“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.
— Anna Scott,
Notting Hill
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~A A R O H I~
The moment the dance ended, i excused myself to the restroom. No, you can't be feeling this way. My heart thudded the second he had taken hold of my hand.
Or even before that. When he had given that stupid speech. And gave me the credit.
It did not make sense to me. How..? Was i the reason for his achievements?
Was he lying... because the look in his eyes said otherwise.
I splashed water on my face. The cold liquid does nothing to ease the nervousness and crease in my forehead. Ohh fuck. When he had placed his warm palm against my waist, for a second my soul had left my body. I had audibly gasped. This kind of closeness, I had never felt before with anyone.
It was just a small touch, should have not meant a thing. But it did. It was everything. It was charged with possession.I felt butterflies when my back was pressed against his chest. It felt too close . And the best thing...at every move.
He had asked me "can I..?"
I saw my cheeks turn rosy in the mirror , the water droplets running down my face.
What have you done to me Mr Oberoi??
I had always imagined these things. As a teenager or even when I was adult. The girly part of me had always wondered watching those movies and reading those novels.
The ballroom. Me walking in the room with grace, my prince charming waiting for me holding his hand for me. The soft music playing in the background. Me dancing with the love of my life.
It was my wildest dream. And it had come true today. In this way. Not the lover part.
Not yet .
And with a man like Advik, my husband. He had made me feel comfortable. Never over stepped. He knew his boundaries.
A man who knew his limits.
That was sexiest feature.
My heart did the somersault thingy whenever he spun me, whenever our gazes locked. Whenever our breaths mingled only for a second. And I wondered if he had felt the same pull- the same kind of heat. Or was it just me .
I had never thought I could feel butterflies again like a teenager watching her favourite drama and the confession scene playing.
After giving last look at my now trying to be composed self, adjusting my saree I walked out.
"You look Dangerous" his words replayed in my brain. And I knew it will stay in my brain cells rentfree. God he had stuttered , a Man as composed as him had stuttered when I had walked in the room. And it brought that little smirk on my lips.
When he was credited for his achievements, a million thought travelled through my brain. I was so proud at that moment. To be with him. To witness my husband being appreciated.
I had witnessed him coming home late at nights. Tired, exhausted. The dark circles underneath his eyes. How he had missed meals, late night calls. Or even when he was home, he had stayed working in the study. And only resting in early morning hours.
I walked out, holding onto my clutch like it was my dear life depended on it.
I was going towards him when a woman, maybe my age approached me.
She was beautiful. Looked sexy and all. In a way , which made a woman desirable
Her black dress, which clunged to her curves, was barely covering her dear jewels.
She had a face which belonged to Billboard and magazines.
A body which screamed diets and gym routines and shakes.
And a outfit which screamed 'designer'.
"Advik Oberoi's wife..?" She questioned the moment she stopped infront of me.
"Advik Oberoi's wife" I confirmed.
"Nice meeting you. You are pretty" she says to me. Pretty..? Me..? Have she seen herself.
"Thanks. You are also very beautiful" I say politely.
"Myself Kiara. Kiara Chaubey" she introduced herself, flashing that million dollar smile. As my gaze again dropped to the deep cut of her neck .
"Aarohi. Aarohi Advik Oberoi" I say warmly, trying to ignore her exposed cleavage. That was deep.
"It's hard to believe that someone like Advik finally settled down..." She says , giving me a smile which this time did not reach her eyes.
"Hard to believe" I was fully aware of my husband's carefree side.
The one 'no commitments' and 'I love myself. Fuck the rest' motto of his life.
And I had started to appreciate his way of living.
I once loved, Aditya . And it had left me heartbroken for weeks that followed after his elopement.
And now I have understood that loving someone is not always dates, flowers and sweet gestures.
Someone can fool you with a straight face.
Even the look of love could be faked .
No Aarohi, we are not walking through that memory lane ever again. He was my past
My present is here. In this same room.
With dimples on cheeks and dark grey eyes . Breathing same air as me. The man who had held me. Who had danced with me sometime ago.
"Truly. That boy. Total freak. 'marriage is not for me','love is a waste of time','woman are complicated ' " she perfectly mimicked him. And I let out a soft chuckle.
"Well my opinions are still the same. " Advik's voice cut through our laughs, as he stands beside me, his hand flexing on my back.
He gave kiara a smile which was half hearted. As they both looked at each other for a long time. The silence stretched and I could feel the unsaid words which passed between them. Their eyes spoke volumes.
