"She was his sole soul. His beloved, his muse."
Aahana half walked half limped into her closet, humming to herself as she changed from her bathing robe into her red checkered shirt dress and jean shorts. She let her slightly damp hair hung loosely down her waist to air dry it before approaching a sleeping Atharva.
Since he had been working from home, he was more tired than usual. Not only had he a multi-billionaire company to run but also had to look after her in the meantime.
But she didn't want to burden him anymore and for that, she had been doing everything she could for a speedy recovery. After having her hand healed, things were easier but she still needed some more time before she could jump again.
"Hey, you awake?" She shook his shoulder lightly, her other hand brushing through his hair gently.
He groaned in answer and turned away, burying his face in the pillow like a little kid.
Aahana smiled slightly and left the room. She decided to take Atharva's place today and surprise him. Her hands worked efficiently and she had cooked quite a hefty breakfast. She put them neatly on a tray and went into his room.
Placing the tray on the bed stand, she stared at the empty bed.
So sir finally decided to wake up, she thought and made the bed.
The shower turned off and the door opened but she didn't turn around, afraid. Her heart thudded in her chest when she felt him coming in her direction. She held her breath and waited when droplets of water appeared on her face. She jumped back, squealing, and heard Atharva chortle.
"Payback!" He winked at her and shook his head again, making her back away with her hands in the air, as if she could block him.
He laughed louder and stepped closer, making Aahana gulp. "Food!" she yelled, pointing to the tray. Atharva turned his head and she took the chance to get away from him and run to the tray of food.
Atharva cracked a smile. "It looks delicious but first, let me change."
Only then did Aahana notice that he was only in a towel draped around his waist. She blushed and looked down at the tray, setting it on the bed between her and Atharva who made himself comfortable in sweatpants and a T-shirt.
"You didn't have to." Atharva looked at her with concern as he sipped his black coffee.
"I wanted to. And, I promise I feel so much better."
Atharva nodded but he didn't look convinced.
The intercom chimed and Aahana arched her brow at him in question. He shrugged, his mind going haywire. He didn't want to have a round two of yesterday. She pushed the receiver button, letting the guard speak.
"Yes?"
"Aahana ma'am, you have visitors."
"Who?"
Aahana heard some noise before she heard Jay. "Sweetpea, who else?"
Chuckling, she sighed, "Okay, let them in."
Atharva cursed and went to unlock the door while Aahana walked to the kitchen to dispose of the empty tray.
As soon as the door opened, she could hear the annoying voice of her best friend and she couldn't help but laugh.
"Good morning, hotshot! Where's my sweetpea?" He welcomed himself inside and looked around.
Dinesh gave a polite smile and walked behind him.
Atharva grumbled to himself as he shut the door behind.
"In the kitchen," she yelled to them.
Footsteps approached her, followed by gasps of shock and she turned around to give them an awkward smile.
"What's wrong with you? And why weren't you answering the phone calls?"
"Uh, just a little accident," she mumbled with a nervous laugh.
Jay eyed her with a curious look before turning to Atharva questioningly. "You didn't beat her, did you?"
Atharva exchanged a look with Aahana, a stupefied expression contouring on his face.
"Jay!" Dinesh warned and gave them an apologetic look.
"C'mon, why the extra security all of a sudden?"
"Guys, let me explain. Let's sit."
Atharva watched the exchange silently as they settled on the kitchen stool before taking a place himself beside Aahana who took his hand in hers.
Aahana told them about her accident in detail and they looked more annoyed, seemingly for hiding it from them, after the initial panic and worry wore off.
"Ugh! I'm sorry, okay? Please don't tell anyone. I don't wanna worry them."
Their frown deepened but they nodded grudgingly.
Aahana brightened and stood up. "Thanks, guys. You both are the best."
"Anything for you, sweetpea. I'll see you later then." Jay shared a hug with her which made her smile even more.
