Chapter 22

Nishtha

A week flew by, literally flew by.

I offered to join in early and work since I would have to take a leave for the wedding, so I started going to office everyday - I didn't need to, but I didn't want to see Aai prepare for this contract wedding in so much excitement.

It was annoying.

I was back home from my work now. I had to use the next week to work from home. Why?

Because next week is my wedding. In 6 days.

I walked in to see all lights and preparations being done. I didn't want to see all this. It was hurting me even more than I already am. Ugh.

"There you are!" Aai said, "Come. Sit."

"What's happening?" I said, seeing Aunty there.

"We need you to decide your wedding outfit. Do you want a saree or a lehenga?" Aunty asked.

"Anything is fine." I said, uninterested.

Aai held my hand, "It's your wedding. Choose."

"I'm okay with whatever. Seriously. You two can decide for me." I replied.

"How about this saree? It's a mix of Marathi and Hindi, so you'll have your traditional ones too."

"Sure." I said.

"Do you not want to see it once?" Aai asked.

"I'd rather just see it on the day - like a surprise."

"No problem!"  Aunty said, chuckling, "Nishtha listen!"

I turned to her, "Yeah?"

"Everyone is eating here today. Yuvaan is on his way here right now. You two go and collect the food please?"

Why with him?

"I can go alone. Why delay the food if it's ready?"

"Go together, he's downstairs, coming up."

I sighed dejectedly, "Okay I'll just freshen up."

I went into my room and washed my face. Then, I came out to my bed and sat there using my phone. I don't want to be a part of this. I heard noise from the outside and I assumed that they all had arrived - Vamika too.

I love Vamika, but after what happened, I am too scared to go to her. Yuvaan will never know what happened 4 years back, and I had sworn to keep it a secret. It was her story to tell, not mine.

I groaned.

I quickly got up, got my stuff and fixed my kurta and made my way out to see the whole Nanda family sitting in my hall. My eyes met Vamika's.

I don't want to do this.

I turned away and served everyone water.

"Yuvaan, Nishtha, go." Aunty said.

He got up and went by the door, waiting for me. I got up and followed him.

We walked silently down the lift and into the car.

Yes. I'm being rude to him, and if not rude then I am avoiding talking to him, being around him. I know the reality of this marriage, it is just to fix his playboy image. He has no feelings for me. I would be a fool to think that this marriage can be a positive thing. I am just his contract wife.

"Hello?" He said. Was he talking to me?

"Yeah Arush, tell." No he isn't.

"Tomorrow would be fine."

"No. I'm coming alone."

"She's there too?" She? Who's he talking about?

"Perfect! I'll pick her up and come." Who is she?

He cut the call and I continued to look out, I had to act like it isn't bothering me that he is picking a girl up, just 5 days before our wedding.

I felt my eyes watering at the thought of it.

Calm down, Nishtha. Get used to this.

"We reached." He said to me. I looked to see the place and then got down. He locked the car and walked ahead, with me trailing behind.

"Hi. We placed an order, for Nanda." He said.

"Yes Sir, here you go."

He was about to pay but before he could, I came and quickly tapped my card and did the paying.

"Why did you do that?" He asked.

I didn't answer.

I quickly got the food in my hands and smiled at the man working there and then headed back to the car, with Yuvaan behind me, still asking.

"Nishtha, I asked you something." He said as he opened the car door for me to sit.

He came on the other seat and I looked out while he fastened his belt and then faced me.

"Nishtha." His deep voice echoed.

I sighed, I couldn't ignore now. I turned, "Yes?"

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"You very well know what?

"Can you start driving? Everyone's waiting."

He glared at me, his jaw clenching. I was half expecting him to yell at me, but he stayed silent and went back to looking ahead and drove on.

It was again a quiet ride back to the house. Once we reached, I got down and without looking back, I spoke, "I'm going upstairs. You can park and come."

