Aarav was not in a mood to relent. He was done with the farce and the hypocrisy of both society and his family. The way Dhruv had reacted to his decision had angered him. The ungrateful brat. But he had known it. He hadn't expected any support from him. Though Dhruv had never said he would or wouldn't but the way his brother had evaded the issue had told him what he was to expect in future.
It had been a long night and then a long day. His mother hadn't agreed with him. And he had spoken to Kanak about it for a long time last night. Well, she had done most of the talking trying to lift his spirits up and telling him positive things. And he had smiled at her efforts. He had known she was upset too but the way she had gone on and on about how everything happened for a reason and happened for the best. And that he shouldn't blame his mother over her reaction and decision after all she had had a shock at his announcement and then she didn't know much about her hence her decision. Kanak was such a sweetheart. Why couldn't his mother sense that? Why couldn't she see how much this girl would bring him happiness and peace? Why couldn't she hear how much he loved Kanak? It wasn't as if he had willingly fallen in love he had fought it as much he could but he had been helpless. And now that he knew what he wanted, what he needed he wasn't going to give up. Even if it meant leaving everything. He knew one thing he could never let go of Kanak. If for some reason they couldn't marry he knew it in his bones he would still be with her. By her side. For always. And to hell with society. But he wouldn't be a part of Singhania family either. The constraints would be too many and they would choke him slowly. Something he wasn't ready to accept. When he had gone to the office he hadn't intended to announce his resignation so he had hinted about it so it doesn't come as a shock when he actually did resign. And the uproar had been huge. Virendra uncle had walked out of the meeting while Dhruv had met him later to know the why and then, the when. And it had angered him. He had taken Kanak's call before he had gone in for the meeting and had told her he would come by later and speak to her and she had agreed just that simply. So after he had finished his other meeting with a client he had left for her home. He had been anxious. Restless. He knew what he was doing was right and yet he was thinking. It wasn't easy. Nobody mattered too much to him but his bond with his mother and choti ma were special. To let go of them would take a part of him away but he didn't know any other way. He was stubborn if anything. And he would be killing his soul if he bowed to his family's wishes and let Kanak go. He had to choose. And it was probably the most difficult thing he had ever done.
He had reached Kanak's apartment complex when he had seen the car Palak often used. So the other brat was here. It didn't take a genius to guess the reason for her visit to her sister. Dhruv must have talked. And his irritation at the immaturity of them all increased. He took the lift to Kanak's flat and found the door to be partially open. He would have entered only Kanak's firm voice defending him sifted through the open door. And he stood there listening. He heard how she stood up to Palak and he was surprised a bit. He had never heard her talking like that. The confidence, the trust, the love she had for him when she spoke was loud and clear for anyone who was even remotely interested to listen. And he felt his heart swell in pride. She truly loved him. And he could have laughed out loud. But he didn't. He did understand where her belief came from and he loved her all the more for it. However, the second he heard what madam Palak had to say to her sister who had always stood by her he saw red. Nobody spoke to Kanak like that. And he meant nobody. The girl required a much needed lesson both in manners and humility. What gave him an extra pause was the hurt he heard in Kanak's voice. The pain of being alone. And he swallowed hard. She was facing a hard time too. How could he let her face it alone? Besides he had two cents to add as well. And so he had announced his presence.
"She doesn't need your support, not now not in future," Aarav said angrily.
Palak's reaction was priceless. And at any other time he would have been vastly amused only today was not that day. Dhruv had gotten on his nerves and she had just added fuel to fire with the way she had spoken to Kanak. Color drained from Palak's cheeks as he let his anger show.
"What are you doing here?" Palak asked on a croak.
"The question could be well put to you too," Aarav said pinning her with his angry gaze, "though you needn't answer that. I know you are here to discredit your sister after you got the news from your wonderful husband," he said with a sarcastic smile.
"She is my sister and I have every right to visit her," Palak argued.
"Is that so?" Aarav said sarcastically, "Is Kanak really your sister?" he asked and Palak glared at him.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Palak asked.
"You said she is your sister," Aarav emphasized on the word 'sister', "but I have yet to see one emotion that would make me believe you are even related," he said dangerously.
"You know what," Palak said casting caution to the wind, "you are exactly what mom says," she said angrily, "you are a self-conceited, arrogant individual who thinks he is God and the rest should be subservient to you," she spat.
"Palak..." Kanak started indignantly when Aarav took a step towards his sister-in-law and Kanak immediately fell silent.
