Aasha's Pov
"So?" she asked me with a silly grin on her face.
"What?" i asked her.
"Don't act like an innocent. You know what i am asking" she said, slapping me on my arms.
"Ouch. Nehaaa. It hurts" i said rubbing my arms. She looked at me with her intense gaze.
"Look. It was raining heavily last night. Its not safe to drive car in the heavy rain. So i had to stay at Mr. Malhotra's penthouse, okay? Don't use your brain too much" i said. But when i said this i can't help but remember about what happened during the dinner. How he made me sit on his lap, how he fed me food.
"Then why your face is flushed?" she asked me with a smirk.
"Nothing" saying this i left for the room to take a shower. When i came out of the bathroom, i saw Neha picking her car keys and her bag.
"Hey Aasha! Its time for me to leave for work. I heard from your boss that you two are visiting the Orphanage. Say hello to our little friends and our Father. And enjoy your day with your boss. Bye" saying this she from the house before i could say anything.
I shook my head then dried my hair with the hair dryer. I looked at the time. Its 8.30 only. I didn't have anything to do much. So i planned to read some books. But suddenly i heard my phone rang. I looked at the phone screen. Its an unknown number. I attended the call and said "Hello".
"I must say your voice is so sexy. I can't wait to hear you scream my name on my bed" i heard someone's husky voice. I felt disgusting hearing his creepy words.
"Who is this? What you want?" i asked him with my raised tone.
"All i want is you. Only you. And that day is not so far" he said. I immediately cut the call. My heart thumping loudly inside my chest. I never received like this type of calls before. I blocked the number next second. I felt relaxed after blocking the number. I also switched off my phone.
I tried to read some books. But my mind kept wandering to that creepy phone call. Who was in that phone call? The more i think about that call the more i felt scared and upset. I got startled when i heard someone ringing the door bell. I went to the living room to open the door. But i felt really panicked to open the door. What if the person ringing the door bell is the man who talked on the phone call? The thought made my whole body shivered. I brought some courage in me and went near the peephole. When i saw Mr. Malhotra's face i sighed in relief and opened the door without wasting any second.
"Hey Aashu! What took you so long? You're phone is also switched off" he asked me in his worried tone.
"Wait! What happened to you? Why are you sweating? You look so pale" he asked me, touching my forehead. I felt secured when i felt his warm hand touching my forehead. Then he cupped my face and looked into my eyes.
"Why are you shivering, Aashu?" he asked me with a frown. I shook my head and smiled at him. I wanted to answer him 'no nothing' 'i am fine'. But my throat went dry because of my fear. He suddenly hugged me and patted my head gently. Then only i realised my whole body is shivering badly. He hugged me tightly. I too hugged him back tightly. A few minutes later i pulled him out the hug.
"Nothing i am fine" i said smiling at him.
"Tell me what happened?" he asked me sternly.
"Nothing. I was just reading a crime novel. So when you rang the door bell i got startled" i smoothly lied to him. I didn't want him to know about that creepy phone call. It must someone's prank call.
"Why your phone is switched off?" he asked me.
"May be because of Low Battery" i said with a shrugg.
"Last night i am the one who put your phone on charge" he said with his stern gaze.
"I… I watched some dramas. Thats why" i said looking here and there. He sighed at me.
"Okay lets go?" he asked me this time softly. I nodded at him. I went to the room to pick my bag. Then i saw my phone on the bed. I picked my phone and switched it on and kept it in my bag.
I locked the house and left with Mr. Mahotra in his car. He opened the door for me. I sat inside after muttering a small 'thankyou' to him. He started the car.
Dev Malhotra's Pov
Once we reached the Orphanage the orphanage father greeted us warmly. Aashu introduced me to the father and other children. We both gave them all chocolates, colouring books, toys and snacks. Now she is playing with the children leaving me alone. I am now in the garden, sitting on the bench.
"You like her, don't you?" the father asked sitting beside me. I smiled at him and nodded my head in 'yes'. He smiled at me brightly and looked at the direction where Aashu is playing with the children.
"I know Aasha for five years. When i first saw her, she was lying unconscious on the road in a pool of blood. I rescued her and admitted her in a hospital" he said with a sigh. When i heard his words, my heart raced loudly.
"Then what happened to her?" i asked him impatiently.
"She lost so much blood and her head was severely injured. The doctors said that they need AB+ blood group to do her operation as she already lost so much blood. Mine also same blood group. So i gave her my blood. Later with her phone, i called her father to inform about her condition. Her father said that he will take care of the hospital charge and cut the call. I was quiet shocked to hear his emotionless words. The operation was successful. But… " he said, looking at me.
