Mars v/s Venus - Chapter 30

So sorry for hanging you all up at this tale and you might want to kill one of our characters here, but please give him/her time and try to understand them... anyways I don't carry out injustice for a long period of time so you can expect a happier twist sooner than later :) Apologies for going a bit grey here and there, so kiddies would want to skip that :D

With love,

You Know Who

CHAPTER 30

“Ah Sakshi Anand! What a pleasant surprise…” Sikandar drawled while Sakshi gave him a very pointed, fake smile. “The pleasure’s all mine.”

Sikandar waved his hand and stepped closer to Sakshi, his eyebrows waiving in surprise at her nonchalance “How are you doing darling? Heard that you were driven to suicide… oh you poor thing…” Sikandar was interrupted as Sakshi threw her head back and laughed.

“Sir, are you talking to me? And suicide, well that’s a pitiful situation and bless the soul whoever tried so.” Sakshi walked away and handed over a few files.

“But I heard you were in the hospital…”

“For very obvious reasons.” Sakshi shrugged her shoulders and scanned a few files disinterestedly.

“Obvious?” Sikandar frowned, how could Sakshi be some calm and unaffected! “Well in a few weeks I am to be married and off for a honeymoon, one can’t miss an appointment with the gynecologist. I must say that I am really touched by your brotherly concern.” Sakshi gleamed at Sikandar’s irritation and gestured him to sit on the sofa.

“S…”

“I haven’t finished speaking. So, now that I consider you my brother, there’s a small piece of advice this sister would give.” Sakshi’s smile faded as her voice turned colder.

Sikandar just chuckled “I’m afraid, then an incest will happen.”

“Not surprised at your derogatory thinking… after all hadn’t you paid a whooping 500 million dollars for the faulty blueprint designs to stop the production of a perfectly built model.” Sikandar whipped to stare at a stony Sakshi, her eyes seething with rage.

“It’s f*****g nonsense Miss. Anand, and I may fire you for such baseless accusations.” Sikandar growled while Sakshi helped herself to a glass of water.

“I am speaking on behalf of Mr. Arjun Singhania and when did I accuse you?” Sakshi’s eyes narrowed to slits as she studied the agitated features of Sikandar.

“Right now, you accused me you filthy…”

“Prove it.” Sakshi stated, smirking as Sikandar’s face turned constipated at the thought.

“We are having a completely civil conversation and due to the fact that neither my father in law nor fiance is in town due to meetings, I am inviting you to Ayesha and Sameer’s wedding - it’s three days from today.” Sakshi handed over a luxurious basket on his lap.

A baffled Sikandar looked on as Sakshi stood up and checked her watch “Since this is the last day before my holidays, Arjun asked me to ask you if there were any pending matters you wished me to resolve.”

“None…” Sikandar grunted, roughly going through the delicate cards when a legal paper slipped out.

A small smile lit on Sakshi’s face as Sikandar’s face blanched repeatedly.

“There’s water on your left, you’ll need it. And don’t worry, there are several more copies.” Sikandar gulped as he read the paper and clenched his fists.

“What do you want?” He fumed while Sakshi checked her nails “Oh nothing, just be a good baraati. You do understand the consequences… don’t you?”

As Sakshi walked away, Sikandar stared at the papers in his hand.

How the hell did she get all the evidences of his frauds?

---

“Thank you.” Sakshi smiled as Arjun barely looked at her, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.

Closing her eyes to take a deep breath, Sakshi turned around and waited for Arjun to start a conversation. Well his clenched jaws and nerves sticking out of his temple underlined that a conversation was the last thing running in his mind.

“Okay I know you were against this but Arjun, if he fears me… then he’ll be terrified of you.” Sakshi explained while Arjun gritted “Who told you to go alone? What if something happened? And why is Chandrakant telling me after you’ve finished your meeting with that bas***d.”

Sakshi smiled at his anger and shook her head “Arjun, for the past two weeks we have been working out the evidences, right? If you gave it to him… I didn’t want Sikandar to get to the ‘so what’ phase. You confronting him would be the end, it won’t keep Sikandar on his toes and you can’t even kick him out because his company is essential for us. Getting cornered by me would be the last thing Sikandar would have ever expected and now he’s baffled - and that’s exactly what we need.”

