Chapter 42: Chapter 42

*Palak Pov*

"I never married James and at church it was just an act. He requested the pastor to just follow along and not be serious about it." I added, ignoring everyone's shocked looks except for Shruthi but she too stared at me in shock hearing these words.

"James gave me an option to help me go through my difficult pregnancy with some support and also to get complete parental rights without any difficulty. I didn't want to use him for this and so I chose to marry David. I had another reason to do so too." I continued when no one started saying or reacting in some way other than to stare at me in shock.

What else should I say? Should I even tell them about my revenge plan? But it will be too much to share with everyone I guess.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" I didn't expect Satish to react first and he is actually questioning David and not me.

"I requested... ordered him to not tell anyone. You were waiting outside when we got married." I mumbled reminding him and he is again shocked.

Okay! Someone needs to say something I guess and not accuse like Satish of course. Did I do a right thing by revealing this?

But I wanted to do this from the moment I woke up today and I didn't want to cancel that plan. If I hadn't done it today, then I wouldn't have done it ever for sure.

I guess I got possessed because of Shruthi's talk from yesterday. I started everything to lead a life following my decisions and this is my decision to reveal.

"You were saying truth that day. Why did you say it was not truth later?" Chief asked frowning at me.

"I never said it was not the truth. He did and you guys made your own assumptions." I pointed out sighing in relief for a question instead of them not believing it.

"And I was really a guardian of James as his sister-in-law. I am sister-in-law of James and not David's." I added, remembering James and I kind of manipulated them from thinking we were a married couple at that time.

"Bhabhi! There was no secret affair..." Jasmine started with a confused look and Shruthi stopped her by covering her mouth.

"It's late! I guess we need to leave and give them time." She suggested getting up and they nodded following her out.

I ended up sending them off while my... my... my family is still sitting on the couch. It feels like I just revealed I married someone else instead of the person sitting on the couch.

Why is he shocked along with them when he is also a part of it? It's not like I married him without his knowledge.

I glanced at Aunty but she is looking down and her eyes are closed too. Then she sighed, getting up before walking towards the kitchen while gesturing Lakshmi Aunty to follow her.

"You go and take a rest." I mumbled to Jasmine, who nodded before going to her room.

With the help of the helpers I managed to get clear everything in the living room and found him still sitting on the couch with a confused look now. At least there is a change in his expression.

"Go and sleep." I said, walking closer and he glanced up with a questioning look.

"I don't understand..." he mumbled frowning.

"Later! We will talk tomorrow." I said before walking away to reach the kitchen.

"Go!" I mumbled finding him just sitting there, still staring at me when I turned around.

I stepped in and found her sitting in the dining area finishing the clearing in the kitchen and even Lakshmi Aunty left the room when she saw me.

"Are you okay, Aunty?" I mumbled, walking closer to her and sat beside her not understanding why is she so silent and not reacting in any way but she shook her head.

"No!" She replied giving a smile and took a deep breath.

"Truth to be told, I was disappointed when David said all the articles about you both being a married couple is false. When I first saw the article, I felt a relief that he will not be in pain anymore. I... I didn't think about you and just thought about him. But then when you returned home, I felt guilty. The next minute I thought if you both are married, then there will be a possibility for both of you to be happy, right?" she said smiling and then sighed.

"All those thoughts stopped and I ended up feeling disappointment. I was shocked to hear your words, but felt relief too. I don't think I am doing a wrong thing by feeling happy about this when you are the one who revealed it." She added but glanced at me for confirmation.

That day at church I thought I would always feel alone when everything happened and the way my family reacted. But now... the way I am thinking them as my family is the perfect decision I have ever taken I guess.

"Aunty! It was my revenge on him to never tell anyone. I wanted him to... him to..." I couldn't continue, but ended up explaining what I felt that time and why I did that.

"After feeling relieved, I was feeling guilty for talking about so many things and even questioning in my head why didn't he stop me. Even James used to stop me whenever I tried to talk about society or how David shouldn't disturb you both. But he never said a word to stop me. He just listened to me silently without giving any reaction." She mumbled closing her eyes.

