Was dying worth?

As the realisation hit her like acid, she hastily threw the knife away. She gasped in horror, weakly burying her face in her palms. She couldn't believe she just had suicidal thoughts. It was a coward thing to do and she was not one. Or she never wanted to be mentioned as one.

She slapped herself once, twice, thrice...in an attempt to bring her senses back to normal and to the time she lost the count and fell down, subconsciously. She couldn't die. Not this soon and never like this. Until justice prevailed and her vengeance was accomplished. She has to give a fight to everyone and win. She has to make Sneha suffer for what she did. And it was her promise to herself. The hatred for everyone grew more, knowing it was they who led her here to this situation.

She cried in agony at how easily her devil thoughts surfaced her ration brain. She laid down on the bed exhausted, staring the ceiling blankly. After sometime tears to dried leaving their traces on her cheeks. She started counting sheep in her head, which maybe could induce her sleep. As soon as her eyelids went heavy and she was to stumble into a deep slumber, a knock on her door disturbed.

Knowing who it could be, she closed her eyes, rolling another side not before grabbing the next pillow to her ear to block the sounds.

After waiting for a few minutes, when Vivaan didn't get any response, he closely pushed the door open, after unlocking it with a spare key. And to his dismay found her asleep and unknowingly sighed in relief. He abruptly stopped in inner turmoil that he should enter or return to his room. He dismissed the latter idea.

He looked at her as he approached her, making sure not to let any noise.

Thinking a pillow might disturb her sleep, he tried to remove the pillow off her face. Keyword-tried. Because Radhika had resisted it in her tight grasp.

"I know you are awake. Now get up and have your dinner." He said tapping at her shoulder lightly.

"Radhika has been sound asleep for the last two hours and assuming her baby sleep to get continued for further 5-6 hours. So DND her." She replied in a gloomy voice. He realised the sadness beneath it.

"What matters? Wanna talk?" He suggested, dragging a vanity stool near the bed.

"Nah. I am good." She said trying to sound cheerful.

No doubt she is her sister. As stubborn as her. Vivaan thought as he took a seat.

He sat there for a few minutes but didn't receive any further response. He couldn't force her. Thinking about it, he too didn't anything to make her trust and rely on him. He sighed and retreated back to the door. As he was about to take a step outside her room, an object flew past his eyes in a blink.

"How could you? Here your wife is at distress and you are just going to have sound sleep. I hate you and I hate you the most." He looked at her an unbelievable look as she shouted at him. Her hair was a mess and big red eye somehow gave her a wild look. Buther tear-stained face hurt him deep inside knowing he was somewhere a reason behind. In his madness, an innocent girl was unnecessarily dragged and was still suffering.

"Couldn't even give me your few seconds. That much trash I am! Go..go to that Sneha or some other woman as I stand no place in your life." She complained and turned her gaze away in anger. However, Vivaan wondered what he has done to hear it now. Assuming she was not going to tell the reason behind her distress, he tried to change the topic.

"I heard you got the deal from Rathod. I just came to congratulate you but here you are mourning. Okay, first of all, tell what the matter is. You should be celebrating then how come this foul mood."

"Nothing." She replied monotonously.

"Okay. I guess. I have no work her then." As he turned toward the door, Radhika voiced boomed.

"I find out who has been doing data stealing in the company and got him arrested." Vivaan approached her and sat on the stool which he kept beside the bed.

"That is good. Or else who knows what more loss the company had to bear then. What is wrong then?"

"He is my ex," Radhika replied sadly.

"Oh that Arjun Gupta. He did look weird." Vivaan knew about him as he had done the detailed background check of her college life.

"How do you know?" She asked shockingly. It was clear she never mentioned his name here. And the sudden question startled him. Trying to find an apt excuse because he was sure she would not like to hear it.

"Maya once told." He muttered wishing she never heard it but unfortunately it was loud enough for her to listen.

"But I never discussed it to her." She questioned under doubting gaze but soon halted realising. She continued, "Wait maybe mummy told her" He shrugged but mentally he sighed in relief but it was not lasting as she bombarded another question.

