~•} C H A P T E R|40{•~
Ishani and Vardhaan looked at each other and then at the direction Gayatri went followed by Bhavna.
"Your mother is going to add ghee to the fire!" Ishani glared at him making him huff out in annoyance,
"Who told you to mutter out those incoherent words?"
Ishani gaped at him as if he had done a crime uttering those words.
This was the man siding with her earlier.
"You-" She started but Vardhaan royally ignored her walking ahead to Gayatri's room feeling too bored with all things that suddenly happened to leave Ishani to dwell on her already tangled thoughts.
I have not said more than necessary.
She was being a bitch by pointing out a finger at me when it was the son she produced trying to act all cozy with me.
She straightened her shoulders and started trailing behind Vardhaan.
The only reason for her worry was her grandmother-in-law she spent hefty time pleasing but why dwell on something that's already done?
Ishani being typical Ishani as she rolled her eyes in annoyance trolling herself in between for coming up with such a stupid idea to please a Rathore woman.
Duh, all the Rathores are so stupid.
Especially women.
Including me.
She strolled right into the room and noticed everyone's attention snap towards her as the atmosphere grew tense due to the way Gayatri was glaring at her and Vardhaan.
"Ishani I didn't expect this kind of insolent behavior from you toward your mother-in-law! How dare you speak to her in that tone? She's bigger in age and relation and I don't think there was anything wrong in whatever she said." Gayatri reprimanded, her tone curt and strict as Bhavna sniffed dramatically.
Dramatic woman!
She and Vardhaan thought together.
"And Vardhaan you, I didn't expect you to be the kind of man to be your wife's puppet after marriage! I expected better from you! You should've shown your wife her place when she decided to speak to your mother this way!" Gayatri's anger turned toward Vardhaan making Ishani heave a sigh of relief.
Vardhaan stared at Gayatri and Gayatri stared at Vardhaan. No one is ready to back out.
The atmosphere was getting tense second by second and Ishani could feel it.
All of a sudden a hand wrapped around her waist startling her as she looked at Vardhaan in shock who was still looking at Gayatri.
His hand held her stomach and he let out the words Ishani dreaded,
"She's pregnant."
"WHAT?"
Bhavna and Ishani asked at the same time and Vardhaan cooed his wifey,
"I know baby that you wanted to surprise everyone but it's important to reveal now."
Before Ishani could protest Vardhaan turned towards his mother and apologized, "Mom, I'm sorry. I came to know about it this morning and we were having our moment in the morning when you barged in. Ishani was just having her mood swings and I didn't want to yell at her in this condition."
Ishani gave a tight-lipped smile in return when Gayatri apologized and congratulated the couple.
Gayatri now had let go of the matter as Ishani was the only one who was going to fulfill her dream of having a grandson, maybe if God is generous enough.
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"Aadarsh, you ready?" Naina questioned applying gloss on her lips.
"Hmm,"
Naina swirled her eyes annoyedly at his 'hmm'.
Sometimes I wonder if he even knows how to speak full sentences.
It was just yesterday she felt they were making progress past his 'hmm' and he was back at it again!
Aadarsh who was busy typing something on his phone almost lost control of the phone the moment she turned towards him and snapped her fingers to gain his attention.
"Beautiful," Aadarsh complimented drinking all of her through his eyes.
The weather outside was still chilly and that justified her turtle neck black sweater which she used as a blouse inside her pastel pink satin saree.
That small black bindi on her forehead just enhanced her look tenfold in his eyes along with those jhumkas.
And that open hair just took away his remaining breath if not the twinkle in her eyes and the shimmer of her smile already didn't.
Ufff.
"So beautiful," he added more making her cheeks tint pink as she once again gave him a sweet smile.
Is it really important to go?
Of course, it's her birthday today.
He thought and gulped hard.
The girl had vowed to make it difficult for him today looking like a siren.
Saree in cold weather, only Naina could pull it off so smoothly.
Sighing he kissed her forehead making her grin at the efforts he was putting in.
"Chalein?" (Let's go?) He asked making her hum this time and suddenly both of them looked at each other and laughed at her 'hmm'.
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Aakarsh had informed Raina that they would go sightseeing today making her mood turn a little bit she shrugged it off seeing him so excited.
Only if he knew that she doesn't like all this much due to the people around her.