"I must have hurt him so much with those words and... and I even tried to marry you off. Even though I know he would be hurt, I thought there is no other way to relieve his pain and consoled myself to not feel guilty. But... but I should feel guilty." She added, shaking her head and I immediately held her hands.

"No! You shouldn't feel or think like that. It is my fault." I whispered and she turned to glance at me with a frown.

"I made you go through all this trouble and so many thoughts and also worry you for nothing." I explained and she immediately shook her head.

"No! Somehow I think if not for this then there would have been no chance for you to come out of that pain. Maybe this was needed for both your sake. I will be fine by tomorrow." She assured me, even after knowing I was trying to just hurt her son all this time.

I hugged her suddenly feeling the tears ready to fall down. I want to thank her for being on my side all this time thinking about me. I never expected this and didn't consider her feelings or anything.

"Thank you! Thank you for understanding." I whispered releasing her because like she said I... I don't regret doing that.

Like she said I would have just blocked him from my mind if not for this plan I guess. I walked out of the kitchen to go to my room while she added that she will not interfere with anything and will not say anything about how we go about now for both of us.

He is not sitting on the couch when I returned to the living room and stepped into my room feeling tired suddenly. It seems like I was ready to say everything in my head near her of she had asked, but she didn't pry, what I want to do next or what are my feelings.

What are my feelings? I don't know! For now I wanted to tell everyone and I just did. Do I have to give an explanation why I did it? But even I am not sure the reason behind it and I don't know what to say if David asks me tomorrow.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, frowning when I found him sitting on my bed as I thought he must have gone to his room.

"I thought a lot about what happened before you revealed everything." He mumbled patting on the bed and I sighed walking closer before sitting beside him.

"And?" I asked, not sure what he thought about and what is he going to say.

"You revealed it because Mom was forcing you with the marriage proposals and you wanted her to stop, right?" I stared at him without making a sound for a few seconds after understanding what is he trying to say.

"Eh?" I finally made a sound not knowing how to react to that analysis he thought of.

"Jasmine told me that Mom was talking to you about the marriage proposals during the party. You must have felt stressed and decided to reveal this matter." He continued.

"You need not worry about anything. I will make sure you will not get troubled even though they know about our marriage. It will be just like before and we need not... you need not cancel our marriage. I will not cross the line." Saying that he stood up before leaving my room not giving a chance for me to react to his analysis.

David! What should I even think about how your brain is working recently? Or is it because you got too much involved with business work and forgot the normal way of thinking.

****

"Bhabhi! When will you shift to Bhai's room?" Jasmine suddenly asked, still concentrating on Eli, who is actively playing with her Aunt.

It's been one week since I told everyone about the marriage and everyone behaved as if that never happened except for Jasmine. She seems to be really happy about it, but this is the first time she questioned me about it.

"His room?" I mumbled arranging the clothes properly in the cupboard.

"Yes! You both are married and even love each other after everything that happened. So, when will you shift?" she asked, glancing up and I stared back at her.

Shift to his room? But he thinks I am just trying to escape the marriage proposals or any kind of pressure the others may put me through.

I am not saying I will shift, but if I really do it then he may get a heart attack or lose his mind to think of most unreasonable reasons.

"I don't know!" I mumbled, turning around to finish the work.

"I already turned it down. Why are you asking me again?" I frowned, hearing David's voice and walked out of the room along with Jasmine only to find him leaving Satish alone to walk into his study.

"We helped you in taking down the articles. Can't you do this one thing?" Satish's voice got lost when he just slammed the door.

"What happened?" Jasmine asked, walking closer to him while Aunty turned her attention back onto the book she is reading.

"There is a charity event tomorrow. We got request that many people are wishing for him to participate. So I asked him, but he rejected it without thinking twice." He mumbled frowning before glancing at me.

"Hello!" he mumbled waving at me awkwardly.

Looks like he is still wary of me after the way I ignored him all this time because of his actions. I gave him a nod before walking closer to them.

"Maybe he lost interest in racing." I pointed out, but he shook his head immediately.

"He loves it too much and maybe after you or before you, but he is crazy about it even now." he mumbled and he seems really confident in those words.

