Chapter 29

Two weeks passed by and Rishi, Aadhi still existed with minimum verbal exchanges between them. Rishi would return early from office and sometime he would buy dinner for her since she was not yet ready to go out with him. Every morning he played songs and he noticed Aadhi’s lips curve while she continued cooking breakfast. He would lean on the kitchen counter and sip his morning coffee stealing glances at her. All the snacks, her favourite puffed rice, bubbles remainded untouched but he did not give up.

He helped her in little chores like placing th dishes on the table, washing their coffee cups and plates.

Finally it was Aadhi’s first day to college. As usual she woke up early and entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast but was surprised and shocked to see Rishi busy in the kitchen.

Rishi: Good morning Aadhu, from today you are not allowed to prepare breakfast but I can’t survive without your coffee so I let you prepare my coffee alone. I will cook breakfast and you can take over for dinner.

Aadhi: Rishi, I can manage my work and studies so please leave. I will carry on from here.

Rishi: No my love, go relax and check if you have got everything ready for your first day. I m not good in cooking but I will learn for you. Now my coffee please.

Aadhi shook her head and started preparing his coffee. She watched him flipping the pan cake and controlled her smile on seeing the burnt piece on the pan.

Rishi: Don’t worry this is the first one and I wasn’t focusing. Look at my talent now.

He poured the batter and this time he flipped it even before it was cooked completely. She yanked the ladle from him and made two pan cakes. Later Rishi took over the task and prepared just like she did. He placed the bread toast, pan cakes, juice and omlette on the table and picked the coffee she prepared for him.

Rishi: Tomorrow I will cook something better Aadhu. hmmmm, this coffee is heaven. Thank you love.

They finshed breakfast and Aadhi returned to the bedroom and started braiding her hair and packed her bag with the books. She rushed to the living and saw Rishi dressed in a beige blue pant and button up crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows. She couldn’t deny that he looked the perfect model from a business magazine.

Aadhi: Aren’t you going to office today ?

Rishi: No Aadhu, I m working from home and now I will drop you to college and pick you up in the evening. Before you deny, please let me do it atleast for today and from tomorrow driver will do it though I would love to do if often. Lets go now.

He walked first and Aadhi followed him. Rishi held the handle of the door to open it but stopped and turned to Aadh who raised her eyebrows. With a smile he cupped her face and kissed her forehead.

Rishi: All the best Aadhu, I know you will give your best. I m with you in everything.

Aadhi hugged him immediately and Rishi caressed her hair gently and pat her back. He felt a relief that he had started winning her. They reached the parking and Rishi opened the door for her. He got seated in the driver seat and wore his coolers before he started driving.

As they reached the college Aadh tried to open the door but Rishi had it locked.

Rishi: Hold on Aadhu, let me do it for you.

Rishi rushed to her side and opened the door for her. Aadhi mumbled a thank you and immediately saw the girls gawking at Rishi. He noticed the frown on her face and looked in the direction of her sight. He rubbed the back of his neck feeling pride and happy, knowing the reason behind her reaction.

Rishi: Don’t worry, I m all yours and I have my eyes only for you.

Aadhi rolled her eyes and started walking. A few steps later she craned her neck and saw Rishi was leaning on the car and looking at her. She returned to him and Rishi immediately stood straight.

Rishi: Everything ok Aadhu ? Did you forget something ?

Aadhi: Why aren’t you leaving or by any chance are you trying to gain someone’s attention here ?

Rishi: Ofcourse, I wanted my little wife’s attention.

He leaned to her ear and Aadhi held her breathe when his cologne hit her nostrils.

Rishi: You look beautiful when you are jealouse and I love to see you possessive of me baby.

He mumbled bye and drove off smiling in content. Aadhi entered the classroom and chose a corner. She opened the book to avoid any interaction with anyone. She mentally decided to stay away from everyone and focus only on her studies. From her peripheral view she saw someone sit next to her but decided against the idea of looking at the person. She heard the person call her Aadhi which shocked her. She turned her attention to the person and gasped on seeing Malini.

Aadhi: Malu, how come you are here ? Didn’t you say your application was rejected ?

Malini: Yes, but someone recommended for me to take care of you. I wanted to surprise you so did you love the surprise ?

Aadhi: What do you mean by someone wanted to take care of me ?

Malini: Seems like your crushy baby heard our conversation and he used his influence to get my admission.

Aadhi: Did he call you ? but how ?

Malini: He didn’t call me, Aadhi. I received a call about my admission, and as usual, I used my brain and did a little investigation. The staff from the office confirmed that Mr. Rishikesh recommended me. Now tell me what is going on ?

Aadhi: Shut up, we are here for studies and lets focus on that.

Malini ignored her words and threw her arm around her shoulder and sat close looking into the book that was left open before Aadhi.

Malini: I won’t disturb you from winning another gold medal but talk to your crushy baby and get me passed in all my papers.

Aadhi glared at her and Malini smiled sheepishly.

Rishi returned home and immediately rushed to the closet to complete the task he had decided.

Rishi: I hope she will not lash out on me. I m sorry Aadhu but I want you to be equal in everything.

He opened the wardrobe and quickly started arranging her clothes. He finished two trolleys and opened the third one. On seeing her inners in them, he quickly closed it and pulled his ear to hide the blush.

