~•} C H A P T E R|21 {•~
A cold breeze flowed caressing her skin and made Ruhanika come out of the trance she was in.
Her lips parted ever so slightly as her gaze remained fixed on the photo frame of the young woman.
She was beautiful, way too beautiful. With those sharp almond eyes and confident smile grazing on that woman's lips, she seemed like a model straight came out of the magazines.
"Maa!" Yuvika shrieked in utter joy shifting everyone's attention to her.
She smiled ever so slightly towards others who were staring at her now and making her feel like the center of attraction which she never wanted to be.
"Maa, see there is Mom!" Yuvika introduced while signaling toward the photo of that young woman with her index finger.
"Yes, Ruhanika meet the first daughter in law of the Rathore Family and first wife of Yuvraj Singh Rathore, Mahira Oberoi," Bhavna announced emphasizing on first.
"Late wife," Gayatri added loudly.
It took a few moments for Ruhanika to process everyone's words and finally conclude in her mind that the photo of the woman in front was no other but the infamous first wife of Yuvraj Rathore who was now dead.
The biological mother of Yuvika.
Involuntarily her eyes searched for the man who was the father of Yuvika and accidentally her husband too.
And there he was, dressed up in his usual white crisp shirt and cotton pants but today there was something else on his always serious-looking face.
Maybe sadness, she assumed.
A slight sigh left her lips as she gazed at him and then the small kid in front of her.
She felt bad seeing Yuvika pouting and talking like usual. Like today was nothing and her biological mother didn't die today.
She pitied the child in front of her who didn't even know that the woman who gave her birth was not in the world anymore.
She was glad that Yuvika didn't have to go through all she had to when her parents died.
But still, the fact that Yuvika was smiling all along not even knowing what had happened on this date was just sad. The fact that she didn't even know that it was her biological mother's death anniversary.
Maybe in the future, Yuvika would know about what she lost just like her brother.
It wouldn't make any difference with Yuvika's behavior towards her she hoped.
As her brother, Ruhan didn't react that bad. Yes, he cried but didn't stop calling her uncle and aunt his parents.
Unfortunately for her, she was never able to call her Mama-mami as Maa and Papa. The reason was simple, her heart never gave that place to them. That was very wrong of her she knew but it wasn't in her hands. She was eleven when her parents died, and experienced the love from her parents immensely so giving someone their place seemed not right. Her heart never agreed.
She felt guilty. But not everything in this world was possible, right? The people she always met as her relatives, suddenly became her guardian and the two people she loved the most in this world were suddenly taken away from her so how was she supposed to take all this in a good way and call the new people Maa and Papa?
Her train of thoughts was disturbed by Vardhaan's groan, "Every fucking thing was supposed to happen together."
With creased brows and narrowed eyes, she lifted her head and found Vardhaan who had just come from outside standing there with a bitter expression.
"I warned Bhavna before not to conduct all this." Gayatri pressed her lips together in detest.
"But Mummyji she was our first daughter-in-law and-" Bhavna tried to argue but was harshly cut off,
"You might have forgotten what happened but I haven't and will never!" Gayatri deadpanned.
"ENOUGH!" Yuvraj's loud voice boomed followed by pin-drop silence.
Everyone shushed up instantly whereas Ruhanika tried to fight the shiver that rose in her body at his thundering voice.
What happened in past?
She couldn't help but question herself but this was also an unanswered question just like she didn't know the twisted reason behind why he denied her to talk to Udgam Singhania?
She knew Yuvraj Rathore could be very possessive of his belongings but she also knew that at the moment Yuvraj Rathore didn't consider her as his belonging.
Afterall he didn't feel anything towards her at the moment just like her.
So for sure, there must be another reason behind this Singhania thing.
Soon the puja was done and Yuvraj instantly left the hall at a speed that almost scared her.
Ruhanika noticed that Aakarsh was not there but shrugged it off not wanting to attract trouble towards her.
After checking that everything was back to its place, making sure everyone who was present had their breakfast and settling an asleep Yuvika in her room, she strode towards the room she shared with Yuvraj.
Her feets halted just before the dark mahogany door. The way he left after puja swirled in her mind and she swallowed hard to drench her dried throat.
It won't turn out that bad I guess.
She thought shuffling on her feet for a minute.
Finally sucking in a sharp breath she pushed the door which was unlocked and it opened with a creaking sound.
Sheer darkness.
