ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 31

Nishtha

It pained me to say no to going out with him today. I had been wanting to spend time with him for years. I hated saying no to him, but it was the right thing to do. I'm a contract wife and the further I keep myself away from him, the further I'll be happier later on. The less it will hurt me when the contract ends.

After he left, I went to my room and worked. I caught up on all the work I missed since the wedding. I even went to the office for a bit, even though it was a Sunday. As expected, no one was there but working there made me feel better. I needed a change of environment. I was on my way back home when I decided to stop by my home.

"Hi!" I said, entering as Neel opened the door.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Can't I visit my own home?" I teased.
"Of course you can. Come!" Aai answered.
"Where is Yuvaan?" Baba asked, "Busy?"
"He... had plans with his friends today, so I went to the office to work and thought of visiting you on the way back home."
"How are you two?"
"We're okay."
"That's... good to her. Truly." Aai said.
"Hmm. Anyway, how's Ghar doing?"
"It's going good!" Baba said, "Yuvaan really helped and is still helping."
"Still?"
"Yes, we spoke this morning."
"So you guys told him about my infection?!"
"Is that wrong?" Aai asked.
"Yes." I said, irritated, "it's not his business."
"He's your husband. If not him, whose business is it?"
"You do realize that he hates me. You know our history and you know why I have married him, you really think he cares about his ex-girlfriend when he has all those girls around him."
I saw Aai and Baba's face fall.
I sighed, "I'm sorry. I didn't come here to fight. I just meant that I didn't want him to know but if he does, it's okay. I'll take my medication now."
"It's okay beta. Keep taking it. What did the doctor say? When did you last go?" Aai asked.
"I went 3 days before the wedding and as you must have found out, I fainted recently, but I'm good. I will be fine. The doctor said I'm healing and fainting is normal."
"Is it... a severe issue?" Baba asked.
"No, of course not. I'm fine Baba!" I reassured.
"Okay good." Baba said.
I spent an hour there, then I decided to head back. Aai packed Pav Bhaji for Yuvaan since she knows that's his favourite. I took it and headed out.

When I stood to book a cab, I suddenly heard a voice behind me, "Nishtha?"
I turned around and was shocked, "Oh my God!"
"It's been so long Bro!"
"I know!" I embraced him.

Aryan. One of my first friends from university. Aryan and I had meet because we stayed in the same area and took the same bus to college initially, until I got with Yuvaan and he got his own car. We did grow apart after he shifted homes mid way through 3rd year. We lost touch in my final year when he moved to UK. His course was only 3 years while mine was 4, so as I entered my final year, he entered his masters degree, for which he moved to UK.

"How are you man?" He asked.
"I'm good. How are you?"
"I'm good. What brings you here?"
"I live here now."
"You were in the US, right?"
"Yep! I'm here now though. Working in IBM."
"Wow! Got your dream company finally!"
"Of course. I had to!"
"Are you free? Do you wanna grab a coffee?"
I don't have anyone waiting at home. Yuvaan does not care less about what I do.
"Sure."

We sat at a coffee shop near home.
"So tell me, how's Yuvaan?"
"Umm.... We..."
How do I tell him?
"We..."
"I know you guys broke up, but I assumed you're still in touch?"
"You know we broke up?"
"Are you kidding? The whole college knew. The IT couple of university not showing up to prom or graduation together and barely meeting? It answered everything. I just never knew why."
"Oh. I... it's a long story."
"Whenever you're comfortable!"
"Thanks."
"So, now?"
"We're married."
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah."
"Didn't you just say that you broke up?"
"Aryan, I'll tell you everything."
And so, I started. I narrated everything: how we met again after 4 years, how we got married, the reason I had to marry him and even the contract. Aryan is one of my best friends, after Priya and Aditi. I didn't tell him how we broke up, those are old wounds.
"Wow." Aryan said, "That is all mind boggling."
"Yeah."
"How are you living with him?"
"I'm managing. We barely meet and I think he's busy with his women half the time so..."
"Doesn't that hurt you?"
"It does, but... he's not mine to be upset for."
"You're strong Nish. I know that whatever the misunderstanding is which broke you guys up will come out soon, especially now that you see each other everyday."
"The last time I tried to tell him, he... left me in the rain. I was hospitalized the next day."
"Oh. Well... maybe don't tell him and let things come out on their own."
"They won't. The web of deceit is too deep."
"The truth can never be hidden Nish."
"It won't change anything Aryan. He hates me."
"I may see dinosaurs again but I don't think I can and will ever see Yuvaan hate his Nishtha."
I had tears in my eyes, "You'll see it."
"Hey. It's okay! Relax!" He comforted me.
I saw him reach in his bag and pull something out, "here." He handed me a box.
"What's this?"
"A small gift for you!"
"But you didn't even know we're gonna meet?"
"Okay I'll be honest, I got it for my sister, but you're my sister too! So technically you can have it, I want you to have it. Please?" He chuckled.
I laughed, "But your sister?"
"I'm here for 3 weeks. You think I can't get her another one. I don't know when I'll meet you next so please accept this!"
"Okay!" I said smiling.
I opened it and it was a beautiful small anklet which would click when I walk.
I loved it.
"This is beautiful! Thank you!"
"You're welcome! Chalo! I gotta head out now. Give me your number we'll stay in touch and meet before I leave once. I'd want to meet Yuvi too!"
"Sure, here." I gave him my number and we bid each other a bye and he left.
I took a cab and reached home.

It was 2am. He wasn't home yet. We had a small argument even before he left with his friends and now he wasn't home. I was worried. Very. I can't call him, he won't reply. I tried to read and so I sneaked into his room because I know his library is huge. He would kill me if he found out.
I quickly grabbed a book about locating people and emergency related things in order to help and I came downstairs to get water.
As I immersed myself in the book and walked down, someone's voice caught me off guard. I looked up to find him looking at me.
"Y...you?" I asked him.
"It's my house. Who did you expect?" He asked.
I was embarrassed now.
I saw him heat the food as we spoke and was even more surprised when he asked me to sit with him as he ate.

We sat on the couch while I continued reading.
He was on his phone.
"Why are you reading a book about emergency?"
"What?" I asked, looking up.
"The book?"
"Oh... I..." How do I tell him it's for him? "I... it was interesting."
"Where did you get it from?"
Oh shit. I'm screwed now. I gulped.
"You... your lib...library." I looked down in fear.
After getting no reply for 20 seconds, I finally looked up and watched him looking at me, confused.
"What?" I asked.
"Just trying to understand why someone is so sacred to say library." He said casually.
"I... like... no..."
"You can use the library bookworm. I don't care."
"Thanks." I said, not realizing that I was smiling at the use of a nickname, even if it's bullying.
"What's the anklet for?" He asked, after 5 minutes of silence, "it's like a GPS tracker."
"Oh... I... a friend got it for me."
He looked up from his phone, "Pri Adi?"
I shook my head, "Aryan. Aryan Sharma?"
I saw his expression change.
I couldn't understand to what.  
"Aryan from university? What's he doing here?"
"He is here for 3 weeks. I met him today."
"You went out today?"
"Yes."
"So you can go out with another guy but not with your husband. Interesting." He scoffed.
"I... that's not the reason."
"Save it Nishtha. Some things never change."
I felt tears in my eyes.
"That's not what happened. I didn't go for him."
"As if I trust anything that you say." He glared at me and got up, leaving me alone.
I saw him clean his plate and leave the room, and go upstairs and close his door.

I cried. A lot.
This man will always misunderstand me.
Why, God?
Why did you bring him back in my life?

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