chapter 23

Aashi came out of the mansion, it was raining heavily outside. She made her way to the car and started driving towards the apartment. As she drove, her father's words echoed in her mind.Aashi tried to push the thoughts away, focusing on the road ahead. But the words kept coming back, haunting her. Finally, she reached the apartment building and parked her car. As she opened the door, her phone rang. It was Aditya. She picked up the call Aashi: Hey.....Aditya: Hey...what kind of magic have you cast on me yaar? We just talked half an hour ago, but I already miss you so much (Aditya said, his voice filled with love)Aashi's sadness and anger melted away after hearing Adityas sweet words, she blushed, feeling a rush of love for him. Aashi: Your the real magician Aditya, Your words always bring a smile on my face, no matter how tense I am. You're a mood changer Aditya: So you mean to say that you were tense before my call came? Aashi: yes a bit...but now I'm fine Aditya: Hey, what happened...is everything okay? (Aditya asked with concern) Aashi: Nothing...nothing much. you handover the painting and come back soon, and I'll be all good Aashi didn't tell Aditya about the argument with her dad as she didn't wanted to make him tense. Aditya: Are you sure that nothing is wrong? Aashi: Yes my love...I'm all good. By the way, I forgot to tell you...I have come to the apartment. I'll be staying here tonight Aditya's worry grew as Aashi mentioned she was staying at the apartment for the night. He feared she might discover the surprise gift which her dad had told him to hide in the apartment Aditya: What???? what are you doing at the apartment? I...I mean all of a sudden? Aashi: nothing much love...just wanted to spend sometime with my ownself...and besides that, I was missing you too...so I decided to come up here and sleep on the same bed on which you sleep....it will help me to feel your warmth during your absence. Aditya: hmmm, by saying all this I know that you are trying to hide some matter ...I know something is not right there...tell me what is it? Aashi: Nothing like that Aditya...you're just overthinking, that's it. By the way, listen...tomorrow I might be going to the institute early morning Aditya: Early morning, but why? Aashi: Actually, our team has funded money for a poor parent whose kid needs an urgent heart transplant...so tomorrow is the operation day. Let's hope the operation becomes successful and a smile comes back on the faces of the family members. Aditya once again felt proud on Aashi, and her work of charity. Aditya: You know Aashi, I feel so nice when I see you showing your concern and care towards people whom you don't even know personally Aashi smiles hearing Adityas reply. Aaashi: I can't express the happiness in words Aditya that I get when I help a person in need. My institute means the world to me. In fact, in the near future, I am planning to expand it as well. I want my institute to have branches all over the country Aditya: Your dream will definitely become a reality Aashi, I'm sure about it (Aditya replied with confidence) Aashi: Hope so, but I want you to be there with me when my dream has turned into reality Aditya: I'm always there with you my love Aashi: I know. Acha by the way, do you know, before you came into my life, my institute was my only love. I used to give all my time and energy for it. At that time, I had never thought that one day someone would come into my life who would become equally important to me as the institute. now today in my life, You and the institute mean everything to me. I have only two wishes in my life Aditya – to spend my entire life with you, and to see my institute getting expanded. that's all I wish for. besides that.....I want nothing more from life Aditya became emotional hearing Aashis reply. he was deeply touched by her words. Aditya: I love you so much Aashi...I love you so much. Aashi: And I love you more than you could ever imagine Aditya. Now come, let's sleep....but keep the doors of your dreams open as I'll be knocking on it tonight. Aditya smiles hearing Aashi's reply. Aditya: ofcourse, the doors of the dreams are always open for you...so see you in my dreams...Aashi blushes hearing Adityas response. Aashi: see you loveAfter ending the conversation with Aditya, Aashi decided to sleep. as she went towards the bedroom and opened the door, she saw something that gave her shock of her life. she saw a bag kept on the bed inside the bedroom that resembled to the money bag that had got lost from her house. a lot of negetive thoughts started rolling up in her mind after seeing the bag. she slowly walked closer towards the bag, her heartbeats increasing with every step...as she opened it, everything became clear infront of her eyes...Aashi frozen in shock as she stared at the bag full of money...it was the same bag that had got lost from her house. Her mind raced with memories of her argument with her father, the doubts he had expressed about Aditya, and the nervousness in Aditya's voice when she had mentioned her arrival at the apartment. It all seemed to add up to one horrifying conclusion - Aditya had stolen the money. her eyes were wide open in shock. Tears welled up in Aashi's eyes as she struggled to come to terms with the betrayal. The person she had trusted the most had turned out to be a thief. The weight of the realization hit her like a ton of bricks, leaving her feeling lost and confused. next morning after selling the painting, Aditya was trying to give a call to Aashi, but she was not responding any of his calls...neither she had responded to any of his messages...Aditya had started to get worried. "what's wrong...it's so strange...why is Aashi not answering any of my calls? she has not even replied any of my messages? something like this has never happened before. is she still busy at the institute regarding the operation which she mentioned last night? no, it can't be. even if she was busy, she would have informed me about it. don't know why, but a strange fear is occurring in my heart. since my work is done here, I need to get back to chawanpur as soon as possible" Aditya thought in his mind. As Aditya stepped his foot in Chawanpur, he received a call from Aashi. Seeing her name on the mobile, he immidiately answered the call and showered a number of questions with concern.Aditya: Hello Aashi...where are you yaar? I called you so many times and even texted you, but you didn't reply any of my messages and calls. I was so worried. Is something wrong? Aashi's voice came through the phone, intense and serious Aashi: Aditya, I'm waiting for you at the apartment. Come and meet me over there. Hearing Aashis intense voice, Aditya could sense something was not right, Aditya: Hey Aashi, what happened my love? Your voice sounds different. Aashi: Aditya just do as i said, come to the apartment (Aashi replied before abruptly ending the call) Aditya was taken aback by Aashi's strange behavior Aditya: What is wrong? Why did Aashi behave like that? She didn't even wait to hear my reply before disconnecting the call. I need to reach the apartment. (Aditya said to himself with lot of concern) As he arrived at the apartment, he saw Aashi standing there with her eyes turned all red. It was clear that she had cried a lot. Behind her, stood her dad with expressions of anger. Aditya was all confused and was not able to understand the situation over there. to be continued in next chapter