A very beautiful girl, 20 or 22 years old, dressed as a bride in a red bridal gown, adorned with all her jewelry and a veil on her head, is standing in the arms of a very handsome boy, looking at his face in astonishment. The boy's face has a complet... A very beautiful girl, 20 or 22 years old, dressed as a bride in a red bridal gown, adorned with all her jewelry and a veil on her head, is standing in the arms of a very handsome boy, looking at his face in astonishment. The boy's face has a completely serious expression, and they are standing very close. The title of the story, "My Mysterious Husband," should be written directly in the middle of the picture. The post should be romantic, making them look like a close husband and wife, with the boy's hand on the bride's waist and both of them looking into each other's eyes.<br />
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The exterior of a magnificent, three-story bungalow was adorned with so many lights and flowers that the house, as well as the cars parked there, gleamed under the evening sky, rendering the approaching darkness imperceptible.
The house was already quite beautiful and grand from the outside; the day's decorations had only enhanced its splendor. It seemed no corner of the house was left unlit, and the fragrance of fresh flowers permeated the air, as every space was decorated with them and draperies. While there wasn't a crowd, a pleasant buzz of activity was evident.
Observing from afar, it appeared as though a wedding or a grand celebration was taking place within the house. From a distance, it looked like the residence of a very wealthy and influential person.
Inside the house, in a large room, sat a stunningly beautiful girl in a vibrant red bridal gown, adorned with complete bridal jewelry and makeup, in front of a mirror. She was almost fully ready, with only the veil left to be placed. The girl was truly beautiful, but her face showed no hint of happiness or a smile, nor any of the shyness or nervousness expected of a bride.
Despite being so elaborately dressed, she wasn't looking at her reflection. Her face was etched with sadness and despair, and her eyes appeared swollen and tear-filled.
In her hand, she held a mobile phone, its screen displaying a smiling woman wearing a saree, with a red bindi and sindoor. The bride-to-be's entire focus was on her phone screen, and she had been lamenting while looking at it for quite some time.
"Why did you leave me, Mom? Look at the state I'm in after you left. They were going to do the same to Didi, but she got away with it, she escaped all of this, but me... I couldn't. And what kind of family are these? They haven't thought about me even once; they just issued a decree that my wedding will happen here. What my wish is, no one has asked me, Mom, why did you leave me, why? I want to come to you too, I don't want to get married, I don't want to be tied to any relationship like this... and definitely not like this..."
Gazing at her phone screen, the girl continued to voice her complaints, and as she spoke, tears welled up and began to stream down her cheeks.
Despite her best efforts, she couldn't control herself and finally hugged the mobile phone to her chest, breaking down in tears. Tears flowed from both her eyes, and all that escaped her lips was "Mom... Mom..."
"What is this drama this girl is creating since morning... Now tell me, the groom's family has also arrived. What will our reputation be if someone overhears this? Jyoti, go see what has happened to Sunaina, why is she crying like this?"
A woman of about 50-55 years spoke to a girl of about 27-28 years sitting beside her.
"It's okay, Mummy Ji, I'll go and see, and I'll explain to Sunaina... You look after the guests here."
Jyoti got up, heading towards Sunaina's room, from where the sound of crying could be heard.
"What happened, Didi! Why are you getting so upset? It's just a matter of a little while, the varmala ceremony is about to happen."
A man of about 50 years, hearing the woman shouting, walked towards her.
"Look, Brijesh, I can't handle your daughters. Send Gayatri, she'll explain to your girl. The sounds coming from the room are as if someone is beating your Sunaina with sticks."
The woman grumbled angrily.
"Oh Didi, girls cry during weddings, what's the big deal? And Gayatri is busy with some work, otherwise, she would have gone. Besides, you are also Sunaina's aunt, if you explain to her for a while, she will feel good too."
Brijesh said, flattering the woman a bit.
"Yes, I knew you would say something like this, that's why I've already sent Jyoti. Now tell the priest and the groom's family to start the wedding rituals quickly, so we can be free from all this."
The woman said to Brijesh and then walked away. Brijesh also moved away and began discussing starting the wedding rituals sooner.
"What is it, Sunaina? Why are you crying so loudly, the sounds are reaching outside. Mummy Ji is getting so angry, I mean your aunt... Honestly, what will everyone else say if they hear that we beat you and made you sit at the mandap?"
Jyoti said as she entered the room.
"Yes, that's the only thing left, you people haven't left any stone unturned otherwise..."
Responding to Jyoti's words, Sunaina wiped her tears with her hands and spoke.
"Don't spoil your makeup by crying repeatedly, how many times will I have to touch it up? I'm not your sister Naina, who will fix your messed-up work ten times."
Seeing Sunaina's makeup ruined by tears, Jyoti also grumbled angrily, then took face powder and a puff and came in front of Sunaina, applying it to her face.
"No one can ever be like Naina Didi for me, but Bhabhi, I'll just say that no matter how much makeup you apply, what will you do about the visible tears, pain, and suffering on this face? They cannot be hidden by any powder or cream."
Sunaina looked at Jyoti in a very serious tone and said.
"Sunaina! What are you trying to tell me repeatedly? I don't have any desire to do all this for you, it's out of compulsion, at Mummy Ji's and everyone else's insistence, because there's no one else; and all this that is happening to you, is your Naina Didi's doing. If she had quietly married according to the family's wishes, you would have had ample time for your studies and job, but no, they didn't think about you, and you are the one who, chanting her name, is blaming all of us. You should be grateful that despite your elder sister running away from home, your marriage is happening with such a rich and wealthy man. Do you know, this house also belongs to him?"
While fixing Sunaina's makeup, Jyoti revealed everything one by one.
However, Jyoti's words had no effect on Sunaina, and she disdainfully turned her gaze elsewhere.
"Jyoti Bhabhi! Aunt Ji is asking, is Sunaina Didi ready? Pandit Ji and everyone else are calling them downstairs for the varmala ceremony."
A boy of about seventeen or eighteen peeked into the room and asked Jyoti.
"Yes, she is completely ready... you go and tell everyone, I'll just bring her with me..."
Jyoti replied to the boy's question, and he left after hearing her.
"Come on now, that's enough! No matter how much you cry and bang your head, this marriage will happen, and you know this very well, Sunaina, but you just don't accept it. Besides, the sooner you accept it, the better it will be for you."
Jyoti said, covering half of Sunaina's face with the dupatta.
Sunaina was sitting on the sofa, dialing someone's number on her mobile. When Jyoti's gaze fell on her phone, she saw the name Naina flashing on the screen.
"Are you out of your mind, Sunaina! You invite trouble upon yourself, and what good will talking to your sister like this before the wedding pheras do? What... what do you intend to do?"
Jyoti snatched her mobile phone from her hand, speaking with some anger.
"Bhabhi! Give me back my phone."
Completely ignoring all of Jyoti's words, Sunaina asked for her phone back in a very serious tone.
"You won't get it, come downstairs quietly. And if you want your phone, complete the entire wedding without any drama, and after the pheras, I will quietly and properly return your phone, but not now. And if you create any more drama, I will give this to your mother or my mother-in-law, your dear aunt Ji, then you will never get your mobile back..."
Jyoti said, holding the phone behind her back in a somewhat threatening manner.
"What... what are you all getting out of this, by causing me such pain and trouble? I am getting married according to your wishes, but still..."
Sunaina said, sinking back onto the sofa with utter dejection. Tears filled her eyes again.
"Don't cry and come downstairs quietly..."
Jyoti said, lifting her up and adjusting her veil again, and brought her down to the hall.
To be continued
It was another room in that large bungalow. The room was already quite bustling; a couple of boys, along with some men and women, were standing inside the room, perhaps conversing amongst themselves. In total, four or five people were already present in the room at that moment. Just then, a man wearing a grey, quite stylish and expensive-looking three-piece suit, with both hands in his pant pockets, entered the room abruptly. His face held a strange emptiness, yet, with messy hair and the sharp contours and chiseled features of his fair face, the man looked very handsome. As soon as he entered, everyone's attention shifted to him, and two or three people simultaneously moved towards him, speaking.
"Thank God you're here, Aditya! Otherwise, we thought we'd all have to sit here like wedding guests without a groom at your wedding..." said one of the boys as he approached him.
Hearing the boy's words, the man in the suit shot him a sharp glance and, without saying anything, the boy who was speaking from the front suddenly fell silent. The man's gait was not entirely steady; there was a slight sway in his steps. However, his personality was so commanding that everyone present thought a hundred times before speaking in front of him, gathering courage by looking at each other's faces to see who would speak first.
"Aditya, son, why do you get so angry? We are all your own, we were speaking for your own good, Vishal..." said a woman of almost middle age, approaching the man in the suit, flattering him.
"I understand what's good and bad for me myself, Aunty! You don't need to worry about me," Aditya replied in the same tone, without any emotion, in clear words.
"Aditya! Is this how you talk to your aunt? She is speaking for your own good, and your attitude... I don't know what world you live in?" said one of the four or five people, looking at Aditya with a hint of displeasure.
But Aditya reacted as if he hadn't heard him, and started calling out, "Ravi... Ravi..." looking around the room.
At that, hearing Aditya's voice, a person immediately rushed into the room from outside. He appeared to be a few years older than Aditya, but since Aditya was calling him by name, it was clear he worked for him. The man was also wearing a formal shirt and black jeans, and he had a mobile phone and some belongings in his hand.
"Yes, sir! You called..." said the man, standing in front of Aditya at his second call, in a very serious voice, and placed the items in his hand on the sofa.
"Are all the arrangements made? And what are these people's problems, see and resolve everyone's issues. I'm not used to hearing everyone's complaints." While speaking, Aditya ran his hand through his hair and walked towards the large dressing mirror on the front wall of the room. Just then, his steps faltered slightly, and he narrowly avoided falling, or rather, Ravi caught him and saved him from falling.
"We don't have any problems, Aditya, son, but just look at your condition. How will you go to the wedding altar like this? At least for today, alcohol..." said the same man who had spoken to Aditya a little earlier.
"What's wrong with my condition? Everything is fine. You all also leave from here, I will come with Ravi," said Aditya, regaining his balance and standing up again.
"Sir, are you alright? Please sit here!" Ravi said calmly, looking at Aditya.
"I am fine! Leave me and focus on your work..." said Aditya, fixing his hair by running his fingers through it.
"All the arrangements are made, sir, you just get ready and then the garland ceremony is about to begin," Ravi informed Aditya as he spoke.
"Aditya, I'll stay with you, I'll go out with you too..." said a boy after hearing Aditya.
"No, Vishal, there's no need for that. I told you, I'm fine!" Aditya said, looking at the boy with a sarcastic smile.
