It was the best fucking 10 days for Rehan.
Currently they were on their flight back to India and his wife was sleeping using his arms as her pillow.
Arya Mehta was a one complete complicated mystery. She was an entirely different person once she becomes comfortable around you. That's when you start to notice her quirkiness that was always masked by her cold and sassy attitude.
But one thing didn't change.
She was still so drop dead gorgeous that it left him breathless everytime he saw her.
Call him a Romantic. He didn't care because right now he was living HIS Fairytale.
Even now with her messy bun and a comfortable tee , she looked so cute that made him want to pinch her cheeks but he knew better than that. She might look like an angel when asleep but he didn't want to aquire the wrath of his lioness if she woke up.
Arya had became his comfort zone in the last few days. As an introvert he could enjoy silence and deep conversations with her in the same way.
She was a gem that found him when he wasn't even looking for it.
And he was pretty sure he wouldn't have found a person like her if he had looked. Arranged marriages were a boon for introverts like him.
During their last days at London they bought a lot of gifts for their family or his to be exact. Arya was hell bent on buying nothing for her family. At the same time she selected gifts for Mahi and bhabhi with the utmost care.
"Quit staring" Arya whined peaking at him
"Beauty is to be admired "
Arya smiled a bit at that. Her beautiful skin made it hard to figure out if she was blushing but Rehan could 'feel' her blushing rather than seeing it.
"Well I can't blame u then"
Arya changed her position as to not get a cramp and was about to go to sleep again. They still had 2 hours left to reach Delhi and from there to Jaipur.
Rehan went back to the book he was reading.
"What are you reading? "
"A book. "
"Yeah no shit Sherlock"
"I meant which book " she replied rolling her eyes.
"The invisible life of Addie Larue"
"I think I have heard that name on Instagram. "
"Yeah it was really famous last year. I bought it then but didn't read it till now. "
"What is it about?"
"It's about a girl named Addie who has a curse that no one can remember her. Every person she meets and gets to know forgets her the moment she gets out of their sight and she can't leave marks too. Whatever she draw fades away and all her possessions are lost. Mainly it speaks about one thing. People may forget memories but never ideas. "
"That seems so tragic" she said her face turning into a cute frown
"Yeah I guess but it's a nice book. She does find a guy who can remember her but it is the right person wrong time. "
"How can you read something so heart wrenching and still be fine?" She asked horrified at the thought
"I have read books more Heartbreaking than this." He replied nonchalantly.
"I could never. I can't even watch a sad film. "
"I love films that make me cry. "
"Hey Ram what kind of a human did I marry "
Rehan chuckled at that.
"Go to sleep sweetheart." He said patting her head.
"Hmm"
"Rehan ?"
"Hmm"
"I don't think I can ever forget you. "
*
Rehan had missed his home.
For the first time after marriage, Rehan and Arya entered the house together holding hands.
They were greeted by Chachi in the living room who gave them both a warm hug only a mother who had missed her children can give.
She noticed the warm smile on BOTH their faces and didn't comment on it or the intertwined hands.
"Where is everybody? "
Chachi was left speechless at his question.
"Woh ....."
"Chachi where is Mahi and everyone else? " This time Arya asked.
Rehan noticed Chachi's eyes starting to tear up.
"Raghav Bhai is on a business trip. Mahi is at her maika and I don't know where Dhruv and Veer are. They rarely come home anymore. I don't know what is happening with this family.
Zaroor kisi ka Nazar laga hai. "
"Suddenly what happened Chachi ? "
Chachi explained about the fight Veer Bhai and Dhruv Bhai had. She still didn't know what happened between Mahi and Bhai but it must have been something really serious if she went to this extent.
He was away for freaking 10 days and THIS is what he come back to. God loved to make his life a fucking joke.
Well it's time to have a talk with my brothers.
*
"Are you okay? "
"Yeah I'm fine. Just a headache. Must be the jet lag. "
It was not the jet lag and both of them knew that but Arya didn't bother to argue.
"Hmm. "
Arya went inside the washroom to freshen up.
Rehan was taking his sweatpants and shirt out of the cupboard when he noticed the gift his colleagues had given him. He opened it to find two matching platinum bracelets with their initials. It was too beautiful that he lost himself staring at it.
"What is that?" Arya asked coming closer to take a better look.
"My colleagues had given me this before we went to paris. I forgot about it I guess. It's a wedding gift for u and me. "
"It's beautiful." Arya replied admiring it.
"May I." I asked looking at her for permission to tie it around her wrist.
"No... No... It's too pretty. I will ruin it. "
"No you won't."
Its beauty will increase when it will adorn your hand. He thought but didn't say it out loud.
"No Rehan. I have surgeries coming up and it will be too tiresome to take it off everytime. " The ever practical Arya replied.
"Fine. But just for now. Please." He asked with puppy eyes.
"Okay fine. " She said with the glint of a smile.
