40| Confession?
"Lo maan liya toota hi nahi
Tere haathon se mera Dil"
Tara's gaze is fixed at her phone's screen, the video playing like a chaotic storm in front of her eyes. The very first thought that rises up in her is the video is definitely fake, she can't be so stupid of believing something like this after spending such a long time with aayansh.
But the visuals of the video are so fine and lively, no one can say if it's A.I generated or edited anyhow.
Panic surges in Tara, her mind tangling with disbelief but she doesn't lose the trust she has on aayansh, she forwards the video to one of her very close friends who is also a tech specialist 'Arin'.
A part of her is refusing what she's doing but right now, she needs to calm herself even if it takes this confirmation. Tara calls Arin, she picks in the second ring and greets her sweetly "Hey sweetheart, long time huh? By the way how are you?"
"um.. I am good," Tara takes a deep breath to maintain her composure and then, slowly she murmurs "Listen Arin, I've sent you a video, please keep it private. Can you.. can you please check if it's fake or edited anyhow?"
After going through the video on her phone once, arin responds "Yeah I saw, but what happened? Are you alright?"
"I am fine" Tara acknowledges, trying to hold herself "Is it possible if you can tell me now? Actually, it's very urgent."
"Now?" Arin's tone goes curious, "Okay, just give me five minutes."
Tara agrees, biting her bottom lip as she's clearly running low on patience. Just when her phone buzzes up and she instantly checks, thinking it's arin's call.
But this is the same number from which she got the video, her eyes get narrow with a mix of irritation and suspicion.
Without a second thought, she picks up the call and a woman from the other end says "You liked my surprise, didn't you?"
Tara's jaw clenches but she doesn't speak a word, letting this woman spill her intentions first.
"See I am from your father Mr. Tarun Jindal's close ones, so it was my duty to make you aware of your husband's reality." She smirks, evilness dripping from her tone.
"Shut up" Tara cuts her off straightly, "First of all, the one whom you are stating my father is not my father.
And secondly, your effort to misguide me against my husband was actually commendable, but miss close ones, never try that again because shits like you can never break the trust I have on my love. "
Concluding herself and slapping that woman with her words itself, Tara disconnects the call. unaware that someone is listening to this conversation.
Her fists are clenched and mind swirling with multiple thoughts as she orders the driver to turn the car back to the penthouse.
After a few minutes, her phone rings and this time it's Arin's call. Tara picks it up abruptly and Arin calmly says "Look, I am not sure because if the video is edited, the editor actually did a great job."
"Get on the point, Arin," Tara demands impatiently, hoping for an answer she wants to hear at this moment.
"Maybe it's edited" Arin remarks, fueling Tara's uneasiness.
"Maybe?" Tara frowns, her irritation peaking at this point.
"Yes, I am not sure." Arin exclaims and Tara responds almost faintly "Okay,"
She disconnects.
Though not a single word is escaping her throat, her face is enough to assess the amount of bafflement washing over her mind. She wants to ask aayansh, demand an answer from him on his face but she's feeling helpless from every side.
The video, those scenes are running in her mind over and over even when she just wants to cut herself away from all this mess, she can't.
The thought of Aayansh being with some other girl is wounding her heart relentlessly, although she knows he would never do this to her.
But maybe it's the sensitivity of this moment, this time and the situation that her trust is staggering the way it shouldn't.
The one whom she needs the most is aayansh, only he can bring her back into peace.
The driver stops the car in front of the penthouse, Tara steps out and without taking care of the things around, she goes inside.
Noticing her strange conduct, Lucie tries to stop her but she's ignoring everything right now.
With the lift, Tara reaches her room and locks the door from inside. This unusual impatience, irritation and instability of emotions is just another effect of pregnancy that is breaking through her.
Locking herself inside, she looks around.
The loneliness, emptiness lingering in the surrounding further fuels her agony.
"Why me every time?" She screams, throwing the flower vase kept on the table aside and a loud sound of it hitting on the floor resounds there.
"Why does everyone have to play with my emotions? Don't I deserve a bit of peace in my life?" She yells furiously, messing up the accessories here and there.
Here aayansh is driving to the penthouse with a breakneck speed, a bluetooth is Connected to his ear as his phone rings. He picks the call and Asher informs "Boss, Saisha Malhotra is trapped as you wanted, and now she's leaving the country."
"Let her run," Aayansh says calmly but dangerously and disconnects.
His face is severe, unreadable and eyes are pinned to the road ahead but something is definitely going on inside him.. something which only he knows.
Aayansh arrives at the penthouse and without wasting a second, he heads inside. As Lucie sees him, she panics "Sir, ma'am has locked herself in her room and she was looking upset."