Rishi: I don’t want her to think of me as pervert so I will let her arrange them herself.  Give me a chance Aadhu and I will be the worst ever pervert only to you.

He chuckled at his thoughts and pulled the next trolley. He placed it on the table and opened it but stumbled on seeing the content in it. He felt like a dagger stabbed right into his chest and slumped on the couch holding his head in his palms. For the next few minutes he couldn’t react except for the pain he felt, the reason he knew why she was not ready to give him a chance.

He pulled the trolley and touched the torn pieces of her dresses. It wasn’t difficult for him to identify the dresses from the pieces. One was the night gown she wore the night he broke her, along with it was the shorts and shirt she wore the same day, one was the saree she wore to his grandma’s death annivesary pooja.

Rishi: Did you cut all these dresses to get rid of those days from your memories ? Did you cut these dresses to get rid the memories of my rejection ?

Among the torn pieces lay her wedding saree in a good condition. He reminded the day when Manjari revealed that he chose the saree for her and not for Aadhi.

Rishi Mv: May be she decided against the idea of cutting this down because she wore this for our wedding.

Rishi picked the saree and hugged it to his chest. He wiped the tears with his sleeve and kissed the saree.

Rishi: I m sorry Aadu for being a jerk. I might have chosen this saree for Manjari, but you took my breath away when I saw you wearing it for our wedding. I have always watched our wedding photo in the living because I loved you in this saree.

He laid on the couch holding the saree to his chest until it was time for him to pick up Aadhi from the college. He placed the saree back in the trolley and drove to her college.

Aadhi and Malini walked out smiling and on seeing Rishi’s car Aadhi bid bye to Malini and rushed to his car. She settled in the passenger seat and saw him smile that did not reach his eyes which were red as if he had cried.

Aadhi: What happened ? Is everything ok ?

Rishi: All is well Aadhu, did you have your lunch or do you want me to stop by before we drive home ?

Aadhi: I had lunch in the college canteen so lets go home. You look different, are you sure everything is ok ?

Rishi: Ofcourse love, everything is ok, relax.

He stopped by an ice parlour and bought her favourite ice cream. Aadhi saw he hadn’t bought for him. Rishi buckled the seat belt and started driving.

Aadhi: Why didn’t you buy one for you ?

Rishi: May be some other day Aadhu and I will be happy to see you enjoy your favourite ice cream.

Aadhi finished her ice cream and Rishi passed a tissue paper with his eyes still fixed on the road.

Aadhi: Thank you for Malini’s admission.

Rishi: You don’t have to thank me for anything Aadhu. I will do everything to make sure you aren’t alone.

They reached home and Aadhi skipped to the bedroom to change but froze on seeing the trolley on the table and rest of her clothes arranged in the wardrobe. She turned around and saw Rishi standing with his hands in his pocket.

Rishi: I m sorry for invading your privacy. You are my equal so I couldn’t watch you live like a stranger in our room so I thought of showing you that you own every rights in our home. I arranged only your outfits and later I found the reason why you were not ready to give me a chance.

Aadhi: Rishi…

Rishi: I understand, Aadhu. I’m ashamed of myself for everything I’ve done to you, and today I’ve realized that you won’t forgive me or give me a chance until you’re able to let go of this. Also, thank you for sparing the saree you wore for our wedding. I might have chosen this saree for Manjari, but I can only imagine my wife in it. If you had cut this saree, I would have felt like I had completely lost my chance. So, I’ll take this as a sign that I still have hope to win you back. Please, let me have the saree alone and the day you let go of those other dresses you cut, I’ll take it as the moment you’re ready to give me another chance. Please Aadhu, let me have the saree alone.

Rishi stretched out his hand and Aadhi placed her wedding saree in his palm. She watched him hug the saree and kiss it before placing it safe in his wardrobe. Though his back was facing her, she realized he was wiping his tears.

Rishi turned to her with a smile and walked out giving her space to get changed. Rishi slept until Aadhi woke him up for dinner. He arrived to the dining and saw Aadhi placing the casseroles on the table. She turned to leave to get the plates but tripped on the edge of the chair and fell down. Rishi rushed to her immediately and carried her to the couch in bridal style. He lowered her carefully on the couch and checked her feet for any injury and then her elbows.

Rishi: Aadhu, show me where are you injured ? Lets go to the hospital.

Aadhi: Nothing happened to me Rishi, I m doing good. Really nothing serious happened.

 Rishi: I m sorry Aadhu, it is my fault. I should have helped you.

Aadhi: Rishi, stop feeling guilty for everything that is happening. I can see you are trying but I need time.

She rose to her feet to leave but Rishi held her wrist and gestured her to sit which she did.

Rishi: Aadhu, I know you love me and I m your first crush.

Aadhi was shocked on the revealation and looked at him bewildered.

Rishi: The day I met Manjari was the day your brother got to know about what I did to you. He wanted you to leave me but then I confessed everything to him including my love for you. I pleaded for a chance from him and he did. He also revealed what I mean to you and how much you love me. I wanted to know everything you felt about me and how much I hurt you so I read your diary. I should be sorry but I m not, reading your diary showed me how cruel I have been with you. Aadhu, I know you still love me and I will wait for my chance to show my love to you without any boundaries. You are my first and will be my last love Aadhu. Take your time and now lets have dinner.

He wasn’t sure if she had any injury so he carried her to the dining and they had dinner in complete silence.