Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"Sometimes people don't realize what they have, but I'm sure they will realize what they have lost."

Rhea's Perspective

"Will you stop crying and tell me what happened?" I shouted, irritated as she was constantly crying from the past one hour. She didn't answer and lamenting, cried more hugging her knees. Helplessly, I looked at Akshat and mimed query. He beckoned me to follow him outside and casting a glance on my friend's crying figure, I paddled out.

"What happened to her?" I asked, making sure she was not at hearing distance.

"I've no idea. She called me one hour before, she was crying and asked me to pick her up from Raj Marg lane. When I reached there, she was all alone and rest is history." Akshat sighed.

I covered my mouth, petrified, "What was she doing there all alone at goddamn one?"

"I don't have any idea." He rubbed his forehead, "I am clueless."

"Why the hell was she crying? Where is Abhimanyu?" I felt like crying after seeing the broken state of my friend. She was the toughest girl I had seen but she was not the Shree I knew before me.

"That's why I called you Rhea! Talk to her and make her feel better." He said, concerned and kissed my palms. "Do something for her, Rhea."

"That's what I was doing. I think you should call Abhimanyu and inform -" I was suggesting when a flared voice interrupted me, "Don't You Dare Do That."

Perplexed, I looked back to see a disarranged Shree standing on threshold of room. Her eyes flowed yet they were red with fury. "Don't you dare call him! He just doesn't care if I die or live. He's a monster."

I exchanged glances with Akshat, beckoning him to leave because I knew that she wouldn't get angry with Abhimanyu. She wasn't angry when Abhimanyu disowned her but today, I heard an edge of acrimony for him in his voice. When Akshat left to his kitchen to probably bring water, I knelt beside her and cupped her face. She was distracted but her eyes were swollen and streaming tears down. I felt pain in my chest and wiped her tears. "Okay fine, I will not call him and won't inform about you but...for that you've to tell me everything."

Still sobbing, she hugged me and narrated everything whatever that sonovabitch did with her. I was shocked how inhuman he could be. Anger built up in me and I clenched my jaw, not letting any cuss leave my mouth and patted her back as she needed me now. I was utterly disgusted with Abhimanyu, How can a person be so careless and irresponsible?

"He left me all alone Rh...Rhea. He left me there. I didn't say...say anything and he..." She coughed as her voice croaked and I stroked her hair, keeping my tears at bay. She was adjusting for her parents and that bastard was making her life hell.

"Shhh....don't think about him. He's a pig. I, seriously never, expected him to behave this inhumane. What is he? A heartless bastard." I vented out my impending venom.

"Everything was going good Rhea. I finally had started envisaging my life with him. Despite his abominable behavior, I chose to believe him, gave him a chance. And what he did! He left me forlorn in the middle of night." She mumbled ruefully, her eyes rained and I felt like drawing a dagger on Abhimanyu.

"Stay with me tonight, Rhea. Please don't leave me. I don't want to stay alone." She pleaded and I hugged her.

"You don't need to ask for it, Butu. Relax. I am here baby, don't worry. I will not leave you." I hushed, trying to alleviate her pain.

My heart clenched on the thought of any harm touching her if Akshat didn't reach there to pick her up safely. Was she such a burden that he left her there even after knowing how unsafe it was for women?

Mr. Abhimanyu, I won't leave you. I pledged to slaughter him.

"Come and get some sleep." I made her sleep on the bed and covered her. Sauntering to the exit, I closed the door and met Akshat in the half way.

"Is she okay now?" He asked, concerned and I muttered, distracted. "She's sleeping."

He held my hands and I looked up at him to see his thick eyebrows furrow, "What did happen, Rhea?" I melted by his tone and hugging him tightly, I narrated him everything.

Surprisingly enough, his reactions were nowhere near mine. They were all composed and serene but I couldn't understand why.

"Aren't you feeling angry at him? Don't you want to kill him for hurting her?" I fisted his chest and he cupped my face, "Relax! I can understand what you're feeling and trust me, I am angry on him too but baby, and we can't intrude in their personal matter. We-"

"Really? Are you serious?" I scrunched my eyebrows in disbelief, "That person is treating your friend like trash and you're saying it's their personal matter. Have you lost it?"

