"Where were you? I have been looking for you." Karan remarked as he finally found Aditi sitting by the pool where the previous day's function had taken place instead of being in the lawn where the lunch was being served.
His eyes noticed the serious expression on Aditi and her sister.
"I will catch you two later," Ruchi mumbled before walking away.
Karan looked at her retreating figure and then at Aditi's grim face. He pulled a chair closer to hers and sat beside her. "All okay?"
Aditi looked away.
Karan had learned to have patience when it came to Aditi. He silently held her hand and waited for her to share her mind. After a few minutes passed, she looked at him.
"What happened?" He asked noticing the spur expression on her face.
"I caught her talking on the phone."
Karan stared at her, waiting for her to go on.
"She was practically begging a guy to not leave her."
Karan wasn't sure what to say. Aditi looked pissed and he didn't want to counter her, at least not right now.
"All the money ... she had an abortion. How stupid have I been? And she doesn't think that's wrong. She's lost her mind."
Karan let out a sigh. "Relax,"
"Relax, how? Papa and Maa will be so upset if they find out. Just put it together... she liked a guy, slept with him and now he doesn't give a damn and she went for an abortion to just win him back. Her whole career is ahead of her. Papa had taken a loan to get her that medical seat because she wanted to be a doctor. I try and contribute as much as I can to her expenses so that Papa doesn't have to worry much and this what she does? And after it all, she argued with me."
Karan held on to her hand, looking at her. Sometimes he couldn't relate to her at all, but he could understand how she felt. She was fierce and took responsibility of things on her own when it came to her family. He felt too small at times before her. He knew it was best to not speak anything in Ruchi's defense even if he wanted to. Ruchika had made a mistake, no doubt, but she had a life of her own. She was an adult.
"It'll all be okay..."
"How Karan? Papa is going to be so...upset. it will look like I sent her the money to cover her abortion. And you know what she said... when I told her that her primary aim should be her career to pay Papa back. She said that Papa took the loan to bear the expenses of my wedding. I can't.." her voice trailed off and tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Hey," Karan moved closer hugging her, pulling her face to his chest. "It's okay, Aditi. You don't have to be upset over this."
"I bore the expenses of everything, Karan. That was the only condition I had put before Papa when the wedding discussion was happening. It was all my earnings that Papa spent and we even argued about this back then. It was just the gold that I wore that I allowed Papa to spend for. The rest was, what your family spent. This is not fair!" She sobbed, holding on to him tightly.
Karan had never felt so small. He obviously didn't know that whatever was spent on the wedding from Aditi's family's side had been Aditi's own earnings. It made him proud, but at the same time made him realize how little he was before her. All the expenses were borne by his father, his clothes and everything was arranged by Arjun. Karan took a deep breath caressing her back.
"She's still young and immature, she'll learn with time, Aditi."
Aditi pulled away wiping her tears. He fished out his handkerchief from his pocket and held it for her to take. She took it and wiped her tears.
"I honestly didn't know, that you contributed from your own earnings for the wedding." He said softly, with a smile.
She looked at him with her lips pulled into a straight line. "It was supposed to be a secret between me and Papa. Now you know it too."
Karan smiled looking at her while she used his handkerchief to make her face presentable again. "You'll need a mirror and probably some water... your cheeks have a shade of black."
"I don't want to go back anyway."
"Hey, there's some real good food there and I am starving!" Karan remarked.
"You go eat," Aditi muttered, trying to wipe the skin under eyes.
"I would have, if I didn't want your company. Be a good girl and come with me."
She looked at him.
"Please!"
"You're adorable!" She smiled.
"Thank God for that!" He said, getting up. "Let's get you to the nearest washroom so that you can fix your look. I don't want people go think I made you cry!"
She chuckled. "You're scared of my father, aren't you?"
"Well, he's the only person who seems immune to my charm and you've definitely taken that skill for him."
Aditi rolled her eyes, slipping her arm around his as they walked towards the common washroom. "My dad loves you just like I love you. But well, I guess we like to appear immune to charming people."
* * *
Aditi had busied herself with a virtual meeting immediately post lunch while Karan had spent time with the other men. He had fixed two cups of coffee when he entered the room.