“I don’t care… you could have… damn it!” Arjun punched the steering wheel and closed his eyes. Sakshi’s stance softened as she saw lines of worry and guilt mar his handsome face.

“What’s the real reason Arjun?” she whispered, almost touching his shoulder. Arjun looked aside as Sakshi retreated her hand, still petrified of being close to him. Guilt flooded in her as she watched Arjun release a disappointed sigh at her.

“Arjun, I…”

“Don’t even think of justifying why you drew back. Any other woman would have left me Sakshi. It’s just that…” Sakshi looked on, surprised that he caught on to what’s running in her mind. Her little heart trembled in the lap of emotions as she watched Arjun struggling to open up.

Work had been one thing that had tied them both, and after Sakshi had agreed to marry him… he had conveniently steered her attention to office. She could see that he tried, day and night, to be away from her and give her all the space she needed.

Tears stung her eyes as the carefully placed facade of strength threatened to fall. She loved him, but she was scared as hell to be close to him. In spite of knowing that it wasn’t him but alcohol who spoke that night… it barely did anything to calm her fears.

But she loved him a bit too much to leave him.

Arjun’s eyes never failed to follow Sakshi.

As if she was all that existed in his world.

The truth was, she was all he had.

Arjun’s heart broke as he failed to say or make her reassure that he won’t harm her. Loving Sakshi was just as essential as breathing, yet he knew that she wouldn’t believe him.

Selfish and self centered, that’s what he had been.

He had done nothing but bound Sakshi to him through crying and even pleading. But if he loved her… he should let her go. Arjun wasn’t meant for Sakshi, they weren’t just meant to be.

Arjun dreamed of Sakshi being independent and on her own feet, yet every time she ventured on her own he feared that she would be attacked. And he would let her down, no matter what.

Trusting Sakshi wasn’t a problem, trusting himself was.

He would fail to protect her… and even end up being the one from whom she needed protection.

“I will be safe, because you’re there to break my fall.” A tiny drop of tear rolled down his cheek at her blind faith in him.

“You believe that?” He gave a choked, mirthless laugh.

“I do.” Sakshi paused to twist her fingers in her scarf, looking at him every now and then. Arjun swallowed tightly and parked his car, his heart clenching at his own brutality and her innocent love.

“I don’t believe myself Sakshi.” He confessed and turned aside, too scared to read the same truth in her sparkling eyes.

“You don’t have to.” Her voice cracked, heavy with tears.

Tentatively, she placed a shaky hand on his arm… winning a look of unadulterated surprise on his face.

She gently caressed his arm, her heart beating at his hitched breath. He kept staring at her,  drinking in her love, as if a gentle movement would shatter the moment.

“I believe you enough for the both of us.” Her lips wobbled as hot tears rolled down her soft cheeks.

Arjun melted into her caress, his own hand shaking as it reached to wipe a precious tear. But, her stance stiffened as she saw his approaching hand and her throat tightened at their proximity.

“J… just…” Arjun pointed at her tears while Sakshi nodded in understanding. And she surprised him, once again, as her dainty little fingers brushed away his own tears. “I know.” she replied, stroking his cheek ever so gently.

She looked at him, his eyes as dark as a moonless night. Yet, there was nothing but honest love written in them. “I love you.” He whispered, his eyelids fluttering shut as she wiped his tears with the pad of her thumb.

“I will never leave you.” His eyelids flew open as she hit his deepest fear. Sniffing slightly, she continued “I know we’re pretending to be strong, like nothing ever happened before. But this… this hurts more. Let’s just accept and cry our hearts out. Because I am too scared to be with you… but, I just love you. More than anything.”

Sakshi cried into his shoulder as Arjun felt his dam break. His motherless childhood, years of negligence and the act of molesting the woman who meant the world to him… broke him.

“I… wii… will never ever hurt you.” He spoke between his sobs while Sakshi removed her bangles and stared at the fading marks of her slit wrist.

“I know.”

“You’ll never regret being with me.” He promised while Sakshi smiled, resting her aching head on his shoulder.

“I know.”

Arjun looked at her wrist and traced her cut gently with his index finger. Sakshi tightened her grip on his arm but let him feel the stitches.

