28| Him being sorry

Started on 19th September 2020.

Competed on 21st September 2020.

Word count : 3634 words

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- D I V Y A -

The world tour was awesome, beautiful and amazing. But it wasn't fully a work-free leave as I met Mr Park by chance. How many hometowns does he have? He's present everywhere. Is he having Doraemon's anywhere door? He asked me to work on the project. Who would tell him that I'm on a leave!

I pity Ayaan. He liked Janine but she used him for business matters. I can't even tell, how he must have felt.

After coming back to my country I straightaway went to the same house where I live. I opened the gate slowly as it was one at night. Pure silence in the air.

I tiptoed into the house and closed the door silently, not wanting to wake him up. I left without meeting anyone, just writing the message on sticky note. Hope he handled everything. I went inside the kitchen to drink water but Ayaan surprised me, he was standing inside probably cooking something. But who cooks at this time? "What are you doing at this time?" I asked.

"Nothing. Cooking." He answered. He had some beard grown on his face. Not some but a thick layer. Did he forget to shave?

"Why are you acting like a dead man?" I asked.

"How should I act then? I know you're not real. You're just my imagination. Just go back before it becomes worse." He said. Me in his imagination? Who knows what he's thinking. I took a bottle out from the refrigerator and drank it. "How did the fridge open and the bottle...? Are you real?" He asked. What nonsense is he saying.

"No I'm the ghost of Divya." I said wiping my mouth with the back of my hand and turning to move out of the kitchen.

"You're really here." He turned me back and hugged me. What's with him? If I won't be here then where? He kissed me on forehead and settled his head over mine. "Why didn't you inform before coming? I would have picked you up."

"Huh? I have two legs and money for cab." I said and tried to free myself.

"I'm sorry." He said and I freezed in my position. Why is he saying sorry? What is he sorry about?

"For what?"

"For thinking wrong about you. I shouldn't have said that about Aman and you." Is he really sorry about such a thing? I literally forgot what he said and here he is extremely sorry.

Aman told me about Anubhav proposing him, though I wasn't present there but seeing how happy he was, it must have had gone happily. But the laws in our country won't allow them to marry! Either they won't be able to marry or they have to shift abroad to a country where marrying the same gender is legal.

Should I use this situation for my own benifit? Well, I can. I can make him do what I want. This way I could teach him a lesson for how he ruined my teenage. I never understood why he always taunted me and made my life a living hell. He bullied me. Not physically but emotionally. Can anyone think how a girl feels when someone constantly calls her fat? Were we enemies in our past lives?

"Could you forgive me?" He asked, his chin still over my head. I want to laugh but I can't.

"Sorry but I can't." I politely refused and he moved away from me.

"Please. I'm really sorry." He said. His eyes were shining with hope. I remained quit to enjoy the situation. "Alright. If you won't forgive me like this then you can punish me." He said and I narrowed my eyes.

May I laugh? Of course I can't.

"I don't know. I'll think about it." I said in a cool way.

"Okay. Have it." He took some chocolates out of the refrigerator and gave them to me.

"What's this for?"

"Nothing. You like chocolates, right?" He smiled. I nodded and went straight to my room. Why is he acting so strange?

In these days, far away from my daily life I noticed one thing. I missed my lifestyle. I missed mumma, mom, both dads, all my colleagues, Natasha and......maybe Ayaan too.

Do I like him?

No. How can I like him? He was the one who always called me fat pig as if he was the 'World's most desirable man'. Idiot!

××

"What would you like to eat? Indian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese or Mexican?" He asked to choose between the cuisines as if he's an international chef.

"All of it." I said to tease him a bit.

"What? How would you eat this much?"

"Just accept that you can't cook these many dishes." I said.

"Try to choose one. Maximum two." He said. I stared at him and we both broke into laugh.

"Let's go with Indian and Chinese dishes. I'm missing them for a long time." I said. He nodded and went to do his work, cooking. He decided to make the breakfast on his own. It was time for lunch actually.

"Here you have your dishes prepared by a talented, hot and handsome man." He smiled and placed the plates and bowls on table. He prepared noodles with manchurian, butter chicken, rajma curry, dal makhani, malai kofta, biryani and samosa. I tasted dishes and the taste.........I can't even convey it. Even yummy and delicious would be less for a compliment.

He looked at me with his shining eyes, waiting for me to review his cooking skills. "It's good." I said and continued to eat my food. He wasn't eating the food and was sitting idle. "Why aren't you eating?" I asked.