"Well enjoy the night" she says finally stepping back. Turning and then stepped out to join another group for conversation.And I felt him relax beside me.
He scratched the back of his neck, which I had observed was his habit. Whenever he was nervous.
"Did she say something bullshit about me..?" He asked then looking at me.
I move my head in a no.
"You both were awkward" yes I said that. I pressed in. Tell me everything. Now.
"Was it very obvious..?" He asked giving me a half smile "let's go"
"You seem to have history with her..?" I ask in as we start walking out.
"Chemistry. Physics. Biology. Maths. Count everything in"
"Woah. That sounds sheepish" I say barely restraining a chuckle.
"Wasn't she beautiful..?"
"Very well indeed. Wait did you dated her in the past..?"
"Ahh " he paused for a second ".. am not exactly the commitment type. But I made an exception for her in past"And I still regret that. Was unsaid.
"And yet you are married to me"
"Change of mind" Irony was not lost on me.
"So what is the tea..?" I press the matter.
"There's no tea. You damn nosy woman"
"Heyy. You can tell me . We are friends!!"
"You are my wife. Doll"
My mouth stayed open for the whole 5 seconds. Processing the new name. Did he just say that randomly on a Thursday night, when I was already in my luteal phase , when I had just danced with his arm around my waist and then expected my heart not to jump .
My hormones flipped in my system.
I quitely get in the car. No am not asking him anything again..this man is full of shit and himself. No no no.
No curiosity.The car drove in silence. Soft music playing on the stereo.
"She was someone I liked once" he said, looking out of the window in a low voice. But enough to reach my ears. I had anticipated that.
"Wow. Now we are talking about people we liked before."
"Don't smirk . You should be jealous or something. Meeting your husband's past love"
"Well you both looked 10 seconds away from strangling each other. " So am not jealous. And anyways you are mine now. And I trust you enough to know you won't cheat. You are too busy admiring yourself in mirror to even glance at someone else.
Yes that was true. He took long time in bathroom. And when I had asked him in the past 'why.'.?
"I was admiring my Handsome face. Time passed before I knew" total jerk. Self obsessed drama queen.
"It traces back to my high school time.." he starts.
"Ooh. Now I am getting an Advik Oberoi life story" I clapped dramatically "let me grab some popcorn real quick" I try to look for something in the car.
He turns to me fully, passing me that -'am so sick of you look.' even though I saw the twitch of his lips at my antics.
"Am trying to be serious Mrs.Advik"
"Go on Mr Oberoi"
"When I was eighteen I fell in love. She was this woman, her" He starts the story.
I could imagine a teenager Advik sitting under an oak tree and writing a love letter to this girl. Maybe listening to One Direction or Arjit Singh's sad songs.
"And then...?"
"We were friends. Family friends. Her dad is an investor in our company "
I nod once. Childhood lovers. Forbidden love. All the cliche tropes lived in my brain.
A pause.
"But we broke up later on. End of story." He says, trying to smile like he was all content but I knew better. And I decided not to state that obvious.
"It's fine. Everyone has their heart broken once or twice " I say, my hand instinctively reached to his. Placing my palm against his hand. A warm tender gesture which spoke volumes.
"So you do have a past then..?" The sloppy grin was back on his face, with those lethal dimples on fully display.
"I cried for weeks after One Direction disbanded. My harry Styles. He was my first love. And last perhaps" I say wiping my imaginary tears. And he laughs this time, not a smirk or quite a chuckle. But full on laugh.
And it was sweet. His eyes would become small whenever he laughs, the voice low yet endearing.
"Let's do something fun as it is our last day in here." He says out of nowhere as I curiously wait for his further proposition.
Tomorrow, we will return back to India. End of vacation. So maybe he was right.
After a 10 minute ride, we are at a dance club. The memories from last time I came in here splash through my veins. He can't be serious.
"Don't worry. I am going to be their with you, for you." he reassures me . He might have seen my brows furrow and my palms clench into a fist.
"Also . You can't stop having fun and living your life because of an Asshole."
True. His words hit a nerve.
Why should I give up on my fun because of someone else....?
I will overcome my fears.
The bar was slightly overcrowded for a Thursday night. The smell of expensive cologne and whiskey mixed in the air along with the party music. Loud . And chaotic. This was what life was.
In their,
It was fun. Advik told me about his past adventures. His previous travels. They intrigued me. I was nursing my whiskey glass for a little long time. Contemplating on how when Advik was having fun in his 20s, I had spent them locked in my room.