“I… I will die but…” never let a scratch on you, ever again.  Arjun’s words muffled into sobs as he recalled her bloodied body. His shoulders shook in agony as he puffed out long breaths to control his cries.

But Sakshi heard it all, her beaten heart soaring high with belief and love. Closing her eyes, she nudged her forehead on his shoulder, relaxing as he let her curl around his arm.

“I know…”  She whispered, looking at his hand intertwining with hers.

---

Ayesha sat on her bed, looking at her wedding card.

“Hey…” Sameer walked in, smiling a little on watching her read their wedding card. Ayesha noticed it all, from his hesitant gait to the continuous cracking of knuckles.

“Do you want to break the marriage?” Sameer stopped short at her question, his eyes widened in disbelief. “What are you saying! We’re three days away from marriage…” He avoided her deep, brown eyes and focused on the jewellery kept on her bed.

“That doesn’t answer my question Sameer.”

Sameer closed his eyes for a brief second and turned around; just as he was about to open his mouth, Ayesha placed a finger on his lips “Tell the truth, for a change.” Sameer’s shoulder slumped at her lack of trust in him… and honestly, he didn’t feel bad.

He had never given her a reason to trust him.

“I am not sure…” Sameer confessed. Somewhere down the line; the incessant rituals, flashy appearances and gossips made him queasy. His bachelor night had been wild, crazy and hazy. Sameer felt a shudder up his spine as he heard his friends wail about their life after marriage and the bachelor night was all they had.

If not for their fathers’ businesses…

“I  don’t want to be in the husband wife issue. You know where I’ll be answerable to you for my actions or you have expectations from me. It’s going to screw up. See Ayesha, you’re a lovely lady… you’ll be a great wife. But I’ve been very independent since childhood, I live life in my terms. I can’t accomodate my time and lifestyle for another person… do you understand?” Ayesha looked up, slightly dazed. She hadn’t been listening to half of what Sameer said.

He wants to break the marriage.

Pain clawed her heart as heartbreak looked at her for the second time. Although for her parents it was no big deal, they would force Sameer into the marriage or get her hitched with Sameer’s distant cousin. As long as Ayesha would marry someone under the name of Rathore.

And she trembled, not because the Rathore’s were a flamboyant class, but due to the fact that Ayesha couldn’t take it anymore. She at least knew Sameer.

“What if I don’t behave like a wife?” She said, masking her tears and vulnerabilities all too well.

“That’s impossible Ayesha…” Sameer said, but looked at her expectantly.

“It’s possible. I’ll start going back to work the very next day. Also you won’t have to touch your cupboard or even change the design of your room… I’ll get a walk in closet built and a slide in door so as to your room remains untouched. Our photos won’t be splayed around and most importantly, we both can live our lives the way we want… just like live in.” Sameer’s eyes widened as Ayesha continued to speak.

“I won’t even wear any of the sindoor or mangalsutra.” With the ease at which Ayesha thought loud, it was impossible to notice that she was breaking inside with each and every word.

Having gone through a neglected and rebellious childhood followed by strings of heartbreak… Ayesha didn’t have it in herself to lose Sameer.

“I didn’t mean you give up everything Ayesha…” Sameer said, softly. Even though a part of himself was greatly pleased at what she said; being her childhood friend, his heart was scared at her proposition. Ayesha had always been the dreamer, asking for her own prince charming and a dashing white horse.

Which she would ride and run away with her groom!

“But… can we live without all the mess of marriage…” He said, hoping Ayesha wouldn’t mind bad at his questions.

“Sure, it’s just legal formality. I’ll just get the rituals done as we’re having guests over and you know my poor old mother, she’ll get a heart attack if I don’t wear a diamond set… she doesn’t care if someone applies ginger paste on me instead of turmeric.” Ayesha chuckled as Sameer laughed on h Maya Singhania.

“I feel much relieved. Gosh, how do people survive this marriage shit?” Sameer cussed and relaxed on Ayesha’s bed. Ayesha bit her bottom lip to prevent a sob and kicked her sandals off “I am not God… so I have no idea.”

Ayesha relaxed next to Sameer and closed her eyes, an arm snaking around his waist. Sameer frowned slightly, then smiled “What are you thinking about?”

