dug in burned at the contact with water making him smile; his wild cat came out to play last night but he knew he would be facing a meek kitten when they faced each other and the thought removed the smile from his face.

He was still disappointed that his prediction came true when she hardly met his gaze as he entered the kids' room. The children were as usual excited to have both their parents play with them as Radha Ma was in the garden with Vidhi. Mansi was at work, Paridhi and Prateek went for classes. Prateek wanted Paridhi to see how she would like fulltime classes although everyone suspected that the two just wanted to romance more.

Palak, Ansh, and Payal walked ahead and he carried Aayu who had yet to start walking as they made their way downstairs. It was a slow progress as the three kids liked to climb a stair back up every so often and even Aayu wanted to join in on the fun. Finally Aarti picked Payal and Palak up whilst Yash took Ansh so they could get going. They decided to have a picnic lunch out in the garden for the children but it would be brunch for them as they had woken up so late. Yash also knew it was Aarti's way of avoiding being alone with him and the kids. Every accidental brush was like an electric jolt but unlike Aarti Yash did not mind it at all.

Leaving the kids with Yash and Radha Ma under the shade of the big tree; she and Vidhi went inside to prepare lunch. She avoided Vidhi's knowing gaze until the latter was prompted to speak up. "I see you slept very late today; I mean you only came back at eleven so you must have been tired but I do not understand how my devar slept late too when he had been home all day." Vidhi teased opening conversation.

She expected a humorous retort and not the tears shining in her eyes at the moment. "Where were you yesterday Aartu?" she asked concern rising at the reaction. Aarti hugged her instead and Vidhi held her until she calmed down. When Aarti next got on cutting veggies she realized she was not ready to talk about it and did not push. She knew she would talk about it when she was good and ready. The picnic went well and Aarti got cheered up by her children's innocence and was able to laugh from her stomach as Ansh sat on his father's head whilst Aayu tried to pull his cheeks; Payal pulling his foot whilst Palak was pinching his arm.

She stilled at the look in his eyes at the sight of her laughter. The only time she had seen that look was when they would lay cuddling after making love. Yet there was nothing sexual in his look, just pure adoration; he did not even bother to look away when he noticed her stopping and she was the one who looked away with a slight blush. "Bachcho, come give Mama a kissy!" she saved him from the children's attack who rushed over to her for the kisses. "Mama gets kisses and Papa gets attacks" he feigned affront. Radha Ma and Vidhi smiled looking at them; they felt that things were getting better between them at long last. Vidhi just hoped Aarti would deal with whatever got her so upset yesterday.

Aarti reverted back to her previous stance and did not allow Yash close unless it was for the children; things went on much the same way in the Scindhia house and a month later they celebrated the younger twins' first birthday with as much fanfare as their siblings' birthday party. The only difference was that there was no drama involved this time and it was a completely happy party with a Mickey Mouse theme. Aarti noticed Vidhi's sadness at the occasion and knew that she was missing her own children.

They were back at the hostel now but Pankaj had left strict orders that only he and his parents should be allowed near them. He also ensured that calls with Vidhi were kept to a minimum. The ten year old twins knew that something was wrong but Vidhi could hardly assure them over the phone, especially when she could only speak two minutes with each, twice a week. Yash and Prateek very much wanted to knock some sense into their bhaiya but Vidhi stopped them from doing anything. Whatever happened, he was still her husband; she wanted him to realize his mistakes by himself.

They therefore went on with life as best as they could, with Paridhi switching over to fulltime classes and Radha Ma remaining as the sole nanny. She relented allowing Yash to pay for her studies with Prateek's gentle persuasion; they planned to marry as soon as they graduated. Mansi and Akash were already having marriage talks and were busy arranging for his family to go to hers in Delhi with a proposal. They planned to marry within a year after things got handled between the families.

AarYa were very excited for their respective best friends and were planning the wedding right alongside them. Six months and the older twins' second birthday later though, something completely unrelated to weddings or birthdays took place; something that shook Aarti even more than the arrest of her rapist. Her mother was in hospital in a critical state and surprisingly it was here in Mumbai due to injuries from a car accident. As she had lost track of her movements Aarti was surprised to learn that she had been in the same city.

It was shocking to see the once beautiful Shoba Dubey looking so fragile and so old. Aarti always wondered why she kept her father's surname when she had been married and divorced so many times; she never went by her maiden name of Mehta. She never got love from this shell on the hospital bed but it was still the woman responsible for her existence; even if she supported the man who stole her innocence. She was therefore unable to hold back the tears falling down her face.

"Mama!" she yelled releasing herself from Mansi's hold as she rushed to the bedside. She had gotten the call from Yash while she was out wedding shopping with Mansi. Shoba slowly opened her eyes and looked at her. "Aarti" her voice sounded faint. "Do not talk Mama, you will be alright" she tried to calm her down grabbing and holding the cold and bony hand to her face. Shoba raised her other hand and pointed it toward the desk next to her bed on which lay a withered bag which may once had been fashionable. Aarti took it and opened it with her mother's encouraging nod. Inside was a thick envelope with her name on.

