Chapter-27

"Aarushi?" a voice on the other end said, sending a chill down her spine.

"Who's this? And why do you keep irritating me? What do you need?" Aarush tried to keep her voice steady, but frustration seeped through.

"Aarushi, it's me, Kabir."

She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. "What? Kabir, you?" The disbelief in her voice was palpable, mixed with confusion and a hint of dread.

"Aarushi, how are you?" The voice on the other end was smooth, almost syrupy, sending a chill down her spine "Kabir." She gritted her teeth, the name tasting bitter on her tongue. '"What do you want?"

"Can't I call you Aarushi?  You know I’m always concerned about you," he replied, his tone laced with a faux sweetness that made her skin crawl.

Aarushi glanced outside the window, spotting Abhimanyu on the balcony, absorbed in his work. She stepped into the washroom, desperate to put some distance between herself and the voice that haunted her past.

"Come straight to the point, Kabir. I know what kind of person you are."she said in a firm voice.

"Aarushi, you know what you mean to me. Why are you behaving like this?" His voice softened, but the condescension was unmistakable.

She felt the heat rising in her chest, frustration bubbling over. "Don’t, Kabir. You’ve already caused so much distress in my life. I don’t want to go through that again, okay? If you don’t have anything important to say, I’m ending this call."

"Oh wow now i can't even call my ex-girlfriend?” he shot back, his voice rising. Aarushi slapped her forehead, fighting the urge to scream. "I am not your ex-girlfriend, and I was never your girlfriend. You’re still so immature, Kabir." She whispered yelled at him.

"Don’t lie to me," he snapped, a hint of anger creeping into his tone. "I know you had feelings for me. You accepted my proposal in front of everyone. What happened?"

She inhaled sharply, trying to maintain her composure. “I accepted your proposal because you proposed me in front of the whole damn college. I had to accept it to save you from being made fun of. You knew how toxic our college environment was. If I hadn’t, they would’ve trolled you mercilessly, just like they did Vaibhav." Her voice shook with pent-up frustration. "I explained everything to you that day in private after rejecting your proposal, but you just didn’t get it."

Kabir’s silence on the line was deafening, and for a moment, she thought he might finally understand. Then he spoke again, his words dripping with delusion. "No, Aarushi, you’re lying. I know it was Sid; he  manipulated you. He has feelings for you, right? That’s why he’s always around."

Aarushi groaned, the absurdity of his accusation almost making her laugh. "Once an idiot, always an idiot,"she muttered under her breath, then forced herself to speak calmly. "Listen, Kabir. Sid is like a brother to me. And I’m married now, okay? I’ve explained this a million times. I can’t waste any more energy on you."

She could feel the familiar weight of anger settling in her chest. "You disturbed me enough in the past. I never loved you. I have no feelings for you. Sid didn’t manipulate me, and I’m not your ex-girlfriend. I accepted your proposal because everyone was watching. Be mature and try to think like a grown man."she said, trying to make him understand despite his foolishness.

"I know you’re married,” he said, his voice suddenly desperate. "But Aarushi, I love you. Please give me a chance. I can love you more than your husband. I have a good job now; I earn a good salary. We can spend our lives together."

Aarushi’s heart raced, a mix of disbelief and anger surging through her. "Abe tu pagal hai kya , I’m happily married! What type of delusion are you in?" She could feel the frustration bubbling to the surface, her hands clenching into fists. "I don’t like you Kabir , i never liked you"

"Please, Aarushi, I want you. You don’t understand how hard it was for me to live without you. You just left without saying anything. I thought we were going to get married after I got a good job, and now you’re saying this?"

Cutting him off, she raised her voice, fury spilling over. "I never said anything about us! I never made any promises! Heck there was no us..Oh God, Kabir, you’re not in your right mind. I can’t do this. Stop all this nonsense and focus on your life."

She could hear him breathe heavily on the other end, like a child throwing a tantrum. "Aarushi, please don’t say that. Give me a chance. What’s stopping you? Your husband?Tell me who is your husband I will handle him "

"Don’t you dare call me again!" Aarushi yelled, slamming her phone onto the counter. She felt sick, the anger coursing through her veins. She grabbed her phone, her fingers shaking as she blocked his number and switched it off.

The silence that followed was deafening. She turned on the faucet, splashing her face with cold water, trying to wash away the remnants of the conversation. A tear slipped down her cheek, a reminder of the turmoil he had caused her in college.

