Future Ex Fiancée

CHAPTER 1 - THE HEARTBREAKER

Asmi~

The person you are trying to reach is not attending any calls at the moment.

Sighing, I decided not to call Virat. I shouldn't call him anyway. He said he was really busy in his team meet and practice. And I should call him only when it's really important.

This evening is our engagement. It's important? Maybe not so much.

I groaned loudly, earning the attention of my colleagues working aside my cubicle.

And that's the reason I want a separate cabin. So the goal is . . . promotion.

I pressed my lips and smiled politely just to hide my stupid outburst and continued with my work. But somehow my eyes drifted towards my phone every now and then, checking its screen for some notification from him. I was expecting too much.

It's not like we were in a love bubble. This arrangement was purely for our parents. For their happiness. And now my mind was on whirlwind in this process of overthinking. I sighed, took a few deep breaths and got back to work. Once the clock struck five I got up, leaving the office premises after gathering all my stuff.

It has been a week since we talked to each other properly. Virat was aware of this as well. Last time it was him who had planned a movie date and now it seems like we won't be going. We are both so busy in our work that we didn't get any time for bonding.

A smile crept onto my lips when I thought of bonding. We have been friends for quite a while now. And this marriage was going to change everything.

It was me who was feeling a little insecure these days. Virat's silence and ignorance made me that way. But I had to keep quiet, he was the newly appointed captain of the Indian Cricket Team, he had responsibilities. I understood that. Tonight my patience was leaving me, it was the night of our engagement for god's sake.

∆∆∆

"I missed you so much sukhu!" I hugged my best friend tightly when I picked her up at the airport.

"Missed you too, asmi." She kissed my cheek and we giggled. She has been living in Mumbai since last year with her husband.

"Everything alright?" I nodded to her with a small smile.

And who was I kidding here? She knew something wasn't fine.

Screech sounds erupted when I hit the breaks too hard, reaching in front of my house. I entered the place and showed Sukhu her room, letting her settle in. I threw away my bag and keys and laid on my bed. Soon my parents came and the commotion started.

By the evening, I was ready in a lehenga with a black blouse. Getting ready properly brought a sense of excitement and my sour mood was gone.

"Now you look beautiful," Sukhada commented from behind. A smile never left my lips. "Tell me how it feels to marry your crush, miss Asmi?"

I laughed at her question and smacked her arm. Soon she hugged me from the side, "I'm happy for you, asmi. Don't let your insecurities and fears get in between your relationship with virat, hmm?" I patted her arm which was holding me in a soft embrace and nodded.

Once we came down there, I found my mother pacing around the grand room with the help of Chetna bhabi, who came to my house to help mumma. She was arranging all the stuff we needed for the engagement rituals. I stopped her and did the work along with Sukhu and Bhabi.

"Your dad cannot come, baby, some important work has come up. He might just miss his flight." I nodded to my mother. My dad was in Malaysia for his office work. Somehow, in my heart, I had a feeling he just might miss the important day of my life. He was a busy man.

My mom left early for Kohli's with Chetna Bhabi, and here Sukhu and I left in my car.

"How's married life, Sukhu?" I asked, setting up the GPS. I still wasn't familiar with Delhi roads since I came back from Pune.

"It's amazing. Jeet is so sweet and caring. I thought it would be different after marriage. You know he won't be the same Jeet I met in college. But he didn't change, I love him so much." A smile spread across my lips. I was happy for my best friend.

∆∆∆

Before I could turn down the engine, Sukhada ran inside Virat's house. I sighed and checked my phone first. And there were no notifications. Zero messages from last one week from virat. A sickening feeling seeped inside of me, making me take a few deep breaths and get out of the car, taking all the gift boxes in my arms.

A huff burst off my lips when the main door was closed. Both of my hands were occupied with the boxes. I could not reach up to the door bell.

Well damn! And to top up my misery, I could not bend down to put the boxes on the floor as the boxes were a heavy hit. Then through the glass I saw Virat talking to my mother with a broad smile dancing on his lips. Oh my, my breath halted looking at him. He looked so handsome in that off-white-collared shirt and black pants. He had also put on a grey jacket to complete his look. Composing myself. I tried to call him out but no one could hear through the closed door.

