The Cage (Completed)

Chapter 6

"If you love someone, set them free.
If it comes back, it was true, if it doesn't it was just a social commitment"

Its been a week since the whole fiasco. Noone has tried to contact me again. Even Nikita was trying to avoid me in every possible way. Little part of me was relieved that noone was trying to contact me, but most of me was hurt that I had to let go of everyone.
I was soo frustrated with the situation I was in and my monotonous routine. Hospital and home. When i was in Delhi, every Saturday i would go to different restaurants with random friends and eat various types of food. Food was another stress reliever for me.

And now, in the fear of running into known people, I didn't go anywhere.
Today was Saturday and the urge to go out and eat Mumbai food was getting stronger.
"I'll just go, eat something and come straight back home. " I promised myself.
I took a deep breath and decided that I won't sulk around anymore.
I was tired of all the crying and depression. I needed something fresh and new.
I walked into my closet and pulled out a denim shorts and full sleeved T-shirt. Putting on a little makeup, I was all ready to go.
Taking my wallet, I went towards the main road to catch a Rickshaw.
'I soo need a vehicle or more like a car' I thought to myself.

***
Traffic of Mumbai is well known all over the world. And because of that, it took me 45 minutes to reach a place which was just 20 minutes away from my place. Though I lived in the outskirts of the city, the traffic was still a problem.

Though I was a doctor, I loved eating different kinds of food, so today I was going to try some continental food.
Sitting at one of vacant table in the restaurant, I ordered my food.
I had decided one more thing that I am not going to drink from now on.
I was going to be a more cheerful person and try to forget about my past.
Taking a deep breath, I waited for my food. Today, it will be about the new beginnings.

But it all went into drain.

As I was looking around, I spotted a very familiar face. Yes ladies and gentlemen, Aarav Sinha was sitting right across my table and to top it all, he wasn't alone. He was with a girl. She was sitting beside her and they were holding hands. The girl was whispering something into his ears and they both were laughing.
My heart was ripped out of my chest would be an understatement. I don't even know what I was feeling. I was numb and frozen. Seeing Aarav with someone else is a nightmare. In the past three years, I tried every possible way of moving on from my family's death and it was way too difficult. I never thought I would have to move on from Aarav. My family's death was enough for me, I never thought of moving on from him. I mean he was a part of me. He wasn't there in Delhi, but I knew somehow he would be thinking about me and if he would be here, he would have wanted me to be strong. I never pictured him with anyone else. And now seeing him with someone was like a big punch to me. It was like a dose of reality. Now, I actually knew that he is gone.

I must have been staring at him for a long time because after few seconds he turned towards me and our eyes met. There were a mixture of emotions in his eyes. Surprise, shock, guilt. He covered all of that with his cold look and looked away.
I don't know why, His look of rejection angered me.
Two can play this game, Aarav. I am an expert in this.
I know he has every right to move on. I know I might have taken him for granted but in that moment I didn't care.

"Waiter! " I shouted.

Aarav wasn't looking at me, but I knew he was listening.

" Yes ma'am? " Waiter asked politely.

"One vodka, Neet! " I said loud and clear for Aarav to hear.

"Sure Ma'am" and the waiter left.

I looked at Aarav and his hands were clenched.

Kia :1 Aarav: 0.

Aarav looked at me with challenging eyes. I looked away this time.
Aarav held that girl's waist and pulled her closer kissing her on the cheek.
"You're soo beautiful Nitasha! " he said in her ears but loud enough for me to hear.

Aarav :1 Kia :1

Waiter arrived with my food and drink. I finished the entire shot in one gulp and said

"Repeat"

I drank alcohol because I knew it made him angry and Aarav used to kiss her neck or cheek or hand beacuse he knew I was getting jealous.
I don't even know after how many shots I realized I couldn't drink more.
I asked for my bill. Aarav's eyes were filled with victory which later converted into worry when i stumbled each step I took towards the door. I couldn't walk, hell I couldn't even stand.

When I finally reached the door, my one foot came into the other and I fell down on the floor. No prince charming came to save me when I fell with a thud.

"Fuck" I cursed.

All the eyes were on me. I tried to get up but fell down again. I tried again but failed. A pair of strong arms swiftly picked me up from the floor saving me from any further embarrassment.

"Put me down Aarav. I can walk" I shouted.

"Yeah, I could see that. Apparently vodka helps people to walk" he taunted.

I started laughing. I started laughing like a maniac. Aarav just shook his head and put me in his car.

"What's there to laugh? " he asked starting the engine.

"Whatever you said was a joke right?"

"Kia, just shutup okay? "

"No, I'm not going to shutup. I'm going to keep talking and talking and talking. And just for your information, Vodka is made of potatoes. Potato is a vegetable. Hence, Vodka is a salad."

He just rubbed his temples.

"Where do you live? " He asked.

" I stay in an apartment." I said proudly.

"Kia, give me your address, so that I can drop you at your place. "

"Who said Iwant your help? I can go by myself." I said rolling my eyes.

"Tell me damn it! " he shouted.

"no"

"Kia!"

"Aarav"

"Why are you soo stubborn? "

"Why are you dating that slut?" I said.

At this point, I don't even know what I was saying.
He was shocked with that direct question.

"I... I... " he looked away.

I just looked at him. His broad forehead, his perfect jawline. His perfect eyes. Everything was soo perfect about him. I don't deserve this perfect guy. He is way beyond my league.

"21,Napier street. " I said in a soft voice.

"What? " he asked confused.

"My address" I said and looked outside the window.

I guess I was half asleep when we reached my place, because the next thing I know I was in his arms again. He carried me to my place, opened the door from the keys he took from my wallet and tugged me into my bed.
When he was about to leave I whispered,

"Aarav, do you love her? "

He just looked at me.

I closed my eyes beacuse it was getting heavier with each moment.
He must have thought I was asleep because the next words that came out of his mouth were the ones I was craving to hear for the last three years. The words which gave me a peaceful sleep after a very long time.
He bent down and whispered near my ears.

"It's always been you Kia and it will always be you. "

***
Vote and comment❤

From now on updates will be every monday.