Niharika

Vedant was staring at the disoriented figure of his mother sitting in the chair, frozen. She was breathing heavily. She gulped and she took the glass of water again with her shaking hands and took a sip and placed the glass back on the table but it fell on the ground instead. She gasped and looked down, coming out of the trance. She looked so pathetic. I feel pity for her. I looked at Ved but he was having the same emotionless face. I sighed in irritation and walked towards her. "Are you alright?" I asked her keeping a hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head and looked at me. Her face changed, she gritted her teeth and jerked away my hand from her shoulder.

"Don't touch me." She said while standing up from the chair. "How dare you to marry her?" She asked pointing at me. "And you. You can't be with him. You shouldn't." She looked at me with so much anger and took a furious step towards me. I was startled and took a step back. "Don't raise your voice at her." I heard Ved raising his voice.

"Why are you doing this? Everything was over ten years ago and why are you digging up the dirt now? Why are you making my life miserable now?" She screamed at him. "For you everything was over that night, because you never cared. But for me I have lost something dear to me. I was struggling in my life when you were enjoying abroad. So don't try to act as a victim. I am son of Varun Aryan and you knew that I never forgive and never forget, so bear with it or face the consequences. You know what will happen if you go against me? Didn't you?" He sneered. She gulped.

The door opened and we all looked at the door, Sid came inside. She looked at him and closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Mom, how do you feel now?" He asked walking fast towards her. There was old lady following behind him in a white cotton saree and a Black Hand bag. She looked inside the hand bag in search of something and took out a small bottle. She opened it and took two white pills and gave it to his mother. She took it in her hands and swallowed it with water. She sighed and wiped her face with her saree pallu.

"Sid, please take her home. She might need some rest." Ved said with the same cold stare. Sid looked at both of them and sighed while shaking his head annoyingly. "Come on mom. Let's go home." He said while snaking his hand around her shoulder. She gave us both an angry glare before turning around and leaving.

I stood there without knowing what to do. I had so many questions in my head but nothing came to my mouth. "Come I will drop you at home." He said to me and walked out of the meeting room. I silently followed him.

Raghu was driving today so we both sat in the back seat. He was leaned back to the seat and his eyes were closed. The car stopped in front of the apartment and he slowly opened his eyes. I opened the door and got out. I turned and looked at Ved. He was still sitting inside the car. I bend down holding the opened door. "You are not coming home?" I asked softly.

He turned towards me. His cold demeanour was not there. His eyes looking at me held pain and sadness. I felt a prick in my heart. "Why do you care? There is nothing between us right." He asked. My lips parted to say something but nothing came into my mind. He leaned forward, his usual cold eyes were holding some emotions I couldn't read. But then he held the door handle and closed the door with a force. I gasped and car took off. I stared at the car till it disappeared from my view. A tear rolled down from my eyes.

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I finished my dinner and was sitting in the sofa after talking to Kavya. I told her everything that happened today. She too was shocked. We couldn't assume anything about his behaviour with his mom. I cut the call after a little more chatting. I sighed and leaned back to sofa. I looked up and stared at the spiral shaped crystal chandelier hanging above the living area. Why would he hate his mother this much? But then the look on his face in the car was something. It seems he is in lot of pain. Why can't he share it with anyone? I closed my eyes and slowly sleep took over me.

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It's been two days and Ved didn't come home. I was worried for him. I wanted to call him but I don't know what to talk. We were on our way back to home from office. I looked at Raghu; he might know where Vedant is right. Should I ask him? I pursed my lips while thinking. Just ask Harika, he is your husband and you want to that he is fine right. Why are you hesitating? I told myself and cleared my throat. "Hmm. Raghu, did Mr. Aryan left for any meetings? Is he out of the country?" I asked slowly.

"No Madam. He is in his ancestral home. Didn't he tell you?" He asked. "No." I said sadly. He never tells anything to me. "Is he alright? I mean he was not coming to office, so..." I asked again.

"No madam, he looked so pathetic yesterday. It was his father's death anniversary yesterday and he was totally drunk. Siddharth had to drag him from the graveyard. He was not awake in the morning when I checked." He said.

It was his father's death anniversary?!! I felt tightness in my chest. He was so drunk that he had to be dragged back to home? Will he be fine now? I was becoming restless. I wanted to see him. "Raghu, please take me to Mr. Aryan." I said to him. "But madam, sir told..." "Take me to Mr. Aryan." I said firmly and cut him off. He didn't say anything after that. He nodded and drove.

The car stopped in front of a huge iron gate. It was in the outskirts of the city. He slide down the glass window and nodded towards the camera placed on the wall of the gate. The gates slowly opened and we entered into the premises of the estate. The car slowly took the S-shaped road to the top of the estate.

