CHAPTER SIX

A seven years old Alia takes her dolls in both her hands and run to the backyard, "mahi, mahi come we will play house house!!" She says as she sees Meher running around Riddhan who's is playing with four years old Amyra.

"I am playing with Riddhan and Amy." Meher shouts and sits with them and start tickling Amyra who squeals and laughs loudly.

Alia rushes to the treehouse and gets in sitting next to Aayan,"you will play house house with me A?"

"I am helping Aarul." He says and she pouts,"but you are just sitting here."

"He's making my portrait." He says and looks at Aarul who is confused and frowning.

"Aalu, go away, you are destroying my art."

She walks towards the board he's painting on and looking at the art she laughs,"he made you look like a joker, A."

Aarul pushes her away, "go play with girls Aalu or I will break your dolls again."

"You broke my nini and mimi?" She asks looking in his eyes and a fat teardrop forms in her eyes. Nini and mimi were Alia's favorite dolls. The only thing her parents bought together for her and she always use to take them with her wherever she goes.

Her chin wobbles as a tear slips on her cheeks and Aarul looks guilty. He turns to his work and she crying rushes down.

"You broke her dolls and said Meher did. You lied?" Aayan asks him as he starts getting down."Riddhi maa is going to punish you for lying!!"

"I didn't mean to. Meher was troubling me and I had to do something. " Aarul comes down and goes on search for Alia, knowing she'd be crying alone somewhere.

"When did I trouble you, you brat?." Meher punches him from behind and runs with him to search for Alia.

"You broke my paint brushes and hid my colors so I had to punish you and I told riddhi maa that you broke the dolls." He smirks and pushes her away, " I will search for my sister. You stay away."

"She is my best friend and we both had a fight because you said I broke her dolls!!" She pushes him back," you go away!"

They both stop and keeps pushing each other forgetting about Alia who is standing behind the wall and enjoying their fight.

"Found you!" Aayan boos her and she jumps scared.

"A, you scared me!" She swats him and they both hold hands leaving Aarul and Meher to fight and goes to play house house.

"You be the husband and I be the wife. Amy be our daughter. Okay?"

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

PRESENT

Alia smiles looking at the dolls painting her brother has painted and it's one of those unique art, she knows, is not just a painting but a memory. Memory, she remembers like it happened just yesterday.

As she entered the art gallery, she was mesmerized with each and every piece. She always knew, Aarul has talent but she has never seen his work. In fact, she knows only few of her family as seen any of his work. And now that he's made it official, she knows he's ready to fight and come out of his shell.

"This one is for you. I will send it to you as soon as the exhibition is over." Aarul says as he passes her the glass of wine and looks at the painting.

"So after breaking my dolls, you are giving me this painting?" She asks smirking as she knows it's very easy to take Aarul to a guilt trip.

"Well,They were your precious friends. You cried for a week for them, till Armaan sir bought you two other dolls." He smiles remembering.

"You know he hates when you call them sir, right? They are our God parents and aunty uncle. "

"They are your god parents and aunty uncle, Alia!" He says sternly and she just shakes her head while he move," excuse me!"

And like always, just as they were coming closer, he pushed her away again. She sighs as she keeps looking at the painting and a faint smile forms on her face.

Everything was just perfect then. She never had to worry about her heart or her feelings. Her family was always there to make her laugh. Even Aayan. He use to be her guardian angel. She'd run behind him, wherever he goes and he'd play games with her.

They all never needed anyone else. They all were so many that there were no place for more friends. But then things started changing. Aayan and Aarul started making friends outside and they all started playing together and things started changing.

"Those use to be your favorite dolls!!" Alia stiffens as she hears the voice and suddenly she's not breathing. The hold on her glass loosen and was about to fall but from behind, he takes the glass from her and whispers, "breath!"

She blinks but still she's holding her breath so he whispers again,"breath, Lia!"

She takes a deep breath and turns.

"Aayan!"