"And what does your beloved mother in-law say about you," he asked his tone dipping so low Kanak felt goose bumps on her arms. "Don't make the mistake of thinking that just because you are pregnant you have been forgiven," he warned in frigid tones, "the truth of your marriage is yet to come out," he reminded, "and what will she do when that happens only she knows," he stated, "and just so you know, I won't be around to take the blame this time. It would be you and Dhruv," he said tonelessly, "make sure you have your excuses ready. As for me I don't care two hoots about what you or anybody else has to think or say. I am who I am," he said proudly, "and I am not because of you. I am arrogant and I kind of enjoy that nickname," he said seriously which made Kanak smile a little, "and all the names you just called me I am all of those as well and more. And I accept all of it with pride but what am I supposed to call you," he asked and Palak who had paled to the extent of almost being similar to a ghost felt her mouth drop open. "This girl," he said and pointed at Kanak who was struggling with her emotions and trying not to let the tears fall, "is your cousin. Your parents did a great thing when they took her in after she lost her parents. And I would always be grateful to them for it," he said honestly, "but I am sure they didn't do it out of a sense of duty or that one day she would repay them. They did out of love for her," he said firmly, "and she did the same with you. She loved you and supported you unconditionally. She hid your faults and helped you when required," he said tightly and Palak looked at her sister, "she took care of your problems, your mistakes. It didn't matter the price she had to pay for it. Why? Because she loved you. She couldn't find it in her selfless, generous heart to let you be," he said loudly, "but what did you do? What did you reward her with? Mean words, meaner emotions and meanest actions," he said his voice booming in the now silent room, "what are you arrogant about? What are you so conceited about? You have done nothing in your life, achieved nothing, what are you so proud of?" he yelled and Palak bowed her head in shame. "You are the most selfish and the most self-absorbed person I have ever met," he said with distaste, "I don't even have a word in the dictionary to give you," he said angrily, "you have the audacity to come here and call names to your sister," he said his face contorting with tightly leashed emotions, "how dare you? Who gave you the right to take your sister for granted? Who gave you the right to question her personal life?" he thundered and Palak visibly flinched. "If you have any sense of decency left, leave," he ordered, "now," he stressed, "and before you go, I love Kanak," he said arrogantly, "so if you decide to insult her think of the consequences you might face," he said and paused, "because I won't be mindful of your sister's feelings every time," he warned, "and for the last time, we don't need your support nor your intervention. Get that in your head and drill it into your husband's," he said tersely, "now get out before I lose it completely," he roared.
Palak stood there just looking at the man. She was shaken to her bones. This encounter had told her one thing if she had even a little bit of self-preservation, she would steer clear of Aarav Singhania. Especially when he was this angry. She looked at Kanak and saw her shake her head probably at the sorry mess of affairs but she also saw tear drops on her cheeks. She was upset and Palak felt the pinch of it. She may not always think of others but she didn't want to hurt her sister intentionally. Though she had. And she knew it. And by doing that she had angered this man who had clearly taken an offence. She wondered how Kanak handled him? But maybe it wasn't her place to think. She should probably thank her stars that Aarav had such high regard for how Kanak felt for her because frankly she didn't know what would have happened otherwise. She knew she should apologize and make amends. But not right now. Something told her anything she said right now, even a 'sorry', would send Aarav over the threshold. He had asked her to leave them alone and she will. Maybe later. She walked shakily towards the door and Aarav stepped aside to let her pass. He didn't even look at her as she walked by. His tightly clenched jaw and one ticking nerve in his temple made Palak move faster.
She looked one last time at Kanak then mustering her courage said, "Good luck di, you will need it," and then quickly went out lest she invoked the wrath of the mighty Singhania.
Aarav hung his head the second he heard the door close firmly. He shouldn't have said so much. But he hadn't been able to contain himself. He didn't know what Kanak will say. He hadn't wanted to hurt her and he hoped he hadn't. He took in a deep breath and then looked at Kanak. She had tear drops on her cheeks and her chin quivered. He sighed. He just couldn't stand her looking like that. All upset and vulnerable. He opened his mouth to say something but she surprised him. She moved so fast he hadn't anticipated her move. She threw her arms around his waist and hugged him. He shook his head as he felt all his anger drain away. Nothing mattered. He held her close. And then she said something he knew he would never forget.
"I am changing your nickname," she sniffled, and he bent his head closer to catch her softly said words, "you are not Aarav Arrogant Singhania, you are Aarav Sweetheart Singhania and I am the luckiest person to have you," she whispered.
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