Aayansh doesn't even glance towards her as he reaches the first floor with impatient steps, he sees the locked door which makes his jaw pulsate further.
In the room, Tara is still throwing everything here and there out of fury and impatience. Just when unknowingly, her feet get on broken vase shards and a faint scream leaves her mouth.
The room is sound proof and hence, no noise is coming out.
The door is automatic and can be opened both with a key and password which only aayansh knows. Entering the password and unlocking the door, aayansh steps inside only to find Tara stumbling towards the bed with bleeding feet.
As I hear a sound from the door, I lift my head to look at him, some more irritation and agony courses in my veins after seeing him while he steps to me.
Reaching me, aayansh holds my arms and pulls me close to him abruptly, leaving me stunned as he leans on my face demanding "Who gave you the right to hurt yourself, hm?"
A dark shadow flaring in his ocean blue eyes while my body is almost pressed against his and I freeze with his sudden actions and question. My hands instinctively move to his chest but I am no longer stumbling because of his strong hold on me.
His grip on my arms is unyielding and even his hard voice sounds as if he's concerned for me, my pain and my emotions.
Is he?
"Just let me go, you heartless monster" I growl at the peak of my suffering, this physical pain is nothing in front of what he gives me every time.
He doesn't bother my words, his gaze drops to my bleeding feet and without uttering a word further, he lifts me up and all the pain I was feeling, every suffering goes away like it never existed.
[ Bg music - Main phir bhi tumko chahungi ]
It feels like he's holding me after an eternity.
His arms feel the safest escape to me, the faint fragrance of his cologne lingers in my breath while my eyes never leave the sight of his face.
I don't want to feel this way, I want to push him away but I can't or Maybe I intend him to hold me closer.
I don't know how I managed to survive when he was not even looking at me, when he cut me off from his life like I was never a part of it.
He makes me sit in bed and brings the first aid while I stay still, watching him because I don't want to see anything else at this moment.
Aayansh sits beside me but he's not looking at me anymore, his face is a mixture of concern and something he's not showing but as his fingers come in contact with my bruised feet, I cry out as a sharp pain hits me.
He still doesn't shift his eyes to me, cleaning my wound carefully and then he applies the bandage.
I was craving for his nearness, his touch for I don't know since when but I was the one who pushed him away, I never meant the words I said. I never want him to stay away from me, knowing I can't survive without him.
As much as I want to hug him, hold him close and never let him go away from me.. I can't.
But what about him, doesn't he miss me? Doesn't he want me to be with him? Of course he doesn't.
That's why he's still not meeting eyes with mine.
Bandaging my feet carefully, just when he's about to detach, I stand on my knees and wrap my arms around him as I can't hold anymore.. my feelings and the pain.
He's not moving, neither pushing me away nor holding me the way he was a few minutes ago. His hands resting on both sides of my waist while I close my eyes, feeling the comfort I was craving for.
"I love you, I love you more than anything, That's the main problem" I whimper, his heartbeats with my own echoing in my ears as unwillingly, a tear slides down my cheek.
I don't know if it was the right time to confess or not, but holding feelings within oneself sometimes leads to the destruction of relations, and I certainly don't want that.
We stay as it is as aayansh pulls me close to him, his muscular arms wrapping around me reluctantly when my gaze falls on his hand and my eyes go wide. His knuckles are swollen slightly which means he didn't treat his hand after punching on the mirror that day.
I immediately pull away and hold his hand, my words slipping impatient "Aayansh, your hand, you didn't-"
Aayansh pulls his hand away from mine without saying a word as he texts someone on his phone while I keep staring at his emotionless face.
Why is he behaving like this, I know what I did was wrong but what he did and doing now is wrong too.
Within minutes, a lady doctor knocks on the door and he permits her to step in. She takes my wrist in her hand to check the pulse and blood pressure while Aayansh is standing near us, last time he stood beside me with my hand in his when the doctor was checking me.
"How are you feeling, Mrs. Oberoi? Any uneasiness? Pain somewhere?" She asks me and I shift my eyes from him to the doctor as I say "No, I'm alright."
After examining me thoroughly, she holds her bag and informs "There's no need to worry, both you and your baby are absolutely alright. But please take care next time, losing temper to this extent is not good for you, and for the baby's health too."
"I'll take care next time" I nod, my voice is a mere whisper as she leaves the room but this time, I don't look back at Aayansh.
Lucie enters the room with a tray of fruits and juice in her hands and without denying, I pick the juice's glass.
I shouldn't have done all that, I can't risk my baby's life in between all this mess.
