#CHAPTER:8

NIKHIL POV:

Alarm...it's irritating my peaceful sleep, shutting it off I lazily did my morning routine just then she came with her smile on.

"Good morning, nikhil"

"Morning Aaru" I smiled at her. I don't know why I called her Aaru but I liked it.

"Here take this" she handed me hot water and squeezed lemon in it after handing it.

She is such a keeper, handling my diet very well. She is making sure that my meals consists of vitamin c. I feel like a baby going to school again with her over protectiveness.

I drank it slowly while listening her voice.

"So...Can I do it" she asked me but I didn't listened anything.

"Huh" I stared at her with confusion written all over my face clearly

"I asked you can I start something on my own!" She said again

"Why not but!" I hesitated to tell her

"I have some assets which my mom left for me so I will start with them" she said wiping all my worries in a go.

I nodded not able to form a sentence, why she is so happy with me? I'm neither giving any luxuries nor showering her with my love!?

These questions remainded unanswered from the day she agreed to our marriage.

With pushing all those thoughts aside, I went to freshen up.

After a relaxing shower, I came to our room only to find already a formal pair arranged neatly on bed.

Sometime later

"Nikhil take this" she handed me lunch box and smiled at her. I don't know what happens with me when I see her or when I'm with her it's kind of magic she does on me.

Then Riha asked me to drop at her friends place, which lead to whole conversation.

When I went out, Riha is standing aside by my bike.

I signalled her to climb back...then I started to drive.

"Pa, tell her to stay out of my way otherwise I can't be responsible for my behavior" Riha said while gripping my shoulder tightly.

"Aaradhya" I asked her to confirm whether she is talking about Aaru or not

"Yes..." She said

"But why Riha, she is your sister-in-law" but Riha cut me off

"Sis in law that too for me, pa have you ever seen that girl."

"I loathed her, if you ever want to take her side then I won't talk to you pa. This is not just a mere threat I will do it"

I nodded at her words..

"What about my saree pa!?" She asked in serious tone and continued "Don't give me money and bull shit"

"Get ready I will pick you up at 12" I said

I dropped her at Sandy's home and drove back to office.

With much heavy heart I did all the work at office, not because I don't want her to buy saree but 4 days left for my appointment and how can I arrange amount.

I called her and told Riha to come out, I picked her up went to small shop.

"Pa, I have seen best sarees at **** mall."

I huffed air out and drove to mall..

By parking bike, we both went in and sales boy guided us to silk sarees section.

Riha got excited and I smiled at her excitement.

"Show me Parampara Pattu saree" Riha asked sales girl.

"What's the maximum cost can I show you" she asked with fake smile on her face.

"20000" Riha said without hesitation

Then she came back with some sarees and kept it before us.

She selected three sarees and went to trail infront of mirror just to see that that saree suits her or not.

"Pa, I like this one" she said pointing to last one which is some multiple colour type.

I nodded and asked her to send it to cash counter.

"How much" I asked the boy at counter

"Sir..it's 24000" that's it, I expected her to buy within 20000.

I gave him my card.

"Thank you sir" he said with satisfied smile.

I dropped her home and went to office again.

"Hey...."my teammate Sekar wished me.

"Hi.." I smiled at him

"Have you listened this, our chairman's daughter is taking in charge from today" he said

He continued to talk about her for a good hour while I'm eating.

My phone rang saving me from his mam fantasy.

"Hello.Nikhil" yes it's Aaradhya

"Aaru.." I sighed in relief.

"What happened, you sound so dull" she stated

"Nothing, usual stuff" I replied

"Ok..but I don't believe that usual stuff reason, I don't bug you too. Had lunch!?" She asked me

"Yes...just" later she talked for a while saying that she going to look over her dad's restaurant.

"Nikhil" some one called me, I turned to see who is owner of voice.

For a second I forget that Aaradhya on call seeing who is it.

"Nikki...Is it you?!" She again questioned whether to confirm it's me.

"Yuktha" am I dreaming??

My first love Yuktha is here infront of me.

"Hello...Nikhil, nikhil what happened, are you there" Aaradhya voice from mobile disturbed me

"Yeah..I call you later!?" I said and cut the call without hearing her response.

I'm staring at her without blinking my eyes and same with her too.

Why not after all,we met 3 years later..

"How are you!" She broke silence

"I'm good, how are you!?"

"Upto now not good" she said and continued

"Now I'm better by seeing you"

I smiled, she didn't change a bit.

"So...why are you here! I thought you wanna" I cut off

"Yes, but circumstances lead me here."

Then Our chairman came towards us

"Hey..baby " he called Yuktha

"Dad" she said while going his way

"I will catch you later, may be coffee after office" she asked me

I nodded and said ok

After I met Yuktha my mind is clouded with our memories.

"Hey..man what happened come let's go, it's already past 6"

"Oh" I started packing my things when my mobile rang and it shows unknown number

"Hello" I answered the call

"Hello, Nikki" Yuktha shouted in happiness

"Oh yuktha, how did get my number"

"Now I'm manager of company, Nikki how can I not get your number"

I forget that...

