Chapter37

Armaan along with Janani and the kids walked towards his car as he will be dropping them
at the kindergarten before going to his office.
Janani's mother had asked her to leave Advi at home so that they can spend some time with
their grandson, but Advi cried his lungs out as he saw his sister all ready with her school bag
to go out.
As they reached the car they saw Shreya waving and smiling at them as she walked towards
them.
"Maasi" Ava launched herself at her aunt as soon as she came close. Shreya picked her up
and placed a loud kiss on Ava's cheek making her giggle.
"Hello Advi" she gave a flying kiss to Advi who was on his momma's hip
"You guys carry on. I will come in the evening to meet the kids" Shreya smiled at them as
she helped Ava into the car.
Armaan frowned at the weird behavior of the woman. He is used to the cold smile and stiff
voice of hers usually. He had never seen her smile at him. So why is she so happy in his
company all of a sudden.
They bid a bye to her and left.
Armaan dropped Janani and the kids at the school and left for his office too.
It was a little after twelve at noon when Ananya received a phone call
Inder, the caller ID said.
He hadn't called her last night. He always calls at night to say goodnight to Aarav. Yesterday
he hadn't and she had taken her phone multiple times to dial his number but then decided
against it.
She was anxious too, to hear his voice. She realised she missed him yesterday, so she
picked up the call on the first ring itself.
"What do you want??" she asked in her usual tone as soon as she picked up the call.
"Ananya??" that was a female voice she heard
She checked the caller ID again and confirmed it is Inder itself
"Yes. Who is this speaking??" Ananya asked
"I am Jhaanvi. Inder's mother" the other person said, shocking Ananya. Inder had told her
multiple times that his parents knows about her and they are okay with their relationship, but
she never fully trusted it.
"Ji aunty. Is everything alright??" Ananya asked and Jhaanvi burst out crying on the call
making her more anxious.
"Aunty. You are scaring me. Is everything alright?? Please talk to me aunty" Ananya said
anxiously.
"Can you come home beta?" Jhaanvi asked and Ananya frowned
"What happened aunty?"
"Inder met with an accident yesterday " Jhaanvi said and burst out crying again and Ananya
felt as if the ground was slipping away from under her feet
No!
No! This is not happening to her!
Not again!
The phone slipped from her hands and crashed onto the floor and Janani came running
seeing her state.
"Ananya, Ananya! What happened?" Janani asked shaking Ananya who was standing there
as if she is frozen.
"Inder. Janani ,Inder. I need to see him. Oh God!! I need to see him now Janani" Ananya
was trembling scaring Janani more.
Janani led Ananya into her cabin not wanting to scare the kids who were already looking on
worriedly.
"Ananya. Sit down and tell me what happened" Janani asked as she made Ananya drink
some water.
Ananya explained everything and Janani reassured her everything would be fine.
Janani booked a cab for Ananya as she is not in a state to drive herself.
"Janani, Aarav. Take him with you if I am late okay. Don't tell him anything" Ananya said and
got into the cab.
As soon as the cab reached the mansion, Ananya ran out towards the main door.
The doorman opened the door without asking any questions as he saw the tear stained face
of the woman and the fear in her eyes.
"Inder! Inder!" Ananya called out as soon as she entered the living room and was instantly
engulfed in the warm bear hug of a middle aged woman.
"You came. I know you would come" Jhaanvi cried hugging Ananya
"Inder? Where is he? How is he?" Anaya asked.
"He is in his room. Throwing a tantrum telling that he wants to go to the hospital. He needs
rest. He is not listening to me. You please tell him" Jhaanvi said and dragged Ananya
upstairs towards Inder's room
"For heaven's sake Priyanka, stop fussing over me. It was a small accident. You and mom
are blowing this into something bigger" Inder yelled frustrated
"Bhai, you are injured. Please lie down" Priyanka said equally frustrated at her older brother.
"Stop treating me as if I am on my death bed. These are simple scratches. I am still very
much alive" Inder said in exasperation.
"Shut up. Just shut up" Ananya yelled at him as she walked furiously towards him.
