Following morning Aarohi was sitting in the living-room with her family, all-ready in maroon-pink net-saree with her hairs loosely opened till her waist. chooda (bangles) were adorning in her both hands while vermillion and nuptial chain were the signs of her being already married.
Since it was the first time that Advaith was coming to pick her after their marriage, according to the ritual she had to get ready like a newly wedded bride.
She was looking no less than an epitome of beauty but still there was something missing, Glow. A glow which usually adorns the face of a newly wedded b She was smiling but the smile was not reaching her eyes. She was talking but there was no chirpiness in her voice.
They were busy chatting when Aarohi’s cell rang with same unknown number which had flashed on the display last night.
“Come out. I am waiting.”, Advaith said curtly before disconnecting the call, not giving Aarohi any chance to reply.
“Mom-dad, Advaith is waiting outside. I should go now.”, Aarohi said getting up from the sofa followed by others.
“Aarohi, it is first time he came at our place after your marriage. Ask him to come inside.”, Mishti suggested not knowing what Aarohi is already going through.
“Mom, he said he is getting late for office and then everyone is waiting at my in-law’s place as well. I will make sure to come and meet you all again.”, Aarohi comforted her family with a fake smile, while her family could only nod sadly in understanding.
Bidding a little adieu to her family, Aarohi came and sat in the passenger seat beside Advaith and the couple finally hit the road.
“There is a box in dashboard. Take it.”, Advaith said still focusing on road, his voice cold and rough, while Aarohi slowly open the dashboard and took out a blue-velvet jewelry box before asking with frowns “What is it for?”
“Mom asked me to give you a gift for your chulha-rasam. So here is the gift. May be mom can ask if I gave you any gift. So, tell her that I already gave you.”, Advaith replied blankly and Aarohi nodded before taking it, though reluctantly.
Rest of the drive was in compromising silence where Advaith was totally focused on driving while Aarohi was busy in enjoying cold-breeze and watching road-side shops.
“Please can you stop at side for a moment!?”, Aarohi requested politely as soon as something caught her eyes, while Advaith frowned but still parked his car at the corner.
Advaith saw Aarohi getting down from the car and and then walking to the shop a little behind, whereas, he kept sitting on his seat completely unbothered.
“Excuse me, please pack this.”, Aarohi asked the shop-keeper to pack malai rabdi (Indian sweet dish) which the later one immediately obliged. Thanking the shop-keeper and paying him, Aarohi walked back to the car with bag of rabdi in her hand.
“Where did you go. And what is in your hands?”, Advaith asked as soon as Aarohi sat back in the car.
“Yesterday when I was making kheer, Aashi told me that she loves Malai rabdi. So, I thought of getting one for her.”, Aarohi said with genuine smile while Advaith nodded curtly before starting engine and driving towards his home.
Advaith parked his car in drive-way in the Mansion. Aarohi was about to get down from the car when Advaith said without looking at her “If you think that you will be able to make your place in my life by doing all this things for my family and winning their hearts, then you are wrong.”
Though Aarohi’s eyes got misted with tears due to his harsh words, but in no way she is going to show her weakness to him.
“For you it might look like some fake-gestures of mine, but for me it is my love towards your family. May be it is a forced marriage for you, but for me, this is a pure and sacred relation. And I will give my hundred percent to this marriage.”, Aarohi said with determination and then went out of the car without giving him a chance to counter-back. While once Aarohi was gone, Advaith zooned out his car towards his office with havoc in his heart.
On his way he noticed his gift- velvet jewelry box still there in the dashboard which Aarohi left, may be willingly.
…………………
Evening Advaith returned from the office and the scene unknowingly brought a small smile on his face.
“Bhabhi (sister-in-law), look at this problem. I cannot solve it.”, Aashi complained with a pout as she was trying to make a presentation for her business assignment but some data were lacking.
“your data are incomplete, Aashi. Fix them first and then see it will tally.”, Aarohi helped her calmly making the later one hug her tightly.
