She Can Be Toxic Too (Completed) √

"I need to talk with you."

In the afternoon, Abhinav felt trapped in his car as Aashi drove them out to meet his dad. The thought of confessing to his father made him uneasy. He had definitely woken up light headed, feeling better after the night's outburst. But he was still sceptical about telling everything to his father. He was not sure if he was ready yet.

"Aashi, I am not sure if I can do this" he voiced worriedly as they halted at a signal.

"Abhi, answer my simple question. You told me everything last night. You and I are best friends, but both of us know that we lost contact during your hard times. Still, you told me everything. You fear women. Yet you shared it all with me, willingly. When you can tell me everything, why can't you say things to your dad? What's stopping you?"

He sat silently pondering over her words. She is right. I really don't have to feel so riled up to talk to dad. When I can tell her everything, I can tell dad too, he thought. Aashi drove silently, letting him sort his mind. When she pulled up in the driveway of her father in law's house she turned around to face him.

"Are you okay with talking to your dad now?" she asked one final time.

"I'm ready as I'll ever be, provided you stay around the entire time" he spoke back confidently, a small smile playing over his lips.

Aashi smiled brightly in response. They walked up to the front door and knocked on it. A few minutes later, they heard nearing footsteps. In an impulse, Abhinav held her hand tightly for support. She smiled at his nervousness and stroked his cold palm with her thumb, trying to calm his nerves. Sanjay opened the door to see Aashi first in sight. He greeted her loudly as he began opening the door wide.

"Ah my darling is home fina-" his voice broke when he saw Abhinav stand beside her once the door swung open fully. He stood still, trying to believe that the sight in front of him was not a fragment of his imagination.

It had almost been three years since he left the house with Nidhi. Abhinav had never paid him a visit in all these years. It had been over a year since the divorce and over seven months to his marriage with Aashi. Nothing had changed his decision of staying away. Looking at his son standing at his doorstep after months, Sanjay was left dumbstruck.

Aashi looked back and forth between the father and son, hoping one of them would say something. When she realised that they had been standing at the doorstep for quite some time, she decided to speak up and take charge of the situation. Giving one final look to the two men, she was about to open her mouth when she heard Abhinav's voice.

"Dad, can we come in?" he breathed deeply before continuing, "I need to talk with you."

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Aashi waved happily before turning back to enter the house. She had to clean the house and prepare breakfast before her husband and her father-in-law returned from their morning walk. She walked into the kitchen tying her hair, preparing for the day. Once done with breakfast, she started cleaning the living area. She smiled happily as she dusted the photo frames on the walls, admiring her husband's photos.

It had been four months since they had shifted back to this house and a lot had happened since then. She remembered how furious her father-in-law had been on knowing about Nidhi. It had been a huge task for her to manage both Abhinav and Sanjay once the truth was out. Sanjay had almost passed out from all the episodes his son narrated. She could never forget the look on his face when Abhinav had showed him his bruises. The old man had looked so broken. But much to the shock of both Abhinav and her, Sanjay had instantaneously channelled all his pain into anger, swearing to ruin Nidhi's life. He felt like he had failed as a father, for not being able to protect his son. Despite numerous protests from both of them, Sanjay had decided to file a case against the female who had caused such havoc in their lives.

Abhinav had wanted to do nothing related to that woman. All he had wished was to stay away from her. Aashi had understood his turmoil and had tried convincing Sanjay, only to be ignored. It seemed like Sanjay had taken an oath to ruin Nidhi. After much persistence and assurance that no harm would be caused to him, Abhinav had agreed to his father's idea. And almost immediately, Sanjay had prepared a legal notice stating that they were going to file a case, asking Nidhi to be prepared to face the consequences. She had never seen Sanjay that furious to seek revenge ever before. He prepared religiously, spending long hours in the study to make sure that the case did not give any loopholes for Nidhi to escape.

Aashi's hands trembled as she moved to clean the study. She still remembered that morning the unexpected news had reached them in the very same room, changing their lives yet once again. It was the third day after the legal notice had been sent. She recalled the incidents of that morning so precisely, like it had happened just yesterday. They were discussing the case when Sanjay had received a phone call from his junior assistant who was assigned to handle communications between Nidhi and them.

That one phone call changed their lives. Nidhi had committed suicide.

They had slipped into a shock and no one spoke for a while. It had been so unexpected. None of them had seen it coming their way. Sanjay had immediately tried making a few phone calls to confirm the news. About twenty minutes later they were able to get to Nidhi's manager and Aashi clearly remembered his exact words from that day - "Nidhi Mam was a woman of high ego and self love. She had last commented that she would rather die than face humiliation and defeat from a guy."

The truth had taken some time to settle. Aashi sometimes wondered how Nidhi could've been the way she was. Abhinav had been badly affected by the news. Nidhi's sudden death had added on to his mental stress. He continued his counselling sessions and slowly, healed with time. He now was under the complete care of Aashi and Sanjay who helped him to lead a happy life.

Aashi's reverie was broken when she heard her husband's voice in the living. She immediately went out to join them for breakfast. Abhinav hurried through his food as he had to go to office to attend an important meeting. Once done with breakfast, he hurried to take a bath while Aashi followed him to arrange his stuff. When she was arranging his files she noticed him rush into the room, all dressed up for work. Noticing how tensed he was, she slowly walked up to him and wrapped her arms from behind, startling him. Abhinav jumped at the hug, her touch making him uncomfortable. He turned around to see her standing blankly, her face trying to hide the disappointment due to his action. He sighed, cursing himself for hurting her every time. He simply picked his bag and before leaving the room, turned around.

"I am sorry Aashi. I know I hurt you every time, but please understand that I'm trying. I'm trying really hard and now, I'm sure I see myself falling for you in the days to come. Just don't give up on me till then."

"I told you I'm here to stay Abhi. Now and forever."