Chapter 3
Arjun stared at the strange behavior of Arohi. He had seen her walking towards him with that sly smile of hers. But in a matter of seconds her face dropped and her expressions became that of painful and moreover she ran outside without giving him a last look. What had he done? He couldn't remember anything. He did notice that Arohi's last look was towards her right. He turned only to find three people talking and laughing. He recognized their faces but couldn't place their names. He sighed. He needed to talk to Arohi. Why did she behave so weirdly? He was so sure he had seen pain in her eyes as her beautiful almond shaped eyes scrunched and tears flew silently. Arjun took fast and long strides trying to not catch any attention towards his haste in going out. He slipped outside without getting noticed and let his eyes wander to find her. He couldn't find her in the vastness of his estate. For the first time in his life he was irritated at this vastness. He was so fond of the long stretch of grounds with its trees and canopy resembling a forest and all this ended far at a cliff overlooking a large lake. But right now this vastness suffocated him. He didn't know why but seeing her pained face ripped his heart out and he needed to find her. He walked more into the darkness and finally found her at the end of the cliff looking at the lake. He could easily make out her petite silhouette in the moonlight. He walked to her and placed his hand upon her shoulders.
***
Arohi ran outside from the party. She didn't know what she felt when she saw that person. If she had stood there one more second then she would have walked up to there and slapped that person. But still Arohi couldn't believe that SHE was here. How can she be here? She was supposed to be in Shimla in her happy married life. How can Mrs. Gauri Sastri be here? Her best friend' no ex-best friend! Arohi didn't know who to blame for all that happened. She knew she was at fault but what did Gauri do? She didn't simply stand by her but abandoned her! Yeah abandoned! That was the right word. Arohi had always been there for her. When Gauri said that Arohi needed to back off from her life temporarily just so that Gauri's over possessive sister didn't tell her orthodox parents about her boy friend Vinay Sastri, she agreed. She happily stepped back from her best friend's life for her love and her happiness but when time came for Gauri to stand by her she abandoned Arohi. She simply chose her comfort, her happiness over Arohi. Arohi still doesn't know whether she should be angry at Gauri for choosing her own happiness. Everyone does but Gauri was her best friend, one who had known her from childhood.
Arohi still remembered everything that happened 4 years back but she knew the seed to the culmination was sowed much earlier. First step to that catastrophe happened when she was in a relationship with Aman. To think of it she felt a kind of amusement. Aman was the first step to that day but he wasn't the one who destroyed everything. Neither was Gauri but all were pawns to bring about her own destruction. And seeing Gauri here was enough to poke the old wounds. This was why Arohi was so happy when she got the offer to move to New York. But it seems past won't stop haunting her anytime soon or may be never!
Arohi was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't see the figure of a man approaching her. When a soft yet firm hand touched her shoulders Arohi jumped back in fear and was about to fall but two strong arms held her in place. Her eyes that were shut in fear flew open smelling the familiar scent of Arjun and feeling the warmth of his hands that were around her waist. She looked up to see Arjun gazing down at her worried but soon those worry lines eased and a smile replaced his face. Even after being in such a bad state Arohi couldn't stop admiring the face of the man holding her. His face was perfect and had small stubble, the way she liked. And the dimples she loved them the most. Her hairs were flowing disrupting her view of Arjun's face, the face that can make her forget her worries.
Arjun was staring down at Arohi. She looked so beautiful with those fear filled eyes. He watched as she slowly opened her eyes and smiled slightly seeing him. Her lips were trembling from the cold wind that was blowing. Or was it because of her silent tears that had left there marks in her cheeks. Her nose and eyes were red from crying. He didn't understand what made this innocent soul cry so much. Whom did she see for this to happen? Arjun didn't like the way wind was blowing her hair strands into her face obstructing his vision. But still that was adding to her beauty.
A cold wind blew making Arohi sneeze. Their trance broke and Arjun helped Arohi stand up. She wasn't looking at him. Her eyes seemed interested in the dark wet grass below. Arjun lifted her chin with his thumb and index finger. He looked into her deep black eyes and asked her what happened by slightly nodding his head. She shook her head and in the next second cried into his hands as if she couldn't hold it in anymore. Arjun was taken aback at this sudden outburst but didn't ask her anything instead pulled her in for a hug rubbing her back to calm her. Her sobs weren't dying down but he continued rubbing her back giving her assuring kisses on her head. Finally, her sobs reduced to hiccups and Arjun pushed her slightly to look at her. She looked like a child about to have her next cry. He cupped her face and wiped away her tears with both his thumbs. He didn't know what made him do the next act. He bent his face down and kissed her both wet eyes like he is drinking away her tears. Then he kissed her forehead and then her two cheeks. From her cheeks he moved to kiss her nose. She kept on looking at him like a small child with her wide open eyes. Then finally Arjun's lips stopped at Arohi's. He hesitated for a moment but then getting no reaction from her slammed his lips on hers. He didn't deepen the kiss. He was giving her small continuous pecks trying to soothe her and calm her. But he couldn't hold it any longer when Arohi opened her lips in a gasp. He didn't know when the kiss turned so passionate that his hands started exploring her back. His hands were on her back and neck. May be that was what triggered Arohi back to senses. As if remembering a similar but painful and disgusting memory she moved back with a jerk.
