The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 45

Nishant just couldn’t believe that Aparna had said yes. He looked into her tear-laden eyes and understood what she was feeling right now.

“Mrs. Naik, life will soon become really tough,” he said smiling as he kissed her forehead lovingly.

“It can’t be more difficult than staying without you.”

As he heard her, the idea of seeing her as his wife overpowered him and he kissed her with all the love in his heart.

Determined, he got dressed and then was out of his apartment in a flash. On the way, he told Dhruv everything. Even though he could see that his childhood friend did not like his decision but still he did not say anything.

****************

Nishant got down in front of Naik Builder’s office and looked at the building feeling a little nostalgic. His memories took him back to the days when he was designing it. Sighing, he strode inside followed by Siraj and Dhruv.

Even though there was not much staff at this early hour but he still felt stares coming his way as he neared the lift. The moment he stepped out in front of his cabin, he saw Madhu waiting, wringing her hands in tension. She came near anxiously as she saw him approaching.

Taking her hands in his, Nishant smiled and then said, “Don’t worry. Trust me everything is going to be okay.”

“How’s Aparna?” Madhu asked in a concerned tone.

“She is ok. She is at my apartment. Madhu, I need you to be with her right now.”

Madhu nodded and took his apartment keys from him, and started to walk towards the lift. Just as she was about to enter the lift, she turned and called out to him.

“Thank you.”

Nishant smiled and entered his cabin. His smile vanished the moment he saw his father and brother talking to Amaan bhaiya animatedly. All of them turned the moment they saw him.

“I have prepared a press statement. This should do the trick,” Amaan bhaiya said, pushing a print out in front of him as he sat down.

Nishant didn’t need to read it to know what was written.

“Let me know when the press are here,” he said opening his laptop.

15 minutes later, Siraj buzzed him to inform that the media was waiting for him.

As he got up, he said in a grave tone, “I need to be alone for a minute.”

The moment everybody left, he picked up his phone and called Aparna.

“Hello,” she said sounding a little anxious.

“I am going for the press meet,” he replied, his voice shaking with effort.

“I’ll be watching you. And, don’t worry. Everything is going to be okay. I trust you and I am with you.”

As her words filtered inside her, he felt his resolve hardening more than ever.

Ending the call, he strode out of his office and then suddenly looked back as the door slowly closed behind him. His gaze fell on his name tag on the door.

Nishant Naik (MD – Naik Builders)

He smiled as he realised how small this all seemed compared to Aparna. Briskly he started to walk towards the conference room, his eyes and face sharp with determination.

****************

Aparna sat down on the sofa and looked at the television. The moment Nishant entered the conference room; cameras went crazy with flashes zapping him from all angles. She clutched Madhu’s hand nervously, who placed an arm around her trying to feel her friend’s warmth to reassure herself.

She saw him sit down on the chair next to Amaan Gupta, who raised his hand to stop the cameras from clicking.

*******************

Nishant flicked his gaze on the camera in front of him knowing well enough that Aparna was watching him. Feeling her gaze on him, he closed his eyes once and then opened them breathing hard.

This is for you, sweetheart.

 “Hi everybody! All of you know why we are here so, let’s get straight to the point. In the last 24 hours, my face has been plastered on all channels across the country with a woman. Both our personal lives have been dragged in the most inappropriate manner.”

Taking a deep breath, he looked around the room and saw everyone waiting with bated breath for him to continue.

“The woman is none other than Aparna Mathur, our head of architecture. But, right now I am not here to disclose her identification. Neither am I here to offer an explanation or clarify the details shown.”

He looked at his father, who was standing near the door of the conference room along with his brother.

“There are people in Naik Builders who need to know that my relation with Aparna is entirely my personal matter. And, I am not answerable to anyone for what I do in my free time.”

Nishant saw his father looking at him with anger. The more his face hardened the more Nishant felt at ease.

“For people asking who Aparna is, I just have one answer. Aparna Mathur is my would-be wife.”

For a minute the room fell silent and then it erupted with reporters throwing random questions at Nishant.

But he was in no mood to answer anyone. He flicked his eyes at Siraj, who instantly came in between him and the reporters.

Striding past his gaping father and brother, he came inside the cabin and stood next to his table.

The battle is over but the war is yet to begin.

“Nishant, what was all this?” he heard his father say from behind.

Closing his eyes, he breathed hard to control the hostility inside.

“You have ruined the Naik name for a woman like her? How could you? And what is all this about marriage?”

Finally Nishant lost it completely. Till now he had kept his anger under wraps but his father’s words just broke every boundary.

“Her name is Aparna. And yes, I am getting married to her whether you like it not.”

Naresk Naik looked at his son, who stared back at him with defiance.

“If you marry her then you will be out of Naik Builders,” he said smiling inwardly as he knew that the company meant a lot to Nishant.

How predictable, Dad!

“The letter,” Nishant said extending his hand towards Dhruv.

The moment Dhruv gave him a piece of paper, he signed it and handed it over to his father.

“That’s my resignation letter. I hope you will manage Naik Builders well without me, Dad.”

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