"Nishtha." He said, "I need answers."

I turned to him, "What answers do you need?"

"Why did you pay? I said I would get it."

"I guess I wanted to prove that I don't want anything from you. I didn't want anything then and I don't want anything now." I said and then walked away without waiting for his reply.

We sat in the house, all around the hall, and ate. Aai and Aunty sat with Baba and Uncle. They all were busy discussing the wedding.

I am done hearing this.

I wanted to leave. Or sleep. Or do anything that's keeping me away from this gathering.

It hurt me to sit here because when I see that man, I think of my old boyfriend. The one I had to leave because of his blind faith towards his own, the one who I used to love blindly, who used to love me blindly. 4 years were enough for him to pretend I don't exist, as he was driven with hate. What am I driven with? I still wait for a day when those eyes of his would look at me with love rather than hate, even though I know that this can never happen. Having to be the wife of my ex - boyfriend, who would love to see me burn in hell, wasn't on my list. I knew that if not Yuvaan, it was no one, but I didn't know that it would be Yuvaan, but like this.

When Aai told me that I have to marry him to fix his playboy image, my life came crashing down. I still loved that man and I used to wake up to his pictures with different women multiple times when I was in the US. It would hurt.

Did I ever stop following him? No.

I didn't physically stalk him, but I always knew his dedication to his work could take YUVA to great heights soon - and it did. I wanted to see that. I wanted to see him get the name and fame he deserved. Now, I have to marry him to fix his image.

Who asks their ex-girlfriend to fix their image?!

They did a lot for my Baba, so I had to say yes. I guess, you know what they say: a known devil better than an unknown angel. If I'm going to be living as a namesake wife to someone, it might as well be with the man I love, I can better his life, even if that life has zero place for me.

I saw Vamika looking at me. We haven't spoken in years. I don't intend to speak to her now as well, but I don't know how much longer I can get away with avoiding her.

Why are you avoiding her?

I don't know, I did what I did to help her.

But I can't face her, what if she believes him?

I don't want to find out.

"Aai, I'm done. I'm going to go to Pri's house." I said, keeping my plate in the kitchen.

"She must be sleeping right now." Aai said.

"No, she called and told me to come. I'm going."

Aunty chuckled, "Aditi Priya and her have been so inseparable since day 1! It's adorable!"

"What do I say Jaya! They're always at each other's place. Just house-shifting." Aai added.

"Okay, so can I go?" I asked.

"Yes beta, go." Baba said.

"Thanks."

I went into my room and was packing my bags when I felt someone behind me. I turned. Vamika.

"H...Hi." I said, mentally cursing my fate.

"Di. How are you?" She asked, sitting on the bed.

"I'm good, how are you?"

"I'm... I'm fine."

"You're studying in US, right?" I tried to talk.

"Yeah."

"What are you studying now?"

"Law with Business." She replied, "Di... stop can you stop moving around, please listen."

I sighed, and stood next to my bag, looking at it.

"Are you fine, Di?" She asked again.

"I said I'm fine. Don't worry."

"I didn't know you came back here. I know this must be difficult for you. Can I help?"

"You don't need to do anything. I don't need any help, don't worry. Just be happy." I smiled.

"Di, do you think I can live with myself knowing that I am the reason my most favorite couple has separated?!" She argued, "I can't see all this Di."

I chuckled, "you'll get used to it. I got used to it too. Don't worry, not everything has an all - time guarantee, neither did me and your brother."

"Don't say that, Di. Please." She said.

She was in tears. I sat down beside her, "Vami! Come on, don't cry! It's all good yaar."

"Why is my sister crying?!" Yuvaan's deep voice erupted through the room.

We turned around and Vami spoke, "Bhai... I.. I was just—"

"What did you do Nishtha? Can't let go of your old habits, can you?" He spoke harshly.

I felt tears in my eyes.

Here we go again.

I didn't talk.

