Drafts Of Her Heartbeat

Pledge Or Challenge

"Ok team we are not going to enter into any new process, all we will do is relax and brush up our skills and knowledge. The competition is on, there is no turning back, just a line, a destination, the trophy of winners. We have emerged as great challengers now it's our time to come out as winners. There will be fair and foul play, but we will play with our mind, abiding by the rules, but knowing how to get through the dirty traps. Remember for the team to be strong, unity is important, and unity can be there only if we have a transparent relation. No secrets, no confidentiality, a team is a unit, that will stay together not as different individuals but as a same person. There is no Arohi, Abhimanyu, Siddhant, Riddhi, Axel, Piya, Arjun or Rahul, there is only one person that is REBEL ANGELS. Do I make myself clear?" Vidyut said.
"Yes sir." A unified sound came as a reply.
It has been what? Twenty days. Twenty days since she saw him for the first time in two years. Twenty days since they know she is alive. Twenty long days of his presence felt, and still it is as strong as it had been two years back. Had she not recovered from her feelings? Did she felt still the same for her husband? One who has been nothing but rude to her? Questions created a whirlwind in her mind, distracting her from her job as a team leader. She was sure that by now Yash must have already confronted Dhruv. Had he told Yash the truth? Or weaved a lied? So many questions and answers? Nil.
"Now before we move ahead, let me inform you something. They say process of learning never stops. This brush-up schedule is also the process of your learning. And we have someone out here to motivate you and teach you that learning is a never-ending process. Let me our sponsors welcome Mr. Dhruv Khaitan." Vidyut announced.
Hearing his name Arohi jerked up her head, only to find him standing there in casual jeans and tee-shirt. A bit of stub on his face, he still looked Charming and if possible even more handsome at the age of thirty. A smile warming on his face, he greeted everyone with a quick nod.
"I am not here as your sponsor. I am here as one of Vidyut Sir's student. So please treat me as one, and if possible accept me in your group. I have been a rebel in my early life, but never an angel. I want to see how it feels to be a Rebel Angel." Dhruv said, having a way with Words was one of his talents, thanks to his business skills.
"Dhruv will stay with us, in the house, maybe go back some days because of work issues, but majorly he will be with you guys. He will not participate in the competition, but he will be part of other events as a sponsor, and your training as a co-mate. Dhruv hereby I will leave you to get familiar with your mates. Arohi ensure that he is comfortable. He is your responsibility." Vidyut said.
"But sir I...." Arohi tried to protest.
"You are a captain, the team comes under your care. He is a part of team, thus under your direct care. Don't disappoint me." And with that he left.
One after another Dhruv greeted the seven team-mates, shaking hands with girls, doing a kind of bro-hug with boys. Finally by the time he reached her, others had left to get themselves ready for extra training.
"Hello wife." He said hugging her. Shocked for a moment with the use of word 'wife' and the hug, she recovered after a few seconds and pushed him away from her. Thus, breaking the hug.
"What is this new drama Mr. Khaitan?" She asked, her nose flaring with anger.
"Drama was what I did in past. I never apologized, but you know I was not in right mind-set then Arohi. Change of country, lifestyle, friends, and then marriage and responsibilities all coming together made me angry and frustrated. I could not find anyone to blame or get angry on so I took the easy route out - You. I made you target of my anger. Did some nasty things all in anger. Never acknowledged your presence in my life, and I am repenting it now. I want to fix every wrong I did. I want to give us a second chance. I need you to give me a second chance. I want us to happen again." He said, his head bowed down with shame and guilt.
"And what makes you think that I want a second chance with Us? Or their is still an us?" She asked.
Slowly he raised his head, guilt and repentance in his eyes, "then why you never filed for a divorce? Why you decided to elope? You wanted me to realize my mistake and come for you, right? Here I am Arohi. Begging for a chance to show you how wonderful husband can I be! How much I love you and take care of you!"
The love word threw Arohi off-guard. She never had imagined him to come and apologize, after this long, let alone imagining his confession of love. Yes, she did harboured some feelings for her husband, but was it Love? Yes, she did caught the reflections of guilt and repentance in his eyes, but was it enough? Can she be this easy? Can she accept him back so easily, after what he had made her suffer?
"Mr. Khaitan...." He stopped her in between, "Dhruval. It is Dhruval for you. It has always been. That what you have called me, I want you to continue to call me that." He pleaded.
"You are not Dhruval. You are Dhruv. Dhruval was son of Yash Uncle and aunty, a kind hearted boy, full of love, life and care. You are Dhruv, a drunk adult, a man-whore, rude, arrogant, lier. I had married Dhruval, not Dhruv. I cannot commit to reconcile with someone whom I never married. I am sorry Mr. Dhruv Khaitan." Her words stinging deep in his heart.
"I beg to differ Arohi. I am Dhruval. Dhruv is long dead. I don't drink anymore, maybe occasionally with a client, but not like I used to. I have quit smoking. I haven't touched a girl, after you left me, I realized I lost a diamond in race of grabbing every stone. I was rude, I had forgotten to live life, to love, but you need to understand my childhood forced me to believe certain lies and take up some wrong lifestyles. I want you to teach me, how to live, how to love, how to cherish life." he said.
"How can I believe you, again?" She asked. His confession making it difficult to stay strong.
"If it is a prove you want, it is what you will get. Two months until you complete your degree. At the end of two months you will pick the winner's trophy and I will win back my wife. I promise. And the beginning will be with you calling me Dhruval instead of Dhruv. I promise you Mrs. Arohi Dhruval Khaitan." And with that he gave a peck on her cheek, leaving her alone in the room, going out to join the team.
Hearing her official full name after a long time, 'Mrs. Arohi Dhruval Khaitan' a tear drop escaped her eyes. This was the reason she kept her surname a secret. She was Married, never divorced. Her surname would give away her identity. She did not wanted to use her Father's surname also. She wanted a new identity, as Arohi, a girl, an individual. She could not adopt her husband's name, but she couldn't bring herself to drop it either. Her feelings played games with her mind. She was able to suppress the storm till now, keep it to herself. But she had a strong feeling that her journey ahead, two months, were going to be a difficult ride.
If anything could be assured about her husband, then it was he had strong will-power and great determination. He would get anything and everything he sets his eyes on. Till now it was a professional drive, but now it was going to be used as a drive to win her back. He never failed, never had and never will. And this was something that both excited her and scared her. She didn't knew how to think or what to think. All she could do was wait for the destiny to unfold and see what future has in its hold.