PLAYLIST---- Rudimental ft. Ed Sheeran – Lay it all on me
*
~Adam's POV~
"Man, you've got to listen to us. Okay, we might be responsible for her heartbreak, mental trauma and possible spiral towards depression, but that doesn't mean that we are here to ruin her life and future. I mean come on!"
If the situation hadn't been this grim, I would have face palmed.
We were standing in a mural passageway in the luxurious hotel where Ria was going to get married, with Aaron trying to unsuccessfully convince her brother that we are not here to ruin her life any further. Rahul looks like he's going to lose it any second and punch Aaron senseless. Trust Aaron to make things worse than it already is.
Agreeing to the blatant fact that my intervention is necessary if I have to move things fast, I elbow Aaron and move in front of him. Ria's twin's deep brown eyes on mine were unnerving. They seemed to be accusing and shone with hatred. I wouldn't blame him; I had hurt his sister quite a lot.
"Rahul, I wouldn't expect you to understand me but I request you to try. I know I had hurt her a lot and I deserve nothing, but for her sake...just-just let me see her. I wouldn't forgive myself if I let her suffer for my mistakes." My voice sounded unfamiliar to my own ears. It was pleading and even a bit desperate.
"Why should I let you anywhere close to her after what you had done with her?" He hissed at me. "Who knows what you will do to her if I let both of you in her life again."
I sighed. "Is that what you want it to be? Her to live her life in misery?"
"No. But she at least has a life now, albeit an unsatisfactory one. I am not willing to jeopardize that now. I know Vicky is a bastard but he will take care of my sister." He paused. "Sometimes, love just isn't enough." He told me with malice in his voice, the last sentence aimed to hurt me which I have to say hit the soft spot just right.
I had loved Ria, but not enough to trust her.
"You are right. I am guilty of loving her without giving her my trust but one chance is all I am asking to make it up for her. I just want to talk to her and I will not harm her marriage or her future. If she doesn't want me back in her life, I will walk away without a commotion. I give you my word for that."
I noticed the way his muscles relaxed from underneath his suit-coat and I realized that I had managed to get through his defenses. But even then my heart accelerated at the thought of having to walk out of Ria's life if she figures out that she doesn't need a coward in her life. Despite the promise I had given him, something tells me that I wouldn't be able to walk out of her life even if I wanted to.
Only I can hope for her is to accept me; flaws and all. Because I don't know what I would do if she rejects me. Swallowing my growing insecurities, I tried to keep a straight face as I watched Rahul's eyes flicker in internal debate.
"Very well." He sighed, suddenly defeated. "I will take you to her but I must have your word not to push her past her limits. And I don't want any damages done to this marriage, whether she accepts you or not. This is her last lifeline to leading a normal life and I will not let anyone ruin that for her." I nodded curtly.
"You have my word."
He turned about on his heels and strode further down the hall. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. A part of the war has been won. Now all that was left was to confront Ria, which was the war itself. My mind seemed to spin with so many thoughts. I shook my head, my eyes fixated on the carpet. I needed to stay focused if I need this to work, not a time to succumb to my fears.
"For a moment there pal" Aaron began as we strode after Rahul into the hotel, "I actually thought he was going to drag us by our collars and throw us out of the window."
"Which would have actually happened if I didn't intervene your heart-to-heart with him." I muttered.
He ignored my comment and followed me by shoulder until Rahul came to a halt. He shuffled in his feet uncomfortably, as if thinking this twice over. I glanced at the name-plate on the light wood door. Pearl suit, it said. At the mere thought that Ria was behind that door instantly made my heart beat like a drum against my suit which tightened at the collar at the very moment. I swallowed the urge to rub the nape of my neck in nervousness as Rahul rang a bell.
"Konn hai?"(1) She said in an exotic tongue, her musical voice muffled by the door. Her voice seemed to be my undoing.
"Ria, main hoon. Darvaza khuloo."(2) Rahul replied.
The conversation between the siblings remained unknown to me but as soon as Rahul said those strange words there were a few shuffles on the other side and I heard soft footsteps padding on the carpet towards the closed door. As the reality began to sink in, I felt dizzying rush of adrenaline as did fear, anxiety and most of all, an overwhelming sense of love. I waited impatiently as I heard the jingle of key on the other side, anticipation making my hands twitch beside me.