"What happened?" i asked him with my shaking voice.
"She lost her all memories. The doctors said that its temporary memory loss and her memory will return in a three or four months. I tried to inform her father. But he didn't took the call. I thought at least someone from her family will come and visit her. But no one came. Later she got discharged from the hospital after a month" he said. I fisted my palm thinking about her family. How can they be cruel to her? Can't they atleast come and visit her? Are they all hate her this much that they don't even have time to see their daughter alive or dead?
"Then i took her here. She stayed here till she recovers her memory. She regained her memory after six months. When i said that no one from her family came to visit her, she said with a smile that they must be busy. If not they would definitely have came to visit her. She didn't show her disappointed on her face nor she was angry on her father or her family. After that she became a part of this Orphanage. You see…that little girl who is playing with Aasha?" he asked me with a smile. I nodded at him.
"Her name is Smiley. Aasha named her when smiley came to this Orphanage. She had a hole in her heart. We didn't had enough money to do her her surgery. When Aasha came to know about this, she gave money for the surgery. When i asked her how she got this much money, she said 'My father sent me money every month for my studies. But i never used it. So i am giving this money for Smiley's heart surgery'. Then i asked her why she is working in a cafe and library as a part timer when she get so much money from her father? Do you know what she said?" he asked me, looking at my face.
"The money which my father send me every month is his hard earned money. And that money is the only thing which i get from my father. Its this money which is keeping our father daughter relationship. And i consider this money as my father's love for me. This money is a reminder for me that he didn't abandon me thoroughly. I feel very happy whenever i receive money on my account every month. Because my father didn't forgot about me. Then how can i use this money?' this is what she said" father said with his teary eyes. Even my eyes too turned glassy. She is such stupid girl. She is such a fool. How can that money be her father's love? Is she love her father so much? No words came out of my mouth.
"She won't share her pain with others. She keeps her pain in her heart and acts like a strong girl. She is an angel in disguise. If you really like her, then find whats inside her heart and don't ever break her heart. She always carved for a family's love. I hope you can give her a family" saying this he left the place. My gaze only fixed on her. I stood up from the bench and took a fast step towards her.
"Lets go" i said when i reached her.
"We can leave after having lunch with the children" she said with a smile. Before i could say anything children dragged her from there. I clenched my jaw. We had our lunch with the orphanage children. But my gaze never left her. Then again children dragged her to the drawing room to colour books. When we left the Orphanage its already 6 pm. Aasha took nap in the car as she was already tired. I stopped my car
and looked at her. She opened her eyes slowly and looked outside the window.
Aasha's Pov
I looked outside the window to find wa are in a beach.
"Why we are here?" i asked Mr. Malhotra in my sleepy voice. When i looked at him, he was already looking at me with his red eyes. What happened to him? Without saying anything he came to my side and opened the door for me.
"Come out, Aashu" he said softly. I came out side the car. I looked around the beach. There is not so many people at this hour. Its already 6.45 pm. So the sky started turned dark. The chill breez is very strong that my dress is fluttering rapidly. I hugged myself tightly to stop myself from shivering. The sound of waves hitting the rock is the only sound echoing everywhere. I sighed feeling very calm. Suddenly Mr. Malhotra grabbed my wrist 1nd pulled me towards him that my face hit his chest hardly. I looked at him shocked.
"What are you doing, sir?" i asked him with a frown.
"I Love You, Aashu" he said, looking into my eyes. His voice echoed in my ears. My heart thumping loudly against my chest hearing his words. Tears welled up in my eyes. I averted my gaze from him and turned away from him. I don't know why i am feeling numb suddenly. How i wish i could say 'yes, i love you too'. But how can i? I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and started to walk forward. But suddenly he hugged me from my behind, tightening his hold on my waist.
"Mr. Malhotra, leave me" i said calmly.
"Never" he said. I took a deep breath then i jerked his hands on my waist. I looked at him.
"Sorry Mr. Malhotra. I don't have any feelings for you" i said while controlling my tears. He came close to me, looking into my eyes.
"Is that so? Then why your eyes tearing up, haa?" he asked me with his clenched jaw. I looked away from him.
"Your eyes says what you feel for me. What i want to know is whats stopping you from accepting your feelings for me?" he asked me, gripping my arms but not so tight. I closed my eyes tightly to calm my thumping heart.