Chapter 34

Vimal opened the cabinet to pick a towel to dry himself but stood froze on seeing the bracelet, the one given to him by Aadhi, the one he lost long back or thats what he thought. He crouched down and picked the bracelet in his hand and looked at the name ” Aadhi & Vimal “. He remembered well how much he felt disappointed on himself for losing the bracelet and the days he had ranted to Manjari about the lost bracelet.

Vimal: How did this bracelet end up here ? If Manjari had this bracelet all these months then why did she not give to me ? She knew how much I had treasured this bracelet and how badly I felt after I lost this ? How did this end up with her in the first place ?

He couldn’t delay further in confronting her so he quickly rose to his feet and wore the shirt. Just as he stepped out of the washroom he heard sound of heels clack against the marble floor. With a frown he was about to open the door of the closet to walk out but stopped on hearing the voice of Manjari’s friend in the room.

Manjari’s friend: Manju, I m so sorry, I wasn’t aware that you had not informed your husband that you fell in the mall. I was really worried and called you to know about your health but your brother answered the call.

Manjari: Hey, stop. Vimal is here. We shall talk later about this. Please.

Vimal stood rooted in his spot, the words of Manjari’s friend reverberating in the closet. He felt his heart ramming against his rib cage and the floor slip away under his feet. He felt the walls closing on him and he stumbled unable to gather himself. He leaned on the wall and tears rolled down from his eyes as he connected the dots of everything happened from the moment she returned after the shopping spree with her friends.

The loss of the unborn baby, the blame on his sister made his blood boil. He clenched his fist and the bracelet pressed onto his palm. Wiping the tears with the sleeves he walked out gritting his teeth. Manjari’s friend rose to her feet on seeing Vimal who did not spare a look at her but was staring at Manjari.

Manjari: Vimal, look who is here. My best friend is here to meet me but your sister and my brother haven’t found time to check on me.

Vimal: SHUT UPPPPPPPPPPPP…

Vimal looked at Manjari’s friend, a deadly glare and she scurried out instantly leaving the couple on their own. Vimal showed the bracelet to Manjari who lost the color of her face immediately.

Manjari: Where did you find the bracelet Vimal ?

Vimal: I will not question you about this bracelet since I could connect the dots already but I need answers on the death of my child.

Manjari: Our child..and your sister..

Vimal: Not a word against my sister. I will fucking kill you this instant. I heard your so called best friends words so don’t you try to fool me because I m not falling into your trap anymore.

Manjari: Vimal please, you are scaring me.

Vimal: Stop pretending dammit, spill the beans..

Manjari: I fell on the wet floor on the shopping day. I was scared that everyone might lash out on me or even disown me so .. so..

Vimal clutched her neck, his grip tightening around and Manjari gasped for air. She held his wrist and tried desperately to get out of his hold.

Vimal: So you planned the idea of visiting my sister and framed her but in real it was you who killed my child. I stopped you from going out with your friends knowing how lethergic you could be. I even tried to convince you to take out shopping with me but you were stubborn and your greediness cost the life of our child, your jealousy costed the dignity of my sister, your hatred for your brother ruined his family. How could you do this ? How did I fall in love with a greedy woman like you ?

Vimal pushed her away and Manjari got down from the bed quickly. She tried to hold Vimal’s hand but he backed off giving her a disgusting look at her.

Manjari: Vimal, I m sorry. I was scared of the outcome. I didn’t know what to do.

Vimal: Don’t act like you are saint. I have always stood for you and I would have supported you, my sister married your brother and she stopped talking to me just because you were jealous of her, your brother hurt my sister for you but what did you do in return for us ?

Manjari: I m sorry Vimal, please forgive me. I will never feel jealous anymore, I will be a better person.

Vimal: I hate myself for fallling in love with you, You disgust me.

Manjari: Please Vimal, I really regret everything I did. Forgive me once.

Vimal: I hate you, never ever show your face or I will kill you.

Vimal stormed out and Manjari plopped on the bed and sobbed over the mess she created in her life. Vimal drove away feeling betrayed and lost.

In the penthouse Rishi fixed another sticky note on the wall with a message to Aadhi and stood with his hands in his pocket and smiled on seeing the sticky notes he started sticking since the day Aadhi left him.

Rishi: I love you Aadhu, I hope you are doing good and I m good too baby. I have decided to learn cooking and I want to cook all your favourite dishes when we get back together. How stupid of me ? We are together Aadhu. I have informed Sudhir to buy lot of groceries and do you know whom I chose to teach me cooking ? Your favourite Latha aunty. I have requested her to teach me cooking for 3 hours everyday and once I leave to office she will take care of other works. Wish me baby. Latha aunty might arrive anytime so I will get ready.

Rishi entered the closet and opened the wardrobe to choose a shirt for him.

Rishi: Aadhu, what should I wear baby ? You better handle my wardrobe and buy whatever you want me to wear rather than calling me grumpy head or uncle.

He picked up a button down shirt and changed into it quickly. He entered the living and saw Latha waiting for him.