"Muhurth kho samaya bhakhi hai naa?" I could hear her complain on the other side in the unfamiliar language. "Thum ko iss---"(3)
The door opened and she froze at the doorstep when her eyes fell on us. I stiffened at her sight, breath knocked out from my chest. She had removed the shawl that had shaded her face or covered the upper portion of her body, leaving her in a blouse that simply covered her breasts and shoulders along with a voluminous skirt. Her hair was let out in waves framing her heart-shaped face, her doe eyes wide and her pouty lips parted in awe. Her mocha skin glowed tantalizingly under the soft yellow lights and I couldn't tear my eyes away from her supple cleavage that the maroon silk accentuated.
In all she looked like one of the heathen goddesses that she worshipped.
The sound of the door closing snapped my attention back to present. Ria was closing back the door on seeing us. Out of impulse, I stuck my foot out and jammed the door from closing. It nearly gave my ankles a fracture but right then, I didn't give a f*ck.
"Ria, please listen to me."
I pleaded with her, my voice lowered to a hush as I gently tried to push the handle to open up the door. Her annoyed face, peeped from the crack of the door.
"I have nothing to say, Adam. Leave." She asked me in a monotone.
"Ria." Rahul stepped into the tight circle to view his twin's face, pushing Aaron out of his way. "Usko sirf eek bar thumkey sath puchna hai. Uskey baath vo...vo vapas chal jayyeki."(4)
Rahul's words seemed to make Ria mellow, her eyes glassed and dazed as she gazed deep into her brother's eyes like as if they were telepathic or something. Although my understanding of the language they spoke is close to zero, I figured he spoke in my favor or at least was making thing easier so I let them do their twin-telepathy or whatever. I stepped back to give them more space even though I had ho freakin' clue as to what he was saying.
"May eey bolthi hoon kyonki muche legtha hai ki thumko usko sunana chaheeye. Thumko kuch nuksan nahi hai." (5) Rahul told her in a grave tone, his eyes fixated on his sister's.
"Do you have any idea what he's telling her?" Aaron whispered to me.
"None whatsoever."
I replied as Ria started responding to her brother in her exotic tongue. She looked so sexy talking in her mother tongue half-dressed and suddenly, I understood why Aaron used to thicken his already Italian accent when he wanted to win over a chick. It was a huge f*cking turn-on.
"Now I am concerned that they probably would be speaking shit about us and we are standing like two dumb motherf---" He immediately clamped down on whatever he was going to say as Ria's sharp emerald eyes fell on us. I nearly forgot how to breathe for a moment.
"Two minutes." She told us with an air of warning and turned to her brother, pointing at his face threateningly, "And you! You owe me big time."
Rahul rolled his eyes as he pushed his way through and like eager children in front of candy store, we pushed through. Ria's room was decorated in antique gold laces hung in an intricate patterns, shadowing some parts whereas highlighting others. I admired the igneous idea, keeping it in my mind so that I can implement the idea in one of my upcoming projects.
Ria walked around a king-sized bed and crossed her arms, facing us with a blank stare. But this only pushed up her ample breasts and my gazed dropped. I was positive that my eyes dilated with desire when my gaze locked on a small tattoo under her bra-line, a small bird which had one of its wings misting away in an intricate swirl. It simply made me think where her second tattoo was and my thoughts strayed down a dangerous road.
"Ahem." Ria cleared her throat and that made me shake myself off of the fantasy brewing in my head. She had one of her eyebrows raised quizzically.
"Ria, I---" I began but only to be cut off by her raising her palms.
"Are you here to crash my wedding?"
Her voice was cold and detached, as if she were speaking to a stranger. Her words sent a stab of pain in my heart, the hurt so sudden and unbearable. I knew I should have been prepared to face this but when the time did come, I couldn't help but feel hurt. My ability to speak was robbed and I could do nothing but remain silent at her accusation.
"Well, yeah..." Aaron drawled and I flinched when Ria's fiery gaze landed on him. But that didn't stay that way as shortly after, her glare was directed to me.
"How dare you two come here to ruin my life?" She hissed.
I couldn't reply. Absolutely nothing came to my mind as I struggled to stomach her words. Tears leaked from her mesmerizing eyes that were lined with kohl, making them glisten under the soft lights. Despite the circumstances, I couldn't help but wonder how beautiful she looked; like a far-away dream. Suddenly, a feeling of loss washed over me, so powerful that I was nearly knocked off my feet. It was painful to think that the enchanting woman in front of me was mine before. She was a gem I let loose between my fingers just because I was too much of an idiot to take care of it. What I wouldn't have given to reverse the time, to have her in my arms again; to kiss her until we both run out of air.