“That we’re so stupid, we could have lived together first… so at least I would be used to your silly behaviors.” and it would have made me a stronger person… someone who didn’t roam around with every handsome boy to just find a man who would cherish her.

Ayesha kept her eyes closed as Sameer ran his hand through her hair “True, but I wanted to say that I like you very much Ayesha. You’re… brilliant. Hey! What’s in this to cry, eh?” Sameer wiped a little tear from the corner of her right eye as Ayesha put on a brave smile.

You’re… brilliant

She had seen the glimmer in his eyes when he said that.

Maybe living with Sameer wouldn’t be difficult, he would keep her with him.

Away from a family that was never hers, away from her bitter childhood memories, away from the constant scrutiny from her mother. Even if she had to give up all her dreams, her man would take her away from the place that broke the little, free-spirited Ayesha.

“I like you too…”Ayesha sighed, reaching to kiss his cheek.

She’ll love him so much, that one day he’ll fall in love with her and they’ll stay happily ever after.

Yes, she will get her happily ever after.

A surprised Sameer raised and eyebrow and pulled her closer “What are your intentions?” Ayesha fake giggled, not that he would ever understand the difference, and pulled him closer “Not so innocent…”

“Are you literally asking for…”

“Uh, maybe you’re waiting for the suhagraat. You know, sitting on a bed of flowers while I come to lootofy your izzat!” Ayesha gave an impish wink while Sameer coughed “Have you downed something Ash? Cause baby I want a shot of that too!” He grinned and wove his hand through her thick hair.

Closing in for a kiss, Ayesha succumbed herself to him and lowered all barriers.

Intimacy would keep him bound to me…

As Sameer held a warm, bare Ayesha close to him; he looked at her face in wonder and confusion. This was the first time he had it with her and it was beyond what he had imagined. They came from the stars and back. It was… heavenly.

The submissiveness behind her feisty exterior spelt wonders.

But the friend in Sameer dreaded in alarm. This just wasn’t his Ayesha.

I love you Ayesha, don’t worry… I’ll never hurt you.

Sameer grew emotional as Ayesha closed her eyes and cuddled closer to him, almost like a lost child. The innocence on her face enthralled him and Sameer felt at crossroads of emotions.

Ayesha deserved better.

But Sameer couldn’t bring it in himself to accept his personality. He was perfect.  Pausing to tuck in a strand lock of her hair, Sameer continued to think about their changing equations.

Ayesha would do… anything to keep him happy. She promised of not being a wife, and the dull dying spark of her eyes wasn’t missed.

“I’ll keep you happy, okay.” He whispered against her hair. Guilt gnawed him and he promised to bathe her in gifts and wealth. Whatever she wanted would be at her footstep. If she was princess in her house, she would be a queen in his.

This sounds better.

Sameer rued to himself. With a satisfied smile and a burden of his shoulders, Sameer hugged Ayesha.

---

Chandrakant stepped out of the corridor when neither Sameer nor Ayesha reverted to him regarding the preparations. He spotted an anxious Anamika pacing in the hall.

“Ma’am, I can assure you that you are not in need for exercise.” Chandrakant grinned while Anamika raised a sleek eyebrow “Are you flirting with me?”

Chandrakant looked at Anamika, horrified at the implication “NO MA’AM. You were busy walking left to right and usually I do the same for my exercise routine, except it is jogging in water - increases pace and agility.”

Anamika chuckled at his innocence and shook her head “Pyaare chotu, you get flustered all too easily! I was just kidding… why are you here?”

Chandrakant cleared his throat and turned aside “Ma’am, I had to discuss last minute wedding details with Sameer sir and Ashu ma’am but they…” he coughed politely and blushed.

“Were kissing?” Chandrakant turned a bright red as Anamika shrugged “What! I mean you were blushing so much… anyways, God knows why Ayesha is marrying a man who clearly doesn’t want to be married - she’s heading forward a heartbreak… and who knows that better than me?”

“You were in a relationship with Sameer sir?” A distaste filled in his mouth while Anamika put her elbow on his shoulder “Jealous kya?”

“MA’AM! Looks like you are a bit too warm than necessary.” Chandrakant folded his arms while Anamika chuckled “You aren’t going to flirt with this really hot thirty year old fashion moghul, so I thought of flirting with you… I mean you can hardly be above thirty five.” Chandrakant shied away as Anamika checked him out.

