CHAPTER THREE

"We are home."Armaan says as he and Rahul enters the house. Riddhima walks out of the kitchen and Armaan smiles,"you're a sight for sore eyes, baby!"

"Ohh, Ammy even your eyes getting weak. Feeling old already?" Meher shouts from the top of the stairs as she slides down from the railing.

"Not me, cub but your dad sure is getting old, aren't you rauuulll." He then turns to her again and pulls her ponytail,"what did we talk about not sliding the railing?

"Armaan!"Riddhima sighs as she hits on his chest. He laughs and kisses her cheeks then walks to the couch whispering, "laters, baby."

"Isn't that too old of a joke?" Rahul asks raising his right brow as he takes the glass of water from the table and sits. Meher takes the sit next to him on the couch and snuggles into him. He kisses her head, "where's your mom?"

"Went to meet bhai."she says then starts scrolling her Instagram feed.

"And Armaan, thank to God while you can as you got the sane son. Mine just troubles and irritates the hell out of me" he says.

"Leave the boy alone, will you Rahul. He's a grown up man. He will sort things out." Armaan speaks as he takes the hot mug of coffee from the helper and walks up to his room.

"Bhai, don't stress too much. Everything will be fine" Riddhima smiles and walk behind Armaan knowing very well that he'd need her beside him.

As she walks in the room, she sees him lightening all the three candles in front of the pics in their bed room.

She walks upto him and rubs his back, soothing him. He sighs and turns to her, "we'll find her, right?"

Riddhima nobs and hugs him putting her head on his chest,"yes. One day, we will.

Until then this candle will always make us feel connected to her wherever she is, and that she is safe."

Armaan nods Kissing her forehead. They stay like that before Riddhima speaks,"do you think we should tell bhai? He is worried alot and Aayan is not coming back home."

"Riddhima, they both need to learn from the mistakes they have made. And I am sure they both will understand soon." Armaan takes Riddhima making her sit on his lap as he sits on the bed burying his nose around her neck,nuzzling.

"So you feel they both did wrong? And what Alia did was right?"

"I am no God, Riddhima. And you of all the people know it better. We have both made our shares of mistakes and we rose up above it. All I know is whenever they are ready, they'll get a chance to make things better. Change what all wrong they have done. And I hope that day, they both realize. I can't blame Rahul for what he did and made the kids do. He had his shares of fear. All I am waiting for that at the end all this to be worth everything.

************

Aayan keeps the phone back on the table in his office as Muskaan walks in. Her body guard stops at the door as she closes it.

Aayan getting up walks to her and hugs her tightly, " thank you for coming maa."

"I am always going to be there when my boy needs me." She caress his hair then taking his hand she walks up to the couch and sits with him," one request though, ask this man to stay out of my sight."

Aayan chuckles as she points the finger towards her bodyguard,"sorry maa. Not my department. Maybe you could talk to Riddhan about it."

"He'll add two more into it. I will pass."they both sighs as Muskaan looks into his eyes,"tell me. What you want to talk about?"

"The obvious mom. That my bride ran off."

"Aayan are you sure you didn't ask her to leave?"

"Mom!" He exclaims exhausted," why would everyone think that I said something to make her leave. I said yes to marry her. I was ready to start a life with her. I didn't plan for this yet I was ready to just go on with it then why would I make her go?"

"Because, son," she pauses," you are afraid of commitments."

"That's nonsense mom." He almost shouts. Muskaan raises her eyebrows and he frustratingly runs his hand through his hair," sorry mom. But this is absurd. I was ready for commitment, what are you saying."

"Listen Aayan. I am your mother. I know you very well so even if you don't know the truth, I know. In fact each of our family members knows. And that's why everyone is blaming you. Including me."

"Wow mom. You made me so happy saying that."

"Aayan I am not going to lie and tell you things you want to hear. I am your mother and in this world, it's my duty, our family's duty to tell you the truth. That's what we have taught you all." She takes his hand and asks,"that's why for the last time I am asking you Aayan, did you speak to Alia before the wedding and said things you shouldn't have?"

He glares at her and she frowns, "you're still not at the age to glare at me Aayan. Either answer or don't. Do not give me that look."

She gets up and taking her handbag from his table, walks out.

Aayan sits exactly where his mother left him, going over the past three months, from the day when he said yes for the marriage to the day of wedding whenever he met Alia. That was just three times and he remembers each and every talk they had. The last two times were just a yes and no.

He still remembers the day his parents came to meet him and talk him through it because Alia was their God child and she means more to them then their own kids. That's what his father's exact words were.

"You better listen to me son, she's our God child and we make sure she's not going to get hurt for your nonsense behavior. She means alot more than you do. Her mother lost her life trying to save you and her. And if for once you think, we'd do nothing and just sit with hand on hand, then you get it straight. Do not mess this. "

So he called her to meet. They went to have dinner.

*************

THREE MONTHS BEFORE

Aayan calls Alia,"hey Lia. "

"Hi A."

"Wanna go for dinner tonight. Like old times?"

"All are coming?"she asked.