Pure silence.
She licked her dried lips and stepped ahead.
The dead silence terrified her.
The chilling darkness in the room sent shivers down her spine in not a good way.
Not able to take it anymore she hurried towards the window which was way too closer than the switchboard which was in an entirely other direction. She unrolled the dark grey curtains letting the sunlight illuminate the room a bit.
She was sure that it was only some time past noon but the dark clouds in the sky weren't helping much in illuminating the room.
Suddenly she felt a presence behind her, with a racing heart and terrified expression she turned to find the mighty Yuvraj standing behind her with a frown while his head was tilted towards right ever so slightly.
He was close not so close but still, close.
Her breathing quickened as she watched him coming closer, she stepped back involuntary until the glass of the window stopped her.
When there was an inch gap between them, he halted and craned his neck down to make direct contact with her eyes.
She was able to smell the sudden alcohol in his breath.
Her nose crinkled in disgust as she looked into his icy dark grey orbs which were staring back at her with the same intensity.
He is acting like a male lead who has lost his love and drinks alcohol.
She thought in her mind.
His lips parted ever so slightly and she clutched her eyes shut silently praying in mind,
No, please don't imagine me as your first wife like the male lead of the book I read!
"Ruhanika..."
She opened her eyes being surprised that he didn't imagine her as his first wife as she read in a novel.
Is something wrong?
She questioned herself.
"You didn't have your breakfast." She asserted lowly.
"I don't have the mood to."
His answer once again made her think about whatever he might have gone through. He lost his wife at such a young age. Had a daughter with her who might always remind him of his first wife who he might love deeply. She understood the pain of losing someone so she understood his pain deeply.
She should have felt bad and jealous that she wasn't his first choice. But she wasn't.
How could she feel bad when she knew that she was here, right now standing with his name attached to hers just because of this. They might have never met if it wasn't for Yuvika.
In front of the world, Yuvraj was hers just because of his past.
She was his wife, just because of his past.
They would have never met if it wasn't because of his past.
Because they were very different. They came from entirely different family backgrounds and as a fact she knew that she would never have been the first choice to be the first daughter-in-law of Rathores due to her family status.
And for Yuvraj, family mattered the most.
Not wanting to be an insensitive person she murmured,
"Yuvraj Ji, I know it must be so hard for you to lose the person you love."
She was greeted by a surprised-looking Yuvraj, who in turn came a little too closer until his nose was touching hers.
"Shouldn't you be jealous?" He asked raising a single brow in her direction.
"Why should I? I know you have a past. A past which you maybe want to relive." She mumbled ever so softly remembering her past with her parents which she wanted to relive so bad.
Suddenly the surprised expression was replaced with a hard one. She could see the evident tension in his neck chords.
"Maybe not every past a person wants to relive." He muttered closing his eyes and for a second she saw a flash of regret on his face but it was gone as soon it came.
She was shocked to hear the confession which was indicating there was much more to his past and first marriage.
"Were you not happy with your marriage Yuvraj Ji?" She inquired not able to control herself.
"Sometimes two people are just not meant to be together."
He breathed out softly as the corner of his lips curved ever so slightly.
And then stared directly into her eyes as he asked,
"Now, you tell me Ruhanika, why do you never ask for your rights on me? Why do you never demand to be my wife rather than only being Yuvika's mother?"
She didn't anticipate this question, not at all. She inhaled deeply before replying,
"A person can't force relationships on others."
"Exactly. A person can't force relationships on others and it took me so long to understand this." He whispered as his lips touched her earlobe and his slight beard grazed her cheeks making her shiver.
He parted away leaving a stunned Ruhanika behind whose mind felt like a mess.
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The lunch and dinner went as usual leaving the fact that Aakarsh refused to attend any of these followed by Raina who didn't want to get pitiful glances or listen to someone badmouthing Aakarsh when she was aware of the whole truth and knew that he wasn't at fault.
Arriving inside the room she saw an Aakarsh who was shirtless with his punching gloves on indicating what he did previously.
His attention shifted towards hers as soon as she arrived and she suddenly felt awkward and uncomfortable.
Well, she was not to be blamed as he did such great things in the past that she still didn't know how to act around him.
But the same was not the condition for him as he seemed way too happy around her now.
Way too happy.
"I was waiting for you, woman!" He almost yelled.
"For what?" She questioned with a frown thinking about what new trouble he landed himself in.