“Baapre… you’re shier than a newly wedded bride! Cute! But to answer your question, I am sane enough not to date Sam… but I was married - for business. Ended in a terrible divorce.” Anamika swallowed tightly then looked at Chandrakant, smiling all too brightly.

“I love to read people… and I feel strange to find someone who actually says what’s in his mind.” Chandrakant cleared his throat gently and walked up to Anamika.

“You are a lovely woman ma’am, let me warn you that I am nothing but a bodyguard and assistant of your best friend - Arjun Singhania. So it would be better if we continued speaking about the upcoming weddings than about something that can never happen.” Chandrakant spoke gently, quietly loving the smile that grew on Anamika’s face.

“Even if it means to trample on your own desires and wishes?” She asked, assessing him for any lies while Chandrakant stepped back and folded his arms.

“Even if it means to trample on your desires and wishes.” He replied.

“Fortunate to know that you weren’t crying over Arjun’s marriage. I feared you never noticed another woman!” Anamika joked as she skimmed through a few files. She turned around as Chandrakant chuckled to his heart’s content.

“That’s because not every woman ends up being Anamika Banerjee.” He quipped while Anamika grinned a little, pausing to remove her glasses “You’re making it very difficult to keep the professional gap Chandrakant.”

“My wallet will clearly bring you back to senses.” Chandrakant replied while Anamika stiffened “I don’t sell myself…”

“I know that very well Miss. Banerjee, it’s just that I can’t afford to keep you the way you deserve to be - like a princess.”

“ A queen…” Anamika cut in, surprised to find him negating her.

“A princess is always more precious, loving and innocent than the queen.” The tenderness in his eyes made Anamika go weak on her knees but she held herself up.

“And a princess may want to marry a knight in place of the prince charming.” She whispered while Chandrakant smirked a little “Or an ogre.”

Anamika chuckled “Shrek? Really?”

“Why not Fiona? Wasn’t that Shrek like you called me the first time? I can’t believe I’ve known you for ten years…” Chandrakant sighed while Anamika relaxed in her chair.

“Ten long years. What not has happened… from Sameer marrying Ayesha, and Arjun falling in love with Sakshi…” Anamika cracked her knuckles, looking up to a lost Chandrakant.

“What are you thinking?” Anamika asked while Chandrakant sighed “Nothing, it’s just that… Ayesha ma’am and Sameer sir apparently seem so close, as close as skin could get, yet their hearts are at an unmeetable distance; whereas, Arjun sir and Sakshi barely touch each other… but now neither could live without the other.”

Anamika felt a tightness in her chest as she thought about Ayesha’s future.

“I am scared Chandra, really scared for Ayesha.” Anamika muttered, finding a warm hand covering hers. “Don’t be… Ayesha ma’am always breaks first and then moulds herself to a stronger model. I’ve seen her as a child.” Chandrakant reassure while Anamika whispered furiously “Why does she even have to break first!”

“Sameer isn’t as bad as Rajveer… we both know that. He loves her, but he’s just confused…” Tears stung her eyes at the mention of her ex-husband. “Is there a scale of measurement to measure our pain? Okay Sameer won’t beat up Ayesha so he isn’t that bad. Arjun now turns understanding because Sakshi has gone through hell in front of his eyes… why do you men torture us so much!” Anamika bit out while Chandrakant glared at her.

“Anamika,” He seethed, taking her first name “You are completely deviating the topic.”

“No, you refuse to answer me! Since the past one year I have been trying to get it with you but you keep on taunting us about our financial difference. You know I really don’t give a f**k about that!” Anamika shoved at his chest while Chandrakant drew a deep breath and held her plummeting fists.

“So that’s why you started to speak to me, you used Ayesha maam's marriage and Sakshi’s marriage as a bait to talk about what happened and what is happening?” Chandrakant gripped her arms as Ayesha refused to answer.

“You don’t give a damn about finance, you don’t… really Mishti?” Anamika stared into Chandrakant’s eyes, her own overflowing with tears as he called her with her pet name.

