ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 35

Nishtha

I was dressed in a simple pastel pink kurti and simple jeans as I waited downstairs for him to come. It was 7am in the morning and we were about to head to Mahableshwar.

It was peak August so I was hoping for amazing rain and foggy weather. Mahabaleshwar is so so pretty and I was super excited - but, I was going with my ex. I still find that strange. His sudden behavior change towards me was something I just couldn't understand. He hates me but he is showering care.
Whatever. Don't think about it.

"Are you ready?" His deep voice came.
I looked up. He was dressed in a white shirt and black jeans and man, he looked good.
"Yes." I said, grabbing my handbag. We got up and got ready to go.
"Juma Aunty, please enjoy your holidays." I heard him say to Juma Aunty, "We'll be back in a few days, if you need anything please don't hesitate to call, okay?"
He then looked at me, "Let's go."
I nodded and followed him out.

We sat in the car.
"Is he not driving us?" I said, looking at Harish, our driver.
"No. It's OUR trip. Why should he come?"
"What?"
"I mean, I gave him a couple of days off as I gave Juma Aunty, so it's just us."
"Ah. Okay." I said, then looked out.

I felt an internal battle. A huge part of me wanted to talk to him, talk about everything we missed out on for the last 4 years, tell him all about my life in Chicago, of how much mostly everything reminded me off him.... But then the reality hits me and I remember that this is all a scam. This entire marriage is a scam. It's just an act to convince people that he isn't a playboy.
So he literally is.
My Yuvaan has become a playboy.
I can't digest that.
I don't even believe it, but I've learned to start believing the unbelievable.

"Have you brought your medicines?" He asked all of a sudden, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Yes." I replied.
"Good."

We weren't even able to talk. There was a time we used to be able to constantly talk. An hour passed in silence. He turned up the radio and was listening to songs and I listened with him. Lucky for us - we have the same music taste.

I noticed the rain increasing and suddenly now, I wanted to have chai. Chai by the rain.
How do I ask him?
I scouted around for chai shops and found one which was right by the hill station, overlooking a beautiful mountain range and had shelter. Ugh.
"Ca... listen... I..." I tried to speak.
He looked at me, "what's wrong?"
"I umm... I thought we could... like..." my eyes weren't able to look at him. I kept staring at the view in front of me.
Suddenly, he spoke, "I think we should stop for a while. We can have chai at this place."
I looked at him. He was gazing at me.
How did he know?
Maybe he wanted chai too. 
I nodded.
We got down and ran towards the shop fast and I sat, looking at the view, while he ordered.
Soon, he came and sat next to me.
We sat in silence until he randomly spoke, "Is this your first time here?"
"Yeah." I said, not looking at him, but I realized that in need to make efforts too so I looked at him and continued, "what about you?"
He chuckled, "Damn, forgot already."
I looked at him.
I hadn't forgotten.
I knew he had come here with his family during the summer of 2nd year. There was no WiFi, we weren't able to talk to each other or manage anything. It was the most difficult 10 days.
"I... I didn't forget." I said, looking down.
"Then why this question?" He asked.
"Sorry." I said.
He sighed, "Connectivity should be better now."
"I see." I said, evidently awkward.

We drank our chai in silence after that.

Then, we sat in the car and drove ahead to the resort. After 45 minutes, we reached finally.

It was a beautiful little cottage type hotel, with one huge problem - only one room. Before I could ask him, he answered my doubt.
"Mom and Dad booked it. The hotel manager is their friend. Not in my control." He said.
I nodded.
We explored further and I fell in love with it. The patio had a beautiful view of the mountains as it was on an incline.
The rain made it so much better.

I sat on the couch as he walked around the house and then called me into the bedroom. I went there and saw him standing.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Which side do you want?" He asked.
"Oh... I... any side." I was shocked he even asked me. I assumed he'd just order me.
"Nishtha. Again. I need clear answers."
"I... you can pick first."
"Nishtha." He said, grabbing my hand and pulling me close, "Pick. Fast."
"I... I'll take the right side." I said, quickly.
"Good." He said and let go and walked away.

What was that?

I went into the washroom and freshened up and then got out, where he was sitting on his phone. I checked the time. It was just 12pm.
What are we supposed to do now?

"Do... do you have something to do?" I asked. 
He looked up at me, startled yet amused, "what does that mean?"
"Like... you have plans?"
"What do you mean do I have plans?"
"I thought you might not want to... like... spend time with me, so you might have your own plans." I blurted it out, looking down.
He didn't react, so I slowly looked up.
His jaw was clenched.
Oh God.
He's gonna get mad at me again.
"I... I just assumed... I don't... I don't know..." I felt tears coming in my eyes, "please don't... get mad at me."
He stood up and came closer and I backed away.
He stopped mid track, "Nishtha... I'm... I'm not going to get mad. I don't have any plans. We are going somewhere later on. There's a factory tour at 4pm. So... till then just rest."
"Okay." I said, still not looking at him.

He looked at me, and made me look at him. He looked at me like he was going to say something, but he didn't. He let go off me and then walked outside, saying "be ready by 4."

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