A month later
"Samir, stop...please stop!" Arohi exclaimed between bouts of laughter. "Seriously I can't breathe." she said to a smiling Samir, who'd just spent the better part of dinner making her laugh. "I'm glad that my life is so amusing to you!" Samir said in mock anger making Arohi smile and reach out and squeeze his hand. "You're a good friend." she said and meant it. Arjun had canceled plans with her yet again and not wanting to spend another night at home, she had called Shefali, who was busy with Romit. Her next call was to Samir who had dropped everything and met her at their favorite hot spot. "What do you want for dessert?" Samir asked, making Arohi laugh again. "I love how you know me so well that you don't ask IF I want dessert you just straight out ask what I want." Samir chuckled. "I know what a sweet tooth you have, just last week you first ate your own piece of chocolate cake and then proceeded to eat mine!" Samir reminded her. Arohi gave him a sheepish smile. "I should really not eat so many sweets, I think I've gained a couple of pounds." Arohi replied. "Don't even think about changing a thing about yourself Arohi!" he admonished. "You don't need to lose weight...you're perfect." he added with a smile. "And you're good for me ego." she said with a laugh. They had just ordered their desserts when Samir excused himself to go to the men's room. Sitting by herself Arohi's gaze moved over the room and suddenly stopped. A little startled she looked away. A few moments later Vicky made his way over and took the seat that Samir had been occupying. "Well isn't this nice and cozy." he said meanly. Arohi glared at him. "My brother is working himself to the bone and his wife is spending her evenings with strange men." he added. Arohi's eyes widened in shock. "Not that I need to explain myself to you Vicky, but Samir is a very good friend of mine and Arjun knows where I am." "As for him working himself to the bone, well he has to pay for your frivolous purchases somehow." she replied. "Shouldn't you be helping him, don't you work for HIS company now." Arohi added." Vick's eyes flashed in anger. "Jealous Arohi?" Vick mocked. "I would have thought Arjun bhai had put you in your place last time you tried to say something to him about me." he added. A wicked smile appeared on his face at Arohi's gasp. "What?" "You don't think I know you tried to tell him not to get me the motorbike?" he asked. "I heard the whole conversation from outside the door. "He's my brother and he won't hear a word against me even if it's from his loving wife!" Vick snapped. Arohi swallowed having nothing to say because it was true. "Hi," Samir said slowly as he came to stand next to them. Looking hesitantly from Arohi to Vick. "Hi Samir," Vick said standing up. "I was just leaving, just came by to say hi to my sister in law." Vicky mocked making Arohi grimace. Vicky, Samir thought and shot a glare at the offending man. Vicky smiled that condescending smile of his and moved away from the table. "Did that jerk say something to you?" Samir asked. Arohi forced a small smile on her face. "No." she managed to choke out. She hadn't really told Samir about Vick other then he had left her before they were supposed to be getting married. "Such a bast**d!" Samir said angrily as he sat down. "He's got loser written all over him!" he added shaking his head in disgust. "Arohi please tell me if he said anything to you, I will go deal with him right now!" Samir said. This time Arohi's smile was genuine. "I'm fine, he didn't say anything I didn't already know." she added a little sadly. All through dessert Samir watched Arohi push around her cake and finally just lay down her fork. "I'm actually more full then I thought." she said. "Why is that guy living in your home?" Samir asked suddenly, folding his hands on the table. "He obviously makes you uncomfortable, and the whole situation is awkward." he added. "Samir, he's Arjun's brother where else is he supposed to go?" Arohi asked. Samir frowned. "Um, doesn't his family live in Chandigarh?" "HE could live there." "Are you telling me there aren't places for him to work there or that his big brother can't find him a job there?" Samir asked. Arohi stared down at her dessert. That was a question that she had unfortunately asked herself many times. Weeks ago when Arjun had said he'd deal with the situation she thought things would have changed, but nothing had been done and now it was worse because she knew Vicky was eavesdropping on them too. "Arjun said he'll deal with Vicky." Arohi said in answer. Samir shook his head in anger. "I can understand that Vicky is his brother but you are his wife!" "And now you are his first priority, it's apparent to me, who doesn't even know this jerk, that he makes you unhappy, so why hasn't Arjun done something about it. "If you were my wife I would move heaven and earth to make you happy, because you deserve nothing less!" Samir said harshly looking away from Arohi. Arohi paused and then said gently. "Arjun has just been so busy with a new project." "Once that's finished up I know he'll make things right." Samir didn't look convinced but the pleading look in Arohi's eyes had him finally nodding. His gaze shifting once again to Vicky who sat happily at the bar with a group of friinds. Catching Samir's gaze on him, Vicky gave him a mocking smile and raised his glass to a scowling Samir.
