Chapter 2 Part 1

Aarti...(past)

"Gudiya?wake up..it's almost nine beta" someone nudged her and Aarti woke up from her beauty sleep, rubbing her eyes "kya naanu!it's only nine!"she whined, stifling a loud yawn.

"Were you up again last night watching Netflix?"his tone sounded disapproving. She placed her arm around him "I didn't..I was browsing..ecommerce"she lied swiftly.

He wrinkled his nose "I don't believe you". She giggled and got up from bed and hugged him "what's so special today anyway?" She knew already and her friends had already wished her at midnight but she pretended to feign ignorance.

"You know what day it is" his eyes twinkled as he pinched her cheeks "happy birthday my lovely"he kissed her forehead.

She glowed "thank you naanu" she stared "where's my gift? And it better not be a watch..I already have like a dozen". He shrugged "I know..and I'm sorry I forgot". Although her smile faltered, she didn't give an inclination "it's okay..I don't mind..it's cool" she walked into the bathroom to freshen up, feeling a little dejected.

When she came out after a while, he was still in her room "your uncles called to wish you..Suresh said you didn't pick the call..I told him you were asleep".

"It's okay, I'll call them later..and anyway, it's not like they love me or something" she rolled her eyes. He didn't like that "they're your mother's brothers..you should respect them".

Aarti ignored him; she knew very well her uncles and their wives showered her with love, only when her grandfather was around. But in reality, the fact that she owned 30 percent of the stocks in her grandpa's company didn't sit well with them. And she didn't bother to tell this to him, knowing he wouldn't like it.

"Come down to breakfast..Zehra has made your favourite shakshouka" he winked. Her eyes brightened "wow!really? Hope it's authentic".

He laughed "it is" he looked around the wall "and please remove that poster..I'm pissed with that tattooed guy..". She made a dreamy face "that's Zayn naanu! He's like the best singer in the whole world!". He snorted "really?I thought it was Michael Jackson". She scowled "yeah...him too" she walked with him downstairs.

"Whatever..you're not a kid anymore..you're twenty one" his tone suddenly became serious "it's time we talk about business" he explained as they sat down across the dining table.

Zehra, their household help who had been with them since Aarti's childhood beamed at her "happy birthday beta" she said sweetly and Aarti smiled "thank you Zehra"she saw her plate and her eyes widened "this sure looks yummy"she dug into the small pieces.

"Don't change the topic" her grandpa stated "it's time you learned some responsibility..". She shrugged "I'm just enjoying my life..age is just a number okay?"

He pursed his lips "at your age, I came to this huge city of Dubai, with only hundred rupees in hand and..."

She cut him off "please naanu, not a word about your success stories..I might get migraines". Zehra laughed from behind them. He gave a hard stare in her direction and she stopped smirking "I'm sorry"she added hastily.

He patted her arm "I'm worried for you beta.." he sighed "you don't understand". She looked at him with affection "I do..but I'm not that small kid anymore naanu..I'll be fine, don't worry about me".

He gave a thin smile and stretched his hand out to her with palm closed. She stared at his hand in puzzlement "what is it?"she slowly opened his palm to see a key and not just any key..

"Oh my gosh!"she yelled hugging him "is it what I think it is?" He shrugged "it's a mini Cooper..and I thought".

His words were dissolved by her screams as she hugged him tight "oh my God! Thank you so much..of course I love it!"

He laughed "and I have one more surprise as well" his eyes twinkled with excitement. She couldn't contain her enthusiasm as well "what can be better than the car?"

He smiled wide and got up as he called their driver Subhash "meet me at our usual place..at seven..I've something to tell you". Her eyes brightened "okay..but can I show off my car to my friends?please please..." she pleaded and he nodded "okay..but don't forget the appointment..at sharp seven".

When Aarti was back home, it was already five and Zehra was folding her clothes in her bedroom "hey, how was the party?"

Aarti beamed, collapsing on the bed "it was great! We went to desert safari..and then we went to this seafood restaurant for lunch..it was Sakshi's treat.." she smiled, referring to her best friend who had settled in Dubai since childhood, like her.

"That's wonderful" Zehra gave a wide smile "but don't you have an appointment with your grandfather?" she swiftly reminded her and Aarti checked her phone "gosh!I totally forgot!"she groaned "has he told you what is it about?"