He held her hands a bit longer than required as he got lost in his thoughts about his brothers.
"Hey u okay?" She asked worry lacing her voice
"Yeah I'm fine. I'm great. "
"You are such a bad liar. " She shook her head.
"Pff. No I am not. I did lie about hating you didn't I?"
She raised an eyebrow and asked
"So you don't now? "
"Nope"
"Then what do you feel for me now Mr Singhania. "
"What do you want the answer to be Mrs Singhania? "
"Friendship would be nice" she replied coyly
"Just friendship? " He asked pulling her close.
"Yep"
"Tell that to yourself Arya" he replied and gave her his signature wink.
"I am going to sleep "
"Okay"
"Let go na". She said looking at her hands in his grasp.
"Sorry" he replied sheepishly
"Good night, sweet nightmares" she chirped with a smirk.
"Well I don't have to sleep to see my sweet nightmare. She is right in front of me"
"Ha ha. Really funny" her tone dripping with sarcasm.
*
Rehan went to Dhruv's cabin first thing the next morning but he wasn't their. He even checked his room but dhruv wasn't to be found. He checked in with his assistant but all she knew was that he had left the office yesterday by 1 am. When he inquired more he got to know that it was after a call from Kartik.
Rehan didn't waste any time and called Kartik. He picked up on the second ring.
"Kartik where's Dhruv Bhai ?"
"Bro chill. Atleast say a hello.
He's at the Singhania hospital. "
"Why is he at the hospital. Is he okay."
"Physically yes. Mentally I don't know."
"Don't talk in riddles yaar"
"I don't have the right to tell you everything Rehan. You ask Bhai directly. He's at the hospital. Room no. 379 "
"Okay fine "
Rehan knocked on the door three times.
It was opened by none other than Dhruv Singhania
Rehan?
"When did you reach India? "
"Yesterday"
"I am so sorry. I lost track of time with all the work"
"It's okay Bhai. Chachi was worried about you which in turn got me worried so I wanted to check in on you. Can I come in ?"
"Yeah sorry. "
Dhruv opened the door completely for Rehan to come in.
Rehan assessed the whole room and then the teenage girl lying on the bed looking at him warily
Rehan looked at Dhruv questioningly
"Rehan meet Komal"
"Komal this is my brother Rehan"
"Hi" Rehan said with a warm smile
"Namaste" she replied meekly
"Komal u take rest I will come back tomorrow. "
"Theek hai bhaiya"
I took Rehan to the canteen. Once we settled in at a table and ordered two tea.
"Care to explain? " Rehan inquired
"It's a long story. "
"WellI'm listening"
*
I told him the entire thing without leaving even a bit out.
"Bhai I don't know what to say. Yes you were trying but Mahi is also not wrong. You were no saint. Actually let me just say it for once. You were kind of a dick to her and one part of me is glad she took her stand but this was not the right time or way to take it. "
"I agree. You can never replace a person like Avantika didi but trust me you will never find a much finer Jem than our Mahi. She loves you damnit. Have loved you from the beginning and if I know her she will love you till the end. "
"But Bhai please don't build those walls around you again. We need our Dhruv back. I need my brother back. Please. Talk with her. I know she will be mad and no I don't expect her to forgive you but atleast get these off your chest. Become our old free , happy Dhruv again. "
"
I know it's 'hard' for you but try to talk it out with her. "
Rehan finished the chai and went out leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Mahi was there for him always wasn't she?
A 10 year old Mahika Rai was yelling at the brave Dhruv Singhania who was looking at the earth ready for it to swallow him.
"Look how the cuts are bleeding? Don't you have a brain? Like what were you thinking" She asked as she checked his wounds
"You were the one who said you wanted mangoes. So I got them for you. "
Mahika had told him she wanted the big ripe mangoes on the topmost branch of the mango tree at her house.
So he had climbed and plucked the mangoes but fell down the tree as the branch broke.
My shortie will get whatever she asks for. He had replied nonchalantly
*
Dhruv are you okay ? Mahika asked as she rushed towards his bloodied hands.
He had been boxing with his gloves but still his memories didn't let go of him. So he had started hitting the walls hoping the pain would numb his inner suffering.
I am fine. He answered her without any emotion.
I don't care give me your hand. She said as she took the first aid kit out of the cupboard.
Dhruv looked at her , the girl who was so selflessly devoted to him.
Dhruv had misunderstood her consent as being selfish. He had always thought that she would understand what he was going through. She was his bestfriend. But she didn't.
Then Chachi had told him the real reason and he had felt ashamed of himself for treating his Mahi like that.
A chat between him and Shortie was long due.
Not to ask for her forgiveness. He didn't deserve that. He didn't even deserve her attention. But he needed to talk to her to clear all the unnecessary misunderstandings. She deserved the complete truth.
â
Sorry for being late
Love you all
Aswa_maya
" A brother is a great thing to be "