"Do I look okay?" Arohi asked Arjun. Arjun's gaze slid over her appreciatively, taking in her white net sari, with hot pink and red thread work flowers."You look gorgeous." he replied giving her a warm smile. Arohi smiled back. "You don't look bad yourself." she said giving him an admiring glance. He wore a charcoal grey suit with a light blue collared shirt underneath. The tie a midnight blue. "Very handsome." she said, pressing her hands against his chest and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "And now you promise that we're only spending about an hour at this party and then you and I are going out, just the two of us?" Arohi asked, reminding him of his earlier promise. "Yes, only an hour and then it'll be just you and me." Arjun promised again as he gave her a hug. "We just need to make an appearance. "Mr. Saran, who is throwing the party is one of our biggest clients so we have to attend but we're not staying long." Arjun added.. Arohi nodded happily. Arjun's New York trip which had ended up being postponed was now back on, he would be leaving tomorrow morning for New York, for a whole week and she'd barely seen him lately, so they were going to spend his last night together just catching up on each other's lives.
"Do you see Jai and Lara?" Arohi asked Arjun a few minutes after being welcomed to the party by their host. Arjun looked around and then spotted Jai and Lara standing not too far away. "There they are." Arjun replied, taking Arohi's hand as they walked towards them. Arohi smiled at the happy couple. Lara was blushing and giggling over something Jai had just said to her. "They're so in love." Arohi said softly, making Arjun raise a brow. "Yeah, it's pretty disgusting." he teased as they stopped infront of Jai and Lara. The couples exchanged hellos and hugs and hand shakes before Arohi pulled Lara to the side and asked why she blushing like a bride. Lara shrugged and then glanced lovingly at Jai. "It's nothing, I just feel very loved." Lara replied softly. Arohi smiled. "I'm glad you two are still so connected even though Jai has been putting in so many later hours at work?" Arohi said. Lara shook her head, he's been home on time so that we still have time to spend together, and because I'm usually in bed so early he'll work from home after I've gone to bed." she replied. Arohi nodded. That's really sweet of him." Arohi said softly. "You're very lucky." "Yeah, I am." Lara replied. "Is Arjun working from home too?" she asked. Arohi wanted to laugh, yeah after his 80 hours a week at work he'll come and spend a few more hours working at home! "Hi everyone." said a voice interrupting Arohi's thoughts on why her husband insisted on working so much. "Hey Nik, how's it going?" said Arjun. Arohi tried to put a smile on her face, she really did, but it was difficult. In the last few weeks she had started to resent Niki. The woman that got to spend so much time with her husband. With a sigh Arohi shook her head at herself. It was not Niki's fault, Arohi knew it was all business, neither was it Niki's fault that they needed to go for this New York trip together, this was afterall all part of the job. Infact Niki had never been anything but friendly towards Arohi, yet Arohi couldn't help this feeling of irritation when the woman was near. "Are you ready for tomorrow's?" she asked Arjun. Jai was taking care of things in Mumbai and not coming along. Arjun nodded and then went back to whatever him and Jai had been discussing, leaving Niki to speak with the girls. "So how are you feeling Lara?" Niki asked. "I'm good, just getting things ready for the baby now." she answered. Arohi smiled at the mention of the baby. "Are we still going shopping tomorrow for accessories for the nursery." she asked. "Oh yes, for sure. and some clothes too." Lara added with a smile. Arohi glanced at Niki who seemed completely bored with the conversation. Somehow she couldn't picture Niki as a mother, she seemed too cold and indifferent. "So Niki what about you?" "Have you thought about meeting someone and settling down?" Arohi asked suddenly. Niki's eyes widened and then she gave a small smile. "I'm already married to my work, besides the only man I could see myself marrying is already taken." she added softly. Arohi stared at her questioningly. "Who's that?" she asked. "Arjun ofcourse..." Niki replied, and then burst out laughing at the look of shock on Arohi's face. "I'm just kidding." "Me and Arjun, oh my gosh that would never have worked." Niki said. Arohi who's heart was racing a mile a minute, tried to calm down, glancing at Lara she could see she too was shocked by Niki's words. A few moments later Niki excused herself and Lara muttered "I don't like that girl." Arohi was hard pressed not to agree.