"You ruined my life" She sobbed, "You...both of you broke me. And-and now...you want to destroy me? Go ahead. The price I had to pay for letting myself fall for you, Adam."
Her words left agonizing pangs in my chest and all I could do was to stand there and let her inflict pain. Every word she said hit me, cut me and was killing me piece by piece. I could only stand motionless as I felt my tear glands burn with unshed tears, tears gathering in my eyes as I looked at her tormented face. For a moment we stood in silence, staring into each other's eyes as love, longing and anguish playing out in our faces. I didn't let go of her gaze until Rahul walked over to her and gathered her up in his arms, trying to soothe her. Suddenly, she jerked out of his arms as she shook her head wildly; the huge earrings that she wore bobbed up and down.
"Get out before I call Vicky." She said in our direction sternly.
"The f*ck?" Aaron exclaimed.
"Get the f*ck out!"
She yelled as she pushed away from Rahul stubbornly. I couldn't help but think mockingly of how she was using the exact same words I had used when I had kicked her out of my apartment.
F*cking Karma.
She made a dive for her phone and was furiously scrolling through her contacts. I was immobile and frozen to a spot that I could do nothing. The truth was that I felt powerless for the first time in my life and that alone was so overwhelming that I was rendered invalid.
"We didn't have sex." Aaron blurts out and the entire room stilled.
Although that was the dumbest move of the century, I couldn't help but feel thankful that he did that though. I was basically motionless that any move was welcome, despite it's obvious repercussions. I watched the way her lips part and her chest heaved in effort to breathe. The phone dropped out of her stiff hands as she faced us with her tear-stained face that was locked in confusion.
"What?" She rasped.
"It was Chloe...and Sarah. They set us up so that Adam would be forced to marry Sarah so that Lexwoods wouldn't lose the claim over the company. It was a scam."
As Aaron finished his explaination, she seemed to be locked in a daze. It was then words, confidence and the reality seemed to catch up with me. I took a daring step in her direction and with a nod to Rahul, I closed the distance between us. I gently palmed her hands, feeling its smooth texture before I twirled her gently in my direction. Pulling her close, I was assaulted by her sweet vanilla scent and a mixture of spice, sandal and something distinctly feminine. She felt just like I remember her against me; like home. I locked my gaze with hers, absorbing her soft features into my memory.
"Ria...I love you. I always had but I was this coward who was scared to tell out loud what he felt."
I started with a whisper, my words for her ears alone and my mouth close to the shell of her ear. I heard her gasp and I pulled her closer to me; with her palms against my tux, I raised her chin to meet her glassy eyes that was misted with so many deep emotions. I had never seen something so beautiful.
"It is my fault, baby. I should have trusted you more, loved you more and treated you better. After you were gone, I realized how much I loved you. God knows how much I had regretted of everything and I loathed myself for how much of an insensitive prick I was to you. And I don't want to go back to what I was then. I know you deserve someone better, I know I don't deserve you but I am this b*stard who wants you all to himself despite everything I had done to you. And all I ask is another chance. One chance to spend every second of my life trying to prove myself and my love to you; trying to make my mistakes right."
Fresh tears were spilling onto her cheeks by the time I was done. I wiped a tear drop from her cheeks with the pad of my thumb and she gave me a watery smile. I felt my heart swell at her gesture of appreciation and I thought for a moment what I was thinking when I proposed to Sarah. I couldn't think of any other place in this world where I would feel so contented other than where I stood then; holding close the woman I loved.
"I love you too, Adam."
She murmured and I think my heart skipped a beat. For a moment I thought I would never hear those words and when she did reciprocate, the happiness I felt was indescribable. I couldn't help the wide grin that broke out on my face and she chuckled, sniffing her tears. I kept a hand on her naked waist and pulled her closer, making her palms slide up my shoulders. I suppressed a shiver that passed through me at her most innocent of touches. Again I couldn't help at thinking: What was I thinking when I decided to forget her?
"But that doesn't change anything..." She whispered to me, her eyes downcast. "You are engaged to Sarah. I am going to get married in practically a few minutes. No miracles can happen now."
Her words simply brought me crashing down from my elation. She was right; I was too late to make any difference now. There is no way we can escape from the brutal reality. Her fiancé was literally downstairs and we are in the middle of her marriage party. I am pretty sure her father wouldn't take kindly of me confessing my love for his daughter at the eleventh hour, however devoted he is to me. I had known that things would come to this but I came anyway, told her how much I loved her and made things a hundred times more complicated.