My parents weren't the strict ones, but they expected obedience. Parties, travelling, male friends, in an circle which I lived in , those things were considered OBSCENE. Which was a tabo. I did had my chances of rebellion.
And now I was married to a man who was himself the living, walking, talking example of Rebellion.
"My dad wanted me to go to buisness school, along with Aditya. Even though I wanted to pursue journalism. I even got acceptance letter from Chicago University" He was telling me.
"Then what..?" I asked, taking a slow sip.
"I failed in buisness school 2 times in first year, On principal" he said with a sly smirk. And I burst out laughing. This guy was in total chaos.
At first I thought he would be like Aditya . Calm, reserved, introverted.
But this man , he was a calm obedient son, COO ...an Oberoi by day. And then fun loving, chaotic, wicked Vacation Advik.
Like flick a switch. Duh.
And I preferred the carefree Advik. Always .
"Wait. Ohh my goodness. I can't believe it. We met again..?" A very enthusiastic voice came from near.
Sasha and Max, the couple we had met last time at the restaurant. They both stood there. Sasha in her party dress while Max in usual travel wear.
They approached us in three strides. And before I knew it, sasha wrapped her arms around me.
"I love Coincidences" I murmur to her as she finally spaces us.
"That saree is fab" Max compliments and I immediately look at Advik. Who gives a tight smile but his grip on his glass was tighter.
"I got a beautiful wife dude" Advik says finally as he stands closer to me. My heart did not jump. I did not felt butterflies. Shibal
"Just now the song played right. It was the same song on which Max danced at our wedding " Sasha says as she immediately linked her arms with me and shows me a video. Of their wedding.
I and Advik both watch it. They looked happy. In love. On their wedding day.
"Man show me your wedding photos " Max says next .
"I don't have the photos yet" Advik lies with a straight face.
I nod in response.
"That's fine. Live performance will be preferred" Sasha claps her hand in excitement like she just found something interesting.
Advik looks puzzled. Scratching the back of his neck. Nervous.
So I decided to press further. I love riling him up .
"Yes husband...show them your moves" I add with a pout and puppy eyes. He looks at me and lets out a sigh.
"You don't have any idea what you do to me,wife" he says before gulping down his drink in one go. And then tosses his jacket on the seat.
"Advik Oberoi does not dance" he tries to negotiate for one last time.
"But vacation Advik does . Husband " I purposefully emphasis on the word, seeing how his Adam's apple bobs at that.
"Whatever happens next is your fault" he says with a smirk and then claps his hands loudly.
"Change the music dah to Hindi song" He says as the Dj gives an enthusiastic thumbs up before changing the music.
He rolls his sleeves up, showing those perfectly veiny forearms. A silver watch in his right hand, because of course he was lefty. A wedding ring, our wedding ring in his finger.
God those fingers, so long... Fuck.
Don't think about them.
The Hindi song plays next, as this man , the Greek god himself winks at me before swaying his hips at the beats .
Ban Ja Tu Meri Rani
Tainu Mahal Davaa Dungaa
Ban Meri Mehboobaa
Main Tainu Taj Pawaa Dungaa
He smirks looking at me , as he takes a dramatic sway. The crowd parts, everyone started cheering for him. Some turn on their cameras to capture the moment.
He dramatically points at me in front of the crowd.
"Join in" Sasha says before practically shoving me on the stage. I wrap my sarees pallu in my waist securely. Before joining him.
Sun Meri Ranee Rani
Ban Meri Ranee Rani
Shanjahaan Main Tera
Tainu Mamtaj Banaa Doonga
Ban Ja Tu Meri Rani
Tainu Mahal Dawa Doon-Ga
He sings and dances along. Our movements in a sink. As he holds my hand and pulls me to himself. His breath mingles with mine, as he slowly puts back one stray strand of my hairs behind my ear. Letting his fingers linger on my cheek. Torture.
I can feel my face burning, and he does nothing but whisper in my ear
"Ban ja tu meri Rani" with a sly smirk and God those dimples.
Fuck! Mission abort.
The song plays in the background as he moves along with me, closer to me.
This was not the business man Advik. Who had danced wi
th me before in a room full of business people. This wasn't soft, gentle.
This was him . The real fun loving Advik who did not bother if his steps were up to the mark. This was my husband Advik, vacation Advik . The one who loved adventures more than boardrooms.
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