“Thanks. Look, bhai (brother) is already here.”, Aashi exclaimed as soon as she saw Advaith still standing at the main-door and admiring them. Whereas, Aarohi turned around to look at him and there they had their first eye-lock. But soon they were disturbed by Abhiraj who came after Advaith from office.
“Why are you standing in the middle of entrance?”, Abhiraj’s question break the couple’s mini eye-lock, and that’s when Advaith realised that he was still standing at the main entrance since last ten minutes.
Both men entered the house and Aarohi immediately went to fetch glasses of water for both of them. Abhiraj took the glass with a warming smile while Advaith took it without looking at her.
“Where is Priya?”, Abhiraj asked after keeping his empty glass on the center-table and Aashi replied immediately, “Mom had some work in the NGO. So, she went there. She said she will be returned by dinner time. so I think she must be here anytime.”
“Ok then I and Advaith both get fresh and then we will have dinner once your mom is back.”, Abhiraj said suggestively before walking towards his room whereas Advaith also climbed to the first floor where his oops, now ‘their’ room was there.
………………………
“Aarohi, you were working in your family firm before marriage then what have you thought about now?”, Abhiraj asked Aarohi when they all were having their dinner.
“I don’t know. I mean I used to work with dad in our office before my marriage was fixed. But then, Abhinav’s family did not wanted me to continue working so I already resigned from there. And now I have not given a thought about this yet.”, Aarohi answered making him nod in understanding.
“Look Aarohi, here we don’t have such conditions that daughter-in-law should not work after marriage. So if you want you can resume your work. Infact, you can join Khurana Industries since you are already good in business skills. Isn’t it abhiraj?”, Priya said with a smile and Abhiraj immediately nod in approval, while Aarohi gave them a small smile in return.
“I will think about this.”, Aarohi replied genuinely and the further dinner was almost silent with some mild talks among them.
………………………
“Dad I love him”, Aamira said angrily only to be slapped tightly on her right cheek.
“No need to argue with me. I asked you to trap that Advaith khurana in your love-trap, and not to fall for him instead. You can not do even a single thing properly.”, Maloy Sen spitted angrily at his daughter who was the only source of his wicked planning.
“I will never betray Advaith.!”, Aamira declared confidently but soon her confidence drained hearing her father's next words, “You are already betraying him for a long, long time. What do you think, that Advaith will forgive you once he will know that all this time you were just doing the act of loving him, that too on your father’s orders!? And now when you are already in love with him, let us see what wins...My revenge or your love!!”, Maloy said with a smirk that already managed to form sweat beads on Aamira’s face.
“I need to tell Advaith everything. If dad will tell him before me, then it will be a huge problem.”, Aamira murmured to herself with determination as soon as Moloy went out from her room.
………………………
Aarohi was applying body lotion after taking a night shower when Advaith came and sat on bed waiting for Aarohi, as he wanted to talk some serious issues about their marriage.
As soon as Aarohi came and sat on her side, Advaith called gaining her attention, “Aarohi!!”
“Yes??”, Aarohi looked up at him with frown and Advaith took a minute before continuing, “Actually I want to talk to you about something important. You already know that in what circumstances we got married. And you also know that this is nothing but a compromise…for both of us.”, Advaith started, shifting close to her while Aarohi’s heart-beat raised as somewhere she was anticipating about what is actually coming.
“Can you please be more clear with your words?”, Aarohi tried her best to keep her voice confident and with no trance of fear in it, while Advaith nodded before continuing, “Aamira’s dad is forcing her for marriage. We both really love each other and I can not stay without her. I know I am being selfish here but I…I mean I think that we should not continue such relation which has no destination. I am sure you are also not happy with this forced marriage and its better that we part our ways because I really want to start my marriage life with Aamira soon. So I think that I…I mean we should already file for our divorce”, Advaith said and then looked at Aarohi who was only staring back at him blankly.
