Aditi.
I raised the fork in his direction.
"Let go of me" I told him again. "Or I will stab you" I warned.
He smirked and took a step closer to me, My heart leaped again as I understood what he's going to do.
"No!" I told him. "I will really hurt you" I tried to move back from him and karthik let go until I was pressed to the wall.
He took a step forward and I raised the fork at him.
"Stop right there!" I warned.
He took another step.
"Look..I don't care that you are a police officer, I will really..Karthik-" I protested as he got hold of my wrist first.
He was much stronger than me, I realised as he held my hand in his strong grip and kissed me full on the lips.
I froze at the sensation, It was the first time I am feeling a lot of unfamiliar feelings inside me.
His kiss was unexpectedly soft and gentle, Surprising me.
No guys have ever treated me like a girl before, I always terrorised them and Never allowed anyone to be superior to me, So the way karthik was holding me dearly and the way his heart was beating against me was affecting me more.
I tried to push him off me again, One last time, But karthik was like solid rock, I couldn't even move, let alone push him off me.
He just lowered his hands from my clutch on the fork and brought it around my waist, Pulling me more closer while he deepened the kiss.
My eyes fluttered close on their own and I find myself responding to him.
I loosened the clutch on the fork and clutched his shirt tightly.
All I could see, hear and feel was him, His presence filled the air around me and everything else was forgotten.
He felt strong and supportive against me, His steady heartbeats consoled me in a strange way.
Crash-
I was brought back by the sounds of things falling down.
I jerked and opened my eyes in shock while Karthik moved back slightly. Both of us turned to the doorway to see a shocked Trisha, Both of her eyes were round and I felt that it would have fallen out if not for her nerdy glasses. Her hair was pulled up to a messy bun and she looked like She's not been in the outside world for ages.
Karthik let go of me and took a step back.
"I.." Trisha said. "I..um...sorry, I wanted to take water, Um..I will go now, You can..er..continue" She said.
"It's ok, You can come in Trisha" karthik said as I turned red from embarrassment. "I was just proving her something" He said, Looking Down at me. "can you let go of me now?" His eyes twinkled as he looked at me.
"Wha..what!?" I looked at my hand that was still fisting his shirt tightly, I let go of it quickly.
"Trisha" I ignored his smirk and turned to Trisha who was filling her bottle. "It's not what it seems" I said and karthik chuckled.
"Yea, she was not kissing me back, It was a misunderstanding" Karthik added.
"Shut up karthik!"
"You don't feel attracted to me, Puppy? Then why did you kiss me back like-"
"Please guys" Trisha said. "spare me the details, My head is already going to burst now" She said while capping the bottle.
"But..what's this smell?" She looked around. "Something's burning-"
"Oh my God!" I said.
"The stove-" Karthik too stopped as the pan caught fire.
"No!" Both Trisha and karthik screamed but I had already poured water in the pan.
"Trisha move back!" Karthik shouted as he grabbed me back from the now burning fire as I was still standing near the stove.
But I felt the heat on my hand and the entire kitchen was engulfed in smoke.
"The fire is out" Trisha said. "Is she okay?" Trisha looked at us.
I was kill pressed to karthik's side.
"I..am okay" I said shakingly.
Karthik pulled me to an arms length and shouted his lungs out.
"WHAT THE HECK, ADITI! HOW CAN YOU DO THAT! DO YOU NOT HAVE ANY SENSE!?!" He shouted.
It was the first time I have seen karthik this scary and I tried to control the sudden, unfamiliar stinking in my eyes.
"Aditi..Trisha?..what happened?"
"Karthik?"
"Why is it full of smoke? "
Everyone ran to us from outside.
"It's nothing, Aditi..er..tried to put out the fire" Trisha said softly. "She nearly got hurt"
"Thankfully no one got hurt" varsha said.
"Daddy, Aditi chechi's hand is red" Izzy said, Apparently her eyes was in level with my hand.
Karthik took one look at me, Then grabbed my hand and walked out of there.
Aditya.
Everyone watched as karthik grabbed her and walked out of there.
"He was scared" Trisha told us. "He thought Aditi got hurt" she said.
"Where's he taking her?" shahid asked.
"Probably to get the scald treated" I said and we walked to the hall .
Sure enough, karthik was applying ointment on her hand, Still looking angry.
I never saw my sister so obedient before!
I looked at her hair that has grown out now, karthik also managed to stop her from cutting her lovely hair.
"This won't do" I said as I took the settee opposite to them. "Both of you are expelled from the kitchen duties" I declared. "From now on, Both of you will do the dishes" I said.
The others nodded and chuckled at my statement.
"What! you can't be serious!" Aditi looked at me. "He is the one who doesn't know anything about cooking" She said.
"At least I have common sense not to do stupid things" karthik said.
"I hate doing dishes!" Aditi exclaimed.
"Me too" He said. "But It looks like you will be partnered with me every day, so I guess it can't be that boring!"
"Karthik! You!"
"I am right here, Karthik, If you want to court my sister, You need to get permission from me first" I said.
"Aditya! You traitor!" Aditi shouted again as everyone else laughed.
"I was going to ask you anyway" karthik shrugged. "I would like to..um..spend the rest of my life with her" He said.
"Aww.." Varsha cooed.
"That was so corny!" Trisha rolled her eyes.
Shahid laughed.
"Daddy?" Izzy turned to shahid. "Does Uncle karthik want to do the dishes the rest of his life?" She asked and everyone laughed.
Arjun.