Tieing the lace of her sports shoes she brushed away the strands of her hair which were trying to frame her face after coming out of her ponytail.
She scowled seeing Aakarsh engrossed in applying something on his face and his clothes for the day still lying on the bed with a bathrobe around his body.
She hated waiting for someone.
It was always her sister she had to wait for, though waiting for Naina seemed fruitful as she looked really breathtaking after spending all those time but Aakarsh?
He literally looked the same.
"Aakarsh," Raina threatened to get ready fast making him turn towards her.
Aakarsh turned towards her and grinned in her direction, "You look good!" He exclaimed making her look down at herself.
The woolen red coat dress along with black stockings look great and she already knew it.
"Can you help me in picking out my clothes, please? I haven't decided what to put yet." He told still turning towards the mirror.
False, he might've decided but Raina had much more sense in dressing than him, also with such a little quantity of clothes.
He couldn't help but be envious sometimes.
Raina pressed her lips in thin lines gulping down an annoyed sigh.
Great. Just freaking great.
She looked at the clothes on the bed and her scowled deepened.
Half T-shirts? Half pants?
No, he's a half-wit.
She knew if she didn't help him, he would take another hour in deciding then they would go late and come back late as well.
She just wanted to get done with all this as soon as possible.
Giving an ugly look to the clothes on the bed she moved towards his bags.
Her nose crinkled in disgust when she saw the clothes piled up inside it like potatoes in a sac. All the clothes were wrinkled and twisted.
After rummaging through all she found a decent-looking red full-sleeved t-shirt that would do. Though this was crinkled too.
But the jeans were all blue in this bag and she wanted a black one. Because the leather jacket he had brought here was black too.
She looked through the second bag to find half of it piled up with unnecessary things but chose not to make a comment about it and the rest half-- with his underwears which she had no appetite for seeing so she closed the bag almost instantly.
This man can't warn me?
Or maybe he's just good with anyone seeing his undergarments...
Shit-- he maybe saw mine too when filling up clothes into my bag.
Seeing Raina engrossed in her thoughts after looking at the second bag, Aakarsh couldn't help but make a comment as he yelled,
"They're just clothes. Stop making a fuss, yaar."
Raina automatically put the sentence for her 'clothes' too and sighed opening the third bag and making Aakarsh's eyes widen.
Shit! No!
"Raina don't--"
He was cut off by her shocked expression, the way her eyes widened in shock, and the way she halted almost immediately made him gulp hard in anticipation of the drama that was coming next.
"Raina?" Aakarsh called out but Raina just angrily threw the condom packets on the bed,
"What is 'this' Aakarsh!" She exclaimed gritting her teeth.
"Uhh-- condoms?" Aakarsh replied smiling nervously to himself.
Raina puffed out a deep breath trying to calm down the crawling anger inside her.
"You know why they're used?" She asked sarcastically making him frown at the 'obvious' question.
"Well you see, these are preferred as a male contraceptive and--"
"I was being sarcastic you fool," Raina was on the verge of pulling her hair out as she sat on the bed with a thud.
The morning fiasco and this have made her now really uncomfortable as the thought of Aakarsh planning all this from the start bubbled in her mind making her swim herself away from him further in fear.
She trusted him enough to come with him alone.
But now...
Aakarsh saw the way she shifted away towards the corner of the bed even when he was standing in the other corner.
He sighed.
This wasn't a good sign.
"Raina," he sat beside her making her scoot away further from him making him hold her hand tightly in him as he scowled, "You will fall," he scolded as she was already sitting on the farthest corner of the bed.
Raina chose not to reply as she stared at the tiles with her deep and forced breaths coming out of her nose in anger.
Well, this was the exact reason he had to hide them in the first place.
He didn't want to make her uncomfortable which now he terribly failed at.
"Look at me, yaar."
Raina sighed in reply making him sigh too.
"Raina, I didn't bring them if that's what you feel... I've booked a honeymoon suit and these are complimentary with that. I hid them not to make you uncomfortable. I'll never hurt you again intentionally, remember?" He explained.
Raina nodded her head feeling his explanation worthy, true, and genuine.
"But why did you not throw it away Aakarsh? What's the point of keeping them?" She questioned looking towards him this time making Aakarsh shrug in response,
"I paid for everything in this suite. Why waste them when they could be put to better use..."