Hearing Aditya's words, the rest of the people slowly shook their heads in helplessness and left the room one by one. Then, finally, Vishal also left, cursing Aditya inwardly.
"Let's go, sir! It's time for the ceremony," Ravi said to Aditya a little while after everyone had left.
Aditya nodded in agreement and walked out of the room with Ravi.
In the large hall of that house, which had been decorated beautifully for the wedding, as Aditya went and stood on the stage set up for the garland ceremony in the middle of the hall, he saw Sunaina coming towards him in a red bridal outfit. Sunaina's face was veiled, so Aditya couldn't see her face, and perhaps he didn't want to, so he averted his gaze.
Jyoti also brought Sunaina to the stage, and then, standing Sunaina in front of Aditya on the stage, Jyoti stood behind her. Knowing Sunaina's condition, she didn't want to leave her alone; Sunaina might do something erratic on her own. For this very reason, Ravi also stood behind Aditya.
"Now you both can exchange garlands," said Pandit Ji, standing near the stage, in a slightly loud voice. All the other guests' attention turned towards Pandit Ji, perhaps except for the groom and the bride... A girl stood near them on the stage with two garlands in a tray, but the groom and bride stood like statues, as if they hadn't heard what Pandit Ji said.
"What is this boy! He'll embarrass us, can't he hear?" Aditya's uncle whispered to his wife.
"How much is your nose really connected to him? You only share the same surname, in everything else, Aditya has left you all so far behind..." Aditya's aunt retorted, hearing her husband's words.
"It's my nephew's wedding, if something goes wrong, it's my reputation that will be at stake, and you should leave some opportunity for taunting." Uncle muttered, responding to his wife, and then moved a little forward, climbed onto the stage, and whispered into Ravi's ear, "Tell him, put the garland around the girl's neck... everyone is watching this way."
"Yes, I'll tell him!" Ravi said, hearing Aditya's uncle, then moved a little forward, nudged Aditya slightly, and whispered in his ear, "Sir! You have to put the garland around her neck."
"Yes, yes, okay..." Aditya said, slightly startled, and then quickly put the garland around Sunaina's neck, who was standing in front of him.
"Come on, Sunaina! Now it's your turn, you put it too." Jyoti Bhabhi whispered into Sunaina's ear, with a hint of clenching her teeth, and then forced a smile looking at everyone else. Because Sunaina showed no movement; she stood on the stage with her head bowed like a lifeless statue. She hadn't even looked up at the man standing in front of her, her soon-to-be husband. She wasn't moving or speaking anything, but yes, a lot was going on in her mind. But about whatever was going on in her mind, she couldn't tell anyone there, because there was no one to listen. She felt like screaming and telling everyone right then that she didn't want to get married; what's this... she didn't want to marry anyone right now, this was a relationship that her family was forcing upon her, without her consent. So, it didn't matter who the person standing in front of her was.
"Hi, looks like she's shy, the child!" said Sunaina's stepmother, also climbing onto the stage. Forcing the garland into Sunaina's hand, Jyoti and her mother put it around Aditya's neck.
Although Aditya was quite intoxicated at that time, he understood a lot, but still, he didn't say anything and let everything happen silently.
After the garland ceremony, the ritual of the seven vows took place, and Sunaina's attitude was the same; she went through all the rituals like a robot, without any emotion, without looking at anyone, and with reluctance. But now, along with Sunaina, Aditya's steps were also faltering, and the people present found the behavior of both the groom and the bride quite strange, but because of Aditya, no one dared to say anything.
There weren't many guests; in total, it was Aditya and Sunaina's families and a few close people, but those people never missed an opportunity to talk. Aditya could hear a lot of whispering behind and in front of him, but as soon as he turned to look in one direction, all the people there would fall silent, and Aditya would turn his gaze back forward.
Anyway, somehow the wedding rituals ended, and then Pandit Ji said, "The marriage is complete! Now you can touch the feet of the elders and take their blessings."
Hearing this, Aditya moved towards Sunaina's family before his own family, but Sunaina didn't move a single step from her place. And since they were tied together, Aditya couldn't move too far ahead, and when he looked back, Sunaina said, "Blessings! From these people too... I don't want them."
To be continued...
Sunaina, standing at the mandap in her bridal attire, surprised everyone present with her sudden outburst. Aditya also turned to look at her.
"These elders are not worthy of blessings, they are only elder in age and relation; in everything else, they are much smaller and fallen. I have no relation with them anymore, nor do I want anything from them, not even their blessings..." Sunaina said, removing her veil with her hands, looking at her family members with great disdain.
Hearing Sunaina's words, everyone present was stunned. No one could understand why a newlywed bride would suddenly say all this to her maternal family and relatives after the wedding.
All the people present started talking in various ways. The whispers reached the ears of the groom and bride in the mandap, Sunaina and Aditya. Just then, Sunaina's stepmother came forward, grabbed Sunaina's hand, and pulled her towards herself, saying, "What are you saying? Are you in your senses! Quietly touch everyone's feet and stop this drama of yours!"
"Now that I have spoken the truth after so long, otherwise I was quiet for so long. But alas, my truth seems like a drama to you." Speaking thus, Sunaina snatched her hand away from her stepmother with a jerk and turned her face away from them.
"What happened? Why is the bride speaking like this?" Aditya's aunt also said, approaching Sunaina's aunt.
"Nothing, the child is probably just a little upset. She didn't want to get married so soon, but she had to do it at our persuasion. Maybe that's why. It's okay, she'll understand." Sunaina's aunt said, trying to explain to Aditya's aunt. But Aditya's aunt looked at them with quite strange eyes. She was listening to them but couldn't fully believe what they were saying.
"It can't just be that the girl refuses to have any relation with her family." The aunt said, standing next to her husband, Aditya's uncle.
"Yes, so you went to find out, did you find anything?" The uncle also asked sarcastically.
"People don't open up so easily these days." The aunt also said, making a face.
Aditya, standing on the stage, was listening to all their conversations. Not all of it, but some incomplete conversations were reaching his ears.
"Alright, no problem, my wife seems to be very upset. Now I don't know the reason for her upset, but you elders should be magnanimous. And elders' blessings are always upon children, aren't they? So, what's the need to touch feet? Let it be." Aditya said in a slightly louder voice so that everyone present could hear him.
"Sunaina! You will show us this day? I never thought this would happen." Sunaina's father said, coming near her.
"You have ruined my entire life with your stubbornness. What more do you want? Should I pretend to be happy? No, I won't be able to do that. Please!" Sunaina said looking at her father with contemptuous eyes. Her eyes were only filled with anger and displeasure at this moment, nothing more.
"What happened, Papa ji? Now that your daughter has refused, I will touch your feet. Give me the blessings meant for both of you." Aditya said, coming towards Brijesh after hearing Sunaina and Brijesh's conversation.
From the way Aditya spoke, Brijesh understood that Aditya had drunk quite a lot. Because at this moment, Aditya's steps were faltering, and his eyes were very red. His tone of speaking also seemed a little slurred.
But Brijesh was not too bothered by all these things. He probably already knew all this about Aditya. But Aditya was such a wealthy and powerful businessman that when he proposed to Sunaina himself in front of Sunaina's family, no one had a chance to refuse. And why would they refuse? After Naina left home, they were all waiting for this opportunity to somehow get Sunaina married, so that she wouldn't take the step of running away from home like Naina.
As Aditya moved towards Sunaina's father, Sunaina moved a little further away towards Jyoti and snatched her mobile phone from Jyoti's hand in anger. Jyoti could do nothing, and Sunaina, taking her mobile, stood aside in the mandap.
Aditya had bowed only slightly when Sunaina's father placed his hand on his head and said, "Be happy, son! Alright, alright."
Hearing Sunaina's father's words, Aditya smiled slightly and then looked at everyone else.
"Farewell, let's arrange for the farewell..." Sunaina's stepmother suddenly spoke.
"Has mother-in-law drunk more than me?" Aditya said, laughing a little after hearing his mother-in-law's words. Then Ravi came and stood beside him and said, "What are you saying, sir!"
Everyone else also looked at Aditya in surprise hearing his words. And Brijesh, Gayatri, and all of Sunaina's family members became completely silent.
"True! I am speaking the truth. Ravi, remind them that this is my house, so will you send the bride back to her home after a farewell from here?" Aditya said, laughing in the same sarcastic tone, staring at everyone else, and speaking to Ravi.
"Yes, the son-in-law is right, we should all go. Anyway, the wedding is done." Aunt, understanding the meaning of Aditya's words, said.
"Yes, Aunt, you are very smart. I like you, Aunt..." Aditya said, giving a flying kiss towards Aunt, and then faltered a bit.
"Stand properly, Aditya! What are you doing? Everyone must have realized by now that you are so drunk that you can't even stand properly. And how much more disrespect will you bring upon us?" Aditya's uncle said, coming close to him and explaining with some displeasure, seeing Aditya speaking and behaving so drunkenly.
"Do you have any honor, Uncle? So that my disrespect is happening because of you?" Aditya replied to his uncle in the same sarcastic manner.
"It's useless to talk to you." Saying this, the uncle released Aditya's hand and walked away quickly.
Sunaina was standing aside, a little distance away, watching all this. But she didn't say anything, either seeing her family members or Aditya's behavior, and quietly wept for her own fate and complained to God, "Fallen from the sky and stuck in a date palm. What, God, where have you entangled me? In what mood did you write my fate?"
Sunaina's family members were all ready to leave. And before leaving, Sunaina's parents, aunt, and other family members approached Aditya's family members and said with folded hands, "Alright, now we all shall leave. Please permit us."
And saying this, as Sunaina's aunt and father started moving towards Sunaina, Sunaina stopped them by showing her hand and looking away, started doing something on her mobile.
"Son, take care of yourself." Sunaina's aunt said to her as she left.
"Don't you people get tired of all this drama? What do you want to prove? That you care a lot about me, or that you are very good and great people?" Sunaina said after hearing her aunt's words.
"Leave it, Sister-in-law, there's no point in saying anything to her. She has become just like her own sister." Sunaina's stepmother said to the aunt, consoling her.
"Don't even take Naina Di's name..." Hearing this, Sunaina looked at her stepmother very angrily and said. Then her mother also glared at her angrily. But by then, the others had also arrived, and then almost all of Sunaina's family members left one by one.
Now only Aditya and his family were left there. And along with them were some working staff and servants who were busy carrying away a lot of luggage after the wedding.
"Aditya son, your room has been cleaned and decorated nicely. You can go and see it if you wish..." Aditya's aunt said again, flattering Aditya.