"No. Just you and me. What say?"

"Why A?"

"Am I not supposed to have a date with the girl I'd marry in a couple of months?"

She gasped. Then their was silence. He heard her breath heavily and sighed.

"Just come with me for dinner Lia. We will talk. What do you say?"

She agreed. He said he'd pick her up in two hours.

Two hours later, he picked her from outside his home. They planned on not telling anyone about it yet.

As she takes the seat in the car, his manners of being a gentleman kicks in,"you look lovely tonight, Lia"

"A, you didn't even look at me or my dress." She says and he shuts his mouth to say anything further.

It was weird for him. Just as much weird for her. They completed their journey with an awkward silence as they reached to the private hotel.

"Why here? Why not the princess?" She frown.

"Meher and her friends are hanging out there. I don't want to be anywhere near her. Anyway I have not forgiven her for the chaos she made and pushed us in it." He states and walking out of the car waits for her. She gets down and they walk inside the private set garden restaurant.

"Where's your bodyguard today?" He asks as he sees no one lurking at the corner, like usual nor he saw any car following his.

"I asked Riddhan to not send him today."

"He agreed?" Aayak asks shocked. Alia nods,"yes. He said if you're with me then he won't mind."

Aayan nods and as the waiter walks to get their order, he asks if she'll have wine. They both order and sit silently.

Another awkward silence following. Aayan looks around at the decor while Alia stares at him like she's looking at the most possessed treasure.

"So Lia, how was Paris?"

"Great."

"What are your future plans then?"

"I thought of opening a bakery nearby but Riddhi maa thinks it won't work out much as there are already so many bakeries available." She sighs as she pushes her hair back.

Aayan sits and notices each and everything she's doing. He saw her pushing and pulling back her ring on her index finger as she speaks then pushing off the hair band behind her ears and she looks at him. Her eyes wandering around as she stops.

"Taste what matters you know." He says looking at her lips and he had to admit he's looking at it for the first time.

He then moves his eyes to hers and smiles as she's staring at him with a blank expression.

He's always seen her staring at him and her eyes always told him what she's thinking or doing. But tonight was different. He'd not seen her this blank ever. Aleast not since her mother died.

He recalls the day, they are were crying looking at anjy masi laying on the hall of their house, looking peaceful while everyone was crying except for Alia.

She was blank. She was looking lost. Her eyes which always shines and speaks volumes, just like today that day her eyes were empty.

Aayan moved his hand to hers and pulled it holding in over the table,"why can't I see?"

"See what?" She asks softly as she stares at their joint hands together.

"Your eyes use to speak to me. What happened? What changed?"

"You." She whispers as she takes her hand back,"can I ask you something?" She tries to change the topic as she looks anywhere but him.

She can feel his eyes on her and dare she moves it to look up and meet with his. She knows, she'd give in. She knows she'd agree to whatever he'd say and she didn't want a bargained relationship with him.

He gets up and walking across the table, takes the chair and pulls it near to hers,"what is it Lia?"

"Why are we here?"

"To eat." He whispers so she looks up and meets his eyes.

"A, why did you agree to this?" She sighs as he holds her hand again.

"I always wanted to eat here." He answers casually making her shake her head. She pulls her hands away and this time she without blinking asks,"why'd you agree to marry me?"

He stays quiet. She nobs her head and turns taking her wine glass and drinking the whole.

"Woah , woah. Calm down. I know you drink, but no one wants to see you get drunk at home." He says as he pulls of the glass from her hand," listen Lia, dad said that arrange marriage isn't a bad thing. And I know you liked me before. We've know each other for years. We grew up together so it's better I marry you than someone from outside."

She hums but before he could say anything else, the waiter comes with their food and starts serving. They ask to refill their wine glasses and start eating silently.

Both trying and avoiding to look at each other they silently finishes the food. The whole ride back home was just the same and they barely spoke.

**************

That was the first and last time they met alone and after that they met again, twice and both the time all their family was with them. They barely speak both the times.

It wasn't coming naturally anymore. Their were times when she use to be around him all the time. Be it home, school or even playground. She was always following him, trying everything possible to get his attention. Sneak into his room to have a sleepover. Everything she did was to impress him and he'd just run away from her. He'd do anything and everything possible to avoid her. As they grew up, he started to pushing her away. He started running away from her or hiding from her and whatever possible thing it takes to avoid her until one day she announced she wants to go to Paris to learn the advance culinary of baking.

He sighed a breath and for past two years, he'd just heard of her. He was sure she'd with the change of placenta explore around and meet new people and her obsession with him would be gone. But he was clearly wrong. She is still hung up on him. She still likes him or so he thought.

"Why'd you run away, damn it. Lia?? What games are you playing?"

"You said yes to marry me when Riddhi maa and mom asked you. You said you were in love and wants to be with me to dad. Then what the hell happened? Why'd you run away from that one damn day of which you were dreaming since forever?" He punches the walk behind and rubs his face.

"Just give me a reason. Just tell me what went wrong and I will forget everything. Every damn thing." He pulls his hair not understanding anything and groans.

To be continued...