Aarya - The Way We Once Were

Chapter 29

"Just stop. I don't want to hear any of your pathetic excuses. I just want you gone"

And just like that, he was out the door. Aarti stood there balling her eyes out. She couldn't understand what was happening; how did that man get into the house? Into their bed? When did he take pictures of the two of them? She fell on the floor sobbing, with so many questions and no answers.

She wanted to wait for Yash to return, to try and explain her side. He needed to know that she is not a cheater; he's the only one she's ever been with in her entire life. Aarti did not want to leave like a coward, when she knew she didn't do anything wrong. She dialed his number a couple of times but it went straight to voicemail. Aarti sat on the sofa in the living room, waiting for Yash, eventually falling asleep. Around midnight, Yash stumbled through the door. Aarti woke up from her sleep and rushed towards his side.

"Are you okay?"

She asked and he angrily pushed her away.

"Why are you still here?"

His voice was venom,

"I'm not leaving here until you listen to me"

Her voice cracked.

"What's there to talk about? You showed me your true self, once again"

He spat.

"That's not fair, Yash"

She tried to protest.

"You know what's not fair? That I loved you for so long. That I was planning to propose to you"

He said and Aarti looked on.

"I left everything behind for you, and what did I get in return?"

He looked at her.

"You showed me that I once again I made the biggest mistake trusting you"

A tear rolled down his cheek.

"I did not cheat on you"

She caressed his cheek, hoping he would remember their good times together. Yash froze for a moment as he stared into her eyes, remembering all the times they were happy together. But then images of Aarti and the mystery man embedded in his head, making him more frustrated.

"Stop making a fool out of me. I know what I saw; he was in bed with you. how do you explain that?"

He snapped, breaking Aarti's heart.

"how do I explain to you that I truly have no idea how he got in bed with me?"

Aarti said to herself as she quietly sobbed. She really wanted to make amends with Yash, explain to him that she was not unfaithful, but he does not believe anything she says right now.

"I can't even look at you anymore; you truly disgust me"

His words broke her heart more than he knew.

"Why can't you leave me alone?"

He looked at her and Aarti saw hatred in his eyes.

"Do you really want me to go away from your life?"

She asked as she looked at him.

"I never want to see you again"

His voice was sharp. Aarti stood still, trying not to cry.

"If that's what you want, then I'll never show my face ever again"

Aarti grabbed her bag before walking out the door.

"Just once I wished you believed me; that you took my side. But I guess our love was never meant to be"

She looked at him before walking away. Aarti sat outside the mansion as she sobbed uncontrollably. Yash was her world and she was distraught that he did not believe her, that he chose to believe a stranger instead.

"We were supposed to spend the rest of our lives together, so why didn't you trust me?"

She stared at the mansion, feeling defeated.

"Where do I go now? I have nowhere to go"

She thought about calling Maansi but then stopped herself. What if she doesn't believe her? What if Maansi also thinks low of her?

Yash stood frozen. The image of Aarti and her lover made him want to vomit.

"How am I supposed to believe you when I saw everything with my own two eyes?"

He recalled looking at the photo. Aarti's lingerie was surely visible. What made it worse was that he had his arms wrapped around her, while she rested her head on his chest as she slept.

"it drives me insane seeing Aarti in the arms of another man"

She gulped down an entire glass of bourbon.

"My heart kept telling to that she's innocent, that my Aarti could never deceive me, but my eyes saw everything I needed to see. I can never forget how intimate they were, how his hands lingered on her thighs.

He swallowed another glass of bourbon.

The next morning Yash woke up from a pounding headache. He heard his butler calling out for him.

"Sir, Aarti ma'am"

He was panting.

"She doesn't live here anymore"

His voice was low but cold. He recalled Aarti leaving the mansion last night, he assumed she went to stay with Maansi.

"I think she spent the night outside"

The butler stuttered, making Yash turn to face him.

"What are you talking about? Aarti left last night"

Yash narrowed his eyes towards him.

"I found her unconscious outside"

His voice was low, shocking Yash. He rushed outside to find Aarti lifeless on the ground.

"Aarti, can you hear me?"

He checked her pulse and sighed in relief as he found one.

"Why the hell didn't you pick her up and bring her inside?"

He yelled at the butler as he gently picked up Aarti and placed her on the bed. Her body was cold, last night the temperature dropped a lot.

"Get the doctor now"

He shouted and the butler rushed out, trying to call her.

"Why didn't you go by Maansi? Why did you stay outside in the cold all night?"

Yash held her hands, feeling overwhelmed by everything. He should hate her right now but he couldn't help but feel broken by her condition. All he wanted to do was comfort her even though she deceived him so badly.

Moments later the doctor arrived and she ran some tests on Aarti. Yash stood there silently, watching everything.

Aarti slowly opened her eyes and realized that she was back at the mansion. Yash noticed that she was awake and he slowly walked towards her. Aarti felt like her old Yash was back, the one that held no malice.

"Good that you're awake"

The doctor said and they both turned to face her.

"Mr. Yash, you have to take better care of her, especially now"

The doctor said and Aarti froze while Yash looked on, confused.

"She's pregnant"

Yash eyes widen as the doctor's voice echoed in the room. He should be jumping for joy right now, but he was shattered.