Chapter 44 Smirthi

Karthik's PoV

I can’t believe that Rishi is doing this. From these 4days, I knew Danya is a kind and childish girl. Despite so much advice, Rishi has brought Smirthi to my office? Knowing that his wife would be here!? Where the hell did she jump from? I was out of station for a week and he has gone mad? Danya just left the room. I should say she managed so well. But I'm sure she is hurt.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? Are you out of your mind?" I yelled at him.

"Karthik, Please. It's not his fault. I insisted that he come along. It's all my fault Karthik. It all happened because of me. If I hadn't run away from my wedding nothing of this would have happened." Smirthi said.

"Shut up, Smirthi. Whatever is done is done. He is now married to another girl. Are you not feeling guilty for hurting a girl?"

"Stop it, Karthik. I know everything that has happened. She married my Rishi even after he said no. She barged into my life, Karthik. I love Rishi. He is mine. I ran away because of an unavoidable situation. I'm back now. Rishi said they are going to get divorce in 5months. We are going to marry after that. She is an intruder Karthik. She should go away. I'm not hurting her. She is the one that hurt me and is trying to take away my life."

"God, Rishi, what is all this? You can't do this to Danya. She is a kid, Rishi. You are with Smirthi even after what Dhiwakar said? You sure are a nutcase." I told him as a matter of fact.

"Karthik, I don't believe in Diwakar. Besides, Smirthi told me everything that has happened. She needs me now. I will make things right." Rishi said.

I feel like punching him hard in the face. Who does he bluff? If he didn’t like Danya, he would have stopped the wedding. He didn’t marry her because she said yes. He likes her. He even said that to me. He was all ready to start a life with her. This Smirthi is the trouble now.

"Rishi, what you are doing is not right. Then it's your life. I don't wanna say anything." I so wanted to ask her about that unavoidable situation. But I totally hate to even see her.

"I have some site work. I will come in an hour. See you, da." I excused myself. I just can’t stand the presence of Smirthi in my office.

Rishi is unbelievable. He is still holding up that incident against Dhiwakar. Dhiwakar was our school friend too. Rishi and Dhiwakar always had competition in sports and studies. Since their fathers were friends, they wanted to prove themselves. Once Dhiwakar stole his test papers from the staff room to change an answer that he had written wrong. But Rishi and I saw that. I warned him not to do that. But he did it anyways. Rishi told this to Dhiwakar's dad, and he grounded him for a week.

Dhiwakar in turn, wrote a love letter to a girl in our class, signed it Rishi and gave it to her. She complained to our teacher and it became a big issue. Rishi's parents were called upon. He couldn’t prove that it was not him. Finally, they settled for an apology from Rishi. This all happened when we were in 11th grade. I know Dhiwakar has gone overboard. But he is not the same now. He is a responsible lawyer now. Why would he lie?

I left my office. I called up Arjun. Arjun is our school friend. He is a police Inspector.

"Dei Arjun, How are you da?"

"Hi da. I’m good. What’s up? You won’t call me at this hour?!"

"I need help. I want you to check the call list of a number on a date. I will send you the number and date through whatsapp. I need it ASAP." I told him.

"Sure da. What is this for?"

"I will tell you later. But it’s very important. Just send me the call details. bye da"

"Ok da! bye!"

I sent him Lawyer Ramakrishnan's office number after I hung up the call with him. If I can prove that Smirthi has called uncle at that time like Dhiwakar said, then Rishi might send her away. He is an Idiot.

Rishi's PoV

I picked up the call. It was Smirthi's friend. I went to their place as soon as possible. I know I'm hurting Danya. But what should I do? Everytime I see her, I lose myself. But the situations don't favor us. I really got irritated by the interruption and I don’t like Danya having all bad thoughts about me and Smirthi. I left her telling there is nothing between me and Smirthi like she thinks.

When I came home, it was already 12.30am. She was sleeping like a baby. She has dried tears all over her face. I don't deserve her. She is just a baby. She needs someone who will take care of her. Not me. I always hurt her. I slept near her. But I know we are very far apart.