Her memories of that time were a tangled mess of anxiety and fear, and his voice had resurrected it all.

She remembered the way he had locked her in a room during a practical exam, begging her to give him a chance while she felt trapped and terrified. It had been a moment of pure horror, with her heart racing and her palms sweating, the feeling of helplessness flooding over her. And when she was finally able to tackle him, she rushed to her practicals.

She thought to file a case against him, but she didn't want to destroy his life. She thought he is immature.  He will slowly understand everything but she was wrong. He didn't let her live in peace.

He created drama in front of everyone, acting like a couple in front of her classmates. She felt so uncomfortable because of him. It's was her last year , crucial one but he made a mess in her life. She was alone there as Sid got transferred to another college in last year.

How could she explain to her parents that it wasn’t true? That she wasn’t out there having fun while they thought she was studying hard? They had thought she was distracted by boys, and before she could correct them, her bua had manipulated the situation, twisting her words.

She clearly remembered that day when they had called Kabir, and he had stood there, lying through his teeth and blaming her. "Aarushi’s just being dramatic, I never proposed to her. She is the one who kept trailing behind me " he’d told them, and she had stood there, speechless, a hollow ache in her chest.

Her father had nearly dragged her back to Rajasthan, fearing for her well-being, and she had fought tooth and nail to convince him to let her finish her degree. And somehow, she had, but at what cost? Her grades had suffered, her mental health had crumbled, and the joy of learning had turned into a constant battle.

Now, years later, here was Kabir again, digging up the grave of her past. The memories rushed over her like a tidal wave, and she felt the familiar knot of frustration tightening in her chest. The anger bubbled to the surface, and she couldn’t hold it back any longer.

She went outside and lay down on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Closing her eyes, she tried to push away the whirlwind of feelings, but it was no use. The anger, the frustration, the helplessness—it was all coming back, flooding her mind with memories she had tried so hard to bury.

She thought of her life now, the stability she had fought so hard to build. The life they had created together felt fragile, like glass, and she was terrified of what Kabir’s return could mean.

As she lay there, the weight of her frustration turned into anger. She felt so angry at Kabir for invading her peace, for dragging her back into a time she had fought to escape.

She wanted to scream, to yell at him for being so selfish, for not understanding the impact of his actions on her life.  But mostly, she felt angry at herself. Angry for still allowing him to have this power over her.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within her, but it was too late. The emotions had boiled over, she was frustrated.

The memories of her college life flashed before her eyes—Kabir lurking around, the whispers of her classmates, the constant anxiety that had shadowed her every step. She remembered the way her heart tightened when he would approach, the way she felt trapped in her own life

Sleep, she thought. She has a bad habit; she always loses her control in anger and frustration. She didn't think before speaking anything in anger. That's why she had to sleep to calm herself. She started taking god name in her mind and after some time she finally drifted into dreamland.

Next morning ~

Aarushi was getting ready for the pooja. She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the heavy  saree that clung to her curves, its intricate embroidery glimmering in the light.

She tugged at the pleats, a frown creasing her forehead as she tried to make herself comfortable. With a final touch of her earrings, she stepped back to admire her reflection, her heart fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nerves.

She took her phone and switched it on. She felt a tight knot in her stomach when she noticed ten missed calls from Kabir. He isn't understanding a thing.

Just then, Abhimanyu emerged from the closet, clad in a kurta that accentuated his tall frame and strong shoulders. He caught sight of Aarushi and paused, his breath hitching slightly. She looked stunning—more radiant than he had ever seen her.

(Her saree)

Aarushi felt a wave of calmness wash over her as she noticed Abhimanyu's presence.He wet his lower lip, momentarily lost in the depths of her eyes as they locked in an intense gaze.

"Maar ke manegi" he murmured, almost breathless.

The heat rose in their cheeks, and they both averted their gazes, a shy smile creeping onto Aarushi's lips.

"Do you need help with that?" he asked, stepping closer. "It looks a bit… heavy."

Aarushi swallowed hard, her heart racing. “I’m fine,” she replied, but her voice felt shaky, betraying her calm facade. "Just… trying to get it right."

His hands brushed against her saree plates as he adjusted the saree, sending a shiver down her spine. "You look serene jaan," he said, his voice low and sincere. "Like a goddess."

She felt a rush of warmth spread across her cheeks, the flattery both comforting and unnerving. "Thanks," she managed, her eyes flickering back to meet his gaze. "You’re not looking too bad yourself today."

