Chapter 26: chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six“What the hell was that?” Yash pulled Aakash out into the cool fresh night air and spun him around to face him. Behind them, the nightclub door slammed shut blocking out the loud music and the chatter of the mass of humanity intent on having a good time.Aakash snarled and yanked his arm out of his grasp. “He deserved it.” “Yes, he probably did but you don’t deserve the shitstorm this will unleash if the media gets a hint of this. Think for a bloody minute, won’t you?” He grabbed his friend by the collar and shook him. “Your family doesn’t need to see this sprawled across the tabloids. They’re already going to be dealing with the aftermath of a broken engagement.” Aakash scrubbed his hands over his face and turned away from him. He took a shuddering breath and put his hands on his hips, looking up at the smog covered, night sky. “How the fuck did our lives end up like this? This wasn’t the way it was all supposed to turn out.”Yash didn’t answer. There really wasn’t any answer he could give. “Aren’t you happy?” he asked now, turning to face Yash, a bitter smile twisting his lips. “Happy about?” Yash asked, cautiously.“About the fact that you aren’t married to that termagant inside?” Yash stiffened. Someone exiting the nightclub stumbled into him, mumbled a drunken apology and then went their merry way. Yash stepped away from the entrance and started to walk towards the parking lot, forcing Aakash to follow. After a surprised moment, Aakash strode over to catch up with him. “Don’t tell me you still have feelings for her?” he demanded. “Okay,” Yash said, mildly. “I won’t tell you.” Aakash came to a shocked halt. “Are you serious? Her? She dumped you because you lost your job. Have you forgotten that?” “No, she didn’t.” Yash stopped beside Aakash’s car and held his hand out for the key. “I don’t think you should be driving right now. Give me the keys.”Aakash handed it over, his mind clearly too befuddled to argue.They were peeling out of the basement parking when Aakash said, “Explain.” Yash side eyed him to remind him he wasn’t one of his flunkies but answered anyway, “Apparently, my mother paid her a visit in the hospital and told her what a burden it would be for me to be saddled with a cripple. She seemed to think it was better to end the engagement than be with a man who thought of her as such.” Silence descended in the car as they stared out into the night, lost in their own thoughts. “Did she tell you this?” Aakash asked, finally. “No. Got it out of my mother. She’s rather proud of herself.” “Fuck!” Yash agreed. That one word summed it all up. “This would explain your new home,” Aakash said now. Yash shrugged, changing gears so he could overtake the car in front. “Still doesn’t explain your new couch,” Aakash snorted.Yash shook his head, a small smile breaking through.“So, what now?” Aakash ventured. “You guys are looking to get together again?” Yash sent him a droll look. “I’m sure we can all be BFF’s, especially after tonight.” Aakash laughed, a snort of a sound that had Yash grinning too. A second later, they were both laughing, tears running down their cheeks. Yash lowered the glass so the cool sea breeze could cool them down further. They were driving down the Bandra – Worli Sea Link and there was nothing quite as soothing as their city laid out in its beauty, glittering lights highlighting it at its best. “I’m sorry, man,” Aakash said, finally. “I don’t think I can see my way to tolerating that bunch.” Yash didn’t reply. The breeze ruffled his hair and reminded him of the day he’d kissed Maya. She’d slid her fingers into his hair and clenched tight, sending sensation spearing through him.“Nothing to be sorry about. There is nothing going on between Maya and me.” He looked out at the water below the bridge. “That ship has sailed.” “You sure about that?” No. Yash wasn’t sure. He wasn’t sure of anything when it came to Maya. But he knew one thing…Their past was too tangled and littered with too many minefields for them to find a way to each other. And he had a feeling Maya didn’t even want to. After all, why would she after what his mother had done? After the impression of Yash his mother had left her with?  Why would any sane woman want him after that?But he wanted her. He just had to look at her to have want slamming through him. He just had to feel her presence in the room to have need weakening his knees. She had him by the balls and she didn’t even know it.And he could never let her find out either.