𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 103

Alia gulped. She wanted to defend herself but no words came to her mind as she continued to process her friend's words over and over again.

"Think about it," Shivani probbed. "From the beginning of the day to the end your work is revolving around someone else. I mean that was something—"

Alia sipped her coffee and tried to reign her thoughts in a particular direction.

"Don't you think—"

"I think I know." Alia snapped at the end. "Why do you keep on repeating it over and over again?"

Constantly since Shivani had made earlier we realise what she had been doing, Shivani did not shut up and that was irritating her to the bone. 

Yes, she understood what was going on. And yes, it have taken her longer than necessary to understand it but now it was there and it went off her eyes.

"Sorry," Shivani mumbled and raised the cup of coffee to her lips, "guess you are still moody."

That made Alia chuckle. "I guess a few things never change." She shrugged and raised the cup to her lips, hiding smile.

"Seriously now," Shivani waved it all off, "what are you going to do? Your plans never involved being a homemaker until you were receiving 10 lakh rupees per month from your husband."

Alia giggled. That was true.

In the world that they were living in now, it was difficult to run the house with the income of one person effectively making both of the family members working.

So Alia did not shy away from the fact that she would have to work one day as well. In fact, it was something that she looked forward to.

But just as Shivani stated, if he was already having a good income coming in the house and it not require her to work, then she might not chose to and Armaan was making more than 10 lakhs anyway.

"I.." she felt conflicted. In the past six years, she herself the burden of being ripped away from the source of income.

When her mother passed away she had left them enough money but Alia new better than to just touch it and wash it all away. When her grandparents passed away, another source of income that was thier pension went out and she have to go for a job immediately.

"I don't know." She revealed and her friend nodded.

"That's okay," Shivani patted her hand. "It totally depends on you. If you want to go and earn or not."

"Earning or not, is not the question, " Alia replied. Her eyes remained on the table as she continued, "the problem is I don't just want my life to revolve around him."

She was not Armaan nor was she his shadow. Alia was her own person did not sit right but so that all she was doing was revolve around him and however he wanted.

"Forget that," Shivani clicked her tongue and mischievous smile graced her face. "Tell me, how was the," she wiggled her eyebrows, "the first night?"

*****

By the time Alia realised that she also had to go back home, it was quite late. And by quiet late, she meant that was almost sunset.

For a minute, she worried about what was she going to make for dinner but then she laughed at her thoughts. When was the last time she wanted about anything like this?

Rajesh stopped the car in front of the doors before opening her door and carrying her shopping bags behind her. It was in that moment Alia realised that she had also not told her mother-in-law where she had gone.

But why did you have to report everyone on every second of her day? No one else did. So why did she have to do something like that?

"Can you keep them upstairs?" Alia pointed to the floor where she stayed and the driver nodded before walking up stairs.

"Alia?" Laksha stop shortly near the sofa when she realised that Alia was finally home. She quickly made her way to the young girl before looking at her in worry. "Are you alright?"

With a frown, she nodded. "yeah, why? what will happen to me?"

"You did not pick up my calls after a while I could not even reach you. Even Armaan had no idea where you were!"

Alia pulled about her phone from her purse and waved at in the face of her mother-in-law. "The battery died. I want to the mall and found my friend there. We ended up chatting and battery died."

"Oh," laksha glanced at the phone. The screen was dark and indicated that it was turned off which is why she did not say anything about it.

"But you should have called someone or.." she licked her lips, "you know that iPhone have that battery problem why did you not carry a portable charger?"

Alia could feel her frustration beginning to boil but she reigned it in. Laksha was like a mother and it was understandable where her concerns were coming from.

"I will do that next time," she held her crossed fingers up, "I promise."

Laksha looked at the fingers and nodded. "Did you eat something?"

"I can still have dinner." Alia shrugged. "I k—"

"Madam," Rajesh stopped in front them, "young master has asked for your presence in the room."

"Ah," Laksha nodded at him and he left before she turned to Alia. "Go up, Alia." She patted her daughter-in-law's shoulder before leaving to go back into the kitchen.