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Aryan and Pakhi entered the hall of reception. Pakhi's eyes glistened seeing the shimmery decorations. Everything looked so elegant and classy. Keeping modernity in mind, they have decorated the entire hall as if it is the court of a king.
" Trust me, you are looking so beautiful that I want to leave this party."
Here comes Aryan and his dialogue. She passed a warning glance at him and he just winked at her. She shook her head in disbelief.
" Aryan?"
Both looked at the particular person. Aryan hugged him then introduced his friend to him.
" Pakhi, Sahir. Sahir, Pakhi."
She smiled as Sahir adjoined his hands and greeted her.
" Come, let me take you to Akshat."
So, his Boss's name is Akshat. She fixed her pallu and felt Aryan grabbing her hand. Both of them walked with Sahir. Aryan shared some conversation with him while Pakhi couldn't stop herself from admiring the decorations. People looked so wealthy and Powerful. Even the security was tight.
" Suniye," she called him.
( Listen.)
" Yes?"
Aryan looked at her.
" Is your boss older? Like 40 or something?"
" Why?" he tilted his head confusedly.
" Because the decoration is like old times. It looks elegant, but who decorates like this nowadays?"
Sahir, who heard her, ended up laughing lightly and chose to reply instead of Aryan.
" Well, you are right. He is around 45. You know how old his wife is?"
She shook her head and Sahir replied,
" Just 23."
She gasped lightly and wondered if she should give the bouquet in her hands to him or just hit him with that. He feels youthful in his old age.
" Really?"
She looked at Aryan for confirmation and he nodded.
She nodded at herself and said, " That's why I think. He is the boss of the underworld, how can he be young? But didn't his wife find it strange?"
Aryan shook his head, " This is normal these days, isn't it? Moreover love has no age."
She rolled her eyes. Sahir and Aryan tried hard not to laugh.
" I was excited to see the bride and groom but not anymore. I don't want to see an old man beside a young beautiful lady."
" Well, we can do nothing. It's not like we can complain and he'll listen to us. We have to follow his orders," Sahir said.
She sighed, sympathising with them.
" Oh, that's my boss' wife."
Pakhi turned her gaze where Aryan pointed. Her eyes enlarged seeing a very beautiful woman cladded in traditional attire and talking to guests.
Would it be right to just say beautiful? No, that would be a crime. The woman is really mesmerizing as if beauty starts from her only.
How did the old man manage to get such a girl? It doesn't seem like money can attract her. She looks really decent and from a wealthy family. So it means, love really has no age?
They stood before her. She frowned upon seeing Aryan and Pakhi but Sahir chose to introduce them.
" Meet Aryan and his wife, Pakhi."
She put a smile on her lips and Pakhi, too. She adjoined her hands and greeted them,
" I heard about you from him."
" It's really nice meeting you, mam," Aryan said politely.
" Mam is too formal. Call me Kumud."
He chuckled and nodded. Kumud looked at Pakhi as she forwarded the bouquet at her.
" You look so pretty."
Kumud accepted the bouquet and thanked her. She handed the bouquet to a maid then looked at Pakhi as she said,
" I respect you."
Aryan and Sahir widened their eyes.
" For?" Kumud asked confusedly.
" Because you proved that love has no age-"
" Ahh, Pakhi. Don't you want to eat something?"
Aryan interrupted her. Both Kumud and Pakhi looked at him confusedly. Sahir widened his eyes when he saw Akshat coming their way. He quietly made his way away from there.
" No. We have just arrived," Pakhi scolded her husband.
" Yes but-"
" What is happening?"
Fourth person entered the conversation and stood beside Kumud. Pakhi frowned seeing a man around her husband's age. But her confusion deepened when Kumud smiled and let him wrap his arm around her waist.
She gasped and muttered under her breath, " how can he-"
" When did you come, Aryan?"
He talked to Aryan.
" Uhm, just now."
" You were saying something?"
Kumud said to Pakhi and Aryan gulped.
" Yes, but.. how can he stand here?"
She pointed at Akshat who passed her confused look.
" Hn?" Akshat uttered.