Aditi finally powered off her laptop and sat on the window seat beside her husband to drink coffee.
"I think you're showing symptoms of a workaholic person."
Aditi grinned. "I am just trying to leverage the weekends. If we run the the tests on the weekends we get more time on the set up and our week days are more effective."
"Hmm, but that violates the work life balance!" Karan pointed out. "Biscuits?"
"Nah!" She answered, sipping the coffee. "I am doing this so that not only the company but also the project benefits and this wraps up before expected time."
"You better take time off to relax then once it's done."
"That's the plan!" She grinned. "You look off... " she said after a pregnant pause.
"Just tired." He said, finishing his coffee, keeping the cup aside, flexing his neck. Aditi finished her coffee and picked up his empty cup putting them on the tray. She then moved to stand before him.
"Let me give you a massage!" She offered.
He smiled and seated hinself on the bed. She climbed the bed and stood on her knees behind him. Her hands on his shoulders.
"Let me get rid of this kurta," He said quickly getting it off his frame.
"Karan, no hanky panky." She warned as she began massaging his neck and shoulders.
"I am not a machine Adu,"
"Thank God for that."
He smiled a little. "Are you planning to tell your parents about Ruchi?"
Aditi's fingers moved on his shoulder effectively. "What should I do?"
Karan was surprised at her answer. He held her hands and turned around. She met his eyes, "what?"
He looked at her, contemplating. "You really want my advice?"
She sat down comfortably. "I do. I am not sure what's the right thing to do. And I think we're a team now so we decide, right?"
Karan smiled. "Thanks."
Aditi looked at him with a strange expression. "You know right, sharing decisions also means sharing responsibilities of the consequences."
"I do..." Karan nodded. "It's just that.... you make me better."
Aditi simpered, "you didn't like the massage?"
"I loved it," He said turning around again. Aditi chuckled and began massaging his shoulders. Leaning forward she kissed his ears, only after tugging at it using her teeth.
"And you say — no hanky-panky!" He mumbled, closing his eyes with a smile drawing on his lips.
"This isn't hanky-panky. Do you want me to show you what real hanky-panky is?"
"No, thanks. I am good. What's with your sudden mood swings?"
Aditi smiled, pressing the points on his naked back. "Your genuine compliments are a turn on, I guess."
"Or probably, it's my naked back!" He muttered.
Aditi leaned closer to his ear. "I feel like ..." She took a deep long breath, trying to come off as sensuous as she could.
"Adu, quit it. Your pranks won't work on me."
Aditi ended up giggling, going back to pressing his shoulders, edging towards his neck. "I once read that ears and neck are erogenous spots for men, are they?"
"There are many more!" He replied with a grin.
"Don't go down there." Aditi warned, her hands pressing in downwards motion down his back.
"It's so unfair, women have so many erogenous spots." He argued. "Don't go lower than that..."
Aditi smiled, letting her hands move upwards again. "Like?"
"Are you seriously testing my knowledge in this subject?" He chuckled. "If I start talking then you'll accuse me of seducing you."
Aditi whacked him on his shoulder.
"Easy, Adu!"
"Thank God that you don't have may of those spots, just imagine the soldier going up everytime someone touched your back or hands or stomach."
Karan burst into laughter and she joined in.
He turned around, to look at her. "We should write a book of our conversations, it would be a best seller."
Aditi chuckled lying back on the bed. He lay beside her.
"We'll, name it Scandalous Conversations!" He joked.
"Vulgar should be the right word."
"Nah, I think my idea is better. Let's actually do this."
"I will kill you, if you do!" Aditi murmured, turning to face him.
His laughter settled and he met her gaze. "I left out nipples!" Aditi muttered.
"Gosh, now I feel too exposed." Karan remarked, his hands covering his chest.
Aditi fell back giggling. "Oh God, we are so weird."
"I love being weird with you. I think you're right, we make a good team."
Aditi smiled widely and turned to hug him. He always managed to lighten her mood and take away all her worries.
After a long time!
Thanks for waiting for this one. I hope you liked the chapter. Would love to know your thoughts.
-Anami!♡