Chapter - 13: Family Issues

                                    

                                          
Aradhna's House, Mumbai:

Aradhna felt like a child being forced to confess to her mistake when she genuinely didn't want to accept it. But Neil looked too determined to not let it go. Aradhna was right on her end because she found it very difficult to accept her mistake when it came to her family. She won't be able to take Neil siding with them even if it was her fault. So, she just didn't want to discuss it altogether. 

Her family hurt her a lot in the past but when they were doing their best to make it up to her, she wasn't giving them that chance heartfully. Her hurt wasn't letting her to let them in. She was finding all of that too good to be true and was constantly testing their patience to see the extent to which they can go to get her to forgive their earlier infractions. 

They have really put in a lot of efforts to rectify their mistake and she knows that. They weren't hurting her on purpose, she knew that as well. She was just not ok with acknowledging that change. She wanted to see how accepting they will be to her choice.

Aradhna kind of knew that they might not have any issue with it if she approached them and told them straight up. That wouldn't be trouble at all. That's the reason she wants them to find out unceremoniously and then react accordingly. That reaction will help her understand if they really want to make it up to her or they just want their complete family for the sake of it. 

She couldn't obviously say this to Neil now. Can she?

Knowing him, he wouldn't agree to be a part of something like this that can end up hurting the family. It is a red line for Neil. There is also a huge possibility of him not letting her go through with it as well. That was the reason she has been pushing it and it was all a matter of 3 days, and she would get her clarity. 

But Neil was hell bent on putting an end to this whole thing. He was not even going to buy her narrative of her family not being caring enough for her because he personally saw them care for Aradhna at multiple occasions. 

Who was she even kidding? Aradhna won't lie to Neil about anything anyways. She wasn't stupid to jeopardize her love life for such an issue. So, she was genuinely stuck and didn't know how to get away from it. Neil's towering frame and his pointed eyes weren't helping her either."

Aisa kyun lag raha hain mujhe Aru ki tum jaan poochke nahi bata rahi ho mujhe? It's not about finding the right time or finding it difficult to open up. Is it?" Neil enquired with a serious face and got silence in return. 

"Don't tell me ki koi stupid si zid hain tumhari jo tum mujhse share nahi karna chahti ho. Believe me when I say it, itne nakhron ke baad agar wajah aisi kuch nikli na, you will have it from me." Neil threatened her with consequences. 

This was another first for her. Neil never took that tone with her before and even if she gave him a chance to do that. But somewhere, she felt really nice about the whole thing irrespective of her being on the receiving end. It was indeed a noel experience for her. 

Aradhna had come to see the Birlas dynamics for a while now and she slowly got a hang of it too. There were times when she wished it was the same case with her family, but everybody is wired differently. That will be too unfair to them as well.