Chapter 16: Listen to your Heart

Avika and Samar went downstairs. Avika's birthday celebrations started. Avika completed cutting the cake and fed Samar and their family. Samar went onto the stage.

"Hello, everyone. Thank you for accepting our invitation and coming here to make this day a great day. Now, the cake cutting was over. I am going to reveal the gift that I am going to give to my lovely wife Avika on this day. I invite Avika to come onto stage," Samar said.

Avika smiled and went onto the stage.

"Here is the surprise. As you all know that I have started a new wing of the company in the field of cosmetics, the MD of my new firm is Avika. I feel proud to announce her as the MD because I know she is talented and good at handling business. I request you all to wish her good luck."

Saying this, he handed over the documents to Avika. Avika didn't understand how to react.

"I didn't expect this. How can I fulfill my wish of starting a new company and establishing myself? Samar announced in front of everyone that I am the MD of his new firm. How can I refuse now? If I didn't accept his offer, he may be angry with me. It's better to be calm and accept his offer. Because after all he is the one who gave me this new life. I can't hurt him. If he is not there, I have no life. So, I must think only about him and his happiness rather than my dreams. If he is happy, definitely I will be happy.

I love you, Samar. Nothing is more important than you to me. I will take over our new firm and will make it successful as the Managing Director."

Avika smiled and made the decision. The music played and the youngsters started dancing. Samar held her hand, and they too danced for some time. Then, Avika went to check whether her in-laws had dinner or not. She gave the medicines to them and then, they went to their room.

Avika couldn't see Samar when she returned to the party. She became busy in seeing dinner arrangements for the guests. After some time, Avika saw Samar at the bar counter. He drank the wine with his friends, who were successful young entrepreneurs like him. Until then, she didn't know that Samar will drink. She never saw him drunk anytime. She felt uneasy but somehow managed to complete the party. Party ended.

Samar was drunk. Avika fed him and made him sleep in the bedroom. She took much care as she doesn't want Samar's parents to know about Samar's drinking habit. Avika got hurt knowing Samar's new habit of drinking.

Sleep went away from her. Samar announcing her as the MD of the new wing and his new habit of taking wine disturbed her a lot. Her mind became unstable and she doesn't know when she slept, thinking the consequences of all the happenings of the day.

In the morning, Avika woke up and saw Samar sitting on the bed, holding his head. Avika didn't talk to him and Samar understood that Avika was hurt because of him. He thought of convincing her that drinking occasionally is not wrong, but Avika didn't give him a chance.

"Buttermilk," Avika said.

"Take this buttermilk. It will cure your hangover," Avika said stressing the word hangover. Samar had it calmly. Avika was about to leave taking the glass from him and Samar held her hand.

"Avika," Samar said.

Avika looked at him.

"I am sorry for..." Samar said.

"For?" Avika said.

"For taking alcohol. But it's the first time. However, I am not addicted to it. There is nothing wrong in taking the wine occasionally."

Avika gave a smile which shows her disappointment.

"Every addiction starts with just for fun or occasionally. Slowly, it becomes a regular habit. And then the addiction. Samar, if our economic status is stable and we are in a good position, there's no need to get addicted to unnecessary habits to show it off.

Show it off by helping the poor and needy. Do something for those who are helpless. I am not asking you to quit the drinking. Because I am sure that you know well what is wrong and what is right. You should decide it."

"Avika, listen to me once."

"Get ready or you will be late to the office. I will prepare breakfast."

Avika went off leaving Samar to his thoughts.

"Avika is not listening to me. I know that still she is angry with me. Shit, I never drink but unfortunately because of friends' force, I had it. May be saying that friends' force is just an excuse. Because no one can force us to do anything until we wish to do so somewhere in our mind," Samar thought and got ready to the office.

Samar came downstairs. His mom called him for breakfast. But saying he has some important work, he left without having food. Avika went out to call him. He listened but ignored her and started his car.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I just want Samar not to addict to any bad habits. I behaved a bit harshly without giving scope to talk, because if I do like that, I am sure he would never drink again.

But I think he got angry with me. He left without having his food. Not even responding to my calls and messages. Should I apologize to him? But what's my mistake? Anyways sometimes compromise is better than prolonging fights and judging right and wrong. I will apologize to him," Avika thought, looking at their wedding photo.

"I don't know how to convince Avika. At least she should listen to me. But she is not giving me a chance to speak. She called me as I didn't have breakfast. But I am sure her anger didn't go off. I felt uneasy to stay there when she is behaving differently with me," Samar thought, looking at Avika's photo on his desk in the office.

