~•} C H A P T E R|41{•~
Yuvraj's mind was a mess as he recalled every word Ishani told again and again whilst the divorce papers in his hand were now proudly sitting on the desk.
I'll have to talk first rather than directly forwarding these.
He made up his mind as he walked towards the room he had avoided for like two days but seemed a lot had changed inside him and his mind since the last time he was here.
He heard them talk instantly when he entered.
"Baccha you shouldn't make a boyfriend till you're 8 years old."
"Maa, you said 7 last time!"
"Oh-ho forget that. The world is developing so the age seemed to get biggerrrr! Understand?"
"Hmm. But how do you make a boyfriend?"
"Arey, it's not that difficult baccha. You shall just accept one of the many proposals you're going to receive in the future."
"Oh! Then will we become like the prince and princess in love like that movie and he will save me from all the evils?"
"Of course, you will!"
"But... What if I save him from all the evils? I'll also not let him run in the midnight and save him from his stepdads! Then at last he will fall in love and I will kiss him!"
"Perfect! This is just so perfect. You should become the princess who saves her prince from all the evils."
Yuvraj shook his head hearing their oh-so-important talks and couldn't help but smile hearing them.
He couldn't help but feel guilty for what he was going to do just a few moments ago.
He was just going to separate these two minutes ago but some changes were inevitable.
He had to do it in order to protect Ruhanika from following Mahira's fate.
Clearing his throat he shifted their attention towards him.
He could see the flash change in Ruhanika's expression. She went from being delighted to looking gloomy within a second.
"Papa!" Yuvika rushed for him, Yuvraj smiled down at his daughter and picked her up in his arms.
"Princess, will you go down to see your ...Ishani chachi? She was asking for you." He made a lame excuse but Yuvika was more than happy to oblige whilst Ruhanika's eyes widened in horror.
"She's so cool! Last time she taught me how to make a dress from your shirt."
"From my shirt?" Yuvraj exclaimed and Yuvika cheerfully nodded.
"Your favorite black shirt is now my favorite dress papa!"
"Oh," Yuvraj forcefully smiled and let Yuvika carry his other blue shirt with her as she ran out of the room in a hurry.
..........
It had been not-so-good but tensed five minutes of silence after Yuvika left and both Yuvraj and Ruhanika has been looking everywhere but at each other.
How do you get your wife's consent in divorce?
Yuvraj couldn't help but think as he massaged his temples not knowing where to begin but Ruhanika opened her mouth ahead of him,
"Yuvraj Ji I'm so sorry for whatever happened. I shouldn't have thought and said something like that. It was my fault."
Yuvraj gulped the bitter apology not knowing how to respond.
But Ruhanika was quick to step towards him and hesitantly held his hand to draw out her point better,
"Yuvraj Ji I will not read any of those stupid novels again, pakka! Ab toh maaf kar dein." (Promise! At least now forgive me.)
And there.
Right there he melted.
At her those beautiful widened eyes or the way she held his hand like a child...
He didn't know but he just did.
"It's okay. I just you know..." He sighed closing his eyes and making Ruhanika frown.
"Insaan hai toh insaan ke jaise raha karein. Robot banne ki koshish na kiya karein." (You're a human, stay like one. Do not try to be like a robot.)
Ruhanika taunted looking at those dark circles which he got from overworking or maybe that's what she thought.
Yuvraj felt offended. Tilting his head he held her hand which was holding his in his grasp and pulled her towards him and questioned,
"Insaan hi hoon main." (I'm a human only) he deadpanned and Ruhanika rolled her eyes right in front of him as if he made a joke,
"Dikhte nahi hain."(But you don't look like one) She sassed back commenting on his face and he shook his head leaving her hand in an instant.
Come to the point, Yuvraj.
He told himself.
"I want to talk to you, Ruhanika,"
"So talk, na,"
He swirled his eyes at her attitude and say down on the bed and gestured for her to sit beside him which she eventually did.
"I was thinking about... uhh ... divorce." He dropped the bomb and Ruhanika dramatically stood up from the bed as if he was an open electric wire sitting next to her and just sparked.
