Chapter 22 Important Decision!

Aarohi-Advaith's bedroom:- Advaith's eyes followed his wife who was busy setting the bed for night.Seeing her face, he could easily make out that she is really upset this time. Well it wasn't something new for Aarohi to have her hopes high on him, before it comes crashing down, just like how her heart gets crushed under his feet every single time. But his smooth behaviour with her since their return from Delhi had given some assurance to Aarohi's hope, that may be, may be this time he will hold up onto his words. Untill— She returned home with Abhoy to find Advaith leisurely working on his laptop in their room, forgetting that he assured her to pick her from her home in the evening. She wanted to confront him and ask him that what entertainment he gets by hurting her again and again, but then she didn't had any reason to hold up on him, knowing that their marriage is nothing but a forced bondage for him and for which he helds her responsible. While Advaith wanted to go and pick her up from her house, but his fight with Aamira was having its worst on his mind, and he knew that if he will see Aarohi as this moment, he might again hurt her with his words and actions, as somewhere still in his heart and mind, Aarohi was the sole reason of all the mishap happening into his and Aamira's perfect relationship. He ignored her calls and came back directly to his home, as at this moment only work can distract him from all the thoughts and building up anger in his mind. Untill— He saw her entering their room, and as soon as his eyes meet hers', he could clearly see all the expressions from dejection to hurt in her eyes.There was a question in her expressive eyes asking him that ‘Why he is doing this to her?Why he is playing with her emotions?' --And the answer was unknown to him as well. He knew that he might once again regret hurting her.But at this moment, he wanted no third person in between his and Aamira's love story, including his FORCED WIFE as well. He sighed when he thought of how he promised her not to hurt her anymore, but the single glance of his Aamira, and he can only blame Aarohi for all that happening in their life. He can't do this! He can't be good to her, forgetting that whatever is happening, is happening because of her own personal problems, where Advaith is nowhere related, yet getting dragged into them! His thoughts were disturbed when he didn't find her in the room anymore.May be he was too busy to deal with his own inner turmoil to notice her already walking out of their room. Sighing, he got up and walked out in the balcony to get some fresh air, but instead found her in the garden strolling around lazily. Adorned in a white salwar and black kameez with a thin shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she walked bare foot on the wet grass.Her face was shinning under the moonlight that Advaith could see her every feature clearly even from the balcony of their room on the first floor. He tried but couldn't take his eyes off her fragile and flawless self.Frowns on her forehead was easily visible as she was walking absentmindedly with thousands of thoughts running in back of her mind. His thoughts were distubed by the call and receiving the call he walked back into the room, but not before casting a glance at her for one last time. Garden:- She looked up at the beautiful sky with blanket of stars, now turning dark with the clouds hiding the moon, and a chuckle left her mouth as her lips curled up from left corner into a sad smile, before the traitor escaped her beautiful doe-shaped eyes. She could easily relate the night tonight with her own life.How her life was beautiful just like the sky filled with twinkling lights of stars and moon, untill the moments later when the dark clouds of saddness hover the sky bringing the darkness along. Her eyes involuntary glanced at the balcony of their room, and found her husband standing there with support of railing as he was busy talking with someone on the call. She could easily make out from his expression that he was coaxing someone on the other side of the call. Moments later, his eyes focused on hers', and she find him staring at her intently just for a moment, before they again turn void and he immediately avert his gaze, breaking their beautiful eye lock. 'Bhabhi (sister-in-law), What are you doing here alone?", Aarohi fliched a little but calmed herself immediately after finding the intruder to be Aashi. She again looked up at the balcony but found Advaith already gone back to their room and sighed before turning to Aashi with a small smile, as she replied, 'Nothing. Was just taking a walk." Aashi nodded in understanding as she sat beside Aarohi, fidgeting with her fingers, may be wondering about how to start the topic. 'Aashi, you want to say something?", Aarohi, in these days started understanding her in-laws, except Advaith, and she conclude that Aashi always fidgets with her fingers when she is nervous to say or share something with someone. 