"Who told you? After asking whom did you get my room opened? Did I ever tell you that I am going to stay here?" By now, Aditya was only using words full of attitude and taunts while speaking. But hearing his aunt's words, he became extremely angry and almost exploded at them, saying,
"Oh, but son, the wedding is happening here, so I thought at least tonight..." The aunt was about to say this again, gathering all her courage, when Aditya stared at her with burning eyes. So the rest of the words got stuck in her mouth, and she became completely silent.
Aditya glanced over them and then looking at Ravi, said in a slightly louder voice, "Get the car out, Ravi, I need to go home right now..."
"Okay, sir!" Ravi was well aware of Aditya's anger, as were all the members of Aditya's family present. But Sunaina had seen this side of Aditya for the first time. In fact, she hadn't even properly seen Aditya yet. But hearing his voice like that, she also felt a little scared of Aditya. And she was thinking to herself, this house is so big, then who is this house he is talking about going to? But Sunaina also didn't have the courage to come forward and ask or say anything to Aditya at that moment.
So she stood quietly aside in the mandap.
Aditya, ignoring everyone else, suddenly came towards Sunaina and said to her in an almost commanding tone, "What are you standing so comfortably like this? Come on, you also have to come with me, Dharma Patni Ji!"
This was the first time Aditya had spoken to Sunaina in such a long time. And Sunaina didn't feel like going with him at that moment, but she had no other option now. So, she silently nodded in agreement and followed Aditya.
To be continued
Sunaina had no desire to go with Aditya, but she had no other place to go. The place she was in was also Aditya's house; and she had just announced the severing of all ties with her family with a scream a while ago.
Therefore, seeing no other way for the moment, Sunaina left with Aditya.
"But son, this is your house too, isn't it? And we are all your family. Why don't you stay here?" This time, another woman came forward and spoke to Aditya.
"Bua Ji, please! You know me very well. I've said it, I don't want to stay here, so I don't want to stay here. But if you all wish, you can stay here tonight, and tomorrow morning you can give the keys to the caretaker and leave." Sunaina noticed that Aditya's tone softened when he spoke to that woman, but his attitude remained the same. And without listening to anything further they had to say, he left.
Sunaina didn't know any of them. She hadn't met anyone before the wedding; she hadn't even seen Aditya's photo from afar, because she didn't want to get married at all. But then, due to pressure from her family, she had to get married.
She had never seen or met Aditya before today. Forget meeting him, but every time she had seen Aditya from the wedding until now, his face seemed very familiar. But Sunaina couldn't remember when and where she had seen him. Anyway, Sunaina was quite angry with Aditya about this marriage, so she didn't pay much attention to it, nor did she try to think or remember about it by paying much attention.
Aditya walked out of the house, leaving all those people there, and Sunaina also came out of the house behind him. Ravi was already sitting in the driver's seat of the car, waiting for them.
Aditya opened the car door. Sunaina moved towards the door to get into the car. She thought perhaps Aditya had opened the door for her, but Aditya himself moved towards it to get into the car, and they collided with each other.
"Ouch! Can't you watch where you're going? Or maybe you can't see anything because you're so drunk," Sunaina said, stepping back slightly after colliding with Aditya.
"How was I supposed to know you were in such a hurry to get into the car? Normally brides aren't ready to leave even after the wedding... and you want to get into the car even before me," Aditya replied to her.
"I don't want to talk to you at all, it's a total waste of time! Do you even understand what you're saying and what you're not?" Sunaina replied to Aditya and got into the car.
After she got into the car, Aditya closed the car door from the outside and sat in the front passenger seat next to Ravi.
As soon as Aditya got into the car, Ravi immediately started the car and they drove away.
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Sunaina was repeatedly dialing someone's number on her mobile, but the lines of worry on her face made it clear that the person she was calling wasn't picking up.
Although Aditya was sitting in the front, his mind and eyes were both focused on Sunaina sitting in the back, and he kept looking at her furtively through the car's mirror.
But before Sunaina could notice, he would divert his gaze elsewhere. Sunaina wasn't paying attention to Aditya; she seemed quite troubled by herself.
Ravi was driving. He probably knew that the journey from here to home was quite long, and at the moment there was no conversation between the three of them. In such a situation, a long journey feels even longer when silent, so Ravi turned on the car's FM without asking anyone...
And a song started playing on the car's FM. Sunaina, who couldn't get through to the person she was calling anyway, also turned her attention to the song.
If you won't be in front of my eyes tomorrow
I might die without seeing you.
Oh ho ho
If you won't be in front of my eyes tomorrow
I might die without seeing you.
How can I forget you?
How can I not be consoled?
You tell me.
Unstoppable eyes
They are headed towards you.
Unstoppable eyes.
Hearing the lyrics of the song, Aditya also got lost in the song for a few moments. He closed his eyes as if he were feeling all the lyrics and emotions of the song.
I pass countless moments, but they don't pass.
The shadows of your memories don't leave.
I pass countless moments, but they don't pass.
The shadows of your memories don't leave.
My tears have dried from your separation.
Yet the clouds don't clear from my eyelids.
Aditya tried hard to compose himself, to hide the tears in his eyes, but perhaps he couldn't. He turned his face outwards and wiped his tears. Then, as soon as he turned back inside the car, he took out a very expensive bottle of liquor kept in the car's drawer and started drinking directly from the bottle.
How can I make myself laugh?
How can I not be consoled?
You tell me.
Unstoppable eyes
They are headed towards you.
Unstoppable eyes.
Mmm.. Oh oh oh…
Sunaina had no mood to listen to music at that moment, but still, she didn't ask Ravi or Aditya to turn off the song and quietly leaned back on the car seat. She also had tears in her eyes, but according to the lyrics, these tears were not of the pain of love, but of the pain inflicted by her and her family.
Mmm, where the lines of two hands meet,
Whoever knows, tell me, where is that place?
Mmm, where the lines of two hands meet,
Whoever knows, tell me, where is that place?
What kind of helplessness is this in love?
Even after meeting my heartbeats, the heart is lonely.
How do I erase this distance?
How can I not be consoled?
You tell me.
Unstoppable eyes
They are headed towards you.
Unstoppable eyes.
But Aditya's eyes were also tearful at this moment. A lot was going on in his mind. He couldn't listen anymore, so as soon as the song ended, he stared at Ravi. Ravi understood that Aditya was probably not feeling well, or had gotten worse after listening to the song. Ravi initially ignored Aditya, but Aditya's persistent stare made Ravi understand, and his mouth went dry. He quickly turned off the radio and continued driving, looking straight ahead.
Aditya glanced at Sunaina again through the car's front mirror and found that Sunaina was not paying attention to him at all at that moment, but rather seemed troubled by something on her own. Aditya didn't ask her the reason for her distress, because he probably knew that Sunaina wouldn't tell him anyway. So he drank the remaining liquor in the bottle in one gulp.
"Sir! Why are you doing this?" Aditya had already drunk a lot, and now he had emptied another entire bottle in front of Ravi, and was reaching for a second bottle. So Ravi stopped him and tried to explain, but Ravi's words had no effect on Aditya, and he had already pulled out the second bottle.
"Please, Sir! Madam is also with you, what will she think of you?" Seeing Aditya trying to open the second bottle, Ravi tried to explain and stop him by mentioning Sunaina.
"Whatever anyone thinks, Ravi! I don't care, and I can't control everyone's thoughts. Let them think whatever they want." Saying this, Aditya opened the lid of the second bottle and started drinking directly from it as well.
Seeing Aditya drink one bottle of liquor after another like this, Sunaina averted her gaze with disdain. Hearing Ravi's words, she replied, "Before thinking about what others will think, a person should worry about themselves. Leave it, you're trying in vain. You probably know your boss well enough!"
Hearing Sunaina's words, Ravi looked at her with surprise, and then continued driving, looking ahead. He hadn't expected such words from Sunaina. He thought she would try to convince Aditya like others, stop him from drinking, or at least get angry or upset with him for drinking so much, but no, Sunaina was saying the opposite, that it didn't matter to her when Aditya himself didn't care about himself...
Just then, Ravi stopped the car and looking at Aditya said, "Sir! We have arrived."
To be continued
No response from Groq.
An hour later, the girl wiped her tears and picked up her belongings. With heavy steps, she walked out from in front of her house and onto the road. It must have been around eleven or twelve. She kept walking on the deserted road, without any destination. She didn't know where to go or whom to ask for help. Just then, she remembered her mobile. She took out her mobile, but the battery was dead, the mobile was off.
"Shit! The mobile battery had to discharge right now. I could have called Shweta or Neelam, maybe I can go to their house right now, I don't have anyone else in mind." she said angrily, putting her mobile back in her bag and started walking along the roadside, looking for a taxi with her belongings.
On the deserted road, at first, she didn't see anyone far and wide. After some time, she heard the sound of four or five men laughing and talking from a distance. Turning back, she saw those four or five men coming towards her.
"Oh God! These all look like thugs, hooligans, drunkards, I hope they don't notice me..." she said to herself, worried, and started thinking what to do?
Then she turned back and felt that one man had seen her and was whispering and signaling his companions. Then they all started moving towards her.
Seeing this, the girl was stunned. She ran forward and started crossing the road. But she was very nervous and scared. Her attention was not on the road and she narrowly avoided a collision with a car. The car stopped in front of her. Her bag fell to the ground. She put both her hands on her eyes and face and closed her eyes. The car's headlights were shining directly on her face.
Suddenly, the car driver was also startled by someone coming in front, but he did not lose control of the car and applied the brakes a little before.
The girl's breathing was rapid. Running and coming in front of the car, she thought she had had an accident, but she was saved. She stood there, frozen with fear.
The man got out of the car and, moving towards the girl, said, "Are... are you... alright? I am so sorry! You came in front of me so suddenly. You weren't hurt anywhere, were you..."
Hearing the man's voice, the girl came to her senses. First, she looked behind and saw that those four or five men were still advancing towards her. Naina quickly moved forward, hugged the car driver, and said in a loud voice, "Do you know how long I've been waiting for you here, how long you took... Thank God you're here!"
The man was confused by Naina hugging him and her words. He didn't even know her. Why was she waiting for him?
But the girl's plan had succeeded. Hearing her words and seeing her hug the car driver, all those men turned in another direction and went away. Seeing this, the girl breathed a sigh of relief and moved away from the man, saying, "I am.. I am okay, and why are you saying sorry, it's not your fault. Those thugs were after me... and I should be the one apologizing. I suddenly hugged you like this... but those people were looking this way."
Hearing the girl and seeing her repeatedly look back, the man also looked back and, seeing those men, understood the whole situation.
"Are... were these people after you, madam! Should I call the police?" the man asked, looking at those men.