"Meet me at parking lot, I'm waiting for you"

I replied with an ok

When I cut the call, Aaradhya called me..

My heart felt heavy, I don't know!

"Hello"

"Hello, Nikhil...."

"Tell me Aaradhya" I asked her in not so cold tone.

Hey..you again Aaru became Aaradhya my inner self mocked me

"Nothing, you cut our call this afternoon so. I thought to" she is about to say something but I'm already in parking lot

"I will call you later,I have a work to do"

And then I hung up.

"Nikki..." She gestured me to come over her car.

"So...how is life going?" She asked me.

"Good" I said

Soon silence engulfed us which is very comfortable as old days

Later she stopped the car at restaurant.

"Come let's eat and talk" she said

We both went in and sat at very cozy place.

Not a minute later, waiter arrived to take our order.

I ordered something which is within the diet.

"I'm sorry Nikki" first word she said

If she said this word 3 years ago, after our graduation may be we both are together now.

"For everything, for leaving you behind and went to study abroad, for not contacting you over those years but trust me, I missed you" she said while controlling her tears.

"Then why didn't you contact me Yuktha" I said. Now what can I do, if she had been contact with me after going abroad for master's then there is an us not me and her.

"Dad said if I complete my master's without contacting you then, he will think about us. He said that if you feels the same way after these years then..." She sobbed hard not able to form sentence.

"Trust me, I'm worse than you Nikki I cried every night seeing our pictures there."

I can't able to control myself, I stood up and sat beside her.

She leaned on me and cried by clutching my shirt in her fisted palms...

"Don't cry, Ammu" I called her with Nick name I used to call

"I can't help that Nikki"

I kept my hand around her shoulder.

"Sir..your order" waiter came with our orders.

"I spoiled everything, I will just be back" she said with sad chuckle and went away.

She came back and we ate in silence

When I'm about to pay she said "it's my treat for seeing you"

"So...Nikki shall we go to park!" She asked me with hope in her eyes

When I'm about to respond, my mobile rang it's Riha.. I excused myself to talk.

"Hello..pa"

"Riha, tell me"

"Pa, didn't I tell you to stay her out of my business"

"What happened" I asked her in really low tone so that Yuktha won't here me.

"She is scolding me for saree"

"Give her mobile" I said

"Hello..."

"Aaradhya, what with you today why you keep telling her about money."

"Nikhil, actually I didn't scold her I was just asking her"

I cut her off "Asking her what, AARDHAYA, did I tell you that I'm going bankrupt by purchasing a saree. She is a kid, so I'm telling you don't stop her from doing or purchasing anything" I shouted at her

"Ok..Nikhil" sorry Riha come I will give you may be she forget to cut the call.

I hung up and went towards Yuktha

We both have a good time by spending together and reminding about our past days

"Come Nikki, I will drop you at home it's almost 11" she said while picking her keys.

"No... drop me at company, I have to take my bike" I said

"You can take it tommorow, I'll pick you up in morning if you are ok with it" I nodded and said ok

While driving she asked me a question "So, Nikki, am I forgiven!"

I nodded positively and smiled at her

"Are you married?" She asked unsurely

I don't know what to say

"So you are" she confirmed with my silence

"Yes, but not in a way you think"

"Then?!" She asked me curiously.

I told her about my dad sudden death and mom heart problem that leaded my marriage including my illness

Don't blame me, she is my love how can not tell her my things.

"So..you can divorce her right!?"

"Yes, I can but"

"What but,do you love her" she asked me with tear filled face

"No...." I confirmed

"Then,my dad agreed for our marriage Nikki, this is only chance for us"

"Is your marriage registered?!" She questioned while raising an eyebrow

"No, I didn't register it,our marriage is simple one with our parents and a priest but there are some photos of us when we are married, I have to apply it" I said

"Are you mad, don't apply, give me all those photos of your marriage" she said and stopped the car infront of our apartments.

"Nikki, I will do everything ok.. don't worry,bye and thanks for giving me another chance!"

"Bye, I gave chance to us not you ammu" I said while pinching her nose with my thumb and forefinger.

She waved at me and then I closed lift.

My heart is beaming with happiness...

I rang the door bell, she opened it with sleepy smile.

But unlike other days my smile dropped seeing her.

"Freshen up, I will heat the food." She said

"No, I ate already" with that I went to room.

After freshing up, I called Yuktha

"Reached home" I asked her.

"Yes..I'm very tired call you tommorow. Good night" she said

I smiled and said good night

When I'm about to sleep, Aaradhya came with glass of milk.

"Have this" she handed me milk, I took it and kept on side table while messaging Yuktha to sleep tight.

"Good night nikhil" Aradhaya said and slept on other side on bed.

I nodded but I feel like I'm cheating on Yuktha. So I picked up pillow and bedsheet and spread it on floor.

"Nikhil what happened, why are you sleeping on floor?!"AARDHAYA asked me

"Bed isn't enough for us"

"Ok.. but sleep on bed, I will sleep there. Come" she insisted and we swapped our positions that we have earlier.

As soon my head hit the pillow, I dozed off with sense of satisfaction unlike daily thoughts.

Is it that easy to give up present relationship for past one??

_AUTHOR