Raghu opened the door for me when we reached in front the mansion. I looked up to see the huge three storeys building in front me. It was painted in cream and brown colour. It was an old fashioned house but it was beautiful. I walked towards the entrance. I saw a familiar yellow Lamborghini Aventador parked next to the red Benz. I guess Sid is here. I pressed the door bell and a little later an old man opened the door and looked at me with a frowned face. That's when he saw Raghu standing below the stairs to towards the entrance. He gave him the signal to let me in and he nodded in understanding. He opened the door and step aside for me. I walked inside the mansion. I was greeted by a huge living area furnished with expensive mahogany furniture's. The big crystal and golden chandelier was hanging in the centre of the room. There was a spiral staircase leading up to the first floor from the side of the living area. "Where is Mr. Aryan?" I asked the old man. He was about to answer when he looked up to the stairs and my eyes followed his. Siddarth was coming down from upstairs. He was looking tired. He was not wearing his coat and tie. The sleeves of his white shirt were folded up. His hair was tousled there was dark circles under his eyes.

He lifted his head up when he reached the last step and saw me. He looked so sad. He parted his lips to say something but then stopped and sighed looking away. He gave a look at the old man and he nodded his head and went inside the house.

He slowly walked towards the sofa and sat on it with his hands on his knees and his head hung low in exhaustion. I walked towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sid." I called him softly.

He looked up to me. His eyes were glassy. He looked miserable. I sat on my knees in front of him. I kept my palm on one of his cheeks. "What happened? Is everything alright? Is Mr. Aryan ok?" I was getting nervous now. Did anything happen to him? Why is Sid looking so depressed?

"I don't know Niharika. I don't know why Ved became like this. You know he was this happy go lucky guy, who always likes to smile and being cheerful. But everything changed after my father's death. He changed completely. I have never seen him happy after that day. And I hate my father for doing this to him, to me, to us. We were there right; he could have shared his problem with us. But no he wanted to escape himself from all the problems and left us behind and took his life by himself. He fucking committed suicide." He said while fisting his hands and gritting his teeth.

I gasped in shock. Their father committed suicide?!! "He did that two days after my 15th birthday. It was Ved who found his unconscious body from this house. He struggled for his life in the hospital for hours. I still couldn't take out Ved's disoriented image while he waited outside the ICU from my mind. He didn't speak to anyone. He just shut him down by himself in a room for a week. And suddenly one day he came out and said that he is living the house and moving out by himself. I don't know what happened between him and our mother he didn't spoke to her properly after father's death. Instead he started to hate her. I never questioned him or her. I thought they will let me know when it is time. But it's too late now. I need answers. Why is our life like this? Why can't we be happy like before?" He said and sighed. Two drops of tears fell on my hand which was holding his. I looked at him and brought back my palm to his face. I wiped the tears and turned his face towards me.

He looked like small kid crying for a candy. I gave him a small smile. "Everything will be fine Sid. Trust yourself. Everything passes. He might need some closure. He will come around. Be a little bit more patient." I told him. He scoffed and looked at me.

"I hope so. Can you stay here for tonight? I need a break. It was our father's death anniversary yesterday. And Ved was completely wasted. Today also was the same. He is sleeping upstairsnow. I. I just want to make sure he won't do anything stupid. I know he is not my father but his mood scares me. I can't lose him too. I might not survive like Ved did when dad left us. I know there is some problems between you two but please do me this favour." He said. I looked at him and shook my head in a yes. We got up and he gave me a side hug and left.

I took the stairs and reached the first floor. I looked around and walked in to the aisle. I opened the first door but it was empty. Which will be his room? I saw the door at the end of aisle opened a little. I walked towards it. When reached in front of it I peeped inside. I saw Vedant lying across the bed. I slowly walked inside.

There was an empty bottle of whisky and a glass on the side table. I looked at him. He was wearing a black kurta and pajama pants. He was lying on his stomach. His hair was tousled and his not so well trimmed beard gave him a scruffy look. His mouth was parted a little. He still looked handsome. I smiled at him. I slowly walked around the bed and sat on the bed near him. I slowly removed his hair from his forehead. I wanted to run my fingers through his long hair. That's when I noticed, creases forming on his forehead. Why does he always frown? I slowly rubbed my thumb on his forehead and he relaxed.

I smiled and slowly trace my finger through his jaw line. My eyes struck at his lips. The lips almost pressed against mine. I wonder how his lips will feel against mine. I gulped and shook off the desire formed inside me. I leaned towards him and balanced myself with one elbow. I slowly traced his lips with my fingers. He looks so innocent while sleeping, I thought myself. He too suffered a lot in the past and no one was there to share the pain. I leaned forward; closing my eyes I placed a soft kiss on his forehead. I pulled away and opened my eyes. Those black eyes were looking at me. My mouth fell open and I gasped. I looked away and straighten myself.

