"Why can't both of you make it work?"
"Papa I already made you aware that we were getting a divorce. How can I continue to be in that position after that?" Dhwani explained to dad. They were in his cabin and were trying to make him understand their situation.
"I didn't give that position to my son's wife. I gave it to my daughter. " Dad said assessing Dhwani with a stern gaze.
Dhwani sighed not able to come up with an argument for that.
"Dad but the media. They will make a living hell out of this. " Veer tried explaining.
"Raghav Singhania has never done something for ir because of the media and he is not going to now. " He was not ready to make any kind of changes to his decision.
"You could have asked us before you made the announcement Dad. "
"And I apologised for that. I didn't know I had to ask your permission to do what is best for my company. "
"There is no point in blaming and accusing each other. " Mukundan Iyer , my father's right hand man said sternly.
Mukundan uncle was with dad from the beginning and wa a huge part of the success of the Singhania Empire. Also He was Kartik's father. He had taken voluntary retirement to spend his old days with his wife back in Chennai.
"Dhwani are you sure about this ? Are you Veer. Divorce is not child's play. "
"Yes uncle. "
"Then we have to find a loophole out of this. "
"I'm sorry papa. But I can't do it. You don't have to take this much risk for me. I am resigning. "
"Do you know what you are saying Dhwani?" Veer asked
Both uncle and dad glared at me to shut up.
"Beta please think about it once more. These decisions are not supposed to be rushed. "
"No Papa. It feels like the right decision. "
Veer had no say in this. He knew that. He had lost all rights to that a long time ago. Still he wished he could do something to change her mind.
"Let's do one thing You can be the head of the new Ahmedabad branch. If you both want to be seperated then I hope that will help. "
"That is a great idea. What do you say Dhwani " dad said supporting uncle's idea.
"Is it necessary Papa?" Dhwani asked unsure.
"It is not necessary but it will be profitable for all of us. "
"I will do it. Only for you. " Dhwani replied looking at dad.
"No. Do it for yourself beta. " Dad replied with a smile
"Okay"
"Good. Then you can start there from next month. " Uncle said looking between us to see if there was any opposition.
Once they exited the cabin he asked her.
"Dhwani. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes. "
She nodded.
"I am with you " I whispered as I gave her hand a comforting press.
"Do you want to grab a coffee. Next month we will be officially divorced. So a treat for this new chapter in our lives. " Veer asked with a smile to which she replied with a nod and a smile through which he could clearly see the pain.
*
"So who was she "
Dhwani asked nonchalantly
"Who was who" he was genuinely confused.
"You know Sita " she replied taking a sip from her cappuccino.
"Ohh Her. I told you right. She's an old friend. "
"Yeah right. "
"Is she married?" She asked again. Veer found himself smiling at her interest in the subject.
"No." He replied.
It wasn't a complete lie. Technically she wasn't. Not anymore.
"Ohh. She seems like a nice girl. '
"Are you jealous love ?" Veet asked with a hint of a smirk.
"Why should I be jealous We are parting ways and you deserve to be with someone who can love you unconditionally "
"Only you can love me like that Dhwani and we both know that. "
"I know what I did was a grave mistake and I regret it everyday every second.
Please stay. I will stand by any descision you take but stay. I don't think I could ever live without seeing your beautiful face or hearing your soothing voice every day. I can't live without your scolding and caring. Stay please. "
"You know that is not possible Veer. And I think we are way past forgiving and forgetting. " She sighed.
"Then why are you jealous love. You said you wanted me to move on. To find love again. Then why are you jealous. "
"I am not jealous and I am not changing my descision. I am going to Ahmedabad and I will make sure to never enter your life again. " She replied with utmost seriousness.
"You need to leave first to enter love. You are etched into my body my heart and my soul.
And I promise you there is never going to be another woman in my life other than you. "
"That's all for today and don't forget to get your assignments singed by me tomorrow. "
Rehan got busy in arranging his possessions as the students hurried out of the lecture hall. It was the last one of the day. He didn't notice a particular someone standing back.
"Rehan"
"It's professor Singhania for you Ms Mehta " he replied. His eyes reflected all the hostility he felt for Sarah.
"Come on now don't be like that. Just because a good for nothing whore got into your life in my place. " She scoffed
"That was supposed to me right baby."
Her eyes were ones that of an obsessive maniac.
"Sarah I'm warning you. Get out now. " Rehan was trying hard to control his patience.
"Why don't you understand Rehan I love you. Truly. " She whined.
