Page 75 of Forbidden

“Are you still in touch with Mohit?”

I slow down the speed, give him a cold assessing glance, and turn back on the road.

“Why do you ask?”

“Curiosity.”

“Don’t you have spies to tell you that?”

“I have stopped paying people to spy on my wife?”

I swallow. Thank God he stopped. It kind of pricked me to know someone was keeping a watch on my life. I am about to change the gear when Aarav places his hand above mine, over the gear stick, stroking my wrist and then his fingers touch the bracelet he had made me wear. The one which I still couldn’t figure out how to take off.

“This doesn’t track you anymore,” he mumbles.

What? This bracelet has a GPS? That’s how he always tracked my locations so far? No wonder he knew where I was going and whom I met. Damn Hell!! All the time in India I wore this bracelet hating the fact that he was the one who gifted me, and now when I was slowly getting attached to it, he tells me he used it to track my location and spy on me? Wow!!

“I am not tracking you anymore, Jaan.”

He rubs my wrist as if reading my anguish and tries to soothe me down. I park the vehicle at the side of the road and before he can even act, I get down. Obviously, my action has stunned him, so he follows me out.

“Jhanvi, what happened?”

I walk to the pathway of the bridge, which has a small stream of river flowing below. Crossing my arms, taking in the fresh cold air, I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to find the right words to start with this. I’m aware Aarav is staring at me with confusion and guilt, but he deserves that.

“Don’t you ever put a device on me again,” I warn, turning to him.

“I won’t,” he promises.

There’s sincerity in his voice and expressions this time, so I give him the benefit of doubt.

Now that he gave me the truth, he deserves one from me too. The one he is yearning to know.

“I’m not in touch with either of them.”

My confrontation baffles him as I continue.

“I saw Mohit with his Ex when you and I had been to Mussourie. I don’t know if they were just together for that one night or had been dating at my back, but I didn’t care either. That incident was enough for me to realize Mohit had his own agenda to marry me and that was nowhere connected to his feelings. When I admitted this to Daadi, she wanted me to repeat the same mistake which Mohit’s mother did with yours - to ignore Mohit’s present relationship and give him a chance. I couldn’t!! I just--”

I can’t explain this further. Aarav turns me to him and the worse this feels good than sulking alone. I don’t regret that Mohit is no longer in my life, even as a friend. Sometimes you cut off ties with people for good and I felt the same ever since I was away from the other Raichands with no contact.

“Did you love him?”

Ah!! The famous question every man wants to know about his partner’s past.

“Mohit was someone whom I could talk to and share anything with at any time. I don’t think that defines love. What I had with Mohit was never more than friendship. So, you were jealous for no reason, Aarav Raichand. I supported his wrong actions against you because I always felt an obligation towards him and Daadi for everything they gave me so far. I still respect them and will always be thankful that they stood with me like a family when I was orphaned, but I can’t support their wrongdoings anymore. You know what I mean?”

I suddenly felt light sharing this with Aarav. Strange, I am even telling him all this, but it was needed. I just want to come clean in Aarav’s eyes for some damn reason which I am not willing to analyze yet.

Aarav’s grip on my shoulders tightens as he pulls me even closer than before.

“Is there anyone else you can fall in love with?”

The heat on my cheeks is back. Whenever he teases me, I feel that heat throughout my body. I give him a gentle push when his mouth curves in a devastating grin.

“Even if I do, I am not sharing his name with you,” I reply. “I don’t want that poor man beaten up black and blue because I love him. Now stop annoying me with your questions and get back in the car unless you are happy to find another ride for yourself.”

That warning is enough for Aarav to follow me back in the car and though there’s silence again between us, he keeps throwing glances at me and even if I don’t respond to those, my body feels different. Something is changing between us and I feel that already.

---