The Imperfect Couple (Complete)

Chapter 18

It was almost a month since that day. He didn't tell her anything. He didn't have any right, either. It wasn't wrong if she liked someone. Even he had many girlfriends before. But then why did his whole body was set on fire each time he saw her? He didn't want to confront her and couldn't behave normally either. So he avoided her. After college, he either returned late or buried himself in his books in the study. By the time he came to his room, she was asleep.

Charu also noticed something weird in his behavior. He just wouldn't talk to her. Though they were never like friends, but still a friendly bond had developed between them despite their regular fights. But now he just wouldn't speak to her at all, or even if he did, he was way too rude than ever.

Even Aditya didn't want to behave like this. But it was not much in his control. Hating her was the best way of keeping his growing passion under check. He hated to admit it but he just couldn't bear to see her with any other guy. He often saw her sitting with him in the canteen. Only he knows how he always controlled himself from breaking the teeth of that moron 'boyfriend' of hers. But why did he feel like that? Like she belonged to him and none in the world, not even she had the right to take her away from him.

Charu often wondered about the reason behind his changed behavior. She had done nothing to him? Yet he hardly spoke to her.

Little did she realize that she had done something to him. She had made him fall in love with her...

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Sarojini felt increasingly worried about Aditya's behavior lately. He wasn't just indifferent to Charu, but the boy was practically sulking from the last few weeks. What others saw as rudeness in Aditya, Sarojini's motherly eyes recognized as hurt. She had practically brought up her grandson and was too familiar with his antics to be fooled by his exterior facade.

But despite the circumstances, he still needs to be kinder to his wife. She entered the study in the night, determined to reprimand her grandson for his increasing tantrums.

But what she saw made her heart jump to her throat.

He was sitting near the window quietly gazing at an old photograph of his mother holding him as a baby. He was missing his mother...

All these years Sarojini had pampered and showered love on him so she could take place of his mom. So that a mother's love is never missing in his life. But she didn't realize that mothers are irreplaceable...

With a suffocating knot building in her throat, she moved forward and ran a loving hand on his hair.

He looked up at her startled and blinked many times looking sideways to keep the moistness in his eyes at bay.

Sarojini lovingly kissed his forehead with a sad smile, with guilt cropping up in her mind. Recently, she had concentrated only on the youngest new member of the family. She forgot he was young too. He needed her too.

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It was a night of celebration in their college. The final exams had gotten over, and this was the prom night arranged by the students. The whole college was filled with excitement.

Charu, too, was excited as Karan had asked her to be his date for tonight. She looked at many dresses and took out her favorite dress.

As she was getting ready, she remembered how Aditya refused to accompany her when grandma asked him. Her face fell at the memory. Why did he hate her so much?

She never dared to ask the reason behind his changed behavior. Maybe he did not find her worthy enough. She didn't like him. But then why did she desperately want him to like her. He had always been so inconsiderate to her. But then why did she always care to see if he had returned home or not. All these days when they were preparing for their exams, he didn't even ask her once about her studies. But then why did she still send coffee mugs with servants when he studied till late at night? He never bothered about her mood. But then why did she get worried when he suddenly stopped interacting with her. Why-why that strain on his forehead always made her feel miserable?