"I know." I murmured, "But I just want you to know that there wouldn't be any other woman in my life if not you. I would wait, however long it takes, I would wait for you to come back to me. Just know that I would love you for as long as I live."
She laid her head on my shoulders and I watched tears roll out of her eyes before they stained my tux. I didn't stop her for I was pretty sure that my eyes were brimming with tears as well.
"But you need to marry for an heir----"
"I called dad on my way here." I cut her off tenderly unable to hear her tell me to have an heir with someone other than her, "I told him that I would back off from the engagement as soon as I reach US. I asked him to find someone from our family who would be eligible. Maybe one of my far off nieces or someone."
I tightened my hold around her, my other hand weaving its way into her dark tresses. It was excruciating to think that this may be the last time I might be holding her close and that thought made me want to clutch her close to never let go. Ria raised her head and I was met with her teary eyes.
"You can't do that. I can never let you do that for me----"
Her words were cut off by the doorbell ringing. She whirled around in my arms, eyes wide with alarm. I too turned to face a confused Aaron and Rahul bounding over to the door to peep through the door hole. I had forgotten about them during my conversation with Ria and it felt like a cold slap to find them gawking at us like obvious third-wheelers.
"Who's that?" Aaron asked.
"Shhhh!"
She shushed him vehemently and broke away from me, making me frown in confusion. Rahul was back and was in a panic. My frown deepened.
"What's wrong?" I asked to nobody in particular.
"SHHH!"
The twins shushed me in synchronization. I shot a look of confusion to Aaron who gave me a look that said 'Twins are weird'. I simply shrugged in response. I turned to look at Ria when she had her hands on my biceps, trying to pull me off somewhere. I looked at Aaron and found him pushed around by Rahul. I let myself be pulled by her delicate frame. The twins pulled us towards Ria's make-shift wardrobe and that was when Aaron put his foot down.
"Woah,woaah!" He struggled in Rahul's grip because, let's face it, he is quite strong. "I may be this good friend who came to requite true love but I am not going inside that thing."
"Just get in before I make your family jewels useless." Ria hissed and Aaron's eyes widened.
"Okay."
He squeaked and kept a protective hand over his crotch as he followed me in folding myself into the rickety wardrobe. As the temporary wardrobe couldn't handle two six foot plus men, Rahul opted for leaving the doors open as Ria pulled down some of the golden linen decorations over the wardrobe, in an attempt of covering both of us. By this time I had figured that there was someone behind that door whom Ria didn't want us to meet in her bedroom of all places, so I kept silent. It must be her father, I concluded. After she made sure that we are completely hidden, she followed her brother to the door.
"Do all good guys get squashed into a wardrobe? Then I think I quit." Aaron informed me as he shuffled uncomfortably while he tried scratching his back over his tux. "Urg, it's so itchy in here!" He complained and I rolled my eyes in the semi-dark. I heard the doors opening.
"Oh, it was you Rahul! I thought I heard a man inside, never thought it would be you."
My blood boiled on hearing his voice.
It was her fiancé, Vineesh.
~Ria's POV~
"Oh, it was you Rahul! I thought I heard a man inside, never thought it would be you."
I swallowed my urge to roll my eyes. Yeah, sure; he thought it was Peter Pan who mistook me for Wendy and was about to take me to Neverland.
"Yeah..." Rahul ran a hand through his thick hair, the only physical similarity to me.
"Hey, Vicky!" I put on a fake smile and an even faker cheery tone. "Why are you here?" I pretended to be confused although I had a clear cut idea as to why he was at my door step.
"You tried calling me?" Vicky raised his phone to show his call log and I tried my level best to look surprised.
"Oh! My bad! I must have butt-dialed...again!" I laughed uneasily.
"Ermm...I guess I will go now."
Rahul looked at me but he gave me look that said that he will be back in two minutes tops. I nodded. With another nod to Vicky, Rahul bailed out. I resisted the urge to scream with frustration when Vicky waltzed inside my room like he owned it.
"It is a nice room." He commented, running his gaze throughout the room. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when his stare didn't linger in the suspiciously disorganized wardrobe.
"Yeah." I muttered with no interest and crossed my arms before cutting to chase, "Why are you here, Vicky? I told you, me calling your phone was a mistake."
He turned around with a sickening smirk. "Well, you obviously got my hopes up; calling me to your room simply minutes for our marriage. I figured you were too impatient."
God! Barf bags anyone?!
