Chapter-23

It was after Vishal proposed Aarohi to a marriage. It was like his drunken deed never happened and they are normal. Aarohi had hard time with every thought. It was like, it never even happened with him and she never slapped and he never confessed that it was drunken thing.

He acted like nothing happened. So much like that she doubted herself whether it was her imagination and he didn't do anything.

It felt like dream... Or more like a nightmare.

It was the day before their engagement they met and he made her heart burst with love.

Days passed and she only felt him pulling her to himself. She want to be angry about what he did. But some how she couldn't understand that she was being Manipulated into not being!

She wants to forget. She wants to believe that she is wrong and that night never happened but she know this too that it would be nothing but a foolishness.

“Aarohi! You can zone out about Vishal later, for now focus on your make up. It will be ruined!” giggles filled the room and Aarohi gave a small chuckle as she shook her head.

She then didn't knew she was being the bait to the hatred of years, and that no one is going to save her from facing the harshness of a foolish love that turned to a venomous poison...

It was dark.

But Hyderabad, the city that never sleeps was awake and the lights are glowing like they always do. The winters of this part of this city are so cold that it makes you want a warm cuddle, a sweet proximity that would bring flutters down your stomach.

As we stand in the cold balcony, alone, wandering over the thoughts, some of their career, some of their family, while some about their love. The cold balconies are the witnesses of many tears of people, in the night when they thought no one was watching, the cold balcony witnessed every tear, every pain, and every thought.

Abhimanyu stood in the main balcony. A mattress was placed on the very end of it with a small cabinet.

The view to the city was breathtaking. As he watched people move with their busy lives. Wondering whether their stories are as pitiful as his.

His searched for something that would calm him. But nothing seemed to do so. No one seemed to care about the guy who achieved success on his own inspite of being the son of a politician whose connections were enormous.

Everyone only want your success, not your stories, they don't care about your failures, they don't care about your pain, they don't care about what you are after you achieved success and what your world is.

Abhimanyu knew this truth hard. He wants to hide from it. He doesn't want to believe that world could be this cruel but he can never runaway from what actually it is. When the truth is spread around your world like a sky no matter wherever you run to in the world it will fallow you like a shadow and knock you down from the moment of life you are enjoying.

That's what life is. Yours, mine and theirs. We all smile in the morning, only those pillows and these balconies knows the pain. We all struggle without a break in the morning only to groan with pain of suffering at night.

Abhimanyu wondered. Whether some people are also afraid to go home, just like him. He doesn't want to go home. Cause there is no such thing called ‘home’ in his life. What actually is home is where you will feel safe, where you can be you. But his house is the place where he pretended something he isn't and when he grew up and realised what he did and why he did, his heart ached. Cause he was never home apart from her embrace. He was never home apart from that smile.

He found comfort in those little black orbs that were curious to find his lost soul. He found comfort in those cold hands of her that searched his deepest scars to cool them with her innocence.

“What is your ass doing here?”

Abhimanyu groaned in irritation.

Talk of the devil!

“Thinking how to get myself free from a witch's clutches missus. Why haven't you slept yet? ”

“ I couldn't and the witch is blind I must say. Why did she even want you?”

“Exactly Aarohi, why did you even want me?”

“ You called me a witch?” she said making her eyes wide.

“And one more thing. I didn't wanted you. My mother liked you. So you are here!” Aarohi huffed and folded her hands at her chest.

She was changed into a loose black shirt that wasn't his and he don't want to make a fuss but it hurt him that his wife is wearing some other man's shirt.

“Dont stare! It isn't Vishal's if you are thinking so. After marriage I deleted every picture of us together and removed everything that reminded me him. I might be stupid. But I am not stupid enough to think about having some another man's things with me still. That would be cheating on you, even though, we are not committed to this marriage, I know you would never cheat on me and respect me in this marriage. Keeping another man's things means disrespecting you and my mother taught me better than that.”

Now you tell me.

Is it wrong to fall for her?

Even if you say it is. He won't care. Cause you know... Love is stupid and so Aarohi

That means.

Aarohi= stupid

∵ Love = stupid

Love= Aarohi

The typical Love Equations.

Aarohi watched the small smile that is breaking out on her husband and for one second she wants to forget everything. Every grudge she held against him. Every pain and tear.

She just wanted to see the Abhimanyu that left for intermediate to this very city, whom she thought as her best friend. Her eyes fluttered down with her cheeks going warm under those intense looks of her now manly best friend.

Long gone the guy with chubby cheeks she played when she was young and long gone the lean guy whom she thought as her best friend. Here stood the man who is handsome with annoyingly adorable smile that is trying to take a place in her heart which she is avoiding.

Abhimanyu's hand automatically brushed against her cheeks lovingly and he leaned forward. His breath falling on her face and for the first time she felt herself leaning against his breath. His presence is pulling her into a state where she had no idea of what's happening and all she can feel is the warmth of his aura that is so addictive which is whispering her sweetly to stay... Stay so that he can cherish her. It wasn't those typical flutters in stomach, it wasn't electrifying. It is something soothing. This presence is telling her that this time, this love would not hurt her.

He wiped the lone tear that left her eye and cupped her both cheeks. He closed his eyes and attached his lips to her forehead. Aarohi felt that kiss brew into her heart as a part of her cold heart is melting with his warmth around her.

“ Don't think too much and sleep peacefully.” Saying so he left the place to his room. But how would she tell him... Tell him that tonight she would be sleepless. Not because of nightmares but because of longing for his touch... That she is wanting. And that realisation is so annoying that it made her want to run away and then she hugged herself confused about everything.

She touched her forehead lightly with her fingertips afraid that the feeling would fade if she touched more. She thought no one was looking, but the cold balcony witnessed it all...

Had to update yesterday but couldn't cause I am a lil busy !!

Hope you all are liking the book.

Stay safe and take precautions. Covid haven't gone yet!!

Love-Anya ❤️