The Return of Passion (Complete)

Chapter 3

She didn't know how much time had passed since she had been sprawled on the carpet of her bedroom bawling her eyes out for the same man for thousandth time in the last seven years, time and again.

And yet she hadn't learned her lesson. Had she?

She keeps on forgetting who he was and what he did!

He left her alone when she needed him the most.

He left her alone when Joe, their daughter died saying that it was she responsible for the demise of his daughter supposedly, as though it hadn't effected Alisha in anyway.

He forgot that she was the one to give birth to her, alone. That it was her who raised her, and it was she who spend those precious five years with Joe.

There was no Aditya in the picture and so Aditya would never know how much it effected her to see her little princess lying on her death bed in that hospital.

'A pale face, with closed eyes and messy brown locks on a plain white sheet. ' That was what she saw the last of her daughter that day when they finally let her look one last time at her little princess.

And she hadn't tried to shake her awake going insane like they thought she would but she simply let go. She kissed both her daughter soft cheeks that had gone ice cold and wished her goodbye since she loved her and she would never do something that would hurt her daughter. Never!

And then they had carried her away to carry out the last rituals. .....and the irony of how the only duty Aditya had fulfilled as a father was to complete the last ritual!

How pitiful! Alisha smiled bitterly with tears filling her eyes. And that same father claimed that she wasn't affected by the death of her daughter!!!

And left her alone when she needed him the most. Crying with both the physical and mental pain in a hotel suite in Chicago when she was going through chemotherapy on her own, knowing that there wasn't a single soul that would be waiting for her to get cured and came home.

Month after month!

There was no one left!

And look where she is now, she shamelessly enjoyed the warmth in the arms of the same man.

And no that isn't it! She was crying for him once again!

And she hates herself for that!

***

It was the third time that a series of knocks fell on her door that she groaned out from below her sheets.

"Madem someone named Charchit Singh is here to meet you. What should I say? "It was her house maid Veena. And it was indeed a surprise that she could speak.

"Invite him in and please offer him some snacks or drink till I come down. "She yelled back although her head throbbed worse.

And she wasn't surprised that there was no reply.

Groaning in frustration she slid out from her bed and stood in front of the full length mirror and cringed seeing her own reflection in it.

If someone said she looks as good as dead, he won't be lying.

Her eyes were blood shot red with bags under it and Alisha did not even want to talk about her clothes and hair.

But what does it matter really? She should just go down, take the letter from him and go back to sleep.

Nodding on her own thoughts, she pushed her hair up into a messy ponytail, tried to straighten her cringe worthy peach business suit that she had slept in, but in vain!

'Nevermind! 'She murmured to herself before she climbed down the stairs slowly in her flip flops.

And that was probably the worst decision of all since it was him she saw first leaning back comfortably on the couch, looking around with curiosity.

's**t!' She cursed under her breath as she saw him looking at her, their eyes locking for a fraction of second before sliding down to what she was wearing, double s**t.

Although she wanted to run back upstairs right then but she didn't. She wasn't that coward anymore and it was certainly not a welcoming fact that he was here.

And it doesn't really matter of her appearance in front of him?

'Nah!' She chided herself. And entered the drawing room as gracefully as she could.

Ignoring the frowns on the faces of two men she marched forward with her spine straight and took a seat across them.

"Please excuse my appearance. I am not actually in the condition to entertain guests right now. " And she fixed them both with a glare that said 'stop-looking. '

And they diverted their eyes away as Aditya cleared his throat.

Charchit stepped forward with a white envelope in his hand. "Here it is Ms. Bose. "

"Thank you! " Alisha smiled a little before accepting it and waited patiently for them to leave.

Specifically him, to leave. God knows why was he even here in the first place.

But they kept seated at their places just as before.

"Is there anything else I could help you with? "

"Yes, actually Ms. Bose I am here for a reason. "

Aditya replied putting his elbows on his knees.

And right at that moment Alisha felt a knife being twisted in her back, Ms. Bose?

What a bastard! He was surely here to see how he have affected her by pulling her closure into his arms two hours back and now pushing her away. But she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction to see how hurt she actually was being Ali for him one moment and then straight falling down to the category of formality, 'Ms. Bose'

"And what would that reason be?" She raised an eyebrow at him, scowling her best letting him know that he was neither welcome in her house anymore and nor in her life.

And that there's no reason enough for him to walk down so casually into her place.

Aditya ignored the icy glare he was subjected to with a mild shrug because there's no other way to find out what is there in that letter.

"I want to know what is in that letter. "

"And why would I tell you? "

She hissed out.

"Because she was my mother. " he replied his own anger flaring.

"Then I wonder why didn't the mother wrote a letter to her idol, loving son?" She knew she wasn't playing fare, hitting on the wound that must be still fresh and burning, his mother's death!

But then he wasn't playing fare either! Was he?

"You have no right to say that to me!" He roared rising from his chair.

"And you have no right to come barging into my home anytime you want Mr. Singhania! "

She stood up as well followed by the poor advocate who found it rude to be sitting when both of them were standing.

