The Return of Passion (Complete)

Chapter 19

The loud blaring of the bell coaxed her into pursuing her pillow over her ear. 'Damn! Who's it? ' she pressed closer to the pillow as the ear piercing horrible sound reverberated through the house. More so because it was a early Sunday morning and on top of it, today Veena had taken the day off to go and see her ill sister.

After another string of music, that was no better than an orchestra of frogs. She was forced to leave her heavenly bed. Groggily putting on her slippers, she came down to open the door, making a mental note to change the bell as soon as possible.

"Coming....am coming! " She shouted reaching for the handle of the door because the person behind it seemed to be too impatient by the close door and more at ease with the darned bell!

Half way through opening the door though, she stopped. Her eyes spontaneously narrowing at the silhouette standing there. "Why are you here right now? "

"Bought you breakfast! " He smirked adding. " Hot piping Upma, straight from my kitchen. "

For a moment she thought of closing that door straight on his face. But then she recalled'upma'! And she mentally licked her lips.

Although she is being stupid but pregnancy listens to no anger, it's all about hunger!

Plus, she also had a plan to stick to. Play along with him for the time being!

Opening the door, she let him in after closing it with a bang later. "I would have preferred it better, if you would have let me know that you are coming over! "

"Thought to surprise you! With your favorite breakfast. " He gave a small smile, ignoring the cold look on her face.

He followed her inside to the kitchen, putting the packet on the granite counter before plopping down on one of the high stools as she sauntered away and disappearing up the stair case.

She didn't like the way he was behaving as if the last one and half year had never happened. And making himself comfortable at her home.

She hated it more because of the way he was looking at her all the way to the kitchen when she was stupid enough to wear a short nightwear.

So here she was in her bathroom, brushing her tooth, untangling her hair so that it does not look like a bird's nest and changing into an black fitting trousers and, a light green shirt and a black blazers.

When she came down, she was left mildly surprised to find two plates already laid down on the table. The sweet and salty mixed smell reaching her nostrils as her eyes were fixated on the cashew and raisins garnishing on the top of the warm mushy delicacy.

She saw him searching something in the refrigerator, before she sat up on a stool and pulling the bigger plate towards her.

'Screw anger! Screw basic manners!'

She held up her spoon and straight digged in.

At some point of time he must have turned around because when she looked up at his voice he held a glass of pomegranate juice in front of her.

"Go easy, there's no hurry! " He smirked and she flushed in half embarrassment and half anger.

'Can't he just let it go! Is it really required to mention it aloud? '

But then she mentally chided herself because it's just the starting..... only she knows how much these hunger bouts get frequent through the nine months.

"You're dressed up! Are you going somewhere? " He asked out of blue and she nodded with her mouth full.

Gulping the bowl down, she took a sip of the juice before finally replying him. "Yes, need to file a FIR for stealing a dress worth rs. 18,342 against your girlfriend. " she kept her face blank while looking at him, before she pushed the plate away on the table and got down from the stool.

"Tell Lilly thank you on my behalf. The upma was delicious!" She slipped her watch on her wrist before, trying to find her purse around the couch that she must have thrown somewhere last night in exhaustion before getting to bed.

"By the way, I ought to give this credit to Purva...." She found her purse lying beside the tv cabinet.

"That she trained you...to be a domestic man after all. "

She took the car keys from the drawer near the door.

"Never seen you before putting up breakfast plates and all...."

"Anyway thank you! " She decided to end it at that, going for the door. Just a single glance at him and she had understood how much she had hurt him with her words.

But she was hurting herself more with it. The memories of nights that she had spent alone in the dinning room of his penthouse were flashing up...one after another!

Waiting for him! But he never showed up! Hadn't showed up!

Yet and still she had then let herself be swiped up in the charms of an ass! Fell in love with him!

Too bad! It wasn't going to work now. Leave it! Nothing was ever going to work hereafter!

She had already opened the door to leave.