"And I don't. Conversation over. " He tried to get out but the doorway was blocked by Sarah.
"You will. If you give me one chance baby. "
"Sarah. Stop this. Atleast now that I'm married. " He reprimanded her.
"You didn't want to though. We can divorce her and we can be together forever. Why would you want her anyway. Boring old Arya. "
That was the breaking point for Rehan. He had come to a point where even the tiniest insult towards Arya made his blood boil.
"That is my wife you are talking about and I love her. There wont be another woman in my life other than her. "
"What dark magic did she do? It's no surprise that her face and heart is dark. "
"If you utter one more word against her..'
"You won't do anything Rehan. You have too many virtues for that. "
He tried to push past her. But she stuck in to him like a leech.
"Rehan baby give me one chance. I will prove to you how much better I am than that bitch. " She said making him look at her.
The sound of someone's footsteps made Sarah move away from him. He turned towards the sound to see Arya there.
"Arya it's not what it looks like. "
"Arya look what he has done again. I told him you are married you can't do this anymore. But he was a pervert... "
Before she could complete the sentence a slap resonated on her cheeks.
"That's my husband bitch. I was waiting so long to do that. I'm warning you for the last time. Don't you dare mess with us. Try doing whatever you can buy if our respect and commitment towards each other is pure and genuine I promise. You wont be able to touch even single hair of our body. "
Sarah ran out insulted by her own actions. It stung her more as it came from Arya , a low life that could never raise her voice against her.
"What was that? " Rehan asked shocked.
"What was what? " Arya questioned acting oblivious.
"The 'thats my husband"
"I was protecting my husband's virtue" she replied with a wink.
"Accha. "
"Yes. Why is there anything wrong with that?"
"No nothing. " He smiled.
"You know but that Sarah did give some really good offers. As this is a drama do you mind if I? "
Arya stormed towards him and grabbed him by the collar.
"I love you damnit and don't you dare expect any cute cheesy speech from me. I love you and that's it.
Actually I fell for you a long time ago Mr Singhania but you were an idiot that you had to hear me say it. "
"How? Why? "
He was blanking out. It must be his illusion. He was just messing with her and yesterday he had just told her what he felt because of the anger. He didn't expect this as the outcome from both scenarios.
"You gave me love , a family and the feeling of safety , the things I have never felt before ever in my life and you ain't that bad looking either. "
"Really? " He asked raising an eyebrow
"Really. "She replied with a huge smile.
"Why are you here?"Â He asked Still not completely in his senses.
"I wanted to see you. Can't I visit my husband if I want to see him. " She asked smiling.
"Of course you can. " He melted at her smile.
He captured her lips in a short kiss.
"I love you too Mrs Singhania. Thank you for accepting to being there in my life. "
Dhruv was working on a new project in his office when he got the call from Mahika.
"Hello ?"
"Yeah Mahi. Bolo"
"Woh actually Dhruv , can you come with me to a concert tonight?"
"What happened? Is there any problem"
"No no. I didn't want to go alone and everyone else are busy with one thing or the another. "
"Okay. I will pick you up by 6?"
"Yeah that's okay."
"See you tonight. Bye"
"Bye "
This was not the first time Mahika was asking him to accompany him to something but it was the first time he was ready to do so.
The divorce was a great move from her side. Not that he wanted her to go away from him but he didn't want her seeping into depression because of him too. The decision somehow made his heart a bit lighter. He couldn't hurt her anymore.
Dhruv was pretty sure that is the only thing he know. To hurt people in every way possible. He was not doing it intentionally. Yet he knew it was not a good justification. He was trying to redeem himself. He was trying to mend his bonds with his family. But Dhruv was not sure if he could mend the ones he had broken with Mahika.
He didn't want her to forgive him. Even he was not ready to forgive himself for everything he had done. Still he wished to keep her friendship. He wished to keep that tiny part of her soul they had exchanged during their childhood days.
Dhruv finisher the work and went to the mansion and got ready. He was going for a simple look and wore on of his black kurtas with white cotton pants.
"Chachi I'm going out"
"Where beta?"
"Mahi wanted to go to a concert. She asked me to accompany her. "
"Ohh. Good. "
"Dhruv Mahi is a good girl. "
"I know Chachi. "
"She is your wife and still loves you. "
"Chachi as you said she is a good girl and good girls don't deserve broken boys. "
*
"Hey" he said greeting mahi with a grin.
"Hello "
"So where to?"
"I have forwarded you the location. "
"Oh okay "
"Toh chale "
"Of course "
"And thank you by the way. " She said gratefully.