"What?" Her eyes narrowed towards him in accusations.
"I mean-- I can gift it to Aadarsh you know afterall your sister and he is--"
"I know I know. I don't need any further elaboration." Raina interrupted her cheeks turning a slight red this time making his ears turn little red too.
I need to stop being in Vardhaan's company for being so blunt.
Aakarsh thought and cleared his throat, "My clothes?"
"I've picked them out. Just pair them up with black jeans," Raina murmured and went out of the room to get fresh air.
......................
"Let's go please, we're already so late," Raina mumbled after coming inside the hotel room after half an hour to see a perfectly dressed Aakarsh who was setting his hair and nodded in return giving himself a last look.
She felt his scrutinizing gaze on her face and frowned when Aakarsh came forward making her step back, he held her hand making her halt as his other hand rubbed something on her face.
She scrunched her nose making him roll his eyes as he blended the sunscreen on her face evenly.
No further talk began as they both stepped out of the room making their way towards the car where their luggage was there and which was already waiting for them to take them to their destination which was Manali.
.............
Raina smiled seeing the beautiful scenery in front of her. The cool breeze was hitting her face directly making her grin.
She didn't know where they were right now as all of a sudden the car had stopped and Aakarsh told her that this was where they will be spending the next hours.
The place was very secluded, barely people present making her happier.
The snowy mountains in front of her made her hands itch to sketch them and keep a memory of the beautiful scenery in front of her.
Aakarsh sat beside her on the rock and handed her something making her frown.
A drawing copy?
And a pencil?
"Let's see who can draw better," Aakarsh challenged and she scowled making him huff.
"I like this, yaar. Sitting somewhere secluded and sketching with my own company though you should feel honored that I included you this time because I don't really include anyone."
Aakarsh smiled to himself at the sweet memories with someone who now only brought pain along.
"And why are you including me then?"
"You're not anyone na. You're my best friend yaar."
Raina shook her head at his behavior. Sometimes it felt weird due to the fast transition change in their relationship and him.
This wasn't normal and she was aware of it.
Aakarsh was normal but somewhere she felt his mental health wasn't at peace.
He needed to see a psychologist to open up about the troubles he had in the past and why did he become attached to her so quickly?
He was somewhere struggling mentally and had trust issues with women which of course wasn't normal.
How can someone hate an entire specie and tend to show all the affection to another one from the same specie?
She saw as he picked up a pizza box and passed it towards her whilst continuing his work.
She smiled. It was really sweet of him to shower her with his entire attention but somewhere she was scared now.
She was turning into his obsession slowly.
A lethal one.
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Naina happily ate the brunch they ordered whilst talking about something but she frowned when his attention was on the man sitting at the behind table.
She snapped her fingers to get his attention and he simply brushed the stray hair strand away from her face with a smile.
"Will you cut the cake at night or right now?"
"Umm... In the night."
"Hmm."
Naina swirled her eyes hitting him lightly on his shoulder making him chuckle.
"We'll visit some famous places here then," Aadarsh told after a minute of silence making Naina's eyes gleam with happiness.
He knew she craved this rather than gifts.
Their time together.
Though gifts were always acceptable, right?
"Give me your hand,"
"Hnn?" Naina blinked cluelessly.
"Forward your hand," Aadarsh asserted softly and Naina forwarded her hand.
Aadarsh slid a ring on her middle finger making her grin as she looked at the ring.
A sweet and simple gold ring. Not too extreme flooded with tons of diamonds, and easy for her to wear without any discomfort and fear. Just how Naina liked and before she could mumble thanks she felt him bend down to tie something cold on her ankles.
The smile on her face increased making her mouth hurt from smiling so hard. Payal. Her favorite!
Not able to control herself anymore she kissed his jaw making him grin unknowingly.
He loved her kisses.
And the way she always showed her right on him.
He wiped away the trace of kheer they had eaten a few minutes back with the pad of his thumb making her smile as she looked at his jaw which had gotten a little sweet smeared from her mouth.
She took a tissue and dipped it in little water, dabbed it on his jaw while his eyes remained glued on hers.
"I'm going to the washroom... I've to correct my saree's plaits." She told him getting up as he hummed in response.
He looked at her retreating back with a small smile playing at the corner of his lips as finally he stood up from his seat and walked towards the seat behind them.
