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~•} C H A P T E R| 59 {•~
The noise of a tickling clock reverberated in the darkroom as Naina gazed at nothing in particular, her eyes blood red from excess crying and her heart numb, unable to feel something. But now, she was calm, the calm before a raging storm that was ready to destroy millions with no mercy.
There were still many layers of truth that needed to be unveiled and she needed to be strong enough to know them.
Her blank eyes searched for her phone in the dark as she glared holes at the huge mansion in front with the sheer hatred she didn't know she was able to carry.
She went to that particular number yet couldn't make herself call the person who seemed to share half of her soul since childhood and felt utterly unknown to her now.
Naina couldn't help but smile at her misery.
Her people made fun of her in a way she would never be able to forget.
The people she called her own gave her a wound she would never be able to recover from.
She was ready to put back her phone but for some twisted reason, her eyes seemed to stop at the favourite person list, seeing his name along with Raina. Naina unblocked the contact as there was no reason to block him anymore because she had no reason left to go back to him anymore.
It would be useless to let him believe he had a chance after everything happened.
Her heart pained at the thought but her mother's words felt like the much-needed barrier between him and her.
The constant pings of messages were unexpected and surprised her and she couldn't help but open those messages.
I miss you.
I'm sorry.
It's miserable without you.
Please come back to me.
The numerous other messages that he sent every single day were astonishing but not as astonishing as the voice message he sent today.
Voice message? And Aadarsh? The two together itself was a shock but with a bit of hesitation she played it on.
"...I- can't do this anymore... This is driving me insane, Naina."
Naina felt shivers running down her spine after listening to his voice filled with so many emotions as if he was ready to cry.
Will he cry for her?
The question arose in her mind and she quickly shook her head. She had seen Aadarsh dealing with things so calmly and she was sure he would never lose his calm for her, a person he didn't even love.
Still, the thought of him made a part of her sad and long for him.
'The end will be painful' her mother's words resonated in her mind making her rigid, and her breathing felt heavier.
A silent tear trickled down her face as she closed her eyes trying to make the heaviness in her heart go away but it only felt heavier with each passing second.
She gulped down the tears and stood up in haste.
She needed to get out of this place before she lost her sanity.
Without any proper clothes to protect her from the chilly winds, she walked out in just a pair of slippers, the each footstep she took felt heavier than the last.
The storm outside felt much smaller than the storm inside her and she could feel herself getting calmer as winds after winds blew her hair and worries away.
She halted reaching the heavy gates of the mansion.
Where would she go at this time of night?
She swallowed heavily and turned back only to resume her previous path with no hesitation this time.
One look at the mansion and she knew she couldn't stand the sight of this anymore.
The place that choked her mother to death.
She swapped her tongue over her cracked lips as a chilly wind blew the moment she opened the gate with a screeching sound.
Her eyes widened seeing a familiar car parked and just like that she stood rooted in the place trying to absorb his appearance through her eyes after so many days.
Aadarsh who had fallen asleep in the car itself, opened his eyes at the sound of a gate being opened so loud.
The sight in front of him was enough for him to smile a bit and then he blinked, once, twice, thrice, and many times but the image in front didn't fade away.
Am I not hallucinating?
Is she real?
And just the thought of it was enough to bolt him out of the car at the speed of lightning.
His heart beat wildly as he held out his hand to touch her hesitantly. He was astonished when he was actually able to touch her.
She on the other hand couldn't take her gaze off him, her insides clenched painfully seeing his condition. Overgrown beard and hair, tired eyes, dark circles... On top of that, he looked thin.
Was he not eating properly?
She was immersed in her thoughts when he pulled her in his arms so tight that it hurt but he didn't let go.
"You're real," was all she heard as he hid his face in the crook of her neck sending shivers down her spine.
The kind of shivers that she missed.
"I'm sorry for everything, please come back to me..." He whispered tickling her skin with his breath and she felt as if someone just woke up her from a blissful dream by splashing cold water on her face. His words were the harsh splash of reality, she remembered why she left him in the first place.
The humiliation, the anger, the hurt. Everything came rushing down making tears swell in her eyes and just like that she pushed him away.