"See Ruhanika---"
"Chup ho jaen aap. Shadi bhi aapki marzi se, divorce bhi aapki marzi se. Kal ko kahenge bacche bhi aapki marzi se. Are koi mera role hai bhi ki nahi?"
(Just shut up. Marriage was also from your wish, Divorce is also from your wish. Tomorrow you will say that babies will also be from your wish. Is there any role of mine or not?)
She yelled but scrunched her nose.
Bacche vala part necessary nahi tha Ru. (Babies topic was not necessary Ru.)
She told herself in mind but kept her chin up proving her point.
"See... You're not happy." He reasoned out swiftly ignoring the babies topic and Ruhanika like a queen she already was rolled her eyes,
"I'm not. So since when did you start giving importance to my happiness Yuvraj Ji?"
Ouch.
That hurts. Yuvraj thought as she caught him off guard but squaring his shoulders he continued,
"You've no reason to be here. Be involved in all this mess Ruhanika. You're so young..." His voice grew soft at the end as Ruhanika's eyes gleamed with unshed tears.
"This marriage was and is my need. And you don't get to snatch this away from me. Not now." She yelled, her voice growing heavy with emotions and Yuvraj sighed being guilty.
"I can't let Yuvika get hurt Ruhanika. She's getting way too attached to you and--"
"The damage is already done, Yuvraj Ji. She's already attached to me and you can do nothing about it now. She loves me more than you and I am not going to leave her ever." Ruhanika argued back looking right into his eyes and her eyes held a strange look.
Yuvraj ran his hand through his hair and nodded not knowing how to respond.
If this was what she wanted then so it be.
"But, we can't continue like this... You need to have a little trust in me." Yuvraj murmured huffing and closing his eyes as he looked away from her instantly making her feel guilty for her previous actions.
Inhone toh dil par hi le liya meri baton ko. (He took my words directly to his heart.) She thought and gulped hard the guilt bubbling inside her.
"Oho, don't take my talks as serious ones ever. I'm very fuc... freaking immature as you told, remember?" She nervously smiled letting her words out and she saw his Adam's apple move as he gulped hard and turned to face her.
His grey eyes had always fascinated her because they reminded her of those grey clouds ready to thunder.
The clouds which brought the amiable rain along with it and also the roaring thunder.
Inki aankhen main character ki vibes deti hain.
Meri toh plain hain. Bilkul normal. Main different hi nahi hoon.
Isliye toh humara scene on nahi hai.
Main lens lagva loon toh shayad ho jaye...
Magar mujhe inke saath scene on hi kyun karwana hai!?
Shubh shubh socho Ru. Agar galti se bhagwan ji ne scene on karwa diya fir toh tu gayi... Aur fir ye kuch zyada hi bade hain mujhse nahi?
(His eyes give the main character vibes.
Mine are so plain. So normal. They're not a little different.
Maybe that's why nothing is going on between us.
Maybe if I put a lens in my eyes then there will be a chance...
But why am I even thinking about something being between us!?
Think good Ru. If by mistake also God blesses something between us then I'm gone... And he's a little too old for me, isn't he?)
Ruhanika as always shifted her focus from the main topic and got lost in her own world and Yuvraj rolled his eyes thinking he was about to have a mature conversation with this girl.
He tapped on her forehead with his index finger lightly bringing her back to real life as she winced and stammered, "Uh-- I--"
Keeping his finger on her lips he shushed her off, "Listen to me now,"
She licked her dry lips and mumbled a meek, "Yes," remembering his previous order of always talking to him with her mouth rather than her expression.
"Sit,"
She sat down obliging to his demand as he begin, "All I want you to know is that I will never force myself on you Ruhanika. I'll never do something that will make you uncomfortable. You'll always be the in-charge of any such activity. Your consent will always matter."
His every word was soft yet had a firm end to it as his tone assuring and his expression stern.
Ruhanika sat there with her heart thudding wildly as his every word rang loud and clear in her ears. She saw as he went out of the room just after this whilst she was left confused,
Ye mere saath ye sab karne ka soch hi kyun rahe hain?
