chandhini felt very vulnerable. Even though it was weekend and advay was not here, she still did not went to Mumbai. it felt like she needed to give some time to herself. she spent the day sitting on patio looking at the garden.

from where she had started and where she had ended up. she thought back about the time when marrying advay was a dream. she had been so innocent back then, thinking things will forever remain same.

For first time, she felt bit bad for swathi, she had been over possessive of advay but now chandhini realized that it was a side effect of being with him. he was beautiful, charismatic,stylish and very rich. everything which was attractive to a woman. he attracted opposite sex like bees were drawn to flowers. chandhini felt like it was a constant battle to swat other bees away.

He had said that he will not touch anyone else and she believed him but it was not because of her. she didn't matter enough to him. he had his own rules about life and one of those rules was sticking to one partner.  Even his need for revenge hadn't forced him to find someone out of marital bed. 

she looked at her hands, she doubted her henna colour would be dark if she applied the natural henna. May be she will get the palest red like the bit of his love she had got because of the red vermilion she had in her hair parting on forehead.

Ayi's henna colour was always dark, similar to shekha and Megha di. Even swathi's henna had been really dark. The henna she had applied on her hand was instant one which gave a temporary dark red colour but it couldn't last for more than few hours. Tears fell down from her eyes onto her palm. 

She sighed and put her face in her hands. She mumbled to herself, '' admit it chandhini Raizada; admit your defeat. Your love failed and his hatred won. Now, nothing was left except to listen to his wishes and do the things the way he wanted. And by doing it she could have a tiny hope that he will give her little of his time. 

............

khushi was sitting reading magazine but her mind was somewhere else. shekha noticed it,'' ayi, what happened?''

khushi looked up from magazine and took off her reading glasses and put them on table,'' nothing, why?''

shekha,'' you seem bit quiet ever since we came back from Delhi.''

khushi looked at shekha, she had been here for so long and had become a part of the family. she had never tried to create any fights or said anything wrong,, but most impotantly she had an unbiased view of things'' shekha don't you thinnk Advay works bit too much?''.

shekha thought about it,'' Yes, he is bit more busy but then the nature of his work is different too.''

khushi,'' so you don't think he has become a workaholic now? he has always been like this?''

shekha,'' obviously with time,he has become worse. he loves his work.''

khushi nodded,'' can you get me a cup of coffee please, I have a headache.'' shekha nodded and went to get it.

khushi closed her eyes and leaned against the sofa, he was not happy. she could see it. He was happy with everyone else but with chandhini he was silent. he did not behave like a married man but more like someone who had been given a painful job. 

chandhini was maturing up but khushi was afraid that there was nothing chandhini could do about it. the matters of heart were a natural thing and chandhini simply could not touch his heart in a way a wife should be able to touch.

she regretted the decision they had forced on Advay. he had accepted but now there was a distance between him and his parents. did she had favored one child of her more than other?

No, she hadn't. swathi left him of her own choice and chandhini was blameless in all this. it was khushi and arnav who should have thought. Now, things were too much tangled up. if only chandhini would have a baby, then maybe the child will connect advay's heart to chandhini.

.........................

chandhini was sitting thinking about everything, she wanted to talk to ayi. just hearing her voice would make her feel better. 

Her mobile rang at that instance, chandhini looked at name and a smile touched her lips, it was ayi,'' hello ayi,  I was about to call you.''

khushi smiled,'' good thing then I called you. you just sent a text that you two are not coming.''

chandhini,'' he had to go to states and I have a college test.''

khushi's face became serious,'' Again? he travels too much. where he was last week?''

chandhini,'' No, that was to Nepal, and it was day trip, he came back at night.''

khushi was quiet, then she asked chandhini,'' Is everything okay between you two?''

chandhini was surprised by this question,'' Of course ayi. what could be wrong?''

khushi sighed,'' chandhini I was thinking how about you come here and we go to a gynecologist together. hmm? just to check. its been a long time since you two got married.''

It was close to three years.

chandhini didn't want ayi to know she was taking contraceptives regularly,'' How about after my exams?''

khushi,'' okay. don't worry, these things they are in the hands of god.''

chandhini was quiet.

khushi,'' your baba was playing with kavya yesterday and he was remembering you; saying time goes so fast, it was like yesterday when you used to run in house breaking all the vases, now its kavya.'

chandhini lightly laughed,'' sorry ayi, I was a really difficult kid.''

khushi,''No, you were good. It was advay and your baba, they spoiled you really badly. I used to worry so much that what will happen when you will get married. how will you adjust.''

Chandhini looked down at her feet, she had learned to adjust, there was no other option.

khushi,'' Thank god, with advay you can be yourself and he won't ask you to change but chandhini take a little bit more care of him. He is your husband. Pamper him a bit and try to keep him happy.''

chandhini could not say anything for few moments afraid her voice would show that she was crying, then she spoke,''okay, ayi.''

khushi,'' Take care of yourself, and study hard. I will call later tonight. bye.''

chandhini said bye and then she put her head on her knees and cried her heart out.