Chapter 9

(Aadhithya's view)

"Never explains anything to me and makes feel like the culprit. What is with you Dhiya?"I said to myself when Dhiya cut the call.

"Is anything wrong?"Veni asked.

"Nothing serious Veni"

"Okay,I'm heading back to office...shall I drop you or....?" She asked.

"Oh...yeah sorry for keeping you waiting"

"Hmm...." She started her vehicle and I was deeply inside the thoughts of Mami's conflicts with Dhiya.

"What happened to them? Did Mami found about our deal? Dad is going to kill me,if he get to know about this"

"Deep thoughts might collapse your mood" Veni said while driving.

"What?" I shrugged hearing Veni's voice.

"Its common that a person is watching the road during travel might be in deep thoughts"

"Uhh...I can't deny that"

"Its okay,if you are not feeling like talking about it"

"No...Veni...I....I just had a complicated marriage.."

"Hmm....were you forced to marry ?"

"Yes...not only me...my wife was also forced into it"

She became silent for few seconds.

"Did you love someone? Is that why you were not interested in marriage?"

"Nope....its not like I don't like Dhiya. I'm just not a fit guy for marriage..and I hate that too"

"What do you mean by that?" She was a little curious.

"Every human being is alone Veni. We born, live and die alone. These friends,love,companions....even marriage comes under temporary stuffs you know..."

"Hmm....literally"

"Yes...then what is the need to run behind all of these?. Instead I can live on my own and enjoy my independant life with a woman of my desire. I mean no strings attached with her".

"Okay....but you are already with Dhiya. Doesn't that enough for your demands. You can still be independant"

"Ofcourse Dhiya is with me. But she is entirely different from me and I don't want a relationship by tying a knot on a females neck"

"Hmm......" She sighed at me in the mirror.

"Hey....don't give me that look. I'm not a gay" I said and she bursted out which made the entire vehicle shake a little bit.

Her giggles were making some electric impulses inside my spine,but it felt good.

"Do you want coffee?" She asked while seeing cafe-day near the road.

"Yeah...I need it badly now"

We stopped and entered into the cafeteria. There was a large menu displayed beside the billing counter.

"One regular coffee..with extra sugar...what about you?" She asked.

"Umm....I...." I stood there checking out the menu. 'Green tea' was written on it,it reminded me of Dhiya.

"Just make it two..." I said and left to a corner table..

Veni came after me

holding two coffee cups. Vapours were coming out from those cups.

"If marriage is so uncomfortable for you, why did you accept it?" She asked while blowing her hot coffee. I took mine in my hands.

"Its my parent's emotional blackmail,threats,manipulation..,etc etc...."

"Hahaha....same things"

"What? Same things?"

"My parents did the same kind of things to me"

"Really? I don't know that you were married?" I said spitting out some coffee. It was little embarrasing.

"Hey..hey...I'm still single man. That's the only relief for me now"

"Hmmm...." I was watching her taking a long sip..emptying her coffee cup.

"I loved a guy. He was my college mate" she started to tell her story and I was listening to her calmly.

"Everything was good at the beginning. I introduced him to my parents. Initially they refused to accept him.."

"Hmm....."

"Later, I struggled so hard and argued with my parents to marry him. There was literally a civil war inside our home every day"

"Then..?"

"They finally accepted him...only for my sake"

"Wow...that's good" I was a bit jealous when heard that.

"I ain't finished yet mister"

"Oh....what happened then?"

"He dumped me. You know Aadhithya? People changes so drastically along with their rise of money. He was not so different from others"

"Hmmm..."I could notice her tear drops falling on the table. I held her hand casually,she looked into my eyes and her eyes were watery.

"Excuse me..." She said and took out her hankerchief to wipe her tears.

"I'm sorry for your loss"

"Hmm....thats okay. That was not even a loss for me. The real problem began just after that incident. It was my parents,they completely lost faith in me and pushed me into marriage"

"Typical Indian parents" I nodded disgustingly.

"Hmm...its my fault too Aadhithya. I thought he was loyal to me but he betrayed at the last moment. I can't even look at my mom's face after that"

"Hmm....I understand. But pushing you to marry someone won't bring any change in your life"

"I know...thats why I resisted them and they dumped me too. Now...I'm all alone...no family...no love...just on my own" her voice trembled when saying that.

"Everyone is alone Veni. Being together is never permanent, people just don't realise it" I said and there was a smile on her face. I felt myself proud for making her lips stretch.

"I think we should leave...or else the cafe owner would be so mad at us.." she giggled and we rided back to our office. I didn't utter a single word during our travel.

"Veni..." I called her when I was about to take my bike.

"Yes..?"

"I didn't tell you about one thing. But...I don't know how you would take this"

"You have to spit it out first..."

"Uhh....me and my wife are not living a marital life...so..."

"Hmmm...??"

"We agreed to date the persons whoever we like. We don't interfere in each other's conflicts"

"What?? Really? What kind of agreement is this?" She said and was smiling when I said that.

"It may seem so wierd...but..."

"Hmm...it is and why are you opening this to me?" She asked me with a teasing tone.

"Umm....its...because you were open to me and...also I like you Veni. I wanna...."

When I was about to complete,my phone rang suddenly. It was Mami.

"Excuse me...."I said and picked up the call.

"Hello..? When are you gonna return home? I don't know how to change this tv channels. I want to watch serial today" Mami said from the other end.

"Mami...please wait I will be there soon..."

" Pchhh...serial will start at 6pm. Where is your wife? Will she come earlier?"

"Oh fuck...if Dhiya comes earlier,then mami will get me into some unwanted situation for sure."

"No Mami...just wait..I'll be there as soon as possible..." I said and hung up the call.

"I'm sorry Veni,I have to leave immeadiately now. I'm sure we will talk about this later. Sorry again" I said and rushed in my bike..

"Yeah okay....bubye...." She waved at me and I waved back at her before leaving...