Aadarsh stumbled back not expecting the sudden blow and looked at her with hurt-filled eyes.
Naina just wiped her tears, not wanting to fall weak, and started moving in another direction making him frown.
The sudden happiness and hurt flew away from his mind as he gave a thought to her appearance.
Her eyes were red.
Her hair was a mess.
Her clothes were wrinkled.
Her feet were devoid of any suitable footwear and yet she was moving in a direction he had no idea about.
Especially at this time of night.
Something was wrong which he failed to notice due to his sudden wave of emotions but not now.
"Naina," he called out and she didn't stop.
"Naina, stop." He ordered sternly this time making her halt. He took long strides and came face to face with her, who was trying her best to avoid any kind of eye contact with him.
"Where are you going?" He questioned in a clipped tone making her sigh,
"Why do you care?" She asked back in a bitter tone feeling frustrated and tired.
"Of course, I care." He answered immediately and she was astounded.
So he did care but was his care enough?
"Naina, you'll catch a cold, go inside." He mumbled signalling to his car and she just stood there immobile.
He sighed at her behavior and hushed, "Go inside the mansion at least,"
Even though saying these words felt painful he knew he would favor her security over her coming back with him.
"I can't go there," she whispered in a monotonous tone with a blank face.
Her blank face wasn't something he was used to and his expressions hardened as he noticed the dried tear stains on her cheeks.
"Who hurt you?" The way his tone changed made her stance weaker but she composed herself.
"Many along with you."
Her tone was bitter and she knew it was childish of her to vent out her frustration this way but it felt good.
Aadarsh was taken aback for a moment but he stared down at her petite frame for a good minute before lifting her in his arms and making her scream, "Put me down, Aadarsh!"
Naina tried to throw a fit when he pushed her inside the back seat of the car but his body was too huge for her to move.
"Open the door," she tried to open the locked door on her side whilst he entered from the other one and closed that too.
She glared at him as he sat beside her and scooped her into his lap.
"Aadarsh, open the door," she tried once again going for the door handle and he only snaked his arms across her waist pulling her closer,
"Scream all you want but I'm not letting you go till you tell me what hurt you,"
His voice was deadly calm as she struggled against him the moment he forced her head to fall flat on his chest.
His scent invaded her nostrils and it felt too much to handle. The pent-up emotions and the strong front she put against him made her overwhelmed and she felt the stinging sensation in her nose to cry but she battled against it as she swallowed hard and doubled her struggles.
He knew her too much to know that being this blank and cold wasn't her. He could see right through her facade and at the moment wanted nothing more than to provide her with any kind of comfort.
She was too hurt at the moment to be left alone and even though she demanded exactly that, he knew this wasn't what she needed.
He just held her tighter and patted her hair. And then how hard she tried to fight against him, his touch and warmth felt like a home. A home her heart craved for at the moment. It felt safe and she felt cocooned from all the cruelty bestowed upon her in the arms of her love.
And just like that, the first tear trickled down that she harshly wiped off, and even after blinking the numerous building tears when they didn't stop, she just let them flow like a waterfall whilst sniffing like a child.
"Cry all you want and I promise I'll make sure the person suffers as much as you do," Aadarsh whispered feeling a fiery rage bubble inside him like never before.
All these days without her had made him understand that she was the most important person in his life now, the one person he couldn't stand being away from.
He loved her, maybe? He didn't know that and all he knew was that this woman in front of him didn't deserve any fake confession. He would confess the day he realises his feelings for her but not now. Not when he wasn't sure what these feelings were.
Sobs after sobs wrecked after body making his heart still for a second. He could never stand her tears.
Never.
"Please, tell me what happened?" He almost begged not able to take her tears anymore and she whispered in between her sobs,
"My father cheated on mumma and she died because of that,"
Her voice was so low that if he wasn't so close to her he might not have heard her but he did and his eyes widened slightly.
She on the other hand became still realising what she did.
She was supposed to push him away not cry in his arms and disclose the secrets.
Naina wanted to pull her hair in frustration, why was she so emotional in the first place?
As if sensing her inside turmoil, he gently placed her down from his lap and opened the door to go to the driver's seat.