Soon Veena and her young driver Ravi entered through the back door.

"Is there something wrong ma'm?" He asked.

"There's everything wrong here! Specially this man. "Alisha gritted out, her face turning red by the second.

"Alisha! Now that's enough! You are insulting me in front of your third grade employees. "

"Now that's Ms. Bose, if you please. " she doesn't know why but she felt immense satisfaction having an upper hand for once over him.

"And please I won't hear any 'third grade' thing from some looser business man, specially from someone who does not have a grade at all. Now please........you know where the door is, so kindly show yourself out. "

A smirk made its way on her face watching him gulp down all her insults one after another. His fingers clenching and un-clenching on his sides.

"I don't know why you are doing this? I just wanted to know what was in that letter. "He was not calm not even pretend to be, but he was not anymore yelling in anguish but rather trying to uncover the mystery behind it all. Why did she became all riled up when he only wanted to know the contents of that letter. Is there really something that she is trying to hide from him? Or is it some other reason like what happened today at the funeral?

"And I would ask you again. Why would you want to know about something that's between me and mom? It does not concern you! And don't you have any shame? Your mother died this morning and you are here fighting with your not so important ex-wife.

Tsk... I know it's hard to pretend but just for the society's sake you must stay in your house and mourn. Don't you think so?"

Aditya was still unable to understand why was she throwing blow after blow on him but now he was sure of one thing that it wasn't because of the letter. Then perhaps she is mad because of this morning.

"I already apologized for what happened this morning you would have read my message. I wasn't in my right mind. "

"What message!! I have seen none. And what are you talking about this morning? I didn't get it? " She schooled her expression into complete blankness to make it more believing and it was only Aditya in the room who understood completely well that it was another......insult.

"Charchit! .... let's go! " Aditya walked out first with his fisted hands in his pockets with the lawyer on his toes.

"Pet doggy! " she murmured as the men were out and she heard the engine of two cars. She was so angry!

'What does he think I am? Some toy that he could play with anytime he wants? '

She glared at the duo standing at the doorway.

"What do you two want now?"

"N...nothing!" They hurriedly walked out from the back door to make their way towards the servant's quarter.

"What do you think, happened Veena di?"

The twenty years old Ravi asked.

"I think she was hurt and thus she hurt him to feel better and now she is angry because it did not help her to feel better but had the exact opposite effect."

"What?" Ravi looked at her in confusion. "I don't understand? "

But Veena said no more striding up to her room and disappeared inside.

'No wonder!' Ravi sighed. 'Everyone thinks she is weird. '

***

That night......

Dear Ali,

I have thought to write this long-long ago when you came to my home, married to my son as his bride. But I did not because I wanted you to be happy for as long as you could.

But it was later I understood how much more pain and heartache it caused you because of the truth that I kept away from you and so it did to my son.

You left Adi listening to your mother and brother who were worst to you than any enemy could be. If only I would have told you the truth before that they aren't anything to you and that your mother was already gone leaving you to fend for yourself. You would have never done, what you did.

You will never know how guilty I felt about this when you left us and I was so after afraid that I would never see you again.

Only if I would have told you about your real mother..... Yes, she did take a wrong step but please don't judge her ever for that. She was young and naive and so was your father!

I knew them both from collage days they were good friends and then your mother, Niharika left for Paris for her fashion degree and your father, Rajeev stayed here in India inheriting the company from his father.

And it wasn't until much-much later when Rajeev was already married to Dia and had a six years old son that Niharika came back here to establish the third branch of 'Nihar' her company's showroom in Mumbai.

I don't know how or why they met but I got to know about the scandal much later with the rest of the world as it spread in the media.

And then one day your mother called me finally telling me that she was pregnant....she was crying no doubt, afraid and lonely. She said that she now realized what a crime she had committed, destroying her own life with another innocent six years old boy and his mother.

She was so afraid....she was already disowned by her parents and she would never want Rajeev to leave his actual family and cause more pain to them than they already did.

And as a best friend I told her to do what was best for her.....I told her to abort you. And move on.

I told her that if not Rajeev then she would get someone more deserving and more responsible man as her life partner.

But she did not listen to me and said that she would have you no matter if there's a father in the picture or not. That you were the last thing left with her!

And surely she did give birth to you but sadly not even getting the chance to look at you for once! She was already gone!

It was me on that night who called Rajeev to come to the hospital to take responsibility of his deeds.... to take you!

He came....and he took you, vowing in front of me that he would take care of you till he's alive.

Now you should understand this my dear..... that no matter how wrong they were before, they still loved you!

So never ever hate them! I know you won't.....

And now the most important thing that you must know. 'Nihar' as I mentioned earlier, your mother's designing company famous of all time is now your to take control of.

Here's the address below.

They must be waiting for you, for years now.

And remember one thing my child.... that I have always loved you like my daughter from the day that you were born and I still love you that you are not with my son anymore.

So I would wish you luck now and leave it to you.

Hope you will find someone soon who will give you the love and care that you actually deserve, you have my blessings with whoever you choose to spend your life with.

Your mom

Kaveri.