"Bhai, she's not making me cry." Vami argued.

"Don't defend this woman Vami. You very well exactly what she had done." Yuvaan scoffed.

"Bhai. Stop! She isn't like this."

"Well done Nishtha, you manipulated her then and you somehow managed to do it again in the 5 minutes that you two have been alone. You are a manipulative bit—"

"Bhai! What's wrong with you?!"

"Vamika." I said. I don't want to drag this, "It's fine, you don't need to defend me. I'll leave."

I was going to leave when I heard Vami stop me but I didn't reply.

"Vamika, go outside." Yuvaan said.

"Bhai but I ne—"

"Vamika. Go out, please."

She sighed and walked out, touching my arm.

"You." He said, coming closer, "drop this act."

"I'm not doing anything Yuvaan."

"Sure, this whole goody act of not wanting my stuff, whereas what you're plotting is to exploit my sister... just like you did then."

"I... didn't do anything then, or now..."

"Stop lying at least Nishtha. Have some shame."

Don't answer Nishtha.

He'll never understand you.

"I'm warning you. We may be marrying, but you are never welcome in my heart again. You may be in my family's heart and in Vamika's brain, but I promise you I will remove you from every place. You're only a contract wife for a few years, don't try to think you're more than that."

My eyes were watering.

Get used to hearing all this, Nishtha.

I nodded slowly, "Understood Yuvaan."

"My name on your mouth sounds like a poison. I thought 4 years will make you better, you're still the same manipulative gold digger." He scoffed.

I felt the same 4 years ago pain stabbing me. The same feeling, the same pain.

I wiped my tears fast and then walked out. I saw him coming from behind but I quickly went to Aai and hugged her and covered my face with a smile, "Bye Aai. I'll be back tommorow."

"We'll also leave now." Aunty said.

I had to leave before anyone suggests that he drop me. I quickly called Adi, "can you pick me up please? It's urgent."

She agreed and I left my house saying that she is about to reach. I walked downstairs and I met with a very strange man who kept following me. I quickly ran into the reception.

He sat there as well?!

What's going on?!

I was sitting there until I realised that he was staring right at me. I felt scared, uncomfortable.

Adi, where are you?

Suddenly, I heard loud laughs and voices coming from the lift. I looked to see Yuvaan's family and my family coming out the lift.

"Nishtha? You're still here?" Aai asked.

My eyes weren't able to move entirely away from that creep who was still staring at me. No shame.

"Ye...yeah I'm... waiting.."

"For?" Aunty asked.

"Aditi is picking me up." I said, while looking at that guy simultaneously.

I tried to cover myself by standing behind Aunty and Aai but that guy changed his position and started glaring again.

"Okay no worries! Have fun." Aunty said and they all walked ahead.

Oh God. They'll leave me alone now.

I can't go back up. He'll find out where I live.

What should I do?

Where is the security guard?!

They all walked off, and I saw that man slowly coming closer, changing his seat one by one.

Suddenly, I felt a strong arm wrap around me. I looked up to see Yuvaan, holding my waist, and his other hand was glued on his phone as he was on a call. I looked behind and saw that man look and then run away when I glared at him.

Did Yuvaan really do this to help me?

I don't think so.

He has no other reason to touch me.

His call ended and the man was out of sight, so I quickly left from his hold, "Thanks."

He didn't reply and I understood that I am not getting a reply, so I turned and started to walk away.

"Nishtha. Wait." I turned around at him, "I'm dropping you."

"No. Aditi is coming. I'll go with her."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, "Ziddi."

"I didn't ask you to stay here Yu... Sir." I recalled his words, 'Even my name on your mouth sounds like poison.'

He looked at me in shock and in a weird way.

"What did you say?" He said, coming close.

"Nothing..."

"Nishtha. I asked you to tell me."

"I'm sorry." I said and then stormed off. Luckily he didn't follow me and I quickly found Adi and got into the car with her.

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