Ahana
"Done memorising my face wifey?"
My heartbeat increased as I cautiously lifted my gaze, only to find him already piercing into my eyes with the intensity of a hawk.
"I...I wasn't looking at you," I stumbled, lowering my lashes quickly as if they could shield me from his gaze.
"Jis baat ka darr tha, wahi hua..." I whispered under my breath, thinking he wouldn't hear it but this devil, as always, had his full focus on me.
(The very thing I was afraid of... happened)
"Darr lagta hai, na? Phir bhi nazarien hata nahi paayi...." He said with a smirk.
(You're scared, right? Yet you couldn't look away...)
"M..main... w..woh main chalti hoon!" I blurted out and scrambled to get up more likely jumped in panic, ready to flee from there.
(I... I... I'll go now.)
But just then, he caught my hand and pulled me back in one swift move.
My legs lost their balance and a sudden gasp escaped my lips, and before I could even register what was happening, I fell straight onto him.
My entire body pressed against his, as if colliding with an unyielding stone.
A sudden rush of warmth flooded my cheeks, making them burn fiercely.
I blinked rapidly, struggling to keep my racing heartbeat steady.
Our faces... hovered perilously close.
So close that our breaths intertwined, mingling in the narrow space between us. His hazel eyes bore into mine with a fierce, inscrutable intensity.
"Maine permission diya jaane ka?" he asked in a low and deep whisper.
(Did I give you permission to go?)
His hands moved down until they reached my waist and held it firmly, the moment I felt his touch, my eyes widened. A chill ran down my spine, my skin erupting in goosebumps like my body was reacting on its own.
"A..Aastik...ji... woh... a-apka h..haath... woh..." I stumbled, the words dying in my throat before it could come out. His intense gaze pierced through me, making it impossible to think, let alone speak.
I shut my eyes tightly, trying to control the mess he was making inside me. My breath hitched, and with a slightly raised voice I spoke, "Aastikjiwoaapka-"
But before I could even finish, he cut me off.
"If you're aware Mrs. Malhotra, then you can feel...my hands never touched your bare waist. My hands are over your clothes..." he said calmly but his words hit with weight.
And that's when I realised... yes...
His hands...even his fingers hadn't brushed against my bare skin. Not even for once.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him, his expression was unreadable but his eyes firm, like a silent storm.
"I know my boundaries, Mrs. Malhotra...I married you for revenge. That doesn't mean I would cross such boundaries."
"I... I..." I tried to speak but again, he didn't let me.
"Today there's a party at our house to announce our marriage. I'll send you a script. Memorise it properly. And the makeup artist will arrive after lunch... be ready before that," he stated in his sharp tone leaving no room for argument.
I couldn't utter a single word. I just nodded slowly, looking down in shame.
And the next moment, he left my waist, his hand slipping away like nothing had happened. Tossing me gently to the other side, without another glance, he walked out of the room.
A wave of guilt crashed within my heart. "Ye kya kar diya maine yaar... shit..." I murmured under my breath.
"There he is... a man who took me in just for revenge, yet he maintains every boundary....never once looked at me with lust or anything indecent..." my voice trailed as I stared blankly at the wall.
"And then there was Kabir..." I whispered, my heart sinking a little.
"His eyes... I read them. I saw everything... the way he looked at me, the way he touched me... and like a fool, I ignored it all. Tsk... I don't want to remember him now because the word LOVE had died for me that day.
I clenched my fists, taking a deep breath. After sitting silently for a few minutes, I made up my mind, "I'll say sorry to him... for the way I behaved."
A small, bitter smile curved my lips.
"Though I know he wouldn't even be bothered... but I know how it feels when someone blames you falsely."
Then I went to the washroom, got fresh and took a good, long shower. The warm water helped me relax, washing away the chaos swirling in my mind. Slowly, the heaviness started melting away, and I finally felt a little relaxed and refreshed.
I stepped out, wrapping the towel around me, and moved towards the wardrobe. After a small pause, I chose a lavender coloured kurti with a white plazo which looks so light and comfortable.
I slipped into it slowly, and today I didn't forget to wear sindoor unlike yesterday.
To complete my look, I applied a soft pink nude lipstick which matched my attire completely.
I gave a final glance to myself before the mirror and smiled, satisfied with the look.
I came out of my room, adjusting my dupatta properly, when I was suddenly attacked by a big black teddy teddy wolf. Yes, it's none other than Duggu.
He jumped on me, wagging his tail like crazy, licking my hands nonstop like he hadn't seen me in years.
"Aww mela kuchupuchu..." I cooed, bending down to his level,
"Breakfast ho gaya sona bacha? Aao, main aapko thoda kissi dedu..."
(Have you finished breakfast, sleepyhead? Come, let me give you some kisses....)
I smothered him with so many morning kisses and he....like a spoiled baby he was, gladly took them all with a wagging tail and also licked my face in return, making me giggle like a child.
He suddenly did a little roll dance, just like a golden retriever, spinning once and wagging his tail proudly.
"Aww mera bachaa... Aaj tumko treats degi mumma," I said without realising the words I spoke just now.
