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Pakhi put the mobile beside her and said to the driver, " bhaiya, I'll be back."
" Where are you going, mem saab?"
" Need to buy something," she came out of the car and the driver did too.
" Bhaiya, you wait-"
" Chote malik will get angry if I let you go alone."
She sighed and nodded before both of them crossed the roads after locking the car.
...
Aryan breathed heavily, reaching the area of the tragic accident. People gathered to help injured ones and called an ambulance.
" Pa.. khi-"
He lifted his foot to go near the burning car but two men grabbed him from behind.
" Sir don't go there-"
" LET ME GO! MY WIFE IS IN INSIDE. LE..LET ME GO. PAKHI!"
He yelled, struggled but couldn't free himself. 2 more men came to grab him.
" Pakhi!"
He screamed and burst into tears. His wife is inside. He should do something. She must be hurt-
" Aryan.."
He stopped struggling hearing a familiar voice in the midst of mixed voices of people. The strength that he had just lost, suddenly came back and he got himself freed. He turned his head everywhere and caught her glimpse finally.
Tears streamed down from his eyes and he stumbled a quite a few times while going toward her. The driver is standing right behind him.
She moved closer to him and raised her hands to touch his shoulder.
" Aap.."
( You..)
She wasn't able to complete her sentence when he grasped her arms tightly and she felt him shivering.
" Aap..thik hai?"
( Are you okay?)
She cupped his cheeks. He shook his head and pulled her into his arms. He squeezed her in his embrace and burst into tears.
" Mujhe..mujhe laga maine tumhe kho diya," his voice came out as muffle and she felt his muscles relax when she wrapped her arms around his back.
( I thought.. I lost you.)
" I am all okay," she reassured him.
Jivika Rao came out of the restaurant and was left stunned seeing the accident. She glanced at the truck. She narrowed her eyes, seeing a strange man in the crowd and staring at a couple.
She turned her gaze at the couple and saw Aryan-Pakhi. She looked away and hurriedly left from there.
Aryan broke the hug and wiped his tears with the back of his hands.
" You are okay, right? You are not hurt na?"
He checked her from up and down.
" I am okay. I am okay. Me and driver bhaiya went to a shop before this happened."
He looked up to the sky and thanked God with tears in his eyes. Their attention was grabbed by people when they talked,
" Where's the truck driver?"
" He's not inside."
" Is it a planned accident?"
Aryan grabbed Pakhi's hand and took her away from there, " let's go from here."
" Saab, police are coming to investigate. I think we should wait and give our statements."
" No-"
Pakhi squeezed his hand and he sighed. They chose to wait there until the police came. Ambulance came first and took the injured people away.
Pakhi put her head on Aryan's upper arm due to height difference and said,
" What if I was inside..."
" Shh, nothing happened to you. Thank God you were not in it," Aryan wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
" Like they said, is it a planned accident?"
She asked and earned silence from him for 2 minutes straight.
" Leave that for now. Police will take care of that."
She sealed her mouth. After a while, they went to the scene when police came. Police have cordoned off the area and collected statements from witnesses.
" Bhai?"
Pakhi saw her brother being the in-charge. She almost ran to him.
" Princess? What are you doing here?" Jaydev asked in a sweet voice.
She hugged him and placed her cheek on his chest. Jaydev looked at Aryan coming as well.
" I was in that car, bhai."
" What?"
He broke the hug and searched for any injury on her.
" You are okay right?"
Pakhi nodded.
" I left the car at the right time and this happened while I was absent," Pakhi replied.
Jaydev looked at Aryan who glanced at the truck then back at him.
" Princess, go and give your statement to the officer there. KHAN!", Jaydev said and called Adnan in the end.
Pakhi nodded and Adnan came then took her away. Jaydev stepped toward Aryan and raised his eyebrows at him.
" Planned?"
Aryan hummed.
" By...them?"
Aryan nodded, " it can only be them. They suspect us and now want to take revenge by harming our family. I would suggest you keep some guards with Shruti."