As lucie gives me the medicines, aayansh goes out of the room, leaving me alone again. I stare at him until he disappears from my vision but my phone's ring diverts my attention.
It's Arin's call again, I instantly pick it up and she calmly informs "The video you sent me was actually edited."
Though her words don't surprise me at all, I know it wasn't real, it can never be because my man never even glanced at any woman other than me, so going near someone is far away.
"Are you sure?" I furrow, biting my bottom lip.
"Yeah definitely, the man's face is edited in it. And I couldn't divert the graphics, a senior of mine helped me in that."
"Thank you so much, Arin" I say, forcing a tone I can't get in this situation.
"Anything for you, by the way, what was the matter?" She asks.
"Um.. that's something personal" I bite out slowly and she agrees "Alright, take care sweetheart."
"I will," I press and cut the call.
I rest my head on the headboard and stare at my reflection in the glass ceiling to relax a bit.
Today is Dhairya's final hearing and the lawyers, arsh and Dhairya are in the court only. Aariv is handling the other formalities and related things while arsh is talking to legal officers and dhairya is quietly sitting on his chair with two officers departed near him.
He is lost in his own world, like if he's in some trauma when someone places their hand on his shoulder and dhairya gets a terrific shock. But it is arsh so he immediately hides his reaction while arsh concerns "Are you alright, dad?"
"Hmm" He just nods, clearly trying to mask his fear which arsh has already noticed but he doesn't react at this moment.
Within a while, hearing starts and dhairya's lawyers present all the proof of him being innocent, but the defence is strong too.
After the three critical sessions, when it's time for dhairya to speak the truth, arsh assures him to be safe and finally he goes to the accused box and the confronters throw their twisted questions onto his face.
But to everyone's surprise, without saying a word in his favour, dhairya accepts all the blame and crimes in front of the judge while being clearly in someone's terror.
Only to get sentenced 'Lifetime imprisonment' by the higher legal authorities and judge itself.
And when the officers reach dhairya to take him with them, arsh doesn't react while dhairya is looking at him helplessly. Arsh's face is calm like the things are exactly going as he wants, he exhales sharply and mutters under his breath "Sorry dad, this time it was important."
While Aariv is staring at arsh, utterly bewildered with his reaction and dis concern towards his own father being in this condition.
I stand near the balcony, my hands resting on the railing as I stare up at the moon quietly.
Letting the cold soothing breeze whip over my face and the moonlight cascade on my skin, recollecting all the events of my voice debut and after things just when I feel aayansh's arms around my waist as he hides his face in the crook of my neck from behind while I stand still for a few moments.
"Aayansh?"
"Bolo Jaan?" He whispers and I start telling him all the best parts of today nonchalantly, "You know what happened today?
after the event when we reached the resort, a guy started flirting with alie and she's herself a flirt but to my surprise, she didn't flirt with him back.
And guess what she did, she insulted him in front of the authorities. "
Aayansh doesn't say anything, inhaling my fragrance while I play with his calloused fingers, continuing "And the best part, even when the staff there didn't know about me, every minor to major thing was as per my comfort and convenience, they were treating me like I was their lady boss. "
"Because you are," He says and I frown "Huh?"
He turns me towards him, holding me by my waist while my hands move to his chest as he tugs a strand of hair behind my ear and answers "That resort is mine."
"But you didn't tell me" I complained, grimacing at him.
"That's not something to be told, Amour. When I say you are my queen, I mean it" I smile softly at his words but then abruptly, the chatterbox in me takes over.
"My first night in India was the same, a bastard misbehaved-" Aayansh cuts me off coldly "It's our time, and I don't want anyone else's discussion between you and me."
His jaw is now clenched and eyes cold which makes me shiver for a moment, how suddenly his mood changes, ugh.
I recovered it instantly "But you don't know about him."
"So innocent of you to think that," His words leave me confused for a moment but then I avoid it "Achha chhodho, you know what happened afterwards?
Some assless person spiked my drink and I don't know how I reached your room.
Sometimes I wonder, If I had gone to someone else's room instead of yours, then? "
"You really need a good fucking session so that this little mind of yours will stop working for a while." His voice and face, both dripping frustration and his patience wearing thin.
I won't lie, I love to get on his nerves for no reason.
"Aayansh please batao na, to tum kya karte?" I demand desperately while aayansh pauses, his hand grabbing my back both with authority and something darker than possessiveness, something scary as he leans on my face and husks near my lips "That was not possible then too."
His lips after touching mine sensually, moves to my ear as he whispers darkly "Your virginity belonged to me, and-I-claimed-it."
My ear and cheeks heat up with his words as I complete "Just like you gave yours to me."