Arjun looked at Arohi in surprise. He was sure he wasn't forcing himself on her. She was responding but what happened. He looked at her confused when she started rubbing her neck, hands and face as if she was scratching something away. It pinched his heart. Was his touch so disgusting for her? Was he so wrong in reading her feelings for him? But his doubts were cleared soon. On looking at her again Arjun understood she was not in her senses. She was acting like she was in another place and another time, like she was in a past memory. She kept on mumbling, "No, no, no! Move! Move! Stop! Stop! Don't! No, no, no!" And in a swift movement she acted like she pushed someone away. Arjun was worried for her now. He shook her hardly trying to bring her back and she did. She stared wide eyed at Arjun. And looked around to make sure she wasn't there where she thought she was. A sigh of relief escaped her mouth. Her eyes started brimming but she wiped them away with her hands and looked at Arjun and said in a feeble voice, "Drop me home Arjun!"
Arjun didn't know how to react, whether he should ask her about her behavior inside and outside the party. He decided against it. It was not the right time. She was in a bad condition and he shouldn't force her to say anything. He slowly led her to his car and making her sit properly he walked to the driver's seat. He started his car and began their journey. His heart was bleeding seeing her in such a deplorable condition. He didn't understand why he can't see her in pain or why his heart stopped beating seeing her horrified expressions? When she was mumbling and rubbing her skin harshly, a horrible and scary thought passed through his mind. Had someone tried to'? His grip on the steering tightened. He can't even think about it. If it is true then she must have gone through hell. He made a promise to himself that he will take care of her. He turned to look at Arohi who was looking out lost in thought.
***
Arjun dropped her at her apartment complex. He wanted to accompany her till her apartment but she denied. Giving him a small smile she walked away. Arjun kept on looking at the retreating figure. Pain was visible in his face seeing her like that. He was used to that silent yet strong and determined Arohi who was enthusiastic about her work, music and books. He sat in his car outside her apartment complex for almost half an hour trying to make up his mind to leave her there. It was hard but he left promising himself that he will come tomorrow morning before the sun is up and will help her get back to life. He hoped that by morning she will be alright so that he can share her pain and ease her heart and mind.
***
Arohi walked into her apartment with a broken heart and soul. She slumped onto the sofa and dropped her head into her hands and cried non-stop. She didn't know for how long she sat there crying but finally she stood up and walked to the balcony of her apartment and looked out at the sleeping city. Tears were still flowing but she wasn't aware of them. Her memory had travelled a long way back, may be a four years to be exact. It was only four years but still it seemed like a lifetime ago. She was so different back then. Of course, even then she had her love for books and wanted to enter the publishing sector but she as a person was different. She was a girl of 22, too eager to please her dad.
***
Four years earlier,
Arohi opened her heavily sleepy eyes slowly. She didn't want to wake up but alas, if only someone made her mom understand this simple fact. Her mom had parted the white curtains letting the sun rays seep into her room and ultimately into her face. "Shit!" Arohi murmured while sitting up in her bed, cross-legged and hair disheveled. She was a sight to watch. Amrit looked at her daughter and smiled. Arohi still looked like a small kid waking up not wanting to go to school. No one would say she was a post-graduate. Just yesterday her results came and as usual her Arohi had made her proud. But only if someone made her dad understand this and let his daughter follow her dreams! Arohi had always tried to make her dad proud but he stopped mentally supporting his daughter the day she decided to follow her dreams rather than his. That's the first time she did something against her dad's wishes and that did it for Sudhir!
Looking at her mom's face Arohi could make out what was going on in her mind. She sighed. She so hopelessly wished that her dad would understand her. But he didn't! Right from her childhood Arohi had always tried to make her dad proud. She forcefully made herself listen to his favorite bands and liked things he loved. She tried to make herself a carbon copy of him. In all this, she had forgotten to build a character of her own. May be that's why when she met Aman she was so confused about her own feelings. She met him at a point when Gauri was busy in her life and her all other friends too, a time when she was so confused whether to choose her dreams or her dad's, a time when she was struggling to find herself. She liked Aman. She knew that. But love? No, love wasn't there. But that brief relationship with Aman had helped her see herself in a different light. She realized that her life was so intricately depended on her dad's dreams and her friends' life. Aman made her realize all this was good, to an extent but it was important to have an identity of her own. From there started her self-discovery and on the way she realized she wasn't doing justice to Aman. He was a close friend and that's all he could ever be. She was honest to him. He accepted her decision, painfully. She knew she broke him but also knew it was temporary. After all, he was the one who told her to do the right thing even when it hurts yourself and others. Aman's chapter got closed there but only if she knew Aman was the key to her final break from her dad, from her life, a key who himself wasn't aware of it. It's pathetic when you became the triggering point for someone's downfall but you yourself aren't aware of it.
