Yuvaan
That night, I slept so well, with a smile on my face. She being able to sit with me without a care of the world, and her being able to talk to me, without getting afraid and angry, that meant the world to me.
The next morning, I was up by 9am. I did my bathroom business and took a warm shower and came out in track pants. I didn't bother wearing a shirt, since I'm at home and it's Sunday. There's no one coming home today.
I went downstairs and found it empty.
Didn't she wake up?
She usually wakes up earlier than I do.
Is she unwell?
I ran to her room and noticed her sleeping. She was in a deep sleep. I walked closer to her and sat on the side of her bed. Looking at her sleeping figure, I smiled. Her hand was out so I caught it and gently caressed it, so I don't wake her up. She moved a little in her sleep and I was afraid I'd wake her so I stepped a little back, but luckily she was just moving around.
I scanned her room. It was quiet. It didn't ooze Nishtha at all. No loud pictures, no SRK posters, no photo frames of families - it was just a quiet empty room. I didn't like that. I could sense she's waking up so I quickly went back down and started to work on my laptop.
After almost 45 minutes, she came down. She was dressed in a salwar suit.
"Where are you going?" I asked her as she was scouting the hall, looking for something.
I walked to her and handed her the clip, which was resting on the couch, "It's here."
She looked at me and took it.
Her and her habit of misplacing her clip!
"I'm going to meet Aai Baba." She said.
"Oh, should I come with you?" I asked.
"Do you want to?"
"I would love to." I smiled.
"We're not just meeting them, we're going to meet some family friends as well. It'll be a waste of your time, leave it."
"Nishu, your family isn't a waste of time. If you don't mind, I'd love to come."
"You'll have to talk to the other family friends as well then." She argued.
"I'll talk to them." I reassured her, "Now?"
She looked at me then sighed, "Fine."
"Great." I smiled.
"Go change!" She said.
"I have a bit of work to finish, I'll come after that. Till then you carry on." I said.
"Okay."
She was about to make her way out but I stopped her and turned her around. She was not looking complete, "Something is missing."
She looked in the nearby mirror, "What?"
"Your neck is empty." I said.
She looked at me, then looked away, "It'll stay empty."
"Why is that?"
"Because.... Our relationship isn't one of a wife and husband. So, yeah."
"Okay." I sighed, "You're right." I let her go.
I was walking back when I heard her, "I'll text you when I reach."
I turned and smiled, "Thank you."
After she left, I got back to work, while being lost in thought.
What am I doing wrong?
Sometimes she's ready to open up and talk, then suddenly she closes off again. I know she doesn't trust me or anyone, for that matter, but I still feel like there's something which might help. What is that something?
I even cancelled the road trip, not because I don't want to go, but because I want to do it when she's ready - mentally. The last thing I want to do is force her into something because it's easier for me to win her back. I can take the hard way for her. I will take the hard way. Plus, there was something else I needed to fix.
So, I quickly got dressed, got my car out and drove. Within 15 minutes, I was ringing the bell. The door opened; I was greeted by 2 unhappy faces.
"What are you doing here?" Aditi asked me.
I looked at her, and then at Priya. I knew it was hard for Priya to be mad at me, considering that she worked with me, but she still avoided me as much as she could, "Hi. I wanted to talk."
"No. We don't want to." Aditi said and was about to close the door when I stopped it.
"Please, I know I messed up, but I'm really trying. I don't just want her back, I want you guys back as well. Let me explain then punish me." I asked, almost begging for a chance.
They looked at each other, then sighed, "Okay." They opened the door and I stepped in.
Once they closed it, we sat on the couch and I started to explain everything, from the moment I found out, to the oddly accurate audio and voice modulation, and the extreme details which Bua had taken into account when framing Nishtha. I explained the entire story, "I know I messed up real bad and I've been trying to do my best. I have gotten Bua's case pushed up so she gets punished as soon as she can. I'm trying to get Nishu back, but I really do need you guys too."
They looked at each other, then Aditi gave me a small smile, "We're just concerned about our friend. She's been through a lot, extremely tough times. US wasn't exactly easy for her either since her mind was with you, but she has grown. So, we just get scared when the same wound pricks her again."