"No, they left. Anyway, and actually I am already very upset, my landlady kicked me out of the house at this hour and then at this time of night I don't know where to go, and then thugs like those started following me on the road, so I got very scared and came in front of your car." The girl told everything in one breath after hearing the man. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.
The man patted her shoulder, calming her down. The girl looked at the man with hopeful eyes, or perhaps with a little surprise.
To be continued
"Brother's room is upstairs, let me show you," Geeta Di said to Sunaina and started to leave with her.
Walking with Geeta, Sunaina took a look at the entire house. From the inside, it was a beautiful and very modern house. It was quite big and well-furnished. At that moment, Sunaina was standing in the hall of the house, where all the furniture was very beautiful. The sofa and center table were placed right in the middle of the hall.
A little further away, the kitchen was visible on one side, and on the other side, there were two or three rooms. As she moved towards the stairs, Sunaina's gaze fell on those rooms. She couldn't help but ask Geeta Di curiously,
"The room upstairs is mine, so who lives in these rooms here?"
By now, Sunaina had understood that Geeta Di worked here and was older than Aditya, which is why she called her 'Di' (elder sister).
"This is my room, and that is the guest room. And that is Ravi Sir's room. Sometimes, when Aditya Bhaiya's condition is very bad, Ravi Sir has to stay here to take care of him. You must know all this..." Geeta replied to Sunaina's questions very casually. She thought that perhaps Sunaina knew everything about Aditya and had married him knowing everything.
But Geeta couldn't believe this. Sunaina shook her head very innocently. Then Geeta understood that perhaps Sunaina didn't know much about Aditya. So, Geeta didn't say anything further and quietly took her to her room.
Reaching the top of the stairs, walking a little further down the corridor, Geeta stopped in front of a room, opened the door, and looking at Sunaina, smiled and said,
"This is Brother's room, and from now on, yours too, Bhabhi Ji!"
"You can call me by my name. Sunaina, that's my name!" Geeta calling her Bhabhi (sister-in-law) repeatedly felt quite strange to Sunaina. So, she told Geeta her name.
"Yes, Sunaina Madam!" Geeta didn't argue with Sunaina about this and called her by her name.
Sunaina didn't say anything further as she didn't know her well yet, and quietly went inside the room.
After Sunaina went inside the room, Geeta closed the door halfway and came down.
Sunaina entered the room. She saw that the room was very large and artistically designed. It was much better than any normal room. At that moment, with decorations made with mogra and red-white roses, along with fragrant scented candles burning in various places throughout the room, the room looked even more beautiful.
The room lights were off, and at that moment, only the light from the burning candles illuminated the room. But still, Sunaina could see everything very clearly.
Sunaina had not brought anything with her except for a large handbag. That bag contained some necessary items, perhaps her money, mobile, and charger, etc. She placed her bag on the side table near the bed and started looking for the switch to turn on the lights. Even though all this decoration might have been done for her, she knew that nothing was going to happen. Because she wasn't even agreeing to this marriage, she hadn't even imagined such a relationship after marriage. And besides, Aditya was so drunk that Sunaina considered talking to him useless at that moment. And he wasn't even here at the moment.
Just then, Sunaina picked up a beautiful antique candle stand placed in front of her and moved towards the wall with it. She spotted a switchboard on the front wall. Turning on all the buttons on the switchboard, Sunaina finally turned on the room light as well. Then, moving towards the bed, she saw that a heart shape was made on the bedsheet with red rose petals.
With a lot of anger, Sunaina first stared at the heart shape made of rose petals for a while. Then, she moved forward and, with her hands, pushed all the petals aside and sat lazily on the bed.
"What is all this and why? This is not a marriage, it's ruin for me. My studies, my career, all my plans, my future, everything is ruined just because of one marriage. That's why I don't accept this marriage, and I don't want any of this. I will never accept this forced relationship." Scattering the flower decorations around the bed with her hands, tears welled up in Sunaina's eyes, and she sat on the floor crying.
After a while, Aditya came back into the hall and then headed straight for the stairs towards his room. He then called out to Geeta Di and asked her about Sunaina. Geeta told Aditya that she was in the room upstairs.
Saying "Okay," Aditya headed up the stairs, and Geeta went back to her room.
Sunaina, after disturbing some of the decorations, sat on the floor, hiding her face in her knees, crying. Just then, she heard footsteps at the door. She quickly wiped her tears and stood up in the same corner where she had been sitting and crying. As she stood up, her gaze fell on the door. She saw someone entering. Looking closely, it was Aditya, who entered the room with staggering steps and disheveled hair, holding his coat in his hand.
As soon as he entered the room, he glanced at Sunaina and saw all the scattered decorations on the floor. Then he threw his coat on the bed and started walking towards Sunaina.
To be continued
"What is all this?" Aditya shouted, a little loudly, taking a step or two towards Sunaina without realizing it. But his attention was not on Sunaina.
Yes, he wasn't looking at Sunaina. Turning his gaze around, he was probably looking at the decorations. He found it all quite irritating. He hadn't expected such decorations to be made in this room in this house.
Sunaina was already quite upset and sad. With all these things, and on top of that, she was a bit startled by Aditya's sudden entry into the room. Now, hearing Aditya shout, she understood that perhaps Aditya was shouting at her because she had spoiled the decorations.
"I don't know anything about this, it was all by mistake..." Sunaina said in a frightened voice, trying to explain, seeing Aditya shouting in anger like this.
"You... you... you are here..." Hearing Sunaina's voice, Aditya's attention turned towards her. Due to his intoxication, he probably wasn't understanding much. Everything seemed blurry to his eyes. He was repeatedly closing and opening his eyes tightly, perhaps trying to see Sunaina and other things in the room.
Sunaina didn't understand the meaning of Aditya's words. But then, when she looked at Aditya closely and saw his condition, she understood that Aditya was quite drunk at the moment and perhaps for this reason, he was saying and doing anything. As soon as she understood this, Sunaina started backing away from her spot. But Aditya started moving towards her. Sunaina was retreating from her place. Many candles were lit there, and her dupatta, which was hanging down from her shoulder, was right over those burning candles. But Sunaina had no idea about this. Her entire focus was solely on Aditya approaching her, and she kept stepping back without looking behind her.
"Stop... you stop right there... stop!" Sunaina shouted, looking at Aditya. She felt that Aditya might try to do something inappropriate with her in his drunken state. So now Sunaina was also scared.
"Hey you... you... move away from there... there yes, that... behind..." As soon as Aditya's gaze fell on the burning candles behind Sunaina, he was trying to string together his slurred words to tell her. But Sunaina couldn't understand what Aditya was trying to say. Perhaps Aditya was coming towards her to move her from there. But Sunaina kept backing away without listening to anything he said. And her dupatta was now over a candle and perhaps had started to burn slightly from the edge. But Sunaina had no clue about this.
Seeing this, Aditya quickly moved forward, removed the dupatta from Sunaina's shoulder, threw it on the ground, and pulled her towards him by holding her hand. He just wanted to save Sunaina from any kind of injury. But Sunaina had absolutely no expectation of Aditya doing something so sudden. She couldn't understand what had happened all of a sudden. Aditya removed her dupatta and set it aside, so she quickly freed her hand from Aditya and pushed him away from her. Aditya, who was already quite drunk and couldn't even stand straight, fell to the ground due to Sunaina pushing him away with all her might. And his head probably hit something. Darkness started to spread before his eyes, and Aditya passed out right there on the floor.
"How dare you, how dare you think of something like this? Just because you are married, you will do anything?" Sunaina shouted in anger, looking at Aditya lying on the ground. She didn't even pay attention to whether Aditya's head was injured or if he had fainted.
Then, turning back to get her dupatta, she saw that more than half of her dupatta had burned because it was on the candle. She couldn't understand if the dupatta was already on the candle or if the dupatta caught fire because Aditya threw it there.
But seeing her dupatta burning like this, Sunaina became very scared and looked around frantically for something to extinguish the fire. She first blew out the candle. But the fire on the dupatta had increased a bit, so it wasn't going out just by fanning with her hand. So, after looking around, Sunaina saw a jug full of water on the side table. She quickly picked up the jug full of water and poured it on the burning dupatta.
The fire was extinguished due to the water, but the dupatta was almost completely burned and ruined. And because of burning on the ground, there were some burn marks on the expensive carpet in the room as well.
So much had happened in just five minutes that Sunaina didn't understand what had happened in that short time. She looked around. On one side, Aditya was lying unconscious on the floor, and on the other side, her half-burnt dupatta, as well as burn marks on the floor. And Sunaina, standing in the middle, was in a disheveled and tearful state. She slumped back onto the floor in the same way and started crying.
To be continued
"What… what is all this happening? What was he doing? Was he really saving me? But if that was the case, couldn't he have spoken? What was the need to come himself and pull my scarf and throw it away? He’s so drunk! And what will I even understand? And I don’t know anything either. So how can I judge someone’s intentions…? Did I really misunderstand him so much?" Sunaina, getting up from her place and walking towards Aditya, was speaking and questioning herself in her mind. But she couldn’t understand what had truly happened and what hadn’t.
"Why does he drink so much alcohol? And that too on his wedding day! I don’t know what sorrow he has, or if he drank in happiness. His behavior and nature are like a puzzle to me, which perhaps I don’t even want to solve myself. I am so entangled in myself right now." Sunaina was thinking this while looking at Aditya. At the same time, she also felt that Aditya might have fainted due to excessive drunkenness.
******************
"Thank you so much for your help! I don't know how I will ever thank you." The girl, sitting in the car, said to the person driving it.
"It’s no problem. Please don’t be formal. Anyone stuck in trouble would have been helped by me. By the way, if you wish, you can tell me your name, in return for this help…" the man said, smiling at the girl, and he stopped the car.
"Naina, Naina Agarwal!" The girl also extended her hand towards the man. And the man, smiling and shaking her hand, said, "I can’t say it’s a nice meeting because you were in so much trouble when we met, but it might be destiny, and a very nice name, Naina. It suits you perfectly. Your eyes are so beautiful." The man said this, complimenting Naina a bit. Naina felt a bit strange, but without paying attention to it, she said, "Your name, sir!"
"First of all, don’t call me sir! My name is Nakul, and you can call me by my name, Naina, just as I am calling you. Understand!" Nakul said to Naina. Naina nodded in agreement. Then Nakul got out of the car. After that, Naina also got out of the car from the other side. And Nakul started taking Naina’s luggage out of the car’s trunk. Naina looked around. She saw that they were both in a very large and desolate-looking parking lot of a big building.
Apart from the cars parked in rows far away, nothing else was visible there. There was no one else there at that time, apart from the two of them. Perhaps it was because it was quite late at night. Naina was looking around the entire place with surprise, trying to understand something, when Nakul came towards her, having taken out both of Naina’s bags from the car trunk.
