"Your touch makes me feel all warm and fuzzy."
Jay had done his utmost to prepare a lavish dinner for everyone and boy was he praised and awed for his outstanding cooking skills.
Aahana couldn't help but roll her eyes when everyone started to gush about how brilliant of a cook he had become at such a young age and should start his restaurant already. And Jay being the cocky bastard, bragged about himself in the most modest way he could, throwing sly smiles now and then.
Soon dinner was over where the conversation was kept to a minimum as all of them were more interested in the food in front of them. Undoubtedly, anyone would mistake the food to be of a five-star restaurant.
After that, they carried their desert to the drawing-room and made themselves comfortable as they started with their 'plan'.
Urvashi sat beside Aahana and asked about Atharva. Of course.
Aahana felt extremely mad but she didn't refuse to answer. In fact, she gave a polite smile and said he was good and busy with work. Something Atharva would say to people he wanted to keep at bay.
Urvashi smiled back in response, but the smile was sad. Unshed tears glistened in her eyes and Aahana knew her emotional charade was about to begin so she quickly excused herself to the restroom and took deep breaths. Oh how much she wanted to drag that woman by her hair and throw her out of the house.
Now only if she could.
But it was his secret. His to tell. His to fight.
When she came out, she had calmed herself down. She silently sat beside Jay on the mat and watched all of them discuss Atharva's birthday party.
She didn't like it.
Sure she wanted them to be a part of it but she was the one wanting to organise the entire party for her husband and knowing he hadn't celebrated it for so long, she wanted to make it more special.
She wouldn't let anyone spoil it for him.
She had one idea in her mind.
It may sound clichéd, but every day in the month of May, she was going to give him a gift. Small or big didn't matter but sentimental enough to make him realize how much he mattered to her.
She kept it to herself and listened to them. It wasn't like those things were going to happen. But it gave them happiness and so, she let them be.
She didn't realize she had dozed off, her head leaning against Jay's shoulder until he shook her awake.
"You really did sleep on Atharv's birthday discussion," Dinesh said, mirth dancing in his eyes and she blushed slightly and sat straighter, looking everywhere but at them to avoid their amused gazes.
"Um sorry. I was tired." She murmured and pulled at her kurti's hem.
They chuckled and smiled. "Don't worry. Jay can tell you everything."
"Yeah." She nodded.
They then bid her goodbye when the time approached midnight but before they all could walk out, she stopped Harshvardhan.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Sure, dear. What is it?"
"His birthday."
"What about it?"
"Uh like you know he his going to celebrate after so many years, I wanted to make it special. And was thinking to take him away from his work. So could you cut the party short so we could leave after that?" She was nervous. It could be sensed from her fidgety fingers and lowered eyes.
Harshvardhan smiled. "No problem Aahana. If that makes you two happy then do as you want."
"Thank you." She relaxed.
He nodded and left. She waved at them as their car drove away, leaving her to look at the empty streets.
Sighing, she went inside and locked the door before strolling to her room. She changed into her previous set of clothes and lied down on the bed and closed her eyes with a huge smile, for Atharva was arriving in exactly 5 hours.
*****
Morning arrived and so did Atharva. He knew there wasn't going to be a special 'welcome home' celebration but he'd expected Aahana to be awake for him.
However, she wasn't.
The excitement to see Atharva had brought a sleepless night. She kept tossing and turning but the bed felt foreign and she couldn't sleep. When the clock hit around 4, she was worn out and engulfed by sleep.
He glanced at her door and felt a sudden pull in the direction of her room. His legs moved of their own accord and in no time he found himself standing in front of her door. He raised his hand to knock but pulled away, knowing it wouldn't be ideal to disturb her. But that didn't stop him from wanting to see her. He opened her door silently and entered inside. The room was dark but the faint light of the bed lamp cast an orange glow on her face.
He breathed.
He slowly sat on the bed and watched her. Her raven hair was splayed across the pillow in an unkempt fashion and her hands were resting under her cheeks. She had a peaceful expression on her face, her plump lips slightly parted.
He hesitantly brushed his fingers over her face, tracing the outline, and couldn't help but let a small smile spread on his lips.
So innocent and beautiful she was.
But why must she be so stubborn every time?
He recalled the day in the office when she'd suddenly told she wanted to divorce him. It was like a bucket of ice-cold water had been splashed on him. He couldn't understand why. In a way, it was what he had always wanted. If Aahana divorced him, his father wouldn't be able to disown him, for it was her who had left him and not the other way around. She would be at fault, not him. And that way he'd gain his father's sympathy and keep the company to himself.
However, now that thought disgusted him.
Did he really want the company so much he'd leave someone like Aahana?
The answer wasn't clear now. He was feeling conflicted with himself.
And later when she confessed her love and refused to divorce him, he felt a sense of relief wash over him even when he knew he should have let her go. She needed happiness, something he wasn't able to give her, would never be able to give her.
He didn't get how she could love his broken pieces, for it would only pierce into her heart and leave her hurt and battered.
The movement of her body brought him out of his thoughts. His eyes widened when he saw her frown and he quickly removed his hand and made a run to his room before he could get caught.
Once the door was shut, he closed his eyes and sighed in relief. He wanted to do nothing but take a hot shower.
His muscles relaxed under the stream of warm water cascading down his body and he felt good as he came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. He quickly wore his boxers and T-shirt before jumping on the bed and sleeping off the day.
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A/N
Hello, cupcakes! How have you all been?
I am finally back. My exams are over and I am FREE.😁 So gonna try and complete this book ASAP. I'll really appreciate it if you guys can comment and let me know what improvement I need.
P.s- Having taken a hiatus from wattpad, my writing sucks. So please bear with me. 😅
Thank you!