"Why do you think Purva changed me?" He asked suddenly making her stop in her tracks. "When in actuality the change came with time....when I realized that my pretty wife won't be waiting for me anymore at one in the morning. Fast asleep on the dinning table with my food neatly served and covered."

He hadn't expected her to come running up his arms and crying on his shoulder with the relavation.

That sure as hell did not happen!

But he hadn't exactly expected the tears streaming down her face either. The tears of pain and agony that she had kept bottled up for god knows how long!

He so wanted to be there beside her, ten steps away...yet he could not! To run his fingers down her silken tresses to calm her down. To press her head on his chest, to encircle his arms around her tiny waist and never let go!

To kiss those tears away from her reddened cheeks and tell that, he's here now! And they don't need to be apart anymore!

But what came out next from his mouth even shocked him. "Let me drive you! "

That broke her out of her stupor. As she snapped moving away, wiping the tears from her face. "Don't bother! I am fine!"

"Wait!" He inserted his foot between the gap of the door before she could close it after her. "I hadn't intended to make you cry or hurt you Alisha. Please let me drive? "

"Alright! " She succumbed back with the tears gathered at the back of her throat. Slipping inside the car beside him as he drove off.

"Where's your driver? "

"I am not sure....but he is in some kind of school under government program that gives free classes at Sunday. "

"Oh!" Was all he said. While the rest of the drive to Nihar was silent.

It wasn't until he parked in front of Nihar and she unbuckled her seat belt that the ice between them was broken. "Any idea how much time will this take?"

"A few hours I guess!" She replied, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "Why you ask?"

"Because I thought....well...errm.....perhaps we could have lunch together! "

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she thought for a moment. 'Lunch with him? It sure was a good idea! Now was the opportunity to do it! '

"Fine! I will call you!"

And she left. While Aditya was off to make arrangements for their lunch date with a hundred watt smile on his face. 'It was finally going on the right track.'

***

He had booked the whole roof top for them! Setting a table for two at the part where the scenery is most beautiful, to look at the buzzing city below.

Paying a little extra to the manager he had decorated the place exactly to her taste!

In white and golden linen the table was covered. Nothing except a single red rose was in the vase giving it a elusive look. It's deep rich color matching to the velvety carpet which ran along the stairs upto their table.

He had already ordered for their food. So they do not need to wait after they arrive. All the best dishes of'peshawri' one of the best restaurants in Mumbai. From 'dal bukhra' to 'sikandari raan' to 'panner stick kebab'

It took him only a few extra thousands to pay for the help and two hours to complete the preparation.

Aditya was thanking the manager for his help when his phone rang.

"I am done here Adi..." She purred into the phone. Aditya's heart skipping beats like a hopping rabbit. God knows after how long she had called him 'Adi...'

And the last time she did, she wasn't just simply saying it but moaning it aloud, tangled in HIS sheets.

'Oh God!' Just the memory of that night had his blood pulsing through his veins.

'How long had it been? ' He thought, his blood rushing faster as he sighed. Trying to repose himself, when she decided to speaking again, wondering if he hung up on her.

"Adi....?"

'And here she goes again! ' he had barely came out of his inner marathon, still trying to cast his anchor when her voice broke the dam once over again.

"Yes...yes...I am coming. Be right there love!" He replied with a sound of euphoria.

Putting her cell away, a smirk settled on her face. If anything it had made her more certain that he was indulging in a plan of some kind of grandeur lunch.

And to ruin it, would be so..so fun!!

***

"Alisha are you sure? We should accompany you to this...supposedly lunch date?" She walked behind the duo, very uneasy with the way the series of events were unfolding.

'This wasn't supposed to happen! ' she sighed dejectedly. Had she hoped for too much that Alisha will actually give him a shot along the way of pretense.

Had she judged wrong and imagined the sparks that still flows between them. Or had Alisha really moved on?

Screw the reason, but the major dilemma right now is that, everything was going wrong!