'Bhabhi (sister-in-law), actually—I wanted to ask is that was bhai (brother) was with you at your house?", Aashi asked taking a deep breathe and found Aarohi frowning at her question. 'He left after dropping me at my place.Why, what happen?", Aarohi replied confusedly. 'Actually I saw Bhai (brother) and Aamira in the café opposite to my college. They might be having some arguments as I saw Aamira abruptly exiting the café with Bhai (brother) following behind her.", Aashi said and looked keenly for Aarohi's expressions. Aashi frowned when she saw Aarohi sighing, as if she was already aware of this. 'Bhabhi (sister-in-law), don't you wanna say something. Like, I know the equations between you and Bhai (brother) was not good before you both left for Delhi, but today morning the way Bhai (brother) himself proposed to drop you at your home, I thought that things are getting better between you two.", Aashi asked as she genuinely thought that Advaith is now getting in good terms with Aarohi after his soft behaviour with Aarohi in the morning. 'You know Aashi, your Bhai (brother) is a puzzle which I might never be able to solve, atleast not in this life. I can't understand what's with his mood swapping just in fraction of seconds. He is all good and caring in one moment, but equally rude and ignorant the very next second, like two different personalities in one body.", Aarohi let out a sigh as day by day it was getting suffocated for her to survive this marriage, which might have no future. 'I can understand you Bhabhi (sister-in-law). One can understand that at this moment what thoughts are going on in Bhai's (brother's) mind.Sometimes even me and dad can't understand his moods. Only Mom can understand him without him saying anything.That is why he is more close to Mom than me and dad. But trust me even behind his rudeness, there lies his care. Like, you remember the day of your muh-dikhaai when that aunty commented on your broken marriage and how Bhai (brother) immediately took stand for you.He might not show you but somewhere now you are there in his thoughts and he might be rude with you sometimes but at the same time he won't let anyone else also hurt you.", Aashi said with a small smile playing on her lips. Aarohi frowned as she tried comprehend whatever Aashi said, and she could somewhere relate it as well. She remember how he was all panicked finding her unconscious due to the flight sickness, yet he covered it up rudely to not show his soft side to her.She also remember how he ordered her favourite chocolates and ice-cream alongwith royal bengali breakfast after she was discharged from the hospital. But in all this, she can't forget that he hurted her double the amount of care he shown to her. 'Where are you lost, bhabhi (sister-in-law)?", Aashi's voice brought Aarohi back from her thoughts, and she nod in negative whispering ‘nothing'. 'By the way, what did you thought about dad's offer of joining Khurana Industries?", Aashi asked, as she suddenly remember her dad asking Aarohi whether she is willing to work again. 'I don't know. I mean I am confused. Iam already having problems between me and Advaith—', Aarohi started not knowing how to pour out the innumerable thoughts in her mind, only to be cutted by Aashi, who chirped happily, 'Yes so it is good that you join the office, right). In this way you will be more close to Bhai (brother) and will be having more time with Bhai (brother).You will have a good opportunity to improve your equation with him." 'Yes, but---', Aarohi started but once again cut by Aashi, 'Think carefully Bhabhi (sister-in-law), You want this marriage to work or not? I am not telling you because I want you to save Bhai (brother) from Aamira. I am saying this because I know that no girl other than you can be a perfect life partner for Bhai (brother), You care for him even when he is always rude to you, then I wonder how much you will care for him when you both will be together and in love, with your hearts connected forever." Knowing Aarohi need some alone time to think, Aashi decided to give her space. 'By the way, dinner is ready and I am going inside. You also come soon.", Aashi said before walking inside the mansion. While Aarohi kept sitting there pondering over Aashi's words. 'Even if she don't join the office for improving hers' and Advaith's relationship, she can atleast move on in her life with this new opportunity.If he is not bothering about her and their this marriage, then why should she restrict herself to hold up on this marriage forcefully and letting go the opportunity of raising in her career!?"