Chapter 22: Chapter 22

*Tajwar Pov*

Before I could shake her coming out of my shock to make her stop saying all these stupid words, she drifted off into sleep.

I moved her away from me and moved myself to the end of the bed before turning my back towards her with her confession ringing in my ears.

I told her in the beginning itself regarding the null allowance of all these things with the life from me. Then how can she say this and to top of that drift off into sleep?

After a few minutes when I didn’t get any sleep, I got down from the bed and walked near to the coffee table and sat down.

If she is awake right now, then I would have shouted at her. Nevertheless, what would I have shouted? I thought immediately frowning.

She didn’t do any crime and all I can do is ignore her confession and then, she will let go of it understanding me. I decided that it would be for the best and then frowned.

What if she doesn’t understand my behavior and ask me directly? What should I say to her? Even after knowing everything she did this then what else is there near me to tell her hearing which she can understand.

I glanced at the clock to see that it seems I have been sitting here for the past one hour with all these thoughts. I felt surprised by this and immediately stood up.

Why am I even thinking this much about her words while she is sleeping peacefully? I thought and moved near to the bed before laying on it.

I will not think about all this and just forget that she ever confessed anything to me saving both of us from some war of exchanging words.

This is not right! I thought waking up earlier than everyday and saw that she is still sleeping.

I didn’t have the nightmare for the past few days, but today I got it in a more detailed manner. However, all I felt was a distance from everything that is happening.

Without waking her up, I got ready and left for the office an hour before the time I usually leave these days after changing the early timings.

“Sir!” I heard a voice and glanced up from the file which I have been reading for more than an hour to see my assistant looking at me with a big frown.

“What?” I asked barking at him in a way feeling the frustration of getting lost in my thoughts like this.

“There is a call for you, sir. I have been calling you for a long ten minutes.” He replied, frowning more and took a step back to leave.

“Ok!” I mumbled before taking a client call and started talking about the new project that is going to start soon.

I was not kidding when I told her that I get used to the time I start returning or leaving the home. So, against my wish, I returned home early only to see Mom and Mridula talking about some decorations.

I opened my mouth to ask them what is the need for them but stopped myself before walking near to the staircase.

“Mridula! Where is he?” I heard a sound and turned to see Dileep rushing inside the house.

“I just gave him food, and he may be sleeping.” She replied after glancing at Aunty.

“I will go and talk to him.” He said, rushing near to the staircase and her eyes traveled along with him, and then she saw me.

“We didn’t see you.” she whispered and Mom too glanced at me while Dileep just walked past me not stopping for a second.

“I will be right back.” she added looking at Mom before getting up, and I turned around before climbing the stairs and reached my room.

“Aahil is getting married tomorrow.” She uttered the moment she walked inside the room, making me stare at her in shock.

“What?” I asked her not hiding the shock at all.

“Yes! Some girl got pregnant because of him, and it turned out, she is the daughter of your family rival. If this marriage didn’t happen, then this family name may get ruined as per Uncle is saying. Aahil doesn't think the baby is his and doesn't want this marriage, but he is being forced.” She replied in one breath along with whispering.

“Why are you whispering?” I asked her frowning still getting adapted to the new news which she just shared.

“Well, I don’t know who is right and wrong. I just don’t want to hurt anyone with the words I am saying, which is someone else’s thoughts, but not mine.” She replied sighing.

“You need to still learn so much, Mridula. Don’t you have any opinion regarding what is happening?” I asked, folding my arms to which she frowned at me.

“No! Maybe she is right and probably Aahil is right. I know him, but I don’t know her. So, I can’t choose one’s words.” she replied shaking her head.

“I choose Aahil because he is my brother. And each one who knows about the situation does that or chooses that girl. Why can’t you?” I asked, continuing the act I started that got clicked in my head.

“Why?” she asked back frowning.

“Because you are still young, Mridula. It will take time for you to think from the mind for these situations than the heart. I always say something that gets into my mind unlike you. And we both have so much age difference, so there could be differences like this more than once.” I replied, shrugging before walking away to freshen up hoping she will get the hint to not have any feelings for me.