I wanted to bang my head somewhere.

Maybe I should just bang my head on this door and they would notice. I was actually considering the option when I saw Virat bent down when mom hugged him and then he looked up and saw me. His eyes narrowed and he looked at me confusingly. Of course, half of my face was covered because of the damn box. I lowered down my hands a little and his eyes widened. He let my mom go inside and he walked towards me and opened the door with one pull.

The warm homely air hit my skin as soon as the door opened and I sighed. I was almost freezing outside for god's sake. But my breath came to a halt when Virat's hand touched mine in an attempt to take the boxes from my hands. What was that?

"Woah! That's heavy." He exclaimed, passing me an awkward smile. I did the same.

Since when it got awkward between us? I thought. Murmuring a yeah I entered his home when I spotted Saroj's mom talking to Chetna who was Virat's elder brother's wife.

.

"Asmi." I stopped at Virat's voice and turned to face him. "Can you just wait a little with me?" He asked, his usual confident smiling voice was low, uncertain.

Nevertheless, I agreed and stayed back. Hiding my rising anxiety, I smiled at him. He did that, but it wasn't the one which twitches his eyes and brightens his face. It was out of obligation, a mere reciprocation.

My heart sank a little more.

"Well, um actually I've been meaning to talk to you. Asmi I can't —" his words were interrupted when Saroj mom showed up with Vikas, Virat's brother.

"Let's go. It's time to exchange rings. You have the chance to spend quality time with each other all life long. Come on now." Virat laughed along with his brother and here I blushed a little and a light feeling seeped in me. Vikas went away with his little comment and here I found Virat holding my hand leading towards the grand room. Suddenly I felt hot. My whole body seemed way too warm. My face reddened.

"I really want to talk to Asmi." Virat caught my attention once again. I looked over and found beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Looking at his, a little panicked face, my hand reached out and touched his forehead, "Hey—" then again it was Sukhu this time to interrupt us.

"Lovebirds. Save the PDA for later. Not in front of your parents." She whistled, later passing by. Virat hushed and rubbed his face. He murmured something non-coherent, looking away.

What was happening? I had no idea.

"Give me a minute ma, I'll be back." He told his mother, giving me a short glance. Soon he was away, leaving me standing there awkwardly.

After a few minutes, he was back. No one felt a long time, but for me those were the most agonizing. I didn't know why everything was getting weird. I was sitting patiently on the couch while everyone was busy with their work. I felt Virat sitting beside me, his usual Cologne filled my nose, making me deeply sigh.

"This is getting so real." I murmured as the reality kind of hit upon me. I was getting engaged, to be married.

"Yeah, it's nerve-racking." He sighed loudly and threw his head back resting it. I smiled a little when my eyes followed his very movement. His eyes closed and then, when everything got a little quiet, I found his head leaning against my shoulder. My own breathing halted at the gesture and I leaned my own head against his and closed my eyes.

∆∆∆

"Aww. So cute!" I heard whisperings. I had no idea when we dozed off. Opening my eyes, I saw Sukhu with Aarav smiling at us. At lightening speed, I straightened myself but forgot about Virat. He stumbled clumsily and his face landed on my lap, although he recovered quickly, murmuring a little sorry.

This was an arranged marriage, so awkwardness was supposed to be there and it was. Very prominent, especially when it comes to me as I was against this from the start. Virat was the one who convinced me about this arrangement. I gave in for my parents, for him too.

"Let's get the ceremony started!" Vikas Bhai cheered and everyone gathered, almost crowding us.

When Virat took my hand and slid the beautiful ring in my fingers, I shivered. But then my hands shook when I had to slid his on his finger, the unexpected genuine smile on. Virat's face made it easier for me.

By now I was engaged to him. It felt sureal.

The dinner went smoothly and soon I found myself catching up with Sukhu.

"Asmita?" It was Virat who came over. He had never called me Asmita before, I was just Asmi to him. I blinked at that thought and gave him my attention.

