09
IMPULSIVE DECISIONS
( part two )

April

Last day of college. The results were handed to the students, ending yet another long, excruciating academic year. While the peace and quiet were something she was looking forward to, Aastha already hated the idea of being alone at her apartment all day. But that was not something she wanted to dwell on, at least not today.

Today, all Aastha wanted to do was go to her house, sit and do nothing. But life never went according to Aastha's plans, did it?

It all started when Aastha had put on Gilmore Girls on the television while she mindlessly scrolled on Instagram. It was a post about two actors who were rumoured to be dating.

The next one was about the conflict between a director and a producer.

The third one about two actors who used to date sharing a hearty laughter at an awards ceremony.

And just like that, Aastha found herself in deep trenches of Bollywood gossip when she saw a post which led to a chain of impulsive actions.

Abhishek. Taking a picture with a fan. A supposedly normal picture. Except, the mirror in the photo showed another woman, smiling as she looked at Abhishek. The caption read: Who is this mysterious woman spotted at a restaurant in Hyderabad with cricketer Abhishek Sharma?

Aastha opened the comments, her eyes twitching, heart clenched.

Men are the worst.

UUGGH i thought he was one of the good ones

He's a goddess for a wife and still cheats?

My god, the girl must be one of the fans🙄
  reply   No, she's the social media manager of SRH, not a fan, stop defending these people, parasocial behaviour at its peak

Is that why his wife hasn't come to any IPL matches???

💔

This drama is so messy, you guys will go crazy if you read the entire thing on Reddit.

The comment caught her eye. Reddit? Her racing heart warned her against it, but her frantic brain sank deeper, forgetting that she was looking at mindless gossip, not trying to search fanfiction of her marital life.

But that's what ended up happening. Aastha found the Reddit thread, where not one— but numerous people had weaved an entire seemingly legit story about how Abhishek was an unfaithful philanderer.

As her brain registered each word she was reading, the knot in her stomach tightened. And then suddenly, as if someone interrupted her from a trance, Aastha winced, blinking her eyes as she flung her phone away.

The sheer audacity of these people baffled her. The simple nerve to comment on someone else's marriage. Even if they were in the ruins now, it was of the city only the two had built. Just the two. Her nose flared, face scrunching up as she remembered a conversation she had earlier that day with the woman Abhishek was allegedly cheating on her with.

"Babe, you really won't be here?"

"I'm sorry, but I just have a...lot of work," Aastha lied.

"Oh come on, we'll correct those history papers for you babe,"

"Alright Riya, I'll ask you the easiest question from our history syllabus- what treaty ended the Great War, which is World War One obviously,"

...

...

"Riya? You there?"

"Yeah?" Riya answered, as she nervously laughed. "I totally know the answer,"

"Do you want to say World War Two sweetie?"

Riya groaned on the phone, throwing her head back. "Whatever, no one's gonna miss you, nerd,"

"I-

But before Aastha could say anything, Riya shrieked.

"JAY!?"

"What happened?" Aastha asked cautiously.

"Oh god, he just slipped, bye, love you," Riya hastily hung up, rushing to her now on-the-floor boyfriend.

Riya was arranging a 'Family Day' where the entire team dressed in white, would take a portrait— just like in modern family: the sitcom. This was something Aastha had suggested in the previous season, and Nikita di, when she met Aastha the day before had also casually (and sneakily) tried to ask Aastha whether she'd be interested to go to Hyderabad.

Aastha knew it was a bad idea. She had agreed to go for one IPL match so that her and Abhishek's secret remained a secret, but she absolutely did not want to go for the family-day portrait.

It was a crazy idea.

But not the craziest idea Aastha Chopra Sharma had. And just like that, as the phone which she had flung on the sofa laid on the soft cushion, pinging with a message from her husband, Aastha rushed to pack her bags and make use of the ticket Riya had overconfidently booked for her.

_____

next day

It wasn't until the flight took off, than Aastha realised the magnitude of her reckless decision. It unintentionally meant that she was taking a step towards her almost-ex-husband.

She was the one who had left...and she was the one who was walking back.

NO.

