Chapter 193 - I'll leave if I'm not welcomed here

|Innaya|

"Don't let Mom find anything suspicious."

I was pulled back to the present with Eshan's warning. I hastily nodded and retreated to the bathroom. The news was too sudden, and I did not know how to react. Standing in my dazed state before his eyes, was not at all a good option.

Inside the bathroom, I took some time to calm myself down. I did not have much impression of Eshan's mother. At the time of our marriage, everything had happened too quickly. I did not get any chance to know his family members.

I did not know how the upcoming days were going to turn out. If I had Eshan supporting me, I would not be so worried. Though Eshan would not abandon me, things were not the same anymore as they were in the past. Time and again, I was hurting him because of my insecurities, past, and matters which I could not share with him.

It was a wonder that he had not gotten frustrated with me and left me at my maternal place. I could see his patience was wearing off.

Removing my clothes, I walked to the shower cubicle. I turned on the shower as I stood under the water. My thoughts ran in all the direction that I started feeling a little hazy with my mind being so clouded. I closed my eyes tightly and focussed on the water. I had initially not realized, but the water was cold. I had forgotten about adjusting the temperature.

My teeth started chattering as the water was colder than normal. Abruptly I stepped out of the reach of the shower. For a while, I watched the water droplets falling freely as if they were feeling liberated. As if they knew it was the only moment they could have their existence before getting mixed again.

How could I envy them? They were fighting for even a moment of freedom, while I failed to gather my fighting spirit against the evil forces trying to drive the wedge between Eshan and me.

Shaking my head full of wet hair with water dripping from my locks that stuck to my body, I once again stepped under the shower. This time knowing well that I would surely fall sick if I continued the madness. I did not know what came over me but listening to Eshan and Ayesha's conversation, their playful and lively interaction in the living room something was breaking within me.

I could not describe the feeling. It was sickening. As if thousands of worm were crawling on my body, making me feel disgusting.

***

"Don't get too involved with him. You are not worthy of him."

"Sooner or later, you'll have to leave him. You don't deserve him."

"Start packing your bags and leave him."

***

"Achoo!"

"Achoo! Achoo!"

A couple of times I sneezed continuously. That had me turn off the shower, and those voices also died down. I shivered when the coldness was being more apparent. I sneezed more. Wiping myself dry with the help of a towel, quickly putting on the clothes, wrapping my wet hair in the towel, I arrived before the mirror.

I looked slightly better than before. With no more dried tears and a pale face, I did not look that lost. My nose had turned red. I knew I would soon catch a cold if I stayed like that.

I never liked to blow dry my hair. Hence, I left the bathroom intending to sit in the balcony for a while. I would dry my hair in natural sunlight.

The bandage on my finger was to be applied again. Being soaked in the water, the skin around it had sagged. I needed to clean it as well with disinfectant.

Eshan was arranging his clothes in the wardrobe. I wondered what was taking him so long. There weren't many clothes. He had not shifted his entire wardrobe.

He did not even turn when he heard the sound. His eyes did not avert. He kept continuing his work as if there was no one in the room but him only.

My feet stayed rooted in watching his side profile. In the past when I had slightest of cut, he had made so much fuss. He had taken me to the doctor for that tetanus shot even after my refusal.

This time... How many things changed with time!

There was again a knocking sound at the door. I glanced at Eshan. It was no secret. It had to be Ayesha because Fortune would not knock on the door.

Why could she not stay still and remain in her room? Why she had to keep coming back even after being told off?

While I was lost in cursing her, Eshan had shoved the entire suitcase in the lower cabinet and was walking toward the door.

He opened the door with a slight smile on his face. I freed my hair from the towel and adjusted them on my left shoulder patting them dry with the towel. I also accompanied Eshan. I wanted to know what was she here for.

Coming to stand beside Eshan, I gave her a slight smile, stretching my lips unwillingly.

"Shan—"

Her enthusiastic greeting died down once she spotted me. I could see she was expecting me to be still in the bed so that she could have some alone time with my husband. I enjoyed seeing her falling expressions which she recovered sooner than expected. She would make a great actress.

"Hey, Innaya. Sorry to disturb you." She smiled, looking at me for a fleeting moment before her eyes darted back at Eshan and to the inside of our bedroom.

"No problem." I faked a smile as well. My insides were screaming to tell her that she was the problem. I kept my thoughts and emotions in check before I shuffled closer to Eshan. "Do you need anything?" I inquired as to if I did not know about their early encounter outside of this very closed door.

I wondered what emergency was there that she could not even stay still for around an hour in her room. Was she that desperate?

She ignored my words as she stared at Eshan. Tears gathered in her eyes as if they were ready at her beck and call. Her lower lip jutted out as if she would start crying out the next moment. And, she actually did.

"Hey, didn't you say, you have some work? Are you lying to me? Am I disturbing you guys? I'll leave if I'm not welcomed here," she said in a crying tone as she looked at Eshan with those watery eyes.

Damn. She was too good. Was she being serious? She surely did not look like she was that sensitive.

"Hey, Ayu. Don't cry." Eshan helplessly shook his head as he looked in my direction for the help.

I sighed internally. I felt a little bad for the girl standing before my eyes. She might not be faking it. I needed to observe her for a bit before judging her. She might not be that bad. It could be only her broken heart, and she would get over soon.

I stepped forward and patted her shoulder. "It's nothing like that Ayesha. I was not feeling well... Achoo."

I turned around, and sneezed covering my face with the towel.

"Achoo... Achoo..." My sneezing continued. I moved away keeping my distance from them.

Once my sneezing stopped. I looked a little apologetically at both of them. "See, I have caught a cold. That's why I couldn't keep you company." I found a perfect opportunity to make an excuse for my lack of hospitality toward her.