"Arjun, it's been an hour and half are we leaving soon." Arohi asked as the two of them stood together. "Yeah, just need to talk to one more person and then we can get out of here." Arjun promised. And then looking down at her he asked "Aren't you having fun?" "I am, but I've been looking forward to spending some time just the two of us." she replied. Arjun squeezed her hand and promised to be back as quickly as possible.
Arohi glanced at her phone clearly annoyed. It had been an hour since Arjun had told her he'd be back soon. An hour of waiting for him to come get her so that they could leave this place. She was so irritated right now. "You okay?" Lara asked. "Yup." Arohi replied, clearly not. "Where's Arjun, you two should have been gone by now." Lara said. "Yup." Arohi replied again. Standing up she said "I'm going to the restroom, if Arjun comes looking for me please tell him to wait for me here." A few minutes later as she walked out and started to make her way back to Lara, her gaze fell on the dance floor and what she saw made her heart drop. A lump instantly formed in her throat as she stared at Niki pulling Arjun to the dance floor. Arohi saw the look of indecisiveness on his face, he even glanced at his watch and then Niki said something to him making him laugh and finally he followed her on to the dance floor. Niki slipped into his arms as they began to dance. It wasn't that Arjun was holding Niki particularly close or that he even seemed that happy dancing with her. But Arohi didn't see any of that. All she saw was her husband, who barely spent any time with her, who hadn't even danced with his own wife, who was going on a "business" trip with an extremely beautiful woman dancing with that same woman. Tears blinded her as she fought to steady herself. "I told you he would tire of you." said a sharp voice from behind her. A voice that Arohi knew only too well. Brushing at her tears she looked back at Tania who wore a smug smile on her face. "My how the mighty fall." she taunted meanly. Arohi stared back at her trying to speak past the lump in her throat. "He's not that into you anymore is he?" Tania added in a little sing songy voice. "What were you saying last time we met..."oh yes, my man, don't touch my man." "Well how many girls are you going to stop, and by the looks of it your man doesn't mind being touched by Niki Aujla." "But I gotta say I feel better, I mean you little mouse, are no competition for me...but Niki is more like it." Tania stared at Arohi for a moment and then with a big smile on her face and a toss of her hair she walked away leaving Arohi devastated. The tears just were not stopping now. "I have to get out of here!" she thought to herself as she blindly rushed towards the entrance. She couldn't breathe in this place she thought wildly as she rushed past people, keeping her head down. Not stopping until she got to the main heavy doors. The door was opened for her and she stumbled out. Turning for a second and asking one of the valet's to call her a cab. She needed to get out of here. The sound of her phone ringing brought more tears when she saw it was Arjun calling her. She ignored the call as a new emotion took over. Red hot anger as she played back all of Arjun's wrongs. And in her mind there were plenty of them! As the cab came to a stop infront of her, she quickly got in and gave her destination. The tears falling freely now as she looked out the window. Angry and incredibly hurt.