"Your A!" He states and hands her the glass.

She clutches it like her life depends on it.

And she realized, even after almost four months she wasn't ready to face him. The whole way from home to the gallery, she made up her mind that she will be fine and it won't be difficult, yet; here she is, her mind rattling and her heart racing. Eyes looking at his handsome face and the world around him fading. It's just him. And she right in front of him, looking at him like the very first yet the very last time.

When she called Aarul and said yes to come back, she knew she had to face him and talk to him, yet standing in front of him, she is as unprepared as ever.

"Hey A!" She whispers and turns to look away from him and moves to a landscape.

He laughs. And she takes her deep breath again. His laugh is sarcastic and full of no nonsense.

"Still running away, I see!" He moves right next to her. She says nothing and just keeps admiring the painting. Or at least pretending to admire.

"What do you want Aayan?" She asks as casually as she can. She can't let him see that he still affects her and that it she leaves her heart soar looking at his handsome face yet not able to touch it.

"Oh, nothing Lia. Just here to support my bestfriend,you see. He happens to be your brother. " he says as if it doesn't matter that she ran away from their wedding. As if it's the most normal thing happy them. And she knows he plays well. He is so damn good at playing that she knows he will win; whatever this is that is going on; by the time they walk out of the place.

She nobs and start moving around the gallery and he keeps following her around.

"Why are you following me, Aayan ?" She calmly takes a sip turns to him.

He smirks, "irrigating isn't it?"

"what?"

"Someone following you around all the time." He says accusing and she just stares at him like he is some spoiled kid and she wants to grab his ears and make him understand.

"I was a kid then, Aayan, and I knew my boundaries. I knew when to not follow you."

"Yeah,like you never followed me to my classrooms, my games, my bedroom." He grins," and remember the time, I was in my bathroom, jerking off!"

She gasps.

"You're an ass!!" She whisper shouts at him and her cheeks burns up with the memory as she looks around to see if someone heard but luckily they were in the corner and almost alone.

"You're a spoiled brat!" They both hear Aarul's voice and the next they hear is Aarul groaning and Meher commanding,"take it back, you asshole!"

"Stop punching me, you crazy pants" aarul groans again.

Aayan just shakes his head and looks at Alia.

Both Aarul and Meher comes out from behind the door they were in, mostly like Meher pushing Aarul forward.

They stand a few steps away from Aayan and Alia as they start fighting again."Why are you here?"

"Why would I not be here?"

"I don't recall giving you any invitation!"

"My family got one. It said 'Mallik family's."

"You are not even a Mallik."

"I so am, you jerk."

"Your surname is garewaal, you dumb!"

"My mother is a Mallik!" She shouts and that's when both Aayan and Alia rushes to their side as they both are creating a scene, as always.

"Stop fighting, you guys." Alia says and both Aarul and Meher turns to them.

Too embarrassed to say anything, Aarul moves away and so does Aayan who follows behind Aarul but not before, he turns to Alia and whispers, "laters!"

That single word held so much promise, that Alia could feel her legs turning into jello. While coming back home or the way here, she was prepared for it but seeing him and the way he talked, she knows nothing in the world could prepare her for this.

She turns to Meher, "what the hell was that?"

"He messaged me this morning saying I shouldn't come. And when I am told something, it's my duty to break the damn rule and tell everybody, Meher do not follow commands. I don't live to please people" She says and with her head high she walks away.

Alia just shakes her head and turn to see Riddhan standing and observing her. She walks to him and he gives her a nod.

"So you saw everything? " she asks and when he doesn't answer she shakes her head, " of course you saw. You see everything that's going around each of us."

"You okay?"

"I don't know Riddhan. It's messed up. I am a mess inside."

"He still wants to talk more. You are going to be okay, right?" They both look at the direction where Aayan is standing with their family and he turns and waves at Riddhan.

He nods and they both make way to join everyone else.

After the exhibition, Aarul tells them, he has arranged a get together for them all but he looks at meher and points out,"you stay away from there."

