Second Chance In Love

Chapter 4

Two days passed, when he barged in her life, uninformed. And since then she didn't heard from him. "I will make sure he will never come again."

She hopped off the bus and shrugged every unnecessary thoughts. It took five minutes walk to reach her home. It was two storey house at 29 street east colony. It was a quite peaceful place for her of all the places she had seen. Before renting this house. She walked in the kitchen after changing in a comfortable clothes and spread a handful of jam on the cold bread. Which she had stored yesterday in the fridge and slumped on the couch while flipping through the channels.

It was early then usual when she went to bed. Her shift over earlier then any other day. Many of her friends advised her to rent a room so that she won't be alone. But Dhara turn them down every time.

Living alone was not a problem for her. She liked it as it was. But from where she was standing in her life. She didn't wanted to attach with any new person. Or have unnecessary emotion only to led her in the dark. She wasn't ready for it. Her past was enough painful that she didn't wanted more pain in addition.

The door bell chimed shattering the silence in the apartment. Dhara jolted from her sleep, panic. It was ringing continuously. She unlocked her mobile, turned on the flashlight in a dark room, which showed that it was past eleven at night. Her heartbeat quicken. As far as she remembered she wasn't expecting any guest at this hour nor her friends will come to visit her without any phone calls. She gulped, with her mobile torch. She helped herself through the downstairs and turn on the light.

She took out a tablet from the drawer beside the television. The screen instantly came into life, showing a figure of a man wearing faded jeans and khaki jacket was standing at the door. Then her eyes halted at the other man, he was wearing black coat and dark blue pants, who was standing at the far end of the door way. Her mind went back on the headlines of sunday news paper, which some nurses were discussing the other day at the hospital. But she noticed, they were not wearing any mask neither they have any weapons. "They must have hide it under there jacket!"

A drop of sweat down from her forehead through her chin. Inhaling deep she clutched the door tight.

As soon as she opened the door. A familiar figure came in a view. Aghast, her eyes widened. But little did she thanked God inside. He was smiling, she saw a crook smirk lurking on the edge of his lips.

"What are you doing here?" questioned Dhara.

He didn't heard her. He was standing at the door lost in his thoughts. She snapped her figure in order to brought him back to earth.

"What are you doing here?" repeated dhara.

"Well, apparently it's my wife's house. So I guess you know..."

"What?" interrupted Dhara.

"Please, step aside. I have to go inside." Said Adhiraj sternly and stomped inside. Seating on the couch, he started unzipping his back pack. When dhara ran up to him, furious.

"Get out of my house." her voice was loud.

"No, I will not." Adhiraj gave a look.

"I said get out. Don't make me repeat." her voice was heavy, anger laced in her every words.

"And I told you. I WILL NOT."

"Yes you will."

"No, I will not."

"Yes, you will."

"I said, I will not." Adhiraj had a stubborn look.

"Don't force me to do any bad thing. Which might be not good for you."

"I bet, you can't do that." He gave her a challenging look.

Dhara accepted it and said,"As your wish."

And other second he got to know, what she meant. His luggage and backpack was out of the door. She took a big strides to him with a fire burning around . And grabbed his hand pushed him out of the house. Adhiraj stumbled and fell on the ground. He smile, dusting his jeans he roared.

"Pathak..." his voice made her startled.

A man in a black coat stood in front of her. He looked at her, then to adhiraj. They both shared a look.

"Ms. Dhara, sorry for interrupting but can we have a conversation inside the house? I'm his lawyer pathak sinha. Mr. Adhiraj had came to my office the other day and I got to know about you." he shoved his card in front of her.

She looked at it for a brief moment before saying, "we will talk here only. what do you want me to do exactly?" she was in an urge to bang the door on their faces.

"Okay, I will come to direct point. You can't throw him out of the house. Legally you both still share a relationship. And by the law he is.."

Dhara interrupted, "what do you mean? We don't share any kind of relationship. We are more likely a stranger to each other. And as far as I know, it is not crime to protect myself." she raised her eyebrow questioning.

"Certainly." he turned his half attention to adhiraj and continued, " but the man you are not allowing is your husband." he argued showing off his lawyer skills.

Dhara looked around and peoples were started gathering some feet away from them. Some aunties were whispering in each others ear. "They are talking about me and them." she thought.

Her jaw clenched, "damn it, he is not my husband. And that's it." she turned on her heels.

"Ms. Dhara, he wants to live with you. And if you do anything which is against the law then I won't hesitate to take any legal action on you." his voice was stern.

She glanced at the people. She needed to end this conversation soon. She couldn't afford to start any fire in front of those who will only came to sprinkle salt in it.

She heaved thoughtfully, "let's talk tomorrow!"

