Chapter 23 Aarohi in problem!
"Are you sure that you don't want to work in Khurana industries?", Abhiraj asked Aarohi who bobbed her head in agreement.
Currently Abhiraj, Priya and Aarohi were in Abhiraj's room where Aarohi told them her decision of not joining Khurana Industries.
"I don't think I am capable enough of working into such a big and reputed company without much experience.", Aarohi lied looking at couple in front of her who frowned at her excuse.
"But Aarohi--", Priya was about to counter argue her, but Abhiraj hold her hand refraining her from discussing the topic further.
Priya looked at her husband with furrowed brows who in return nodded slightly in no asking her to close the matter for now.
Priya sighed but did as asked and looked back at Aarohi who was fidgeting nervously with her fingers.
"So, What will you do if not joining our company?? Because in my opinion you should work, if not in our company then anywhere else but you shouldn't waste your talent just because you are married now.", Abhiraj asked Aarohi as he seriously want her to not to explore her own talent.
"Yes, see we are not forcing you to do any job if you don't want to. We are just encouraging to be independent because we never know when and what situation arises in our life, right? And moreover you are a talented girl so you should not restrict yourself with this household things. You should explore your qualities and let it out. But, even then also if you don't want to work then it's totally fine, right abhiraj?", Priya lovingly explained Aarohi and then looked at Abhiraj who nodded agreeing to her words.
"I am planning of joining Dad's company. I am more familiar with the atmosphere there.", Aarohi said with a small smile while Abhiraj nodded in understanding.
"As you wish, dear.", Abhiraj loving pat Aarohi's head who smiled a little at her father-in-law who was now no less than a father for her.
As soon as Aarohi excused herself and went out of the room, Priya turned to her husband with so many questions in her eyes.
"Abhiraj, it would have been great if Aarohi would have worked in our company. Advaith and Aarohi would have got some time together. It would have helped them in building their relationship strong. Why didn't you let me explain her?", Priya asked with frowns as she didn't understand why her husband stopped her from making Aarohi understand.
"You seriously don't understand why she suddenly changed her decision just in one night?", Abhiraj asked a little sarcastically, confusing Priya more as she looked at him with raised brows, while he sighed and continued, "Your son, Priya!!"
"Are you saying that Aarohi refused to joint our company because of Advaith? But yesterday when Aarohi announced about her decision of joining our company, Advaith did not say anything.", Priya tried defending her son though somewhere she also felt the reason to be same as Abhiraj.
"As if you don't know your son, Priya. We all were there when Aarohi told us about her decision so he didn't objected. But I am sure that after going into their room, he has said something to her that she changed her decision.", Abhiraj said getting a little angry on Advaith.
"I don't understand what issues he has with this marriage. I agree we fixed this marriage against his will, but now when the marriage is done he should at least try to give it a chance.", Priya sighed tiredly not understanding what is Advaith's problem with this marriage.
~~~~~~~~~
Shuffling through the drawers of Moloy's wardrobe, Aamira was rapidly searching for something important. Sweat beads were trickling down her forehead as she with shivered hands tried finding the thing she needs the most.
'Dad had kept it here only. Where did it go then. Just once it comes in hand, then everything will be fine", Aamira murmured as she continued looking for something very important into those drawers.
"What are you looking for my dear daughter!?", Aamira's eyes widen as her hands stilled and shiver ran down her spines.
Slowly turning around, she looked up at her father who was standing leaning to the door frame with a devilish smirk plastered on his lips while eyes were red with anger.
"Dad actually—I was--", Aamira stuttered gulping the lump forming in her throat.
"Should I guess what you were finding there? You were finding the keys of penthouse, right?", Moloy asked as he slowly took steps forward towards Aamira, who was by now shaking completely in fear.
"No--I, I mean--", Aamira tried speaking but Moloy's advancing steps towards her was making her more and more nervous with passing second.
A tight slap on Aamira's cheek forced her to fall down on floor with jerk, before her face was forced upward to look at Moloy who clutched her hairs in his tight grip and made her look at him, as he said, 'You know what, I am not but you yourself are the enemy of your own happiness. I want to get you both your brother as well as s good guy like Advaith but you are not listening to me. Well then, spend your whole life like this without seeing your brother and without meeting him. You will neither get Advaith nor you will get to meet your brother. And one more thing, never try to be over smart in front of me."
Slapping her for one more time he got up to walk out of the room, but abruptly turned and said with a smirk, "And for your kind information your brother is not in my penthouse. I knew that when I was talking on the call this morning, you were eavesdropping to my words and that's why I delicately side that penthouse key is in the drawer of my wardrobe, to check that what you will do. But no, you are not worthy of my trust. You have no intention of helping me fulfill my purpose. But remember, whether you help me or not, I will be ruining that fake boyfriend of yours, just Like his father has ruined me."
Aamira kept looking at her father's fading figure before pulling her knees to her chest and cried over her ill fate.
~~~~~~~~~
Advaith was in study room as he was working from home today, when the knock on the door disturbed him and saw Priya standing there with a cup of coffee.
"Mom, I was just coming downstairs for lunch.", Advaith said as he got up from the chair taking cup of coffee from Priya's hand who nodded with a small smile before sitting on couch kept in the left side of the room.
"Advaith?", Priya called him to sit beside her who immediately obliged and sat beside her.
"Can I ask you something?", Priya asked lovingly turning completely towards him.
"Off course mom, you don't have to need my permission for asking anything.", Advaith said with frowns as before this Priya never asked for his permission before questioning him for anything.
