HAMESHA: Forever

Yash

My eyes were busy pointing out errors when I heard a murmur as some footsteps entered in. My eyes directed to the soul that entered inside, along with my wife and son. He had a displeased expression lapping his spirit as his eyes were rooted on Yukta. I couldn't depict why did he dislike her? And the revulsion had grown after mentioning Aarohi was adamant to end us up together.

"What are you doing here at the business hour?" Abhi questioned, staring straight at Yukta. His heated gaze made the environment tenser.

"Could ask you the same..." she muttered under her breath. I rolled my eyes, anticipating another battle between the two. "Should have been interested in business rather than hanging out." She commented, making Abhi groan in displeasure.

"I don't need a piece of advice from a creature like you. The person who is trying to destroy her friends' married life." Abhijeet hissed making me yell at him in astonishment. How could he betray our secrets? That wasn't meant to be disclosed in such a manner not when she had the least clue about what was planning in Aarohi's mind?

My orbs darted at Aarohi that was staring at them with an appalled gaze. Her palms covered her mouth which had opened wide in horror. My eyes slowly averted to Yukta who seemed taken aback by his words.

"What rubbish are you speaking, Abi?" I bounced on him not allowing him to further humiliate my friend.

"I am not uttering nonsense... Yash." His orbs were radiating the rage that burned inside him. "She is fucking trying to destroy your married life." He gritted his teeth, clenching his jaw as he averted his gaze back to Yukta. "Why would a wife believe that there is something happening between her husband and his friend until one of them provided her with equal hints. Things like pulling a hand on your shoulder and leaning into your face when the door was on verge of opening." He shook his head, walking towards Yukta.

"Using Aarohi for the mission and making you get exasperated towards her when in real Yukta played a huge role in implanting such things in her head." He voiced out forcing my mind to understand the scenario. But why would Yukta attempt it?

"It isn't like that!" Muttered Aarohi coming in Yukta's support. "She had never uttered a word of having any feelings towards..." she kept it incomplete, hesitating a little as her gaze met mine. "It isn't her fault." She was pleading to me with her orbs. "I was the one who came up with that notion. She isn't at fault." I averted my gaze from her not wanting to melt in those beautiful orbs.

"Yukta won't you like to voice your reasoning," I uttered not planning to come up with any conclusion before listening to Yukta's word. Her eyes rose from the floor in my direction.

"Is it bad to hold feelings for your childhood friend?" She questioned, pleading with me. "I wasn't able to wash the emotions away not when I discovered your relationship wasn't good with your wife. I felt as if I was offered with a hope, a chance to gain my love." Her orbs lingered on me for a minute before averting to Aarohi.

"He is correct, I used you. I used your guilt to make a place of mine in Yash's life. He no longer provided me with the attention, he offered before. He didn't care about me any longer... that day he entered the club for you, not me. He was ignoring me for days because he hated the concept of him ending up with me. He loves you Aarohi more than anyone can ever love you. I know it isn't easy to move on from love but it's only going to kill you in long run." She whispered brushing the emerging tears away as she carried the files from the desk.

"I hate you for destroying my friendship with him..." She muttered glancing at Abhijeet. He was shooting daggers at her as she crossed past him. My eyes fixed on Yukta, it was getting difficult to accept the fact that she wanted to destroy my marriage for her selfish love. How could she label it as love when she couldn't glimpse how much her motive was providing me with pain?

She stood in front of Aarohi while Aarohi was staring at her with a blank expression. Surely, she felt betrayed by her actions. "If possible do forgive me..." She pleaded with her.

"I don't know whether should I be mad at you or myself" I shook my head at Aarohi's foolishness. "Because if it was love and you knew he wasn't into you yet you wanted to pursue him. That isn't loving but rather the need to gain him. I wanted you both to end up together because I felt none could understand him better than his childhood friend. He deserved someone who cared, understood him not someone who was selfish to gain him." Aarohi shook her head, sparing her glance at me. "Maybe he was right. I couldn't decide for him because he knows what he needs to be happy."