I looked at him; he was still staring at me. I stoop up fast and walked around the bed towards the door. I was pulled back when I reached the other side of the bed. I gasped and gripped his shoulder. He was sitting straight now. His hands were holding my waist. He looked at me with a frown. "How did you get here?" He asked. "I. I asked Raghu to bring me here." I said biting my lips in nervousness. "He told me that you are not in a good state, so I just want to see if you are okay." I said without any fixed gaze.

He pulled me to his lap. I was straddling him now. I gasped. He caressed my cheeks with his thumb. "Why do you care?" He asked. His eyes were glassy. I could see the hurt and pain in them. A tear rolled down through his cheeks. I felt a prick in my heart. I slowly wiped the tear from his cheeks. I felt my eyes becoming watery. It hurts to see him in pain.

"Everyone I care about leaves me. You are also going to leave me right. Then why do you care about me?" He asked. His voice didn't held usual deepness. It was full of sadness. I don't know what to answer for that question. I myself am not sure of the relationship we carry. I wanted to asked about it to him but I know now is not the time. He is not in his normal self. He is still hurting and mourning about his father's death. And he is not ready to share it with anyone. I put my forehead against his and caressed his cheeks and slowly raised my head and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.

He looked at me intensely. We looked at each other for a few moments. He brought his thumb to my cheeks and caressed it. We were so close that if we move an inch our lips would meet. I gulped and licked my dry lips. His gaze fell on my lips. I parted my lips in nervousness. I could see the lust forming in his eyes. This is not good. He is not in his right mind. I should go out. I thought but I didn't get time to do that, his lips crashed on mine. I was startled first but then I kissed him back. Our lips move in sync. I feel sparks everywhere in my body. The kiss was slow and soft. But there was so much pain and hurt. I could taste the salty tears in my mouth. Apart from the lust and desire forming inside both of us we needed this to release ourselves from all the hurt, pain and heart breaks happened in our lives, to forget the past for a few moments.

He slowly lay back on the bed with me on top of him without breaking the kiss. Then he slowly turned to his left. He pulled away from the kiss and looked at me. I knew we should stop here but my desire for him was consuming me. He wiped the tears from my cheeks and looked at me; his eyes were also filled with the same lust and desire. I pulled him back and we kissed again. He hovered over me and the kiss became more passionate and lustful. Our hands compete with each other to explore each other's body. The night became longer and passionate. "I hope we won't regret this." I told myself before closing my eyes and snuggling against his chest.

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I feel something tracing my face and then someone running their finger through my hair. It feels so good that I snuggled more towards the soft pillow next to me. But the pillow seems so warm and it's moving. I frowned and lazily opened my eyes. I saw Vedant looking at me and smiling. I too smiled at him. That's when I remember about the previous night. I gulped and bit my lips. I tried to move away from him but our bodies were intertwined each other and he didn't budge; instead he pulled me even closer. He smirked and looked at me by lifting my chin with his finger. My cheeks were burning with shyness. I looked away and hide my face in his chest. He scoffed at me and hugged me tight. "Sleep a little more. I will freshen up first." He kissed my forehead and said. I nodded. He got up and went to the bathroom.

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I slowly opened the bathroom door and looked around. Vedant was not there in the room. I slowly came out of the bathroom wearing the bathrobe. I haven't had any other clothes with me. I should check Vedant's cupboard for something to wear. I moved towards the cupboard, but then my eyes fell on the white kurta kept on the bed neatly folded. He knew. I smiled. I wore it and let my wet hair free without bothering to blow dries it. I went down and saw Vedant sitting on the sofa and doing something in the laptop. He lifted his head when he heard me coming. He smiled and closed the laptop. His eyes roamed all over my body. I blushed and bit my lips. I looked down with a shy smile.

He came near me. "You look beautiful in this dress." He whispered in my ears. I looked at him. He slowly removed my hair from my neck and held my neck in his hand. He pulled me to him and bends down to kiss me. That's when the door bell rang. We both looked at the door with a frown. He removed his hand from my neck and held my hands. We walked towards the door and Vedant opened it.

There was a women standing outside the door. She looked a little older than me. She was tall and was wearing a white shirt and a white long skirt with golden dots on it. Her long black hair was tied up to a high ponytail. Even without any makeup she looked beautiful. With her big black eyes, sharp nose and heart shaped lips she was gorgeous. But her face looked gloomy. She looked at Vedant with sad eyes. "Hey, Ved." She greeted with a sad smile.

His grip on my hand loosened. I looked at Vedant. He was having an unbelievable look on his face. His breath was getting heavy and his eyes became glassy. He let go of my hand and took a step towards the woman standing in front of us. I felt a discomfort in my chest. He suddenly hugged the woman tightly. "Arohi." Her name coming from his mouth ignited a little jealousy in my heart.