Chapter 15

Two months later:

Rishi groaned to the loud music and looked for his airpods immediately. He got ready and upon reaching the living he turned off the music before he made his way to the dining. Aadhi was in a hurry since she woke up late and placed the breakfast on the table. On seeing the time she packed her breakfast and saw Rishi as usual eating without a word as if he lived in an island.

Aadhi: Rishu, I have a early class today so I packed my breakfast. I need to get ready so please lock the door when you leave. Bye Rishi, Have a nice day.

Knowing he would not reply she rushed to their room and entered the bathroom with her clothes. She walked out drying her hair and pinned her hair with a clutch and stood before the vanity to apply lip gloss. Her eyes darted to the friendship card she placed two months back and her thouhts drifted to the night she gave him the card.

Flashback:

Aadhi bought a beautiful friendship card and arrived home with lot of hope that things would change between them. She cooked few special dishes and instead of the dining table she arranged it in their room. She placed the card beside the casseroles with a yellow rose and got ready to welcome Rishi.

As usual she was in the living watching a movie when Rishi entered loosening his tie. She poured a glass of water for him after Vaani had informed her do it when Rishi is back from office but he ignored her and made his way to the bed room.

Aadhi: Rishu, yesterday aunty said I should give water to you as soon as you are back from office. She had noticed yesterday that I didn’t give you water so she called me this morning and warned me that I should do it without fail.

Rishi: She is not here so you don’t have to pretend.

He entered the room and halted in his steps on seeing the casseroles placed on the teapoy.

Aadhi: Rishu, I have something very important to discuss with you so a special dinner for us. Please refresh and I will set the plates.

Rishu: Are you mad ?

Aadhi: No Rishu, I live with you under the same roof so I m very much sane, still why do you ask ?

Rishi: Stop with your idiotic talks. Don’t you understand a simple thing that I hate being clumsy and messy ? Here you have placed food in the bed room ? Just do one thing bring up the entire dining table here and I will sleep in the bathroom.

Aadhi: Rishu, its just food. You work in bed room so does that mean our bed room is your office ?

Rishi glared at her grittig his teeth and Aadhi raised her hands in surrender.

Aadhi: Ok fine, I will remove everything but atleast listen to what I have to discuss with you.

Rishi folded his hands and Aadhi picked the friendship card from the teapoy and gave it to him.

Aadhi: Rishu, I think we need to know each other and I very well understand you don’t want me as your wife but we have to live under the same roof for the rest of our life and we couldn’t continue with what we are now so I thought why not we become friends. We can be friends and atleast have some conversation to have a better start and ending of our day. Will you be my friend Rishu ?

Rishi: My days are worse and my nights are worst, now you want me to be your friend so that you can ruin my peace completely and turn me crazy like you ? But sorry, no thanks.

He walked away without receiving the card but Aadhi stopped him.

Aadhi: Rishu, I will place this card on the vanity and if you ever change your mind please accept this. I will wait Rishu.

Rishi walked away and Aadhi placed the card on the vanity before she removed the casseroles back to the dininng.

Flaashback Ends.

Aadhi touched the card and thought for a while.

Aadhi Mv: Should I get rid of this ? I don’t think he will accept me even as a friend. What did I even do that he hates me so much ? This is the real me and I don’t want to pretend like I did with my father and mother all these years. Also I know you are the one pretending Rishu, I can feel everything you do is an act and what you show to me and others is not the real Rishi. Stop it Aadhi, your exams are next month so focus on it. You need to pass with flying colors and stand on your own.

She picked her bag and quickly made her way out to reach college on time.

Rishi  arrived at his office and pressed the button of his private elavator. Before he could step inside he heard one of his staff on call talking about exam fees. He entered his room and saw Sudhir waiting for him with a file.

Rishi: Sudhir, find the last date to pay her exam fees.

Sudhir stood puzzled for a few seconds and later realized that the “her” Rishi mentioned was Aadhi. He quickly made a call to the college and got to know that the last date was two days earlier.

Rishi: Go to her college and find out her admission details and pay the fees. Talk to the principal and use my name if there is a problem.

Sudhir hummed a ok and left the office immediately feeling really bad for Aadhi. For the first he hated working for Rishi.

Sudhir: May be she deserves a better person or he don’t deserve a partner in his life.

He arrived at the college and saw Vimal walking towards his car in rage. Sudhir knew what could be the reason and dreaded meeting him but luck wasn’t on his side. Vimal saw Sudhir and made his way to him. He pressed a paper against Sudhir’s chest which he caught immediately.

Vimal: Go tell your boss that Aadhi’s personal details aren’t changed yet and I received a call that Aadhi’s fees wasn’t paid. Aadhi was not informed about this because she might feel embarrassed in front of other students so she is not aware that she was close to miss her exams of her final semester.

Without waiting for a reply Vimal stormed off and Sudhir felt too ashamed at the point. He returned to office and placed the fee challan before Rishi without a word.

Rishi: Was there a problem in paying it today ?

Sudhir: Oh, I did not pay the fees sir. Madam’s brother was there since he received a call from the college and he paid it.

Rishi rubbed his forehead knowing well Vimal must be pissed that he hadn’t taken care of his sister. Sudhir walked out leaving the man to drown in his own guilt.

