Everything but her

Will love subside too?

Virat parked the car outside Aarushi's house and motioned her to come out.

'Virat, see we can come some other time. It is already 9', Aarushi said looking all frightened.

'That fear, Aarushi, on your face is my biggest strength. Your fear of losing me will catalyse me to speak to your brother. Cause it is the same fear that controls my entire being. To tell you the truth, I don't know what will happen once we go inside but please stay with me, believe in me. I might falter but if your belief doesn't falter, we will find a way out. Now look at me and remove those tears from your eyes. I promise you nothing will happen. Okay?'

'Okay', Aarushi said half heartedly. She was still not sure if this was a good idea. She held his hand which he had taken out for her and moved towards the door, her heartbeat moving faster than express train.

Ajinkya's wife Radhika opened the door and was surprised to see them hand in hand. She looked at Aarushi with questioning eyes. However, Aarushi managed to escape her stare.

'Where is bro and mom?', she asked.

'Ajinkya is in his room. Mom has gone for a wedding. She would return after two days', she explained it all to her.

'Ok', Aarushi said.

Aarushi and Virat went towards Ajinkya's room and Aarushi knocked the door.
'Yeah, who is it, Radhika?', he queried.

'Aarushi', Aarushi said.

'Oh come in Aarushi', Ajinkya said.

However, once Aarushi entered his room, he understood why she had felt the need to be formal. Virat was with her. They were no longer holding hands and Virat looked a little sheepish.

'Oh, Virat is here too? Come sit', Ajinkya motioned him to have a seat. 'So you guys together? Is something the matter?', he continued.

'No, I just came to talk to you about something', Virat said trying to raise his topic.

'Yeah sure but first let me tell you something', Ajinkya said.

'Ok, you go first', Virat replied.

'We have found a very good guy for Aarushi. So, she is going to get married soon if all things go well. Aarushi, you remember Abhimanyu?'

'My senior, Abhimanyu?', she asked surprised.

'Yes, him. He is a famous architect now. Mom met his family a couple of days back and she like loved the entire family. What better than an old friend? You know him too.'

Virat threw his gaze towards Aarushi. His entire thoughts had been stumbled. He had no idea what to say now. His eyes were questioning her. Ajinkya broke the monotonous silence,
'Now your turn?', he asked Virat.

'Yeah, actually we...', Virat started but was soon interrupted by Ajinkya.

'We? Who we?', he asked.

'Aarushi and me met few days earlier', he paused after that.

'So? Everything fine between the two of you?', he asked with concern.

'Yeah, I mean Ajinkya it is a little complicated..', Virat said.

'We reconciled bro. I don't want to marry anyone but him', Aarushi completed it for him without taking a single breath in between.

Ajinkya stared from Aarushi to Virat. He could not believe his ears. For a moment, he was in complete surprise. Aarushi and Virat, on the other hand, could feel their heartbeats. They had said it but that was the easy part. The reply was still to come and it could make or break them at that moment.

'So, you had gone to visit him that day early in the morning. There was no meeting. Right?'

'I did not intend to lie to you but you would not have understood', Aarushi said feeling a little guilty.

'But you did lie to me?', Ajinkya asked a rhetorical question.

'Jinx, if we had not intended to tell you, we would not be standing here right now', Virat joined in the conversation trying to protect Aarushi.

'Virat, you remember the first thing I told you when I came into the team?'

''That every sour feeling is over between us from now on'', Virat reiterated his words.

'Yeah, and I cannot fathom why you want to go back that street once more', Ajinkya said.

'Bro, but why do you think that our relationship will not meet its end?', Aarushi asked him.

'Well, you know the answer better than me Aarushi. I cannot approve this relationship and I am really sorry for that and I cannot speak a lie just to be good to you guys. And more than me, mom will never accept this. So now, it is up to you guys what you want to do. I for one remain firm on my decision. And Aarushi, don't you know he has a girlfriend?'

'He broke up with her bro, if you are talking about Anushka', Aarushi said.

'Don't you get it Aarushi? I mean, how difficult is it for you to understand? I am not your enemy. And believe me you both are not meant for each other.'

'You don't know that and by the way the relationship was not broken by him alone. She was also part of that decision. So how can you just blame him?', Aarushi said clearly getting a little irritated by her brother's conclusions.

'I won't let this happen. No offence to anyone but I love my sister very much and Virat I don't think you are the right person for her. With so much money, why don't you go and find someone else? Why do you still want Aarushi?'

'You know what, Jinx, you won't get it at all. I love her. Always have. And with all the money that I have, you still won't let her be mine. So I guess that does not make a difference. I know Aarushi would not go against you or Aunty's decision. So, there you have it. I accept your decision.', Virat said sadness clearly making a mark on his face.

'No, Virat stay. You said you would do anything this time. Please Virat', Aarushi begged him.

'I would have fought all. But, I cannot fight your brother. I cannot be the wall that separates the two of you. And the image that he holds in his mind about me cannot be changed Aarushi. I will take a leave now and I promise you Ajinkya, Aarushi will never meet me again. Believe me if you can', he said and began to leave.

'Don't make decisions for me Virat', Aarushi said sternly.

'It is getting late Aarushi. Let him go', Ajinkya said.

Virat watched back one more time and saw Aarushi once again in a flood of tears. He left instantly. He could not bear to see her like that. She was right. They could have delayed it. But, what about the pain, he thought. It demanded to be felt no matter when the truth was told. He had gone in as a soldier ready to give an answer to each bullet that came his way. But, he was hit by a bullet of his own battalion. He did not know how he would cope with that. Maybe the simple explanation was that he did not need to cope with it. Maybe he just wanted to vent his anger out at all the things that had made him what he was today. Something he had felt before. He was a shattered man once again. Somehow he felt if he had not been the famous Virat Kohli, Ajinkya would have accepted him and that was making him hate himself all the more. He had literally dragged Aarushi to talk to Ajinkya. He had thought that after so many years he would understand their feelings. Understand the kind of person Virat was. Sadly though he was wrong. So wrong. His lady had stood there in a pool of tears. If that was not confirmation of how badly he had failed, he did not know what else could be? The tears, he knew, would subside but what about the love. He did not know if love would subside too.