Freedom from boring Arunima

“Congratulations, bhabhi…”

Hearing this voice, Arunima turned around with surprise. A smile appeared on her face. It was Aastik’s cousin and his sister in a distant relation. Her name was Abha. After Neha ji, Abha was the only one with whom Arunima talked freely with a little laughter. Earlier, Abha’s parents had passed away, so Neha ji had brought her home with her. Now, Abha was a self-independent girl; she was doing an internship in Aastik’s company and currently lived in a PG with her friends. Aastik and Arunima had asked her to stay at home with them, but Abha said living in the PG was closer to the office.

At Aastik and Arunima’s wedding, the one who enjoyed the most and danced at the very front of her brother’s baraat was Abha.

Seeing Abha in front of her, Arunima became happy and, smiling, said,

“Abha, where were you? Only now you are coming? Do you know how much I was missing you? You don’t even come home to meet me.”

Holding Arunima’s hand, Abha took her toward a side table and said,

“Oh sorry, bhabhi. You know, right? My internship at brother’s office is going on. Brother is a very good person when it comes to food, but he is a bit strict and grumpy. Being his sister I can keep his heart, but as an employee of his company, I have to finish my work on time. That’s why I don’t stay at home and shifted to the PG. As for coming home to meet you, why are you worrying? Just a few more months, then my internship will end. After that I’ll come on a long holiday. Then just watch—I'll make you pamper me a lot. You will see all the tantrums of your little sister-in-law!”

Abha said this while giggling loudly. A smile appeared on Arunima’s face too. She glanced once toward Bela, who was showing off among men. With a faint smile, she said,

“I can still handle your tantrums. It’s good that Bela isn’t in your place, otherwise her tantrums and horror attitude are beyond my limits.”

The whole house was aware of Bela’s behavior. Abha looked at Bela once and then asked Arunima,

“What’s going on?”

Arunima replied with a faint smile,

“Nothing. Bela has just congratulated your brother on his wedding anniversary.”

“That’s it? Isn’t the wedding anniversary yours too? Didn’t she congratulate you?” Abha asked in surprise.

Arunima shrugged and said,

“I don’t know. Maybe for her it’s only your brother’s anniversary. Anyway, go ask her yourself.”

Angrily getting up, Abha rubbed one finger on her nose and said,

“I’ll ask her right now. Is only brother celebrating his anniversary in this party?”

Saying this, Abha stomped away. Arunima looked at her with a smile.

Actually, Arunima didn’t care about anyone in this party. She barely knew Aastik and his family. She couldn’t even recognize most faces properly here. Only those she had met after the wedding were familiar to her. Everyone else seemed completely unknown. Among so many pretentious faces, Arunima felt even more uncomfortable. She picked up a glass of orange juice from the table and started drinking it. She had no interest in walking around the party or socializing with people.

On the way, Neha ji stopped Abha and took her along to introduce her to her friend’s son. These were exactly the reasons Abha didn’t come home. Aastik was standing with one of his business partners, holding a drink glass in his hand. The business partner left, and just when Aastik was about to go too, Bela appeared in front of him. Waving her champagne glass, she said,

“Congratulations, brother! You’ve taken one more step toward your victory.”

Aastik clinked his glass with hers and said,

“Thanks, sister. And congratulations to you too. After all, you also gain something from all this.”

A venomous serpent and a shape-shifting wolf—both siblings gave equal competition to each other. Their faces reflected cunning smiles and slyness.

Just then their attention went toward Pushkar ji, who was talking with his mafia group. Twirling her drink glass in the air, Bela said,

“By the way, I heard Dad is going to announce his retirement today. Maybe today he will hand over his chair to you.”

Aastik had just lifted his drink when his hand froze. Looking at Bela in shock, he said,

“What? What are you saying? How do you know Dad is going to announce his retirement today and leave his underworld post?”

Laughing, Bela said,

“Seriously, brother? You think after hearing so many people and facing so many sharp eyes, I can stay here and still not know this little thing? Why do you think this party for your so-called wedding anniversary is being held here and not at the farmhouse? Because Dad is going to announce his retirement today. See that mafia table? The file placed there is his retirement file. Seven separate files have been prepared for seven positions so he can hand you your position. And once you get it, you can even free yourself from your boring wife.”

Hearing Bela’s words, a devilish smile appeared on Aastik’s face and his eyes were fixed on Pushkar ji. After happily finishing his drink, he placed the glass on the table and said joyfully,

“Bela, if this becomes true, then tonight will be the last night of this wedding anniversary and the last night of my relationship with that foolish Arunima. I had already prepared the divorce papers right after the wedding. I was just waiting for the right time. Once I get the position that is mine, the first thing I’ll do is throw Arunima out of my life.”

A poisonous smile appeared on Bela’s face as well. Widening one eye, she tried to indicate something to her brother. Aastik happily patted her shoulder and said,

“Don’t worry. I remember my promise very well. Your share of the property and your own fashion house in London.”

Hearing this, Bela’s smile became even more venomous. She nodded, and both siblings, with their drinks, kept staring at Pushkar ji, who was engaged in a serious discussion with the mafia organization.

As usual, Arunima was sitting comfortably on a chair. The party was boring her. Suddenly her phone vibrated. She saw a message from her mother wishing her a happy wedding anniversary. Taking a deep breath, Arunima wondered why her mother had texted at night instead of calling. Sometimes she felt that after the wedding, her parents had grown distant from her. Their responsibilities may have ended, but Arunima knew how much they had done for her. Replying “thank you” to her mother’s message, Arunima placed the phone on the table.

“Your husband left you alone again… very bad.”

Hearing this voice, Arunima was startled. She looked up and saw Chetan standing there. He pulled the chair next to her and sat down. Smiling, he looked at her, but seeing him only irritated Arunima. She tried to stay calm and thought of not reacting and leaving.

“Your husband keeps leaving you alone every time. Honestly, look—this party is in your name and you’re sitting here alone,” Chetan said. His mouth smelled strongly of alcohol. Turning her face away, Arunima said, “You’re drunk.”

Chetan laughed and said,

“No, I just took two–three tequila shots for my brother’s anniversary. Anyway, I’m used to drinking. Just like your husband isn’t affected by alcohol, I’m not either.”

Arunima stood up, picked up her bag, and said,

“The party is still on. You can go drink more. Because I’m neither bothered by my husband drinking nor by you drinking.”

Saying this, she started walking away, when Chetan grabbed her wrist. Arunima’s eyes turned red with anger as she glared at him. With a crooked smile, Chetan said,

“What’s the hurry? We just started talking.”

Arunima tried to pull her wrist free and angrily said,

“Chetan, leave my hand. I don’t want to create a scene here.”

Her voice was calm but filled with warning. Ignoring her words, Chetan tightened his grip on her wrist even more. Suddenly, a large, strong hand grabbed Chetan’s wrist and pulled Arunima’s hand free with one jerk.

When Arunima’s eyes fell on that hand, she recognized it immediately. On the palm was a red heart with a beautifully written “A” inside it. She instantly knew—it was Aastik’s hand.

Aastik stepped between them and, looking at Chetan with furious eyes, said,

“How dare you? How dare you touch my wife?”

Hearing this, Arunima was stunned and stared at him in disbelief.