"And as always it's you..." I muttered making her eyes widen in amazement. I couldn't understand why she found it unbelievable? I knew she couldn't move on from her Rishi but I too couldn't stop my heart from beating for her.

"From when you buckled up the courage to express your feeling towards her?" Suddenly Abhi had a shift in his mood. His orbs danced in amusement as he glanced between us. "Don't tell me, he had confessed it before?" His words were directed towards Aarohi as he examined her thoroughly. "Oh my! Why did you keep it hidden from me?" His accusing orbs glanced at me while I warned him to shut his mouth.

"From blabbering about how your emotions are going out of control. To your displeasure with her constant ignorance... you shared every fucking thing in the universe but couldn't share the most important fact that you had expressed your feelings. How could you, Yash?" He was acting his dramatic self. I was shooting daggers in his direction not wanting to glance at Aarohi after his bluntness.

"What he is talking about, Mumma?" Asked my curious son who was trying to depict what was happening around him? I was amazed at him shutting his mouth for so long.

"Nothing! This man over here had gone insane." I warned Abhi not to utter a word. "What about we go-to restaurant for a lunch?" Aspiring to change the topic and as a clue, Yukta walked out of the cabin.

"Yeah! And I will get to surprise you..." Aarush blabbered and soon covered his mouth with his palm as his eyes widen in horror. I chuckled at his reaction but my smile disappeared as soon as Abhi voiced out.

"Nice idea!" He jumped grinning at Aarush.

"You aren't invited!" I countered back.

"I am not asking for permission."

"It's a family hangout session."

"So? You all are coming to our family get-together so I am allowed to invade yours." He winked as I was left with no words to counter him back. "So, I am in! We will go to Rajasthan Palace." He announced strolling out of the cabin with enthusiasm.

~~••~~

Aarohi

I wasn't in a state to judge Yukta for her action. Somewhere I was glad that the truth was out. It made me realise Yukta wasn't the one for him but his constant confession was making me anxious. He was adamant about not letting the feeling erase from his heart. Why did he hold such feelings toward me when I had acted cruelly towards him?

"Don't you like the food?" Yash inquired on finding my plate was untouched.

"Aren't you fond of Rajasthani culture?" Inquired enthusiastic Abhijeet. "We had a business trip to Rajasthan and I couldn't help myself from tasting that delicious food." He was so excited to inform his discovery. "I thought you will like it as well..." he sounded sadden.

"I will just get you something else..." Yash mentioned and before I could voice a word he walked from the chair towards the receptionist.

"It isn't about the dish. I am just not in the mood." I spoke wiping Aarush face as he was done with his lunch.

"Mumma I want to go..." Aarush pointed at Yash and I nodded in agreement not before warning him not to leave his father's hand. I glanced at them strolling out of the restaurant.

"Does it have to do with her?" Abhijeet inquired after a minute of silence. "I would just say that she doesn't deserve your attention." The revulsion was available in his voice. "She is too selfish for a person like you." He muttered taking another spoon of rice.

"Hmm... I am no less cruel." I muttered softly but he heard my words. "I had acted selfishly for the past few years and I can't judge Yukta for acting one as well." My eyes were locked on the plate. I wasn't sure why was I confessing my guilt to him? Maybe because I had a hope that he could convince Yash to move on in his life. From the past few hours, it was displayed that he shared a close bond with Yash.

"I ignored him because I couldn't forget my ex and still I am ignoring his feeling because I can't offer him any. He has selflessly treated me with care and kindness. I guess you know it well." I raised my orbs to glance at his frowned brow. "You know I don't deserve a guy like him," I muttered pleading for him to understand my words.

"You had married him with your consciousness. You knew you won't be able to replace your ex, you knew what you were doing. So, why all of sudden this guilt?" He questions, I was stunned for a minute before I collected myself.

"Because I never knew he had such feelings towards me. I had informed him that this marriage was of convenience. We had decided there would be no feelings involved but he betrayed me. He involved his feelings in the marriage."

"And you got aware of it just a few days back? Haven't you got a hint of his growing feelings at each phase of your life together? I don't think, it took you four years to realise he had feelings towards you when within a few days you were aware of something could happen between Yukta and Yash." I was feeling exposed under his curious and judging orbs. He was questioning the things; I was avoiding for so long. I looked away from him. I was scared to realise the truth. The real reason behind finding another woman in Yash's life.