"But I never told mom his name. How do you--" she asked sceptically.

"Uhh, oh actually...It was all over the media." He gave an excuse which could be believed.

"Oh yeah. How can I forget? Silly me." Saying it, she passed him a weak smile.

"But don't worry. This is how terrible and wicked this business world is! You just had a glance. With time you will adapt."He suggested with concern.

"It is not as simple as you make it sound. Argghh... You will never understand."

"Try me." He challenged her.

"The thing is I trusted him. He has always been a supportive man. He had been determined and devoted to his works. I had always assumed him loyal." She gave him a sad look and continued, "How you felt when Sneha left you two days before the wedding?"

"Cheated, devastated and ashamed." He replied without a second thought.

"I too feel the same." In a very indistinct tone, she replied. Vivaan furrowed his brows in question.

"This much importance he has in your life."

"Had" she corrected him.

"Cheated because I trusted him blindly all the time. Devastated knowing how he had been backstabbing me all the time and ashamed because I couldn't see his real face. Everything happened under my nose. I felt guilty, I don't know the way."

"A company is not run with one person. Behind the pillars of glory, employees have a major role. If they decide not to support their master, he will never be able to do everything single-handedly." He continued.

"Yes as a boss you have the duty to control everything going on in the office but you can never peep inside someone's mind. It partially depends on their morals too. I have to say trust is important in the boss-employee relation. But not incidental trust."

"What I can say is here people don't even trust their shadow blindly, and trusting someone else is beyond my deliberation. Most importantly, trust is earned, not comes randomly. So let the guilt out of your system." Radhika gave a slight nod as a student after hearing him.

"You are fine now." He asked.

"No." She replied instantly.

"How can I make you feel better?" He questioned cautiously. Radhika mentally smirked as she leaned her body to the headrest, putting her feet over other and bringing her hands up at the back of her head as support, replied with authority.

"My feet are hurting and my head has severe pain. Give me a good massage. Maybe the pain will get lessened."

"You must be joking." He answered with a sense of protest and rolled his eyes in response unbelievingly because it was not the first time he got to witness her drama. He stood up, retreating back to the door leading to the living room. But he was stopped in his way by her overdramatic yelp.

"Ahh, I think my shoulders are also stiff and my waist. Don't know how they started hurting all of her sudden. I think I have some fever too. Wait what was that. I think I caught a cold. Feels like talking to Gayatri maa will make me some better." Radhika deliberately made him listen to her while picking up her phone.

If Vivaan had now known her better, he definitely would have pitied about how much pain that lady had been bearing.

Alas, people could only see physical pain, not the mental one.

"Okay fine." He gave in and walk forward to her but stopped for a second, asking in a slow sweet voice, "Is it really needed?"

Radhika replied grinningly, "Of course, it was only you who wanted to make me feel better. And massages are best for soothing your body. Come-on doesn't waste time." Vivaan slowly sat beside on the bed and was about to touch her foot but then her voice made him halt.

"Wait."

"I knew, you will never....." Vivaan sighing in relief said knowing very well, she was doing a drama for pulling his leg and will not let him touch her feet.

"Of course. not only me but everyone knows without a lotion or oil a massage is incomplete." She said as Vivaan eyed him in shock but ignoring him, she continued, "Go, grab the moisturizer kept on the vanity table and give a massage with it." He miserably got up and approached the vanity table in extreme slow pace trying to spend all the time in this way. But time seemed to speed up and he already walked halfway to return.

"Oh, I forget if you are going this much labour then don't forget the oil bottle settled aside it. Seems my hair need oiling." He grimaced, however, didn't comment on his opinions.

"And it I who will do it?" He asked one more time, as he sat near her feet, keeping the products besides.

"Can you see someone else in his room or house?" She looked around to see someone around.

"Do one this first massage my feet and then hair." She commanded.

"How?" He asked cluelessly.

"Don't know even thing much." She shocked however composed herself and continued with pride," No worry when I am here."