Pathak was gone but not before sharing their brief victory look with adhiraj. Picking up his luggage adhiraj took a step forward. His backpack hung carelessly on his left shoulder. He leaned on the door way.

"Told you, I'm not going anywhere."

Dhara looked away, "what do you want?"

Adhiraj hesitate, he has a faraway look, "just one chance."

"And that chance you lost it long before!"

"You have to give me. I have to prove myself."

She ignored him and climb upstairs. When she reached to her room, she turned, he was looking at her.

"You think acting all nice and staying here will solve everything? I will make sure that you will leave this house on your own."

Minutes later she heard a soft knock,

"Now what?" she greeted her teeth.

"When should I sleep?" hesitant adhiraj.

She thought for a moment, before walking back to her closet. She took a pair of blanket and pillow and thrust it in front of him.

"The hall is all yours."

Adhiraj wasn't expecting this, "no, I will not sleep there."

"I'm not asking you! It's my house and there is no room accept my own. So, you are not thinking that I will share my room with you, are you?" mocked dhara, her lips curved in a smirk.

Without giving him any seconds to explain, she banged the door on his face. "He deserves it."

She closed her eyes in an attempt to sleep but failed. She blinked rapidly. A drop of tear escape through her closed eyes.

(Past)

"What are you doing?" he asked drying his wet hair with towel.

"Oh, I'm making a line. So that we can sleep easily. I often see this in movies. I'd never think It will happen with me." she laughed, continuing lining the pillows in a straight row.

"Who said you will sleep here? I won't let it happen." he stormed to the bed running the line she made.

"It's not like I'm dying to sleep here. It's our circumstances, which made me to do so. It's just one weeks matter!"

"And there is no way that I'm going to share my bed with you." he spat as he stretched his back against the mattress.

Her room was occupied with his parents. They came to visit them. It was a surprise gesture. Which led both of them really surprised. They were still not good in their relationship to accept each other. Most of all he wasn't ready to accept her.

"So, where I will sleep?" she asked confused. No way she could go to her room. Not any other room for time being.

"I would have told you to sleep on the couch. If it is in my room. But sadly, there is no such thing. So, the floor is yours." He winked and continued, "any way, thank me later that I'm not throwing you out of the room."

"There's no way I will sleep on the floor. If you don't want to upset your parents then share half bed with me." Dhara blurted out sternly.

His eyes were blazing with anger. She gulped the sudden wave of emotion and regretted her words.

Adhiraj took a big stride to her and grabbed her arms. She looked at him, shocked. She pushed him in attempts to free herself but his grip tighten.

"What did you said?" His eyebrows grew together making firm lines on his forehead.

"When I asked question. I need an answer." His voice echoed in silent room.

Terrified, she stuttered, "W...I..F..E."

"You know, what wife can do? Don't you?" He asked, his jaw clenched as he continued, "if you are my wife. Then be like one." He stepped forward and she stepped back. One, two, three and four. Four steps she counted before she felt a wall on her back. Adhiraj trapped her between his hands, his palms glued on the wall. His one hand ran through her face and he squished her jaw. She hissed.

"You always say it's my right. This and that. How about me?" She looked at him, confused. He leaned closer to her ear.

"What if I kiss you right now. What if I strip your clothes off and taste every bodyparts of yours. What will you do?" His whisper, echoed in her ear. Shiver ran down her spine. She felt his breath on her neck. Her vision blurred out.

"No, please leave me." She let out a helpless whisper.

"You want me to leave you?" He asked and she struggled to say a word. He looked at her thoughtfully.

"okay." She heard him say and later he let her go.

She staggered back and grabbed a mattress from the closet. She lied facing her back to him. He was fast asleep like nothing happened. Tears flowed down her cheeks, her vision clouded.

(Present)

The loud scratching voice startled her sleep. She sat upright and looked at her surrounding, confused. Her eyes went to the tickling clock. And her laziness vanished in a split second. She ran to the bathroom along with her dress.

She shoved her mobile in her pocket. And made her way to the door. Her steps came in a halt as her eyes went to adhiraj. Who was sleeping uncomfortably on a small couch, which had she brought when she moved here. It was a second hand yet she bought it happily. Because it's the things that matters. New or old comes later.

He shifted facing her. Dhara ignored him and walked out of the house. She hoped, he didn't know her workplace. Reaching the hospital, she greeted by the other doctors. She smiled and returned the greetings. She walked up to the reception picking her schedule for the day.

"Is there anything else?" She asked once she looked at the paper carefully.

"There's a one more patient. Who must be little late compare to the timing of his appointment. What you want me to do?"

"I will see him tomorrow. If it's okay with him." Said Dhara and the receptionist gave her assured smile.

It was lunch time when she finished some of her patients but some were still left. She picked up her phone and was about to order something for her when a soft knock dragged her attention.