I start moving my fingers over his neck and chest sensually and he lets out a hungry murmur or I should say.. warning "You are playing with fire, wife."
"Um.. I love to do that, Husband" I say and aayansh grabs both my wrists abruptly and slams them on the railing behind us, pressing my body against it and leaving me flabbergasted.
His intense, dark gaze bore into mine and a slight knowing smirk curling his lips as he studies my reaction closely. I gulp on my own as I let out a slow whimper, "Aayansh, tum-"
Just when some song lyrics playing on the television grabs my attention.
Aayansh's eyes are still roaming throughout my face and then freezes into my eyes, it's like these lyrics are the reflection of his feelings, of what he's carrying in his intense gaze and the unsaid desperation he has for me.
I know I shouldn't feel vulnerable to it, but I do feel the same way.
He's someone whom I'd never be able to understand, or maybe no-one would.
"You remember this song? We danced for the first time on this only, and our first date too," I press, blinking at him and trying to change the topic.
"Hmm" He hums, his breath warm against my heated skin as his face is still nuzzled in my neck.
"Why do you like this song so much?" I ask, my voice almost whisperous.
"Because it describes us," He answers and I frown "Huh? How?"
Aayansh pulls out his face, his ocean blue orbs lock with mine with a reluctant intensity as if he's studying my mind- controlling or corrupting it in his ways.
He moves his finger over my face slowly, carnally and his deep voice raw with possession "Tumhe dekhne se tumhe apna banane Tak, meri gunaahon ki duniya ka hissa banne se mera sabse khoobsurat gunaah banne tak, Mere junoon se mere jeene ki wajah banne tak."
His finger and gaze both stops at my lips and I wince when rubs my bottom lip with his thumb "Meri betaabi, Mere iraadon se aaj bhi anjaan ho tum."
"You were right, aayansh oberoi, I was unaware of your evil intentions from the beginning, and maybe still I am." I mutter under my breath, my eyes finding their own reflection in this darkness.
Now this darkness is the only thing left in me, this loneliness is my only home because you snatched all my relations away from me and I am so helpless that I can't even go back to them.
I was the one who wanted to light up your dark world with my love, and how mocking my own condition has become.
I don't even have anyone's shoulder to cry on, to share my pain and yell my heart out. This suffocation is just another cause to stay away from you and your lies, your fake love.
I cried in your arms, smiled because of you and now I am broken too because of you.
I let out a soft sigh, ignoring all this and walk inside the room to pick my phone and call Alie.
She picks within the second ring but before I could utter a word, she almost yells "How could you do this?"
"What?" I ask, confused both by her tone and voice.
"You are becoming a mommy at just 21, sweetheart you have just started your music career, what about your life ahead and everything-"
I cut her off straightly "It wasn't planned, Alie, and becoming a mother won't affect my career and life for sure."
"Damn, you know you are talking like some mature oldie ass bitch."
"Can you please shut up?" I pant, sitting in bed and grabbing the pillow as I lay on my stomach.
"Cool, by the way I must say, you and your husband are super fast huh? I mean just three-four mon-"
"Shut the fuck up you lowkey, or else I am blocking you right now." I croak, my patience dropping.
"Okay sorry, don't lose your calm ba-" she pauses "I mean Tara, anyways, when are you going to Nigeria?"
"I've called you for the same," I murmur without any excitement in my voice "I am leaving for there tomorrow morning only."
"What?" She presses "But the event has much time left, isn't it?"
"I know, but I am going now because I want to, this place suffocates me." I whisper, turning and staring up at the ceiling faintly "I think I should move on and give some time to my own self,"
"You are right sweetie, leave all the dumbass shits behind and take the command of your life in your hands." She says and I smile "But I won't be able to join you for two days because my mf boyfriend is admitted in hospital."
"Which boyfriend?" I squirm my brows.
"Obviously Rian, see I already left my Playgirl era for this dickless bastard, but clearly these XY chromosomes can't digest a girl's loyalty." She mumbles and I giggle at her mellow drama "And you know what? This shit hole tried to ghost me- Aliana serin, so I just gave him a perfect treatment."
"And what exactly you did, Ms. Serin?" I add in the same tone of hers.
"Um.. He won't be able to practice his masculinity for some time, simple." She answers casually and my mouths falls open "What-the-actual-fuck, Alie?"
"Relax bestie, relax, you are preggy don't forget that." She shrugs and I take a deep breath as I whimper "You are just impossible, woman."
"I know right," Her voice filled with attitude and pride this time.
"Anyways, it's okay, you can join me later in Nigeria." I conclude and she sighs, then says "Yups, but do let me know every detail about there." I agree and disconnect.