Zehra smirked "you'll find out soon enough". Aarti stared "what's going on?" The older woman shrugged "I'm as clueless as you..now go change into something beautiful". After a long time had passed, Aarti was ready and took her car keys.

She reached their usual place, the Tim Horton's cafe at where they usually met mainly because his head office was located in there, in Sheikh Zayed road.

She entered the cafe and walked to the counter "hey Janet" she wished the barista who beamed at her "yo Aarti, looking gorgeous".

Aarti smiled "choco latte please and espresso when grandpa comes... today's my birthday actually" she added. Janet winked "then it's on the house".

Aarti beamed and sat back on the corner waiting...ten minutes passed but there was no sign of him.. she dialled his number "naanu..looks like you've forgotten".

"Sorry gudiya..stuck in traffic" he said "I'll be back soon". She hung up and started chatting with her friends online when a deep voice called her name "Aarti is it?"

She gave a start and turned to have her heart nearly miss a beat. No, this isn't real..no man can be this handsome...it's illegal to be this good.

She had learnt about such protagonists in the mills and boon novels that she had read during her teen years but nothing did justice to him. He was tall, broad shouldered and dressed to..kill..

"Aarti?"he asked again and she cleared her throat as no words came out "ye..yeah..it's me..but.." she couldn't complete the sentence...was he stalking her? Who was this man?

"Huh..?"he blinked too "I take it from your expression that your grandpa didn't tell you anything..about me" he smiled and she swooned, something she had never done before.

"Oh..um..no..he didn't..I mean...I don't" she was speaking gibberish and he had a grin "I'm sorry.." he sat across her "I'm Viraj Singhania..."

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I shouldn't have chosen him! I shouldn't have! He's a con, or worse a serial killer or a hitman.

These were Aarti's thoughts as she made her way towards her apartment. She bit her nails one again as nervousness gripped her. I'm bringing a stranger into my house.. what the actual hell?

"Madam, we reached" the uber driver turned to her "my fare?" She came out of her reverie and got out of the car after giving him the money.

Where the hell was he?she checked her watch. Had he gone to get his goon friends? Oh my God! she gasped, sweating a little. What if they found her address and...

"I'm talking to you" the drawl interrupted her and she blinked to see him fixing his eyes with hers "are you deaf?"

She cleared her throat and pretended to be confident "yeah..I mean no" she gritted her teeth "don't follow me, I'll get the check here"she said suddenly.

"Seriously?"he glared "do I look like a beggar?" She scoffed "I don't beg to differ but that's how I roll". He didn't laugh "I don't want to look like a fool here...so you better let me in" it didn't sound like a request to her.

"See..I don't know who the hell you are...but I really need you to listen to me..I can't let you in" she said firmly. He nodded "okay...since I too don't know who the hell you are I'm going straight to the registration office"he walked in the opposite direction.

"Wait!"she screamed following him and struggling to keep up with his fast pace "why are you going there?" He zipped his jacket "to annul our marriage".

She clenched her fists "why would you do that?" He smirked and it wasn't very pleasant, atleast to her "I'm your husband dammit...I'm having cold feet suddenly..."

"Will you stop your nonsense?"she yelled "I'm a private person..I don't like to personalise with anyone..we established in the beginning when we met that this would be strictly professional!"

He didn't faze "and this is how you deal with a professional?"she noticed the disdain in his voice and let out a sigh knowing she had him but more importantly she needed him whatever his intentions were.

"Fine..come with me" she said and noticed his eyes get a little brighter with malice "good we established this too". She fought the urge to punch him in the face as they reached the elevator.

Silence followed them as they reached her apartment which was on the tenth floor "this is where you stay?"he looked impressed.

She smiled without emotion "no..I come to plan serial murders here". He smiled, an actual smile; corners of his mouth twisted and he looked.. bearable, she thought.

She unlocked the key and walked in ignoring his presence but he walked in anyway. She didn't find the check on the table "what the actual f##k?"

He looked unperturbed "I should have known". She locked a dirty stare at him "it's in my wardrobe..do you want to follow me there too?"she snapped.

"Not yet" was his subtle reply and she walked towards her room and opened her wardrobe and there it was...her first draft.