~ Aarohi thought with a new determination in her mind. Around ten minutes later, Aarohi got up to walk back into the mansion, but immediately turn around frowning as she felt someone's intense gaze on her, yet found none.Shrugging she walked back into the mansion. And at the same time a shadow came out from behind the tree, while the face of the person was covered with hoodie. His eyes slowly turning red from glaring at the name of Khurana Mansion engraved largely on the top of the entrance of the mansion, before he again covered his face and simply walked out of there. All were having dinner when Priya saw Aarohi lost somewhere and she immediately asked, 'Aarohi, what happen? You are looking a little disturbed. You are not having your dinner as well." 'Uhh—actually I want to tell you something.", Aarohi said before looking at Aashi who gave her an encouraging nod with a huge smile. 'Actually I was thinking of resuming my work—', Aarohi started only to be cutted by Priya who said, 'That's great! Then why don't you work in Khurana Industries only." 'I was also thinking the same.", Aarohi said looking a little nervously at Abhiraj, who nodded at her with a smile saying, 'That's great.You are always welcome beta. Do one thing, tomorrow morning you come with me and Advaith to our office and we will discuss the further procedure there only." Aarohi nodded in understanding with small smile and looked at Advaith, who was busy in having his food, without bothering about the discussion going on around him. Advaith-Aarohi's room:- As soon as she entered the room, she hissed and closed her eyes tightly in pain when her head slightly bang with the wall behind, as Advaith carelessly manhandled her by holding her tightly from her shoulders on both the side and pressing her onto the wall, with his body pressed hard against hers'. 'What were you thinking when you announced that you are joining my company, huh?", Advaith gritted his teeth in anger as he pushed himself more against her, scaring the poor soul. 'You.are—hurting me, please!", Aarohi whispered as she tried getting out from Advaith's iron-like grip around her both the shoulder, which were sure to leave marks behind. 'And.You.Are.Hurting.Me!! Wasn't it enough that you entered my life unannounced that now you are trying to enter my company as well. What are you trying to do, huh?What are your intentions?", Advaith's anger had reached on seventh level after listening about her joining the business. He cannot bare her in the house, and now she will be around him in the office as well.~ The thought itself was making him crazy. 'Leave.Me!!", Aarohi suddenly declared looking up at him with her eyes blank, for sure taking Advaith in sudden shock. 'What?", Advaith asked frowning, as he wasn't able to believe that the girl who was so much scared of him just a moment ago, was now looking Directly into his eyes without any ounce of fear in them. 'I said leave me Advaith or else you will see the worst of me.", Aarohi said as she jerked Advaith away from herself, forcing him to stumble back a little. He kept looking at her retreating figure who without a word, walk into the washroom leaving him still under the effect of shock. While inside the bathroom, as soon as the water cascade over her tired figure, she slumped down on the floor, letting her tears mix with the water. No one has ever manhandled her in such a rough way.She was always a calm, chirpy and sensible girl liked by everyone around her that no one has ever even raised their voice on her. The moment she answered back at Advaith, she also feared that what if he raises his hand on her and hit her!?Or what if he will do something forbidden with her, giving her the lifetime pain!? The thoughts itself were making her shiver to the extent that she now fear to even breath the same air as his'. After a long shower and crying her heart out, Aarohi walked into walk-in-closet to get changed into another pair of clothes. Walking into the room she looked for Advaith who was nowhere to be seen and she sighed in relief.Walking to her side, she laid down on the bed tired of all the happening, untill the sleep consumes her. Around half-an-hour later, Advaith entered the room after calming himself and venting all the anger on punching bag in the gym room. He saw Aarohi sleeping peacefully on her side, after making his life hell, and anger started building up again, Untill— His eyes fell on her shoulders where the redness of his finger marks were clearly glistening under the dim lights, and his eyes soften. Sudden guilt overpower his anger and he sighed before walking to the dressing table to get an ointment for her. Silently sitting beside her, he lightly touched her where the marks were, earning a hiss from her and he immediately withdraw his fingers.He took a small amount of ointment on his finger and lightly applied on both the sides, carefully not to let her feel pain. Covering her properly with the blanket he kept the ointment on side table and walk to his side to get his pillows and blanket, before walking to the couch and lazily slide down on it, untill sleep consumed him.