"I didn't say that. I meant we don't know why he did it? What was the issue? If we will interfere, it will just intensify their issue."

"Does it justify what he did?"

"Rhea! I agree it doesn't justify what he did. But we shouldn't interfere in their life. It's their matter and they'll resolve it. Besides, I trust Shree. I know she'll deal with him and Abhimanyu didn't look such a jerk to me." He reasoned. "Problem is, we will have to wait until he himself clears my doubt."

I puffed my face, mum. What's the point of arguing when he's had sell his brain? Huh! I peered him and found him calling someone, what the -!!! Shouldn't he be propitiating me instead of calling someone at this ungodly hour?

"Hello Abhimanyu? Yeah, Akshat here.... Actually Shree is in my...yeah she's safe. No...Err I think you should not call her as she's upset...okay. Yes, I will let you know tomorr....Ow, RHEAAA!" He glared me as I snatched his cell phone.

"Hello Abhimanyu!! How dare you do this to her? Em...you are a monster. You left her half way. You know what I thought you were not that Bug but no you proved me right! I was right about you. You're a psycho, spineless man." I lashed out my venom in a breath. "It would've been digesting if you were impotent but no, you are nastier than that. You are a jinx in my friend's life. Don't you have idea what could've happened to her?"

"Rhea I-"

"Don't you dare to. Akshat is a fool to believe and trust you but I am not. I will make sure that she divorces you." I spat and cut the call.

"What?" I looked at Akshat who was staring me with inexplicable smile and then he pulled me, closer. I was still breathing hard. "I just realized that I am going to marry spitfire lass. God knows what you'll do to me if I just -"

"Shh..." I put my finger on his lips as his hands encircled around my waist and I smirked, "If you even try to hurt me, I will take a sharp knife and dig it here...." I kissed his heart and his eyes widened, "....and twist it deep until you die painfully and slowly."

"Lord!!" He breathed, "I will never hurt you." He kissed me briefly and hugged me. "I love you, Rhea!"

"I love you too, Akshat." I confessed feeling like a traitor to my friend who was crying her heart out in the next room.

Abhimanyu's Perspective

I rubbed my face, trying to lessen the ache in my forehead veins. No calls, no messages, I sighed, checking my cell phone. I am such a bastard. I couldn't even understand what devil possessed me that I left her there. Those eyes, those big, tears filled eyes and quivering lips were because of me. I hadn't contributed lesser than to make her cry. She was living through a hell because of me. I was perturbed the way our equation changed. I was planning to tell her that I was ready to accept her and instead, I threw her out when she was only jesting. Her intentions were pure as always. She was trying to assess my depth. A beep of my cell phone made me snap open my eyes and browse my cell phone. It was my secretary. I cut the call, stoically.

Why would she call after what I did!!

I leaned back on my recliner and recalled how her friend lashed on me last night. I fucking messed up everything. Juggling my cell phone, I mustered courage to call her again but she doesn't pick up. What had I expected anyways? I took my blazer and swiveling it around my arms, sprinted downstairs. I needed to fix this up as fast as possible. I couldn't let her go away from me when I knew that....that I just couldn't live without her.

"Where are you going in hurry?" Mom called from behind as I tracked to exit, I whipped my head to face her, "Shree! I mean Shree...I am going to pick her up."

"This early? She's in her paternal home right? Then why so early, it's just 8am." Mom objected and Badi Ma guffawed, "He's totally wrapped around her little finger."

I smiled faintly, how I would tell them that she wouldn't want to see me anymore after what I did with her. I'd just ruined my blooming relationship, even though I promised her to not hurt her again. I will accept even if she hurts me, yell on me or humiliate me but I will win her this time, to not lose ever.

"Mom, getting late. Bye!" I took steps when she interrupted again, "But she said she'll stay there for a few days."

"What?"