"Ananya" Inder looked up surprised as he never expected her to come to his home. And yet
she is here. A smile formed on his lips.
"You are smiling? How dare you? And how easily are you talking about death? Do you have
any idea what it feels like to lose someone you love?" She asked angrily
"Ananya. I didn't mean it like that. Please stop crying" Inder said as he pulled her to sit
beside him on the bed.
"How could you be so careless. Did you think of what your parents might have gone
through? Your sister? What would I do if something happens to you? Did you even think of
Aarav? I can't go through this again. I told you to stay away didn't I?? Why didn't you
listen?? Why did you make me weak? Why?" she cried out her pain and Inder pulled her
into his arms and hugged her tight.
"I am here. I am not going to leave you and Aarav. You can't get rid of me that easily" Inder
said as he dropped a kiss on her forehead.
Ananya looked up to see him smiling
"You are smiling?" she accused which made him chuckle.
"Something good came out of this accident," he said, flicking her nose.
"And you have to thank me for that. If not for me she wouldn't even have known about your
accident" Jhaanvi said as she wiped her tears.
Ananya came out of Inder's hug awkwardly. Once she saw him sitting on the bed with a
bandage on his forehead she forgot the presence of his mother and sister.
"Hello bhabhi. I am Priyanka. I have heard a lot about you and little Aarav." Priyanka said as
she came forward and hugged her
"Where is Aarav??" Inder asked
"He is with Janani."
"Priyanka you come with me. Let them spend some time together" Jhaanvi said, dragging
Priyanka out of the room.
****
Armaan drove towards the kindergarten to pick his family. He will be moving out of his house
today and he has no idea when he will get time to spend time with Janani. So he is taking
whatever tidbits he is getting.
Janani locked the kindergarten and she also packed an overnight bag for Aarav as she had
no idea when Ananya would be back.
She walked out towards the main gate with the kids expecting to find Khanna waiting for
them there but was surprised to see Armaan standing there leaning against the car
As soon as he saw them, he came forward and took the bags she was trying to balance in
her hands as she was carrying a sleeping Advi too
"Spider-man" Ava squealed and ran towards her dada throwing a sly look at Aarav who
frowned in return.
Armaan caught his daughter as she jumped into his arms. He saw Aarav walking along with
them and questioned Janani through his eyes.
They settled the kids into the car and Janani turned towards Armaan.
"Ananya is not here. The man who loves her got into an accident and she has gone to visit
him" Janani said, not knowing how to describe Inder's role in Ananya's life.
"Inder? Inder got into an accident?" Armaan asked, shocked.
"You know Inder bhaiyya??" Janani asked surprised
"Of course. He is my best friend." Armaan said and they got into the car hurriedly and
Armaan drove towards Inder's home
Best Friend? Janani wondered
And then she remembered Inder recognising her that day at the kindergarten. And that same
day Armaan came to know the truth too.
"It was him!!" She said looking at him
"What??" Armaan frowned
"He recognized me. He had met Saanvi. Right? " she asked
And Armaan explained, Inder accompanying Saanvi for her check ups and how Inder found
something amiss when he met Janani.
They soon reached Inder's place and the doorman let them in.
Armaan guided Janani and the kids straight to Inder's room where they were welcomed with
the sight of Inder leaning against the headboard of the bed and Ananya leaning against his
chest.
Aarav who was gloomily following around bearing with Ava's smug look now and again
brightened up as soon as he saw his momma and super man.
"Super man" he squealed and ran towards the bed knocking Ava down on his way.
Ananya sprang out of Inder's hold as soon as she saw her son.
Ava's lips trembled due to the sudden unexpected fall and was about to wail loudly when
Janani interrupted.
"Who is the strongest little girl in the world??" Janani asked as she crouched down beside
Ava after handing over a drowsy Advi, who had woken up due to Aarav's screaming, to
Armaan.