I frowned, thinking about the time I recently found him watching a race on his system instead of working when I was trying to learn what he was teaching me.

"He will be there for the race." I said, glancing at him and he gave a worried look.

"He will!" I assured him and he gave a nod finally smiling before leaving the house.

"How will you do it, Bhabhi?" Jasmine asked, frowning and I don't have any answer to give but I gave her an assuring smile.

I stepped into his study room and found him playing on his phone instead of working, but he immediately put it down seeing me.

"You should have just called me, Palak." He mumbled gesturing the snacks I brought for him.

"Hearing Satish's words I suddenly remember something." I mumbled, sitting on the couch and ignored his words after getting an idea of how to approach.

"He talked to you about that?" he asked shaking his head.

"I never watched you racing and even Eli would never have a chance to do it, right?" I asked and he stared at me with a shocked look.

"What?" I asked, folding my arms while he smiled shaking his head.

"You are here to make me participate, right?" he asked and I cleared my throat, hearing those words feeling embarrassed for getting caught even though anyone can see through it.

"I don't think you would be interested in watching me race." He added those words which immediately cleared my embarrassment because he should be the one to feel embarrassed for the way his thoughts are running wild.

"How do you know that?" I asked, frowning at him and he frowned back.

"Just do it if you want to. What will you lose? Any business deal or anything else? Is it more important than your passion?" I didn't give him a chance to give a stupid reply and continued to question him.

"I promised Bhai that I will just concentrate on my work and our family. This... this will just take me away from them at least for the short time where I can do so many things." He explained and I shook my head hearing that stupid reason.

"You are not James. And you are definitely not a kid to do everything you promised to someone instead of what you wish for. With this attitude, how will you teach Eli in the future?" I shouted, getting up and took a step to leave but he held my hand stopping me.

"Wait! Why are you suddenly getting angry?" he asked, smiling and I felt myself feeling even more anger with the way he is smiling instead of understanding what I am trying to say.

"Just do whatever you want to." I mumbled, pulling my hand away and he stood up nodding.

"Okay! I will do whatever I want to." Saying that he pulled me into his arms before I can react and hugged me tightly in his hold.

"This is not..." I trailed off realizing one important thing.

I have criticized him with the way he is thinking towards my actions while I am actually giving mixed signals. So, I kept quiet and didn't protest his hug at all which caused him to immediately release me.

"Are you angry?" he asked frowning.

"Don't ask me any kind of questions right now." I replied, walking away while thinking I need to decide on what I actually want before it's too late and get my brain to get too worked up.

****

"How did you do it, Bhabhi? This is very special you know. Not only he is racing again, but he even brought us to the stadium." Jasmine asked with an excited expression.

Somehow I am sitting in the special seats he arranged for us while the race didn't even start. Did I actually try to use Eli to get him to race? She is sleeping right now with all the noise around us but will definitely wake up even if I try to be as quiet as I can in the room.

"Is this your first time to be here like this?" I asked turning towards her and she nodded.

"No one knows about his family too. I told my friends after he retired." Jasmine explained and I nodded before glancing at the race when it started.

"Not even in top three? Why such a result on this special day?" Jasmine mumbled, shaking her head but smiled when he reached us.

"So, how is it?" he asked, looking at us.

"How is your shoulder?" I asked, staring at him and he smiled, shaking his head before glancing at his Mom who is smiling.

"Bhai! Let's have lunch outside. We need to celebrate the cancellation of your retirement, right?" Jasmine asked, smiling and he glanced at his Mom and me before nodding when we didn't objected.

"Are you disappointed that I was not in top three?" he asked in a whisper when we were walking into the restaurant and they both already walked towards the table.

"If you had gotten that win without any practice from the past one year then it would have been really weird." I replied back making him chuckle.

"So, you have decided to pursue it?" I asked glancing at him.

"Yes! But not completely because I will definitely not have time for it and the competition is too much with new ones. I will come in my form soon and win for sure, but it would be good if you will be there to see it." He commented.

"Sure! Which one should I come for?" I asked frowning.

"How can I know that? You just have to come to every race." He replied, shrugging and I stared at him raising my eyebrow.