"That will explain everything and maybe you will find it in your heart to forgive me someday" her speech was slurred and slow but Aarti realized she could not stop her from speaking so she listened instead as she grabbed her hand again. "I loved you beti, I hope you know that" she continued as tears came out of her eyes and her breathing became more labored. Her eyes closed as she took her last breath and Aarti felt the hand in her grasp going still. "No! Mama!" she yelled in despair not even conscious of Mansi's hands that came to catch her fall.

The funeral arrangements were done and having had no home of her own; the rituals were done from AarYa's home. Not a single person outside of the inhabitants of AarYa's home and Akash's family were present. Aarti was the only person who cried inconsolably, the rest were only there to offer her support and if the shed a tear or two it was for Aarti. Any regard they had for the deceased was merely for her sake but they allowed Aarti to do things her way; they respected her pain because despite everything she was still her mother. But they were more than relieved when it was all over and Yash and Vidhi accompanied her to Bhopal to dispose of the ashes.

It was a few days after when Aarti finally felt strong enough to face whatever revelations her mother had in store for her. She chose late night when everyone would be sleeping and she could read without any interruptions as she made herself comfortable on her bed to read.

My Darling child,

I do not even know if this letter will reach you but recent happenings in my life made me realize just how deeply I have wronged you. I know my actions were unpardonable but I would still like to explain, to let you understand. A part of you must have yearned for motherly love and must still be yearning for it just as I have been hungry for it all my life but never got it from my own mother. I never meant to punish you for my loveless childhood but I ended up subjecting you to the same. I never received love; all I knew how to give was neglect.

I grew up in the slums of Bhopal and went to public schools. As the oldest of too many children (eight) and the only girl, I went to sleep hungry so my younger siblings could eat. Yet I was a child myself and needed food too. I realized early on that the only way I could survive was if I took care of myself and not depended on my parents, especially my mother who hated the fact that I was a girl. I had to steal or beg just to get a meal.

But I found unexpected good fortune during my blooming season. I had been a pretty child but I transformed into a beautiful woman who turned the heads of man. I soon started to use it to my advantage. I learned the art of seduction when I was barely fourteen but I still maintained my virginity because I knew it would be my ticket out of poverty.

I met your father when I was eighteen and fell head over heels for him even though he was ten years my senior. He was also charmed by my beauty that he did not even care I was from the slums and married me despite his parents warnings; as an only son he was loved and when it came down to it they could not disown him. They never accepted me and made sure I knew I was the filth they believed me to be. I did not care as long as I had your father; being from a middle-class family, he was not the wealthy prince I dreamed about but he was the man I loved.

I would like to believe that he loved me as much as I loved him but I knew that the charm soon wore off when he saw me for who I was, greedy and insecure; I was never satisfied with any of the things he could afford and I was insanely jealous of him paying the smallest attention to other women. I was afraid he would realize they were better and leave me for them. I knew the only way to keep him was to fall pregnant. Even his parents were happy at the news but they wanted a grandson.

That was the beginning of my distance from you because them rejecting you meant I too was rejected. Still your father dotted on you as a baby and I was satisfied for a while. But things went horribly wrong when on your first birthday your grandfather died of a heart attack and your grandmother accused you of being a bad omen. Your father then change and began to distance himself from you; all the more when your grandmother died two years later.

He began to stay away more and more and I was left with just you most of the day. I was not surprised when he asked me for a divorce in your fourth year of life. He wanted nothing to do with either of us and I left his life with you in tow. You were a sweet child but I had no use for you; especially when I realized that I was still beautiful enough to seduce men. I continuously left you by yourself as I went on dates, some nights you even slept alone.

When you turned seven I met a rich man and my second husband. He did not want the baggage and I was forced to leave you with your father. However he soon grew tired of me and divorced me but it was not long until I met my third husband. He showed me the world and took me on trips but I learned too late that he was a drug lord. He prostituted me to his colleagues for deals. I was disgusted and so relieved when he was killed while trying to escape from police.

I managed to steal enough of his jewelry to set myself up for a comfortable existence, the daughter I left with her father a vague memory. I then met Vivek; I was disgusted by him but he was rich. I married him but he soon found out I had a daughter and insisted she come live with us. As I wanted to maintain the lifestyle he afforded me I went along with all of his demands.

I knew what he was because I noticed his lingering eyes whenever you were around. I chose to turn a blind eye and when I found out what he had done I cared more about losing a comfortable life than I did about what he did to you. If my conscience bothered me, I told myself it was best you learned the world's cruelty and toughened up.

I still lost Vivek but by then I had perfected the art of landing on my feet and soon found my next victim. My life went on much the same way and I never bothered to find out what happened to you. I did not reflect on my cruelty and selfishness until it was too late.

I met a man about five months ago. He was rich and influential but for the first time since your father I was not interested in him for the material. He had me so spellbound that I got starry-eyed like a teenager. I only realized too late that he was playing me. He flaunted a much younger and prettier woman to my face and told me that I was expired goods. I have never been so humiliated in my life; he even told me that I was old enough to be his mother and that it was time I started to accept I had gotten old.