Arohi was still staring at her mom when Amrit left her room asking her to get ready. Arohi got out of the bed painfully slow and got ready. She came down dressed in her red kurti and black jeans. She loved red. Her mom looked at her intently. Oops! She didn't tell her mom she was going out! She pressed her eyes at her mom telling her in the secret mother-daughter communication way that everything is fine and she is going out. Arohi slipped into her seat in the dining table and started her breakfast and at times looking at her dad reading newspaper. The house was dead silent. Arohi was hoping against her hopes that her dad would congratulate her for topping, again. Sudhir looked up from his paper and looked at Arohi. He shook his head and stood up and left the house taking his office bag. Forget congratulating he didn't even wish her morning. Arohi sighed. She was used to all this but still it hurt her badly. As Amrit looked on Arohi's eyes welled up and tears started to fall. She looked up at her mom and wiped her tears away. She looked down at her plate. She had hardly eaten anything and now she couldn't. She stood up and picked her bag and moved to the main door only to be stopped by her mom's words.
"Your dad had ordered some sweets from the bakery' you should give it to the neighbors and your friends'"
Arohi turned and looked at her mom. It was the routine from the time she chose her dreams. Earlier her dad used to hug her whenever she used to win, a formal hug and then bought lots of sweets to distribute in the neighborhood. But now she didn't even get the formal hug but the sweets were always there. She wished to tell her dad that she didn't need the sweets but only a heartfelt and proud hug from him. She again sighed the umpteenth time that day and replied to her mom,
"You do it mom! You always do that then why me this time?"
Arohi didn't wait for her mom to reply she walked out. Sometimes she felt she was being unjust to her mom. Her mom was the one who gets strangled between the father and daughter. But she couldn't help it. It hurts just so much!
Arohi walked into her college only to be taken out of her thoughts by a loud scream.
"Arooo!!!!" Arohi saw a madly grinning Shefali ran towards her. In split seconds, Arohi was engulfed into a tight hug by Shefali. Arohi laughed along with her. No matter how sad she is but this mad girl always used to make her laugh. Shefali pulled out of the hug and then stared at Arohi with a frown.
"He didn't wish you, right?" Shefali asked frowning. When Arohi didn't reply Shefali asked matter-of-factly, "Should I strangle him to death?"
"Shefali!" Arohi said shocked. Shefali shrugged her shoulders and said, "I know he's your dad but he is acting a little too pricey!"
Arohi stared at her for a moment and then burst out laughing and hugged her friend tightly. She may not know Shefali from her childhood but certainly she was the best friend anyone could ever ask for! Arohi turned around when she heard more greetings. Her classmates were all congratulating her and she smiled back at them. She may have many problems but there were always moments like this in her life. She turned sideways to look at Shefali who was grinning and laughing like she just got a Nobel Prize. Shefali nodded her head questioningly at her to which Arohi said,
"I miss him!"
"Aman?" Shefali asked skeptically. Shefali was very fond of Aman and she used to gush at Arohi and him. She was a little angry at Arohi for breaking up but she can't stay mad at her best friend.
Arohi shook her head in negation and said, "Jai! I wish he was here!"
Shefali scrunched up her face. Jai was their classmate and he went to Canada after graduation. It has been two years. They are still in touch and the best of buddies. He used to look out for Arohi like a brother. But Shefali and Jai used to fight all the time. It was a treat to watch them fight.
"Why in the hell did you take his name? Can't you give me a minute's peace?" Shefali said dramatically.
Arohi again laughed at her antics. This girl would never change!
"I miss him because he is my best friend just like you!! And you're also missing him, especially the fights, aren't you?" Arohi asked grinning.
"Whatever!" Shefali stopped for a minute and then said, "Yeah yeah! But don't you dare tell him! And don't say it loud! My possessive and extra protective boyfriend would go crazy!!!"
"Oh please! Romit is a good guy! And besides the whole college know you and Jai are fighting pals!" Arohi said dismissing her doubts.
"Ok fine! Now let's go to our favorite restaurant! I am starving!" Shefali grabbed Arohi's hands and dragged her out.
***
Arohi was suddenly thrown out of her memories by the constant ringing of her door bell. Who can it be at this time? Arjun? She hoped not because she won't be able to answer his questions today. She hadn't even changed and was still in her black dress. Luckily she had stepped out of her black pumps. She walked to the front door and opened without checking who it was. She wasn't completely in her senses to think and be cautious. May be she should have checked. At least then she wouldn't have faced such a shock. There in front of her was the person she was trying to avoid and also not to slap, with a nervous smile directed towards Arohi. "Gauri!" Arohi whispered barely audible.
***
Okay I know I was MIA. Sorry for that!!!! But please do tell me how this one had shaped out to be!! For me it's painfully long, boring and absurd!!! I mean I think I am mastering in torturing you guys!! And believe me this one is not going to end soon because I have no idea how to bring out Arohi's past!!! There are more characters from her past actually one or two!! Leave all that!! And leave me comments!!
