Chapter 10: 9. Change Of ns
Arjun''s PoV
I am relieved of the stress I had for Preethi. Though she said she felt better because she spoke to me, I
have a strong doubt that her sudden change of mood is because she met Harish. It is human tendency
topare them with someone that has a simr problem only worse than theirs. I think she felt better
when she saw him with that heartfelt smile. I knew very well that she doesn''t have any love back in
school or college but what if they both can find sce in one another''spany? He is a widower and
she is a soon to be single mom. He has a son and she has a daughter! They will together make a
perfect family. This may not happen overnight but if they are moved in the right direction, this will
happen soon. I decided to make their meeting more often to make them spend time together.
I finished my work and closed theptop. I looked at the time and it said it''s 7.30pm. I walked out of my
room and took the elevator. The watchman ran to bring my car from the parking upon seeing me
coming out. While waiting, I got a call from Preethi.
"Hello Preeth. What''s up?"
"Ajju, I am on the way to your home to pick up Avni. Where are you?" she asked me.
"I am just starting from my office. She just came here today. Let her stay with Tarun for a week, Preeth.
Take this time for yourself. I will make sure she is well taken care of."
"I know Ajju. But I am alright. I miss her."
"If you want her back at your house, you could have just called me."
"It''s ok, Ajju. I didn''t want to disturb you. Besides, I feel like I wanted some fresh air. It''s been a long
time since I met aunty and uncle. So I thought of seeing them too."
"If that is the case, then it''s fine. Stay there until Ie."
"Ok Ajju. Bye."
I got off the phone and hopped in the car. On the way home, I was thinking about my married life. A
year full of disappointments that followed by two years of hawk eyes and harshments. Finally
people forget about that part of my life and I am breathing normally but my mom is not ready to let me
stay sane. She wants to pull that hell back onto me. My luck is very bad in finding the right life partner
for me. I don''t want to be judged again. I don''t want to be disappointed again. I don''t want to serve my
heart in a ss tter again to be shattered. I don''t want to relive that terrible year all over again.
I parked the car in front of the house and got down. I saw an auto standing outside.
"Waiting, sir." the auto driver said.
"Here, you can go." I gave him some money and sent him off. I can drop Preeth and Avni.
"Hey Ajju mama came." Avni and Tarun came running to me at the doorstep.
"Whoa whoa, Hold on. Let me go clean myself ande. You guys go y." I ran to the elevator to get
refreshed.
When I came back, I saw mom and Preethi talking in the sitting area. I could see the traces of tears on
their faces. Expected! But the doctor said it is good for her to cry and melt those hard feelings away
instead of keeping it to herself. Talking out the feelings is the best remedy toe out of depression.
"Alumoonji (Cry baby)! What''s up?" I sat on the arm rest of my mom''s sofa and asked Preeth.
"Look at him, aunty!" she whined to my mom.
"Don''t pull her leg, Ajju. We were talking about our Tirupur n. I called Preethi too. It will be a nice
change to her. She will feel new. Avni was also not ready to leave Tarun." mom said.
"That is a good idea. Then stay here tonight, Preeth. Anyways mom and dad will start early in the
morning."
"No, Ajju. Aunty said it is a two days stay. I need to go grab some clothes for me and Avni. Aunty said
Tarun is alsoing with us. So Avni will be fine here for the night."
"Oh, Ok then. And I sent that auto. I will drop you after dinner." I told her.
"Pch! Why did you do that, Ajju? You just came home. You take rest. I will call for a cab."
"No problem! I will drop you."
N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.
"Ajju, aunty said you wille on Sunday. Why don''t youe with us? I will befortable with you.
You see, new ce and all, I will feel misced. If you are with me, I will feel fine. What do you say?
Come with us Ajju, please!" she asked me, putting her best puppy face on.
"I have work, Preeth. You know that I can''t change ns on thest minute, right?" I tried to reason
with her.
"Huh, I know, your work is more important to you!" she mumbled.
"What did you say?" I asked her.
"I said I am not more important to you than your work. Is it wrong?" she asked me furiously. I am
enjoying the bubbly childish Preeth that ising out. Truly, Preeth and Praveen are more important to
me than myself.
"Haha, Ok Ok, I will assign my work to my subordinates for tomorrow." I lifted my hands, surrendering
to her friendship.
"Good Boy. Aunty, I won in the bet. You owe me your yummy Chicken curry and idli for dinner now."
she said to my mom.
"Adi paavi (sinner), you had a bet with my mom? Ma, this is cheating. She ckmailed me emotionally.
I was cornered! I was helpless!" I acted like it was a shock.
"Ha, Whatever you are, the oue matters. She won and I lost. That is all. I will go prepare the
chicken curry. You guys have a chat meanwhile." Mom left us and went to the kitchen.
"Haha, Thank you for making me win, Ajju." Sheughed at me.
"If you will be happy like this always, I will make you win no matter what." I told her.
"Why did this happen to me, Ajju? I was true to him. I loved him truly from the bottom of my heart. I did
everything to make him happy. Never once have I felt that I am being yed. He was such a smart
actor. He had this affair even before our marriage. He says that she is his mistress and I am his wife.
How dare he!? Even after I confronted him, he talks like it is no wrong."
"That is what he is. ssless, cheap man. Don''t waste your tears on him."
"No, Ajju. He justifies himself to me. He asks me if he ever made me feel neglected or not loved. The
answer to his question is NO! He never made me feel that way in the 6years we have been together.
He made me think that he is in love with me like I had on him. He provided me and Avni with everything
we have ever asked for. He took us everywhere we asked him to. I thought we were made for each
other. I thought my life was perfect with him. It was actually a shock for me to find that he has an affair
with another woman. I could not believe it at first. That was how normal and loving my life was. But I
realized that my life was nothing but a soap bubble that popped when reality hit it. How can he justify all
this betrayal? How can he expect me to live with it for the rest of my life? How can he expect me to be
ignorant even after the truth pped me hard across my face? Why did he do this to me, Ajju?" She
spoke calm and soft, every word sharp and strong but her eyes never stopped flowing.
It hurts me like hell to see her cry like this and it annoys me to the core that I can do nothing about it
but to be a spectator. I truly don''t know the right thing to say to her so I stayed calm, trying to soothe
her. My anger turns totally on Nilesh for doing this to her. If I can get my hands on him, he will never
see another day.
"This change of scenery is essential for me, Ajju. I am d I came here today. I have made up my
mind, Ajju. I am done crying over a thing that didn''t even exist in the first ce. I shalle to your
office if you offer me a job."
"You are appointed as my personal secretary from Monday." I told her.
"What happened to your Personal Secretary now?
"I have no PA so far. I have had only my manager who will sort things for me. This is specially created
for you." I told her and her posture changed. I shouldn''t have said that.
"No, Ajju. I don''t want to be a burden to you. If there is no work that I can do or help you with, then I will
look for a job somewhere where I am really needed." she said, that sparked a sh in me.
"Your area of expertise is certainly not needed in my office, Preeth. Give me a week, I will find you a
suitable job." I told her all the while nning to steal the contact of Harish from her mobile.
I may not find a soul mate in this life for me, but I will make sure that Preethi finds her soulmate!