"Where… where are we right now?" Naina asked Nakul, seeing him in front of her.
"This is the apartment parking lot, and my flat is in this building, which I told you about," Nakul replied to Naina, and he took her bags and started walking a little ahead of her, perhaps towards the lift. Naina also followed him, and after walking a little, she took one of her bags from his hand and said, "This is all my stuff. Why did you pick it up? Here, I’ll carry it myself."
"Okay, independent girls, I like that!" Nakul said, smiling, and handed both of Naina’s bags back to her, then walked ahead and pressed the lift button. After a while, the lift opened, and both of them got inside. Naina was struggling a bit to carry her two bags, but somehow managing, she also came inside the lift behind Nakul. And as soon as they entered, Nakul pressed the button for the sixth floor. Naina said nothing and stood quietly with him.
After a short while, the lift opened on the sixth floor, and both of them came out of the lift. This time, Naina had held her two bags properly, and she immediately came out of the lift with Nakul. Nakul walked a little ahead of the lift and stopped in front of a flat door and started searching his pockets for what seemed to be the keys to the door. But then he realized that the door was probably open. So, with just a slight push, the door opened inwards.
Nakul had told Naina that his flat had been empty for many days and that she could stay there for some time if she wished. That’s why he had brought Naina here. And now, finding the door open like this, Naina looked at Nakul in surprise, who himself looked a bit surprised. He couldn’t understand who could be inside at this time, but still, he stepped inside the house and saw a girl wearing mini shorts and a sleeveless crop top, with headphones in her ears and her hair open, eyes closed, perhaps dancing to some music. She didn’t notice Nakul or Naina entering the house at all until she opened her eyes.
Nakul looked a bit embarrassed, rather than surprised, seeing the girl in the hall of his flat, especially in front of Naina. Because Naina was looking at him with very questioning eyes at that moment.
To be continued.
"Hey Nakul! What a surprise! So good to see you after a long time! And you didn't even call before coming?" The girl stepped forward and hugged Nakul. She was very happy.
But Nakul felt uncomfortable with the girl hugging him like that. This was clearly evident from the nervousness and drops of sweat on his face.
Immediately, he pushed her back slightly, bared his teeth in a bit of anger, and said, "Shaili! You should have at least asked me once before using my flat?"
Naina was still looking at Nakul with questioning eyes. She didn't understand how to ask. She herself was grateful to Nakul. But the girl's behavior towards Nakul, and then Nakul speaking to the girl like that, bothered Naina.
"I just arrived here yesterday..." the girl was replying to Nakul, when her gaze fell on Naina. She took a step towards Naina and asked Nakul, "Who is she?"
"She is Naina, my... my friend." Hearing the girl's question, Nakul thought for a moment, paused, and then looking at Naina, said, "And Naina, she is my cousin, Shalini. She sometimes comes to this flat to party with friends, or just like that. Actually, I had given her a spare key, but she will leave now. She has her own house... right, Shalini!"
"Oh, hello Shalini! Nice to meet you." Nakul introduced Shalini to Naina. Naina extended her hand towards Shalini, saying with a slight smile.
But Shalini seemed a little surprised after hearing everything Nakul had said. She was looking back and forth between Nakul and Naina with wide eyes and a gaping mouth in surprise. But she didn't say anything. She extended her hand and shook Naina's hand.
"You keep your luggage in that room, Naina!" Nakul said, gesturing towards a room. It was a large three-bedroom flat. All the luxurious and common items necessary for any person to live were already there. The interior and furniture of the house were also quite good. Naina couldn't believe for a while that she was going to live in this house. Because where she lived before was just an empty room with a bed in the middle. she had to manage all the other necessary things herself.
"Thank you so much Nakul, I can't thank you enough..." Naina said, thanking him after hearing him. She was truly very grateful to Nakul at that moment. Her biggest problem after being thrown out of that place was that she had no place to live. And as soon as she met Nakul, her problem was solved.
"How many times will you say thanks, Naina? I'm not doing such a big favor. By the way, when you have money, you can give me the rent for this house. We'll settle the account," Nakul said, trying to make Naina comfortable with a smile. Naina nodded in agreement and walked towards the room where Nakul had asked her to keep her luggage.
As soon as Naina went into that room, both Nakul and Shalini's demeanor changed. Shalini, who had been standing quietly until now, now started looking at Nakul with questioning eyes. Nakul, finding her looking at him, said irritably, "What! Why are you staring like that? Get out of here... We have already broken up anyway, and I don't want you to create any drama in front of Naina!"
"Oh, perhaps that's why you've made me your cousin now? I thought we were still friends after that mutually decided breakup. How stupid I am! You are just totally ridiculous, like always!" Hearing the insulting words from Nakul's mouth, Shalini's temper also flared up. She quickly gathered all her belongings and started to leave angrily. As soon as she reached the door and was about to leave the flat, Nakul called out to stop her, "One minute, Shaili..."
"What now?" Shalini asked, turning back angrily at Nakul's interruption.
"Return the flat key that you have. Otherwise, who knows when you might show up," Nakul said sarcastically, asking for the key to his flat back. Hearing his words, Shalini shook her head in anger, stepped forward, took the key out of her bag, put it in Nakul's hand, and left quickly.
The next morning,
Naina didn't even realize that after all that had happened, when she was so troubled and crying, she must have fallen asleep crying, and slept sitting on the floor in the same way. But when she was sitting there at night, Aditya was also lying unconscious on the floor. But now when she opened her eyes, she was alone in the room. The room's decoration and all the furniture were in the same place, and the room's door was also half-open just like it was at night.
To be continued
The next morning, Sunaina didn't even realize when she had dozed off while crying, feeling so upset and distressed after everything that had happened. She had fallen asleep sitting on the floor. But when she had been sitting there the night before, Aditya had also been lying unconscious on the floor. Now, when she opened her eyes, she was alone in the room. The room's decor and all the furnishings were exactly as they had been, and the room's door was also half-open, just as it had been at night.
Sunaina understood that Aditya had left the room. Thinking this, she breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, because after what had happened the night before, she didn't want to face Aditya. Now she understood that Aditya had been trying to save her, and she had misunderstood him so much for no reason. But at the same time, Sunaina was quite annoyed with Aditya, because of his drinking habit. She had seen the fights that happened in her home because of alcohol, between her parents, and now she couldn't tolerate the same happening in her own life. Therefore, she believed in keeping her distance from Aditya for the time being, especially when he was drunk.
Sunaina had never imagined such a life partner or such a life for herself, not even in her dreams. But what had happened now couldn't be changed by anyone. So she got up from her place and looked at herself in the large full-length mirror in front of her. Her lips were dry from sitting on the floor all night, and her entire face had turned pale due to the cold. The kajal applied to her eyes had also smudged due to so much crying, and its black line had spread all over her face. Along with that, her lipstick and other makeup had also been ruined to a considerable extent. Sunaina could never have imagined herself in such a state, but at this moment, she was truly in this condition.
"What is all this? This isn't me! I am absolutely not this..." Seeing her appearance in the mirror, she started rubbing her entire face with her hands, trying to clean it, and began to take off all the jewelry and bangles from her hands, throwing them on the floor and the bed.
"Why is all this happening? Why is it happening to me? After all, what wrong have I done?" Crying, she was questioning herself. Then her gaze fell on the burnt pieces of her dupatta lying on the floor and the slightly burnt carpet. Then she remembered everything from the night. She first gathered all those things with her hands and then carried them to the dustbin in the bathroom and threw them away. Then she started looking for clothes to change into. She didn't find any clothes there, so she wore a lower and a t-shirt from the closet, which were probably Aditya's, because the lehenga felt too heavy, almost like a burden, to her.
Since all those clothes belonged to Aditya, they were naturally quite oversized for Sunaina. But Sunaina didn't want to stay in that lehenga at any cost now. So she somehow composed herself, then gathered all her belongings and put them back in the closet. Now Sunaina didn't understand how she would go out like this. But then she thought that she would call Geeta here first, and ask her who all were downstairs, only then would she leave from here.
"Geeta... Geeta Di!" Coming near her room's door, Sunaina called out to Geeta.
A short while later, she saw Geeta coming up the stairs. So Sunaina fell silent and went back inside the room.
Geeta came and stood at the room's door and, looking at Sunaina, said:
"You called, Madam. Was there something you needed..."
As she said this, the moment Geeta's gaze fell on Sunaina, she burst out laughing and said, laughing:
"Bhabhi, these... these are Bhaiya's clothes! What are you wearing...?"
"Do I look very funny in these? Anyway, there was nothing else to wear..." Seeing Geeta laughing at her, Sunaina turned towards the mirror to look at herself. The moment she saw herself in the mirror, she truly looked very strange. The sleeves of Aditya's t-shirt were quite long for her hands, and the t-shirt was also very loose on her. Seeing herself in this state, she also burst out laughing, and she too started laughing. But then, while laughing like that, tears welled up in her eyes as soon as she remembered her current situation.
"Oh, why are you starting to cry? Did I make you laugh? Sorry, sorry, Madam!" Geeta said, moving towards Sunaina as she saw the tears in her eyes.
"No, why are you... why are you saying sorry, Geeta Di? Life itself has played such a big joke on me." Upon Geeta's apology, Sunaina suddenly said, thinking a lot to herself.
Geeta didn't expect such words from Sunaina, so she asked, looking a bit surprised:
"What happened, Madam? Did you have a fight with Bhaiya? Why are you speaking like this!"
"No, nothing. I just didn't have any other clothes to wear, so I found this in the closet." Sunaina changed the subject, and with a fake smile on her face, hiding her tears, she said to Geeta.
"Then why are you crying over such a small thing? There is a lot of stuff downstairs, I'll bring it. There must be something for you to wear in it." Geeta told Sunaina. So Sunaina was a little surprised. She didn't know what stuff Geeta was talking about. Because as far as she remembered, she hadn't brought any luggage from her maternal home, as she was so angry. And when she had broken all ties with her family, how could she bring any belongings from their house? After all, this was a matter of Sunaina's self-respect.
"What... what stuff? What stuff are you talking about?" Sunaina asked Geeta.
"Oh, it's in the hall downstairs, a lot of stuff. Don't you know? You wait here, I'll bring it." Answering Sunaina's question, Geeta went out of the room, perhaps to get all that stuff...
To be continued...
The next morning when Naina woke up, she found herself alone in the flat. Nakul had left the previous night, shortly after Shalini had gone. Even after waking up, Naina couldn't believe her eyes or her luck for some time. She was in such a nice, luxurious, three-bedroom flat, something she had never even imagined.
