My Casanova Husband

Chapter Seventeen

Aroon: I promise I will never show my face to him if you agree to my condition. I will go wherever you want. I promise.

"What the hell are you saying Aroon?"

Aroon turns around in shock on hearing his mother's voice. He could see anger on his mother's face.

Aroon's mom: Who are you to send my son away from here and how dare you agree to such a stupid request?

Aroon: Mom, please...

Aroon tries to pacify his mom but she is upset and don't want to listen to him.

Aroon's mom: Listen Mr. Whoever you are. You...

"Ariya"

Mom's sentence is cut short by someone calling her name. She looks in the direction of the person who called her name and her mouth opens wide in shock.

Aroon's mom: Aom?

The two women look at each other with tears in their eyes and then hug each other tight. Aroon and Mr.Chanthara look at the drama unfolding before them in shock.

10 minutes later:

Everyone sat around the coffee table looking at each other awkwardly. Mr.Chanthara take in a deep breath and looks at his daughter in law.

Mr.Chanthara: Care you explain what is happening here.

Atid's mom: Dad, Ariya and me are friends since we were in diapers.

Mr.Chanthara: Why didn't we ever meet her or her family?

Atid's mom: Because we lost touch after something unexpected happened in our life.Our parents were friends and business partners. So we were always together. We went to the same school and college. Then Ming came into our life. He joined us in high school and since then we three were inseparable. But our parents did not approve of our friendship with Ming as he came fro a middle class family. With time Ariya and Ming fell in love and I supported my bestfriend. We tried hide the relationship but Ariya's parents came to know about it. They threatened Ming and fixed Ariya's marriage with my brother. I tried to stop my parents but they got angry and threatened to disown me. But I could not see my bestfriends in pain. So a day before the wedding, I helped Ariya and Ming to run away from here. That was the last time I saw them.

Mr.Chanthara: Is this the reason why your parents are always cold towards you.

Atid's mom: Hmm. After Ariya eloped with Ming, they started finding alliance for me. I wanted to study but they stopped my college. They locked me up in the house. Then when Narong's proposal came I said No because I knew he had someone in his heart. But they didn't care about my opinion. They threatened and blamed me for ruining my brother's life. They said it is my karma to be in a loveless marriage because I hurt my brother. I accepted my fate silently as I knew that the people who are supposed to protect me are the ones who are causing me pain.

Aom looks at Ariya and saw tears and guilt in her eyes. Ariya came towards her and kneeled down before her.

Ariya: I am sorry for causing so pain to you. I would have never...

Aom: Were you happy?

Ariya: Were you happy with Ming?

Aom: The 10 years we spend together were the best years of my life. He gave me two beautiful kids. I guess God was envious of my happy life. So he took him back after spending 10 happy years with us.

Aom wipes her bestfriend's tears as she remembers her husband.

Aom: I am sorry that you lost him but I am happy to know that you were happy with him till he was alive.

Ariya: But you...

Aom: It's true that my marriage was a compromise but it gave me the most precious thing of my life, my Atid. The first few years of my marriage was hard as Narong never opened up to me. Then Atid came into our lives and we were happy. But then problems started in our business and he started spending more time in the office. He was stressed and got irritated with smallest things. He started to loss temper and I didn't want Atid to see his father like that. So I requested dad to take Atid with him while I stayed back with Narong. I started helping him in business and with time, the business improved. The time we spend together reduced the distance between us and we started to appreciate each other's presence in our life. We became friends and gradually we fell in love. But all these took years and Atid spend all these time away from us. By the time we went back to him, he had already closed his hearts towards us. We tried to approach him but he pushed us away. We are still trying.

A tear escapes Aom's eyes as she thinks about her son. Ariya hugs her bestfriend and rubs her back soothingly.

Ariya: I am so sorry things were so hard for you. I wish I could do something to reduce your pain.

Aom: You can.

Ariya: What can I do? Just tell me and I do everything to help you.

Aom: Please give your son to my son.

Ariya: Huh?

Aom: I am asking for your son's hand in marriage for my son.

Ariya: What?

Ariya looks at Aom in shock unable to process her request.

Ariya: My son and your son...but how?

Ariya explains everything that happened between Aroon and Atid including the photo in the newspaper.

Ariya looks at Aroon who is sitting on the couch with his head bowed down. Aom slowly gets up her seat and walks towards Aroon. She sits next to him and takes his hand in to her hands.

Aom: Aroon

Aroon looks at Aom with his puppy eyes.

Aom: I am your mom's bestfriend. So you can consider me as your mom. I just want to know one thing. Please answer me honestly. Do you love Atid?

Aroon remains silent for few seconds and then nods his head slowly. A smile appears on Aom's face.

Aom: Do you want to be with him?

Aroon nods his head once again.

Aom: Whatever happened earlier today and all the things Grandpa said was all just a big drama to test you.

Aroon: Huh?

Aom: After seeing your photo with Atid in the newspaper, we did a background check on you. We found nothing but positive things about you. Then Mrs.Ja spoke to us about you and the talk you had with her. She told us how much Atid cared for you and took care of all your needs. She also told us how much you respected and care for him. So we came here to check for ourselves what type of person you are and to ask your hand for Atid.

Aroon: But he...he doesn't want me in his life.

Grandpa: He is frightened my child. He is afraid of causing you pain. He is afraid that being part of his life will cause you pain because he is so rude and cold hearted. He believes that marriage is not for him and that he does not deserve anyone's love. But yesterday I saw something in his eyes that I never before. I saw the fierce possessive when I spoke bad about you before him. He jumped to defend you so fiercely that it left me stunned. I asked him to bring you to us but he denied. He is a stubborn, egoistic person just like his old man.

Aom: He has taken this decision based on what he saw in his parents married life. But you can prove him wrong. You can bring a smile on his face. You can bring my naughty and warm Atid back with your love. I know what I am asking is going to cause you pain because he will not give in easily. He can hurt you with your words and action. But can you take this risk and agree to marry my son. Are you willing to take this risk Aroon?

There is a complete silence in the room as everyone's eyes are on Aroon. Aroon closes his eyes for a second and takes in a deep breath.

Aroon: YES.