Aasha's Pov
After the call, i sat on the sofa with all questions running in my head. I even don't know which question to ask them first. I was in my thought when i heard someone opening the door. I sighed, thinking this is going to be a long night.
Mr. Malhotra, Neha and Mr. Mehra stood infront of me. I got up from my place and went to the kitchen to make coffee for everyone. After making the coffee, i went outside only to find everyone sitting in the living area with a worried face. Neha is crying silently. I served them their coffee.
"Dry your throat with this coffee. Because you all have a lot to explain, i guess" i said, sitting far away from everyone on the sofa.
"Aasha" Neha called me with her trembling voice. I turned my face away from her.
"You all were talking about some nIght, right? You tell me Neha" i said in my stern voice while sipping my coffee. I only got silence as my answer.
"What night you were all talking about?" i asked, looking into her teary eyes. She gulped looking at me.
"Ac..actually Aa..Aasha, when you went to your hometown, Athul escaped from his cell" she said, making my eyes go wide.
"That day i went to attend my colleague's birthday party. I left from the party at 8 pm in my car. But in the middle of the road my car tire got punctured. I called a cab. So i was waiting for the cab. Then Dev bhai called me to inform about Athul's escape and he asked me about my whereabouts. I shared my location to him. But it was too late as Athul already came in front of me with a gun in his hands" she said with her trembling body. I went near her and hugged her tightly.
"My god! Then what happened, Neha?" i asked her hurriedly.
"I started to ran away from him. I hid near a shop. I saw Dev bhai with his men searching for me. I came out from my hiding spot to reach Dev bhai. But before i could reach him Athul held me in his gun point just like the day in the farm house. Soon police also arrived to the spot. But Athul didn't scared of anyone. He was only determined to take my life. The police tried to distract him. Using that as a chance, Dev bhai and his men shot Athul on his head.
The police commissioner was Dev bhai's friend. So they closed Athul's case. They made a report to the higher officials that Athul esacaped from his cell and tried to kill me. So to save my life they encountered him" she said with a sigh. I hugged her tightly to comfort her.
"Why you didn't tell me about this, Neha?" i asked her with a pained expression.
"I thought of telling you about this. But when you returned from Ahmadabad, you were already upset. So i didn't want to make you worry" she said with a sad smile.
"You are such an idiot, Neha. I am really sorry Neha for not being there for you. I am.. I am really sorry" i said while hugging her.
"Its okay, Aasha. Its all happened suddenly. Then i stayed at my parents house few days. I returned to my apartment one week before your arrival" she said with a smile. I turned towards Mr. Malhotra. He was already looking at me with his intense gaze. When i looked at his face i remembered his words.
"I want her to feel the way i feel for her. When i saw her in the park, i fell in love with her. I want to win her heart by myself. I want her to fell in love with me. I want her to be comfortable with me. I want her to trust me and share everything with me. I want her to feel my love for her"
"Mr. Malhotra, thankyou for being there for Neha. Thankyou so much" i said with a genuine smile. He just nodded at me and turned his face away.
"So you both know each other from the start, right?" i asked Neha while looking at Mr. Malhotra.
"Yes. When you said that you got a job in Malhotra industries, i was shocked. I knew you will leave the job if i tell you that… that Dev bhai is Varun's brother. You were quiet upset because of your family problems that time. So i.. i thought this job is important for you to distract your mind. Thats why i didn't said anything. But Dev bhai didn't know that you're my friend untill you introduced me to him outside your office building. After that we both met in a cafe and he asked me to not tell anything to you" she said. I nodded at her.
"What about Varun?" i asked her with my stern face.
"Aa.. Aasha, he is not that Varun you know in the past. He has changed a lot. He has realized his mistake" i cut her off.
"So you believe him again?" i asked her in a disbelief.