Jaydev took a deep breath and nodded, then asked, " what should I do with this accident now?"
" For now, leave it as an accident only. I'll talk to you tomorrow at your police station."
Jaydev nodded and both went to Pakhi. She was done giving her statement.
" We are leaving now," Aryan said to Jaydev and grabbed Pakhi's hand. He smiled and both of them left from there in Aryan's car which the driver was driving.
Aryan intertwined his fingers with her and made her look at him instead of the window.
" From now on, tell me before leaving the house, okay?"
Pakhi nodded and put her head on his shoulder.
" Why did you come here by the way?"
Pakhi chose not to tell the truth because it is not needed.
" I was out with my friends when I came near this restaurant. Your firm is nearby so I thought to ask if you were here or not-"
" Shh, I got it."
She smiled and clicked her hand around his elbow.
" Bahut dar gaye the aap?"
( Did you get so scared?)
" Bahut.."
( So much.)
She sat straight and he stared at her face confusedly, " let's eat ice-cream?"
He smiled and ordered the driver to drive them to a nearby ice-cream parlour. When they reached, both of them came out. It was a cafe.
Pakhi sat on her chair and waited for him. He came back soon with a hot coffee for himself and a bowl of ice cream for her.
" Thank you," she took the bowl.
He stared at her face while smiling and took a sip of hot coffee while she had a bite of ice-cream. The coldness made her squeeze her eyes and shivered slightly, still she did not step back.
" I just realised you called me by my name," Aryan said.
" Did I?" she smiled shyly.
" Ahn."
" It must have slipped out of my tongue," she said and handed one more bite, unknowingly sticking a little cream on the corner of her lips.
" Let it slip from your mouth more often," he forwarded his hand at her face and she watched it as he wiped the cream from her lips with his thumb.
Way of butterflies rushed down to her spine as she found him sucking the cream from his thumb while staring deep into her eyes. She blushed and looked down to her bowl.
" Biwi?"
" Hn?"
She lifted her eyelashes. His smile widened and he just shook his head. She frowned at his behaviour and put the spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.
She wiggled her eyebrows at him. He leaned his back against the chair and said,
" The husband inside me is saying that you were just hanging out with your friends but the lawyer inside me is saying that you were keeping an eye on me."
Her movement stopped momentarily. She gulped down the ice cream and cleared her throat,
" Apne andar ke pati ki suno. Vakil to faltu ka shaq karta hai," she said.
( Listen to the husband inside you. The lawyer suspects unnecessarily.)
He caught her red handed but chose to laugh it out, " sure."
" His inner lawyer is too dangerous," she muttered under her breath.
" I heard you."
" Tsk!"
She dropped her head on the table. He laughed and took a sip of coffee.
" Why are you like this?"
She lifted her head and he caught her red hue on her cheeks which might have appeared due to embarrassment.
" How cute you are. You, yourself exposed your sweet lie," Aryan said.
Her mouth hung open, " you.. tricked me."
He shrugged his shoulders. She glared at him.
" Keep your lawyer mind away when you are with me. Otherwise I won't let you kiss me," she mumbled the last sentence.
He burst into laughter one more time, " of course. I can do at least this much for a kiss, no?"
" Yes," she replied while having her ice-cream.
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A few more days passed by. The distance between Shruti and Jaidev increased further. Jaidev created it but Shruti took it forward. The anger was increasing in both of them. Jaidev could not tolerate Shruti's closeness with Tarun. She did not talk to him at all except talking about divorce.
It was getting all frustrating and creating a volcano inside him which might explode soon. Secondly, his family was eagerly waiting for his second marriage and was also making their own preparations.
" Jay?"
Aryan was passing by the bar counter in the bar when he spotted Jaydev there. He had an important meeting.
Jaydev turned his head before looking back to the glass in his hand. Aryan came and sat down beside him.
" What are you doing here?"
" Nothing," he took a sip of drink.
Aryan took the glass from him and put it down.