"Nothing. It's just too oily and unhealthy." He said. I looked the food I was eating, there wasn't much oil used in it. Yeah! For a health freak like him, even milk would be oily.

I took a morsel of food and stuffed in his mouth. He looked at me in shock. Did I do something wrong? I'm just feeding the hungry. "You won't get fat after eating a single meal." I said and took my hand back. He nodded and started eating.

It was Sunday, so no work. We both sat on the couch comfortably and switched on the TV. "How's the work in office going on?" I asked him.

"Good. You even worked in your leave." He said and smiled. How did he knew? "Mr Park informed."

"Don't you have razor?" I asked. He looked at me in shock. "Trimmer?...... Your beard. It's a little too new." I said. In school days boys weren't allowed to keep beard. And in these four months, Ayaan has always kept his face clean shaved or rather with a thin stubble growth. This thick stubble was something new.

"It.... It's in fashion right? Beard is in trend." He said. Well, some like beard while some don't. For me it's...... Wait! Who am I to like beard? Women don't have it, right?

I kept changing the channels as nothing was good enough to watch. "Divya! Would you be my friend?" He shouted energetically. Why does he want to befriend me?

"Why?"

"We can't always live like enemies. Living with friend is good, right?"

"Alright." I said.

"Then from now, we're friends." He forwarded his hand and I shook it. From now on we're friends! He smiled and hugged me. What was that for?

"What are you doing?" I asked as it was almost impossible for me to breath in his bone crushing hug.

"We're friends. Friends hug each other, right?" He said. I hugged him back and after a lot of trying, finally freed from his hug.

At night I decided to execute my plan - he loves his newly grown beard and I'll cut it to take my childhood revenge. Call me mean, I don't care. He won't be able to say anything as what he wants is his forgiveness. It would be a long and funny night.

I slowly opened the gate of his room and tiptoed inside. I've never entered his room but I must say it's beautiful and grand. Why? Because the parents made this room to be our bedroom. But what they don't know is that we don't share rooms. I live in the room which was meant to be one of the guest rooms.

Pity me!

I slowly went inside his bathroom and after a hour of searching found a trimmer. Slowly slowly I went near his sleeping form and switched the trimmer on. Hope the sound doesn't wake him up!

In a few seconds, the left side of his face was free from the hairy growth. He looked funny in half faced beard. As I switched on the trimmer once more and started to trim his stubble, someone pushed me towards the bed.

Pushed me?

There's only Ayaan. What pushed me? Of course his hands. Which were around my back. But when did they reach there?

I looked at his face and he was still in sleep. His eyes were closed, eyelashes touching his cheekbones and lips parted a little.

Why do boys always have thick eyelashes? Girls die for them, but here, these boys are having them without any need.

Leave it!

He looked cute.

Did I say....?

No. I can't.

Why would I call him cute? I'm not fool like others who would call him cute.

"What are you doing here? At this time?" He opened his eyes and smirked, "Trying to seduce me?"

"Why would I seduce you? I have better work to do than seducing you." I said and tried to get up.

"Wait. What is this tickling thing?" He made a face. Oh shit! I forgot to throw his hair. It must have had tingled him. "Whose hair is this?" He said looking at the hair.

"I'll get going." I stood up to run away.

"Wait! It's my beard." He said as it must have been an unbelievable shock for him. His eyes came out as soon as he looked himself in the mirror. "What's this? You did this, right?" I nodded and ran out to his room. "Divya!!! Come here." I heard him shouting. There's no chance I'm going back. I did the mischief but I don't want to get the punishment.

××

"Divya! Get up or you'll be late. And don't forget the your paid leave is over. Take a day off and your salary would get deducted." I heard his voice, shouting through his throat when I was combing my hair.

"It's not that I'm always lazy. I'm awake. I was just busy." I opened the gate of my room narrowing my eyes and answered. "You don't have to act like my dad- strict and lark!"

"Still, a lark is better than a night owl. Let's go down to eat breakfast." I nodded and went down with him.

He had shaved the rest half of his face, looking clean.

"Did you forgive me?" He asked while eating.

"Huh?" I should be the one asking about forgiveness but here it's the opposite.

"Day before yesterday I asked you to-" I stopped him in between.

"I don't know if I should but-"

"Please." He said.

"Okay." I said and continued eating.