Ava looked at Janani with her eyes glistening with tears
"Ava" she said rubbing her eyes to banish her tears
"What do strong girls do when they fall down??" Janani asked again
"They get up and beat the floor" Ava said standing up not before beating the floor to her
heart's consent
"Maan. Come, sit"
They talked for a while and Jhaanvi was introduced to her new grandson and Armaan's new
family
****
Two days later
Armaan was sitting in the living room of Verma Mansion after lunch. He had come to drop
Janani and the kids back from school and as it had been for the past two days his mother in
law compelled him, to his utmost delight, to stay back and have lunch.
Though, he could become twice the size he is now in the near future because of his mother
in law's excessive feeding, he would bear with even that if he could spend more time with
Janani and the kids.
"I have a tour of Asia scheduled and I'll be away for a couple of weeks. Will come back only
a few days before the wedding" Armaan breached the topic of his business trip which was
scheduled long back and had been forgotten until his PA reminded him of the trip.
He cursed the ill timing of the business trip. He was all set to cancel the trip, but the jobs of a
lot many of his employees depends on him and he can't leave them in the lurch.
Postponing the meeting is totally out of question as he is not ready to leave Janani after the
marriage.
Better option would be to get it over with as soon as possible.
Janani looked up startled as soon as she heard him. He was leaving her. Janani refused to
betray any reaction.
Obviously he would travel on business and such temporary separations would be part of
their lives. She had never been the clingy type.
She was independent and self-sufficient, she reminded herself doggedly.
Wanting to climb into his suitcase with Ava and Advi is just plain stupid
"I am surprised you're prepared to leave the kids for such a long time" she said
"When the tour of my holdings was organised, actually finding my son still seemed like a
fantasy and I was unaware of my daughter's existence" he confided ruefully.
"Now that I have them in my life I have no intention of being an absent parent. Once I am
home again I'll be spending a lot of time with them." He added
"In fact I am planning to relegate all my future business trips to my trusted employees if it
happens to be during a time when I can't take my family along with me" he added looking
straight into her eyes.
That night
Armaan sneaked into his own compound with the help of Khanna.
He didn't want Khanna to be a part of this, but he had no other option. He don't want to alert
his security team by jumping the walls and in turn alert his father in law.
He stood directly below the balcony to Janani's room as Khanna placed a ladder for him
there.
"Dare you say anything to anyone Khanna, you will regret being born" he warned Khanna
"Of course Sir. No one will know" Khanna promised
"Especially Aadesh and Aditya" Armaam reminded again.
The two of them had formed an instant bonding and Armaan wondered why was he
surprised at that. They are like two peas in a pod
"Keep your phone with you. I will call you when I have to leave. Bring the ladder back then"
he said and climbed the ladder to the balcony.
Janani was tossing and turning in her bed. Sleep appeared to be far away.
How could she sleep? She is getting married in three weeks and her fiance is already going
for a business trip.
And he couldn't even call her to say good-bye. He left after lunch informing her about the
business trip.
No good bye hug!
No good bye kiss!
She huffed. She wouldn't care. If he could go leaving her, then let him go.
She heard a light tapping on the balcony door and frowned.
She decided to ignore it, when she heard it again. This time it was louder.
She got up from the bed and walked towards the door when she heard it again.
Her heart started beating fast. Who could it be?
Would thieves come knocking?
Would ghosts need an open door to come in??
"Janani" she heard the loud whisper and she let out her breath.
That voice!!
She will recognise it anywhere anytime.
She quickly opened the door as excitement thrummed through her veins
"What are you doing here??" she asked as soon as she saw him
"You could at least pretend to be a little enthusiastic, Janani" Armaan said sarcastically as he
slipped past her into the room and locked it.
"I am just surprised" Janani said
"I will be leaving early morning Janani" Armaan said
"I know" she frowned
"Then why are you surprised. Did you think I will go without meeting you. Without so much
as a good-bye kiss??" He asked and narrowed his eyes as she looked down
She did
"If you thought so, then you don't know me yet" Armaan said as he pulled her into his arms
and she willingly went
"I am sorry" she pouted
"Sorry wouldn't work sweetheart" Armaan said looking intensely at her
"Then what would work??" She asked huskily as her breath quickened at the intense look in
his eyes.