I am going there so that people don't talk shit about Abhay's character, and nothing else. I had agreed to go to one game to keep our divorce a secret. I'd get to spend some time with Nikita di. That's it. Nothing more.

"Aaj kaunsi match hai bhai?" (What match is there today?) The kid sitting beside her asked whom she inferred was his elder brother.

"RR and KKR,"

"Oh, who'll win?" The younger kid curiously asked the older one who paused, looking thoughtful.

"Both teams are equally strong, and equally unpredictable, let's see what happens,"

"And bhaiyya, what match is tomorrow?"

"SRH and GT,"

Aastha paused.

I'm going for family day AND SRH vs GT? Oh God, I should immediately take a flight back to Mumbai.

No. Calm down. You're going there because you agreed to. Smile, sit through a match and go back home. That's all. Just enjoy what the hotel has to offer. Go to the spa. Have nice food. Come back.

It took an hour and half for Aastha to land in Hyderabad. And for a few moments, her anxiety about her impulsive decision took a back seat as she spotted Riya waiting for her at the airport. The familiar smile, the warm welcome— it felt right.

The hotel was nearby, a fifteen minute ride, but poor Riya didn't seem to catch a break, constantly on the phone, shouting instructions. Aastha silently sat, taking in the view of the city...mind going back to a year ago, when everything was different. When they were happy.

A wistful sigh left her lips, but she also knew there was no point in wallowing in the what ifs.

"Chaliye Aastha ji, aapke pati dev ruke hai," (Come on Aastha, your husband's waiting) Riya playfully said as the ladies got out of the car, completely missing the nervous expression on Aastha's face as she stood facing the doors of the grand hotel. Riya had disappeared, rushing in as she went to complete her checklist. Taking nervous steps, Aastha went in, mind swirling with innumerable thoughts.

Aastha didn't even realise when she had walked into the lobby like Riya had instructed. Everything was decorated in orange, the room buzzing with enthusiasm.

"Chopra?" A familiar, deep voice called her out. She snapped her head, eyes landing on a familiar face.

"Ishan," her voice was soft.

"Toh tu aagayi waapis?" (So you're back?) he asked and she shook her head. No. Not like that.

"Riya convinced me for the family day photo, and I had agreed to attend one game to keep the rumours at bay," she hastily explained herself. Ishan just nodded.

"I'm going to Aditi, Sara and Shubman...Do you...?"

"No, uh...I'm tired," she replied, voice barely a whisper. He sighed, hands tucked in his pockets.

"Alright, get some rest. I'll be back," his voice was gentler, as he pulled out a bar of chocolate wrapped in blue. "Have this,"

Before she could protest, he had walked off. Her eyes remained on his disappearing figure. If meeting Ishan was so heart wrenching, what would happen...when...when-

Her heart suddenly thudded in her chest. Loudly. As if it was announcing his presence. The man with whom the strings of her heart were sewn. She knew she couldn't deny it. Despite the rock bottom they hit, despite the blues, he was the one she chose to love every single day. He was still the one she wanted to shout at, and cry her heart to and hold hands to never let go, again.

He stepped out of an elevator with Nitish, and somehow she couldn't tear her gaze away. Time froze and so did she. Abhishek seemed quick to notice her, their eyes meeting instantly. Neither looked away, because they couldn't. Because they chose not to.

Abhishek took slow steps towards her, the room unaware about the tension between the 'married couple'.

"Hey," he started.

"Hello Abhishek,"

"You're here," he said, mildly in disbelief.

"I'm here," she affirmed, tucking a lose strand of her hair behind her ear.

"We're both here," he muttered under his breath.

"Abhishek," Aastha said, her voice feathery, inaudible to any other person. "I...I...uhm, I came here because we agreed..."

"I know," he said, heart sinking "I know, but...I hoped you'd come at the Mumbai game...I mean, I mean...where will...I mean, the rooms..."

"I'll stay with di, they're coming soon, aren't they? It's just for one night anyway," she quickly explained, and he nodded.

"So, it's settled," he smiled, happy on seeing her nonetheless. "Everything's cool,"

"Everything's cool," she repeated what he said, both sharing a slight smile.

Aastha's perspective of the impulsive decision.

Sending love and positivity to your way, stay safe everyone ❤️