“Remember what happened ten years back? Should I recall it for you? That a young lad of twenty had falled in love with a nineteen year old college student. The affair went on for a year and when the boy wanted the girl to commit, she said she needed time to think about it. The boy, admiring the girl’s need for independence stepped back… to see what? That she has gotten married to business magnet Rajveer Ranawat. Then she disappears for eight years, suddenly comes back… treats the boy like strange man, flirting with him as if things never happened and now wants that boy back?”

Anamika bit her lower lip and stifled a sob as her past was thrown back at her face.

Chandrakant hissed as tears rolled down Anamika’s cheeks. Leaving her arms, he turned around and took a few quick breaths “With years Anamika, I have steeled myself. For God’s sake don’t destroy me any further. Even once had you told me to wait or given some signal that something's wrong… I would have given my life for you. So let’s go back to playing, shall we?”

Flicking off a tear from the corner of his eyes, Chandrakant looked at a puffy eyed Anamika and smiled “Miss. Banerjee, I assume the wedding season is making you a tab bit flirtatious and if I may admit, sensuous. But don’t worry about our couples - neither of them are treading on the paths of betrayal… you see, that’s what hurts the most.”

Taking a few steps, Chandrakant wiped her tears with the mannerisms of a gentleman and said “It isn’t good to see you crying Miss. Banerjee, if I may beg your pardon… I must leave. I am sure you’ll find many to wipe your tears.”

A broken Anamika looked on as Chandrakant nodded stiffly and turned to move when she grabbed his arm and held him with a surprising strength.

“What if I told you that I was forced?” Anamika looked into his surprised face “Miss. Banerjee, I am well aware of your lineage. Nobody can force you to marr…”

Leaving his arm abruptly, Anamika clenched her jaw “Sometimes belonging to a lineage is the worst thing that can ever happen. So horrible that if they know the girl is in love with a commoner, they decide to…”

Chandrakant’s eyes widened and he reached to hold her hand “Did they… did they hurt you? Were they going to kill you?” He gasped while Anamika shook her head “You, they were going to kill you if I didn’t marry Rajveer.”

“Why didn’t you tell m…” He was stopped as Anamika raised her hand “My cell phones, internet and activities were tapped - daily. I was literally locked in Rajveer’s house, how could I ever contact you?”

“These weddings are reminding you of your own? Locked up, decided…” Chandrakant said while Anamika nodded mutely “But I must confess, I was swayed by Rajveer’s initial charms but trust me… that was just a crush, I was loyal to y…” Anamika looked on as Chandrakant stepped back, frozen all of a sudden.

“Chandra, when Rajveer kissed me I realised that things are going out of my control…” Chandrakant raised his own  hand. “You both were hanging out together, while I struggled to make a penny for you.”

“Chandra it’s not like that, we just struck up as friends and then suddenly he kissed me one day and I was too baffled to react!” Anamika reasoned while Chandrakant turned aside “I am sorry for whatever happened with you, and I’ll make sure that all those who worked against you get paid. But as far as my own heart is concerned, with you kissing…”

Chandrakant found himself lost as Anamika grabbed his face and pulled him into a deep, long kiss. Their apologies, misgivings and love was murmured frequently between the moist kisses as Chandrakant stopped to take a breath.

“This is a kiss Chandra…” She whispered while Chandrakant skimmed his thumb across a cheek “I need time Mishti…it just hurts too well.” Anamika nodded in understanding while Chandrakant stepped back, retreiving a few files and digital sticks.

“What are these?” She tried to sound normal, applying a shade of lipstick on her lips.

“Nothing, these are sir’s files. You know the records to be hidden and all that… uff…” Chandrakant grunted as a few files slipped out of his hand. Anamika reached out and helped Chandrakant out when her eyes grew wide.

“What was Arjun doing in India during his teens?” She asked, her mouth falling wide.

Chandrakant frowned at her shock and then stood stunned himself at the deeper connection between Sakshi and Arjun. Loyalty pushed him to tell everything to Sakshi immediately but he couldn’t. The duo had just found their share of happiness.

If they got to know this, it would be impossible for Sakshi to love Arjun ever again.

----

Okay, the characters of Chandrakant and Anamika were always planned, like even before Dil Dhadakne Do was released... and it surprises me how Sunny and Ayesha of DDD just match up...

So if you want to imagine anybody - it has to be this pair. 

Love you guys, drop in your comments! Also, this is a late HBD gift for Rasika ji!