"So am I forgiven?" He asked.

"If you ask again then I'll take it back." I said and he nodded. "I need your help."

"Okay."

"Promise me that you won't back off." I asked.

"Is it something illegal?" He asked.

"No. But promise me that you won't back off."

"Okay. You have my promise. I can do anything." He promised.

××

"Are you sure you want me to do this?" He asked and I nodded. "But why are you using me as a scapegoat?"

"Do you think I can ask other man for this?" I said.

"But it's called the misuse of promise." He said.

"You promised me. Now you can't back off." I said and came out of the car. We were now standing in front of the hospital where Dhruv works. I don't know how true was what Natasha said but I know that I can't see my brother falling into a trap. If Dhruv loves someone who's just using him then it's our duty to show him the truth.

As per what Natasha said, Samaira is behind men, who look handsome. If I show Dhruv, how Samaira is behind other men, maybe he would back off and leave her. So I'm using Ayaan as a scapegoat who'll make it look as if Samaira is flirting with him and cheating on Dhruv.

"I'm still nervous. What if she really flirts with me? And clings on me?" He asked.

"Let it be. Just do what I said."

"I want to back off?"

"Dare to back off and I'll take my forgiveness back." I glared at him. "She's here. Just go now. I'm calling Dhruv." I pushed him to go. I called Dhruv to come down.

"Hey! I've seen you somewhere." Ayaan said. Good move!

"I'm too famous, you know." Samaira said.

"Are you free tonight?" Ayaan asked.

"I am but I don't prefer younger men." She said. How does she know? "You're Ayaan, right?" She laughed and whispered something in his ear. What was she saying?

"You're...? Seriously?" Ayaan was shocked. What did she say?

In a second Dhruv arrived in the sight.

Shrey and Natasha came there too. What is Natasha doing here?

Diya arrived alone in the scene too.

What is happening?

Diya saw Shrey and ran away. Shrey's face was like 'what's happening'. He too ran behind her.

Natasha was standing there, seeing Dhruv and Dhruv's gaze was shifting between Natasha and Ayaan.

Ho gaya Siyappa!!

I quickly ran towards Ayaan, "Darling, why did you run away? You should have waited for me."

"What happened? Why are you both here, in hospital?" Dhruv asked us.

"Nothing. We just came to meet you." I answered Dhruv and turned to Ayaan, "Let's go. I forgot that there's an urgent meeting." I dragged Ayaan and then Natasha too.

"Plan flopped." I sighed sitting inside the car.

"What plan?" Natasha asked. She was in the same car as Shrey left with his car behind Diya.

"Nothing. Just like that." I said.

"That Samaira was-" Ayaan said but I stopped him.

"Please stop. I'm in no mood to talk." I said.

"Your wish." He said and started driving.

"Overtake that car." I ordered as soon as I saw Diya in a car.

"Do you want me to commit an accident?" He said.

"Just do what I'm saying." I said and he did the same. I came out of the car and took Diya with us. Let's discuss what she's thinking.

Coming to our house, we all sat on the couch to relax and talk. Everyone has much to answer. "Ayaan! What are you doing here? Do you want to change your gender and join girl's talk?" I asked as he was sitting with us.

"No. I have some work to do. You all can enjoy." He said and went away.

"What happened Diya? Why did you ran away from the hospital?" I asked.

"Nothing." Diya was sobbing. Oh God! Why is everyone being a crybaby?

"Wait a minute! Are you misunderstanding me and Shrey? What are you thinking girl? Why would I like a man like him? He's so...." Natasha started laughing but stopped when she saw Diya glaring her angrily. "Sorry. I mean your boyfriend is good but I can't and won't like him that way."

"Why can't you?" Diya asked.

"Because we're cousins. He's my brother."

"What?" We both said in unison. Isn't it too new and shocking news? "Samaria is your cousin. Shrey is your cousin. So...?" I asked.

"Unfortuantely, they both are siblings. Twins. They both shared their food and oxygen for nine months." Natasha said. That's a new thing to know. They both don't even look a bit like the other one! "Sometimes, I think that my sister was swapped with this Samaira, after my mami gave birth to both her children. But then after seeing my nani, it's obvious that Samaira is her granddaughter. Both are irritating." Natasha ranted.

"Your nani (maternal grandma) is Shrey's dadi (paternal grandma) ?" Diya asked. What's going on?

