59. Regrets
Arjun’s PoV
I called Praveen on the way to the office. I don't know anyone who works at a cell phone service provider center to acquire the person on whose name the sim card was bought. Praveen is a very talkative man and has loads of friends. He is a man with exclusive people skills, he can get the work done even if he doesn't know anyone there.
“Praveen, where are you?”
“In the lab. I arrived early today. Where are you?”
“On the way to the lab.”
“What, why? I thought you said you will come only three days a week and today is not among the days you have mentioned.”
“Yeah, I know. I want to make some changes in the designs that we finalized lately. I have to look through the sales order of Tinite and also have to supervise dad’s granite extraction. He’s got some other work it seems.”
“Oh, ok. How is Anika? How are you enjoying your farm house?”
“She is good. I want you to do something. I have sent you a number. I want to know whom it belongs to.”
“Just call them and ask.”
“As if I don't know that. Be serious, Praveen.”
“Ok Ok, relax. Jeez, I will arrange for it.”
“Ok, Will see you in the lab.” I hung up on him.
I called the number but nobody answered it. I kept calling over and over again but the call went to voicemail after the full ring every single time. I went to the lab and tried the same number from my office landline and again, no one attended the call. So this person avoids any call, which made me erase my idea that this person knew my number already. Why would he want a number when he chooses to not answer any calls?
As dad asked me for my help in his industry, I went there and throughout the day, on a side note, I kept trying that number from different numbers and the calls went to voicemail all the time. So looks like this number is particularly bought to call Anika, only outgoing and no incoming? Whatever! It was finally time to go home and just then Praveen called me.
“Ajju, that number was bought on someone named Arun. I have his address and details that he gave while getting this sim card. Do you want them?”
“Yes.” I knew it. She is a bitch that plays behind me while putting on an innocent act in front of me. How dare she?
“I have sent the details to you. I am on the way home.”
“Ok da. You were early today, right. How are Sharanya and Anvi?”
“They are doing so well. She was asking me to take her to meet with Anika. They didn't get to spend time together, right?”
“Oh, yes, I will tell you when is the good time. Convey my regards to her and my hugs and kisses to Anvi.”
“Sure, I will.”
I parked the car outside the house and tried my best to calm my nerves. I don't want to act up now as it is tea time and granny would be there. She was taken aback in the morning when she saw the mess I made. She kept asking me if I was angry during breakfast. Though she won't remember things, I don't want to upset her.
“Arjun, right on time. Here…” She came with a tray of tea and snacks. I couldn't stop myself from lashing out when I saw her face. That face that I love but hate the most right now. I shoved the tray away and it flipped towards her, spilling the hot tea on her hands and leg.
“Aaahhhh” She screamed in pain and oddly I felt satisfied. I went past her and locked myself in the room. I went straight to bed. I didn't even care to change the clothes or refresh. I am turning into a monster. I am feeling happy inside when I physically hurt her? That is the sign that I am becoming a psychopath.
“Arjun!” She shouted, knocking on the door.
“Arjun, open up.” She banged the door even louder.
“Arjun, I am calling your parents now. I am not going to put up with all your torture for your baseless imaginations. Open up.”
That nerve of this girl. I have proof that she’s been talking to her ex-boyfriend until yesterday. With that video of him, he knew that I am keeping her captive here. Yet, she talks like she did no mistake? Her blind courage will ditch her.
“Arjun, Arjun, open the door. You are an idiot who believes everything your stupid friend says.”
That is it. She must be put in her place. I opened the door and she stumbled back, fear evident in her face.
“What did you say?” I asked her, stepping forward towards her and she backed off.
“You are …. You are going overboard. You…”
“What did you say about my friend?”
“Arjun, is everything alright?” Granny came out of her room with her walker. It is a small house and you hear things very easily.
“Yes, appatha. All good. You take some rest.” I told her and yanked her hand into the room.
“Aahhh, God, let me go, you are hurting me.” She pulled her hands away from me. I locked the door behind us and noticed her brushing her hand. Her hand had burnt marks and it was red.
“Arjun, let me talk. Listen to me. You are mistaken with…”
“Shut up. You have no right to talk. You are ….” I couldn't say that word to her face. Not when she is clearly in pain from the burn. My eyes never left her hand. I am not a monster. I brushed past her and went out to the car to get the first aid kit.
“Arjun…” She came running behind me.
“Get in. Right now.”
“I am not letting you go. We have to talk.”
“I am not going anywhere. Just get in.” I told her but that came out more subtle and soft which I never intended to. She stood at the doorstep and watched me grab the first aid box. She came behind me and locked our room door.
“Show it to me.” I took the ointment that is meant for burns. She came and sat beside me on the bed and showed her hand to me.
“Ssss, Aaah” I could see she was clearly in pain.
“Where else?” I asked her.
“Here.” She showed me her leg. Her leg was reddened from her ankle to feet. It was a bit better than her hand burns. She lifted her leg up and put her feet on my lap. She is an exclusive girl. She has no fear whatsoever. I applied the ointment on her feet and asked her,
“Is that it?”
“No, there is more. Here.” She unbuttoned the first two buttons of her shirt and showed me the top of her breast that is red in color. Her soft milk-like skin is burnt but luckily it is just red but no blisters like she had in her hand.
“I… I’m So sorry, Anika.” I truly regret having done this to her.
“Your sorry is not enough.” She said while pulling my hand to her breast making me apply the ointment on her.
“Ssss.” She hissed but this is more like a sexy moan than a painful hiss. There she had it, I couldn't resist but to dip in her cleavage, soothing her burn with my tongue.
“Arjun!” She hugged my head closer to her, making me paste onto her more.
We advanced exploring each other beneath our clothes but my mind was ordering me to stop this right away. It is not right. She is not mine to enjoy. I love her but she is in love with someone else. Conflicting my mind, my body was in total command at this point. I want her. I want to enjoy her, pleasure her, take all the treasures to myself. I pulled her pants along with her underwear down just when her phone rang, bringing me back to the horrible present.
“Take that phone.” I told her, getting myself straight.
“But, Arjun…”
“Get your phone.” I growled that made her cower in fear. She gulped down her fear more than once before she adjusted her clothes properly.
“That is not important right now, Arjun.” She said, refusing to look me in the eye. She looks down when she is lying. She doesn't want me to find out that her ex boyfriend is calling her.
“Oh, then what is more important now? Showing me that you are such a bitch who can stoop down to the cheapest levels to satisfy your sexual urges?”
I tried to leave the room as I don't have enough patience to handle this anymore. But she yanked my shirt and pulled me back to stay.
“Take back what you said now. Right now, Arjun.” She demanded. I don't want to talk more and worsen the situation than it already is. That visible hurt in her eyes literally tears my heart. I stayed calm.
“Sexual urges? Yes, I do have sexual urges. I am a normal human being who loves my husband. I have feelings and hormones. They are two different things. One represents mind and other represents body but they both ask for you in unison. Yes, I have sexual desires. It would be wrong when I demand it from someone else. You can call me ‘Bitch’ or ‘Whore’ like you called me in the morning when I have a sexual affair with another man. Don't you have sexual desires for me? I have seen it in your eyes, Arjun. Those lustful eyes! But yet you restrain yourself. Why? You find Anamika more attractive? Where are you keeping her? Or aren't you man enough to keep your wife happy?”
That was the last string. She said the exact same words that had been haunting me for all these years. I stopped myself at the verge of hitting her on her face at the last moment. I dashed out to the terrace regretting the decision I made to marry this bitch.
