55. The Revelation

Karthik's PoV

It's been two days since I saw her. She didn’t come to the office. I totally miss her. I decided to call her. This is a torture. She should know my past. Only that will make her go away.

Stopping this in the start will save her from a heartbreak.

When I took my phone to call her, she came knocking at the door. She is full of surprises. She locked the door? Why?

"What do you think you are doing? Open the lock now." I yelled at her.

Being alone in a locked room with her is not good. For her. For me. I may fail to hold myself back. She smirked at me. What is she having in her mind? Whatever it is, it is not good.

"I said open the door, Akshu."

She came to my desk. She came past my desk. She leaned on the desk in front of me leaving an inch gap between us.

"Alright, I gave you two days to make up your mind. Now tell me." she said. I really enjoy her scent.

"Tell you what?" I asked her.

"That you love me!" she shrugged her shoulders.

"Pch, Daksha, listen. You are really a small girl. I'm 27yrs old. You are just 19yrs old.This is..." she cut me off.

"I’m going to be 20 next month. We have 7years gap. Just an year more than Rishi and Danya. 7yrs is not a big deal."

"God, listen, Daksha. I don’t love you." I tried to tell her.

"That's a lie."

"Will you listen? I don’t love you. I can’t love you. I'm already married. Now stop this nonsense and go do your work." I just shouted at her.

She jerked away. She is shocked is an understatement. I knew this would happen. I literally want to hug her. Her eyes are ready to drop.

"You are lying. Aren't you?"

"No Akshu, I'm a married man."

"Then why do you love me Karthik? Why do I see that longing for me in your eyes? Why Karthik? Why? Don’t tell me you don’t love me. I know Karthik. You too have this same feelings on me that I have on you."

"Akshu please, You got it all wrong. I just spoke to you like a friend. You are Danya’s sister. That was your privilege." I told her.

"Oh really? Then why did you save my number as 'Akshu💓' ? My name is Daksha. Why did you call me Akshu? What does that heart mean?"

She snatched my phone and put it on my face. What have I done? How can I let it slip my mind?

"God, I'm married. You can’t be in my life. You are young and immature. This feeling you have on me is just infatuation. It will pass."

"Shut up Karthik. I'm not a 13yr old girl to have infatuation. I know what I'm feeling. I want the truth Karthik. Why do I feel like you are lying to get rid of me? What is stopping you from confessing your feelings Karthik?"

I lost my patience. Why the hell is she making it difficult? Why can’t she just go away?

"God! Don't you understand? I'm a divorcee, Akshu! You can’t be with me. You are precious. You will be seen as my second wife in this society. I don’t want that for you, Akshu. I can't spoil your life. Your dad won’t give you to me. Don’t complicate it, Akshu. Just let go." I said which I tried hard not to.

She hugged me! She hugged me? What is she doing? I couldn’t stop myself. But this is so wrong. I pushed her away!

Daksha’s PoV

I never expected this. Now I know why he avoided me. He is so genuine. He loves me. He is afraid of rejection from my dad. What he doesn’t know is, I have my ways with my dad.

He is single now. That is what is more important. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I hugged him tight. But he pushed me away. I want to know the whole story.

"Karthik! What happened with your first wife?"

"That's none of your business." he spat.

"Pch! You are single now is the only thing that matters to me. I'm not going to stop until you tell me I love You! Why make it difficult? Tell me what bothers you? I care about my life with you Karthik. I least care about what this damn society has to say behind my back."

He held his head in his hands and sat on the chair.

"Nandhini and I were married for 1yr, Akshu. That is the time the court wanted us to spend together before granting us divorce. It was an arranged marriage. Her father is a reputed man in dad's party. My dad is the central minister, by the way."

"Wow, I never knew that. So, do you know how to speak hindi? I can read and write. But I don't understand anything!"

"Shut up, Are you for real? What am I talking about and what are you asking? Idiot!"

"Pch, Don’t shout. Continue." I zipped my mouth. He had a little smile that made me happy.

"She was into drugs and she also had many boyfriends. Since it was an arranged marriage, I thought to give her time to move forward."

"Oh, So, you are still a virgin?"

"Are you going to shut your mouth or not?" Ooohhhh, He got angry.

"Ok Ok, continue."

"Her so-called friends started to visit her often and she went out and came very late. When I asked her about it, she filed for a divorce. I granted her wish. For that 1yr, she did everything that made me hate her from the inside out. My dad felt very bad for marrying her to me!"

"So, you really are a virgin? Then you are not a second hand too. Ok tell me now."

"What are you, Akshu? You are not feeling bad about being my second wife? Tell you what? I said everything."

"Pch! Not your boring flashback. Tell me I Love You!" He laughed. He literally laughed.

"What about your family? Will they accept?"

"That's my problem. Convince Rishi mama to accompany you. I will convince Danya. We shall do everything the regular wedding way. We don’t have to tell my dad that this is a love marriage. Just like Danya's marriage, ours too will be a love marriage arranged by my dad. I never thought my wish would come true!"

"Wait what? Danya’s is a love marriage?"

"Ha yes, Her marriage is a love marriage. Why else did you think she readily agreed to the wedding even when mama said no? She is madly in love with him."

"I know she loves him. But before marriage? How’s that even possible? He was here and she was in Trichy. How?"

He is totally in shock. I told him everything I knew. I also told him that Danya doesn’t want any of us to reveal it to Rishi mama. He heeded my request.

"You didn’t tell me yet." I demanded.

"Haha I love you, Akshu! I want to live my life with you!" Huh, finally.

"I love you too, Karthik. I'm totally lost in you."

I hugged him. He hugged me back. I felt like I'm home! He is my man!