Chapter 28

Aadhi froze on hearing Rishi’s confession. More tears rolled down her cheeks and fell over Rishi’s cheek as he looked at her.

Rishi rose to his feet still holding her hand and with one hand he wiped her tears.

Rishi: The truth is, I’ve liked you, Aadhu, from the very beginning, but I was so stupid. My jealousy pushed you away. As a child, I dreamed of a life like the one you had when I first met you, but I was forced to live the way you saw me. It annoyed me so much that I couldn’t be like you. Slowly and steadily, you invaded my thoughts, my heart, and my soul, yet I was so adamant and let my ego take over. I realized how cruel and stupid I have been only after I broke you, your heart. I want you back Aadhu, my little fire cracker running around teasing me, pulling my legs, dancing and cooking, I want to listen to you talk while we eat together, I want to be welcomed by your beat songs and not some graveyard. I want you in my life Aadhu, I m might be late but I m still your Rishu, I m dying to hear you call me Rishu. I want us to be Aadhu and Rishu. I love you Aadhu.

Rishi cupped her face and pressed their foreheads together mumbling I love you repeatedly.

Aadhi: You are emotional. Relax for a while. I will go prepare lunch for you.

Rishi: I m in all my senses Aadhu. I have been blind for so long but not anymore. I know what I want in my life and that is you.. only you…

Aadhi: Rishi, please lets not talk about this now.

Aadhi tried to leave but Rishi once again stopped her by holding her wrist.

Rishi: Hurt me and give me all the pain you wish but spare me this time alone. I will wait for you to forgive me but for once be with me. I badly need you by my side Aadhu, just once let me hug you. Please Aadhu…please…

Aadhi gulped at his words and how vulnerable he sounded at the time.

Aadhi Mv: I hate seeing you like this.

Aadhi wiped the tear from the corner of his eyes and the next moment Rishi hugged her like his life depended on her completely. Aadhi raised her hands to hug him back but clenched her fist, fighting her heart from doing it. The moment she felt his tears on her neck her hands moved on its own and she started pattinng his back.

Rishi: I love you Aadhu.. I really love you. Please trust me once and let me prove you. I love you.. I love you..

He mumbled and they stood each other in embrace for few minutes. Rishi pulled back from the hug, he cupped her face and pressed his lips on her forehead.

Rishi: I love you, please give me a chance and I promise to hold you safe in my embrace forever.

Aadhi: I need time Rishi.

Rishi bobed his head and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.

Rishi: I will wait but please don’t push me away completely. Talk to me, be yourself and dress like how you used to do. I will never touch you against your wish. It hurts that you don’t feel safe around me.

Aadhi: You are letting your emotions take complete control over you. Relax and Shruthi is still here.

Rishi held Aadhi’s hand and walked out of the room. They arrived at the living and saw Shruthi scrolling through her mobile. Before she could speak a word he stopped showing his palm and called Latha who came running from the kitchen.

Rishi: Latha aunty, pack her things from the guest room immediately.

Shruthi: Rishi, you are not in your mind. Please lets talk, this is your life.

Rishi: I have my wife to care about me and my life. You are no one to me and I never wanted your stay in the first place. It was grandpa who forced me and I had no option other than letting you stay here. I hated that my wife had to cook for you, you were so annoying and took the things I bought for my wife and I hate myself for letting you invade our personal space, our bed room is our space – mine and my Aadhira’s and you dared to enter and misbehave with me. I will ruin your life.

Aadhi: Rishi, let her go. Grandpa won’t be happy knowing she did this to you so don’t let him know about this.

Shruthi: How long will you both keep pretending as if you are in love ?

Rishi lost his cool and Aadhi was scared that he might hurt Shruthi so instantly she moved to his front and hugged him giving a gentle a pat on his chest.

Aadhi: Rishi, calm down, it is not necessary for us to show everyone what we are and we don’t have to react to the words of someone who mean nothing to us so calm down.

Rishi smiled at her words and he instantly melted to her touch and bobed his head. Aadhi turned her attention to Shruthi gritting her teeth.

Aadhi: I have every right to slap you for what you did to my husband. I allowed you to live under my roof and be around him only because I respect Grandpa a lot. Don’t mistake my silence for ignorance, I’ve known your intentions from the very first day. Yet, I chose not to stop you because I trust Rishi completely. But the moment you caught us being intimate, it should have been your cue to realize that your stay was no longer welcome.

Latha returned with Shruthi’s luggages and placed them before her.

Aadhi: I don’t think you would wish to hear my next words.

Shruthi watched Rishi’s hold on Aadhi’s shoulder and her hold around his waist. Dragging the trolleys she walked out and Rishi didn’t want her to return to carry her other luggages so he called the security and let him carry out the other things.

Both Rishi and Aadhi sighed in relief once Shruthi was gone. Unknowing to her she leaned over his chest and closed her eyes seeking solace in him. On seeing her feeling relieved in his embrace he realized he would sure win her back.

Aadhi quickly realized she was hugging and instantly stepped back.