(Why is he even thinking of doing 'such things' with me?)
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"Raina, let's go to a nearby cafe," Aakarsh suggested and Raina made a displeased face at that thought.
"I'm already full from the snacks and all na." She reasoned out still sitting and glaring at the scenery on her sketchbook as it didn't come as beautiful as the real one.
"But you can't resist pahadon wali maggie na?" (Maggie in mountains) Aakarsh grinned knowing he already won and Raina sighed defeated as she stood up.
Raina saw the small and cozy cafe standing on the mountain top which looked homely.
Her eyes widened as she saw the inside decorated with balloons.
Am I a child or something -- Raina cried out in her mind seeing the big 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' banner which had the Doraemon pictures?
Nervousness flooded through her veins and her heart ran wildly as she heard Aakarsh whisper just behind her back softly in her ears,
"Next time we'll do something big, I promise."
His proximity had a shiver run down her spine as she could feel the heat from his body directly seeping into hers as her back connected with his front.
She hummed knowing he was waiting for her answer and he stood back giving her much-needed space to breathe as she drew in sharply.
Aakarsh slowly sat down on one of the wooden chairs in the cafe and gestured for her to open the white box kept in the middle of the table.
She was sure it was a cake but her eyes widened and her eyes twinkled looking at the content inside it.
She was a foodie and this was probably such a sweet gift from his side
Warmness flooded inside her heart at his kind and generous gestures.
No one ever did something like this for her before.
Slowly she picked up one of the cupcakes and dipped it in dark chocolate and forwarded it in his direction for him to come and take Aakarsh grinned towards her making her heartbeat fasten.
Slowly he came forward and held her wrist as he took a huge bite from the cupcake his lips touching her fingers unconsciously which made her exhale sharply.
Aakarsh took hold of a fresh and juicy-looking strawberry and dipped it in white chocolate and forwarded his hand in her direction.
She loved strawberries and he knew that.
Raina blinked and opened her mouth and tore through the juicy fruit slowly whilst her dark eyes stood connected to his brown ones.
Aakarsh ever so slowly lifted his thumb to wipe the traces of juice collected on the corner of her lips.
"Happy Birthday," He murmured softly and wrapped his hands very loosely around her frame his hold on her tightened when he felt her arms around him as she hushed a small, "thank you,"
Aakarsh smiled breaking the hug and Raina gulped moistening her dry throat.
"This is for you," He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly forwarding a pink box which made her frown.
There are more gifts? She thought looking at the pink box and taking it from him.
Opening it she resisted the urge to sigh.
He and his obsession with skincare! Raina inwardly rolled her eyes and pressed a fake smile on her lips as she thanked him making Aakarsh furrow his brows at her fakey smiley.
I can use them too if she won't.
He shrugged as the main gift was the sweet box.
Atleast I didn't gift her a protein shake.
He thought to himself instantly frowning at the idea that he gave to himself previously.
All those ideas on Google were indicating something else too which for sure he wouldn't do with his 'just-a-friend' wife.
Raina munched on a pancake and moaned at the fluffy sweet making Aakarsh give her a side-eye.
He had seen enough movies if not practical.
Raina smiled awkwardly at his double-meaning mind and quietened herself.
They were growing too comfortable with each other to give each other this kind of look and Raina shrugged not knowing if it was for good or bad.
She turned feeling someone's gaze on her and found a man staring at her without blinking.
Of course, this cafe didn't work like a restaurant and couldn't be booked but there were way too less people here due to the height the cafe was situated at.
There were 5 people including the owner, her, Aakarsh, that man, and his friend or whatever.
The man's gaze was stuck somewhere she didn't want it to be. She sighed as the day was going way too well then she expected and she for sure didn't want to bitter it.
Tucking the stray hair strand behind her ear she turned towards Aakarsh who stared at her and then at the man and an ugly frown emerged on Aakarsh's face.
She saw as he stepped towards that man and no eye contact, no talk happened as Aakarsh's fist connected with that man's jaw directly making both her and that man's eyes widen in shock.
"Why did you hit me?"
"Stop fucking staring at her and making her uncomfortable. Just fucking leave."
