There's something I would like to highlight... This book is fiction and with dark references, so many things happening here isn't justified in real life.
Aarav threatening the doctor or bribing the hospital isn't justified in reality either. Kindly keep fiction and reality seperated.

Mishika's pov
"Mumma, ab bas. Please." Ignoring my pleas, Maa pushed another spoon of khichdi in my mouth and having no other option, I've to eat it.

(Mumma, enough.)

As Mumma kept the now empty bowl aside, I let out a secret sigh of relief. Softly caressing my hair, she made me drink water, her complaints unfolding, "Itni dubli ho gayi hai aur kamzor bhi. Abhi ghar chalo fir dekhna."

(You've become so skinny and even so weak. Let me take you home and then see)

Brown moms and their complaints about how skinny you've become, just to make you eat more will never stop.

I can't wait to go home anymore. This is my second time spending days and days in hospital and I wish it to be the last. Hospitals literally make me feel homesick.

For us middle class people, affording a private room in such a hospital is like putting a part of fortune in it. Nevertheless my father-in-law was adamant that either my father allow him to spend on the expenses or he is taking me to Oberoi Mansion.

Papa only agreed with conditions of his own. First, only my parents-in-law are allowed to meet me. And second, I'll stay with my parents and won't go back to Oberoi Mansion.

For so many days I kept thinking that those were just dreams. The presence I felt, those fleeting touches, the warm breath looming around me and those soft pecks, I thought it was all a reverie knitted by my dazed mind. Nonetheless it wasn't.

And the rose I found this morning in my hair proves that he was here last night. And he had been here every night and I've felt it, nonetheless denied to acknowledge. Because that way it was easier to convince myself that he doesn't care, that he is still staving off from reality, from the truth, from guilt again.

Putting on with my resolve is getting overwhelming as everytime I tell myself otherwise, he makes me feel like I actually matter.

My chain of thoughts broke when the door opened and Papa walked inside. His lips curled into a smile as he looked at me but I could sense the conflict, the hurt behind it and it didn't let me reciprocate his smile. Ishan, who walked in just after Papa, noticed our brief exchange and passed me an assuring smile.

It clenches my heart to see my Papa so crestfallen, like he has failed. No parents are perfect and I don't want any perfect parents, I just want my parents, happy and content. I love my parents and I don't think anyone can love or have ever supported me like my parents do.

"You brought these ?" Only when Papa mentioned then did I notice the bouquet in Ishan's hand.

"This is for Mishika." Casting a glance down at the bouquet in his hands, his gaze moved to Papa before settling on me. He made a bee-line to my side and I took the bouquet from him and as he spoke again, I caught a slight stutter in his voice. "Mishti sent these."

Bringing it closer, I took a deep breath to smell the refreshing roses, although my nose squinted on a weird yet familiar smell. When I fumbled through the petals, something powdery came across my fingers.

Ash ? Cigarette ash to be precise which smells like the ones he uses.

Ishan flashed a nervous smile my way when I threw a glare at him. Meanwhile I sneakily pushed the card, which was tugged between the roses, under my pillow beside the rose I've kept hidden.

"Why are you helping him ?" I questioned Ishan, my tone hushed.

He discreetly glanced around before shrugging his shoulders. "Because I never thought he was capable of making requests."

My lips rounded in O shape as I processed his words and then my eyes narrowed.

"Fine. Fine." Ishan whispered frantically. "It did sound like an order initially, but I've seen him since childhood so I am very much capable of figuring out the differences."

He passed me the medicines before taking a seat on the stool beside the bed. "Moreover I never saw Aarav so desperate for something. Desperate enough to lower his ego."

I averted my gaze back to the red roses, my fingers inadvertently caressed the soft velvety petals. Ain't he too obsessed with roses ?

"You must have heard the story, Mishika. The rose is the lifeline."

My actions halted as Ishan's words dawned in and my gaze zeroed solely on the roses in my hand.

And what if the beast found his beauty in the rose ?

Shut up! What is wrong with you, Mishika ? Stop thinking like him.

Swamped in dwelling with my thoughts, I didn't notice the nurse entering. Ishan bid me bye while the nurse brought another set of medicines. I thanked her after she helped me go to the washroom and then she retreated back, leaving me all to myself.

I bit my lips, my hands shiver, meanwhile I pull out the hidden rose and card from under my pillow.

"For my beautiful rose and for our six months.
Your absence feels like being homesick, Honey-eye.
You can't even fathom just how desperate I'm to incarcerate you in my arms.
Very soon, darling.

From here till eternity."

My hands began to shake even more and I quickly pushed the card and the rose back under the pillow. He remembered ? And why is it leading the damn organ behind my ribs to throb so fast ?

I'm not going to lose my sanity in the devil's allure. For years I've kept anything and everything related to Aarav hidden like the dark truth of my life. But now it's enough. I'm done playing this game of hide and seek.

