Ishq Junooniyat (Book 3)

56. His Broken Heart

Aarchi discarded her bra and changed into a slim strap camisole which had an in-built bra. She wore red shorts matching the red top and laid under the covers, hugging her teddy bear tightly as her mind took her back to the conversation she had with Vihaan.

She was lost in thoughts when a hand crept from behind around her waist, pulling her close. She was to scream out loud when Vihaan removed his hand from her relaxing her. Aarchi quickly rushed out of the bed and pulled out a hand knife, hidden under her bed mattress.

"Its me" Vihaan said softly, raising his hands in surrender.

"Vihaan?" Aarchi switched on the lamp lights and looked at him confused.

"I couldn't sleep" Vihaan said looking down in his laps.

"Hmm" Aarchi hid the knife and climbed back into the bed, pulling covers over herself, tired of arguing with him. She switched off the lamp light and placed the teddy bear between them.

"Stay on your side of the bed" She said showing him the invisible boundary before facing away from him and sleeping.

"Need you close" Vihaan threw the teddy bear out of the bed and pulled her close, snacking a hand over her waist, inhaling the floral scent of her hair. Aarchi's breathe hitched as he caressed her waist, as his mouth slowing descended onto her neck, peppering soft kisses along the length of it.

Stop touching Aarchi.

Stay away from me.

"Stop!!!" Aarchi sat upright pushing him away from her. Vihaan looked away knowing what caused the reaction.

"I'll leave" Vihaan wiped his hands over his face and stepped out of the bed when Aarchi stopped him by holding his hand.

"Why did you hurt me? I thought we were going to have a happily ever after. Small husband-wife fights are common, they keep the relationship alive but you burnt down the bridge between us. Why Vihaan?" Aarchi asked crying silently.

"Ari...jaan meri" Vihaan stepped back and pulled her in a hug.

"I thought I was protecting you" He said softly, kissing her head and holding her in his arms.

"From what?" Aarchi looked up confused.

"My bad luck" He said holding her hands and kissing them.

"Huh?" Aarchi looked at him with moist eyes.

"We never talked about Aparna, did we?"Vihaan asked with a sad smile, not being able to look Aarchi in the eyes.

"You didn't say anything and I didn't ask thinking it'll make you sad" Aarchi replied.

"She died in an accident. I was the one behind the wheel when we got crashed into by a truck" Vihaan held her hands tightly, trying to find warmth that would pull him out of the eternal cold. Aarchi noticed the tight squeeze of his hands and settled herself in his laps, cupping his cheeks in her palms.

"I'm here for you" Aarchi whispered as Vihaan started from the start of how he and Aparna met and how their story had a tragic end.

Past

A young girl in her teenage days observed the silent boy in the library go through the textbook and scribble down things on his note book.

"Go talk to him" Her friend nudged her and pushed her into talking to him. With unsure steps and a script forming in her head she took steps towards him and sat beside him.

"Hey" She whispered, hoping he'd hear her in the silence of the library where only the shuffling of pages were heard.

"Finally. I wondered how long you'd take to talk to me" He turned towards her with a smirk, giving her his complete attention.