"She texted you and told you she was going home?" Arjun asked Lara in shock. "I've been calling and looking for her for the last 30 minutes and she went home!" he asked angrily now. "Are you sure it was a half hour ago, cause 30 mins ago you were dancing with your friend!" Lara snapped back angrily. Arjun ignored her and looked at Jai. "I'm going home, I will call you from New York tomorrow evening." he said. Jai nodded and then said "Lara, baby, do you mind giving Arjun and I a couple of minutes." Lara nodded and gave Arjun one last glare. "You better stop hurting her!" she snapped as she turned on her heal and waddled away. Arjun rolled his eyes at Lara's theatrics. "She's right you know." Jai began. "I've been noticing it for a few months now, you have been totally ignoring Arohi." Jai continued. Arjun's eyes widened in anger. "Yu can stop right there." he said coldly. "I don't interfere in your marriage so I would think that you would give me the same respect and not interfere in mine." Arjun added. "I'm your best friend and if I see you headed down a very dangerous road I would be pretty stupid to let you without atleast trying to get you to change direction!" Jai said in the same cold voice. Arjun's lips thinned and he shook his head. "Niki is trouble, she always has been...you know that." "Don't let her mess up your marriage." Jai said. What the F$%$ Jai!" Arjun snapped quietly. "I love my wife and she knows that!" "Niki is just a business associate!" "We're partners on this venture so I will end up spending time with her, just like you do!" he added. "Except Niki wants YOU!" Jai said in a frustrated voice. "You're supposed to be the genius, so genius, open your damn eyes and see her for what she is, and go home and do everything in your power to make sure that your wife knows that you love her." "Grovel if you have to!" Jai said which earned him a scowl from Arjun. "Why the hell would I grovel?" "I didn't do anything wrong, and Jai maybe Lara gets jealous quickly but my wife is not the type!" "Now if you'll excuse me I need to get home!" Arjun snapped turning around and stalking away.
Arohi struggled out of her sari and slipped on a her pajamas and then a hoody over top. She was so cold, so damn cold she thought as she hugged her arms around herself. Her face scrubbed free of make up, her hair pulled back into a heavy ponytail she went and stood infront of the large window over looking the garden. Unseeing she continued to stare at a blanket of nothingness. Hot tears that she had stopped bothering to brush away now fell helplessly down her face. Hearing the bedroom door open and then shut with a loud click had her stiffening. "Why did you leave without me?" Arjun snapped from behind her. Arohi didn't answer. "Arohi, I was worried sick, and why weren't you answering my calls?" he asked. Not hearing an answer he came and stood right behind her. "Arohi?" he repeated softly. Arohi bit her lip against the fresh onslaught of tears but this time she brushed them away and turned to face him. "You looked busy and I wanted to leave, so I left." she said moving past him. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Arjun asked sharply. Whipping around Arohi glared at him. "Exactly what I said, you were busy dancing with Niki!" "You didn't dance with your own wife all night but you had time to dance with Niki and to top it off I had to listen to bullsh*t from your ex Tania about you and Niki." "You promised me, we would leave after an hour and I like an idiot believed you." "I don't why, since you haven't kept any of your promises in the last 3 months!" Arohi snapped with anger. Arjun's eyes flashed in his anger. "You know better then to listen to anything Tania says!" "I will deal with her!" "And don't you think I wanted to leave?" "Don't you think I want to spend time with my wife but sometimes things happen that are not in our control and sometimes opportunities present themselves." "Like today an international hotelier who has been impressed by mine and Jai's work wants to partner up with us on a venture." "Do you think when he made an effort to seek me out I was going to say to him, no sorry I can't talk to you right now I need to go for dinner with my wife!" Arjun replied. Angry tears filled Arohi's eyes. "Infact yes I do!" she snapped. "He wants to discuss business he should set up a meeting with you in your office, not talk about it at some random party!" "If it was Jai and he had made a promise to Lara he would never have broken it!" Arohi continued furiously. "Well I'm not Jai, you didn't marry Jai!" Arjun replied coldly "No you're not Jai." "He comes home to his wife every night so that he can be with her." "You lock yourself up in your office!" Arohi replied with a shake of her head. Her lips drawn into a thin line. "Did you enjoy your dance with your other "business" associate?" Arohi asked sarcastically. "Arohi, it was just a dance, a dance I didn't even want, but Niki talked me into." Arjun began. "I just wanted to leave and spend the rest of the evening with you." he said. "Then why didn't you?" Arohi asked, tears welling in her eyes. "Why am I always last on your list of priorities?' she asked hoarsely. "Arohi, you're