"You both can flirt later. Let's order first." I turned to stare at Jasmine in shock hearing those words but silently sat down reaching the table. These siblings are really too much for me to have a peace in my head with their words.

The lunch we had and the time we spent that weekend felt really special. And I know if I just open up more then the feeling will double. I really want to feel this everyday if possible and I know I should take some steps to achieve it.

****

"Aunty! I am going to shift to his room." I mumbled, feeling awkward to say that, but it really took one week after coming to this decision to utter those words to her.

"Do you need any help?" she asked not reacting like I thought she will and took it normally without pausing for a second.

"No! I just need to shift my things and Eli's." I replied and she nodded before placing the book away as it is time for her to go and sleep.

"But we need to make some adjustments to that room. We prepared extra to make your room safe for Elisha. We have to do the same when you shift to his room." She mumbled and I already thought of those things but listened to her silently.

"When will you shift to his room?" she asked turning towards me.

"Why are you asking her that question?" we both turned to see David walking towards us from his study room.

"Because she is going to shift to your room." She replied and he immediately frowned before sitting beside her.

Did he just hear her last words and not the conversation we had earlier to that? He is again going to make his own thoughts and do something else, right? But still I didn't say anything to listen to his words because they were entertaining all this time somehow.

"Mom! I really thought you wouldn't force her like this when you stayed silent all these days after knowing everything. But she did that because of your pressure." He started and this time Aunty gave a frown listening to those words.

"Pressure?" she asked frowning and he gave a stiff nod.

"Even after she told you to not talk to her about marriage proposals you continued to do it. You even chose Elisha's birthday party for such. She felt too much pressure and ended up telling the truth. Nothing should be changed just because she got forced to do it. So, don't pressure her anymore." He explained and I cleared my throat before looking down when she turned to glance at me.

"David! That day after she said she doesn't want me to find any proposals and will tell me when she is ready, I stopped saying a word about that near her. I just concentrated on your marriage proposals." She explained and he frowned staring at her hearing those words.

"But... but Jasmine said she heard both of you talking about them during the party." He mumbled and she sighed shaking her head.

"I was talking about yours with Lakshmi and Palak approached me saying I shouldn't search any proposals for you. I was asking for the reason behind it, but she just repeated the same words and that's what happened." She explained his another confusion before standing.

"Then why did she reveal everything?" he asked, looking at her even though I am sitting near them and not somewhere else.

"Why would I know? Ask your wife if you want to know the reason and she is right here." She replied, pointing at me before leaving to go to bed.

I stood up the moment she left before walking towards my room silently while he sat there again with the same shocked look he gave when I told everyone that we are married.

Now I really have to give some reason behind my actions. But do I finally find the reasons I was searching for to give him proper explanation?

When I entered my room, he immediately reached the door asking, "Why?"

I turned around before taking a step back and he completely entered the room while giving me a wishful look but it is definitely mixed with confusion.

"Why what?" I asked, taking another step back.

"For everything from the point where you asked her to stop searching proposals for me to this day." He replied, taking another step closer and this time he is pleading me with the look he is giving and I closed my eyes not wishing to let it affect me much but my hands are already shaking and my heart is definitely beating fast while feeling the anticipation of finally understanding my own thoughts.

I opened my eyes taking a deep breath and stared back at him while reminding myself from beginning day when I met him at the hospital and to this moment.

Being at the receiving end of his revenge and knowing the pain from it, I shouldn't have placed him at the same end. Now, being at the receiving end of his love and care and knowing the happiness from it, I want to place him at the same end.

With that thought, I placed my hand on his cheek before pressing my lips to his trying to answer his question with this action. I am sure he will not get any unique explanation for this too, right?

I released him and took a step back to verify whether he got it or not, but he immediately pulled me closer before kissing me back and closed the door with his back.

This time I pressed him to the door and didn't stop him or tried to be passive in showing the effect he has over me. I don't want to hold myself from anything from this moment onwards.

If I am going to get hurt, I will get hurt, but I want to be happy. I want to be really happy with no restrictions I placed around myself. I want to be happy... with him.