Love that lasts

Chapter 14

Chandni didn't realise how long she was on the washroom floor, crying and sobbing, before all her tears dried out. She slowly gathered herself and crept into her bed. She cuddled the soft pillow, but it felt cold and lifeless. 

Till the day she met Aryan again, she felt nothing but peace with her situation. Her life was placid, well protected and she felt content in her own small world with Vikram, Atharv, Rashid Chacha and Nargis Chachi.

Just like before, Aryan stormed into her life, turning it upside down and made her lose control over her life, her surroundings and now more importantly her career too. His words and deeds raked all the deep wounds that she safely kept hidden from everyone, for she knew there was no point in ruing over something that was gone, forever from her life. But his presence back in her life only reiterated the fear she always had, deep down, which she never wanted to acknowledge. He was never gone from her life, and probably never will.

Sleep eluded Chandni all night before she finally gave up and began to work on the presentation file on her laptop, in preparation for the upcoming meeting she had with some of the vendors that day. But her mind kept drifting back to Aryan and what he said, as he lay on that sofa with the blood drenched shirt. His words kept ringing in her ears, and they not only pained her but also raised fresh doubts and questions in her mind. She never realised how long she sat like that, till she heard the soft knock on the door and Nargis Chachi walked in with a tea cup and breakfast on a tray.

Chandni closed the laptop off and hurriedly got up to pick up the tray.

"Chachi! How many times have I told you not to bring anything in to my room? I will come into the kitchen if I want to have my tea or breakfast!" she admonished her.

"Bas Bas!( Enough) I noticed that all night you were sitting up in bed, with the lights on and working on that computer. You can fool your soft hearted Rashid Chacha with your antics but not me OK? You need all your strength, both physical and mental to go through this tough time right now. Now, I am not going to ask you what happened or what you are going to do. My job is to look after you and be there for you when you need me. Understand?? You must be tired and hungry. That's why I brought you the toast and tea. And beware if you ever raise your voice against me!! If I begin to raise my voice, you will close your ears and run off to the Himalayas for all you know!! Samjhi?? (understand)" Nargis Chachi said in a stern voice.

"I am sorry Chachi, that wasn't my intention at all. I don't want to you take all this trouble just for me. As it is, you and Chacha work so hard to help us in running the household." Chandni held both her ears and apologised, dutifully like a little kid, which brought the smile back on Nargis Chachi.

She drew Chandni closer in her arms and kissed her on the forehead.

"Dramebaaz ladki!! We do all that because we love you and your family. Now go and freshen up, and have breakfast before it turns stone cold, while I go and check on your highness Prince Atharv as to what he is up to." She chuckled and left.

Chandni smiled to herself as she quickly finished her shower. Bless Chachi to know exactly what goes in her mind, and make her feel better. She was indeed hungry! She munched on her toast while having her tea and joined Atharv and Vikram at the breakfast table.

Vikram enquired, "How are you feeling Chandni? If your ankle is hurting or if you are not up to going to the office, it is absolutely fine, you know!!"

"No, I am perfectly alright, my ankle is much better. I want to go as we have an important meeting today." Chandni reassured him.

"Hmm. Remember I am going to Delhi today and won't be back for few days." He reminded her.

"Mummy I also want to come to your office with you, Can I come please?" Atharv implored.

"NO!!"

Chandni didn't realise how loudly she replied that till she saw the reaction on Atharv's face.

She immediately corrected her mistake and spoke in a soft tone to her son.

"I am sorry Atharv but I can't take you today. I am new to the office myself and I am still learning and not comfortable with a lot of things. So, once I get better, and have more time for myself, I will definitely take you there. Is that OK?" She hoped desperately that Atharv would understand.

"I thought people went to the office to work. So you go to the office to learn things just like I do at School?" He asked innocently, and everyone burst out laughing.

****

Aryan decided to work from home that day, and finish the presentation on the prototype model that he was about to submit for the tender. He couldn't afford anymore distractions on this, and he knew that if he went to office something or other was bound to happen.

So he called the reception and lied that he was off sick, so that he wouldn't be disturbed with phone calls either.

He messaged Raj Singh and Namrata privately that he was working on the presentation. He thought of informing Chandni as well, but for some reason held back, not sure if he wanted to open that channel of communication too. He looked once more at the security camera pictures of the thug among the other papers, and a wry smile spread on his face, thinking of the work cut out for him during his next week's Allahabad Trip.

****

Vikram insisted on having an event planner to manage everything for the housewarming party so that it would be less taxing on everyone in the household and Chandni, for once, was glad to have all the help. She hardly socialized and was always nervous around people or looking after such large scale arrangements.

The team from the Event management firm arrived shortly after breakfast and they spent some time going through all the requirements so that by the time Chandni arrived at the office it was almost noon and just in time for the meeting.

As she walked hurriedly into the lift, she remembered the awkward encounter with Aryan the previous day. She was relieved to find that no one of her acquaintances were in the lift and finally reached office, with more stable nerves.