Sighing in relief, she took it and came to the living room. He was seated on one of the cushion chairs and was looking around.

She handed him the check and he took it, keeping it on the inside of his jacket "don't you want to check?"she asked, curious.

He shrugged his shoulders "not that I trust you..I really don't have time"he got up "and one more thing I want to be clear with...the original certificate stays with me".

She thought she heard it wrong "the hell it will!"she snapped "it stays with me". His eyes had darkened again "I don't want you to chicken out last minute".

He was testing her patience "I won't, dammit!"she seethed "I need this as much as you..can't we just agree on something at least?" He nodded calmly "we did agree earlier on the fact that you're a pathetic bitch"he said coolly.

She didn't move a muscle "listen Pradeep..you're really taking it too far". A muscle in his jaw twitched "it's Prithvi..".

"Whatever..believe me when I say this..I won't cheat you..trust me" she was too tired to argue with him further "we need each other..right?"

He seemed to be thinking "alright" he said finally making his way towards the door.

She watched him go and settled herself on the couch. What had she gotten herself into?

Breathe Aarti, her mind was trying to calm her but her heart was something else...it was impossible to forget whatever had happened...or what had followed after.

She didn't want to cry anymore...as if all the tears had been dried up and only wretchedness remained.

She stared at the glass which was kept on the table and suddenly crashed it while it shattered to many pieces.. like her heart.

Soon, she was crashing anything and everything that she could lay hands on, her mind in a complete haze as all the things lay broken on the floor.

She almost crashed the large China vase when she found herself eye to eye with last person she expected to see her like this.

"Er...sorry..I forgot my keys" Prithvi gazed at her. "Take your damn keys and get out!"she yelled.

He took the keys he had kept on the table and looked at her "are you okay?"he asked.

She avoided his eye "I said get out!" He winced "do you have..dettol or something like that?"he asked. She raised an eyebrow, wondering at this question "why?" He lifted his ankle "it's bleeding".

Damn you Aarti! She pushed her hair back "shit!"she swore "it's bad?" He nodded "don't know..your aim was pretty good so.."

In spite of herself, she laughed "you know I didn't mean to hit you..even though the urge was strong".

He approached her "I was supposed to reach the office at this time"he winced slightly and she realized what he had asked "I have burnol spray..is it okay?"

He sat on the table "it burns like a bitch but it can do". She walked to her room while he waited and was back with a container and handed it to him.

"This is all on you...don't blame me" she mumbled as he sprayed slowly on his feet but letting out a small yelp of pain "what?afraid of a small cut?"she sneered. He didn't mind the sarcasm "I've had worse...believe me..".

For the first time since they had met, and it wasn't the normal circumstance, she was curious about him. Who was he really?what was his story? What did he want so much money for?

"I guess this should stop the bleeding" he said and she asked "does it hurt?"

He shook his head "it's fine"he looked at her "are you okay?"he asked again.

Her expression turned cold again "it's none of your business...and I want to make something clear..I won't ask you anything if you keep your mouth shut as well".

He pocketed his keys "that's a deal" he reached towards the door and turned to her "next time, try screaming...it helps a lot" he was gone.

Aarti came back to bed and tried to close her eyes...she couldn't remember the last time she had sound sleep without any inkling about what the future was going to hold.

Her phone rang and she saw it was Seema, the only friend she had here in India. "Aarti?how are you?" Seema asked "it's been long..I'm sorry I couldn't meet you, I'd gone to my inlaws".

"That's okay.." Aarti smiled "I'm fine..I'm glad you called, it means a lot". There was a pause "So..how's Prithvi?" Seema asked.

Aarti wondered what to tell her "I don't know..he's a little weird". Seema laughed "that's because you don't know him like I do..he's a great guy Aarti..and trust me when I say this".

Aarti didn't want to say otherwise especially when Seema had helped her a lot "did Sakshi call you?"she asked instead.

"Yeah..she misses you a lot..you know Aarti..whatever happened? She wouldn't tell me anything either" Seema asked. "Please Seema..don't ask me anything right now..I'm not in a position to say..I'll tell you once the right time comes" Aarti explained.

"I believe you..just be careful okay?" Seema said "and call me if you need anything".

Aarti hung up wondering if the right time would ever come for her, like her grandfather had said.