Aarya - The Way We Once Were

Chapter 21

As he read the entire article, his blood began to boil. Back in his office, Yash paced back and forth, trying to figure out how the press got ahold of such information. Who was responsible for tarnishing Aarti's name? Who dared write such an article, knowing how powerful he is.

In fury, he called the agency and reprimanded the person that picked up.

"Who took pictures of me in my own yard, without my consent?"

He roared and the man became quiet.

"Who dared publish an article about me and Aarti? Give me a name, NOW"

Yash flipped his desk in anger.

"I'm sorry sir. I was just doing my job"

His voice whimpered.

"Your job? It's not your fucking job to gossip about me. It's not your job to defame someone's character"

Yash yelled, making him petrified. At the moment it sounded like a great article to write, but now facing Yash wrath was making him rethink his decision.

"I'll remove it right away"

He gulped down his saliva.

"What good will that do now? Do you have any idea how many people probably read the news already?"

He shouted. Yash was indeed worried; not for himself, but for Aarti.

"I'm sorry sir, really."

His voice shaking.

"Where did you get all of your information from?"

He demanded an answer.

"I got an unknown call from a woman, telling me to come to the mansion. She knew everything that was happening."

He let out a whisper.

"Who was she?"

Yash roared again, making him flinch.

"She never told me her name"

He said honestly.

"If Aarti's character gets slandered because of you; I swear to god, I'll find you and I'll destroy you"

Yash said before hanging up the phone. He just sat there for a moment, in complete shock. Who was it that called the press and give them so much information? It had to be someone that knows them quite well, someone that isn't happy that Aarti is back in his life.

Yash gasped in horror.

"No. It can't be"

Yash recalled his mom at the mansion that Sunday morning.

"She was upset, but there's no way she's capable of this"

He sighed.

"Is she?"

He wondered. Throughout his entire life, his mom has been nothing but kind. Not only to him but to everyone she crossed path with. Yash was conflicted, he didn't know what to believe anymore.

"Aarti"

He suddenly mumbled as remembered how distraught she looked when she left the office.

Yash dialed her number but it went straight to voicemail. He called again but the same thing happened. He grabbed his car keys and drove to Aarti's apartment; all he wanted was to make sure she's okay.

Knocking franticly on the door, Mansi opened it and was surprised to see Yash standing there.

"I need to see her"

His voice sounded of desperation and uncertainty. Mansi let him in the apartment and she looked at him with worry.

"Aarti haven't said a word to me since she got home. She locked herself in her room and won't even let me in"

She said in a low voice and Yash felt dejected.

"What happened?"

She looked up to face Yash and he sighed as he showed her the article on his phone. Mansi gasped as she stared at Yash, lost for words. While she began to read the entire article, Yash knocked on Aarti's door.

"It's me, Yash. Please tell me you're okay"

His voice trembling.

"I don't know how this happened but I promise I'll make it right"

He rubbed the back of his head.

"Aarti, please talk to me. Tell me that you're okay god damn it"

He panicked a little when she won't respond to him.

"If you don't answer me then I'm breaking this door and I'm coming in"

Yash was desperate.

"Don't"

Her voice was hoarse.

"Are you okay?"

He was full of concern.

"I just want to be alone"

She said and Yash felt sadden to hear her say that.

"This is not good"

He heard Mansi voice from behind, he turned around to face her.

"This article will destroy Aarti's life"

Mansi continued and Yash exhaled.

"The press will remove the article. I just don't know how many people already read it"

Yash sighed in frustration.

"I don't how she'll cope with all this"

Yash touched Aarti's door, wishing she'd just open it and talk to him.

"There's something I need to do"

He looked at Mansi.

"You go, I'll keep an eye on her"

She said to Yash, as if she could read his mind. He glanced at Aarti door once more, before leaving. He didn't want to leave her, but he needed answers from his mom.

Aarti sat in the dark room, tears streaming down her face. How is she supposed to face her coworkers, whom she considered her friends? The looks on their faces today was pure disgust. Her character was once again tarnished, but this time the entire world gets to read about it. Aarti then thought about Yash; he had no part in this, yet his reputation is also ruined.

"Yash's mom was right; I'm ill fated. Catastrophe always follows me"

She wiped her tears away as more kept pouring down her cheek.

Just then, her phone beeped and a message popped up. Looking at the screen, Aarti eyes widen. It was a message from her mom. Her hands trembled as she opened the message; her heart broke as she read it.

"I always knew that you were vile but today you proved me right. Your article is the talk in my neighborhood; all I can do is hide in shame"

Aarti read out loud and she sobbed quietly. Another message popped up.

"Yash was all yours and you ruined that relationship, now you resort to being his mistress? What about his soon to be wife? Don't you have any empathy for her? Why are you hell bent on becoming like your father? Why must you destroy another relationship?"

Aarti continued reading the message and she felt numb inside. Even her own mother thinks that she's a whore.

"I should've aborted you like I wanted to, then maybe I wouldn't be ashamed of you today"

Aarti held her knees and sobbed quietly; her mom words echoes in her ears.

"Why didn't you abort me, ma? Why did you give birth to me in the first place"

She asked, in between sobs.

"Why do you hate me so much? When all I ever wanted was your love"

Aarti wiped her tears and suddenly got up. She opened the door and walked out of her apartment, like a living corpse. She just kept walking, unsure of what's next to come.