Locking all the doors, he sat down in the driving seat and started the car whilst adjusting the rearview mirror so that she was visible in it.
She was stupid if she thought he was going to leave her alone here after whatever she disclosed.
She on the other hand closed her eyes feeling absolutely nothing.
She was too tired of herself for being so weak and pathetic in front of him.
She was too emotionally drained tonight.
She was too overwhelmed with this life.
Whereas he on the other side wasn't feeling any sense of delight as he drove her back to their home like he imagined, instead he was terrified of what was ahead for them in the future as he knew after this Naina would never be the same.
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"We aren't invited are we?" Vardhaan questioned her as he drove through the streets and Ishani shrugged,
"It'll be fine. Especially since you're coming along,"
"I know my presence makes everything right," he boasted arrogantly and Ishani rolled her eyes,
"For now focus on driving, we're already so late."
"That's because you don't remember the route to your house," Vardhaan taunted and she sighed pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Aww, too frustrated already wifey? Remember you promised me a week of you obeying my every order," he smiled sweetly in her direction.
"Six days not a week and it was doing your work, not obeying you!" She snarled emphasizing her words and he smirked,
"Six days is almost a week, Mrs. Rathore,"
"Almost being the keyword, Mr. Rathore," she mocked and he laughed instead of being angry. She felt like punching him in the guts but controlled herself reminding herself why she came here with him in the first place.
It had been a week since her mother's phone had been unreachable along with her brother's. She knew she had owed herself to not be in contact with her family but somewhere she was aware she would never be able to cut them off completely.
She loved her mother and couldn't help but be scared for her.
She felt it would only be right if she paid her so-called family a small visit on the occasion of her brother's birthday. Taking Vardhaan along would be the cherry on the cake as her father would be forced to welcome her.
"That house," Ishani pointed getting out of her thoughts and Vardhaan parked the car in the side.
"It's midnight already, do you think they'll open the door?" He questioned and she just shrugged whilst getting out of the car.
"My mother makes a cake with a sweet dish so everyone must be up, I guess,"
"Wait here, let me check first," she hushed and he nodded still inside the car and watched as she rang the doorbell.
A few minutes later her father opened the door and frowned seeing her.
"Who's here?" Ishani heard her mother's voice.
"Your beloved daughter is here after burning our family name to ashes," Ishani heard her father's bitter taunt and frowned,
"Maa, what is he saying?"
"Just go from here," her father was ready to close the door in her face and she held the door and opened it forcefully taking two steps inside the house,
"Maa, why were you not picking up the phone?" She questioned looking at her mother who was standing beside her father.
Her mother just turned to go back into the house but Ishani held her hand this time,
"Maa-"
She was brutally cut off by the harsh slap delivered across her face.
Vardhaan who was standing outside the house witnessing the drama unfolding for five minutes was shocked by the sudden turn of events and he couldn't help but go inside.
"Are you out of your mind?" He yelled joining in.
"She did right damad-ji. Who would even welcome the daughter who had always brought shame to us since her birth? Still, we married her off to a good family she didn't deserve, and what she did do in return? Cheated on you with that friend of hers. We are sorry we won't accept her back after whatever she did. Instead of our house, dump her somewhere else."
Ishani's father whispered glaring at her with so much hatred and his words stung more than the slap.
Even though it took her long enough to realize how narcissistic her grandparents and father were, she couldn't dismiss the part of her that had always craved the love of her father as a little girl.
She despised the part of herself that had once craved the approval and appreciation of her father, yet that part couldn't be forgotten.
She felt the years-long build-up walls around her heart cracking at his harsh words.
Always brought shame.
Always.
The words echoed in her head and she felt the first tear slip down her cheek.
"She didn't cheat." Vardhaan felt the need to defend her when she didn't do it herself.
"You called us and informed us about her and Tushar a week ago," Ishani's mother stated and Ishani was left dumbstruck at the revelation, her mother glared down at her heatedly,
"You've disappointed me, Ishu. I wish that night you died along with your brother,"
"I---" Vardhaan was at a loss of words and Ishani just held his hand. He turned and saw her wiping away the tears from her face,
"Let's go," her words were monotonous and soft just like her state and he felt himself giving in to her demand for the first time without throwing a fit.