"Let's go to the garden, I need to talk to you." There was a small frown above his left brow and his hand offered me to hold. I nodded obediently and took hold of him. Although he seemed quite impatient, he took large steps walking head of me, almost dragging me with him.

As obedient as I was trying to be at the moment, my shoes weren't really understanding. "Virat, slow down please, my heels —" suddenly his steps halted at the small bench in his backyard garden.

"I've been really meaning to talk to you." I gestured to him to go on. The chilling air brought goosebumps to my skin, but I doubted the atmosphere was the one giving me those chills, it was definitely virat's suspense.

"Say na." I nudged him, passing him a small smile which I never got back. Now virat was making me nervous. His shoulders slumped down and his hand reached for mine. For a brief moment he held it. Another chilling breeze passed by when his touch left me.

"Asmi, we can't . . . Um . . . I mean, I c-can't marry you." And my world stopped. I felt numb for a long time. I couldn't believe what he just said.

Soon, Virat said things, or should I say, yelled things which shook the ground beneath me. This wasn't the same Virat whom I befriended a few months back at my colleague's wedding. He definitely wasn't the cute crush I had for the last several years. And he definitely wasn't the soft-spoken, well-mannered Virat whom I had known all this time.

The virat in front of me was cold, angry and a pure jerk. He broke my heart into a billion pieces by saying that he loves someone else, his ex to be specific. I tried to reason, I tried to fight but, apparently, according to him, I've put some kind of spell on his mother to make this wedding happen.

All this time, our relationship was private. No one knew besides our family and closest friends. And I was thankful to him. He wasn't any other man, he was the heartthrob of this country. The cricket phenomenon. Virat Prem Kohli. People look after him, following him. They tried to find out everything about his life. And here, I was a small mole in his life almost hidden. And by now he was hellbent on erasing it as well.

Then I said those words I've never said to anyone, not even a stranger or enemy.

"I hate you virat." I gripped my wrist and let my heart out. I wanted to cry, sob even, but I tried my best not to. Virat's friendship changed my perception towards men. Now? At that point, he changed it back again. They only know how to crush someone's heart.

Virat's lips pursed as he looked at me squarely. Before he threw some more wrath at me, I moved away, walking back into the house. My splitting heart dropped the hell out of my stomach when I heard him yell back.

"I hate you too." They are all the same.

Virat, you are no special, you broke my heart all over again.

∆∆∆

With tear-stained cheeks, I rushed inside the washroom playing peek a boo with all the guests. I wanted to scream and throw something. My heart was breaking, I could literally feel it. I had started to like virat, I was ready to accept him as a life partner. But now, I felt out of place. I didn't belong here. I felt pathetic for believing him.

"Asmi?" I shook in startle when Sukhu called me. Soon, I washed my face and came out just come across her downing face. "Where were you? I need to leave, my flight is in another couple of hours." I tried to comprehend her words and nodded then. But she chose to leave with my mom so she could grab her belongings from the place sooner. I agreed and let her go quickly, but not before hugging my best friend goodbye. Tears threatened to spill but I held them in, not letting her know my broken state. I hate to show my vulnerabilities.

I came out of the room and Saroj chatted with me for a while. Frankly speaking, I was in no state to comprehend anything, my head hurt so badly.

"Beta are you not feeling well hmm?" She asked worriedly and touched my forehead with the back of her hand. A weak smile broke off my lips.

"Um. My head hurts mom." She instantly smiled at the fact I called her mom , she was asking me to call her that from a while and tonight it just slipped off. I smiled back. She handed me a medicine with some water and asked me to lay down.

"No mom, I should leave. Mumma will be worried." She nodded and did something I didn't expect her to do.

She called out Virat.

And the obedient child he is, he came running inside the bedroom.

"What mom?" He didn't spare me a glance, neither I expect him to. Saroj mom gestured him to sit beside her. And he did.

"After sometime, I dropped Asmi at her home. She isn't feeling well." f**k! That was another bomb she dropped, my hands went clammy and goosebumps formed on my hand.

"No mom. It's okay, I can manage." I tried to persuade her and it was useless when she shook her head.

But then a voice spoke.

"Okay, I'll take her home now."