"Leave," Aadarsh told, his face blank and voice cold.
"Hnn?" The man looked surprised at the sudden change of atmosphere.
"I don't like to repeat myself, leave." Aadarsh craned his neck to the right as he stabbed the butter knife on the half-eaten dosa.
The man gulped in fear, Aadarsh looked dangerous with that look on his face to argue about anything.
Following his instinct to cower away in fear, the man instantly stood up to make a run for his life but stopped feeling someone holding him back.
He looked back to see the fabric of his shirt in Aadarsh's grasp, Aadarsh's black eyes punctured right into his,
"The next time you're eyeing something which is mine, I'll have your eyes."
With this Aadarsh turned and say back in his seat like nothing happened whilst the man ran away from the place too worried for his dear life.
Naina came back and frowned seeing the table behind her empty but said nothing as she clung to Aadarsh's arms making him smile in her direction.
A smile that was anything but sweet.
I've warned you to not cross my boundaries, Naina. But you never listened.
I don't love you yet. I don't know if I'll be able to.
But I've become addicted to you and your presence.
You're only mine.
And now I'll never let you go.
Not even if you want.
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Ishani huffed angrily as she paced toward her room.
The anger she was feeling made her blind and she collided with someone with such force that she fell back on the ground.
She narrowed her eyes toward the person only to find Yuvraj standing there in his office clothes.
She controlled her urge to yell as she saw him bent down to pick up the papers which fell from the packet due to their sudden collision.
Before he could pick it up, Ishani was quick enough to hold them in her grasp as they were on her side.
Her eyes widened at the content written in bold letters.
'Divorce Papers
Did he know about Ruhanika's lover already?
Instead of seeing that the love story is one-sided. He's blaming her.
Duh, so misogynist!
"Are you out of your mind or what? You're divorcing her because a boy is hopelessly in love with her and blaming her for all that? Can't you just man up enough to protect your wife? Don't you know people will blame her uncle and aunt for her upbringing after the divorce afterall she's from a middle-class family. Or are you done playing with the nanny you appointed for Yuvika? "
As usual, Ishani had no control over her mouth.
Yuvraj was left speechless with the amount of disrespect and insult threw in his way dipped with the truth.
A boy.
In love with Ruhanika.
Her uncle and aunt...
I never thought about them.
Yuvraj thought about the things he was unaware of.
"ISHANI! Don't talk to Yuvraj Bhai like that ever again!" Vardhaan yelled coming towards them as he heard everything.
Ishani's anger was amplified by his tone, her nails dug into her palm as she gritted her teeth in anger,
"What will you do Vardhaan? Will you hit me? Divorce me?" She screamed letting the anger turn towards the person it was needed.
"She's not happy in this relationship. She will never be. That's the reason I've taken this decision." Yuvraj justified himself by completely ignoring the fiasco happening between Vardhaan and Ishani.
Ishani rolled her eyes in disbelief before inhaling a deep breath to calm herself down a little.
"Why the fuck do you men think you know everything without asking? ASK her what she WANTS. Ask for her CONSENT." Ishani sighed disappointedly at Vardhaan showing the words were directed towards him too whilst Yuvraj just stood rooted after getting a much-needed reality check.
Ask for her consent.
Ask for what she wants.
Ask.
The words echoed in his mind as he picked up the papers Ishani threw on the floor in rage with a made-up mind.
Vardhaan opened his mouth but shut it hearing her say, "Fuck off,"
The actions of her father, her grandfather, and the men she had lived around with came running into her mind.
Why do all men I come across with are assholes?
Ishani held her head in a tight grip as she paced away toward somewhere where she could find peace of her mind.
Whilst Vardhaan kept looking at her retreating back.
He was wrong if he thought she wasn't scared of him.
She wasn't scared of anyone.
Why the fuck I find this hot?
Vardhaan groaned.
Afterall,
The fight for dominance was enticing him.
Target- 900
Freaking finally! We've finally entered the second phase of TRF😉
I hope u all can feel it too...
How was the chapter?
Aadarsh and Aakarsh are becoming dangerous... Isn't it?
Ishani...lol I love the grey characters!
Plus you can't blame the author when beside her house three SILs fight continuously... I've been reallyyy inspired by them lol.
HAPPY MAKAR SANKRANTI 🪁
LOVE YA!
Take Care❤️