He chuckled softly, the sound wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. Yet, beneath the light banter, she sensed an undercurrent of tension. Her conversation with kabir from the previous night lingered in the air, thick and palpable, making her stomach knot with unease.

"Are you okay?" Abhimanyu asked, his brow furrowing slightly as he took a step back to assess her. "You look a bit stressed."

She shook her head quickly, dismissing his concern. "It’s nothing, just… worried about the pooja and this heavy saree," she said, forcing a smile. She felt a pulse of frustration rise within her—the weight of expectations, the pressure to be perfect in front of relatives. Today she will meet some people as their hukum's wife. She can't help but feel extreme nervousness.

"If you’re uncomfortable, you should change, love ” he urged, his tone gentle but firm. She shook her head a him but Abhimanyu urged " Aap itni choti si or ye saree itni badi badi lag rahi hai, change it if you want"

Aarushi felt anger rising in herself; she was already disturbed because of Kabir's nonsense, and every relative was also there, waiting downstairs for her. What if they will judge her from her background, what if she will not meet their expectations.

"No, I’ll manage and I am not small," she replied, her voice rising slightly. “It’s not like I have to wear it all day!” The irritation seeped through, and she regretted the sharpness of her words as soon as they left her mouth.

Abhimanyu’s expression shifted to one of hurt, and he nodded slowly, trying to hide his disappointment. " It's okay love, just… don’t take too much stress, alright?"

Aarushi sighed deeply,her heart softening at his concern. "I’m sorry," she said, her voice quieter now. "I’m just a little nervous, that’s all. Everyone will be there." She hates her self for this.

“It’s okay, jaan,” he replied, his eyes warm and understanding. "I’ll be right there with you. Just tell me if something bother you"He stepped closer again, caressing her hand softly. The warmth of his touch made her feel a little more at ease.

"Thank you " she said, biting her lower lip as she tried to shake off the weight of the morning. The knot in her stomach loosened just a bit under his gaze.

After a few more minutes of hurried preparations, they were ready to head downstairs. Aarushi took a deep breath, steeling herself for the onslaught of family members awaiting them. Abhimanyu’s presence beside her provided a sense of security.

As they descended the staircase, a hush fell over the gathering of relatives. All eyes turned toward Aarushi, and she felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over her. She could hear the soft gasps and murmurs of admiration.

"Look at her! Absolutely breathtaking!" one of the aunts exclaimed, her eyes wide with awe.

Abhimanyu placed a steadying hand on the small of her back, offering his warmth as they made their way through the crowd. Aarushi felt a mix of pride and anxiety, the heavy saree becoming a little more manageable with his support.

"Just remember to keep calm. I am here with you.” he whispered, leaning closer, the warmth of his breath against her ear sending a shiver down her spine.

"I’m trying,”" she replied under her breath, a nervous giggle escaping her lips.  They reached the front where the elders were seated, and they both bowed to take their blessings.

Once the blessings were exchanged, they made their way outside to the car. Abhimanyu opened the door for her, his hand lingering on the small of her back as she slid into the seat. "Good to go"  he asked, in a concerned voice.

Aarushi nodded, adjusting her saree as it bunched awkwardly beneath her.

As the car pulled away, Aarushi felt her phone vibrate in her purse, and she instinctively reached for it.

The screen flashed with a message from Kabir, and her heart raced with a mix of anxiety and anger. "Aarushi, at least meet me one time. I just want to see you and talk to you in person."

The anger bubbled up inside her like a volcano ready to erupt. "Ugh, he’s such a creep,"she muttered under her breath, her fingers flying over the screen as she typed back, "I will not meet you not now not ever. Stop your delusion and stay away from me otherwise it will not be good for you"

She hit send and immediately switched off her phone, feeling a rush of relief mixed with lingering frustration. She glanced over at Abhimanyu, who was focused on the road but cast a quick glance in her direction.

"Kuch baat hai" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

Aarushi forced a smile, trying to mask her inner turmoil. "No, I am fine "

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced " I don't know but I feel there is something wrong "

"It's nothing really,I’m fine," she insisted, turning her gaze to the window, watching the world blur past. The trees and buildings whizzing by offered her a distraction from the thoughts swirling in her mind.

Abhimanyu didn’t press further, but she could feel him watching her from the corner of his eye as they navigated the busy streets. The city hummed with life, but inside her, there was a storm brewing—one that she struggled to contain.

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