CHAPTER NINE

As they park their car, Meher curses,"bitches!!"

She angrily walks inside the pub and scans around before she she huffs and angrily walks inside towards the bar,"what are you both doing here?"

"You think you three girls come here alone and we wouldn't know?" Aayan smirks and he looks at Alia. His smile vanishes. She gives him a small smile then looks away.

"I told you not to follow me,didn't I?" Meher points to Riddhan who ignores her and frowns looking at Amyra.

"What are you doing here?" He asks as he pulls her closer to him and his whole body goes alert. He leaves the drink on the bar and scans the area.

"Bhai please! I am old enough. I don't need you hovering around me all the time." She pushes his arms and asks the bar tender to pass her a gin martini. Riddhan keeps an eye on her. Meher is smirking.

"That's for being a jerk!" She states and holds both her girls, they all walk to the empty couch.

She leaves Alia and Amyra and walks to talk to her friends. Amyra looks at Alia confused not knowing what they are supposed to do. She has never been to places with so much crowd around. She looks at Riddhan who has his eyes on her all the time. When he raises his eyebrows at her, she pouts.

He walks up to her,"you wanna go home?"

"Yes!" Riddhan holds her hand and asks Alia.

"You guys go. I will stay with Mahi."

"You sure? I can drop you?" He asks again.

"I am sure. Go ahead." She smiles and walks to the bar to get herself a drink.

Sitting on the bar, she orders a dry martini and looks around to see if she can find someone she knows.

"It's illegal for girls like you to be alone at the bar, you know ?"

"And what do girls like me means?"

"Beautiful! hot! sexy!"

She smiles,"and why is it illegal?"

"Ohh, you know, perverts like me try to hit on you and guys like them glare.." he points to Aayan who's talking to someone but his eyes are on her.

She chuckles," he won't mind..."

"Are you sure?" He again looks at Aayan, " his looks says otherwise."

Alia just waves her hand and swings with the music around. She looks at the guy," wanna dance?"

He smiles and takes her hand, "sure. By the way, you got more beautiful then I remember. "

"Are you trying to flirt with me, Karan?"

"I am not trying. I am flirting. " he says and they dance a bit.

"All those years I tried to be your friends and you were just so busy being his girl. I am so jealous of him,man." Karan says and smiles at her.

She laughs," he was never mine you know, not even now."

"Ohh." He is almost shocked then he grins,"I got a chance tonight, might as well enjoy with you." Saying he start dancing and then both laugh.

Alia relaxes and let herself feel the adrenaline she is been holding up since the moment she walked inside the pub.

She is not a party person but she had her fair share of fun and experiences. But today was just about letting herself enjoy.

It's been months, she has done something fun and something like going out and dancing. So she stretches her arms and throwing her head a little back, dances like she owns the place. Meher joins her pushing karan away who laughs walking away and they both forget that they have people around as they dance.

"I need a drink." Meher says. Alia walks with her, still her hips moving a bit and short of breath. They sit with their drinks in hand when some of Meher's friends ask them to join for tequila shots. Meher joins them leaving Alia alone.

"Not a fan of shots?" Aayan asks and she jumps up on her seat before she relaxes, "A.." she groans.

He raises his brow as she used his nick name. She just shakes her head," no Aayan, I get sick if I drink different drinks at the same time. "

He nods,"Want to get some fresh air?" He asks and gets up. She first stares for a while then takes his hand and look at Meher then at Aayan who points two of Riddhan's men standing a little far from them.

"Keep an eye on her and when she's ready to leave, just ping me." He orders the men and taking her hand, they both walk out of the pub.

They sit in his car and he drives to search some place quite. He stops the car near the beach and gets out. She comes out and they both sit on the bonnet.

Alia inhales the breeze and smiles, " remember Riddhi maa and dad use you bring us here when we were kids."

"Yes. We'd play and eat and sit till one of us falls asleep. It mostly use to be Amyra. She always hated the crowd."

"She still does." Alia says and looks at him smiling, "you broke so many of my sand houses. "

He laughs," I wasn't alone. Aarul helped."

They fall in a comfortable silence looking at the sea. The silence was so peaceful and calming, they both could hear the tension leaving their bodies.

"I am sorry." Aayan whispers still looking further.

She looks at him. He turns to look at her," I am sorry, Lia. I was such a jerk to you. Always."

"You were." She agrees wrinkling her nose and smiles.

He laughs and shakes his head,"I know. I am genuinely sorry."

She nods her head," I am sorry too. I did not made very much of good choices. All I could think was not marrying you and everything else faded. It took every bit of courage to come and meet you. I was scared."

"Ohh come'on Lia. I never meant to scare you. I just wanted to talk. Know what happened. Why didn't you fight with me Lia? You have every right to fight with me yet you chose to stay silent? Why?" He continued to gaze over at her while she just is lost in the world where only they two exist and nothing else matters. Even though it's just her imagination, it's perfect.