not last, you know you're my first priority." Arjun began. "Don't lie, please don't lie Arjun." Arohi cried. "I am not first, not by a long shot." "Your work is first, it's before everything in your life." "I think that if you had to ever choose between your company or me you would choose your company." Arohi said sadly. "Now you're just being ridiculous and why the hell would I need to choose?!" Arjun snapped "Why can't I have both?" "Other husbands work and provide for their family so why the hell is it so wrong if I do it?" he asked. "Other husbands also spend time with their wives, they don't neglect them." "Lately the only time we spend together is you waking me up in the middle of the night to make love and that's rare and far in between too!" Arohi snapped "Why can't we go for dinner, or go for a movie or just hang out." "When was the last time we actually talked?" Arohi asked. "Do you even know anything that's going on in my life?" Arohi asked resentfully. "Arohi, I told you once this project gets to the construction stage I can back off a little and I will have more time." Arjun replied. Arohi shook her head. "No you won't because there will just be another project." "You have let your work consume you and that was fine before, but now you have a family, what's going to happen when we have kids?' "Will they even know their father?" Arohi asked. "Ofcourse they will!" Arjun snapped angrily. "No, if things keep up this way, I doubt there will even be kids." Arohi said quietly. Arjun's eyes snapped to hers and with his eyes flashing furiously he asked "What do you want from me Arohi?' What?' "Do you want me to stop working and sit at home next to you all day?" "What do you want?" he snapped. "I want a husband that knows how to balance his life and who knows what's important in life!" "I want a husband who loves me, and wants to spend time with me, one who remembers my b-day, one who is interested in what I'm feeling?' "What's happening in my life?" Arohi continued. "Do you want me to write you poetry, maybe a song too!" Arjun snapped angrily making Arohi wince. "I apologized for forgetting your b-day! "I tired to make it up to you!" Arjun said, adding "I am exactly who I was when we got married?" "My work is important to me, but so are you!" "I am in love with you for god's dsake. "Do you know how hard that emotion is for someone like me?" Arjun asked frustrated. "I am trying my damn best to make you happy and I thought I was succeeding, but I guess I was wrong." "I know I haven't been around much but I told you that will change soon!" "Just like you want me to understand you, I would like for you to understand me, and what is important to me." "If I don't have my work Arohi I'm lost!" Arjun said clenching his fists in frustration. Arohi stared back at him. "I guess that answers my question about what you would choose if you had to choose between me and your work." she said quietly. Arjun swore. "You're putting words in my mouth." "Ofcourse I would choose you!' "I love you, you're my wife, I can't imagine my life without you!" Arjun said angrily. They stared mutely at each other for a few minutes until Arohi finally said "You should go to bed, you have an early flight to catch." Arjun shook his head. "I don't want to leave things like this between us." he began. Arohi shook her head. "Please Arjun, I'm tired , I've got a headache I just can't continue this conversation right now." she said quietly. Arjun looked like he was going to argue but then changed his mind. Arohi heard the bathroom door click shut a few minutes later. She was in bed pretending to be asleep when Arjun did come out. Sensing him standing by her side of the bed looking at her, she prayed that he wouldn't realize that she was still awake. She was so tired of arguing, she didn't want to anymore. Lately it seemed like all they did was argue. She heard him as he got into bed and, she stayed frozen waiting to see if he would come close to her and wrap his arms around her like he usually did. But he didn't, infact 5 minutes later when she heard his even breathing and she turned to look in his direction she saw that he was sleeping on the other side of the bed, his face away from her. Choking back a sob, Arohi buried her face into her pillow. What was happening to them she wondered wildly. She'd even stopped making excuses in her mind for him. Before he would do one nice thing and she would keep thinking about that, thinking it negated all the times he'd let her down. But now she couldn't even bring herself to do that. She loved him, she loved him so much that sometimes she couldn't breathe from the overwhelming feeling that would settle over her. But something had to change. Because if it didn't then she was afraid that not only would she lose Arjun, but somewhere in there she was losing herself too.
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Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha
FanfictionI'm just POSTING this story here... I don't own it... it's written by IF user @salmankh1 (Raman di). Arjun hates the idea of marriage or love but loves his li'l brother beyond limits, so when he says that he was getting married to his girl friend, h...
