Chapter 23

"Neither of you will meet Jyotsna and its final!" announced Arjun, glaring at Indumati and Namita, who had the humility to look ashamed at the open display of disdain by their dear Golu.

"But she needs company, she should have someone to speak to and you will go to the office. What would she do alone?" questioned Namita, earnestly hoping to correct her mistakes in the past which had caused great tragedy to befall upon them.

"It is better she does not have company like that of the two of you. You made a deal out of her dignity and no girl would appreciate the company of someone of your likes, especially not someone who prizes her self-respect like Jyotsna," pointed Arjun, firm about his decision as he ignored the pained expressions of his only family.

It certainly hurt him more than he would ever reveal to be at the receiving end of pressure from his family. Disbelief, disdain, disappointment and disaffiliation followed their words when they chose to make two unfortunate souls as their puppets for their own satisfaction. It broke him apart to see someone as fiery as Jyotsna bend down, lose her spirit and forget her priorities in order to keep her end of the bargain; that preposterous and farcical bargain which was forced to strike due to her living conditions.

"If that is what you deem to be right, we won't question you, Golu. But do remember that we are extremely sorry for what had happened. We did not want any of this to happen and we would do anything to correct our errors," replied Indumati, stopping Namita from placing her argument in front of Arjun.

"I will forgive you when I stop feeling guilt, biting my conscience away for ruining an innocent girl's life and when Jyotsna can stop taking those handful of pills to keep her sane. Seeing your wish fulfilled by the way of losing both the product of your wish and the means of fulfilling your wish will be your punishment and maybe that will teach you that no one is obliged to anyone to fulfill their wishes," spat Arjun , staging a walkout towards Jyotsna's room before he left for his office, as was his everyday routine.

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Jyotsna's Room,

The sight of Jyotsna staring at the laptop screen with a frown marring her features and frustration marking her face greeted Arjun as he entered her room.

"What happened? Why do appear to be in a bad mood?" he questioned, taking a seat beside her as she pointed towards the screen, making him shift his attention towards the object of Jyotsna's dissatisfaction.

The article titled 'How to ensure the sound health of the unborn?' was opened in a tab along with many others, which Arjun could fathom, closely related to the one opened.  He leaned forward, he took a strong whiff of her perfume which never failed to tantalize his senses, binding his senses in its strong rein in a way he had never known before and lost the track of his surroundings and time.

"Did you read that?" demanded Jyotsna, irritation clearly visible in her tone.

Her tone brought him back to senses while he rolled his eyes internally at himself for forgetting to read the page, but he could not blame himself completely as he seemed to lose his complete control in front of the woman who always managed to stay in control.

"I am sorry but what do you mean?" he asked, moving back to his seat, straightening himself up.

"You are just proving that what I thought was true," she said, glaring at him as he wondered what had caused such a turbulence in her mind.

"Wait, what did you read and what did you think, which I proved right? I don't understand anything," he replied, narrowing his eyes as he pondered over the situation once again. The script of the page was in a font and of a size he could not read unless he placed it close to him, but he wondered if she would let him or if he would be able to even if she gave him a chance.

"It's written that a pregnant woman should stay in a positive atmosphere, filled with good thoughts, people who understand her well and love her. But I am here and.." she paused momentarily, her anger fading into pain, her widely open eyes drawing down and sideways, away from him.

"And what?" he asked, understanding her turmoil and the effect her psychosis was having upon her.

"And no one loves me truly. Except for my mother and she is not here. I really want to meet her. She was so angry yesterday when I informed her that I won't be returning to her next month, how I wish I could," she remarked, placing the laptop on the table in front of them.

Arjun placed his palm over hers which was placed on her knee, making her look at him in the eye. Myriads of emotions floated in their eyes; so many unexpressed, so many unwanted and so many unexpected, yet each of them hitting their soul in the most impactful manner, sure to leave a mark lasting forever.

"You really think so? That only your mother loves you?" he asked, his heartbeats pacing as emotions swirled in Jyotsna's hazel orbs, reminiscent of the Jyotsna, he had known and grown a lot of feelings, both accounted and unaccounted.

"I am living with the family of one Arjun Ranawat who only knows how to make people cower in fear, in addition to which I have got no reasons over the past few months to believe that love exists here. Also, I am living here because of my brother who cared more about the loan than his sister and you are questioning me if I am sure that no one other than my mother loves me? You amuse me, Mr. Ranawat," she derided, the mockery in her tone resembling the sadistic laughter of destiny which tied them together.

How he wished that he could prove her wrong, confess that there was someone other than the maternal figure in her life who grew to care and respect for her, more than they had ever did in their life; that Jyotsna Khanna was the match Arjun Ranawat was waiting for, that she had managed to melt the icy cage around his heart and own it.