Silently they made their way to the car leaving behind the family with no clarification because they didn't deserve one.
"Ishani," Vardhaan tried to say something once they were out of that street but she just showed him her palm, motioning him to shut up as silent tears trickled down her face.
She didn't care enough about her strong image anymore and for some reason, this face hurt him more than he would like.
It was already late, so Vardhaan decided to stop at the first hotel that would come in his view.
For some reason, her silent tears itched his heart and he decided to get involved in a conversation,
"You had another brother?"
"My mother gave birth to twins today 24 years back, the girl survived, the boy didn't." She replied laughing at her fate as her mother's words reverberated in her mind.
Vardhaan knew two things at the moment, first, he was really bad at consoling someone. And second, her life was way fucked up.
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Aadarsh was thankful that she slept in the way and he was able to peacefully take her to their room without having to fight in front of all like they did on the road.
"You should rest tonight, we'll talk tomorrow." He whispered to her sleeping form as he put her down on the bed.
True, they had a long way to go from tonight.
He thought going towards the sofa.
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"Aakarsh you're suffocating me!" Raina yelled trying to get his heavy limbs off her body as he tried to sleep.
"You weren't complaining about this a few minutes ago," he poked her cheek which turned red at his words.
This man!
He truly didn't know how his words affected her.
"That was- leave it, I'm complaining now. Go aside," she tried to play cool in front of him and he smiled mischievously.
Aakarsh was dumb but not that much when it came to his woman and he had started noticing the way the intimacy made her all shy and red.
Nonetheless, he liked that and liked it more when she turned red when he mentioned anything about it.
"How about this?" Aakarsh whispered really close to her lips once he turned her on top of him instead.
"How about this?" Raina whispered in the same tone as his as she bit his lip and he hissed in pain,
"The fuck woman! You turned into a vampire or something?"
"What about the time when you do this?" She laughed making him frown,
"I soothe it, now come and soothe it,"
He forwarded his lips towards her making her heartbeat escalate as she just shifted her gaze from his eyes to lips.
"I---" she tried to say something but was cut off as he just pulled her cheeks,
"So cute,"
"Hn?" She was baffled by his change of mood.
"You look so cute being all blushy-blushy," he nibbled on her cheek making her shake her head,
"I wasn't blushing,"
"Oh you were, and you're now," he peppered kisses down her entire face as he tickled her and she laughed throwing her head back.
That was their good night completely unaware of the storm brewing just some rooms across from theirs.
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The next morning came quicker than everyone anticipated.
Ruhanika's alarm buzzed making her frown in her sleep and grumpily open her eyes being annoyed at the fact that morning had already.
But she didn't expect to see Yuvraj's smiling face the first thing in the morning and on top of that he was staring at her without blinking, rather creepily she would admit.
"What are you doing Yuvraj Ji?" She grumbled squinting her eyes at him and he just shrugged,
"I'm not doing anything. I'm not even touching you. It's you who's clinging to me," he admitted and then she looked down at her hand that was draped across his huge frame, her head was kept on his arm as he told her to at night.
"What else did you expect when you asked me to sleep on your arm?" She whispered sarcastically and he just shook his head,
"I don't have a problem in the first place m'lady."
Ruhanika on the other hand felt irritated by his attitude,
"You woke up first then you should've separated yourself!"
"Why should I?" came his instant reply making her glare at him haughtily and he just chuckled.
"Have some shame and self-respect, Yuvraj Ji," She advised trying to play it cool as she got up and started tying her curly hair into a bun.
"Gave up on them since they were keeping me away from you," he replied back pulling the hair band from between her teeth as he tied her hair making her still.
She tried to calm down her racing heart.
He was just making it more difficult for her and himself!
So sorry for the delay! The rain and glitch really messed up💀 I was trying to update the ch since evening (ok I gave up in mid lol) but it wasn't publishing, later I realised there were too many pictures in the ch, had too remove few edits made by the reader :(
How was the chapter?
Too emotional and dramatic maybe? Lol.
Aadarsh?
Vardhaan?
Take Care<3