"No Aasha. He was following me asking for a chance. I kept denying him. But today i accepted to talk with him in the cafe. I saw guilt, love and pain in his eyes, Aasha. He said he loves me. All his words came from his heart. But in order to avoid him, i said…i said so hurtful words to him. He said he won't hesitate to sacrifice his life for me. But… But i said his love is fake. I said i don't want.. want to see his face in my life. He looked very hurt when i said that words. I left the cafe. I was in my own thoughts that i didn't saw a car coming towards me. But suddenly someone pushed me away that i fell on the ground. But Varun was already on the road in the pool of blood. He risked his own life to save me. When we were in the ambulance, he was bleeding heavily on his head. But still in that condition, he said 'I love you, Neha. My love is not fake'. My whole world stumbled hearing his words. No one will lie in that condition, Aasha.
Even after the successful operation, the doctors said that he is not responding to their treatment. Because he has lost his hope and they said he was suffering from depression. I was regretted of saying those hurtful words to him. I said i don't want to see his face in my life" she said while sobbing, burying her face in her hands. I hugged her, rubbing her back to comfort her. I don't know what to say. He risked his life to save Neha's life. Is he really changed from his play boy type? No.. Neha is right. When a person is struggling for his life, he can't lie. But what he did in the past is very hard to forget.
"Then Neha went to Varun's hospital room to talk with him. Her words really gave him hope that he started to respond to the doctors treatment. Now he is alright. But his right arm and right leg are injuried quiet badly. So it will take atleast 3 months to cure" Mr. Mehra said.
"Okay. I don't know what to say now. In my memory, Varun is a rich spoilt brat and a playboy. So I think i should talk to him first before i come to a conclusion. Is it okay, Neha?" i asked her.
"Of course, Aasha. You first meet him then you will understand him by yourself" she said with a smile. I too smiled at her.
"But i can't understand one thing. How Aasha's call got attended without my knowledge?" Neha asked looking at everyone.
"Actually i called you to ask that you had your dinner or not. You received the call but didn't speak. Instead you were speaking with others then i happened to hear your conversation" i said looking at Neha.
"Oh wait! When i was keeping the coffee on the empty seat near Neha, her phone fell on the floor accidently. I think thats how Aasha's call got received automatically" Mr. Mehra said.
"May be" i said with a shrug. And i looked at Mr. Malhotra with the corner of my eyes. I turned my face away when i found him already looking at me without even blinking his eyes. Then i heard Mr. Mehra clearing his throat.
"Aasha, do you got all your answers for your questions?" he asked me with a playful smirk.
"Yes" i said while nodding at him with a smile.
"Are you sure?" he asked me again.
"No i got all my answers" i said looking here and there. I know what he is talking about.
"I think you're forgetting one question, Aasha. But its okay i will ask that question to Neha for you" he said turning his face to Neha.
"Neha, you said that Dev asked you to not to tell anything about him and about that night to Aasha, right? Why he said like that to you?" Mr. Mehra asked Neha with a small grin. My whole body broke into sweat, hearing his words. But before Neha could open her mouth Mr. Mehra interupted her.
"Oh wait Neha! Aasha you heard our conversation through the phone call, right? Then you must have heard Dev's words also. Because in hospital he explained why he asked Neha to not to tell you about this all things" he said with a playful smirk plastered on his face. I never knew that Mr. Mehra is this much clever man. I looked at Neha. She was also looking at me with her curious gaze. I gulped the lump which formed in my throat.
"I.. didn't hea..heard any..anything Mr. Mehra" i said, shifting uncomfortably in my place.
"Its impossible, Aasha. You heard our conversation from the beginning to end. Then how you missed only Dev's words?" he asked me with his raised eyebrows. I looked at Mr. Malhotra. He is also waiting for my answer while looking at me.
"I..i.. The signal got cut in the middle" i said while biting my lower lips, fidgetting with my stole. I looked at Mr. Malhotra in the corner of my eyes. He was looking at my fidgeting hand with a frown and looked at me again.
" If that so, then okay Aasha" he said, making me sigh in relief.
"Dev you can answer for that question again as Aasha didn't hear what you said in the phone call because of the signal problem" Mr. Mehra said to Mr. Malhotra. My eyes went wide, hearing Mr. Mehra's words. Why can't this man let me live in peace?