Aryan felt colour draining from his face and quickly grabbed his wife's hand.
" Pakhi, chalte hain na.."
( Pakhi, let's go..)
" Ruko 2 minutes," she showed her palm to him. Akshat was amused seeing the couple, especially the feisty young girl.
( Wait for 2 minutes.)
" Here should be her husband and why are you standing so close? Move away a little."
She scoffed at the mob boss. Kumud raised her eyebrows while Akshat's corner of lips curved into an amusing smirk.
" Pakhi, it's not like this-"
" Wait a minute," Akshat stopped Aryan this time and he dared not to speak.
He stared at Pakhi and gestured to her to continue. She made a boring expression and said,
" Listen, you should go away because I have heard that my husband's boss is very angry; if he sees you this so close to his wife, he might kill you."
Kumud chuckled but Pakhi paid no attention to her.
" And why would I kill myself?"
Pakhi shook her head, " I don't know that-"
She stopped in the middle when she took out the meaning of his words. Her eyebrows furrowed and she looked at Aryan who hurriedly moved his gaze away from her.
She pointed at Akshat then said with a doubtful look, " because you are not her husband. Her husband is a middle aged man."
" Who told you?"
Akshat asked. She pointed at her husband, " he and his friend, Sahir."
Aryan felt like slapping his forehead and shut his wife's mouth anyhow.
" Ohh," Akshat stopped his gaze at Aryan then again looked at Pakhi and said,
" But look, I love her, I fight the enemies for her and fill her parting with vermilion, and my two best men gave all the glory to an old man."
Aryan chose not to look into his eyes due to embarrassment. Pakhi gasped, " are you her husband?"
" Hnji," Akshat replied.
She tilted her head slightly, " but you are very handsome."
" Exactly," Akshat laughed lightly along with Kumud at the clueless girl.
Aryan's nervousness flew away hearing Pakhi's words and he passed a side glare to her. As realisation hit Pakhi, she glared at her husband,
" Why did you lie to me," she scoffed.
" Ab to aapko inhe chorrna nahi. Bahut badmashi kar rahe hain aapko pati," Kumud said.
( Now you don't have to leave him. Your husband is troubling you a lot.)
Aryan smiled nervously and mouthed sorry to Akshat. Because he was in a good mood, he chose to let it slide.
" I am so sorry. Your friends fooled me. I am really sorry," Pakhi apologized to both of them.
" It's alright."
Kumud reassured her.
" I forgot to say, you are looking beautiful as well," Kumud added.
Pakhi smiled, " thankyou."
Both of them walked away from there and as they covered a good distance, Pakhi slapped her husband's shoulder.
" Why did you lie to me? I was scolding your boss. Look at my audacity!"
She shook her head in disbelief.
" You have a lot of courage. That's why you were praising another man in the presence of your husband."
" So what? I did not lie. I just appreciated his beauty."
" Should I also appreciate the beauties of women here?"
Aryan snapped at her.
" Koshish bhi na karna. Maine to keval ek aadmi ki tarif Kari."
( Don't even try. I was just praising one man.)
They sat on their respective seats.
" Aur aage se jhoot bolna na mujhse to-"
( And don't lie to me again otherwise-)
She searched for something on the table and took out the rose from the rose. Aryan waited for her to complete her dialogue.
She pointed at the throne in the rose before continuing,
" Is fool ke kaatein chubha chubha ke maarungi."
( I will kill you by pricking you with the thorns of this flower.)
He burst into laughter while nodding, " bahut hi khatarnaak hatiyar hai. Mai to dar gaya."
( This is a very dangerous weapon. I got scared.)
She scoffed and put the rose back in the vase. She crossed her hands around the chest while he cleared his throat then said,
" Hasti ho to khilti ho phool ki tarah. Ruthi ho to chubti ho kaatein ki tarah. Dono baar karti ho vaar kaatil ki tarah."
( When you are happy, you bloom like a flower. When you are angry, you bite like a thorn. Both times, you attack like a killer.)
She laughed, " are you praising me or making fun of me?"
" Can I ever make fun of you?"