Rishi: I m always here for you Aadhu. Lets go, I will drop you to meet your friends.

Aadhi: Its ok, I will meet her later. I will prepare lunch.

Rishi: Don’t bother Aadhu, I will order. We need some time to relax.

Rishi rushed to their bed room to pick his mobile and ordered her favourite lunch which he got to know after reading her diary. Once they were done with the lunch Aadhi returned to bedroom with Rishi following him like a lost puppy. He watched her gather her things and knew what was coming so he quickly pulled the things out of her hand.

Rishi: Aadhu, please don’t leave. Tell me what should I do for you stay back in this room. Aadhu this is our room. Please love.

He placed the things back in the closet and returned to the room. Aadhi laid on the couch for a nap as she was tired from everything. Rishi grabbed a comforter and covered before he turned off the lights and closed the curtains.

The next day Aadhi arrived at the mall to meet Malini and Chaitra who were glaring at her for not meeting the previous day. Before they could start taking out their anger on her, Aadhi narrated that happened the previous day and Malini, Chaitra were shocked and gaped at Aadhi.

Malini: Aadhi, I think…

Aadhi: No Malu, I don’t want any advice or suggestions. Let me decide on my own. Don’t get me wrong, I would be happy if things work out positively after taking your suggestion but what if things go wrong ? I don’t want you both to feel any guilt so let me decide and bear the result of my decision.

Malini: Though I feel bad that you rejected to listen to my words, I m sure you will decide the best for you. So relax for a while now.

Aadhi: What have decided about your wedding proposal ?

Malini: Actually after I saw you suffer so much I really don’t think wedding is a good idea but after listening to everything that your crushy baby is doing now, I think I should give it a shot.

Aadhi: Don’t be idiot Malu, don’t be influenced by other’s life. Everyone have their ups and downs. My father might be a strict person but I never saw him treating my mother bad and my brother, he is so happy in his life.

Chaitra: Don’t talk about that evil sister in law.

Aadhi: See, this is what I was saying. Every human differ from each other and same goes to their feelings and attitude so decide what you want in life.

Chaitra: Granny Aadhi, I think you should have chose psychology and I m sure you would have been the best psychiatrist in our country.

Malini: Why do you restrict her talents within our country Chaitu ? Stupid girl, there are millions of patients in the world who need a psychiatrist’s assistant so let our Aadhi become the world famous psychiatrist.

Chaitra: Oh my god, she would earn in millions. We could have got the chance to flaunt that we are friends of the great, international psychiatrist Aadhira Rishikesh.

Malini: No, she is just the great Aadhira until she decides to forgive her crushy baby.

Aadhi burst out laughing and Chaitra, Malini sighed in relief on seeing smile.

Aadhi: You both have lost your mind really. Lets go have ice cream now.

Two days passed and though nothing changed a lot, Rishi was happy when Aadhi replied to his conversations. He returned from the gym and saw Aadhi in the kitchen. He turned on the music system and walked straight to the kitchen.

Rishi: Aadhu, my favourite coffee please.

Aadhi: Is it a good idea to have coffee after your gym work out ?

Rishi: I want to start my day with your coffee Aadhu, It feels so refreshing. Get a cup for you too and lets go the living. Our morning would be pleasant with coffee and music. Lets chill.

Aadhi: Stop forcing yourself from doing something that you are not used to.

Rishi: I m not doing this only for you Aadhu, I m doing this for myself too. I expect you to get back to your old self and at the same time I wanted the change to start from me. I m starting to live the life I always wanted so I m not forcing myself, rather I m enjoying that finally I found myself, the real Rishi. It was me who lived a fake life with double face but not anymore.

They heard door bell and Rishi rushed to open it. Aadhi saw a female may be in her 30s entering with a young lady. Rishi smiled at the woman and it appeared that they were familiar with each other. Rishi welcomed to the living and he sat next to Aadhira, letting the women to sit opposite to them.

Aadhi thought they were business colleagues and decided to leave but Rishi held her hand and pulled her to sit next to him.

Rishi: Aadhu, she is Neetu, my stylist and I called her to design your clothes. We have less time before your classes would start.

Aadhi: Rishi, please..

She gestured him to follow her and once they were in the room Aadhi locked the door to keep their conversation private.

Aadhi: Rishi, you don’t have to do this. I have clothes and even if I need something then I can buy on my own. You should have asked me if I m ok with your decision of buying me clothes.

Rishi felt hurt by her words but hid the pain with a smile and stepped close to her at a safe distance.

Rishi: Aadhu, I’m sorry for not letting you know about inviting them and I know that I haven’t earned my chance from you but I wanted to do something special for your new begining. I really wanted to take full responsibilities of your studies but grandpa knew about us and took upon him. Now I wanted to do the least I can do for you Aadhu. You cook for me, take care of me so why can’t I do a simple thing like buying you outfits ? Please Aadhu and this has nothing to do with you giving me a chance.

Aadhi bobed her head and together they arrived in the living. Rishi introduced Aadhi to Neetu and informed her to design outfits to Aadhi’s choice. He felt happy that he was able to do something for her.