"Years..." she stops then smile," years of waiting to get your attention, for you to love me, notice me and make me yours, I never realized I was pushing you away so, so far. I thought following you will make you like me more than friends. Cooking for you, baking and trying to make efforts so you'd spend some time with me. I didn't know what I did wrong? Or where I had to draw a line. So when you said you hated me and I am the reason why I'd loose you forever, I couldn't bear it. " she looks at him with her eyes shining and filled with tears," A, I would rather have you as my nothing rather than loose you forever. I can not loose you."

Her broken voice and those tears, those damn tears shifts something in him and he regrets everything. Even though he was drunk and all what he said is like a faded dream in his mind, he knows he has hurt her like no one ever did.

"Hey, hey, Lia don't cry. Please. Don't cry...",he jumps off the bonnet and stands in front of her. He wipes her cheeks and holds her arms with both his hands," I am an asshole. I am a jerk. Lia, you deserve alot more better than a fucking bastard like me. Please don't cry. We will do whatever you want. Okay?"

She nods then sniffs and laughs, " sorry, I am a cry baby."

"I am so sorry , Lia. It scared me. I was frightened by the idea of us together. You had this power over me and I was such a putty in your hand. But then I never loved you. I was scared. "He says looking in her eyes, still not understanding if he is so scared to love her then why every tears of her affects him differently.

"Now what, A?"

"Whatever you say, Lia. You want to get married?" He asked as scared as ever. His fist holding her arms tighter and his jaw tensed.

"Aren't we already married?"

"No, I mean you want to continue where we left?"

"A, I guess after tonight, I would rather be divorced than completing the rituals. " she states. She looks up at the sky," we should file for divorce."

"Divorce it is then!!!" He states and his jaw relaxes. Yet deep, deep down he felt the hope loosing and a hollow getting a little bigger inside.

"How did you know what you said that night?" She asks getting off the bonnet and getting inside the car.

"Riddhan told. No wonder he was pissed at me."

"He is always pissed at someone." They both laugh and the ride once again gets comfortable.

"So what do we tell at home?" He asks as he turns soft music on the radio and glances at Her. She looks at him then looks out of the window.

She wasn't sure how their family would react with the divorce thing. She should have picked up one call. Heard his sent voice messages. Normal messages. Anything. But just to ignore him, she decided to not even glance at it.

"That we are getting divorced?"

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

"Riddhi maa, say something? Please. " Aayan sits in front of her holding her hand. Riddhima is lost thinking.

Rahul, Muskaan and Armaan has already agreed. If their kids aren't happy being married the it's for the best they get divorced. But Riddhima is still silent, lost in her thoughts.

"What are you thinking, Riddhima?" Armaan asks.

"For six months, they have to stay together for trial before they could proceed further for the divorce. " she says and looks at Armaan. He nods and turns to Alia who's sitting next to him.

"You okay with that?" He asks Alia.

Alia nods," yes dad, I will be okay. It's not like we have to actually behave like married couple. It's just formality, right A?"

"Yes, of course."

"You will take care of her?" Rahul asks protectively .

"God, dad. Please give me some credit. I'd never hurt her or not take care of her. You are such a drama." Aayan winches and then look at his mom who is giving him sharp looks. He shakes his head, " it's not like we are leaving the city or something! You all can visit at Ryan's all the time and there's family dinner at every friday. So we will be basically meeting every damn week, for God's sake. "

Riddhima nods then she looks at Alia, " you want to do this?"

"Yes Riddhi maa. I am sure." She smiles and everyone relaxes.

"You will not dodge my calls, lady. Or I will come and hunt you down and kick you. And you," she points at Aayan," you better take care her otherwise I will forever haunt you and make you pay."

"You all seriously, take a break." Meher shouts," they are in the same city. You all have us in front of you for every two days of the week. Please stop being over protective." She annoyingly says then she takes Alia's hand," come, I will help you pack. "

"What happened to you?" Alia asks Meher who's got the first time is in the bad mood.

"A huge fight." She pouts

"You got to be kidding me. You guys fought?" Alia is shocked. She stops," what happened?"

"That bitch Zia happened."

"Again?"

Meher just shrugs and drag Alia again.

After an hour, they have packed all the stuff she needs to go. Riddhima and Muskaan walks inside the room.

"Why can't you both live here?" Muskaan frowns.

"Because we can't go to work from here. It will take alot of time, muskie maa."Alia reasons, " I have to start working on that upcoming festival of mine so it's better we stay at my place. And A also will be close by."

Both the ladies nods understanding.

They both say bye and get in the car and sigh together. Then looking at each other they chuckle.

"Our parents can be drama."

"Well, that's why they are parents.." Alia says," ready?"

"How do we do this though? Live together?"

"We'll figure it out as we go?" She suggests.

He smiles and nods," well, welcome to the Six months of marriage, Lia."

"Be careful, A. It seems like a long period of time. Better not fall in love with me.."

He glances at her as he drives while he is already regretting this.

He is going to be in deep trouble!!

To be continued