"Yeah don't mention it. This is the bare minimum I can do for you. "
Mahika was dressed in a simple organza saree with jhumkas adorning her ears and her hair was neatly plated.
"Why did you ask me? Not that I'm complaining but where is your other best friend. Ayaan ? Aaryan? "
"It's Avyaan and he had some promotional event for his new film. Actually he has invited me to it's primier next week. "
"Oh nice. Give him a congrats from my side. " Dhruv replied trying to sound as genuine as possible.
They reached the venue and Dhruv got out of the car and locked it hurriedly as he got a call from his assistant. When he finished the call he saw Mahika waiting for him. She seemed uncomfortable.
He looked around to see a bunch of boys looking at her. Their eyes conveying some not so good intentions.
Dhruv put a protective hand on her shoulder and escorted her inside the venue not before giving the boys an intensive glare that could have had them six feet under.
Once they were seated Dhruv noticed the name of the Artist who was performing. The name brought back so many memories that his breaths became a labour. He held the armrest tightly to calm himself down a bit.
He stood upto leave but Mahi stopped him by holding his hands.
"Please. For me? " She asked giving him puppy eyes.
Dhruv sat down. This was the least he could give her. He was still sweating profusely because of his anxiety. Mahi placed her hands above his and gave him a comforting smile.
The artist that had him like this was the great Carnatic musician Shri Ranganatha Shastri.
*
Dhruv listened to the music and the music only. He resisted all his urges and did not look at the stage not even once.
He didn't know how to face him when he knew he was the reason his daughter was no more.
After the concert which had Dhruv rewinding all of his bittersweet memories he got upto leave. A hand stopped him. Mahi motioned him to follow her and lead him towards the backstage holding his hands.
They could see Shastri sir drinking water. He looked exhausted from the long concert.
Mahi tapped his shoulder and with a bow said.
"Namaste Shastri Garu "
She bent down to touch his feet.
"Mahika you?"
"How are you beta? "
"Good. Shastri Garu I wanted you to meet someone. "
Her statement made him turn his attention on me.
"Dhruv beta. How are you?"
His eyes teared up at his recognition.
"Good. " He replied his voice breaking a bit.
"I know you must be angry at me for all the harsh words I have given you. I never disliked you Dhruv but I could never say that to you. I am like that. Too egoistic. "
He gave a mirthless chuckle.
"I didn't want you to take my daughter away from me. I wanted her to be with me always. She was all that I had. But God had other plans for her. "
"The hostility I have given you came from love only. I regretted that once I lost my daughter. Due to some puny of my previous birth I got a chance to meet you again. "
"Forgive this father beta. Forgive the words a father said due to his grief. "
Dhruv hugged him.
"I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. " He repeated trying to hold back his tears.
Dhruv turned to see Mahi watching everything with a smile and tears in her eyes.
"How do you know Mahika?"
"How did you think I agreed to your marriage with my daughter?"
"Mahi came to me one day and made me realise your love and that made me agree to it. She has grace in her body and soul. "
*
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Why did you help our relationship?"
"All I ever wanted was for you to be happy Dhruv. "
He nodded.
"Still I hurt you a lot didn't I?"
"You did. Yes. But whenever I look at you all I can see is the Dhruv who loved everyone so much , who could never stop smiling and caring. "
The tears in his eyes refused to leave making his vision blurry.
He held her hand and gave her a grateful smile.
"Why did you do this now?"
"I wanted to see the old Dhruv again atleast for one time. Before I go. "
"Go where? " He asked confused.
"I am moving to Delhi. I got an opportunity to be a guest lecturer in The Kathak Kendra. I will leave at the end of this month. "
"Ohh. Congrats. "
"What about the accomodation?"
"Avyaan's family is settled there. They have offered me a place to stay till I find one of my own. "
"Hmm. "
The rest of the ride was silent and bleak.
Dhruv didn't know why he felt this much pain in her news. He must be overjoyed for her. Yet their he was lamenting , the reason unknown even for him.
He opened the door for her when they reached her home.
She smiled then said " You are free Dhruv. Come back to your old self. You are Free of the guilt and self loathing. Free of me. "
He interuppted her by pulling her into a hug
"Thank you. " He whispered in her ears.
" And I don't think I ever want to be free of you. "
â
I made you guys wait way too long didn't I?
I guess it is my secret talent to be late.
And when I say I'm updating expect it only at night. I am an owlð¹
Love you all
Aswa_maya
"I'm like helium. Mere sath bhi kisi ka bond nahi Banta"