"Thank you, thank you so much, dear God! For helping me so… so much!" she said silently, thanking God while sitting on the bed as soon as she woke up. First, she took her mobile out of the charger, which she had plugged in as soon as she entered the room the night before.
Getting out of bed, she started checking her mobile. Were there any important messages or calls? She saw that Sunaina had at least 20-25 missed calls.
"Oh God! So many missed calls from Sunaina! What happened? I haven't even spoken to Sunaina for the last week. I was so busy, and then yesterday my phone was locked. What happened? I hope everything is okay. However, living in that house, nothing can be okay with anyone, but please, just let my sister be fine, nothing bad should happen to her." Saying this, Naina wanted to dial Sunaina's number, but she glanced at the clock. It was 9:00 AM. She remembered that Sunaina had classes at this time. She might not be able to receive the call. Thinking this, Naina didn't call. She thought she would call Sunaina after 10:00 AM. Until then, she would freshen up and see what was in the kitchen to eat.
********
"Look, madam! All this stuff was kept in the hall downstairs, and there's more. I could only bring this much at once..." Gita came into Sunaina's room, carrying 6-7 shopping bags in both her hands. Sunaina looked at her in surprise and said,
"But this is not my stuff."
"Yes, maybe it's not your old stuff, but it's for you. Look, it's all ladies' clothes. So it won't be Aditya bhaiya's..." Gita said, placing all the bags on the bed in front of Sunaina. Sunaina picked up one bag and looked. Inside, there were indeed ladies' dresses, and each bag had a different type of dress.
One had a beautiful black and red net saree, another had a plazo kurta, and a third had a one-piece dress. One had a gown, and then another had jeans and a simple off-white top. Along with them were footwear, innerwear, and matching jewelry and accessories.
"Oh God! All this for me alone! But who brought it?" Sunaina asked Gita in great surprise, looking at all the items one by one.
"Ravi sir! He got all this stuff kept this morning. Aditya bhaiya must have told him to bring all this for you," Gita replied, answering Sunaina's questions as best as she understood.
"But what was the need for him to do all this for me... and I haven't said anything to him!" Sunaina was still wondering in her mind if Aditya had really thought of all this for her. She had been forming a completely different opinion about Aditya since yesterday. But whatever happened last night, Aditya had saved her from burning. And then to do all this for her without being asked! Was she really misunderstanding Aditya, or was there something else!
"What do you mean, 'for you'? And why isn't it necessary, bhabhi? Why are you saying that... after all, you are married, so if bhaiya doesn't think about you, then who will he think about?" Gita asked, not understanding Sunaina's words.
Sunaina also didn't want to tell Gita the truth about her marriage and her relationship with Aditya. So, changing the subject, she said,
"Oh, it's nothing, it's just that there's so much stuff that I'm a little confused about what to wear from them. That's why I said, what was the need to bring so much."
"You think it's too much, bhabhi! There are 10-15 more bags like this downstairs. And I haven't even seen what's in all of them. But maybe they are all ladies' clothes, because Aditya bhaiya's clothes are already in the wardrobe," Gita told her in response to Sunaina's statement.
Sunaina didn't object to Gita calling her "bhabhi" at that moment. Perhaps she hadn't even paid much attention to that word. Because looking at all the other things, a lot was going on in her mind at that moment... which was probably more important. Like Aditya doing so much for her without being asked. And if he is doing it, then why? And along with that, the biggest question: Where is Aditya at this moment? Why isn't he coming in front of Sunaina?
"Where is your bhaiya?" Sunaina asked Gita.
"Didn't he tell you? Well, I don't know. Because bhaiya never tells me when he comes or goes. He comes home at any time and leaves at any time. It was like this even before marriage. But I thought that after getting married yesterday, maybe now he will tell you. But no, perhaps people and their habits don't change that quickly." Hearing Sunaina's question, Gita told her the whole story from beginning to end.
"Really? Aditya isn't at home..." Hearing Gita's words, Sunaina almost didn't believe her, so she asked again.
"Yes, bhaiya isn't downstairs. But I haven't seen him leave the house either. Maybe he left before I woke up," Gita replied, thinking for a moment.
Sunaina did not believe her and asked again.
"Yes, brother is not downstairs, but I haven't seen him leave the house either. Maybe he left before I woke up," Gita replied thoughtfully.
"Okay, alright," Sunaina breathed a sigh of relief and said,
"What will you eat for breakfast? Tell me, I'll make it for you," Gita asked Sunaina as she was leaving the room. At that moment, Sunaina realized that she was very hungry because she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday, due to her anger.
"Anything will do, I'm really very hungry right now," Sunaina said, looking at Gita and making a childish innocent face.
"Okay, I'll make an omelet or a sandwich, it will be ready quickly," Gita said, smiling at Sunaina.
"Oh sister! I don't eat omelets. Actually, I'm vegetarian!" Sunaina told Gita.
"Okay, it's good that you told me. I'll keep that in mind..." Gita left from there, speaking.
After she left, Sunaina started looking at the clothes on the bed. Then she picked up the palazzo and kurti and started heading towards the washroom to change. She looked very strange in Aditya's clothes and did not want to go out of the room in front of everyone like this at any cost. She had realized that perhaps no one else lived in that house besides her and Aditya, but Gita and Ravi were there, who would come at any time. So she decided that she would change and then go out of the room.
But as soon as she entered the washroom to change, she saw Aditya lying unconscious in the washroom with some blood on his hand. Sunaina had no idea that she would find Aditya like this in the washroom. She became quite scared seeing Aditya unconscious.
"Oh God! He here... he fainted here in the washroom! Why does he drink so much? What should I do now?" Speaking, Sunaina moved towards Aditya and leaning over his face, she started gently patting his cheek with her hands, trying to bring him back to consciousness.
"Hey, Adi... Aditya! Hello, hey..." Sunaina was patting his cheek with her hand, calling his name, but Aditya was not reacting.
"He's not reacting at all. What should I do now? And this blood on his hand... where is he hurt? And could he have fainted because of that injury?" Sunaina was saying to herself, panicking at seeing Aditya unconscious when she remembered something. She quickly ran to the tap, took some water in her hand, and ran towards Aditya, splashing water on his face. Due to the water droplets on his face, Aditya stirred slightly and opened his eyes after a few moments. But the injury on his head and drinking so much alcohol last night caused a severe headache. As soon as he opened his eyes, he put his hand behind his head and tried to get up.
Everything looked blurry to Aditya. A while after regaining consciousness, he asked Sunaina, who was standing in front of him,
"Who... who are you? How... how are you here?"
He found Sunaina in those clothes quite strange, so perhaps Aditya didn't understand. Nevertheless, he tried to get up from the ground on his own but couldn't. His steps faltered, so Sunaina quickly stepped forward, supported him, and holding one of his hands, said,
"When you can't support yourself, why do you drink so much?"
"I didn't ask you to come and support me. I'm fine. And why are you wearing my clothes?" Aditya said, trying to pull his hand away.
"I'm just helping you because you need it right now. And besides, there were no other clothes in the closet..." Sunaina said, bringing Aditya out of the bathroom.
"Help? Yes, that's what I was doing last night, but I got this injury as a reward... Ah! It's hurting..." Aditya said, now completely moving away from Sunaina and sitting on the bed. He also placed his hand on his head. Blood was not coming out from there, but the pain was still there, and it was quite severe.
"I am... I am so sorry! That... you last night... we got married. And after that, when you came here, you were so drunk. And you suddenly did that with my dupatta... so I thought maybe you with me..." Sunaina was explaining, understanding the meaning of Aditya's words, but then she realized what she was about to say. She suddenly fell silent as she spoke and looked away.
"Yes, I remember that we got married yesterday. And I told you before that I remember everything, no matter how drunk I am. But you... what did you think... what was I going to do with you?" Aditya said, holding Sunaina's hand and pulling her close to him. Sunaina did not expect any such action from Aditya at this moment. So at first, she stared at him in surprise, but then, hesitating slightly, Sunaina looked away and said, trying unsuccessfully to pull her hand away from his,
"No, nothing... nothing at all. Let go of my hand. And just because we are married, it doesn't mean you can do anything with me..."
To be continued...
Aditya pulled Sunaina closer, looking at her with great affection. His eyes at that moment held immeasurable love for Sunaina, a love that perhaps Sunaina couldn't see because she hadn't looked into Aditya's eyes yet.
"A..A..Adi...Aditya, you...you...you...what are you doing?"
Sunaina could still feel the intensity of Aditya's gaze on her. Even though she wasn't looking at him, she could sense that Aditya was looking at her. Because of this, with nervousness and fear, her words stumbled out.
"What do you think? What am I going to do?"
Aditya said, his face coming very close to Sunaina's cheeks. Sunaina's eyes closed automatically. She could feel Aditya's warm breath on her face. Sunaina couldn't understand why she couldn't move away from Aditya, even though she wanted to, nor could she push him away like she had last night.
Sunaina squeezed her eyes shut even tighter and, without looking, tried to pull her face away from Aditya's by turning her head. Aditya couldn't help but smile slightly at Sunaina's actions, but that smile lasted only a few moments.
Despite Aditya's words, Sunaina couldn't explain why there was a corner of her heart that had so much faith in Aditya, that he wouldn't do anything to her without her consent... And Sunaina's faith proved to be right. Because after a few moments, Aditya let go of her hand and, moving away from her, said-
"Relax! You can open your eyes. I'm not doing anything you're thinking, nor did I think of anything like that last night."
Hearing Aditya's words, Sunaina opened her eyes and looked up. She saw that Aditya wasn't there. He had gotten off the bed and was walking towards the door. His back was to Sunaina, and he was just about to leave the room. Just then, Sunaina's gaze fell on the small amount of blood on his neck.
Seeing this, Sunaina understood that perhaps Aditya had a head injury, which was why his hand was also bleeding. This must have happened last night, due to Sunaina. Thinking this, Sunaina felt immense guilt, and she quickly ran to Aditya, stopping him, and said-
"One minute, you're very badly hurt! Oh my god! I'm so sorry... this... this is because of me... Oh god! I don't know about it! It's quite bad, are you in pain."
Sunaina said, touching her hand near Aditya's head. Aditya took her hand in his and, becoming very serious, said-
"This pain is nothing, and anyway, the cause of pain, wounds, and troubles is always someone of your own or someone close..."
Sunaina couldn't understand the meaning of Aditya's words, but she felt a very strange feeling, perhaps a little bad, but she couldn't understand why. Why did Aditya's words upset her so much when she couldn't fully grasp them? Was it because Aditya called her his own or someone close, or because he called her the reason for his troubles? Whatever the reason, Sunaina was completely stunned and stood still right in front of Aditya. Aditya was still holding her hand. Seeing her standing there silently, lost in thought, Aditya looked Sunaina up and down and said-
"They're a bit oversized, but my clothes suit you quite well. You can keep them if you want; I have no problem."