That night and the next day she was more than busy with all the work, and I stayed back at home knowing well it would not be fine to go to the office even on my brother’s wedding day.

“Tajwar! I found you a perfect sherwani.” I heard Mridula’s voice when I was checking out a file and glanced up to see her looking amazing in some grand saree.

I stood up and walked near to her seeing that she selected the one which would match with hers. I sighed, but took it knowing well, I can’t get myself another sherwani ready right now.

“I need to go and check on the arrival of the bride.” She said smiling at me and moved to walk away, but I stopped her, which seemed to be our everyday act and kissed her.

“I will go.” she whispered, blushing and walked away when I released her while I started getting ready.

The whole wedding passed in a blur with me standing little away from everyone, but moved near to the mandap when Mridula pulled me saying my brother needs my support.

The reception too passed in the same way and this time I stayed more away while Mridula rushed from one place to another taking care of everything and finally all the guests left.

I returned to my room when I didn’t find Mridula anywhere and changed my dress before lying on the bed feeling tired after moving between so many people and then talking to them.

“She seems like a good person.” Mridula said the moment, she entered the room and started removing her earrings.

“What?” I asked her frowning.

“Nipuna appears to be like a good person. And the best part is she is just one year younger than Aahil.” She replied smiling.

“And?” I asked, not understanding her words.

“You said that we can have so many problems with an age difference right? Here there is no problem like that.” She explained and then I remember the words I uttered to her yesterday.

“However, I am glad that I am already in love with you.” she added before I could say anything making me decide it is better to make her understand how this works before this extends more.

“Which is not a good thing.” I said when she looked at me with a small smile.

“What?” she asked, frowning and slowly sat up right before thought regarding what to say and finally opened my mouth.

“You shouldn’t love me, Mridula. I told you in the beginning itself that you would get nothing from this relation.” I replied and she immediately shook her head showing disbelief over her face.

“But… but that was before everything. We were like strangers at that time, but not now. Then why is it wrong?” she asked, gulping at me.

“Because I will never love anyone else. I don’t even think I can do that. Once is more than enough for me, Mridula. And that is the reason I told you not to expect anything.” I replied, not wanting to waver seeing her tears.

“You can’t say that, Tajwar. If it was the case, then why did you listen to my words and then the affection. What was all that?” she asked in a pleading tone.

“I don’t know! It was an attraction for sure from the beginning. And I don’t have any other replies for you, but just a suggestion not to expect anything from me like I always said.” I said before lying down again and turned before closing my eyes, feeling not good for saying all those things, but I am really confused regarding what to say to her.

Thisis for the best! I thought before drifting off into sleep.

*Mridula Pov*

No! I don’t believe that all he said is true. I felt everything from him, and it didn’t seem fake at all.

If I didn’t feel anything from him, then why would I even fall for him? I thought, shaking my head before sitting on the chair and let the tears fall.

I shouldn’t cry! I thought before brushing away my tears. He is still dealing with a lot and need so much time for everything, and I can’t forget the fact that he was already in love once.

When I was never in love before and fell for him after four months, then it may take more than the normal time. I talked to myself for a few minutes before changing the saree and lay down on the bed, gazing at his back and drifted off into sleep.

Like the day before yesterday he left for office little early, but I expected it beforehand and prepared the carriage which he took while leaving, but we didn’t exchange any words between us.

I got lost in my thoughts while serving the dinner and didn’t give much attention to the uncle’s words until they all turned towards me with him taking my name.

“No! Act like she is a guest here. Tell Tajwar too about this.” He said and I slowly nodded, even though I didn’t hear what he said before this.

“I will not be late tomorrow. I didn’t know the timings.” I heard Nipuna before she sat down beside Aahil.

“Didn’t I tell you to tell her about the timings, Mridula?” Aunty shouted at me, and everyone looked at me in shock while I looked back at Aunty feeling hurt.

“Mom!” Aahil said, but I took a deep breath thinking she is not my Aunty anymore like she was before.