She internally groaned as Alisha giggled at something Dhruv whispered near her ear. Both walking side by side!

'If they kept this attitude up through this lunch! She was pretty sure everything was going to go astray.

When she finally looked up from her wintry boots, it was surely a very inappropriate time!

For Dhruv's right hands fingers were very stealthily making their way to her's.... hanging freely on her side!

Now she doesn't know if it was the right time to cough....specially a cough that was very clearly fake!

Dhruv's nervous fingers were recoiled within his fist the next moment while he kept glaring at her over his shoulder throughout the way to the main exit.

And she did what she was best at!

'Grinned back at him! '

***

"Alisha"

"Oh you are here? " She spoke tearing her eyes away from Dhruv and her mind reeling out of his never ending jokes.

"We were waiting for you! " And Aditya did nothing to hide the frown that appeared on his face after hearing Dhruv.

"Why would you wait for me? " was his gruff reply.

"Because they are going to have lunch with us! I invited them! I hope you don't mind? " Alisha gave a sheepish smile before continuing towards the BMW he had bought. Not even waiting to hear what he had to say about it.

Dhruv shrugged his shoulder with a smug smile that Aditya so wanted clean off his face with a punch and went towards the car.

While Shalini followed Aditya back on his toes, apologizing profusely all the way.

"It's alright Shalini! " he had muttered. "If Alisha wants you to come then that's fine with me! "

Reaching the car, he had barely opened the driver's door when his irritation changed to anger.

Alisha was sitting behind with Dhruv almost glued to one another. Their shoulders were touching and so were their knees.

And his anger changed into fury watching their unfazed attitude at his presence. As they kept on talking in hushed tones and Shalini stood there awkwardly being pushed in like a third tire.

***

Killing the engine he stepped out as fast as he could. For it was one thing to imagine his wife and Dhruv together and it was completely different to watch them together with his own bloody eyes. As she giggled and smiled at every single word that he said.

Now he would like to think that Alisha is doing this deliberately to push his buttons but then there was always that nagging feeling at the back of his mind about them having an affair.

'I promise I will kill you Dhruv! If I ever find out that....you have laid even a single finger on my wife! '

But right now, he could do with a bottle of beer to divert his mind. That is if he doesn't want to screw his chance with her.

That is the reason why they were in front of the bar and grill.

Aditya strode forward ignoring everyone else who he knew would follow in, anyway.

It wasn't until he heard Dhruv talking to Alisha after they had came in, that his patience broke.

"I knew he was insensitive! But I hadn't known....it was to this extent that he would bring a pregnant woman to bar and grill.......hatt's off to him! Someday he would win the'India's biggest jerk award!" He chuckled.

Aditya closed his eyes. Pain searing through him. First time in his life he was feeling Incompetent, a complete fool. And he had to acknowledge that the man and woman walking behind him had done a great job at it!

But he won't let them win!

"Get a table and I would be right back! " And he went towards the bar.

Paying for a bottle of beer, he took the pouch and strode back.

"I am feeling nauseous here! " He heard Alisha speaking from a little far away.

"We could leave if you want! " Dhruv said. "There's no need for you to put up with his insensitive ways. "

"No need! If someone's leaving, its me! " Aditya walked at the table they were sitting at. "I am sorry I just got-got a call. I need to leave." He tried to smile but he had gotten too bitter for it.

He needs to leave this place!

"It's alright! " Shalini spoke watching that Alisha or Dhruv either of them had no intention of saying anything, anytime soon. And were too busy pretending that he doesn't exist.

And he left. Entering into his car. He took a large swig from the bottle in hand and started to engine.

He had to leave!

***

He doesn't know how much he had drove. Or how much he had drunk for that matter but to his utter dismay there wasn't still that numbness that he so wanted to achieve.

There was still that pain, prickling at his heart and mind. When he knocked at the door of his penthouse and lily opened it.

His legs were on autopilot, taking him towards his bedroom.

A few minutes after he fell on the soft mattress and he was already asleep.