"Yeah, Aahana. I've to get back to work too."
Aahana nodded at them. "See you soon, bye."
"Bye, hotshot."
Atharva narrowed his eyes with a scowl. "It's Atharva."
Jay winked, and Dinesh shook his head at him in disapproval.
With that, they left and a deafening silence fell over them.
Aahana's lips stretched into a teasing smile. "I think Jay likes you more than I do."
Atharva shuddered and closed his eyes. "I don't want anyone else but you."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. "I love you."
He heaved a sigh. "I know, and I'll never understand why."
She smiled at that, "Because you're the best husband." She walked back into the room and grabbed her half-finished novel by Nikita Singh. Carefully sitting on the bed, she opened the book and smiled to herself.
"Aahana." She looked up at him questioningly. "Do you want me to read it for you?"
Okay, now that was downright insulting. "I haven't lost my ability to read Atharva."
Her glare was murderous enough to shut up Atharva who gave a sheepish smile and raised his hands in surrender before grabbing his laptop and placing it on his thighs as he sat cross-legged on the bed beside Aahana.
She huffed and let her eyes train on the novel in question. But all she did was repeat the same paragraph again and again. And why, if you may ask? Atharva, of course. His gaze distracted her and before she knew it, she had shut the book and turned to him with raised eyebrows.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"Aren't you being paranoid about my health for no reason?" She rolled her eyes.
His phone blared, pausing his words in his throat as he glanced at the caller ID. He signalled her to give him a moment before exiting the room.
"Hey, Dad."
"Hello, beta. How are you doing?"
Atharva frowned at his father's formal gesture. Surely, something was wrong with him.
"I'm fine. Is there a particular reason for your call?"
His father went silent for a minute before finally saying, "It's about your mom."
Atharva didn't like the tone of his father. No one should be concerned about that bitch. But here his father was. He didn't want to know anything about her, but he decided against it. "What's with her?"
"She is sick again and wants to see you."
Yeah, again. The same trick.
"I'll be there." His voice was firm as he ended the call.
He had to see her. He was done with her games but could he really save himself this time?
He went back into his room and was met with a sleeping Aahana. He quietly and quickly threw on his shirt and jeans before padding out of the room with his keys.
It took him almost one hour to drive to Saxena Mansion. Frankly, he hated this place and didn't visit often, not until he was forced to.
His father was in his study and Atharva felt like he had aged 10 times more than the last time they'd met. He looked ill and weak.
Atharva frowned but didn't comment. "Where is she?"
"Library."
Atharva nodded and with an inaudible groan, he made it to the library.
It was vast and filled with books, like any other library, but the fact that it had Urvashi's presence bothered him.
"I knew you'd come." She smiled at him, her pearly white teeth matching the wall behind her. Usually, she looked nice for a 47-year-old, although her personality wasn't pleasant and her heart was that of stone. But today, her skin looked frail and greenish.
"Bitch!" Atharva said to himself, but loud enough for her to hear. She blinked, her mouth hanging open in astonishment. "Did I not tell you to stay away from Aahana and me? The divorce papers, the accident, and yesterday's visit weren't enough that you had to fake your illness? What more are you capable of?"
Silence.
"Ah, now you won't speak, huh?" Atharva smirked and folded his arms across his chest. "How about you answer Dad and let him see the real you?"
Her face turned pale, horror-stricken and she shook her head. "Which accident? I did no such thing."
"Enough with your charade," he said. "I'm no fool. So I warn you again, stop it already or else I won't hesitate to open my mouth."
The finality in his voice scared the shit out of her and she snatched a handful of his shirt as she pulled him to look into her eyes.
He met her gaze. "You know the punishment a rapist gets, don't you?"
"I'm a woman. No one will believe you."
"I'm Atharva Saxena if you're forgetting."
"What are you trying to say, Atharva?" She let go of him and looked away.