I'm no longer going to make my conception based on apprehension and contemplation. This time there will be confrontation and I'm not letting him run away from it either. I deserve all my answers and I'll get them.
~
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Aarav's pov
I got to know from mom that Honey-eye will be discharged soon in a day or two. And it means I'll have to come up with a new plan to meet her.

Following the same route, I entered inside the patient room and straight went to take the seat beside her bed on the stool. Like the usual routine I've come upon, I held her hands into mine, enchantedly gazing at how every beautiful brown of her gleamed under the dim light like golden specks. So bright, so alluring.

Leaning in her vicinity, I gently shoved the brown tendrils falling on her face and instinctively a smirk crawled on my lips as goosebumps lined her skin under my touch. "You're still awake, baby ?"

Jolted by my remark she sat upright and I was instantly on my feet, when the next moment I heard her groan, as she had probably stretched her stitches. "Careful."

Her eyes latched with mine through the dim light meanwhile her hands went on her gown, above the stitches she got a week ago during the operation. "Why would you do that ? Who gave you the rights to keep me in the dark for years ?"

Her accusations, which crashed upon me so unforeseen, blew me taut. "We will talk about it later, sweetheart. You need rest, not stress."

I should have anticipated it the moment I entered inside and found neither her father nor Ishan sleeping on the couch. She got everything planned. And seeing as she is still awake, she must have skipped taking her evening and night medications. Damn it!

"You don't get to make decisions for me." Angry lines stretch on her forehead. "You never denied my accusation or corrected me that it wasn't you but Rhea ?"

"I never accepted it either."

Her eyes turned into slits as those words slipped through my tongue.

"So why did you defend that video when I confronted you ?"

"That was a jerk move. I agree I was a bastard to do that." Giving explanations and encountering confrontation had never been my thing. But if she wants that, she will get that. "Your sudden confrontation startled me and I blurted out things without thoughtfulness."

"When are you even thoughtful ?"

Not expecting my next words, she stood tongue-tied as she gazed at me with wide eyes for a moment, "When it comes to you."

Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and then looked back at me with her infuriated eyes. Never did I see her so agitated, blazing so powerfully that it can lead the inferno itself to burn into ashes.

"I stand corrected for breaking your trust. I do. But whatever happened after that wasn't something I had hands in."

"And what about acting all nonchalant, huhh ? Considering how malicious Rhea's tone was, she must have already known about my miscarriage." I watch as fury etched across her face. "And if she knew, you would know too."

"I knew nothing about it." I gritted out and my fist simultaneously clenched. Topics or even the thoughts related to Arshu are enough to put on a blaze in my nerves, ready to straddle me and lesion me agonisingly. "Rhea blurted it out on the day of Mrs. Oberoi's death anniversary after our argument."

"Doesn't seem like that."

My jaw ticked, the blazing browns of hers collided with my internal black holes. "You want to hear it ? I was so wasted that night that I've no clear memory of what I did." I enunciated firmly. "Plus I wouldn't have touched you the way I did that night if I was anywhere near sober."

A couple of moments rolled on in silence as we both stood still, our glaring orbs zeroed on each other.

"Let's take divorce." My body bolted rigidly on her statement. "I would have done it way before when you pulled that stunt in your cabin. But I respect your father. And with respect comes trust, so I trusted him when he assured me."

It's not going to happen.

"My father gave you his words and like an Oberio man, I'm implying on them. Rest assured." My fingers swaddled around her nape and I crouched my face closer to hers. "We are not taking divorce."

"Why not ?" She gave a hard shove on my shoulder but I refused to budge. "You will get many to sleep around with. Don't think you can ever charm me to sleep with you."

I hear a sharp intake of breath by her when my face inched further, our nose brushing. She squirmed visibly in my hold when a taunting chuckle vibrated through my throat.

"How stupid of you to think like that ? I don't go to lengths just to get inside someone's pants." My voice dropped a few octaves low, although my words were harsh. Harsher than I intended. "Anyway I didn't promise anyone the moon and stars to sleep with me or neither forced them."

"But you almost kissed me forcefully when you're getting married to someone else. I didn't ask for that." She hissed and my hold on her loosened and no longer could I look straight in her eyes.

That day I wasn't thinking straight and my thoughts were clouded with unfurling red.

"I helped you when you were high, horny and tearing your clothes. And in return you accused me of molestation."

Words evaded her mouth and her eyes averted anywhere but me, her chest heaved up and down due to the remaining pent up anger.

"And if I accused you of rape ? Would you_"

She couldn't finish as the snarl that echoed through my throat interrupted her in between and she flinched back.

"You just didn't say that." I heaved, pulling my hand away from her before clenching my fist tight to curb the red clouding my head. Her face grew pale in my sight but there was nothing left to say.

Shoving my hand in my pocket, I pulled out the bottle of the coco honey moisturiser and slammed it on the bed.

"Goodbye sweetheart." Saying that, I marched out of there without stopping to glance back at her.

And why did it just feel like the final goodbye ?

Chapter Word- 2036

Drop your comments about this chapter... 🥀🚬

Signing off
~T.R