Nishtha
"Nishtha?" I heard Maa call me as I came down, getting my bag ready for work.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Will you be able to come home early today?"
"Sure, anything urgent?"
"I thought we could all go shopping together for Vamika's engagement."
"Oh, I think I can."
"When can you be free by?"
"Anytime Maa, you let me know."
"Okay great! Yuvaan will be done by 2, he'll pick you up then."
What? No.
"Maa.... I... I think I can come on my own."
"Beta, your offices are right there. Come together," she said, "Acha, I'll have to go now, I need to talk to the venue manager. Text me when you reach, okay?"
I nodded and she left.
I went outside, waiting for my cab, when I heard a honk. I turned to see his car.
YN424.
No.
"Come with me." He said, rolling his windows down. I ignored him and walked a little ahead, his car trailed behind, "Nishtha, you'll be late for work."
"I can take the cab. I don't need to sit in a car that isn't mine." I said, looking out.
"The car is yours and so is its owner, come on, I'll drop you."
I turned to him.
I don't wanna sit in a car with him. He's making it harder for me to stay away from him. But, he's right. I'm getting late and getting a cab here is very difficult. The earliest cab is 10 mins away. I can reach office in that time. We have a meeting today as well, I can't afford to be late.
I sighed and got in the car, keeping my eyes away from him, as he chuckled and started driving.
We sat in silence, until he turned the radio on and increased the volume, my mind going into a relapse of 4 years ago with the song playing.
Naa, Hai Ye, Paana.... Naa Khona Hi Hai
Tera Naa Hona, Jaane.... Kyu Hona Hi Hai
I gulped as I tried to shrug a memory down. The first time we kissed.... It was to this song. I felt myself feeling heavy and teary and tried to ignore it but I felt him look my way.
"Nishu...." He said, and I tried to look away, but I somehow just couldn't, so I looked at him. He smiled, "You remember this song?"
I didn't reply, and tried looking away when he grabbed my hand, "I know you remember the song. I didn't play it on purpose, so imagine... I think the universe wants us to start over."
"Easy for you to say." I scoffed.
He held me tighter, "I know, and I'm sorry. I'm not saying you forgive me, but... the way every action of mine increased the guard in your heart, let every action of mine decrease the guard now. I'm just asking you for that. Don't fight your feelings, Nishtha. Whatever they are."
I looked away but he continued, "I... I'll pick you up after work today, we're going shopping."
"There's no need for that. I'll meet Maa directly at the mall, I'm not sitting in a car with you."
He chuckled, "this car is pretty special to us, we've done a lot in this car." I glared at him and he smirked, then winked.
"Just shut up."
"I'm waiting for the day you shut me up Nishu." He gave me a small smile.
"You're shameless."
"For you."
I glared at him and looked away. I saw his hand on the wheel and felt his other hand intertwined with me, as he rested it on my thigh.
Hot.
Now isn't the time to be thinking stuff like this.
But look at him!
His rolled up white shirt, exposing his YN tattoo, causing butterflies in my stomach, his messy yet tidy hair, I don't know he managed that, his eyes glowing in the sunlight and his sharp jawline.
He looked hot.
"I'm all yours, Nishtha." He chuckled.
I looked away in embarrassment, Oh God.
When we reached the office, I was about to get down but he held my hand, pulling me closer to him. His hand came around my face, cupping it, as he gently caressed my cheek. I looked at him, trying to fight my emotions.
"Have a great day, baby." He said.
Oh God, the butterflies are back.
I tried to leave but he held me. I looked at him as if asking what happened now, and he somehow understood, "Nothing happened. Just wanted to see you for a bit longer." His eyes ran over my lips and I instantly knew what he was thinking, so I turned away.
He chuckled, "Nishu. You can run, but all your roads lead to me, and if they don't, I'll burn that road and make a new one." He said me.
I looked at his eyes, filled with passion and an emotion I still can't explain, "L...Let me go." I said.
"I am not a fool to make that mistake again, I hope you don't say that again." His eyes stern.
"I'll say whatever I want." I argued.
He came closer to my face, and his hand caressed my collarbone, making me gulp, "then I'll do whatever I want." He whispered against my ear.
I looked at him, unable to answer.
I quickly got back to reality and tried to let go. Thankfully, this time, he let go and I got down. Before I walked away, he honked so I turned back and he said, "I'll be here at 2. Don't think of using the cab." He blew me a kiss and drove.
I gulped.
~â¢~
"How many dresses are you looking for?" The shopkeeper asked us.