"Manao mujhe" he said bending his head and whispering in her ears huskily
(Convince me)
"How?" she asked as she placed a hand on his stubbled cheek
"Kiss me better"
"You are thirty, not three"
"My years do not make the pain any lesser" he said huskily
"One kiss??" she asked
He grinned almost giving him a boyish appearance
"One kiss Janani" he said
Her pulse began to race faster as he easily held her gaze. She leant towards him, her heart
beating even more erratically as she breathed in the male scent of him
She placed her soft lips on his and that was an invitation Armaan couldn't control from
overtaking
Those lips moved purposefully, seductively, against hers. His tongue teased her own lips
apart, deepening the kiss to intimacy as it continued on its marauding path, tasting her,
claiming her, seeking out every soft and delicate contour of her mouth, his tongue running
erotically along the edge of her teeth even as his arms tightened about her and he curved
her body more intimately against his own.
He tumbled her down on to the bed and hovered over her and continued kissing her with a
feverish need
Two days seemed like two centuries
Janani felt as if she were on fire. Aflame. Pleasure rippled across and through her body as
she wound her arms around his neck
"Please…" she moaned achingly as his lips left hers to trail a path of arousal down the
column of her throat.
The sound of Janani's voice—that softly husky voice moved across Armaan's flesh like a
caress
He undid the top two buttons of her night shirt deftly and placed his lips on her collar bone.
His teeth grazed across her skin as he sucked in her skin making her hiss in pain and and
his tongue soothed the skin pleasuring her.
His lips trailed down towards her cleavage and he opened the next button with his teeth and
groaned at the sight of the smooth creamy curves of the upper slopes of her breast visible
above her bra line
"Do you have any idea how many times these ridiculous hello kitty pyjamas of yours had
drove me crazy" he breathed against the upper slopes of her breast as he kissed her there.
"How many times??" She whispered as her hands slipped inside his shirt and started
exploring his taut skin
"Ever since that first night" he said kissing the pulse point on her neck
"Janani di" they were interrupted by a knock on the door
"What the!!" Armaan cursed against her neck as he tried to regain his breath
"Di, open the door" the knocking became incessant
"Move move" Janani pushed Armaan slightly and sat up and tried to do the buttons of her
shirt with trembling fingers.
Janani pushed Armaan into the washroom and opened the door to find Aaditya standing
there holding two shirts in his hands.
"Why are you still awake Adi?? It's nearing midnight" Janani asked faking a yawn
"Di. Which one should I wear tomorrow? It's my first day" He asked showing both the shirts
and Janani looked at him in disbelief
"You disturbed my sleep because you wanted an opinion on which shirt you are going to
wear tomorrow?" she asked placing her hands on her hips
Aditya gasped dramatically
"Disturbance di?? Shaadi abhi tak hua hi nahi aur aap paraya ho gayi" he asked placing a
hand over his heart and Janani rolled her eyes
(You are not yet married and you already became a stranger)
"Shut up and go sleep" she said pushinng him
"Choose a shirt and I will go" he said stubbornly and Janani randomly pointed her hand at a
shirt
"Are you sure? Wouldn't I look more handsome in the other one?" he asked and Janani
glared at him
"If you know. Why are you asking me??"
"Why are you getting angry for such a small thing. Okay, I will wear the one you chose.
Goodnight di" he said and walked away
Janani quickly locked her door and leant against it and took a deep breath
Armaan came out of the washroom
"Younger brothers are always a pain in the a** " he commented dryly as he sat on the couch
and patted the seat next to him asking her to come sit
"You are spot on" she agreed as she snuggled against him on the couch
"I came to talk you to and got side tracked" he said and he took a strand of her hair and
looped it around his finger
"Side tracked? You have a one track mind Mr Verma" Janani said playing with the fingers of
his other hand.
"You didn't seem to be complaining a while ago, soon to be Mrs Verma" he said grinning
They sat there in silence enjoying each others warmth for a while
"Will you miss me Armaan?" Janani asked
"More than you can imagine" he whispered as he dropped an affectionate kiss on top of her
head.