Aditya's voice brought Sunaina out of her thoughts. She pulled her hand back from Aditya's and, tucking her hair behind her ears, said-
"No, I... I just went to the washroom to change. By the way, all these clothes... you... you brought them for me?"
"Thanks! If you feel the need to say thanks, don't say it to me, say it to Ravi. He's the one who brought them. I just asked him to bring them."
Hearing Sunaina's words, Aditya only said this and walked out of the room with quick steps.
"He's so badly hurt, but he's standing so normally! As if... what did he say just now? Yes, the habit of enduring pain... as if he really has a habit of enduring pain? What is this person? So unknown, so strange, so mysterious, but still feels so familiar? As if I've known him for ages, and I've never trusted anyone this quickly! He was so close to me, yet I couldn't push him away completely, nor could I move away myself. What has happened to me?"
Aditya had left the room, but he had left a lot for Sunaina's heart and mind to think and understand. Sunaina also thought about him for a long time, but then she shook Aditya's thoughts out of her mind and said to herself-
"What has happened to me? I've never thought about a boy this much before. Yes, I've never been this close to anyone before, but still, you can't enter my thoughts this much without my consent, Mr. Aditya Singhania!"
To be continued.
Aditya had walked out of the room, but had left quite a bit in Sunaina's heart and mind; a lot to think and understand. Sunaina too thought about him for a long time. Then, shaking off the thoughts of Aditya from her mind, she said to herself:
"What’s happening to me? I’ve never thought about any boy so much before. Yes, I’ve never been so close to anyone before either. But still, you can’t get into my thoughts without my permission, Mr. Aditya Singhaniya!"
Sunaina tried to convince herself. Then, to distract her attention, she started gathering the clothes lying on the bed and putting them aside. As she was doing this, when her eyes fell on the mirror, she saw herself in Aditya's clothes. She remembered Aditya's comment that these clothes suited her. For some reason, Sunaina also found the oversized T-shirt and lower to look good on her. But she convinced herself again and quickly changed out of those clothes and went to the washroom.
When she came out of the washroom, she was extremely hungry. Therefore, she didn’t notice anything else and directly walked out of the room and downstairs.
"Did you take a long time, sister-in-law? Here, I’ve made veg sandwiches for you."
Geeta brought a plate filled with sandwiches and placed it in front of Sunaina and said. Sunaina looked around and observed the entire house. She saw that the house was indeed very beautiful. At night, she was so angry that she hadn’t paid much attention. Yes, she had glanced a bit, but she was observing it carefully now. But only until the plate of breakfast came in front of her. Because she was so hungry that she couldn’t remember anything. How long had she not eaten anything? Maybe since yesterday morning...
"Thank you so much, Geeta sister, and these sandwiches are very tasty."
Sunaina said while praising Geeta with her mouth full of sandwiches.
"Thank you! But please eat slowly. And I’m so glad that someone had breakfast at home today. Otherwise, my brother would always leave like this."
Geeta spoke a bit emotionally.
"Where does he go?"
Sunaina stopped eating and asked Geeta a question.
"He must be going to the office or work. But I don’t know where he went this time; he just left the room and went out of the house directly..."
Geeta told Sunaina. Sunaina stopped eating and, despite herself, started thinking about Aditya again. She hadn’t eaten anything since last night and had left without eating; does he not feel hungry? Or does he fill his stomach with alcohol?
As she thought, Sunaina shrugged and picked up another sandwich and started eating. Geeta saw her eating like this, smiled slightly, and then asked her while heading towards the kitchen,
"Sister-in-law! Would you like tea or coffee? I’ll make it for you?"
"No, and nothing else; that’s enough."
While speaking, Sunaina finished that sandwich, picked up a glass of water, and drank it.
"Okay. If you need anything else, let me know; I’m here."
Geeta said and went into the kitchen. Sunaina got up, came out of the house, and started walking around in the garden.
Sunaina noticed that it was a very beautiful and modern villa. There was a garden and a swimming pool right in front of the house, and then a bit further was the main gate where the watchman was sitting. There were also two cars parked near the main gate, one of which was the same car in which Sunaina had come here with Aditya last night.
The house looked very beautiful from the outside. The entire balcony had glass designs, and the windows and front of the house were very beautiful and unique. The architectural design of the house was also very good. At night, Sunaina hadn’t paid attention to anything, but now in the daylight, she could see everything clearly. But the only person she couldn’t see was Aditya...
*********
Naina got up and took a round of the entire flat and came to the kitchen to find something to eat. Most of the kitchen was empty. But then Naina checked the fridge and found some fruits and water bottles. She didn’t find anything else. So she cut an apple and ate it and drank some water.
After that, she started getting ready to leave the flat. When she glanced at the clock, it was 10:30. Seeing the time, she thought of calling Sunaina. But when she dialed Sunaina’s number, Sunaina’s phone was switched off.
"Oh God! This girl always forgets to charge her phone. Anyway, I’ll leave a message; when she sees it, she’ll call back!"
As she spoke, Naina started typing a message on her phone. The moment she sent the message to Sunaina, a call also started coming on her phone. Seeing the call, a spark of hope and happiness appeared on Naina's face. She quickly received the call and, while talking, took her bag and stepped out of the flat. Nakul had given her the keys to the flat when she left, so Naina locked the flat from the outside and went down to the ground floor of the apartment in the lift and then left from there.
"Naina's missed calls!" Sunaina said, switching on her mobile phone as she returned to the room. She saw that Naina had three or four missed calls and also some messages. Sunaina opened the messages before calling back.
"Are you still in class; Sonu?"
"Okay, call me back when you're free. I'm fine, how are you?"
These were Naina's messages. After reading the messages, Sunaina started typing a reply. While typing "I'm fine too," she fell into a bit of thought. She hadn't told Naina anything about her wedding. So much had happened in the past few days. Her whole life had changed. She didn't even live at home with her father and stepmom anymore. She pondered whether she should tell Naina all this or not.
Thinking about all this, Sunaina took a deep breath and then messaged back, "I'm fine too, Didi." She put her phone aside and started thinking that she couldn't tell Naina everything like this. It would be better to tell her over the phone or by meeting her.
"Call... should I call Didi now?" Sunaina thought to herself, looking at her mobile phone, and then picked up the phone to dial Naina's number.
A few moments later, the call was answered from the other side.
"Yes Sonu, speak! So many missed calls from you yesterday, what happened? Is everything alright?" Naina said from the other side as she received the call. Naina was in a taxi and seemed to be going somewhere...
"Hello... Hello Didi! I can't hear your voice." Sunaina was truly confused because there were a lot of other noises coming from the other side, along with Naina's voice...
"I can hear your voice, speak... what happened? Why were you calling me so much yesterday?" Naina asked the same question again.
"Didi, where are you? Can we meet?" As soon as Sunaina heard Naina's voice a little, she immediately asked to meet her.
"Now... I'm going to work now, I'm on my way, Sonu! I'll talk when I get home. I can't hear properly right now." Naina said after hearing Sunaina's incomplete statement.
"Not now, Didi, let me know when you're free by calling me..." Sunaina was speaking when she heard the call disconnect tone. She removed the phone from her ear and saw that the call had been disconnected.
Naina saw that there was absolutely no network on her mobile. She understood that perhaps the call had been disconnected because of this. She thought she would talk to Sunaina comfortably when she reached home. So, at that time, she put the phone back in her bag and waited to reach her destination.
On the other side, Sunaina tried Naina's phone again, but her number was stating "out of network coverage area." She started thinking, we were just talking, and now it's saying "out of coverage area," where is Didi?
As Sunaina was thinking about all this, she suddenly heard some voices coming from outside.
"Sir! Sir... what is this stubbornness, please go to the doctor. You are so injured, why don't you ever listen." It was probably Ravi's voice. Hearing this, Sunaina left her mobile phone in the room, came out of the room, and started looking to see what was happening outside.
"Shut up Ravi! I am your boss, you are not my boss. So, do only as much as I tell you. Don't use your own mind." Saying this, Aditya started climbing the stairs, and Ravi was right behind him. Geeta was standing at a distance, watching both of them and listening to their conversation. Looking at her, it seemed like this was always the case for her, this often happened here....
And Sunaina, who had just come out of the room and reached the stairs, stopped there upon seeing Aditya coming up the stairs and did not go down.
"I know Sir but... you are so careless, especially with yourself. That's why someone has to worry about you..." Ravi said, also climbing the stairs behind Aditya. But as soon as his eyes fell on Sunaina, he became silent. Aditya stopped in front of Sunaina for a moment and then went ahead without saying anything. But instead of going into the room, he went into his study room ahead.
Ravi also ran behind him in the same way. But by then, Aditya had locked the room door from the inside. Sunaina also went behind Ravi and started asking him what had happened.
"I don't know, Ma'am! I don't know where Sir got injured, but he just won't go to the doctor. I've been telling him for a long time, but he doesn't listen to me. He always does whatever he wants. You please explain to him." Ravi replied to Sunaina's question quite helplessly.
"Oh God! But why does your Sir do this?" Hearing about Aditya, Sunaina remembered that he got injured because of her. When Aditya left the room in the morning, Sunaina thought he might be going to the doctor. But now, after Ravi told her, she found out that Aditya didn't listen to anyone and didn't take care of himself.
To be continued
No response from Groq.
Sunaina reached Aditya's study room, a little nervous. She didn't know if Aditya would even listen to her, or how he would react to her presence there. Sunaina didn't know Aditya at all, but still, she couldn't bear to see anyone in pain because of her. That's why she wanted Aditya to show his injury to the doctor and hoped it wasn't too serious.
The study room was dark. Sunaina couldn't see anything properly. Touching the wall, she started searching for the switchboard. After a while, her hand touched the switchboard, and she turned on all the switches. She didn't know which was the light switch.
As soon as her hand landed on the light switch, the room was illuminated with light. Naina saw that Aditya was sitting half-reclined on the large couch placed in front of him. His eyes were closed. It was impossible to tell if he was asleep or awake. He had a bottle of liquor in one hand.
It was half-empty. Seeing the bottle of liquor, Sunaina became very angry. She felt like leaving the room immediately, leaving Aditya to his fate. She hated alcohol and alcoholics. She had no relationship with Aditya anyway. Even though they were married, there was nothing like husband and wife between them yet...
"What is this man? Why does he drink so much? Does he have a problem staying sober that he's always intoxicated... If he was going to be like this, why did he marry me? There must be a reason, and why does he feel so familiar? I get lost looking at his face... I can't hate him even if I want to, despite my problem with alcohol and drunkards!"