Samar went late to the home. Avika opened the door. Everyone except Avika slept.

"Please fresh up and come. I will serve dinner," Avika said.

"I have finished off my dinner outside," Samar said and tried to leave to the room.

"But I didn't have my dinner," Avika said. Samar went to her.

"Why didn't you have dinner?"

"Not only dinner. I didn't have anything from the morning. Because I know you too didn't have anything from the morning," Avika said.

"Who told that to you? I had my breakfast, lunch, and dinner too. I am not a kid to show anger at food," Samar said.

"Yes, I know," Avika said.

"What? Stop this non sense," Samar said and held her hand. He took her to the dining table. He served the food to her.

"Sit on the chair," Samar said.

Both sat on the chairs.

"Open your mouth," Samar said.

"I can eat," Avika said.

"Yes, I know that."

Samar fed her and thought to go from three, but Avika stopped him.

"You too please have your dinner."

Samar gave in to Avika as it's true that he too didn't have anything from the morning. Avika served the food and fed him.

Avika went to the room after completing the work. Samar waited for her. As soon as I went, he pulled Avika towards him. Avika fell on him and they both fell on the bed. Avika's lips touched his lips. Avika closed eyes blushing and Samar enjoyed it. He slowly moved his forefinger on the forehead to lips. Then Samar kissed me.

"I am sorry, Avika. I promise you that I will never take wine again. You are right. I shouldn't addict to bad habits to show off our status. Thank you for showing me the right path. I love you."

Avika smiled and opened my eyes.

"I love you so much, Samar. Moon may have a stain. But my Samar should never have even a small stain on his character. I want you to be that perfect. No one should find any fault with you.

Everyone should take you as their inspiration. You are unique and I want you to be unique forever. Many forces would try to ruin our character and principles. But we should restrain ourselves from them. Only then we will have unique character and identity in the society."

"I know you loves me but never imagined that you love me this much. Thank you so much. True friends never force us into bad habits. It's time to change my circle of friends."

Avika nodded feeling happy as Samar understood her intention.

"Avika, from tomorrow you are going to chair our new firm as the MD. I am really so happy. I am sure you will make it successful and very soon your parents will feel proud of you, accepting you as their daughter. Tell me are you happy with my proposal?"

"Yes, Samar. I am very happy."

Samar found something wrong with her. He noticed that her smile vanished when he talked about becoming the MD of their new firm.

"Are you really happy?"

"Yes. Why are you asking like that? I am really so happy," Avika said.

"Avika, Until now whatever I did, it is to make you happy. But if any of my decisions make you unhappy, it will be my failure as a husband. So let's be frank. Tell me, what's the problem? Are you scared of handling a new firm? Don't you want to take over the company?"

"Nothing like that. I am happy. You never do anything that hurts me. Whatever decision you make for me, it will do definitely good for me."

Samar looked at her seriously.

"Samar, please. Don't look like that."

"Good night, Avika. But remember I can understand what's in your heart through your eyes. And I hate you hiding your feelings, worries or anything else from me. Until now I respected your feelings and never forced you to do anything against your wish. I want you to be free to do anything you wish without any fears. Even now, I won't force you to take over the new firm if you don't want to."

Avika hugged Samar with tears.

"Samar, I am sorry. I thought you would get angry with me if I refuse your decision. That's why I didn't say anything.

I want to start a new company and establish myself. If I become the MD to our new firm, as our company has a good name in public, easily it will be successful. But I want to become successful by myself."

Samar smiled listening to her.

"Okay, Avika. Do what your heart says. Remember I am always with you. If you want any help, just inform me."

"But you have announced me as the MD in front of everyone. Now if I don't agree, what would they think? I can't insult you. I shared my dream with you because I can't hide anything from you and I know you too don't like it."

"Avika, you are not insulting me. If you develop in your career by yourself, I will be proud of you. Don't think much about others. Because I don't bother whatever others think. Only your feelings and opinions are important for me. I can't hurt you for public or my so-called friends. Their words don't matter to me. So do what your heart says. Don't leave your dreams for someone who doesn't matter to us. First let's talk with mom and dad. I hope they will agree easily because they love you so much."

"Thank you so much, Samar."

"I am so lucky for having him in my life. He understands me well than my parents. He is the best husband in the whole world. His love, care, understanding, support, sweetness everything is making me to fall in love with him many times. It's the best feeling to fall in love with my husband many times. People say that love fades after marriage. But in my case, love increased after the marriage. He didn't change after the marriage and I am sure he would never change."

Avika hugged Samar thinking how lucky she is!