Rishi: I m sorry aunty, I will be ready on time from tomorrow. Now gets started without any delay.

Together they entered the kitchen and Rishi wore a apron ready to start his first cooking. Latha taught him cutting the vegetables and step by step she taught him with patience. Next one hour Rishi was completely focused on the simple vegetable curry Latha taught him. He also had a camera set to record his cooking for future reference and also to show it to Aadhi.

Latha served the rice and curry in a plate for Rishi who got settled to taste his first cooking. He picked another plate and transferred some rice and curry from his plate into it.

Rishi: Aadhu, this is my first dish I learnt today.

He tasted the food and dropped the spoon chewing the rice mixed with curry.

Rishi: Not bad Aadhu but I will try to cook better. Now time for me to get back to business and I will choose a dish tonight to learn tomorrow.

He returned to his room to refresh and quickly changed into his professional clothes to leave for office. He stood before the mirror and set his hair.

Rishi: I m ready Aadhu, I will see you in the evening. Bye baby, I love you.

He reached the parking and before he could get in the car he received a call from his father. He hesitated on answering his call but knew that he couldn’t ignore for a long so he answered it.

Rishi: Yes dad, what is that made you call me today ?

Raghavan: Rishi, I want you and Aadhira at our home tonight for dinner. I have something important to discuss with you.

Rishi: I have some important meetings in my schedule today so how about we have the important discussion over the call and I might visit you all some other day ?

Raghavan: Rishi, tonight dinner at our home.

Rishi rolled his eyes and cut the call humming a ok to his father. He drove to his office apprenhending over the call from his father.

At the college Aadhi and Malini walked to the canteen to have their lunch but they stopped by the group of seniors. Aadhi and Malini tried to walk away but one of them stopped Aadhi and Malini.

Aadhi: Excuse me…

Senior: Hi Aadhira, I m Yuvraj, your senior.

Aadhi: Hello brother, nice to meet you. Now could you please get away and let us go ?

Yuvraj: Aadhira, stop calling me brother. I have something very important to confess. I fell in love with you from the very first time I met you on the day you were here for your admission procedures. I have been waiting for your classess to commence and I never missed a day to watch you. I really like and love you Aadhira. Will you go on a date with me ?

Aadhira and Malini looked at each other and Malini was holding back her chuckle while Aadhi cleared her throat before she averted her gaze towards Yuvraj.

Aadhira: I m sorry if any of my actions has triggered such emotions in you.

Yuvraj: No Aadhira, you did nothing. Your simplicty, the way you are calm and composed, the peace that I see in your face is what that like in you. You are totally what I want in my girl. I really love you.

Aadhira: You are blinded by illusions. I m not what you described me as a person now. In simple words, my husband has saved my name as fire cracker in his mobile. He calls me fire cracker. I m a complete introvert person to strangers but I m totally opposite to the people in my closed circle.

Yuvraj: husband ?

Malini: Yes, she is Aadhira Rishikesh.

Yuvraj stumbled and his friends caught him and pat his back bringing him back to reality.

Yuvraj: You are my first love Aadhira.

Aadhira: Rishu is my first love and I m his. I appreciate your thoughts in looking for a girl of your choice and whatever qualities you are expecting in her. I m not blaming you because its your right to have expectations but have you ever thought that you will be the perfect man to that girl ? What if she meets you expectations and you don’t meet the qualities of her expectation ? Life is not about being perfect or matching our expectations. True love is when you could never give upon the person despite the differences and the flaws you see in the person. Try to be a better person to your partner just like you expect a better person for you and sure you will find someone who will love you despite the flaws in you. No human on the earth is perfect.

Yuvraj: Oh my god, you are so matured and I really couldn’t believe people like you exist in this world. Thank you so much Aadhira but my proposal was a task given to me by my friends so I m sorry for proposing you. It was a dare that I should propose you but I m happy my friends gave me this task and I got to know about you. You can come to me anytime if you need something and I will be happy to help you in any way.

Aadhira bobed her head and walked away passing a gentle smile to Yuvraj. His friends watched Aadhira leave with Malini and knocked on Yuvraj’s head.

Yuvraj’s friend: Why did you lie that this proposal was only a task given by us ?

Yuvraj: Idiot, didn’t you hear that she is married and from the way she talked I see she is very special girl. I don’t want her to feel bad or be scared that she has some stalker behind her in the name of love. Let her study peacefully and its my bad luck I missed her but she is really lucky that she is married to her love. Lets not disturb her but I will sure help her in any way possible.

Yuvraj cast once glance at the disappearing figure of Aadhira before he walked away in the opposite direction with his friends.

In the evening Rishi returned home and threw his tie on the bed and stood before the vanity with a smile.

Rishi: Hello Aadhu, how was your day today ? I need to visit my mom and dad for dinner. Sure they must have planned something but I will not give up and agree to anything they have decided. You brought the best out of me and I will not go back to my shell once again. I won’t  hide about us too so its time I handle everyone on my own. I won’t let anyone rule our life anymore baby. I will get ready now…Love you Aadhu.