"But we see your point. I will help you." Priya said, "We'll help you get her back Siâ"
"Priya. Thank you, but please, don't call me Sir. We've been friends longer than I even worked in the company, so please. Just Yuvaan."
She smiled and I looked at Aditi, "Aditi, thank you. I know it's not easy, but trust me there's no more goof up now. I promise."
"I'm sure." Aditi replied, "Now, what's the game plan? The road trip, right?"
"I cancelled that."
"Why?" She asked, "That would have been perfect to get you guys to spend time and talk."
"I know, but she wouldn't be comfortable and I don't want to make her uncomfortable. I get afraid that I'll break things more than make it. Do, until she says so, I'm not going to accept any invites to any plans."
"I agree." Priya said, "But maybe we can still plan a day out? It doesn't have to be a stay over, but we can still go out, right? Plus Adi and I will be there, she won't say no."
"I think she's relaxing. We had chai Maggi the last night, and.... It felt good."
"Slow progress is still progress Mr Nanda." Aditi smiled, "What are you doing today?"
"Her family friends are coming over for dinner, so I'm going to her house in the evening. Infact, I need to leave anytime now, I'm reaching earlier than they are."
"Wonderful. Once the environment around her relaxes, she'll also start to relax. She'll resist it at first, which means she might push away again, but she won't be able to." Aditi said.
"But S...Yuvaan," Priya said, "Please trust her. It's going to be very difficult to get her back but if you break her again, then you should forget about her entirely. Please. Don't hurt her."
"Priya, I'll hurt myself but not hurt her. Trust me. I'm not hurting her and won't let anyone else hurt her either." I reassured.
They smiled and we continued talking about ways to loosen the guard that Nishu has built around her, then I added, "Thanks again for letting me explain and being there for me. I so very much appreciate it. I'll need to go now, I have to get to Nishtha's place."
They nodded and I got up, thanked them again, and then left to go to Nishu's place.
Within 30 minutes, I was at her house. I rang the bell and Aai opened the door, "Yuvi!" She hugged me and let me in. I entered, touched her and Baba's feet and then sat down on the couch.
"How are you here so early? Nishtha was saying you'll come much later." Baba said.
"My work got done early, so I thought why go here when I can just come here directly." I said.
"Good decision." Aai said, bringing chai, "This is also your home."
I took the cup and smiled. I felt bad that I have hurt their daughter so much, especially when all they've done is been sweet to me. Heck! They even allowed Nishtha to sell their car for me. Which parents allow that?
I returned the favor by doing this.
"Aai, Baba." I said, looking at them, "I wanted to ask you for something. If you don't say no."
"What's wrong, Yuvaan?" Baba asked.
"Nothing is wrong, Baba." I reassured, "I wanted to ask you something, but please don't say no."
"Okay." Aai chuckled, "We won't."
"Will you accept this gift I brought you?"
"A gift?" Aai said, "What?"
I stood up and walked to them, then knelt down in front of Aai, and took her hand out. She let me and I placed something in her hand as her eyes widened, "Yuvaan? What is this? No!"
"Aai, you said you would accept it!"
"Yuvaan, how can we?" Baba said.
"Aai, Baba, your daughter has done a lot for my family, way more than she really needed to. You didn't even question it once. If I can't do this for you, then I'm an embarrassment."
"Yuvaan, we don't want a return for what she did. It's okay na beta. We're managing."
"I don't want you to have to manage. Please accept this. Please." I begged.
They looked at each other, then nodded hesitantly, "O...Okay."
"Come down." I said smiling.
"Right now?"
"Yes!" I took their hands and we were about to leave when I suddenly heard someone come into the living room. I turned. Nishtha.
"Where are you all going?" She asked.
I looked at her, then said, "You also come."
She looked at Aai, who nodded. So, Nishu got her duppata and we headed downstairs.
Once we reached down, I took them to the new parking where I had parked: their new car.
They sold their car for my sister, it's my duty to give them back what's rightfully theirs - and if not, then give them something better.
"This is for you guys." I said and they gazed in shock at the car in front of them.
I got them a Range Rover.
