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“Didyoutell Mohit we are coming here?”

Oh no! I hadn’t expected this interrogation.

“You don’t have to lie, Jaan, neither give me extended reasons. A simple Yes or No would do. So? Did you tell Mohit we are coming to Mussourie?” His voice is clipped and hard.

“Yes,” I answer without breaking our eye lock. His face reddens in anger but he doesn’t poke on the reasons and moves to the next question.

“Why did you accept his gift?”

“I am not doing this question & answer round now, Aarav. I want to change and sleep.”

I try to push his chest to make someplace for me to get down, but as usual, I don’t succeed. In fact, this gives him space and opportunity both to stand between my legs, clearing up that little distance we still had between our bodies so far.

I don’t think he is going to let me leave without answering. So, I tell him.

“Mohit is still my friend, and he’s just protecting me. This gift was a part of him conveying to me he is still there for me, though I couldn’t be his.”

Aarav swallows. He is annoyed. I know.

“Friend? He doesn’t even know what type of clothes are harmful to your skin allergy? And he is your childhood friend? He was supposed to marry you, and he didn’t even show any regards to know the real you??”

I am speechless at his comment. How does Aarav know I am allergic to specific fabrics and jewelry? But he is right. Mohit knows it already and even then, I had to always remind him again and again over the past few years of our friendship, and even then, he couldn’t remember it this time when he chose this dress for me. Strangely, Aarav remembers about my allergy whereas Mohit, who knows it from childhood, never cared. With a guilty pout, I stare at Aarav as he continues.

“I don’t have a problem whom you choose as your friends, Jhanvi. But never choose Mohit.”

I open my mouth to retort, but he doesn’t let me speak and skips to the next question.

“Is there anything else you are hiding from me?”

Oh Damn!! Why is he so prepared to know everything right now? When I don’t respond, he keeps talking.

“When I told you I wanted you in my life, I meant every word I said. There’s been nothing from that point where I told you things I never meant to do or felt. So, I need to know, did you come back to give this marriage a chance, or did it have any other motive?”

God! I want to hide somewhere. My moment of truth is here. I never thought of a situation like this where Aarav would so nicely ask me what I wanted. I can tell him everything about Mohit’s plans to backfire his revenge and then walk out of Aarav’s life, or I can keep lying until Mohit succeeds. What should I choose? My heart and mind are in sync tonight and they both want me to tell Aarav the truth because I am not a person who can play games with people’s lives no matter even if they are my enemies. But what will I risk doing so? Mohit and Daadi’s support, their love, and their trust in me. But they both have always been there for me since I was orphaned. They already feel betrayed since I married Aarav. Can I ditch them again? On purpose this time?

In all this, I forget how closely Aarav is staring at each and every expression on my face. Can he read my dilemma? Will he understand I want to tell the truth but I am bound? I’m walking on that thin line between honesty and deceit, which ends here. I have to choose one side. And unwillingly I choose the one which leads me to the other Raichands, not Aarav, because he is not someone I can lead my entire life with. I hardly know him and whatever I have experienced so far with Aarav, I would never be sure my future with him will be smooth. So, for the first time in my life, I choose the wrong side because that’s far easier than choosing the man who wronged you.

“I had no other motive.” The lie comes out of my mouth like venom. “I chose you Aarav Raichand because that’s exactly what I want, though…” I pause to swallow. “Though I might take time to accept what we have between us if that’s not a problem with you.”

It’s hard to read if Aarav believes me because he’s just staring at me and after a few seconds, wrapping his arms around my waist, he raises me up and then puts me back on the floor. He didn’t have to do that. I could have got down myself but again he is Aarav Raichand. What he thinks, does and wants to do is only limited to him. No one can predict this man.

“Change and sleep. I am taking the couch tonight.”

Really? When did he become that sensible? He walks out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.

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Next Morning

Something is wrong with the deal Aarav is here to sign off. I can feel it. Otherwise, Aarav had no reason to hurry this early. When I woke up, I found a note on my bed from Aarav mentioning he has some work to take care of and hence not to worry.

Since I am left alone, I book a spa to take care of my skin and hair and then head to meet Mohit because I have bought a cute Pashmina shawl for Daadi from the store next to the hotel, and since I am unsure when I will see her next, I plan to hand it over to Mohit so he can give it to her sooner than me.

I reach his room and find the door unlocked. So typical Mohit!! He never remembered to lock his door even when we stayed in London.

I still knock. Courtesy!!

“Mohit, it’s me. Can I come inside?”

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