Sunaina was thinking all this as she walked towards Aditya. But she was so focused on Aditya's face that she didn't pay attention to what was below. Aditya's leg was stretched out on the floor, and Sunaina's foot got caught in it. She tried to regain her balance, but couldn't, and stumbled, falling on top of Aditya.
"Oh God! You... what are you doing here? And have you also been drinking? You can't even walk properly, you just fell right on top of me. What... what are you doing?"
As Sunaina fell on him, Aditya, rubbing his eyes, looked at Sunaina and said.
"It's all your fault. Who sits like this? And why do you bother your assistant, manager, secretary, whoever that is, the poor thing has been worried about you for so long..."
Sunaina spoke, still lying on top of Aditya. Aditya's eyes were fully open, and they were quite red. As he turned and looked at Sunaina, Sunaina's face was very close to his. Aditya seemed to forget everything else and, reaching for Sunaina's face, started moving her hair from his hands, which had fallen on her face, hiding her beauty.
"Is he worried about me, or are you?"
Aditya asked, removing Sunaina's hair from her face and looking into her eyes.
"I... I... why would I... why would I be worried about you? I... I just that injury... because of me... I'm sorry!"
Sunaina stammered and strung her words together, saying to Aditya, not knowing what had happened to her when Aditya looked at her like that.
"I'm fine, you don't need to feel so guilty."
Aditya said, becoming completely serious at her words. Sunaina also started trying to get up from on top of him.
"Wait!"
Saying this, Aditya moved slightly to the side and sat up straight on the sofa, holding Sunaina's hands and helping her get up.
At that moment, Ravi knocked on the door and said—
"Ma'am, the doctor has arrived."
"Yes, send them to my room, I'm coming..."
Sunaina said to Ravi. Ravi listened to her and left.
"What doctor? Who called the doctor?"
Hearing Sunaina and Ravi's conversation, Aditya asked Sunaina.
"I called them, come on, be quiet and get your injury bandaged, otherwise, if it gets worse, you'll blame me later. You're saying now not to feel so guilty."
Sunaina said to Aditya, getting up from the sofa.
"I'm not fine, that's why you're saying such things. Let the doctor see, maybe the head injury is too deep."
Seeing Aditya's behavior, Sunaina held his hand and pulled him up from the sofa.
Aditya did not expect her to hold his hand and pull him up like that. Although Sunaina couldn't lift Aditya, she kept holding his hand and telling him to get up and come with her. Finally, Aditya got up from his place, albeit reluctantly, and came out of the study room with Sunaina. The doctor and Ravi were already present in the bedroom, waiting for him.
"How did you get this injury?"
The doctor asked Aditya as he examined the injury on his head. Aditya glanced at Sunaina and then replied to the doctor—
"It's not that bad, I'm fine, Doctor!"
"If you don't even know how you got the injury, then why are you so carelessly saying it's not bad? Are you the doctor, or am I?"
The doctor said sternly at Aditya's words. Ravi, hearing the doctor, stepped forward and asked—
"There's nothing serious, is there, Doctor? Please give me the medicine and prescription, I'll take care of it."
To be continued.
Dr. became serious on hearing Aditya's words. Ravi moved forward after listening to the doctor and asked, "Is there anything serious, doctor? You can tell me about the medicine and prescription; I will take care of it."
"As the injury resulted from a fall. First of all, you have to make him understand. Drinking so much is not good for his health. You people take care." The doctor replied while bandaging Aditya's wound and looking at Ravi and Sunaina.
"He doesn't need... I don't need anyone to take care of me, I... I am totally fine, doctor!" Aditya's words were slurred because he was already intoxicated, and the doctor had given him a sleep injection, which was necessary for his injury and pain.
"No, Mr. Singhania, you are not fine; you have to take rest now." The doctor replied while looking at Aditya. Aditya's eyes began to feel heavy, and he fell asleep within moments.
"Are you... are you his wife?" The doctor asked Sunaina, who was standing nearby. She had been looking at Aditya for a while, probably due to her guilt. She felt sad that Aditya got injured because of her, and the doctor had noticed it.
"Yes?" Sunaina was startled by the doctor's question. She didn't know how to respond.
"Yes, doctor, she is my wife, Mrs. Singhania!" Aditya interrupted, still half asleep.
"Has there been any fight or argument between you two? Because of which Mr. Singhania drank so much? I think you should make him understand. Whatever it is, sort it out together. Otherwise, it will affect his health badly due to continuous drinking?" The doctor advised Sunaina as he packed his box and stood up to leave.
"Actually, doctor, it's not her fault. Sir was already drunk, and they just got married..." Ravi intervened, carrying the doctor's box and defending Sunaina. Sunaina remained silent.
"Okay, my job was to tell you, and I've done it. Now you people take care and sort out whatever issues you have. If you need me, you can call me. And please, at least for 24 hours, he shouldn't drink again..." The doctor said, looking at both Sunaina and Ravi. Sunaina nodded in agreement, and Ravi escorted the doctor out of the room.
After the doctor and Ravi left, Sunaina looked at the sleeping Aditya. He looked extremely handsome and dashing while asleep. His face and jawline were perfect, and his neck bone was quite revealing. His long, silky hair scattered on his fair face made his look even more attractive. He didn't seem sick or heavily intoxicated, as he had been a while ago.
Sunaina couldn't understand why Aditya was attracting her so much, even though she didn't want to be. She was confused about what was happening to her. She should be angry about her forced marriage to Aditya and his drinking habit, which she had always hated. But she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. Maybe she felt empathy for his pain. There was a strange feeling inside her that pulled her towards Aditya, and she was involuntarily being pulled towards him.
While thinking about this, Sunaina moved closer to the sleeping Aditya. After observing his face for a while, she covered him with the blanket on the bed and sat on the couch in front. She wondered what was it about this person that compelled her to know more about him? Was it the effect of their relationship, their marriage, that made her connect with him so much? For some reason, he seemed just as broken and scattered as she was. Maybe he had also experienced something similar to what she had faced with her family. What should she do? Where should she start? Would he tell her anything when he woke up? And the biggest question was, why did he marry her when there were no other relatives or relationships around him? Why did he form a new relationship with her, especially when he was in so much trouble?
"What do you want, Aditya? Why are you so mysterious that I want to know everything about you? I couldn't even think about myself, as I thought I wouldn't care about this marriage and would only think about myself. And that's why I severed ties with my family. I cut off all relationships. So why? This relationship we formed just a day ago... why can't I turn away from it even if I want to..." Sunaina thought to herself, looking at Aditya. There was an internal conflict in her mind, but she couldn't come to a decision.
To be continued.
After spending the entire day at the studio, Naina returned to her home feeling quite exhausted. Exiting the building's elevator, she walked towards her flat with heavy steps. As she reached her flat's door, she noticed it was ajar. Her mind felt a jolt as she distinctly remembered locking the flat from the outside when she left that morning. How was it open now?
Naina froze and stopped just outside the house door. She was afraid that a thief or some unknown person might have broken into her home. She didn't know what to do. She had only moved in the previous night and didn't know any of her neighbors or people nearby. She didn't even have the number of the building's security guard or watchman.
"Oh God! How is this door open? I locked it this morning, I remember it clearly." Talking to herself, Naina tried to reassure herself.
"I'll go inside and see. What if there's a thief? Or some dangerous person? Oh God! What is this? Why do problems never end in my life? I was lucky to get this house, but even here..." Muttering to herself, Naina cautiously stepped inside the house. She saw no one in the hall.
"There's no one here... then how did the door get open? Did someone come here after I left?" Looking around, Naina said to herself.
"Hey Naina! You're back." Naina heard a familiar voice from behind her. She quickly turned around. Nukul was standing there, smiling.
"Oh Nukul! Thank God it's you! I was so scared..." Seeing Nukul standing there, Naina breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went forward and hugged him.
"Relax, it's my flat, so it must be me. What did you think that made you so scared?" Nukul said, putting his hand on Naina's shoulder, comforting and explaining.
"No, nothing... I'm just not used to living alone at all. So this morning I locked the gate and found it open now... I didn't think it could be you? I thought, who knows who?" Naina said, stepping back a little from Nukul. She realized she had suddenly hugged Nukul, and he hadn't fully embraced her yet.
Naina stepped back from Nukul and moved towards the hall. She placed her bag on the table in the middle. Then, resting her head against the armrest of the sofa and closing her eyes, she slumped down there, feeling utterly exhausted.
"Tired?" Nukul asked, seeing Naina sitting like that.
"Yeah, so much..." Naina replied, still with her eyes closed.
"Would you like some coffee? Actually, I'll make some, you'll feel better." Nukul said and started walking towards the kitchen.
"But how will you make it? There's no stuff in the kitchen." Naina said, reacting to Nukul's statement.
"With magic... you'll see my magic now." Nukul said, laughing. Naina's eyes shot open in surprise, and she looked at him. Then she understood that Nukul was joking.
And then Naina also got up from there and followed Nukul to the kitchen. She saw that there was a lot of stuff there now, which wasn't there in the morning. Then Naina opened the fridge to get some water. The fridge also now contained milk, juice, and fruits, quite a lot of things.
"Did you bring all this?" Naina asked, looking at Nukul.
"Yes, I remembered this morning that there's no stuff in the flat and you'll need all these things, so I just..." Nukul replied to Naina and started looking for utensils to make coffee.
Naina was still looking at Nukul. She couldn't understand why Nukul was doing so much for her. After all, she didn't even know him properly. They had only met the previous night.
"What happened? Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?" Nukul found Naina staring at him like that. Raising his eyebrows, he asked her and simultaneously ran his hand over his face.
"How can I ever repay all your favors, Nukul! It's not even two days since we met, and you've done so much for me, perhaps more than my own family ever did. I am so grateful to you! I don't know how to thank you, I'm at a loss for words." Naina poured out all her heart's feelings in response to Nukul's words. Then Nukul said,
"Oh, please Naina, I haven't done that much. Don't make me out to be a great person unnecessarily. You've said thank you so many times, now let me make coffee, and help me, I can't find the pan." Nukul changed the subject after hearing her. Naina also smiled, her face which had been full of surprise and serious expressions until now.
"You leave it, I'll make coffee for both of us..." Naina said to Nukul.
"Oh, don't worry so much, I also make pretty good coffee." Nukul said, smiling again.
"Yes, well, I'll have your coffee some other time. For now, I'll make it, you wait outside..." Saying this, Naina showed Nukul the way out. Nukul quietly obeyed and left the kitchen. Naina, smiling, started making coffee for both of them.
To be continued