I started to Karthik's office. I visit him every Saturday. I don’t work on weekends. So, I go to Karthik's on Saturday and will check on my boutique on Sunday. I’m happy to go there now. I can see my wife. She had been avoiding me and not talking to me. I would be happy to at least see her. When I was about to leave, I got a call from Smirthi.

"Rishi, I'm ready. Come pick me up. We will resume our regular routine. It's just weekends you spend with me. I don’t wanna miss that." she said.

"I'm not going anywhere."I told her. I have a death wish for her now.

"Please Rishi! Won't you just listen to me?"

Hell! I can't take her there. I have done enough damage to Danya already.

"Listen, Smirthi. you should be very tired after the visit to the hospital. Take a rest."

"Honey, I'm all good. I want you now. I want our regular days back. Take me to Karthik's office." She said. She never said Karthik’s office before. She mentioned it as Construction office. Though intrigued, I let it slide.

"I am not taking you anywhere. Try to remember that I am a married man now.” I yelled at her.

“Please Rishi, you can’t just leave me. Give me atleast some time to realize that you don’t belong to me anymore.” She started crying. God!

“Alright, I will pick you up in 30minutes." I can't stress her out. I should tolerate all this for the next 2 months.

When we reached there, Danya was with Karthik. She didn’t pay any attention to me. She continued her talk with him and left the room. Karthik yelled at me for bringing Smirthi here. I know that's wrong. I'm already feeling guilty. But Danya was ignoring me and that was the only thing that kept running in my mind. I was totally disturbed by her reaction. Karthik went out and I asked Smirthi to go out. She usually goes on a tour whenever we come here.

I needed to be alone. I badly want to see her. I just want to tell her about Smirthi. After 2 months, everything between us will be settled. I can make her stay with me. Or if she wants to go to her ex-fiance, I can let her go. But She should not get hurt by me anymore.

I went out to Janani's room. She is with Janani. When I neared her room, I heard Danya’s voice. She was all giggling and playing and here I am worrying that I hurt her. I felt so stupid. I opened the door in anger and my anger grew into rage when I saw the scene in front of me.

She was playing with a man? How dare he manhandle my wife? He was twisting her hands at her back and she was laughing? How can she let him touch her? She is all mine.

I shouted at him. But Danya stopped him from explaining. He went out when she asked him to. She is letting a man touch her within 4days after she came here? He listens to her and disrespects me? If that was not enough to lose my cool, I tried to explain my situation about Smirthi but she spoke all nonsense. That shot up my anger again. What is she? She even had that courage to question me on my authority here? Even Karthik gives me his chair whenever I come here.

I held her arms forcefully and said every awful thing that crossed my mind. We bickered with each other and I guess I went overboard. I saw her eyes well up with tears and she said that she loves me. And also, hate me. What am I feeling now? Happy? yes! Terrible? Yes! What should I do now? I should tell her that I love her too. I love her so madly that I can't even see her talk to a man. I love her so badly that I want all of her to myself. I love her so truly that I said all terrible things to her and broke her soul. It was that uncertainty about her feelings for me that made me think and talk terribly to her.

OMG, she said she hates me. She said I hurt her soul. I made her hate me. I should confess my feelings to her. But how? She said the wounds are irreparable. Have I lost her? I can't live without her. How stupid am I to think that I can let her go to her ex? I can't even sleep without her.

Her teary eyes, the way she rubbed away her tears with the back of her hand, I have seen it all before. It all looks like it has happened before. Deja-vu!? But where? She spoke long. But I stopped listening when she said she loves me. And also hate me. Nothing registered in my mind after that.

When I came to my senses, she was not there. I should apologize to her. I should tell her that I fell head over heels for her from the moment I saw her. When I reached the door, Smirthi came in with a smile. I just wanted to push her away.

“What? Done your tour?” I yelled at her.

“Rishi, please don’t be mad at me. What did I do?” she started crying. I took her along and dropped her in her place. I called Danya to talk to her.