I was shocked, I was distraught. I wallowed in self-pity for a week but I was forced to have a hard look at my life. I thought of you, of what I had done to you. I turned my back on you and never once looked back. I chased material things and in the end I lost it all; you were the only real thing life gave me and I threw you away like trash. I placed you in the path of danger and I never kept you safe. It is a miracle that you turned out alright after such a hard life.

I knew I had to find you and try to explain my actions even if you never forgive me. I did not even know where to find you but I remember the wedding card you sent me and went to find you at the Scindhias. They treated me like scum and blamed you for ruining their son's life before chasing me away. One of the servants heard the exchange and took pity on me and told me you were in Mumbai. He could not tell me your address.

I had no money to travel and look for you so I had to prostitute myself in order to have enough for a train ticket; I had prostituted before without my will but this time I chose it. I was beaten and raped in the process but I finally managed to save enough and travel here. I found a kind lady who showed me to a women's shelter and I have been staying there while trying to search for you. Mumbai is so big but I won't despair; I will only find peace once I find you. The owner has promised to help me and I hope I will have a breakthrough soon.

I do not know why I have the compulsion to write it all down just in case I do not find you. I just hope that you can at least get this letter. I questioned, deep down a scared little girl hungry for her parents' love never stopped questioning why my parents not only loved my brothers more than me but did not love me at all. I therefore know you must have questions too and I hope that I have addressed some of them.

One last thing I want you to know is that I never thought of you as an omen. You were an innocent little girl born to trap a man who did not want me. I was too blind to realize that you were a blessing I needed to shield. I do not excuse what I did. I deserve your scorn and hatred forever. I just want you to understand and I want you to know that I love you.

Your Mother

-----

Aarti cried throughout as she read the thoughts of the woman she hardly knew; the mother she never had. She could not feel any hatred towards her, life made her pay her dues. In her attempts to find her she ended up raped and abused. She never found any peace or any love in her life. She could not even process everything but she felt a deep sense of regret and pain. She did not realize that her cries were loud wails until her door was opened. It was Yash and she was not surprised by it as his room was nearest to hers.

She did not resist when he pulled her in his arms and held her as she cried. Everyone was woken by her cries but when they realized she was with Yash they went back to sleep. She cried for hours until sleep overtook her without her realizing it. Her eyes burned when she next opened them the next morning and she knew they were swollen. She slowly sat up when she realized Yash was sitting by the bed looking at her.

She knew something was wrong when she realized that he was not really seeing her until she had to get his attention. That's when she noticed her mother's letter by his side. She did not mind that he read it but she was still puzzled by his reaction. "Yash what's the matter?" she finally spoke up; there was clear regret in his gaze as he turned to look at her but there was also fear.

"I know you are going to hate me Aarti." He started making her frown but she waited for him to continue. "All I ever wanted was to get back at everyone who ever caused you harm; that unfortunately included your mother. I paid the man she fell in love with; she did not mention his name but I know his name. I wanted to break your mother and make her realize that material things had no value and that she lost the only thing of true value. But I never meant for her to get hurt or raped in her attempts to find you."

Aarti was no longer seeing him as her tears blinded her view. "Mission accomplished then, my mother did realize what held true value" her voices sounded sharp but she was calm in contrast. "Baby I am sorry, please forgive me baby" Yash moved to hug her but she stiffened. He might as well have been holding a brick wall especially because he felt her erecting an impenetrable wall in that moment. His heart broke afresh as he realized that she was more distant from him than ever before.

P.S. I will correct spelling and grammar errors with time.

Thanks for a prompt update. Aarti's behaviour seems to be like she is in her 'mood swings' ! She is 'blowing hot and cold ' ! Yash must be really patient to deal with her. But at the end , what Yash did to Aarti's mum was unforgivable !

Talk about slow progress or maesltrom of emotion. Aarti is ambivalent to say the least.
I feel Vidhi pain, her stubborn hubby better smarten up soon, he is being unreasonably close-minded. He could at least listen to his wife. 😡.
I suppose one can never really cut ties, at least emotionally, with family even if they hurt you the most. Of course Shobha demise was going to hurt Aarti, despite their past, she is her mother, also the lost opportunity to truly reconcile or build a healthier relationship.
Shoba life was just a sequence a wrong and bad decision due to lack of respect for herself. She was running after something she could never get because she didn't know it herself and in turn hurt her child more for it. She wasn't meant to be a mother yet in the end at least she realize that she needed to confess to free her daughter and make her understand that Aarti was not at faults but her own shortcomming. I almost feel pity for her😕, almost because she still did the unforgivable, let her child be submitted to rape. 😡. So she does not get a free pass for that. Oh yeah I have forgotten that Yash was planning revenge on behalf of Aarti. I cringed at Aarti stiffness and cold voice, gosh when are they going to be in the same space. Just when you think they finally take a step forward he all came crushing again and we're back to then step back. Well at least Yash confess. 😕

fantastic...poor arti went through so much and shoba too...but she should have protected her baby girl...and sometimes i wish yash did not tell arti the truth...but it is better this way...if and when she accepts him it will be with a clean slate...

wow!

though yash do for Aarti yash should not make her mother go through worst