"Take the lotion and apply a quantum amount on my foot." She started giving instruction while he continued looking bewildered. Never he had thought a day would come like this. But now he knew he couldn't back off his words.

He slowly lifted the bottle of lotion and turned it on her right root which was now settled on his lap. But as the bottle was turned, the content slipped out uncontrollably.

"What did you do? If I have not stopped you you must have applied half of the bottle on my foot." Vivaan mugged at the excess content which was now dipping to his track pant.

Radhika unaffected by everything, started giving further pedagogy as a true guide, mentally enjoying the scene getting unfolded.

"Leave that. And with slight pressure move your palm on the circular direction and remember till the time moisturizer is fully absorbed by the skin."

"How will I know?" He asked confusingly. For once she doubted was he this innocent or he tried to be one. But one thing was clear, she will make him learn a lesson. She passed him a fake smile.

"Arey, how will you know until you start it? Come on." She encouraged him. Vivaan doubtedly looked at her and slowly started rubbing the lotion against her skin.

"I said to apply pressure. What are you doing? I seem you are such touching." She complained and his forehead furrowed and annoyingly said, "It is not working."

"You can't back off Bharadwaj because people will say you don't value your words."

"Yeah, whatever. As I matter of fact I didn't say I am quitting."

"Good. It is better now? He asked as he applied more pressure on her toe.

"Hmm, now it is good." While he was engrossed massaging her feet, she got busy checking her mobile, though he didn't mind it until he heard a continuous beep and followed by a flashlight directed towards him and when he saw her, he found a mischievous smile on her face.

"What are you doing?" He asked under suspicion. Radhika not taking her eyes away from the screen, replied proudly, "Just got approval from your mother too."

"You can't send this pic to her." He said in horror-filled voice.

"Oops, I already did it. Haha, look at your face." She smirked at his horrified face.

"Wait I should send it to Priya too." She asked but got an instant reply in negative.

"Don't you want your sister to have a good laugh?" She asked him, suppressing her laughter while he gave her fake anger glare and said in fury.

"You can't. She will show it to Maya and you too know if she knows anything then she can not control until she wide telecast it to everyone in the family. Everyone will know." He put forward his point but she found his excuse childish.

"It is good na, people will know what a good husband you are!!", She indirectly taunted him and he was no fool to understand however he didn't comment as it was not a lie though.

"Don't worry I am not sending. But seems like your mother forwarded it to her. I just received her texts. LoL. The work is done." She said grinning. Now Vivaan's whole concentration was turned towards her mobile, trying to peep in to view the comment.

"How are you doing? Apply slightly more pressure." She shouted with authority.

"Now fine?" He asked coldly and he applied more pressure, turning his concentration on his work.

"I feel you should start your massage business. You give a good massage and luckily you have coquetry as parlour wali didi. I can see your bright career here."

"Thanks for your career counselling. I will keep in mind." He annoyingly said and got up saying, "It is done."

"This soon? I feel cheated." She pouted.

"By the way, it was the worst massage I ever got. I was just trying to motivate you to do better but alas you were no good and my all labour went in vain." She teased him which added more salt to his green wounds. He turned to leave the room with his hurt pride but Radhika had some other plans.

"Where you think you are going. Hair massage is still left." She reminded him.

"Will you shut up? My ear will start to bleed anytime now." He scowled.

"You should have thought before saying. Now complete your work."

-----------------------------

Radhika yawned and lazily woke up the next morning. Seemed a perfect day. The sun was bright and the birds were chirping outside. Indeed she slept like a baby and now she did felt light. She wished it to be a better day for her, clearly unaware it was just the silence before the storm.

She leisurely looked at the clock only to get a shock of her life that she was late. Again. But this time difference was she was extremely late with three hours of oversleeping. She felt she had started breaking her own records. She clearly remembered setting an alarm, why did it not ring or was she too sleepy to hear, remained still a mystery for her. Norah too must have called her many times since morning. She groaned and hurriedly looked around for her phone. Where did she keep it last night? She was already too late so decided to first get ready and search it afterwards. She quickly jumped off the bed and rushed to the closet. Grabbing the first dress in her reach, she ran to the bathroom for a quick shower.