"I am asking you something, Aarohi?" He prompted me to speak. "Did it take you, four years?"

"I don't know..." I muttered wanting to hide from his spying orbs.

"You need to stop lying at least to yourself. At least confess the truth to your inner-being. This running away from truth isn't going to provide any peace. What if by the time you accept the truth it's already late?" He voiced out, a sudden hint of sadness lapping in his orbs but he shove it away a minute later.

"Apologises for arriving late as the restaurant few distances away." We heard Yash's voice making me grab my posture.

"It's fine," I mumbled not able to gain my voice. I could feel Yash's heated gaze on me but I took the box in his hand.

"What? I was just having a conversation with your wife." Abhijeet muttered and I could sense Yash was shooting daggers at him.

My mind was occupied with the conversation that had taken place a minute back. I had realised that Yash had feelings toward me years back. It wasn't difficult when he stared at me with those intense gazes. When he defended me each time his mother humiliated me. The way he showed concern for my health. The way he shouted at my carelessness. The way he treated Aarush as his own child.

Though he had never expressed it loud before but deep down I was aware of the feeling. Then what had forced me to plan about his future? Why do I want to offer him a better life?

"Aru, are you fine?" I felt a touch on my knuckles. My eyes darted to his beautiful set of brown orbs that was staring at me with concern. "You're sweating? Are you feeling ill? Should we show you to..."

"Stop it!" I jerked his hand away from mine. "I don't need your concern. Leave me alone! I am getting tired of you roaming around me." I muttered concentrating on the dish before me.

"What happen Mumma? Are you mad at Dada?" Came a concerned voice of Aarush. I rubbed my forehead in exhaustion. Maybe Yash gestured him to keep quiet as he didn't voice a word.

"I need some peace of mind," I mentioned grabbing my purse. Without even sparing a glance at Yash but rather smiling at Aarush. I walked out of the crowded space. I needed space from things happening around me. I needed some moments to be myself. So, I simply strolled down the busy pathway.

Sometimes randomly observing people could spare the mind from analysing the problem. I needed an escape from the real world. I wasn't in a condition to discuss, analyse or even accept the truth. I needed a minute of escape and that could be provided by the nature. I made my path towards the garden. Though the sun was making it unbearable to walk during the hottest hour of the day yet I was determined to make my way to the destination.

I was walking back to that place where a beautiful phase of my life had started. I was walking back to the amazing ocean of memories that would only offer me pain. That would make me realise that so much had changed within years yet I wasn't at all changed. My heart accelerated to its maximum speed as I walked inside the garden. And soon made my way towards the swings. I could imagine myself laughing my heart out as Rishi pushed it for me.

Years of friendship, and later ending in marriage. My life had every element of a beautiful fairy tale but wasn't offered a happy ending. I had believed in love and also accepted the truth that it happens once in life. I loved every memory I shared with Rishi. Each smile, laugh and tears. How could I allow my heart to replace him?

But what if my heart had already replaced him? What if after my frequent attempts, after me building a shield around it yet someone was able to break it into pieces and concur it? And I was still in denial to accept it. I wanted to run from the truth. I wanted to escape from the reality because I didn't want to betray Rishi. I had promised him that I was only his and I couldn't break my promise.

"You're my best friend and will be forever." I had promised him as he grinned at me like an idiot.

"There isn't anything like forever." He muttered making me groan at him. "You will get another friend when I will leave you."

"Why will you leave me?" I was scowling at him. He pulled my chubby cheeks as he chuckled at my pouting face.

"Nothing stays forever, Aru. Not even our lovely parents." A sad smile was playing on his lip.

I was so small to understand his words yet at such a small age he was so mature. Life had taught him a lesson at a very small age and that was nothing was forever. He had accepted the truth that he wouldn't be with me forever. A drop of tears escaped down my cheek. Why? Him? Why not me? Why does it have to be him? Why does he have to leave so soon? The tears never stopped nor did the question pondering in my brain. 

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