"One for my husband and I, and one of my three children. So, 2 males and 3 females." Maa said.
"Maa, no." I intervened, "I have enough dresses. I don't need anymore."
"It's a celebration. Everyone needs something new! Why wouldn't you get one?"
"Because Maa," Yuvaan came, "She is like that only. She'll buy for everyone but won't do anything for herself."
"Nishtha!" Maa said and held my hand, then looked at Yuvaan, "Yuvi, go with her and you two choose something for yourself. I'll look with Vamika."
"Okay." He said and grabbed my hand.
We walked through the section and reached the men's section. He scouted through a bunch of kurtas while I looked around, "Suggest something for me." He said.
"I don't care. Pick any." I said.
"Hmm," I said, coming closer, "how's this?"
I looked at it, "Like I said, I don't care."
He chuckled and walked through the section and came out with another, "I like this one. Let's go."
I looked at the kurta. What is wrong with him?"Find something else." I said.
"Why? I like this one."
"Just go."
"Do you not like it babe?"
"Don't babe me, and I don't care, but... Maa won't like this one, so go."
"Maa won't care. She is focused on Vamika, I'm taking this one let's go." He said.
Hs started walking, so I pulled me back, "It's so ugly! Go and change Yuvaan!" I yelled.
He smiled.
No! What did I do?
Why did I order him around? Ugh.
I instantly stepped back and tried to let go off him but he pulled me close, "You have all rights to yell and tell me. Boss me around baby."
I let go and glared at him, then went and got a kurta out and gave it to him, "Try this."
"As you say, wife." He said and tried it.
He came out of the trial room, looking much more decent, "How's this?" He asked.
"Good." I said, uninterested.
He came closer and guided me to a mirror, then his arm around my waist, "Good looking couple, don't you agree?"
"We're not a couple." I said.
"We were and always will be." He said.
I let go and walked away to my section. I don't want all these dresses. I had so many loans on me and I had to pay this off. It felt wrong. Plus, I recently found out that someone paid off my education loan. When I asked, I was surprised that they wouldn't reveal who it was. I am still trying to ask them for it, but they won't tell me.
I still have a house loan to recover and have to finish the payment for Neel's education, so all this was not what I wanted. I don't want to spend, and Yuvaan's family believed in extreme spending.
"This looks nice." I heard Yuvaan said from behind. I turned and saw him point at the saree which my hand was on. I looked away, "I don't want it."
"You're the Nanda's daughter-in-law. Why don't you want it?"
"Because I don't run after things like this, unlike what you think of me." I scoffed.
"Nishu, I'm sorry, and.... Let me make it up to you. Just pick one, please."
"I don't want one."
"Pick 3 then, or 4, or... how many ever you want. I'll buy the whole store for you." He said.
The butterflies are back.
"Yuvaan. That's not what I meant. I don't want to buy a saree, just leave me alone."
"I'm not doing that." He said sternly.
"Do whatever you want then, just go."
He came closer, "Well, if you want me to do whatever I want, then I'll need you to come with me."
I glared at then turned around. He chuckled and picked out a few. I looked at them.
There was no escape. I had to get one.
I sighed, and picked the first one in his hand.
Then, I went and tried it on.
It looked beautiful, but my blouse was not fixed. I need to find Vamika.
I peeked outside the trial room to see if anyone was around but I saw no one, so I came back inside and before I could lock it, Yuvaan literally barged in and locked the door.
"What are you doing?!" I said.
"My wife needed help, I'm there to help."
"I don't need you."
He looked at me, turned me around and then got his hands slowly to the ends of my blouse. I looked at him through the mirror.
He's changing, but I don't want to accept it.
These things don't make up for the words he said, or the times he threw me away. I can't just smile and accept him again.
Then, why is my body fighting me?
Ugh!
His hands touched my back; I felt goosebumps run down my spine. He was focused on tying the strap of the blouse together and he managed to do it, then, he looked at me. He turned me around, went on his knees and straightened the plates of my saree. I watched him do this.
This man.
"I'll always be on my knees for you." He said.
"I don't want that." I replied.
"Then I'll put the world at your feet."
He got up, turned me around and looked at me through the mirror, "Beautiful." He said as he adjusted the saree to sit on my shoulder properly. I looked at him, my guard dropping.
"Nishthaa!" I heard Maa call me. I instantly got my reality check and quickly ran outside the room, to answer her. Thankfully by the time I got back, he wasn't there, so I changed back to my clothes and left.
How am I going to stay with him without losing my guard?
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