"I'll explain." He scoffed and rounded her. "As per the Indian penal code, a child rapist is sentenced to death, minus the humiliation from media. You'll lose everything and who will be responsible for it? You and your dirty deeds."
"How dare you threaten me?" At that moment, something flashed in her eyes. It made Atharva pause because he had never seen Urvashi look so crazy.
"Shut up and continue with your games. I'm sure you wouldn't mind living in an isolated cell, will you? It is going to be so much fun when the world will see your real face. Goodbye." Her voice gave him a headache and he had enough of her.
"Wait!" Urvashi screamed and blocked the door. "You don't have proofs."
"I'm not dumb." Atharva straightened himself and pushed her aside. "Medical examination and CCTV footage, what else do I require?"
"No! Atharva, you can't do this! You can't do this to me! I'm your mother." She smiled at him and then began to cry. "You won't, right? You won't tell anyone?"
"I will."
"Please, please!" She sobbed and averted her eyes before looking up. The sadness was gone, replaced by rage. "You were supposed to be mine! It was our secret! I was so happy, you destroyed it! Your dad, Nisha...Oh God, you'll tell them? What am I supposed to do now!"
She slumped on the ground and began to sob again. Atharva ignored her and went to his father who seemed engrossed in some paperwork.
"Dad, mom will be okay. Don't stress and take care of yourself. I'll have to go now."
"So soon?"
"Aahana must be waiting,"
"Oh, alright." His father gave him a hug and patted his back. "I'm glad you came."
Atharva pulled away and nodded with an awkward smile. "Yeah, see you later."
It was much easier to deal with the bitch, he thought as he drove back with a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He didn't know if he should tell Aahana about his little visit, but again, he didn't want to keep any secret between them.
But how will she react when she'd know Urvashi tried to kill her?
He swallowed and shook his head. No, he would tell her only after her recovery. He reached home and found Aahana still asleep with the book on her stomach. He put it aside before he stripped off to his boxers and took the space beside her, his arms circling her.
"Where did you go?"
He stilled.
"Uh, office."
Aahana nodded with groggy eyes and a yawn escaped her parted lips. "I miss the office even though I didn't do much."
"Just a few days more. And you were very helpful."
"Oh, that reminds me, I got a call a few days back. I have a meeting with Mrs. Roy."
"I'll take care of it," Atharva told stiffly.
"You sure? We could schedule it for next week?"
"No, it's fine. I don't want to delay the construction and I have avoided this meeting quite a few times already."
"Alright, you will do great." She kissed his jawline and he shut his eyes to show his discomfort which didn't go unnoticed by Aahana.
She smiled and patted his chest. "Sorry."
He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Your smile says the opposite."
Her smile widened. "How uncomfortable are you?"
"Not much but not okay."
"Mhm, on a scale of 0 to 10?"
"4."
"You are improving, aren't you?"
"Only with you."
She peppered more butterfly kisses and he scrunched his nose, pushing away from her. "What's wrong with you?"
"Let's blame my meds."
"Yeah?" He smirked playfully and raised his sculpted eyebrow, his fingertips sliding across the sides of her stomach. She laughed and squirmed under him, her eyes widening. Her hands flailed widely in the air as she tried to roll away but his long fingers were tickling her senses and she felt like her stomach would explode.
"Pl-please" She burst into a fit of giggles and pushed at his chest. He grinned and nuzzled her neck. His arms rested there and she breathed. "You're so evil."
"Am I now?" He lifted her shirt dress, exposing her bare belly. His fingers ran around her belly button, rubbing her soft flesh slowly, tickling and playing.
Her breath hitched and she didn't know how to react. She couldn't. She wasn't ready.
"Stop. please." Aahana let out, gasping and he looked up at her. His eyes met hers and he knew he had crossed a line he wasn't ready for, he didn't mean to.
He stopped and pulled her shirt down. "Uh, I- I gotta work."
His absence left her cold and empty. She closed her eyes and drifted off again.
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