Love that lasts

Chapter 19

Chandni and Aryan both looked confusedly at a Mumbai Police Constable, who rapped once again on the window, and rudely signalled to them to get out of the car.

Aryan cursed himself for getting lost in his memories and not noticing the time. It has become very customary for the police in these public tourist places to get rid of parked vehicles after late hours, harass the public to pocket some extra money by laying false charges for parking, or even become moral police, by objecting to young people being seen together in public etc.

"Chandni, you stay inside, sometimes these guys can be very obnoxious." Aryan opened the car door slowly but Chandni didn't pay heed to his advice and got out of the car from the other end as she looked at the constable defiantly, much to Aryan's exasperation.

"Yeh tum log kya khusur pusur kar rahe ho, itni raat tak? Haaan? Shaadi shuda ho yaa aise hi? (What are you guys chatting about at this late hour? Hmm? Are you guys married or just ...)" the constable sneered and chuckled, baring his paan-eaten teeth.

"I have paid for the parking and we are in our car, we were just about to leave anyway. Don't worry, constable." Aryan tried his best to look pleasant and answer the Constable cordially, even though his question and manner riled him a lot.

"Apna license nikaalo, aur RC Book bhi. (Show me your license and RC Book)" The Constable demanded, as if he didn't hear anything Aryan said.

Aryan dutifully showed him both, but the constable didn't seem too happy with that.

"Are you guys married? Why are you here at such a late hour? Don't you have a home?" He continued his derogatory talk. Chandni was observing the whole scene with a furious face.

Aryan was incensed and opened his mouth to give him a fitting retort but Chandni beat him to it.

"Aap chup rahiye! (You please stay quiet!)" She said aggressively to Aryan, as he looked gobsmacked at her.

Turning her full body towards the constable, with her hands on her waist, Chandni gave him a top to bottom once over.

"Yes constable, we are married. He is my husband Dev Bharadwaj and I am his wife Chandni Bharadwaj. And here's my Mangal Sutra!" She pulled out the black beaded necklace, a symbol of a married woman, from the recess of her dress.

"Do you have any problem with us staying here? On what grounds exactly? We have every right to stay here and enjoy the beach and eat the food around here. If you speak one more word rudely to my husband or me, I will see to it that my father in law will speak to the Police Commissioner and get you suspended from duty." She replied furiously, her eyes spitting fire, much to the dismay of the constable as well as Aryan.

Aryan laid his hand on Chandni's shoulder and gently pulled her back.

"Chandni there's no need for all that. The constable was only trying to do his duty... Isn't that so? Let's leave, ghar mein bhi sab log pareshaan hote honge, (everyone at home might be worried too). It is quite late now."

"Yes...Yes, take your crazy wife home!! Baap Re!! Bhalai ka Zamana hi nahi raha!! (Phew!! Everyone is so rude nowadays)" The Constable exclaimed, as he got a taste of his own medicine. He deeply rued that his seemingly golden chance to win some extra money slipped out of his hands, as Chandni and Aryan went back to their car and drove away.

Aryan didn't speak for five minutes, till they were safely out of that area and found somewhere to park on the side lane. He then broke out hysterically into a laugh, and Chandni reluctantly joined him.

"What the hell was that? When did you become such an angry tigress and a terrific actress?? Wow!! Hats off Chandu! That poor Constable had no chance! Who is that father in law by the way who knows the Commissioner so well?" His eyes watered again, but this time to a very happy reason and Chandni was glad to see him laugh so happily, just after their painful journey into his past. 

"What else did you expect me to do? If you speak nicely and courteously to a corrupt fellow like him, would he let us go? No way!! He wanted to get money off us on some pretext or other. Offence is the best form of defence in situations like this. Oh!! Dev!! You are still too innocent and gentlemanly for your own good!!" She smiled back at him.

Aryan stopped laughing and looked mischievously at his supposed to be wife.

"Innocent and gentlemanly!! Who? Me? Coming from you, that is a compliment indeed!" He mocked.

She bit her lower lip hard as she tried her best to control her tongue to give him the juiciest reply.