"Wh--"
Another punch was thrown in that man's way as Aakarsh yelled, "Just FUCKING LEAVE!"
Raina flinched sensing the short temper of Aakarsh and his display of anger in such a way.
Just the way he used to be in the early days of their marriage.
The blood spilled and Raina's heart thumped in fear as her legs took her to him on their own.
Gripping his bicep tightly, she gritted her teeth, "Stop it, Aakarsh."
"But he's staring at you!"
"Just. Stop. It." Raina smiled forcefully as she dragged an enraged Aakarsh out of the cafe.
Aakarsh breathed in heavily trying to calm down his anger only for her and smiled wearily in her direction making her huff angrily,
"What was that? How can you turn so violent Aakarsh!?"
"He was making you uncomfortable and nobody can do that. And I promised you na that I'll control my anger in front of you but you can't forget that I've anger issues, Raina."
His voice didn't waver for a bit as he let those words out sternly making her nod as that's what she could do.
He was someone who didn't think before doing something.
He didn't believe in warnings and those shit.
He was Aakarsh and that was his way to protect his friend.
Just a friend?
Right.
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"Ishani..." Vardhaan called for the umpteenth time as Ishani glared at the floor like she had been doing for the past half hour.
"Mrs. Wifeyyyyy--" he stretched out intentionally to get on her nerves and she snapped her head towards him glaring at him now,
"SHUT UP YOU SON OF A BITCH."
Vardhaan opened his mouth but felt himself speechless at her remark.
Only if his mother didn't make a scene, he didn't have to lie to further avoid any scene and lecture on how bad son he was from his grandmother.
Such boring lectures.
He rolled his eyes and forwarded his hand to touch her shoulder but was unable to as Ishani threw a pillow on his face and mumbled,
"You know what? Just go away and bring me some pads coz I'm on my fucking period and you're irritating the fuck out of me!"
Vardhaan winced at the so much 'fuck' but frowned,
"No way!"
"nO wAy." Ishani mimicked and yelled,
"I'm not going out of here because your so-called mother and grandmother want to take me to the hospital and you will have to bring me the pads."
"Why do you think I'll bring you pads?"
"Because I'm the mother of your invisible child. Remember?" Ishani mocked making Vardhaan chuckle at her behavior and situation.
"Everyone is expecting you to deliver the child while you're here squeezing out blood..." He joked and instantly regretted it as his phone charging on the bedside table was thrown harshly on the floor.
Knowing this was off limits fight, he took his car keys to bring her some pads or she will take his life out.
This girl was something else.
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I'll talk to Ruhanika about that boy tonight.
Yuvraj thought taking his reading glasses off and closing his eyes as he replied to Ishani's words in his mind again.
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Naina felt overwhelmed with joy as she looked at those birds chirping and flying without any shackles of worry.
She felt the same today.
Without any worry, just following her heart and him as he made her day special.
Just him by her side was enough to turn her mood happy but the way he showed effort from time to time made her beam so bright.
Finally, the day was about to embark on its end as the evening already rolled off.
She didn't want to end this ever but she knew better.
She just wished that Aadarsh would not let her down again.
"Naina let's go and have dinner!" He told and halted himself as he saw her smiling at the sky carefree with the innocence of a newborn baby.
It tugged his cold heart somewhere and his lips curled into a smile of his own.
"Oh my God, what a lovely surprise!"
Naina heard a feminine shriek and turned her head only to find her husband turning stiff and eyes calculative as he coldly looked at the beautifully dressed woman in front of him.
She walked towards them with a frown settled on her face. Aadarsh turned towards her and his eyes softened as he gently wrapped his arm around her waist and asserted,
"Shreshtha, meet Naina, my wife. And Naina she's the daughter of Singhania."
Naina saw as the woman in front of them looked startled but quickly masked it off with a smooth expression as she smiled sweetly and ushered,
"Can I steal dinner with you two?"
Naina saw as Aadarsh gave the woman a curt nod and all of them soon found themselves approaching a table...
Target-900+
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YUVRAJ 🌼
Shreshtha?
Aakarsh? Raina?
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