This time I didn't stop myself from rolling my eyes. He thinks he's such a big catch. I could barely stop myself from yelling at his face, 'You wanna see what a catch is then look inside my wardrobe, ugly duckling. Then you'd see what men should really look like!' But thanks to my awesome self-control, I didn't tell my fiancé that I have two of the most gorgeous men on the planet hidden in my bedroom.
"Of course, anybody would be impatient to have a cheating bastard as their husband." I replied with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
"What did you say?"
Vicky's face darkened at my words. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I had to let him know that I knew everything about what he did behind my back. I had to let him know how much I hated his mere existence and how I was marrying him because I had on other options. Seems like Adam's confession and the knowledge that I was in fact a virgin still gave my confidence a mighty boost.
"Do you think I didn't know for a fact that Shethal sleeps around with you?" I asked him haughtily, "Don't you dare think I kept silent because I wasn't aware of that fact, it was because I had no interest in you or anything related you for that matter. I am marrying you because I am sick of Mama dotting after my marriage. And don't you dare think that I am fine with seeing your face when I wake up every day for the rest of my life."
Vicky seemed to be taken aback by my words for a moment but broke out into a laugh soon after. I huffed irritatingly.
"Look at you" Vicky sauntered closer to me, "Picking up fights with me like a nagging wife even before we are actually married."
The guy is out of his mind!
I shook my head in disappointment, realizing that there is no way this guy can be brought to earth from the freakin' tower he built for himself. Talk about narcissism!
"I don't mind at all, just so you know." He drawled with a cocky smirk, "I don't mind that you want to act like my wife before you actually are, I know a few instances where it may come useful."
He pulled even closer, so close that I could smell his cologne. But unlike the mint and musk that Adam wore, his scent nearly made me puke. He kept a hand on my waist in a manner deemed quite inappropriate. I tried pulling away only to be caged by his other arm. I tried not to show my disgust for him in my face but I don't think I was successful.
I heard the wardrobe behind us rumble and Vicky stilled. With me still squashed in his arms he turned around only to come face-to-face with a livid Adam who was shaking with anger and Aaron who was scratching himself through his tuxedo.
Not a pretty sight.
The next thing I know Adam's fist flew just a millimeter above my head and landed on Vicky's stunned face. Vicky fell of his balance, dragging me along with him with a shriek. I hit my head against his chest as I fell on top of him with a 'oomf!" and suddenly my world was spinning sidewise. Vicky groaned underneath me and his head rolled in unconsciousness.
"What...?"
I slurred in dizziness as a pair of strong arms lifted me clean off of Vicky's limbs. Adam's face came into my swirling view with an apologizing smile as he held me by my waist before pulling me close to his chest. I breathed in his familiar cologne like a cocaine addict taking a much needed fix.
Somewhere, I heard a door being burst open and Rahul's voice yelling, "What the hell have you done? Do you know what this means?!"
My vision cleared as I looked up to find Adam looking down at me with a smirk on his lips that I loved so much.
"This means we have to work on a way to smuggle ourselves out of here."
He told all of us with a mischievous glint in his eyes. There was silence for a while as we contemplated on the situation at hand.
"I think I have a plan." Rahul said, shocking all of us.
And that was how I eloped from my home the second time exactly like the first, but this time I had a handsome hunk holding me close to him as we descended down the make-shift rope from the window of my room.
*
TE HE!
I know, that was... *wipes off sweat from brows* Phew! 4,737 words, and now if THAT isn't a long chapter, then I don't know what it is!
How did it go? Was this reunion all what you wanted it to be?
Let me know in the comment section below, I'D LOVE to hear from you.
Before I wrap it up, if anyone wondered why I didn't type in translation along with the Hindi, it was because the scene was written through Adam's eyes who had no clue about this language. But if you do wish to know what was spoken between Ria and Rahul, then follow the numbers marked against the dialogue and match it the list of translation.
I know that it isn't the most convenient way but I'd like to preserve it that way since, as I always say, it is the beauty of the storyline.
So the translations are:
(1) "Who is it?"
(2) "Ria, it's me. Open the door."
(3) "There is time left for the promised hour, isn't it? For you, this---"
(4) "He just wants to speak to you once. After that he...he will go back."
(5) "I am telling you this because I get this feeling that you have to listen to what he has to say. Afterall, you have nothing to lose."
Yeah, so that was that. Hope you don't mind me taking my sweet time prepping the chapters for you guys, trust me it's no easy job.
So as I always say VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE.
S!ya