Finally, she succeeded in controlling herself.

She whipped her hair back dramatically, turning her face away from him and said instead.

"Enough of the smart talk! Let's go before someone else comes after us. It is quite late!"

"Oh really!" Aryan was glad to see her eyes snap back to him, and gave her his trademark smirk.

But he followed her advice dutifully and drove silently for the rest of their journey. Somehow this silence felt much more beautiful and joyous than their hilarious chat. A gentle smile played on their lips as they reached Chandni's home.

Aryan just gave a cursory glance at the building and averted his eyes back to Chandni.

"Thanks for the Dinner and..." Chandni paused, unable to say anything further as all the painful memories of what they just shared came back to haunt her.

"No, I must thank you for opening up to me, which in turn helped me to unburden and share some of my painful memories with you. Trust me, I am feeling better after what happened today and I am guessing the feeling is mutual." Aryan's eyes probed hers.

Chandni nodded silently and smiled hesitantly at him.

"Yes I feel better too, and I hope we can share and be more open with each other, just like this. We both have suffered long enough!" Chandni replied sincerely.

"Good!! I will see you tomorrow in the office then!" Aryan said with a cheerfulness that wasn't exactly natural.

Chandni was about to say sure...and then suddenly remembered!! It was Atharv's birthday tomorrow. She promised to spend the entire day with him just like every year! But she didn't want to share this with Aryan, no.... definitely not! So much for being open! She smiled ruefully to herself.

"Hmm actually, I won't be coming to the office tomorrow. Atharv is kind of missing me and I promised him that I will stay home with him tomorrow...you know Friday... End of the week!" She tried her best to smile naturally and hoped that Aryan would believe her lie.

"Of course, he is not used to you going to work every day yet! That's a really good Idea. Anyway, me and Raj Kaka would be going to the Army Service Quarters to submit the tender tomorrow. See you on Monday then!" Aryan said cheerfully, more sincerely this time.

"Erm... Won't you be coming to the housewarming party on Sunday?" She asked hesitantly.

Aryan averted his gaze away from her and looked straight at the road ahead.

A thousand thoughts swirled in his mind as he mulled over her request. Considering what just happened between them today and how sincere Vikram's invitation was, all those days ago, not to attend the party along with all his colleagues would be rude indeed, even though his heart was still not in it.

But...

"Do you want me to?" He sighed and asked her, hoping she would give him some incentive still, to make up his mind.

"We are expecting most of the Synergy employees to attend. But I can totally understand if you don't want to come. Please don't force yourself into something you don't want to do. I sincerely want that we are open with each other and not feel obliged towards anything anymore. You are a natural extrovert and crowd pleaser Aryan!! Unlike me, who is terrified of socialising and making a proper conversation without feeling awkward or nervous. I know it is very selfish of me to ask you, but I would feel teeny bit better and confident with you around that day. I do come out of my shell, nowadays more than ever before, but I tend to become aggressive to hide my nervousness, as you saw me before with that constable." She chuckled.

"Oh my God!! Are you going to bash all the invitees if they ask for an extra drink that day?" He mocked her.

"Who knows?? Forget about others, I won't let you drink even a drop that day!! Because I know how roguish you become after a drink or two!!" She warned him with a false anger.

"Warning noted!! I promise I will be a good boy and not drink that day. Okay?" He smiled at her and she was glad to see that his smile reached his eyes, and let out a sigh of relief.

"I ....I don't know how to thank you. I will see you on Sunday then, best of luck with the tender. I have a feeling this is definitely a beginning of the best of things to come for us, I mean for Synergy!" She blurted out her thanks and ran happily towards the gate, where the guard opened the gate for her.

Aryan looked contently at her retrieving figure, as his heart finally felt a familiar but long forgotten joy that it hadn't felt for a long time, the joy he got whenever "he made her happy". He waited till she was safely inside the house and started his drive back home.

*****

Author Note:

Aryan and Chandni finally opened up to each other and agreed not to feel bitter about their past anymore. How did you find this chapter?

Please vote for the chapter and review this book and as always, I look forward to read your comments and feedback.