He asked and she thought for a few seconds before replying,
" Yes!"
" Hey! Don't lie."
He snapped at her and she chuckled.
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Jaydev roamed his eyes in the decorated living room. Rose petals are scattered everywhere, fairy lights are hung around the wall, candles are lit. Shruti sighed, seeing Tarun leaving in his car from the window.
She gritted her teeth, " what the hell is your problem?"
Shruti walked toward the arrogant man. He shifted his attention from the beautiful house to the beauty.
" What?"
He raised his eyebrows at her.
" What do you mean? You barged into my house, punched my friend and now walking here as if you own the place."
He dropped himself on the couch.
" Because I am totally mad. Done? Now answer my questions. What are you doing all the way out here with a boy when you have a husband?"
Her mouth hung open at the choice of his words. He just increased the level of anger.
" Because I have gone totally mad. Done? Now leave my house!"
She pointed at the exit.
" Nah!"
He looked around the room and frowned when he saw a gift wrapped on the table before him. He leaned his body forward to grab it but-
" DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT."
He lifted his eyelashes, " why? Is it for him?"
She walked toward him and grabbed the gift.
" Yes! So what?"
She scoffed and went to the only bedroom in this cottage. She came back in 2 minutes and said in a less aggressive tone this time.
" Are you leaving or not?"
" No," he replied stubbornly.
She crossed her hands around the chest, " why? Did I invite you? Oh! Wait, you must have brought divorce papers. Give it to me. I'll sign."
He almost rolled his eyes at her, " I did not come here for that."
" Then?"
She took one step closer to him. He stopped his gaze at her and forgot for a second what he was about to say. He pinched the bridge of his nose to stop her from diverting his mind.
" First tell me, what were you doing with him?"
She shook her head and walked to the open kitchen, " you should not care about that. Weren't you the one who said we are getting divorced? It's your birthday tomorrow. Think about your decision. Not me."
She filled water in a glass and gulped it down. He made her really angry and now asking stupid questions. If needed, she will burn the whole cottage with him inside.
He stood up and came to her while speaking, " I have prepared my decision."
She put the glass down, " what?"
" I do not want divorce."
She chuckled sarcastically, " and does this gentleman have a reason?"
" Yes, because I lo-"
He stopped in the middle. He couldn't complete himself. He just couldn't. She nodded and walked past him.
" Neither reason nor love, then why do you want me to stay? Don't tell me you want to use me as an excuse so that your family doesn't ask you for marriage-"
She gasped when she felt him grabbing her arm and spinning her around.
" Koi bahana nahi ho tum."
( You are not an excuse.)
" Mujhe bol rahe ho ya khud ko samjha rahe ho?"
( Are you telling me or explaining yourself?)
She raised her eyebrows. He parted his mouth to reply but again failed. Disappointment flickered in her gaze and she slowly freed her hands from his grip.
" You cannot think straight. Maybe you should check yourself to the doctor."
He furrowed, " did you just call me mad?"
" Yes, I did," she replied with no regret. He glared at her. She went to a particular corner of the house and brought a broom.
" What are you doing now?"
She tucked her pallu to the band of her saree.
" Cleaning the mess," she replied and started brooming the floor, to clean the flower petals from the floor.
Meaning, the little doubt he had that perhaps he did this decoration for him, was wrong. His heart pricked at the realisation and he asked bitterly,
" So you really did all this for him?"
" Yes, so what?"
She replied without looking into his eyes. He stayed stunned in his place, " why?"
" What do you mean by why? We were celebrating our 1st anniversary as friends? Do you think a girl and a guy can't be friends?"
" Not at all, when a guy proposes to you."
She stopped momentarily before beginning to collect the rose petals and throwing them in a bin.
" When did he?"
" Do not lie, sweetheart. I saw you two from outside."
She put the broom aside and walked to the kitchen. She started washing her hands while asking, " so you were stalking us? How cheap."
" Do not try to change the topic," he snapped at her.
She wiped her hands with a towel, " I am not."
She passed a glance at him while walking past him. He stared at her doing her 2nd work. He gritted his teeth when she switched off the fairy lights, letting candles be the only source of light.