Natasha nodded and said, "As everyone knows how my nani is, she was against the marriage of my parents. She always wanted my mum to marry a businessman. But my mother fell in love with my dad– a doctor and being afraid she ran away with him. Nani never liked my dad and disowned mum. After my birth, she recognised me as her grandchild but still doesn't talk to my parents. My dadu is like her biggest enemy as he's also a doctor. She hates doctors but after Samaira chose this stream, she warned her not to love any doctor." I nodded hearing her long story, "Little does she know that her Samaira can't love anyone. She just plays with feelings."

My god! Her family has such an adventurous story!

"Diya! Are you sure you want to marry in this family?" Natasha glared at me as I was speaking about her family. Diya nodded and blushed.

"Why are you blushing? Your Shrey isn't here!" Natasha teased Diya.

"I want to use the restroom." Diya excused herself.

"I should call Shrey to enjoy your blush....." Natasha shouted and teased her once more. "We shouldn't have took Diya with us. Shrey must be finding her."

"Stop teasing her." I said.

"I should tease you then." She smirked and started mimicking me, "Darling, why did you run away? You should have waited for me."

"I'll kill you if you repeat it." I shouted.

"Okay sorry. But I think you're in love with him." Natasha said and I glared at her, "I mean you told me about the situation in which you married. But now it's more like you're in love with each other. Can't you see the way he looks at you? Just like a mad puppy in love with you."

"Okay! Stop your love talks."

I stopped her but is she saying the truth?

Can't you see the way he looks at you?

What way?

Does he love me?

Noooo.....

"Natasha...." I called her.

"Hmm."

"Aren't you Diya's sister-in-law?" I asked loudly when Diya was on the way, coming back. Natasha understood what I was trying to say.

"Yes. She's my to be bhabhi. I've called Shrey. He must be coming in a minute." Natasha teased her too.

"Where's Diya?" Shrey barged inside. We both directed him towards Diya. He ran towards her and hugged her tightly, kissing all over her face.

Oh my God! What am I watching?

"Oh my virgin eyes! Why are you holding her so tightly as if she's running away? She won't be able to breath properly? Let her be free." Natasha said feeling disgusted after seeing them being too touchy.

"Are you alright?" He asked her and she nodded. "We'll take our leave." He excused himself and Diya out.

"I'll leave too." Natasha said but I stopped her.

"What are you doing in India? You went for your training right? It's almost fifty days of your training. Still forty days are left."

"Some changes happened in the schedule. Training of rest of the forty days will happen after some time." She said and I nodded. "I'll leave now. Enjoy with your husband." She whispered teasingly.

"I'll kill you Natasha." I shouted.

I went towards the kitchen to get some water and saw Ayaan resting against the kitchen slab. What's with kitchen and him? He's always present in the kitchen.

"So..... Did your friends leave?" He asked and I nodded. "I was thinking about something for a long time."

"Tell." I said and drank water.

"I....." He said a word but wasn't continuing the rest, I encouraged him to say more, "Let's play a game. What say?" He asked.

"What? Game? I'm tired and tomorrow is not a leave. I have to wake early tomorrow too." I said.

"When did you start waking up early. It's always around eight which is not too early. Leave all of this. Let's go and play." He dragged me to the living room and went away to take something.

"What is this?" I asked seeing a big box in his hands.

"It's contains all my childhood games. What do you want to play?" He asked.

"Do you have chess?"

"Yes. Let's play it."

"Wait! I'm feeling a little sleepy so I'm gonna make coffee. Should I make some for you?" I asked and he smiled and nodded.

"Here you have your coffee." I came holding coffee mugs some snacks in a tray but stopped in my tracks as he wasn't there, "Where are you?"

"Out. Near the pool." His voice came.

"What are you doing here? And why are you sitting down?" I asked as I was shocked to see him sitting down on the floor.

"The real fun of playing games is while sitting comfortably on the floor. And it's not bare floor, can't you see the sheet?" He asked.

"I can see the sheet. I'm not blind." I said and slammed the tray on floor.

"Chill. I was joking." He said and we both started playing chess and at last I won. I really pity him! He lost to badly! "Don't worry. It's not that I lost. I deliberately made you win." He started praising himself.

"Yes. Ofcourse. You are great." I said sarcastically.

"I know. Now let's play cards." He said.

"Alright." And we started playing cards and then Ludo and then I don't remember as I fell asleep.

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍

Hope you liked the chapter.

Thanks.