Flowing in a dark numbness, he felt like he was swimming in a pool. The water so cold that he was shivering and the hairs on his body standing at alert.

His mind screaming for him to get out of there but he could not find anything to grasp and jump out, not even the edges of the pool no matter how much he went left or right.

And then he woke up, his hands trying to find the jug of water that he always keeps beside his bed.

Feeling like a fool, the switched the light on first and then drank some water, before his eyes caught the clock on the wall.

It was well after midnight! Quater past one to be exact.

He padded out of his room and down the stairs to call for his driver.

He needs to go back to her!

He knew it sounds stupid and silly but he wanted to go back to her, right then!

It was a little after 1:30 in the morning when he reached her home.

The alcohol had already drone off and he was feeling like a fool again that he had came here, this late.

Perhaps he have to digest another set of harsh words like this morning when he would wake her up at this point of night.

Still hesitant, he pressed the bell.

No one replied.

He rang it again and then a third time. And there was still no answer.

She must be sleeping soundly for all he knows. He was contemplating to leave when the door opened.

She was wearing another one of her short night dresses, her hair tied up in a tight knot but her eyes were blood shot red instead of droopy eyes that he expected.

It was clear enough that she was sleep deprived. Her eyes told it all.

And his heart knew no bound of elation. That this wasn't one sided after all!

That it wasn't giving her happiness to hurt him.

It was a testimony that she still feels for him.

Why else would she stand awake at the middle of the night, opening the door to him.

Her eyes softened as she saw him standing outside her door. She had pulled every string and did everything in her power to push him away, all day.

"Come in! "She stepped aside to let him in.

Suddenly she started to cough, pressing her hands on her lips as she made a run for the stairs.

Opening the door to her bathrooms she threw up inside the toilet seat. The bitter-sour taste triggered another bout when she felt a hand caressing her back.

The cold floor beneath her shook for a moment before she got her balance back.

He saw her struggling and put his arms beneath her shoulders and her knees to pull her towards himself.

She did not struggle instead pressed closure to him. And he took the pleasure of carrying her to the bed and tucking her in. And then left before kissing her forehead. "I will call the doctor. "

***

When he entered back into the room five minutes later after talking to the doctor, she wasn't on the bed anymore. But the light of the bathroom was on.

He was rinsing her mouth and putting toothpaste on her brush when he entered.

"I am fine now! " she spoke as soon as she saw his reflection on the mirror.

"Oh yeah of course! I could see that very clearly! " he said sarcastically.

She frowned but said nothing and started to brush her teeth.

"By the way, the doctor wanted to know what you had for your lunch and dinner. I told her you had upma for breakfast and it was completely healthy. "

He waited for her to answer for a long time until she cleaned her mouth from the foam. Cleaned her brush. Splashed water on her face.

But he was met with nothing but silence as she started to leave.

"You did not answer....what had you ate? The doctor thinks perhaps you got a stomach bug." He caught her wrist and she turned her head away, not looking at his eye.

"What?"

"Nothing! "

"Wha..." his words were caught in his throat. His eyes burning holes in her turned her head as she yanked her wrist away and left.

Her words still sinking into his head.

She had ate nothing! Why? Because of him?

He came out.... his arms automatically going around her small form...pushing her closer to his chest until there wasn't even the space to breathe.

None of them said anything.

None of them fought to get out of that embrace.

She was crying. Her shoulders heaving up and down. The tremors in her body shook HIM to his core.

Realizing that she was hurting herself. Why? Because HE was hurt?

She still felt for him. Didn't she? Or why else would she punish herself? Fasting the whole day?

He ran his hand along her back bone as her patience broke loose. "I tried to call you. But you didn't pick up! " she sobbed on.

"I am sorry! " he murmured. "But that doesn't mean you would not eat anything and punish yourself! "

He looked into her eyes and gave a heart dazzling smile. Melting her.

"Now com'on I will make you something to eat!"