Chapter 24: Chapter 24

A few days later

Author's pov

It's nighttime and Niyati was sitting at her table and sobbing silently. A book was open in front of her and she was soaking its pages with her tears. She was looking very depressed and upset. Shivansh hasn't returned from his office yet.

She was still sobbing when Shivansh entered the room silently. He noticed her sitting at the table and thought that she was still studying. So, he didn't disturb her.

He started loosening his tie when he heard her muffling sound. He looked at her carefully and found that she was crying. He panicked seeing her cry and walked towards her.

" Flower, what happened? Why are you crying?" Shivansh asked worriedly and Niyati looked at him with teary eyes.

She answered hiccupping," I gave up Shiv. I can't. I think I won't be able to complete my graduation."

Shivansh was taken aback by her words and asked widening his eyes," What do you mean? Tell me everything clearly."

" See," Niyati said showing a paper to Shivansh. It was her project report.

Shivansh was rolling his eyes over the paper when Niyati started saying," I have failed in two courses. I don't know-how. I am so upset right now that I want to give up. I don't want to study anymore."

Saying all these Niyati bursts into tears covering her face with her palms. Noticing her broken state Shivansh's heart twisted inside his chest and he felt very bad for her.

" Shh......Shhh.....don't cry....look at me...." Shivansh whispered removing her hands and wiping away her tears.

He held her hands gently and motivated her," You can't give up so early. You have to be strong and you should concentrate properly on your studies. You might have forgotten that Failure is the pillar of success. It's not a big deal if you have failed two courses. You can always do better in future. There is still time."

" I don't want to study anymore. I am feeling suffocated with all these books and study pressure," Niyati responded nodding her head vigorously.

This time Shivansh held her shoulder tightly and shouted on her face," Then, what do you want to do? You want to stay in the house and depend on me, right? You don't want to be a self-dependent woman? You want to be like those women who depend on their billionaire husbands and don't have their own identity, right? You want to be a..............."

" Are you insulting me, Shiv?" Niyati questioned feeling Shivansh's words as insults.

Shivansh answered putting pressure on her shoulder," I am not, flower. I am not insulting you. I want you to be independent and have your own name. I want you to be successful as an independent, confident and strong woman. I want to feel proud of you."

Niyati stopped crying and continued looking at him with surprised eyes. She thought he would be happy if she says that she doesn't want to study anymore and wanted to be a housewife. But, to her utter surprise, he was motivating her to be independent.

" I want you to be a successful entrepreneur or an MD of any IT firm after completing your studies. People should know you not only by my name but also by your own identity. You should be confident in yourself and make me proud. I want to tell everyone proudly about your achievement. So, make me proud, Flower. You can't give up like that," Shivansh finished saying and Niyati hugged him tightly.

He also hugged her back when she asked him," Why do you support me always? Hmm!! How can you understand my inner feelings and unspoken words?"

Shivansh broke the hug and said kissing her knuckles," Because I didn't love your body only, I have loved your soul. I have loved you for who you are."

" Don't be so good. If something bad happens then I won't be able to live without you," Niyati said becoming afraid. She doesn't know why she always feels like something bad will happen to her marriage.

Letting out a chuckle, Shivansh moved towards Niyati's lips and said," Our love is strong enough to survive any kind of storm."

Saying that he smashed his lips over hers and she also responded hugging his neck very gently.

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

After one week

After an exhausting day in the office, Shivansh just returned home. He expected Niyati to be waiting for him in the dining room but she wasn't there. He didn't mind at all and thought to go to his room.

Reaching there, he found her standing on the balcony. His lips curled upward looking at her silky and soft hair. Without wasting another second he walked towards her and hugged her from behind.

" What are you doing here alone?" Shivansh asked burying his head inside her hair.

Shivansh stumbled back and almost fell to the floor by the impact which Niyati gave him. But, somehow he balanced himself. Pushing him very hard she returned to their bedroom where Shivansh kept standing like a fool. After recovering from the shock, he followed her inside.

" What's wrong?" Shivansh questioned standing in front of her.

She answered coldly tidying the bed," Nothing."

" Nothing!! Then, why are you behaving like that? Why are you ignoring me?" Shivansh inquired but Niyati ignored his questions.

This time he grabbed her arm tightly and asked calmly," What happened?"

Jerking away his hands from her, she seethed furiously," What's your relationship with your secretary?"

" What? She is my employee. Nothing else. What's wrong with you?" Shivansh shouted understanding Niyati's insecurity regarding his secretary.

Niyati shouted back," What do you think? I don't understand anything. From every business meeting to every business trip you always take her with you. The last time I told you to take me on your business trip, you didn't take me. Why?"

" She is my secretary, Niyati. She schedules my meetings, conferences and deals with the clients. Isn't it obvious for me to take her on business trips? The last time I didn't take you on my business trip because that time you weren't well. I have nothing with my employee," Shivansh explained but Niyati wasn't in the mood to hear anything.

She replied putting pressure on every word she took," Because you wanted to spend romantic time with your secretary. I have seen how that woman always flirts with you. Are you backstabbing me?"

She completed her saying and Shivansh yelled raising his hand to strike her," Niyati........."

But, he controlled his anger and fisted his palm angrily. He put down his hand while Niyati kept looking at him furiously.

" Why did you stop? Beat me, slap me. Now, your secretary has become more important to you than me," Niyati yelled back and started sobbing silently.

She didn't argue anymore and laid down on the bed. She kept shedding tears but didn't make any sound. On the other hand, Shivansh started feeling guilty for shouting at her and seeing her tears.

Walking towards her, he sat beside her and rested one hand over her shoulder. She jerked away his hand and moved her face in another direction. Shivansh heard her hiccupping and guilt increased inside him more.

" I am sorry for shouting at you," Shivansh apologised but Niyati remained silent.

He again apologised when Niyati asked him," Can't you have a male secretary instead of a female secretary?"

" If it makes you happy then I will appoint a male secretary," Shivansh answered and Niyati's face lit up.

She immediately sat back and hugged him tightly. She wiped away her tears and a happy smile formed on her lips.

" I am sorry too," Niyati apologized and Shivansh forgot what happened a few moments ago.

She was clearly doubting his character but he didn't mind. He thought that her insecurity was just the outcome of her love. She just loves him too much and that's why she can't tolerate any female around him.