51

REHAN'S POV

“Why the fuck you both called me here?" I asked entering Vishal's house and all I got in reply was their laughter.

Great. Just great!

“Have a seat." Max patted the couch and pushed Vishal aside.

“Why?" I yelled in irritation.

Vishal grabbed my wrist and pulled me on the couch. I have an urge to run away from them but I can't as my sweet wife had given me strict warning to share some time with these two because they are my best friends, her word not mine. If I was given a choice, I would have been in the arms of Mayra with Dhruv by my side rather than wasting my time.

“Here. Drink and calm down." Max put forward the alcohol bottle but I shook my head, leaning more into the couch.

“I had quit drinking." I took a deep breath and soon found two pair of eyes turned straight at me.

“Seriously?" Vishal asked in shock and all I did was to give a slight nod.

“Come, on. You can drink for today." Max again pushed the bottle towards me.

“Now today when we three are together, let's celebrate like old time." Vishal exclaimed and they both raised the glasses in their hand.

I swallowed the dry lump down my throat when my eyes flickered on the liquor. I can make an exception for today, can't I? My mouth ran dry to just have a little taste but I know that little taste will end up in greater cravings. My palms went sweaty and I took the bottle from Max. Suddenly everything stilled for a minute, as if I was alone in the room.

"Only for today?" I asked myself and licked my lips in hesitation. From the corner of eyes, I found both Max and Vishal on their game that who will finish the drink first. Shall I also try? Just for one last time? I will never touch it again, just today?

But before I could follow my thoughts into action, Mayra's face flashed in the back of my head. My body became more tensed and whole surrounding turned warmer. The sweat over my forehead dripped down and my fingers started trembling against the bottle. No. I couldn't break her trust. I promised her that I will never touch drugs and alcohol. Is this the way I am going to keep my promise by every time breaking it for my selfishness? With a smile I put the bottle back on the table and sighed a breath of relief. I know I am not best for her but I will try for her.

“That Mayra has done something to my Rehan. He has changed. No, I want my best friend back." Vishal shouted in a dramatic tone.

She has changed me but for the better.

“Hey Rehan, how's my little champ doing?" I smiled at Max's question about Dhruv and gave him an assuring smile.

“Huh? Am I missing something, here?"

I shared a worried glance with Max.

Vishal don't know a thing about Zara. He met Dhruv but had no idea that who Dhruv is.

“Uh..Vishal, I-I have a child." As soon as those words escaped my lips, a straight punch landed on my face, knocking the air out of my lungs.

Vishal grabbed my shirt's collar, dragging me to the wall.

"You bastard! How dare you to fuck someone behind Mayra's back? She fucking love a monster like you and all you did was pregnant another woman? Don't you care about her feelings? It was all my fault to make her marry the fucking asshole like you. You're sick and today I feel ashamed to even call you as my friend. She tried her best to make you happy and you’re having an extra martial affair?" He spat and pushed me more into the wall.

“Vishal, leave him. Are you out of your mind? First let him complete his sentence." Max removed Vishal's hold from my collar and pushed him aside.

“It’s not what you're thinking. Let me explain it to you." And then he told everything to Vishal about Zara.

I stood frozen at my place and Vishal's word started spinning in my mind, over and over again.

“I-I am sorry Rehan. I didn’t… I mean-" I cut him in the middle with a nod.

“It’s okay." I blurted out.

“Just okay? Are you sure you're not going to send me to the hospital's bed for throwing a punch at you?"

“Do you really think that Mayra is in love with a monster?" I asked, absentmindedly, staring at blank space.

“Rehan, do you love her?" I froze at Max's question.

My heart constricted when her confession flashed. She told me she loves me. Still my mind couldn't believe that. I feel like I was hallucinating.

“I don't know." I whispered.

“At least you're not denying." Vishal spoke from behind.

“Look Rehan, I agree that you never had feelings for Zara but even a blind could tell that you feel something for your wife. I know it's hard for you to believe in one stroke that you love her or something like that but you need to short out your feelings and put a name to them. Mayra deserves this, right?"

After hearing Max, I felt nothing but helpless. I didn't have anything else to feel. I can't even blame my past any longer for not loving Mayra. For Dhruv and her, I am trying to keep myself free from guilt, only for them I am trying but then why I am not sure about my feelings for her?

I don't hate myself anymore because I don't want Mayra to love the person who hates himself. She made it clear to me that I will never be able to love Dhruv if I will keep on hating myself. But she was wrong to think that I have to move on from my past just for my child. I am not only trying for Dhruv, I am also trying for her. They both are my heartbeat.

“If you have to choose between Dhruv and Mayra, whom would you choose?" Max raised his eyebrows and gulp down the alcohol down his throat.

Dhruv or Mayra? They both are the reason for me to live.

"If Dhruv is my heart than Mayra is my breath. And you are asking me to choose between them?"