"Good Morning Madam!" Sachi greeted her warmly as her eyes roamed over Chandni's knee length black dress.

"Ma'am if you don't mind me saying so, you are looking like a college girl in her teens rather than CEO of our company. You are looking fabulous in this dress. Don't wear sarees ma'am!" She said enthusiastically.

"Oh my god, don't let the vendors who are coming to the meeting hear this. If they think I am a college girl, they will try to ignore me. Hahaha" Chandni smiled nervously.

"And I hope you understand by now that I am very bad at taking compliments and blurt out whatever comes to mind in response." she added sheepishly.

Sachi laughed loudly at Chandni's confession.

"Thanks for the lovely words by the way." Chandni wished her and proceeded to her cabin.

"What Sachi? Why are you buttering up our new CEO so much?" Rithika sneered, as she sat next to her.

"I was not! It was a genuine reaction. She was looking like a TV Bahu in that saree yesterday, but today she kind of looks hot." Sachi replied.

"If you ask me, she dressed up all that for Aryan... But the whole plan has gone kaput because Aryan is not here." Rithika said waspishly.

"You and your single track mind. She would have of course known that Aryan was absent today, all the bosses get informed when

Aryan goes on leave. Then why would she "dress up for him" as you say?" Sachi mocked her.

"I don't know, but something is going on. They were sitting too cosily yesterday if you ask me." Rithika still stuck to her guns as she went back to her seat.

Soon the vendors came and they had an hour long meeting in the boardroom, which turned out in the favour of Synergy thanks to some well guided information from Sanjay Verma and bargaining skills of Chandni.

Chandni and Sanjay Verma cordially accompanied the vendors out, and returned to the reception.

"That was a very good outcome Mrs Mathur. Now all we need to make sure is that the Tender is submitted tomorrow duly on time tomorrow and we are good for this quarter." Sanjay acknowledged happily.

"Where is Aryan by the way?" Sanjay asked Sachi.

"He is not in today Sir!"

"Has he gone off to his annual pilgrimage again? It is that time of the year isn't it? Hope he has finished the tender work first." Sanjay said worriedly.

"No, he just told us he wasn't feeling well. His nose must be hurting a lot. I will go and check on him in the evening." Rithika informed everyone with a knowing smile.

Chandni's heart sank. But she had to know something else first.

"What annual pilgrimage are you talking about?"she asked in confusion.

"Ohh it's nothing Mrs Mathur! He just takes a 10 day break around this time every year, and goes to his hometown Allahabad." Sanjay explained.

Rithika quickly added, "Not just that Mrs Mathur. Of course you don't know much about him because you're new here. It's such a sad story really, and he told me all about it. Both his parents died in an accident around this time you know, and he even lost his brother on the same day. I think he still mourns and prays for them at the Sangam or something.. I exactly don't know that part much..But yeah, he is such a troubled soul and that's why he always tells us, how much he relies on us here, for all the emotional support I give... I mean we give to him."

Rithika's honey laden words sent chills up Chandni's spine.

She felt almost faint.. she muttered some vague excuse and went back to her cabin. 

She had a few more urgent files to look at and by the time all her work finished, it was 6 pm. She called Rashid Chacha and informed him that she will be working late. Vikram had gone to Delhi that very morning and was coming back after two days.

She began to google about events related to Raghav and Vasudha Bharadwaj from Allahabad, Sixteen years ago....

****

Aryan worked nonstop till afternoon, stopping only to take some stretching breaks before the presentation was almost complete and the project notes were half way through.

He had a light Sandwich and resumed his work on the notes, completing it finally around 8 pm. Aryan made a final check on all the notes before he began to pack away everything neatly, but as soon as his eyes fell on the prototype model and it's attachments, he groaned in exasperation.

****

Chandni was still engrossed in the news articles she was reading. The office was almost empty now and most of the lights were turned off. 

Just then she heard a noise of a door squeaking slowly followed by slow and heavy footsteps. Chandni always complimented herself to be a brave girl, but the unfamiliar location she was in, made her unnaturally jumpy. She slowly got out of the chair and looked around for some sort of weapon. An old umbrella tucked away in the door corner caught her eye.

She picked it up and slowly opened the door of her cabin, only to find the outside reception area empty!! 

She went through the reception towards the other end, where she could see a dim light and lurking shadows. She opened the door slowly and poised herself to hit the tall man, dressed in a hoodie and jeans, whose silhouette was visible in the glass doors.

But the moment she entered, a pair of strong hands immobilised her from behind.

"I would drop that weapon of yours, if I were you" said a husky voice .

^=============^

A/N

So, Aryan goes to Allahabad ( a city in northcentral India) every year at the same time. Can you guess why?

What happened sixteen years ago that he lost his family in one day? 

How come Chandni never knew about this.

Keep reading to find out. 

P.S Don't forget to vote and review this book. Your love and support is what keeps me writing.