She shows him her tongue and pinching his arms walks towards the food area. Muskaan just shakes her head and holds Aarul," you did a great work."

"Yes, I agree. Each piece is just magnificent. I'd like to buy some." Rahul says but Aarul just shakes his head, " you do not have to buy, sir. Point out and I will ask my manager to arrange the delivery. "

"I must pay."

"No sir, I am not taking payments from you. You are my family. "

Riddhima and Armaan smiles knowing too well what he means. Armaan Pats his back,"just call him uncle and he won't bother asking your manager to deliver but himself take the painting home."

Aarul looks from Armaan to Rahul and nods,"uncle!" He hesitates but then Rahul hugs pats his arms so he smiles.

They all take seats at the long table set with food kept in the middle. Alia returns washing her hands with Amyra and there's only two seats empty, one is in between armaan and Muskaan on which Amyra sits and the other is in between Aayan and Meher. She reluctantly sits on the chair and sighs.

Everyone saw the scene but prefers to ignore and take food on their plates.

"So how long is this exhibition for, Aarul?" Riddhima asks.

"For fifteen days, aunty." He says and Armaan looks at him," you need any help?"

Aarul just shakes his head," I have managed to get everything done."

"You know I am just a call away if you need anything. You're parents have left your money in my guard. You take that money and do as you wish." He says as he looks pointedly at Aarul.

"You can give it to Alia. I don't need their money." He simply says with finality in his voice so Armaan doesn't say anything.

Alia looks at him hurt and snaps," I don't need that money too. They have kept it for you and so you should have it."

"I said I don't need nor I want it."

"Then throw it away, why don't you?" She raises her voice and Aarul groans.

"What? " she shouts looking at Aayan who's trying to hold her hand to stop,"he thinks he can disrespect them all he wants?"

"Alia!" Riddhima sternly says and she sigh,"I am sorry everyone. I am just tired." She turns to Riddhan,"can one of your guys take me home?"

"I will drop you." Riddhan says getting up but before he could, Aayan is holding his hand out for her as he gets up from his seat.

She looks at him raising her eyebrows so he says," we need to talk."

She turns to look at Rahul then Armaan and both are waiting for her to say 'no' so they will ask Aayan to sit but she turns to Riddhima and Riddhima blinks at her so she nods,"okay!"

While they walk out she hears Riddhima telling Aarul not to mind Alia and that she gets upset when it comes to Anjali and Atul but Aarul is silent.

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

In the car, Alia is sitting looking outside the window while her mind is battling with her heart. She knows he wants to hear her side of the story. He wants to know what happened. And she knows he deserves an apology and an explanation but she try and get her gut up but still is not able to say anything.

Aayan drives silently glancing at her time to time and smiles as he remembers her shouting. He's never heard her shout. And he can bet none in his family too. She's always been this calm and sorted girl. Her anger and frustration always goes into baking or cooking.

He glances at her again and turns the music down as he asks," so you're not going to talk?"

"What do you want to talk about?" She turns to him,"besides this isn't the perfect place to talk , you know?"

He sighs and nods. He knows this is not the place where they can talk about anything. He's amused with the way she's keeping her points one after the other.

As far as he remembers, she was this little girl who'd agree to anything anyone says without her own opinion. Or was he so busy running away from her that he never noticed how she actually reacts or responds to things.

He stops in front of the garage and gets down to open her door but she is already out and walking towards the garden from the sidewalk.

Alia sighs as she sees the swing and sits on it. Aayan follows her sitting next to her and looks at her but she keeps looking down in the grass.

"What do you want to talk Aayan?" She asks in a small whisper that is hardly audible. If she'd not have his undivided attention he'd not probably hear what she said and she was hoping for that. But now that, after months of playing hide and seek and months of ignorance she knows it's time she speaks her mind. She says the exact things she wants to say and he wants to hear.