“Whoa! Look at our Rehan. He has grown up so much. Aw, my baby is no longer immature. I love Mayra for knocking some senses at him." And here Vishal was back to his 'Drama Queen attitude.'

I rolled my eyes and sat again on the couch, rubbing my jaw.

“You- It hurts like a bitch." I complained and Vishal laughed his ass off.

“Seriously Vishal, from where did you found Mayra? If it wasn't her then we might not be together."

I smiled at Max.

“Rehan go with your heart, I am sure you'll be able to name what actually you feel for her."

“Okay."

“Do you still feel uncomfortable if I will be near her?" I laughed at Max for asking such a stupid thing.

I don't care if Mayra befriends with anyone. It's her life.

“No, I don't have any problem."

“You know right that she has brought the best in you, Rehan? You no longer are possessive for her. If you think that you don't love her yet then my dear friend you need to think twice." Tara spoke, walking through the door but before I was able to interpret her words, I saw Vishal jumping from the couch in excitement as he ran to her and kissed her like no tomorrow.

I immediately shifted my eyes from them in disgust and found Max in the same situation. We shared a look with each other and burst out laughing. We always used to do this whenever we witnessed Vishal and Tara's little hormonal episode.

Now everything feels okay. I've got my friends back, I have my child with me, I am taking a step away from my past and I have a wife who loves me more than everything.

After Zara's death, I had lost our friendship but now it's back.

“Stop laughing, I felt same when you kissed Mayra." Vishal scoffed and kissed her again. I smiled and rubbed the back of my neck.

“Fuck! You smiled as if kissing is a big thing. Man she's your wife, you've got every right to do so. But why I have a feeling that you didn't have sex yet?"

I pressed my lips together and ignored Max.

“I don't want to share my personal life in front of you all." I stated simply with a smug.

“Since when?" Tara countered and sat on the Vishal's lap.

“Yeah. Last time I checked you and Max gave all the juicy details to me in High school." Vishal pointed and dipped his head into the crook of Tara's neck.

My eyes went wide and mouth hung open. What if they will tell, all this to Mayra? She will hate me for this. No. I don't want her love for me, to fade. Seriously Rehan? You think that she'll ever feel different? She's the one to love you even after discovering all of your dark scars.

“Please don't talk to Mayra about the things I did in past. I don't want her to disguise me."

“Chill. We will not." Vishal assured but soon Tara laughed.

“You’re totally whipped, man."

“I agree."

“Yep."

“Me too."

Great to know that these shame on human species are my friend.

***

“Mayra." I called her name as loud as I can when I entered my house.

“Baby look your husband is back from hell." I added in singsong voice.

“Mayra if you don't come in front of me in few seconds then I promise I will kiss-" I paused.

Her parents? Way to go with my first impression on my in laws. Well technically it isn't first but still. I cleared my throat to hide my embarrassment and saw Mayra blushing. Fucking turn on.

“I am sorry sir. I should have shown respect to you when we first met but I didn't. It was an unpleasant situation. But I promise to make your daughter happy no matter what." I apologized.

" Son, I've heard wrong things about 'The Rehan Malhotra' through media and I will not lie that I had my doubts about you but after watching the happiness of my daughter, I am glad that she has a husband like you. So will you give me the honour of calling you as family?" Her mother came forward and kissed my forehead, affectionately.

My heart skipped a beat and somewhere in her, I saw the shadow of that motherly love which I always wanted. I nodded and second next, she pulled me into her arms.

“Young man, I witnessed the pain in your eyes when you'd lost that project. I know the project meant something to you. So please don't feel like I am passing that to you for hurting your ego because you're going to accept it, no matter what." I nodded and smiled at her father and took a step to hug him.

I know that she wasn't the one to marry me for her selfish reason. I am thankful that I lost that project otherwise I would have never been able to understand that how much it hurts to have our trust broken. It was my misunderstanding and I thought that she used those seven days for the project but now I know in my heart that she couldn't. She's the purest soul, I've ever met. I know I should have given her chance to explain when I found about her parents but what's done was done. I couldn't go in past to rectify my mistake but learning from that that, I will always trust her. Mayra was right to say that everything happens for a reason.

I don't have any idea that how they found my Mayra as their daughter and why she was in orphanage. Whatever the reason might be but it will never be able to mend all those pain which she felt missing her parents in her childhood. She spent her eighteen years in the orphanage. I felt the pain she had gone through when I first asked about her family.

Her parents will never understand the pain she'd gone through. A child needs love from their family instead of all the comforts. And somewhere both me and Mayra know this and I am sure that Dhruv will never have to go through this; the pain of living without parent's love.

“Rehan, what are you thinking?" She patted my shoulder and I couldn't miss the worry in her eyes.

“About you." I smiled and wrapped my arms around her shoulder. She gestured towards her parents but I just shrugged.

She shook her head and passed a sweet smile making me wonder again that why can't I love her?