“She was tired yesterday so I thought to get the food for her to her room.” I explained and started serving Nipuna.

“I will serve myself.” Nipuna said stopping me.

“Please!” I whispered and she finally let me.

“I am sorry!” she whispered and I slowly nodded before walking away from her before getting lost in my thoughts again while having breakfast ignoring the words getting exchanged between Aahil and Uncle.

“They may think that how a great politician, he is that he thinks about his work more than his life.” I heard Nipuna saying suddenly, and I glanced up to see Aahil is not there while uncle nodded at her with a surprised look.

After breakfast, both Uncle and Aunty left the table, and I did the maid pick up the plates like everyday before moving towards the kitchen.

“When did you get married to Tajwar?” Nipuna asked and then I remember that she is still here.

“Four months!” I replied, giving a small smile before passing a juice glass to her as I started thinking about what things should be done to take care of her health to take away my mind from everything else.

“Wow! In such a less time, you have everything very organized, and I don’t think I will know even a little even after one year.” she commented when I started instructing the chef regarding the lunch.

“In such a short time, no one can get used to or know about what happens around here.” I mumbled stepping outside the kitchen.

“Then how did you?” she asked frowning.

“I have been living here for many years. And that is how I know all this but it took so much time to know.” I replied.

“Really? So, is it love marriage?” she asked, smiling and I immediately felt a severe hurt in my heart thinking it would have been so easy if that was the case, but here he doesn’t even think it is possible for him to love me.

“No! It is arranged.” I replied and changed the topic introducing the staff and the ones who can help her if she needs anything.

The lunch time I didn’t even hear any instructions Aunty said and even after knowing that I am not paying attention, she just continued before stopping after a few minutes.

However, within a few minutes Uncle and Aunty started spatting at each other regarding some issue between Nipuna and Aahil and Nipuna is staring at all this with shock.

After they left I used the words which Aunty said when I was a kid when I felt the same shock hearing their spat. She slowly nodded before walking away.

“I know I shouldn’t have shouted at you in the morning, Mridula. It is just that I did so much even though it was wrong in the past, hoping no person takes advantage of my sons but here in the end, it happened. So, I am feeling a little restless.” Aunty explained when I was cutting the fruits.

“I didn’t mind!” I mumbled before walking away, and she sighed.

I sat near Nipuna after giving her the fruits and started replying to her questions regarding why am I being normal towards her when everyone thinks badly about her.

When I was in the middle of replying, I saw Dileep entering with a pissed-off look. I asked him does he want snacks to which he shook his head before walking away.

After he left, she slowly talked about me caring for everyone, and I thought maybe I was doing it overly to which she shook her head before explaining that she is only surprised.

Aunty seemed to be happy that Dileep is here, and I tried my best not to glance at Tajwar not wanting to get all the feelings crashed into my head and heart right now before everyone.

I didn’t even walk inside the room after he returned and stayed downstairs doing everything I can. After a few minutes when Aunty talked about the Dileep’s new maid, he suddenly shouted at her making all of us stare at him in shock.

I glanced at Tajwar only to meet his gaze, but he glanced down continuing to have his food. I frowned, but started having my food when everyone composed themselves.

I stayed back even after everyone left finishing their food and sat at the table thinking what should I tell him when I walk inside the room. After some time, I saw Aahil entering the house with a tired look.

“Shall I serve dinner?” I asked, to which he got startled, but nodded before sitting at his place.

“What are you doing here so late?” he asked when he finished his food.

“What are you doing by coming home at this late time?” I asked back, to which he raised his hands chuckling before walking away, and I too followed his suit after covering anything and switching off the lights.

When I entered the room, I saw Tajwar laying on the bed. I lay beside him and closed my eyes without making a sound, but then felt a hand touching mine.

I opened my eyes to see him staring at me with his hand over mine. I placed my other hand on his before holding it tightly between my hands.

“Good night!” I mumbled giving him a small smile.

“Good night!” he whispered back, but didn’t take away his hand and we both drifted off into sleep with me holding his hand tightly hoping I never leave it no matter what happens.