"But I guess now you have grown up so much that you even feel your parents' decision wrong for you.", Priya said with a blank face, confusing Advaith more.
"Mom you --wait, is this something related to Aarohi?", Advaith asked with a rough face making Priya sigh at her son.
" You said something to Aarohi last night, because of which she changed her mind of joining the Khurana Industries, right?", Priya asked not beating around the bush and saw Advaith sighing.
"Yes I did!!I did asked her not to join the company. I tolerate her at home, now even in office I can't have her around me all the time. Mom, why don't you understand that I don't like her.", Advaith said frustratingly not knowing how to make his parents' understand that he does not want Aarohi as his wife.
He could have told his mother about Aamira, but right now he knows that Aarohi is much more dear to them, and may what come they will always support her only. He can't risk telling about his and Aamira's relationship before he has proper plan of getting Aarohi out of his life.
"Advaith, you know I am tired of making you understand that Aarohi is and will be the right choice for you. But you don't want to understand, so let it be. But remember one thing, whether you accept it or not, she is still the daughter-in-law of this family so still has all the rights on this house and our company. So, you cannot simply stop her from each and everything she is doing.", Priya said sternly making Advaith frown in anger but he would never say anything against his mother and so he didn't argue anymore.
Priya got up and open the door to walk out, but abruptly turned around and said, "Advaith, today or tomorrow you are going to regret of whatever you are doing with her. Just don't lose her in your anger that you can never fix her broken heart. ,"
~~~~~~~~~
Priya's word had a great impact on Advaith. It was second time he was feeling guilty after hurting her. First he took the ring secretly from her finger without her notice and now he again hurt her.
Advaith was about to enter the room when he saw Aarohi applying ointment on her shoulders and a sharp pain sting in his heart. This was totally unintentional. He never wanted to hurt her physically.
However much he hates her and this situation between them, but he would never ever in his life even think of hurting her physically. That is not what he has learnt from his mother's upbringing.
Aarohi's painful hiss bought Advaith back from his thoughts and he saw tears trickling down Aarohi's eyes. Her face expressions were the evident that the bruises were hurting her much more than he can imagine.
"Let me help--", Advaith walked towards her, but stopped abruptly when saw her turning towards him with a glare before walking towards the closet from beside him.
"I am sor--", Even before Advaith can complete the sentence Aarohi turned and saw her hand stopping him from uttering the words that meant nothing to both of them.
"Stop saying sorry when you are going to hurt me again and again.", she said with a blank face and hurt eyes.
"Aarohi, I agree I am angry with whatever is happening around us but I can never hurt you physically.", Advaith said looking down as the guilt was growing more and more after seeing those bruises which were still fresh on her shoulders.
"You have already hurt me Advaith. See this wounds you have given me and then tell me that what is this if not hurting me physically!?", Aarohi whisper as if asking herself instead of him, and as she let her dupatta completely slide down on the floor, her eyes held hurt.
Advaith looked deep into her painful eyes before shifting his gaze on her left shoulder where the imprints of his fingers were still as fresh as yesterday night.
Raising his hand he slowly touched her there and saw Aarohi closing her eyes in pain. His own eyes teared as he was still not able to believe that he hurt her physically. He cannot believe that he hurt a girl physically.
His mother's word rang in his ears and he immediately withdraw his hands, not wanting to hurt her anymore.
" You refused to join the company.", Advaith asked to abruptly and Aarohi looked up at him.
"Yes, and before you think that I have done it for you, then let me clear that I have done it for myself ", Aarohi said sternly and saw frowns forming on Advaith's forehead, so she said further, "I don't want you to tag me as a girl who is behind your money and your company. You have already given me the tag of 'forced wife', now I do not have the courage to bear any other accusation."
And before Advaith can say anything more, Aarohi already walked out of the room. Sighing at his messed up life he walked to freshen up in the washroom when his cellphone rang with "Love" flashing on the screen.
"Advaith!?", A relief spread over his face hearing his name in her voice. After yesterday fight in the cafe, Advaith tried manofying Aamira at night as well, but she was not ready to hear anything from him.
"Aamira, you know right I can't tolerate your anger. Then why do you get angry with me again and again?", Advaith asked in a complaining manner as he already knew that Aamira will call him as soon as her anger will subsidize.
"Advaith, when are you talking to your parents about us!?", Aamira asked as she looked with fear at her father in front her, who was sitting there playing with a sharp knife in his hand.
"I will talk to them soon Aamira but I need time. If I talk to them now they will support Aarohi and then there won't be any chance for us.", Advaith said calmly as he tried making her understand his side as well.
" But Advaith, Baba has called a boy home today to see me. If this alliance is done then we won't be able to do anything. Please, I don't want to marry any guy other than you.", Aamira said and Moloy looked at her with appreciating smile.
"I know Aamira. Ok listen, don't panic and meet that guy but don't agree for the marriage. Till then I am trying to do something, ok!?", Advaith said as he tried easing Aamira's tension despite of all the pressure now forming in his own head.
"Damn!!", Advaith exclaimed in frustration as he threw his phone carelessly on bed, before he himself laid down on bed with his legs dangling on the floor.
"Lunch is ready.", Aarohi's words break his trance, and he opened his eyes to look at her before nodding curtly, "You go, I'll come in a minute."
~~~~~~~~~~
Aarohi was serving lunch to everyone when Priya's words took everyone's attention, "Aarohi, where is your ring!?"
Aarohi's hand halted as she looked up at Priya with widen eyes before looking at Advaith, who was already looking at him.