Rishi picked the challan and looked at her name ” Adhira Hariprasad “. Placing it in his draw he continued his work but he did feel some guilt that he failed his duty.

Malini, Chaitra and Aadhi decided to visit the mall to relax before they start preparing for their exams. They left their bags in Aadhi’s car and roamed around with ice cream in their hands. Malini held Aadhi’s hand and cocked her brows pointing to the lingerie shop.

Aadhi: Maalu, are you insane ? Please lets leave before I kill you.

Malini: Aadhi, you tried everything with your crushy baby now the final strike is to seduce him so why not buy a lingerie and atleast try to tease him. What if something good comes out of this plan ?

Aadhi: Maalu, I want him to love me and here you are trying to change the persepective of what I expect from him.

Chaitra: Hey, what you mean by that ? Won’t you be intimate with your Rishu when everything gets normal between you two ?

Aadhi: That should happen spontaneously between us and not by seducing him.

Malini: Ok fine, one day everything will be normal so why not be prepared. Lets buy and you can surprise him when he accepts you. Lets go in and I really wanted to see what they have in store.

Aadhi: Are you planning for yourself using me ?

Malini smiled sheepishly and they entered the store. Their ears turned red and seeing different fabrics and designs in it. Aadhi fanned her face on seeing them and tried to leave the store but both Malini and Chaitra pulled her back with a glare. Finally Aadhi picked a full length royal blue silk night gown despite Malini and Chaitra forcing her to buy a short lace lingerie. Hiding the bag with her shawl they decided to return home.

Rishi received a notification and saw it was from his cousin Shruthi. He opened it and saw photo of Aadhi with her friends in the mall, the three were holding ice cream and laughing. He held his mobile in a tight grip and was about to throw away his mobile but decided against it and placed it on the table in fury.

Rishi: I was feeling guilt for no reason. Madam is having her best time with her friends.

After he saw her photo he started working without any guilt. He once again received a message from Shruthi that she was in the mall with her mother and saw Aadhi with her friends but didn’t get to talk with her. He replied a ok and carried on with his work.

Aadhi returned home and quickly hid the gown in her luggage and slumped holding her chest sighing in relief.

Aadhi: Thank god, I hid it. Why did I even buy it ?

She got changed into a shorts and top and settled on the couch in the living to prepare for her exams. She lost time in reading and dozed of with a book on her chest.

At 10 Rishi returned home and saw her sleeping with a book on her chest and a book, pen on the floor. He shook his head and ascended the stairs to get refresh. Hearing his footsteps Aadhi woke up and saw the time was 10.

Adhi: Ohh shit.. shit.. shit… shit… when did I fell asleep ? I haven’t cooked dinner for Rishu. What will I do now ?

She ran to the kitchen and stood not knowing what to cook in a very short time. Without any option she pulled out the maggie and prayed god that Rishi should like it. She never gave him noodles since it was a strict order from her mother in law.

Rishi sat in his place and saw a single casserole in the middle. Aadhi slowly opened the lid revealing the maggie in it.

Aadhi: Rishu, I m so sorry. I was preparing for my exam and dozed of so I couldn’t prepare dinner for you. I promise this will never happen ever again. Just for today have this maggie. Actually this tastes good. I have tried this lot of times.

Rishi showed his palm to stop her and transfered to his plate without a word. Aadhi watched him eating but with a frown. She was happy atleast he won’t sleep empty stomach so she too quickly transfered the remaining maggie to her plate.

Aadhi: Rishu, I will teach you to eat maggie.

She picked the noodles with the fork and tilting her head she slurped it. Closing her eyes she moaned to the taste and when she opened her eyes Rishi looked like he was ready to dump the noodles on her head.

Aadhi: We could eat like you do too Rishu. Carry on and I will to eat like you.

She ate in silent and Rishi left to the bed room and Aadhi settled in the balcony to continue her studies.

At Vimal’s home, Manjari was waiting for Vimal to return home. His mobile was switched off the whole day. At 12 Vimal entered the room and immediately Manjari held his hand with concern.

Manjari: Vimal, where were you  ? Your mobile is switched off from the morning and I was so worried for you. Do you even have a bit of concern about your pregnant wife ?

Vimal: I m sorry Manjari but what happen are you ok ?

Manjari: I m ok but what happened to you ? Why do you look so worried ?

Vimal: Nothing, did you have dinner ?

Manjari: Shut up and now will you tell me what happened ?

Vimal: Its about Aadhi, your brother did not even pay her exam fees. I got a call from the college and with special permission I was able to pay the fees today. His PA was there when I was about to leave the college premises.

Manjari: Vimal he must have not been aware of the last date. You have seen Sudhir so that means he is responsible. Aadhi should have informed him about the last date.

Vimal: I really didn’t want to talk to you about this but you forced me so atleast pretend that your brother is at fault.

Manjari: I really don’t know why you hate my brother so much.

Vimal: As if you love your brother. Manjari, actually the question should be the other way around. I don’t know why both you and your brother hate my sister so much.

Manjari: We don’t hate her Vimal so stop cooking stories. Now refresh and I will set dinner for you.

Vimal: I don’t feel like having food. Go to sleep I have some work to be take care of.

Manjari Mv: Every time the discussion is about Aadhi, Vimal and me get into a fight.