There was a man standing tall to his 6' feet height. His broad shoulders loomed in his white coat. Dimples formed on his cheeks when his lips curved in a smile. Kavish was her best friend and now the only family she could count.

She smiled, "what's all this?" She asked him confused, when he kept flowers and a box on the table.

"You could have asked me to come in." Chided kavish.

"Such a melodramatic person."

"This were delivered for you. So, I picked it." He handed her a yellow card.

She looked at him confused and he added, "I see, someone wants to be close to you, huh! Open it!" Said kavish anxiously.

She thought for a minute before reading. What was written in that card. "It must be one of my patient. They always send something as their gesture."

She opened the card curious to know what was written in there.

"I know, you must be thinking how I got your address. And why those all things. Well, it's just my way to say thanks. There's a pasta in that box. I know you didn't have your breakfast. So,Eat well."

Love adhiraj :)

Her eyes grew rigid. Dhara rooted on her place. The thing she was afraid. It was all happening to her one by one. He was reasoning for his every action. Like he planned it long ago. And she couldn't do anything.

She thrust the box and flowers in a trash can. She lit the lighter in order to burn the card but kavish stopped her.

"What are you doing Dhara?"

"It's him. I don't know how he got my address but I really don't want anything from him."

Kavish stilled, "what?"

"He barged in my house yesterday with his lawyer. And I..I can't do anything for now."

"And you are telling me now." Kavish raised his eyebrow questioning.

"I'm sorry kavish. My mind was all over the places yesterday. Spending a second with him under same roof is torture for me." She slumped on the chair, frustrated.

"What you gonna do now?"

"I need a time to get all this. There's a lawyer, who used to be my patient. I met him and he suggested that for a time being I should let him stay. Before making any decision." She heaved.

Kavish looked at her blankly, "I need to think straight." He thought.

He shrugged his thoughts and reminded himself. It was not the time to think about those things. He took her hand in his, kneeling at front, "whatever you do, remember I'm always with you." Dhara nodded thoughtfully.

"Did I disturb you both?" A voice from the doorway distracted them.

They both stood up smiling,"what took you here?" Asked Dhara as the women approached her.

"Well, I have a favour to ask?" She asked and Dhara indicated to go on,

"If you don't mind. Can you please substitute my work on this weekend."

"I think, I can but why so sudden? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, it's my dad. He wants to spend his weekend with his grandchildren before leaving for abroad. So, please help me." She requested.

"Okay, I will do that..."

Kavish interrupted, "you can approach anytime for help to her. Because our warm hearted Dhara will never say no to anyone." Sarcasm was lacing in kavish's voice. Dhara nudge him indicating to shut up but he shrugged off.

"What's his deal? Why he always being so rude?" The women wondered and added, "anyway Dhara I owe you big dear." And they both watched her walking out.

"What was all that about?" Dhara asked once they were on their way back home.

"I was just stating the fact."

"I'm talking about your rudeness kavish." She glared at him.

"Now, please don't look at me like that. Kuchh Kuchh hota hai Dhara tum nahi samjhogi." He laughed speeding up on the side walk.

"I will kill you someday kavish. Why can't you take my words seriously?"

"Look, I have to keep that serious look whole day in hospital. So, I don't think I can be more serious." He wondered and Dhara clasped his shoulder firmly.

They stopped at the bus stop. The next bus will take ten to fifteen minutes to reach there.

"You should go now. I can go by myself."

Kavish shook his head, "I will go once I will see you hoping on, okay."

Dhara heaved. It was useless to tell him leave. Their houses were in an opposite direction and it almost took little much effort for kavish to reach home then to Dhara. But, still he manage to accompany her and to make sure she reached home safe. No matter what time it ass.

She waved him goodbye and took a seat on a last row in the bus. She watched as kavish getting farther away from her. She leaned her head on the window. She needed a time to think but at the same time. She wanted it to over soon.

Dhara kept her shoes carefully in the shoe rack. Before, it used to be silent place. Her only place. Where she can live her whole life in a peace. But not it was filled with chaos and her thoughts in every nook. He was watching tv, She started climbing the stairs. When adhiraj interrupted.

"Dhara, please let's talk calmly. We need to sort a way. It was.." Dhara banged the door on his face. She didn't wanted to listen any of his sweet lies. She didn't wanted to believe his Lies.

She leaned against the door and slid on the floor. Tears forming in her eyes. On the other side adhiraj stood there, feeling a wave of emotion.

"Dhara I will wait. I will wait for you to accept me. I won't give up on you nor us. I will wait months, years or my whole life for you. I will mend your broken heart and repent my every sin." Adhiraj clutched the door knob, leaning his forehead on the door. A drop of tear escaped from his eyes.