Heart Under Construction 4

Aarav opened the door of his Cayenne orange coloured Renault Duster for me like a gentleman. But I decided to ignore him and was busy enjoying the view outside. I observed him looking at me every now and then, wondering what I was up to. Both of us were quiet for almost 10 minutes till I think Aarav lost his patience.

" Why are you so grouchy today? Did I do anything wrong?" He asked me when the car halted at a traffic signal. I turned around and gave him a cold stare.

" Why didn't you inform me that you were coming at my place? Who gave you my address anyways?"

" Sunaina did. You are forgetting she is now my Bhabhi. I didn't mean to offend you, Ashi. I just wanted to surprise you. Aren't you happy to see me?" He made a cute puppy- like face.

" I was surprised to see you, Aarav. If you had told me before, at least I would have been prepared to face my parents. I don't want them to think that we are dating by any chance."

"Well, technically we are dating. Aren't we?" I let out a huge sigh.

" Yes, we are." I turned to see his face showing a sigh of relief.

" Thank God you said yes, Ashi. For a minute I thought you were about to say no. I think I have made your job easier. Now uncle and aunty already know."

" Right. What were you actually thinking when you thought of gifting my father a bottle of champagne?" He started laughing and showed me his flashy white teeth.

" Hey, don't give me that look. I was just trying to impress my future father-in-law. And I think I was successful."

" Very funny, Aarav. There's no harm in dreaming." Both of us had a hearty laugh.

Alok’s place was a modest two bedroom apartment in the posh locality of Lokhandwala. I failed to recognize him at first. The once lean and thin Alok was now an obese man who had lost most of his hair. To be honest, he now looked more like my uncle rather than my college mate. Alok and our friends sat comfortably on the sofa while his wife opened the door. She seemed to be a shy and quiet woman. She smiled when Aarav introduced me to her. I greeted all my friends until it was time to meet the man I despised. I felt like staying away from him as much as possible. I was here only for Aarav.

“ Hi Alok. How are you?” I smiled and looked at him. He returned my gesture with a sly smile. I wondered what he upto.

“ Namaste Bhabhiji !!!! He folded his hands in front of me and everyone started laughing. I felt embarrassed until Aarav stepped in.

“ Not now, Alok. We have a lot to catch up on.” He placed his hand on my shoulder and we both sat together. I actually didn’t mind Alok calling me Bhabhi. It was the way he said it. I felt as if he was trying to ridicule me. I realized that this man was going to be difficult to convince. If only time would fly and I could return home.

I spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with Sonia, Kritika and Alok’s wife Priya while Aarav and Alok chatted with the others in the group. It was a great idea to catch up on the good old days. It brought back old memories. We all had come a long way in the last eight years.

While having tea, Sonia had asked me about Aarav and my relationship. I told her that we had just started dating and were trying to get to know each other. That’s when Alok decided to bring his nose in the middle.

“ Who would have thought that you would jump back in Aarav’s life after 8 long years?” I looked at him, irritated. I turned towards Aarav who was looking at me. He was quick to reply back.

“ She did not jump back in my life, Alok. She was meant to be in my life. Infact, she is my life.” Even though his lines were cheesy, I couldn’t stop blushing.

“ Awwww!!! How sweet of you, Aarav?” Kritika got up from her seat and pulled his cheeks. “ Who knew you would be such a romantic?”

“ Well, I always knew. Romeo had his eyes on Ashima since the first day of college. Alok, she’s so beautiful. Should I go talk to her? She’s so hot-headed. She’s so intelligent. She’s so this, she’s so that. God! He just couldn’t stop gushing over you. I mean, she is just a normal girl. What’s the big deal about her? There are many girls like her. She is nobody special.” He started by praising me and then he started criticizing me out of nowhere. Maybe it was his alcohol doing the talking. But I kept quiet as I was his guest and I didn’t want to insult him in his own home.

“ Stop it, Alok. Don’t embarrass yourself as well as the others. Just go and rest.” Aarav got up and tried to drag Alok from the sofa. Alok stood up and yelled on the top of his voice.

“ Hey! I’m talking sense. Don’t try to stop me, lover boy. I don’t understand what you see in her. She’s too dark, tall and feisty. This girl doesn’t even suit you. You can get millions of fair girls. Why can’t you just stay away from her? You should follow my advice again as you had in college. Stay away from this *itch!”

Before he could continue any further, Aarav stood up and slapped him. He waited for a minute and then slapped him again.

“ Say sorry to her.” His voice was firm but loud. “ Didn’t you hear me? I said, say sorry to her.”

“ Guys, just stop it.” Rajesh interrupted in the middle. “ Aarav, please calm down. He doesn’t know what he is talking.”

“ I am sorry, Ashima. I apologise on behalf of Alok.” Alok’s wife Priya looked tense.

“ It’s okay, Priya. You don’t have apologise. I think I should leave.” I wore my sandals and opened the door. to Before I could make a move, Aarav pulled my hand with force.

“ You aren’t going anywhere, Ashima. Unless and until he says sorry to you.”

“ Aarav, please let me go. Don’t create a scene.” I tried to pull my hand from his grip but he was too strong. I looked up at Alok who was staring at me furiously. He didn’t say a word after being slapped by Aarav.

“ I am not creating a scene, Ashi. He is.” Aarav turned towards Alok. “ Are you saying sorry or not?”

“ Alok, please apologize to both of them.” Priya pleaded him but he didn’t budge. Vaibhav and Arun also pleaded him.

“ Who the hell is she? This girl is driving you bananas. You have forgotten your best friend for her. Remember, we are brothers since birth, Aarav. Girls like her will come and go. She doesn’t deserve you. You can get any girl you want.”

“ Are you saying sorry, Alok? Or should I leave? Why did you invite Ashima in the first place if you only wanted to insult her?”

“ I never invited her, Aarav. You wanted to flaunt her with you. As far as saying sorry is concerned, that will never happen. I still stand by what I say. She isn’t good enough for you. Just look at her and look at you.”

“ In that case, I shouldn’t be here anymore. If you can’t respect my choice, I don’t think you are my friend. I will not tolerate anyone disrespecting or criticizing her. Even if it is you. You may not like her for whatever reason, but you have no right to insult her. I am sorry for wasting your valuable time, friends. Goodbye.”

Saying that, Aarav dragged me alongwith him. I thought Alok would call Aarav back and apologize. Since they were the thickest of friends. But he didn’t. Even though his wife and our friends requested him till we left. I guess his big, fat ego had overpowered his love for Aarav.