" Is something wrong?"
Jaydev rolled his tongue on the lower lip and shook his head, " no."
" Do not lie. I can see it in your eyes."
He exhaled heavily and stood up, " there's nothing wrong."
He walked out of the bar. Aryan followed him.
" JAY!"
He called him in a loud voice when he unlocked his car. He took a quick run to him and shut the door of the car just when he opened it.
" What the hell, man?"
Jaydev faced him and uttered angrily.
" What the hell happened to you? Is Shruti okay?"
His expression stiffened at her name which Aryan noticed in no second.
" No, she is not. She has gone fucking crazy-"
" Hey, do not curse her," Aryan instantly snapped at him.
Jaydev took a deep breath and avoided his friend's gaze. Aryan stood beside him and rested his back against the car. He waited for him to speak and break his silence which he did in 5 minutes.
" I am giving her divorce."
" Tomorrow morning?"
He nodded.
" So? What's the problem?"
Jaydev glanced at him and shook his head, " there's no problem."
Aryan put his hand on his shoulder, " have you started liking my sister?"
" Noo!"
He pushed his hand away and walked one step ahead because his questions were making him uncomfortable.
" Why? What's wrong with her? She's intelligent. She's beautiful. Anyone can like her. Trust me, I won't be angry if you have feelings for her. I can't find a man better than you for her."
Jaydev turned around and said, " and her? Will you tie her with a man like me without even asking her? I am damn sure she hates me as much as she did in our first meeting."
Aryan smiled slightly, " so you do like her."
" No I don't-"
Jaydev stopped in the middle and Aryan raised his eyebrows.
" Hn?"
Jaydev cleared his throat, " I don't."
Aryan chuckled and walked toward. Jaydev frowned when he patted his shoulders and said dramatically,
" Congratulations, mere bhai! Tujhe heera mila hai heera."
( Congratulations, brother! You have got a diamond.)
Jaydev moved his hands from his shoulders, " shut up. Do not make stupid conclusions. We are getting divorced tomorrow."
He walked toward his car and opened the door. Before he could enter, Aryan stopped him,
" Did you ever try asking her?"
Jaydev frowned and looked behind him. Aryan continued,
" Although my sister talks a lot, she is a little immature but I am damn sure she shows her affection. It's not really hard to read her. Did you ever try to know what she feels?"
Jaydev tilted his head slightly, " what do you mean?"
Aryan smiled, " just go and talk to her for 1 hour straight. I am sure all your doubts will be cleared and you'll get every single answer to your questions."
He went to his car and drove away. Jaydev stared at his car until it was out of his sight. He, too, drove away.
Slowly a smile casted on his lips when he took out meaning from Aryan's words. Does she love him? Him? The rude and arrogant monkey she once hated?
If yes, then he surely did wrong to her. If needed, he will beg for forgiveness and pacify her.
He blinked his eyes when droplets fell on the windscreen of his car. His smile faded and heart skipped a beat. Rain..
Why does rain have to come whenever he thinks of doing something big?
He shook his head, " everything will go okay."
He reassured himself and started the wiper to clean the fog and water from the windscreen. He grabbed his mobile and dialled the number of Rohini.
" Yes, Jay?"
" Mami, is Shruti at home?"
" No.. she has not come yet."
" Oh," he uttered and disconnected the call. He rang one of his men's mobile who is keeping eyes on Shruti nowadays. He did not want to be a creep. He is doing all this for her safety because of that gang issue.
" Where is Shruti currently at?"
" Sir, there's a small cottage mam has come.."
The man shared the location.
" Is she alone?"
Jaydev asked and before the man could reply, the call disconnected. He frowned and checked his mobile.
His battery died. He shrugged his shoulders and made a U-turn. He spotted a bouquet shop on the way.
He stopped the car and glanced at the rain. He shook his head and went out anyway. He took a quick run and bought a bouquet of mixed roses. He inhaled the fresh fragrance and went back to his car.