"What do I want to talk ? Well, let's get started with the calls you've been dodging and the texts that you never saw. All the voice messages I sent you to talk to me once?" He says still looking at her with his voice as calm as possible.

"There's no point talking about all that, Aayan!" She again uses the same voice making him scoff.

"Really, after months of torture, you are saying it ain't worth talking." He almost shouts at her but his parents raised him better. His mother will cut his tongue if he raises his voice to any women, how angry he might be.

"Aayan, I.."

"It's A, for God's sake, Lia." He cuts her in between and holds her shoulder and turns her,"why are you distant? Why did you run away? Why Lia?"

She bites her lips and and looks into his eyes. The vulnerability and helplessness clear in his eyes. He has no idea what went wrong and he is so desperate that if it comes to beg, he'll do that as well.

"Please answer me,Lia?" He again says softly so she takes her hand away from her and turns to look at the grass again.

"You didn't love me Aayan!" She simply states and Aayan frowns.

"What do you mean?"

"you were ready to marry me just for our family's sake. You never loved me!" She says turning and looking into his eyes. There are so many questions, so much confusion in his eyes.

"What do you mean I never loved you? And did you run away because you thought I didn't love you?"

"I thought?" She scoffs and turn away again," I wish it was just my imagination or my mere thought and not the truth but that's the truth Aayan. I didn't thought. I knew you didn't love me. And that day if I'd walk down the aisle or I would sit on that holy place and get married to you then that'd be the worst nightmare of my life. " she says as tears slips down her cheeks. Which she wipes hurriedly.

"So what that I didn't love Alia?" He groans ," I was ready to get married. People do get married even when they don't love each other. There's a thing called arrange marriage. Two people don't even know each other properly lyet they get married. What was the big deal? Why'd you run away?"

"Because if I didn't run away that day, you'd never love me ever, Aayan!" She gets up and stands far from him,"you were my first love Aayan and I wanted to marry you just as much as I need to breath but if that day I would have married you, I'd lost you forever. "

"Who told you that?" He snaps and turns her to look at him," who said you'd lost me forever and I'd never love You? Who?"

"You!!!" She exclaims," you said. You said you'd never be mine. And that it's the worst thing in life that you had to marry me. You said that you hate me so much that you could never fall for me. You could not. Because I am forcing you to tie a knot with you." she says the things remembering clear as crystal.

"Are you out of your mind ,Lia?" He looks at her as if he don't know her at all," how could you accuse me of something I never did. You are everyone's favorite in our family for God's sake, I would never say such mean things to you. And Lia, love happens eventually. It happened with Riddhi maa and Armaan mama. It could easily happen between us. Why'd you run away from our wedding embarrassing not only just me or our family but yourself too? It's good that the wedding was just for the family or else..."

"You don't get it, do you?? She cuts him listening to all the talks about how she embarrassed everyone and him," you will never get it, Aayan. Because for you it was just a wedding. Some rituals and some marriage!" She shakes her head and look into his eyes," you know what marrying you meant to me?"

He just looks lost as if this is some strange land he has landed into and he has no idea what the girl in front of him is saying. She hold his arms.

"Aayan marrying you meant my dreams come true. It meant I didn't have to beg for love and search for it. It meant I have my own home. You were supposed to be my home. But when you said you'd never love me and I'd lost you forever, I couldn't get it into me to up and marry you. Do you get it?"

He nods," I do actually. " he says still lost," you know what Alia?"

He takes her hand and looks in her eyes smirking, "you lost me! You actually lost me!!"

"What are you saying?"

"Well, if marrying me means you'll lose me then you lost me, because by the law, we are married!" He leaves her hand," you never answered my phone or read my messages. All I wanted was to know the reason and ask if o should sign the annulment for our marriage we had in court."

Then laugh,"funny, isn't it? The thing that you were running away from, it came back to bite in your back?"

Turning , he walks away and out of the house leaving Alia stand there, alone in the garden, lost in her thoughts which were as black as she could feel her soul is.

To be continued..