(Aww, my baby... today, mamma will give you treats.)
I stood up to move back inside, still smiling, when a voice came from behind-
"Doggesh ki mumma banne ka bohot shauk hai tumhe, hai na?"
(You really love being Doggesh's mom, don't you?)
I stopped in my track and tilted my head with an awkward gaze but to my surprise, he is not glaring at me this time, he is shooting his glaring daggers at Duggu. I looked at Duggu and it seemed like the cute puppy changed, like a transformation or something, he was giving a smirking smile to Mr. Devil.
I blinked a couple of times to make sure I'm seeing it right but then again, he became the cute puppy and looked at me softly like a baby. 'Ya... maybe it was my illusion.'
But Mr. Devil's eyes didn't move from Duggu, like they were in some kind of glare contest or secret fight I wasn't invited to.
I stepped in front of Duggu, covering his body with mine like a shield.
Khud k upar musibat lane ki aadat hai mujhe...
(I have a habit of bringing trouble upon myself...)
Mr. Devil shifted his gaze from Duggu to me and slightly narrowed his eyes. "Mrs. Malhotra, come inside right now," he said in that same strict tone, not even sparing me a second glance as he walked into the room.
I looked at Duggu once, who now looked like an innocent angel wrapped in fur, I patted his head slightly and then I followed Mr. Devil like a small kitty getting dragged into a lion's den.
I entered the room and saw him standing near the window, talking to someone on the call, so I didn't disturb him and quietly sat there. But suddenly, he gestured toward the paper bag on the table.
To confirm again, I mouthed, "SHALL I OPEN THIS?"
He simply nodded and continued talking on the call, while I quickly opened the paper bag and out came a beautiful black saree.
It looked so beautiful. The fabric was soft with a faint shine, and those tiny dotted patterns all over made it look even more elegant, like someone paid extra attention to every little thread. The sleeveless blouse with a sweetheart neck added the perfect touch to it, simple yet bold enough to make the whole look even more stunning. I couldn't take my eyes off it for a second.
I looked at him again, but he was still on the phone, facing the window like some mysterious movie character. I slowly walked over to him and tapped his shoulder gently. But the way he suddenly turned around made me lose my balance and before I could realise, I collided right into him.
He caught me instantly, his arms wrapping around me like it was muscle memory, pulling my body closer to his.
He looked into my eyes and said in a low voice, "I'll call you later Mr. Basak... I'm busy right now," and just like that, he cut the call. But his hands... they weren't in the mood to leave me anytime soon.
"Mujhse durr reh nhi pati ho?" he asked, but I knew the meaning behind those words... too well.
(Can't stay away from me, huh?)
"N..nhi aisi... aisi koi b..baat nhi hai w...wo saree.. wo.." I shut my eyes tightly, frustration bubbling inside me. Why do I always get so nervous when he's this close? My words stumble like a fool, making no sense at all.
(N... no, it's not.... i-it's not like t-that... the saree... that...)
"That's for you," he said, already understanding the mess behind my stuttered words.
"But... I can't take this... it looks so expensive," I tried to argue, even though a part of me already knew he wouldn't listen.
"Yes, it is. It costs 10 lakh rupees" he said so casually, like he was talking about spending a mere hundred rupees.
My eyes widened, and I stared at him, completely dumbfounded. "Are you mad, Aastik ji? Itna mehenga kapda... I... I can't take this at all," I said, quickly standing up from his hold. It was then I realized I was still in the same position, half leaning into him since the moment he caught me from falling.
"You can't?" he asked again, his tone now holding a hint of challenge.
"No, I can't," I replied firmly.
"Sure?"
"Yes, I'm damn sure... it's so expensive, I can't-" I was mid-sentence when he suddenly cut me off.
"Fine."
I blinked at him, surprised. That was... easy? Way too easy. Not that I was complaining. It's good for me....
But the very next second, he did something completely insane.
He took out a lighter from his pocket and while flickering the fire from it, he looked at it, then at me, and said,
"If you don't want to wear it that's fine.... But the thing I bought for you can't be kept in a corner forever nor I'll let any other person touch it... So the best thing would be to BRUN IT."
Then he started walking towards me with slow and steady steps. His eyes didn't leave mine for even a second. As he stood closer to me, in the next moment he snatched the saree from my hands.
He looked at the lighter again and flickered it once more. "Oh shit, he was not kidding. He is really going to do it," I whispered to myself with wide eyes.
The piece of cloth was just an inch away from the flame when I suddenly rushed forward and shouted, "STOP!"
I nearly stumbled while running that fast in such a small space, but I managed to snatch the saree back and clutched it tightly against me.
While catching my breath, I said,
"aap pagal ho gyee hai? 10 lakh ki saree ko aap aag laga Rhee hai?... Mey...mey pehen lungi... Aap jalaiye mat isko..."
(Are you crazy? You're trying to burn a saree worth 10 lakh? I... I'll wear it... please don't burn it...)
"Good!... Bohot jaldi hi mnn gyi," he said with a faint smirk, like he had won something.
(Good! You gave in way too quickly)
He started leaving the room when my hands reached out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him in his tracks.
