Second Chance

Chapter 22 The Ex Factor

 'It's Yashika,' says Ekta. She continues in a small voice, unlike her usual,' Yashika is with them. They are coming home with her.'

Mahi blinks a few times at first, then closing her eyes, she tries to gather her focus at the name of her husband's ex. An ex whom he almost married. If she hadn't left him, there was no way today Mahi and Dev would have become so close, in love. The name would not have bothered her if their relationship was merely contractual like before. But, now things are different. She never thought that she would end up falling for Dev. Now the fact is that Dev is bringing home the same woman who left him on his wedding day, whom he loved for 6 long years yet, she chose to leave him. It's not been even a year since Dev and Mahi got married and not even more than a couple of months that Dev might have fallen for Mahi. How can she compete for the six years of a relationship with a couple months of love, companionship? Or maybe months of infatuation? Was it just an infatuation? Not for her. May be for him? Mahi's head starts aching as she tries to contemplate everything or whatever might happen to her. How is she going to comfort herself? 

Mahi steps back, losing herself in all the chaos going on in her head. Ekta notices her getting tensed. She speaks up,' Don't jump on any conclusions. Okay! Just...' She takes a deep breath and continues,' Trust yourself. Trust him.'

Mahi shoves down her feelings and gathers herself together. She pulls a small voice,' I am fine.'

She makes herself busy making some tea and coffee. Her quietness makes Ekta immensely nervous and worried. She silently prays for Dev not to disappoint them, especially Mahi. 

Both move out of the kitchen, helping get everyone the teas and coffees in the living room. 

Soon after, they hear the car outside. Mahi stands still as she listens to the car door opening and closing. Ekta comes and stands next to her as she puts an assuring hand on Mahi's arm. Mahi takes a deep breath and turns her head to Ekta,' Don't worry. I am not trying to jump on any conclusions.' She takes another deep breath to steady herself,' I am just preparing myself for the worst.'

Everyone watches in shock, except Ekta and Mahi when Dev enters the house with Yashika. Rohit enters right behind them. Yashika looked unrecognisable at first as she wasn't in her best looks. She had Dev's coat around her shoulder, her hair dishevelled a bit. She was small in stature next to Dev's tall frame as she wasn't wearing any heels. Mahi just noticed that she wasn't even wearing any footwear. As they walked in closer, now everyone could see the bruised face of Yashika. Everyone can notice the fresh wound on the side of her forehead, along with blue and red bruises and heavy redness on her cheeks. Her eyes were swollen too, maybe from excessive crying. Everyone now become curious as they saw the state Yashika is in, along with the shock. Dev has been stealing a glance at Mahi's face when she looks at Yashika with detailed observation. He immediately looks away when Mahi catches him looking at her. Mahi feels uneasy when Dev avoid her gaze. She loses more hope than before. 

Yashika staggers as she loses her footing and ability to stand stably. She takes the help of Dev's arm to stand straight. Dev and Rohit help her stand straight. Savitri, Mahi, Ekta and Nivi come forward to help as well. When they approach Yashika, Dev and Rohit instantly give way for them to help her. Mahi and Nivi hold shaken Yashika and take her to the guest room. Dev asks for some water as he and Rohit settle down in the living room. Mahi and Nivi come back from the guest room after helping Yashika. Mahi can't get off her mind what she saw when she and Nivi helped Yashika to change into fresh pair of clothes. She looked shaken, terrified. She had bruises all over her body. Fresh and old. They helped her clean up as Yashika looked more lost but aware.