He removed his jacket and bit his lower lip before driving to his destination. If necessary, he will apologize to her all night long, but now he will not let her go.
It took him half an hour to reach his destination. The rain had also intensified. It was getting dark. He searched for an umbrella in his back seat.
" Found ya," he chirped and grabbed it. He opened the door, grabbed the bouquet and opened the umbrella while keeping his hand out.
He came out and stood under the umbrella. He closed the door and unlocked the car. His eyes landed on the cottage some distance away from him. He smiled, seeing the lights ON. Shruti's shadow was visible from the window.
He walked forward and stopped just a few feet away from the cottage. His eyebrows frowned when he saw someone, a guy particularly coming toward Shruti. He knelt before her.
His heart beat accelerated and grip tightened on the bouquet. He could see Shruti laughing when the guy grabbed her left hand and started speaking.
Was he proposing to her? It looked like this.
He uttered something for 1 minute straight which Jaydev couldn't hear. He gulped down his saliva and stared at Shruti's shadow. To break him more, she nodded her head. They both giggled.
He clenched his jaw when he stood up and leaned in to hug her but didn't know what stopped him. Jaydev widened his eyes and a bouquet and umbrella dropped from his head when he saw him tilted his head. She grabbed his shoulders.
" That bastard-"
He took long strides to the cottage. He grabbed the handles to open it but the door was locked from inside. Shruti and Tarun startled.
He left her earring which he was locking properly.
" I'll see," he said to Shruti and walked toward the door.
Jaydev was about to break the door but just then Tarun opened it.
" Who-"
He wasn't able to complete his sentence when Jaydev threw a punch at his jaw. Shruti gasped and called him, " TARUN!"
Tarun stumbled backward and almost fell down by the impact of the punch.
She ran to him and Jaydev took one step inside.
" Tarun-"
She grabbed him by the shoulders and Jaydev's eyes landed on Shruti. His eyes softened for a second seeing her adorned in a deep red saree with a sleeveless blouse. The golden waist chain is wrapped proudly around her waist.
But her voice grabbed his attention.
" Are you mad?"
His eyes darkened as he looked at her hand on his shoulder. She scoffed and raised her hand to touch his jaw.
" Is it hurting-"
Shruti gasped a second time when Jaydev grabbed her upper arm and pulled her to himself.
" Yes, I am fucking hurt."
He did not actually lie.
Tarun looked at him then at her.
" Leave me, you stupid!"
She jerked his hand away and stepped back.
" Uhm, I think I should leave now."
Tarun said.
" No no, let me treat you-'
" You really should, bastard!"
Jaydev charged at him but Shruti came in between.
" Step back, Jay!"
She glared at him. He chuckled sarcastically at her feisty effort to save Tarun.
" Is he leaving or not?"
He pointed at the man behind her.
" Yes-"
Shruti did not let him continue, " he was but now he won't. It's you who should leave now."
She said extremely furiously.
" Main Yahan vapas jaane ke liye nahi aaya hun," he took a step closer to her. Tarun , made a face and moved backward.
( I have not come here to leave.)
" Aur maine tumhe nahi bulaya," she snapped at him.
( And I did not call you.)
" Are waah! 'Aap' se 'tum' par aa gayi tum?"
( Oh wow! You have come from 'aap' to 'tum'?)
She rolled her eyes at the ridiculous remark made by him.
" Niklo yahan se," she pointed at the exit.
( Get out!)
" Nahi!"
( No!)
He replied stubbornly. By the time both of them were arguing, Tarun brought the keys of his car.
" One minute," Tarun said to Jaydev and walked past him, making sure not to touch him anyhow.
" Tarun-"
" Sorry, Shruti but I have to leave. Make sure you two do not fight anymore."
" Just get the hell out of here," Jaydev irked at him.
Shruti clenched her jaw while Tarun did not make any drama and left the house, closing the door behind.
He saw a bouquet and umbrella on the ground. He sighed and picked them up. He closed the umbrella and put both the things on the stairs of the cottage then left.
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