His love Her sanity

18. The trauma!

Aarushi

He left for the airport while I returned home with Bhai. I got busy with my work to divert my mind. One suit is completely done but I have 3 more to complete. I wanted to design something for my brothers and it seemed to be the best occasion to gift them something. I also decided to design suits for Rana Ji and his brother. I deliberately hid about his outfit from Rana Ji to surprise him. He called me when he landed and we spoke for a few minutes. Then I asked him to rest and cut the call. 

It's been 3 days since he had left for Australia. We had brief phone calls due to his busy schedule. He showed me my earrings when we had a video call on the first day he landed. I was shocked to see my earring with him. I searched for it in the entire room and even asked Sid bhai to search for it at the palace for me. Little did I know, it was with him all the time.

He said he would give me the earring when he come back and also said from now on, he would take something of me every time he travels somewhere. After that, he teased me a lot talking about our childhood and how I demanded him to marry me. 

He also told me about how important that deal was for the company and how they all worked hard to grab it. I felt very proud to hear about it. That day, he slept talking to me and I just lied there, admiring his sleeping self. He looked so cute and serene while sleeping. 

I crushed my soft toy in my arms thinking about him with a huge smile on my lips. What he must be doing now? Did he eat or is he busy with his presentation and paper work? Should I call him? No what if he's busy? Let me drop a text. I dropped a text to him and checked my new designs I prepared for the competition.

 Today morning I got an email saying I was selected for the final round of one of the biggest fashion events. I applied for it and mailed them my designs during my college. I decided to ask Mumma to let me participate. It will be my graduation ceremony in 3 days. The completion is the day after that. The competition is also being held in Mumbai only.

I climbed down after practicing for an hour in front of the mirror. 

"Mumma!" I sing-sang walking into the kitchen. she is not here. Where did she go? I searched the entire house but she was nowhere to be found. I decided to call her and dialed her number.

"Hello!" She answered after 5 rings.

"Mumma, where are you?" I asked as soon as I heard her voice. She didn't tell me anything about going somewhere. 

"We came out for some shopping. You stay home. Jatin is coming home. He will be there in 20 min." She replied. My entire mind went blank after hearing his name. The phone dropped from my hands and I could hear Mumma calling for me but I couldn't react. 

He is coming. He is my worst nightmare. Why he is coming? Why did everyone leave me alone at this time? Why? I could feel sweat beads forming on my face and my entire body started shivering. My breath became uneven. I ran from there and searched for my tablets frantically. I had them and ran from there. I have to run away. I have to run far away from him. I don't want to face him again. I grabbed my scooty keys along with the keys Rana Ji gave me and ran out of the house not caring to lock it. My feet hit something but it didn't pain as my mind was numb to react.

The man who used to follow me came running to me seeing my state. He held me by my shoulders when I was about to fall on my face.

"Take me to Rana Ji's guest house, Please!" I cried in his arms and placed the keys in his hands. A car stopped in front of us. I don't remember anything after that. I passed out. When I opened my eyes again I was in a room covered with quilts. I rubbed my eyes and drank some water placed on the side table.

" Aaru!" I heard his voice and looked at the TV screen in front of me. Tears started rolling down my cheeks and a sob left my mouth as I clutched the sheets in a death grip. 

"Ushh... don't cry bachha! I am here. I will not let anything happen to you. Please don't cry! I can't see tears in your eyes," He cooed in a very soft tone. His eyes are glossy too. He stretched his fingers in front of his lips gesturing for me to smile but I couldn't. I was terrified. 

"He...he...." I tried to say but nothing came out of my mouth. I hate the fear I have for him even after all these years. I hate myself for being this weak. I am tired of being weak. 

"It's okay. It's okay. Stop crying, mera bachha! I will be coming back right now." He said cooing me. He spoke some sweet nothings to me calming me down. I relaxed a little. He asked me to drink some water and I did.

"Your... work?" I asked amid my hiccups due to all the crying. My voice was hoarse and a mere whisper.

"Someone else will take care of it or let it go to hell. I am coming to you." He replied within a second. It was then I noticed that he was in a car.

"Are you on your way to the airport?" I asked and he nodded positively and tears started rolling down my eyes again. I felt overwhelmed with emotions. 

"You don't need to come here, Rana Ji. I will be fine." I lied. I badly want to hug him and feel him but I can't let him ruin his deal for me. His workers and he worked a lot for it. It is very important for his company.

"But I won't be. I will not be fine until I see you directly. Sid and my PA will take care of here." He said in an 'end-of-discussion' tone. 

"Baby, I am at the airport. I will come to you as soon as possible. Please stay there for me and be strong. Okay?" He asked in a hoarse voice, tears in his eyes. I have never seen him getting emotional. Does my state affect him so much? How can I be so lucky to have him in my life?

"Okay, I will. But please come soon. I need you!" I replied in a choked tone with tears flowing down endlessly and cut the call. I am feeling suffocated and he feels like my oxygen right now. But he can't be able to reach here before nearly 30 hours. And each passing second is looking like an eternity. I cocooned myself and sat on the bed with his photo frame in my arms.

I had my lunch as he instructed me. I have to inform someone back home so that they won't be tense about me. I dialed Shikar bhai and he answered in 3 rings. Before I could say anything he said Rana Ji told him everything and he will handle the others. My brother knows that I get panic attacks but he doesn't know the reason. He said he was coming to me and with that, he cut the call. 

My brother was in front of me, panting, exactly after 30 minutes he disconnected the call. He came running to me and engulfed me in a hug. I can feel his tears on my shoulders along with my own tears which somehow managed to come out. He caressed my hair breaking the hug and placed a kiss on my forehead.

"It's okay bachha! I'm with you. I am with my princess, yeah!" Bhai cooed smiling between his sobs. I just rested my head on his shoulder holding his arm. 

"I know it was not just because of that day but I won't force you to share anything until you want to." He said cupping my cheeks. Everyone believed that I became like this because of what happened that day but they don't know what else happened in their absence that day that made me shiver even in my sleep, that made my nights haunting and crushed my peace. 

"I will tell everything to you bhai. Give me some time, Please!" I begged him. I am not ready to share that nightmare with anyone, I am not ready. I am not that strong.

"Okay, bachha! No one will force you." He said assuringly and made me drink some water. He made me lay down and caressed my hair until sleep finally engulfed me. I held Bhai's hand in a steel grip and he let me as I closed my eyes and let the sleep consume me.