" Shruti," he took long strides to her and again spinned her around and held her arm.
" Tsk! What the hell is your problem, Jay? As long as we were together you did not let me live in peace and now that you are leaving me, you are troubling me."
He gulped down his saliva, " so you really want to leave me?"
She stared into his eyes, sensing a discomfort in his voice and distress in his eyes. She licked her lower lip slightly,
" It's you who wants to."
He blinked his eyes, depicting he did not understand anything. She nodded slightly and parted her mouth to say,
" Jab chaha aapne, mere sath shaadi kar li. Ab aapko apna dost mil gaya hai to aapko lag raha hai aapki behan sukhi hai. Isiliye, ab ye shaadi tod rahe ho. In sab faisle mein aap kahan ho, Jay? Main...kahan hu?"
( Whenever you wanted, you married me. Now that you have found your friend, you feel that your sister is happy. That is why, now you are breaking this marriage. Where are you in all these decisions, Jay? Where am I?)
His eyes softened and he said, " ab ho na. Hum dono hai. Nahi dena talaak mujhe."
( Now we are both here. Don't give up on me.)
" Par kyu?"
( But why?)
She threw the same question as earlier at him and again, he was left tongue-tied. A sorrowful smile appeared on her lips,
" You are never clear, Jay. You were not like this. I knew that Jay who kept his promises and decisions accurate. This Jay... This Jay seems fake. Do you think I'll be able to live with this Jay? What if you and Bhai again fight? What if you flip on your decisions? What... If you want to divorce me when your past suddenly awakens."
She is demanding answers. She wants the truth. She wants the old Jaydev. He is ready for all these answers but doesn't know why he is silent. It seems as if a strange fear is still haunting him.
" You know Tarun is way better than you-"
She startled when he pinned her against the before letting her complete her sentence. She widened her eyes, witnessing the change in his behaviour.
" Do not fucking utter his name?"
She triggered.
" Why? Because he's better than you? Because he comforts me at my worst and you make me worse? Because he laughs with me and you only make me cry-'
" I am your goddamn husband!"
She flinched hard when he punched the wall beside her. She glanced at his hurt knuckles. Her anger overpowered his injury.
" Husband, and what? Husband who doesn't even care about me? Husband, who pastes his freaking decisions on me without even asking me? Husband, whose priority I am not at all-"
" You are! You are my priority, dammit!"
He brought his face closer to her and she felt like he snatched her breath for a second. She gulped and put her hands on his chest to stop him from coming even closer to her.
" You are my priority. I care for you. I do.. I do lo-"
He cursed himself, got restless when he again failed to confess his feelings. His incomplete answers only made her overwhelmed.
" See, you are hesitating," she shook her head and added, " that's not how life works, Jay. You cannot be selfish. Just let me go if my presence is bothering you-"
" No, it is not."
He joined his forehead and cupped her cheek with injured hand.
" I..I.."
She dropped her eyelashes and pushed him gently back. He stared into her eyes with vulnerability as she uttered,
" Let me go. You'll be happy and I'll find a man suitable for me who will love me."
" Before leaving, tell me one thing."
She hummed and he asked with blunt expression,
" Did you do this decoration for Tarun?"
He's still sticking to that. In the heat of the moment, Shruti ended up lying,
" Yes, I did but you ruined it."
She huffed and walked past him but the very next second he grabbed her arm and pulled her back, then pinned her against the wall.
" Jay-"
He cupped her cheeks and uttered while being extremely close to her.
" No fucking creature deserve you. No stupid man can love you. Because you, my dear wife.."
He wrapped his one hand around her waist and pulled her closer to himself. She sucked her own breath as he uttered against her lips.
" Are only mine. Signatures written on paper claim this. This vermillion in your head screams that you belong to Jaydev Chaudhary. And I may reach any limit to remind you every single fucking time."
She applied pressure on his chest and asked fearfully, " what..what will you do?"
His grip tightened around her waist and to answer her question, he pressed his lips on her. Tears streamed down from her eyes and her hands loosened on his chest.
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