They deserve more, but I tried to get them at least something which their family can use.
"Here." I said, giving the keys to Baba, "The car has been serviced and has a 5 year warranty. I've spoken to the people and you don't need to worry about fuel and maintenance, it's covered by YUVA. You just drive, and enjoy!" I turned to Aai, "I know you love road trips, Aai, so don't think twice before getting in the car and going anywhere you want to!"
I saw Aai tear up as she hugged me, "Thank you bacha." She said, patting my back.
"No thank you Aai, you wouldn't say anything if Nishtha did it, then why me?" I said. Aai smiled and let me go.
While Aai and Baba explored their new car, I went to Nishtha, who was looking at all this in shock. She looked at me, "What is all this?"
"You sold your car for Vamika."
"I never asked for this in return, did I?"
"It's not for you, it's for Aai Baba."
"They didn't ask either."
"Nishu," I said, "I owe you everything for all that you've done and been through. If you don't accept the car then give it back, but you also know deep down that Aai Baba having it is a blessing, right?"
She looked down and sighed, "Yeah."
"Then it's sorted. Come now, let's go see it."
Nishtha walked to the car and started looking around while Aai and Baba were bringing the stuff from home to do the pooja for the new car. They got it down and we did the pooja for it, and then went upstairs.
"Thank you, Yuvaan." Baba said.
"Don't say thanks. I owe this to you." I replied.
I saw Aai bring laddoos outside and she fed me one. I smiled and fed her one back.
"Where is Neel?" I asked.
Just then, Neel walked in and Aai smiled, "100 years you'll live Neel! Yuvaan just asked about you." Then she turned to me, "He had gone to meet his friends."
"Neel!" I said and hugged him, he hugged me back, "Check the parking. I have something for you."
"Wait!" Neel exclaimed, "That new Range? You got that?" He looked at me. I nodded and Neel hugged me again, "Thanks so much bro. How did you know I wanted a Range?"
"Well," I said, "I remember when you had come to study at Nishtha's office, you had a tab open when I walked in, it was about the price of a Range, wasn't it?" Neel nodded and I continued, "So that's how I knew that this is the car you wanted." Neel and everyone smiled, all except Nishu, who was still in shock about everything.
"Love you bro." Neel said as he took the keys and went down to check the car out.
We chuckled and sat back down, "So Baba, how is the restaurant doing?"
"All good beta. It's going great..." I could sense Baba looking at me in a different way. I knew something was wrong, so I looked at Aai, "Aai, can I please get those famous samosas that you and Nishtha make?"
She chuckled, "Of course. Nishu, come." She said and took Nishtha inside.
Once they left, I turned to Baba, "Baba, tell me, what happened?"
He looked down, then at me, "Beta, all is fine only, but lately Manoj Verma and his son have been hovering around the restaurant. I see their cars around and I see them sit and sometimes just don't order, but they stay there. I know they're planning something. I don't know if they still have access or rights to the restaurant."
"They don't. Their name is entirely out of it."
"What?"
"When I went to pay Manish 60cr to stay away from Nishtha, I made sure he signed the contract which transfers his entire ownership and rights of your restaurant to me. So, since then I have had the ownership. Then, I changed my contract and gave my entire ownership to Nishtha. So now, it's you who owns 49% and Nishtha who owns 51%.
"Does she know about it?"
"No." I said shaking my head, "If I tell her, then I'll have to explain why Manish doesn't have the ownership anymore. She thinks that Manish is a silent partner and doesn't interrupt anything. If we tell her everything then we need to tell her about the blackmail."
"Beta, then why are they hovering?" Baba said, looking very worried.
I sighed, "I think they are planning something. I don't think they'd hover around for no reason, but don't worry. I won't let them do anything. I'll call my team and ask them to stay around so they won't do anything."
"I hope so. I don't want this to be an issue."
"We need to find a proper solution for these two, before they cause more issues in your life." Baba nodded and I carried on, "I've texted my team, don't worry, they're already heading there. You just relax, don't worry about all this, okay?"
He smiled.
Soon, everyone came out and we started talking, while my mind stayed on Manish, my jaw clenching in anger.
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