"Urghh... I don't know but I was waiting for you woman." He replied tilting his neck.
"Why are you calling me woman!?" She whisper yelled.
"Because you are a woman." He answered with a shrug.
Raina rolled her eyes and glared at him slightly.
Realizing his stupidity, he mumbled, "Because you are a good woman!"
"You are unbelievable." She shook her head.
"I know right." He gave her a boyish grin.
She inhaled sharply remembering this was the same look he posed in his 64th Instagram post.
The time when she used to stalk his profiles and he used to be her crush.
Well, he still was but now she had a better grip on herself.
Shaking her mind from absurd thoughts, she asked what she wanted to do since evening,
"Why are you ignoring your family!?"
"Because I want to!"
"Aakarsh, you can't avoid them like this. Try to sort this matter out."
"I am already the wrong one in their mind. They don't have an ounce of trust in me so why should I explain myself to the people who don't trust me? They don't deserve an explanation."
She sighed hearing his stubborn answer which was correct to some extent but that's not how things worked.
"They didn't have a little time to ask me what happened and started blaming me from the moment this incident happened. You know what, even my fans are supporting me but not my family." He chuckled dryly at last as his voice turned low.
The hurt in his voice made her heartache for the man in front of her.
Sensing her stare, he murmured,
"You can hug me to make me feel better you know."
She knew he was trying to cheer up the atmosphere in the room which had turned gloomy but still it felt like he was genuinely suggesting.
Afterall, he loved hugs, remember?
Hesitantly she stood up not wanting to sound rude and stepped towards him while he stood up himself from the bed.
Slowly she wrapped her arms around his torso loosely but this was all he needed to wrap his arms around her too tightly.
After a minute he left her but didn't look awkwardly or uncomfortable like her.
"You can sleep on the bed you know." He suggested while plopping down on the bed.
Her eyes widen as she heard him and instantly shook her head in denial.
"I was just saying for your comfort. No problem, suit yourself."
With this, she saw him turn and cuddle the big pillow next to him closing his eyes.
Well, this was another reason. She knew how he slept at night. He moved around on the bed while hugging something and she didn't want to get crushed under his bulky self for now.
Slowly she made her way to the couch she always slept on. It was her haven.
Once again her eyes found his sleeping form and she couldn't help but sigh as her shoulders drooped.
The last two days with him had been a roller coaster.
It made her think that there was much more to his personality than aggression.
There was much more in him other than anger.
And maybe he was a baby inside the bulky body who loved to hug.
He was a person who took rash decisions without thinking twice and landed himself in trouble.
He had a sharp brain which he used rarely.
Her lips curved into the tiniest smile...
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"Ishani!" Vardhaan yelled coming inside the room watching her sit on the left side of the bed.
"What!?" She spat out looking at him with a murderous glare making him chuckle.
He was getting bored so who could provide him more entertainment than his wifey.
Sitting beside her he snatched her phone away whereas she breathed deeply trying not to shout and let him succeed knowing well he came here to annoy her.
"Ishani you know I was thinking something for a long time." He began and she looked at him.
"That why haven't you fallen in love with me till now like my fangirls. So that I can break your heart afterward like in movies leaving you a crying mess." He finished as the corner of his lips twitched up.
"A person was working like a dog day and night to just complete a single dream and just when that person was so close to achieving her dream, another person enters her life creating havoc and snatching away the single dream she had. How do you suppose that person to love the other person Vardhaan?" She questioned back and Vardhaan who was expecting an answer like previous times was left stunned.
Masking his shock well, he retorted, "You had a fucking choice."
"You think that Vardhaan. And think whatever you want because that's all this world can do I don't give a damn. You were born with a golden spoon stuffed inside your mouth so how in this world could you even understand this!"
"I have money, agreed. But it deeply affects your family. Maybe you will never have someone to have time to talk to you in a family who is always running behind maintaining reputation and business." He argued.
"Great then. I have none. No family, no money."
She chuckled dryly at the end and left the room leaving a tongue-tied Vardhaan behind.
He had to accept that this woman was no less than a volcano who blasts leaving everything quiet.
Thinking this he laid down on the bed seeing the wall clock indicate noon.
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Aakarsh groaned as his alarm clock rang loudly.
Covering his ears he switched it off.
He yawned sitting up straight as his hand found his phone.
Opening the lock, his eyes widen at the news all over the world.
"Rainaaa!" He shouted...
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