He turned slowly, first looking down at my hand which was trembling just a little and then up at me.
"Do you want to say something?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and dang he looked so handsome while doing that.
But pushing all those ulta-sidha thoughts away I simply nodded, fixing my eyes on the floor like I'm carving its details on my mind.
"What... You can say," he said, turning back toward me.
But before I could even start he cut me off "Mrs. Malhotra... When you're speaking to me... look at me... not at the ground. When you can meet my eyes and speak to me honestly, then we will talk... until then, this is where we stop," he said and again started to walk away but before he could do so, I again caught his hand in a firm grip.
"Mrs. Malhotra I said-" he started saying something but this time I cut him off and muttered, "SORRY"
He paused and looked at me, and this time I looked straight into his eyes.
My hands were already sweating but now I can't back off.
After looking at me for a few seconds he asked, "sorry for?"
Without breaking the eye contact, I started speaking, "sorry for falsely accusing you.... Sorry for misunderstanding you...sorry...for.. thinking..." I couldn't complete as the unshed tears blurred my eyes, my knees felt weak. "Sorry for thinking that you... That you..." my voice broke, "I'm sorry Aastik ji..." I whispered, and the moment the tears slipped from my eyes, I broke down in front of him.
I cried out loudly and fell on my knees.
The guilt is crushing me, making me hate myself for thinking so cheap of him.
I was crying senselessly, my body shaking with every sob, when I suddenly felt a firm hand on my shoulder.
Slowly, I opened my tear-filled eyes and looked up only to find his eyes already stuck to my face with a blank expression.
For a second, he didn't say anything. Just stared.
Then, without a word, he bent down and picked me up in his arms.
I was floating in the air, he was carrying me like I weighed nothing to him and before I could process it, my trembling hands clutched onto his shoulders for balance, almost out of instinct.
"A..Aastik ji..." I gasped, my voice barely coming out, rough and broken from all the crying.
He carried me to the bed and gently made me sit there. My sobs still didn't stop, tears continued to roll down, and that's when he cupped my face with his rough hands, yet somehow, they felt like the softest touch in the world, like a flower brushing against my skin.
"Don't cry, Mrs. Malhotra... I forgive you... It's okay... shh... don't cry," he said in his gentlest voice.
His words felt like a comforting blanket in a cold winter, but I was already trapped in my dark world - a place where no warmth could reach me.
So I shouted, "NO... IT'S NOT OK!!!"
"I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO BE FALSELY ACCUSED... I KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO HEAR MEAN THINGS WITHOUT ANY FAULT... I KNOW... IT... I... I..." My voice cracked, I was unable to breath, no I can't get attack in front of him, God please NO.
"Mrs. Malhotra, look at me!" his voice rang out, he was shaking my body as if trying to pull me back into reality.
"I know you're feeling guilty, but don't overwhelm yourself with it. I already forgave you... So you don't need to apologise anymore..." he paused for a beat, then added with a straight face, "...or else I'll be mad again."
His words did something inside me, felt like a healing balm, bringing a ray of HOPE in my life, in the form of light which brought me back from the dark world just now.
"Are we okay?" he asked, his eyes fixed on me, his hands still steady on my shoulders.
I nodded slowly.
"Words... Mrs. Malhotra," he growled, his face just inches from mine.
"Y...yes," I murmured, barely above a whisper.
"Then are we done talking?" he asked, but I didn't give him any reply. I just sat there in silence, lowering my eys
He took that as a yes and was about to get up when I gently tugged at his shirt, still looking down.
He paused and looked at me and then without a word, he sat back down beside me, as if he already understood I wasn't done. "I said, look into my eyes, Mrs. Malhotra-"
But before he could complete the sentence, I softly interrupted, "Can you stop?"
He looked at me, a little confused. "Stop what?" he asked.
"Can you stop calling me Mrs. Malhotra..." I said, still playing with the edge of the bedsheet between my fingers, "It feels awkward... like, I don't know, it just feels dull. And not to forget... it makes me scared. Whenever you call me Mrs. Malhotra, I think you're angry. You can call me Ahana... or anything else... but not Mrs. Malhotra."
I expressed, hoping he would understand, and slowly looked up at him. He was already staring at me surprised, almost shocked but quickly masked it with a smirk.
"So, what shall I call you?" he asked, his voice laced with a teasing tone.
"Anything but Mrs. Malhotra," I replied softly.
"Anything?" he confirmed, raising a brow. But idiot me didn't catch the mischief hiding behind that one word. I had no idea I would regret it.
"Yes... anything," I said, unknowingly digging my own grave.
"Fine... then... Aaj sham ki party mein bulaunga... ok?" he asked, still holding back a sly smile.
(Fine... then... I'll call you by that name at tonight's party... okay?)
"Hmm," I nodded, not thinking much of it.
"Alright then... I should go. There's a lot
to manage... and more importantly, I need to decide what to call you. Shaam ko milte hai," he said and walked out of the room.
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So ya... That's it for today roses 🌹 I hope you all liked the chapter... Please leave a cutie sa comment ❣️
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