After getting ready, surprisingly in quick 15 minutes, she marched towards the living room, thinking of grabbing some food before starting her day.

But halted in her way when she found Vivaan lazily lying on the sofa and watching the football match on television minutely. Maybe in a more detailed way than the referee.

What was he doing here? Radhika frowned observing the time. 11 O'clock. Seemed like he decided it to be a holiday. She shrugged and ignoring him, rushed towards the kitchen to grab something to eat. Her hustle in the kitchen grabbed his attention.

"Where are you going?" He asked observing her ready.

"What a brilliant question to ask? Where will I go in this morning? Of course, without any second doubt- office." She taunted him in extra sugar-coated voice and continued," Some people decided to take a day off, but I didn't, as a matter of fact." She turned to the other shelf bringing out a glass and started pouring orange juice. Seemed she didn't even have proper time to sit and have her meal.

"Well, you too are included in that some people category for today." He smirked at her while she raised her brows in question. What did he mean?

"Oh, my poor memory but still I don't remember deciding to take a holiday."

"It is not decided by you but for me. You need it. I already informed in your office." He said casually as he turned his attention back to the ongoing match.

"I don't need any leave. I am perfectly fine. I am going." She firmly said.

"Go." He replied without turning his gaze off the screen.

"Really?" She asked for confirmation.

"Really."

"I can sense insurrection." She muttered under breath but decided she should go to the office as soon as possible before he changes his plan.

"Ahh, I think my shoulders are also stiff and my waist." He hissed dramatically bringing his hand to his midriff and she stilled at her place. He smirked at her, continuing, "Don't know how they started hurting all of the sudden. I think I have some fever too." He very painfully put his other hand on his forehead. "Wait what was that?" He falsely coughed and sniffed while all the time Radhika rasped at his acting. He was mocking her about last night. She grimaced. "I think I caught a cold. Feels like talking to maa will make me some better."

"Got your point." She marched towards the other side of the sofa and settled with a bee-stung face. She didn't like the fact he had been threatening her and most importantly using her trick.

"See only you don't know acting." He said teasingly.

"Mine is always genuine but yours, huh and I must say even KRK's acting seemed good to me in front of your overacting." She couldn't help but retaliate.

"You are just jealous." Radhika just rolled her eyes in response. He stretched his body for leisure.

"Go grab a popcorn. Since we are free, we can watch a movie." He commanded.

"You go," Radhika replied in a distinct voice.

"I don't know how to cook popcorn." He put forward his crisis.

"There is a readymade popcorn packet inside. Follow the instruction written behind it." And she buried her all attention in her mobile, which she found kept on the table.

"What if something go wrong?" At this question, she looked at him with emotion not easy to be depicted.

"You know na how to lit the stove." She said with caution and for caution. A thick cloud of tension surrounded her. He nodded. And it was then she sighed in relief.

"Hush!! Then it is okay. Go now. Why are you looking at my face??!!" And it was then, he rushed to the kitchen.

After a fierce discussion over the selection of movie for over half an hour, they reached a peaceful conclusion and watched Jumanji.

Not to mention, the popcorn which Vivaan popped seemed to be a bit burned. Which he ignored saying tastes matter. Oh no, it was not much severe but it turned more severe when he considering himself MasterChef added almost all the masalas present in the kitchen. If it was not much he added all types of sauces present and still not getting satisfied he added cheese for- What you all call in chefs language - Yeah, for the final touch. Unfortunately, it turned into a futile attempt to show off his non-existable cooking skills. It was obvious no one munched more than a few popcorns, passing each other fake grin, and turning the gaze back to the movie. In the end, the fate led experimental popcorns into the dustbin because it was not eatable at all.

Their day went well if you ignore their silly fights at a few instances. However, our couple didn't mind it. It seemed they got used