"Yes, actually she called me just a few minutes ago to take permission. It's her friend's engagement two days later. She wants to stay there." Mom apprised, nonchalantly.

"Mom how can you....unbelievable!" I threw my hands in the air in frustration, prancing to my car and drove to Mehul's home.

***

"YOU DID WHAT?" Trio bawled their eyes and yelled, their expression delineated how mad they were but at that instant I cared least.

"I don't know how to apologize to her. She's just not taking any calls." I whimpered, rubbing my forehead and closed my eyes painfully.

"This time I seriously don't want her to forgive you. You've gone mad and I feel like a criminal because to some extent I convinced you for marrying her." Kartik threw a disgusting look at me.

"This is all because of you!" I passed the back to Bharat, completely aware that the accusation was baseless and that wouldn't make me little less guilty.

"It's all because of your incompatibility Abhimanyu. I adamantly tried to convince you, to make that Divya's snide words move out your skin but...." He trailed off, sighing, "I am disappointed."

"I want her back. I just want my wife back." I murmured, "I know it's my entire fault but I will mend everything."

"Why?" I furrowed my eyebrows at Kartik's objection, "What do you mean?"

"Why are you being restless? You weren't ready for this marriage, you never accepted her. So why do you want her back now?" He bombarded with questions and I glared him, "Because she's my wife."

"Sort your feelings before you put things into action. Gather your shit together, Abhimanyu, just because she's your wife doesn't mean you'll behave however you want. Win her if you respect her." He preached, jabbing my swirl of emotions.

Shree's Perspective

"Hey Shree! There's another bouquet for you. What to do with this one?" Aarti asked, looking the massive bunch of orchids and asphodels, wrapped in transparent foil and smiled.

I put my pen down and took the bouquet from her, like always it had the 'sorry card' stuck on it which had made me cry in the beginning but now it was just another card to me. I tore it and threw in the dustbin, flinging the bouquet in the extreme corner of my cabin.

"Who's this abashed person babe? Did you tell Abhimanyu about him? These 'Sorry cards' are piling your trashcan." She catechized and I dismissed, "Don't mind it. You mail me the codes, I will transcript it. Also, is there a number of the florist?"

"Why?"

"I will personally ask him to block this customer because he is harassing me and if he doesn't get the message clearly, I will lodge a complaint against him." I was serious on this.

"I will ask the peon to get the number of the florist agency when the next bouquet comes, relax." She pacified me. "You want some coffee?"

"Yes please!" I chipped and she regressed out. Pressing my head, I closed my eyes tightly; the shooting pain skyrocketed in my head. I opened the drawer and took a desprin out.

"What the hell!!" Rhea yelled, barging inside and I darted a look upon her before resuming back to my position. She pulled a chair next to me and sat on it.

"He sent you the bouquet again. Why the hell are you not calling him and snubbing? He's taking disadvantage of your politeness. Look at me!" She pushed my hands off my head.

"And that's what he wants. He's doing it all to extract a reaction from me but this time, neither am I going to talk to him nor will I give him any reaction. I am done with this marriage." I screamed, glaring the corner where the bouquets rested discretely.

"Akshat has invited him to the engagement tomorrow, though I was completely against it but still he preached manners and all. So yeah, the whole point is will you be okay? If not then I will-"

"I will be fine." I will be not. I can't bear his sight.

"You sure?" She confirmed and I sighed, "I've no idea where to go. My perverse part pushes me to tolerate his whimsical behavior for my family and the benignant part wants me to give away his evil ways. I am so confused."

"Everything will be alright!" She pressed my hand, sympathizing me and I laughed, humorlessly "The worst decision of my life was to refuse that NY offer."

I wish I'd never said no to that, and then it wouldn't have landed me here.

"Here!" Aarti came and placed the cup of coffee on my desk. "Oops! I didn't know you'll be here else I would've brought one for you too." She said to Rhea.

"No worries." Rhea smiled and indulged in discourse with her while my brain fidgeted with the maneuvers I could imply to avoid him. This would be difficult but I had faith that it wouldn't be impossible.