I lay in bed comfortably, my mind sinking in the thoughts of the coming days which are really important for me.
Holding problems with you can never lead you anywhere, so sometimes it's best to leave them as it is and look for better strains of your life.
I know it won't be easy, but I'll try until I make myself mentally ready to deal with these things.
I close my eyes as they feel heavy and sleep starts engulfing me.
"We can't afford more of this war, AJ" Romano flinches at arsh, who is sitting on his capo's chair with an enticing aura surrounding him. Arsh is the first capo [Head] of international mafia organisation i.e. Atlasco and right now, they're sitting in the mafia board conference itself.
Everyone here is dressed in dark-faint colours and their faces are severe as they put forward their points for the redemption of this war against arsh.
Mafia wars often end with brutality, mass level assassinations, family and innocent people's killing and many crimes under these deadly conditions, yet no one present here wants this to happen so they just intend to end here.
In between this, Aayansh has already done mass assassination as both an initial step to raise the war and warning to everyone. Arsh hasn't done anything like that by now because he never wants to brutalise things like Aayansh but the members of Atlasco are scared of the fact that he'd do the same.
Arsh looks at romano, his gaze cold and unwavering as he declares "I'll quit this war If he leaves my sister, by divorcing her and accepting to her that he used her against me, with grovelling for his deeds."
He wants Aayansh to accept all his wrong doings in front of Tara so that she herself leaves him.. and Aayansh himself initiates the divorce.
Arsh stands up and gives a sharp, warning full glance to them as he completes "Otherwise the next assassinations will be done by me Mr. Romano, and I assure you all that it will be worse not just by blood."
The first morning in Nigeria is peaceful yet chaotic, I'm staying in a luxurious seven star hotel here.
After getting done with my meditation and light yoga, I walk to the large window with sheer curtains, parting at my single touch.
A serene cheering breeze greets me, carrying a faint scent of Greenery around.
The morning rays casting the surroundings with soothing yet addictive peace. I glance out, the hotel is not chaotic and only few elites are staying here, the visuals are so addictive and beautiful from where I stand and the energy, vibrant and accomplishing.
My private jet landed here last night and it wasn't great, but at least not like the ones I spent sleepless.
I want to leave everything behind, just for sometime to recover myself up. To heal me from those wounds for which only I'm responsible.
Placing both my hands on my stomach, I inhale slowly before exhaling and then I open my eyes again.
Each and every thing here is as per my comfort, likings and convenience. Even the room's theme is bright, the interior is simple yet elegant exactly how I like.. so it doesn't feel that I'm staying somewhere out.
The staff is treating me extraordinarily, strange. I just hope it's not because of whom I'm thinking about right now.
Well, my recording session has time so I should take a shower before going for breakfast downstairs, then indulging myself in work.
I open my ponytail and lock the room before making my way towards the bathroom.
Rubbing my left eye, I open the door of the bathroom with my other hand and blink thrice before heading in.
I lift my gaze but my eyes go wide at the sight infront of me this time. I blink and then rub my eyes again to get my senses back.
It's not what I'm seeing, or maybe I'm dreaming.
I should certainly increase my meditation hours to prevent these hallucinations.
I look in front of me again.
No.
Not on earth it's him.
My eyes stop blinking as I see aayansh standing in front of me, just in a white towel wrapped around his torso. Water drops dripping down his broad toned chest to his abs as he moves his hands in his wet hair backwards and the moment his orbs meets with mine, I gulp for I don't know why.
A mischievous, knowing smirk twitches the corners of his lips as he studies my bewilderment while I eye him from top to bottom.. again with my mouth falling open.
I am dreaming, this can't be him.
I tap on my cheek until I hear his deep voice waking me up "You like what you see, wife?"
My eyes meet with his again and lately I realise, it is him when he steps towards me and I whimper "Aayansh, you here?"
Maybe I am still confirming of his presence.
"Of course wife, Jahan tum wahan main" He admits with the same mischievous demeanor but the moment I take a step backwards, Aayansh grabs my wrist abruptly and pins me against the bathroom's door, not by force, but just enough to make me gasp and my breath hitch.
His frame towering over mine as he holds both my wrists in his one hand and places them above my head, making me wince and my pulse race with his proximity.
I stare at him, flabbergasted while his gaze is now serious which makes chills run through my body for a moment.
Aayansh's nose is touching mine and our faces have almost no distance when he questions me in a husky, desperate voice "How could you think that I am going to stay away from you, hm?"
I blink at him with rag breaths, processing his sudden presence and words but before I could say a word, I feel dizziness taking over me and darkness all in front of my eyes.
I am fainting.