It's been two days already and I cannot get in touch with her!
It's already saturday and There is no news that there is any change in our plan.
"Karan" I called him inside for the umpteenth time that day. "Are you sure that-" I started.
"There is no change, Boss" Karan said. "I am fully alert and waiting here, But it seems that the meeting will be conducted as planned before" He said.
"Okay" I nodded again.
So by the time it was evening, I was restless.
If she's going ahead with the meeting, That means she have necessary datas with her!
What the heck should I do now?
If she walked to the trap and get herself in danger, I can't even try to help her!
I will go and see her now-
My phone beeped and I practically jumped at it.
I had never been this bothered and tensed about anything before.
"Arjun, I am sorry, I can't show up for our date tomorrow, I have something important to do"
I read her text.
Seriously!?
She didn't even contact me for the past two days and now she's cancelling our date?
"Sanjana, It's an important function tomorrow, You can't back out now"
I replied back, Then dialled her number.
It rang a long time before she picked it up.
"Arjun-" She started hesitantly But I cut across her.
"Where were you sanjana, I couldn't even message you these last two days! It was like you disappeared totally!" I said. "I even went to your apartment-"
"What!?" She sounded alarmed. "you did what!?"
"I was worried about you" I said. "the watchman at your place said that you are rarely home, Where are you staying at, Sanjana?" I asked.
There was silence at the other end for a moment.
"My friend's place" She said slowly. "I have an important meeting to attend on monday, So I can't make it tomorrow, I really wanted to meet you, Arjun, But Something unexpected happened and-"
"The party is at night, All I need is 2 hours of your time" I said. "I will wait for you"
"Arjun, I really can't-"
"No, Sanju, I want you to meet me tomorrow at seven, I won't hear anything else, I will wait for you near the restaurant we met the last time" I said.
I know, I'm pushing it too much, But I have no other way now..
If you don't turn up tomorrow, I will make sure that I find you..
Trisha.
"What did he say?" my gang was all waiting around.
"He..he sounds angry" I said in confusion. "it looks like he tried to contact me and even went to the apartment we rented under the name sanjana" I said.
"have you finished the works?" Karthik asked.
I had been locked up inside the new room to reset everything that was lost, I had been working day and night straight for two and half days now.
I nodded. "Almost" I said. "it's not about works I'm thinking about" I said slowly. "I think it's better if we don't meet anymore, After this monday, He will figure out about me too"
"We don't know how the meeting will affect us" Aditya said. "let's not ruin our plan with Arjun just yet, Don't make him suspicious too" He said.
"It's two hours tomorrow, May be you will get something from there" Varsha said.
"Yea, Let's try to keep the relationship with Arjun neutral, We don't know how the end result of this meeting will be" karthik said.
I looked around.
None of them know anything about my mixed feelings, And no one knows that I have been to his apartment too...
I sighed.
"Okay, it's only two hours tomorrow" I said.
"We can't get inside the hall without an invitation" Aditya said, "But we will be keeping watch all around the building, Don't worry about anything"
"If something goes wrong, Just text us, We will inform my dad, He can come inside"
"I am not worried about anything karthik" I said.
I am more worried about facing Arjun after what happened between us.
Well..It's just a short time..And this could be our last time meeting each other.
I will see him tomorrow, One last time..
I walked back to the room I had been working in.
I have arranged everything ready for the meeting.
Nobody can stop me from exposing the true colors of surya group.
I took out my dad's old journal again.
Everything about surya group was written there, But what made me uneasy was the torn pages at the end.
However I try, I can't understand why my dad would tear the papers away instead of simply striking it out like he had done in some pages.
I examined the last pages carefully and tried to read from the impression that was left from the above page.
"Nath family?"
I read slowly.
Who's Nath family?
I tried again, But there was nothing else I could understand.
Well...seems like I need to get karthik's help to reproduce this page, He can get help from the forensic people.
I closed it back.
I will worry about it after tomorrow, When the meeting is over.
My phone beeped and I took it out.
Arjun.
Sunday.
It's very rare for them to call me for work, Everone already knows that Sundays are my personal day.
I walked to father's cabin while he talked in the phone.
"Arjun" he looked at me. "I talked to the CEO of palace group" He said. "They are not backing down from their demand" He said. "They are going ahead with the lawsuit"
I nodded.
"They want us to back down from foreign market" I said. "That's why they are resisting our merging with Latest"
"They are already leading in everything else, Our fashion industry is the only field we are neck to neck" father said.
"He said something about handing back something that's rightfully theirs" I said slowly.
Father's face darkened.
"It's been more than 15 years! They are still talking like that!" He said. "Even though we were splitted from them, It was me who build up this corporation!" He said angrily.
"Their CEO is not flexible" I said.
Father nodded.
"Arrange a meeting for me with their president" He said. "I want to talk to him"
"He is still outside, You know that the palace group is run by the ceo,Their president didn't even attend the major shareholder meeting last time"
"I know it, But I would like you to go abroad and meet him personally" Father looked firm this time. "If he wants me to go to him, I am ready, but I must talk to him"
"What if he's more difficult than this ceo? I heard he's very-"
"That doesn't matter, I just want to meet him, I know palace group's CEO Gangadhar personally, I have worked with him, We are not exactly on good terms, He will make everything difficult for me"
"Then I will try to locate him as soon as possible, we have no idea about his whereabouts now"
Father nodded.
"Take care of it quietly" he said and I nodded.
"I will" I said. "I would like to take a day off on Tuesday after our plan has been completed" I said.
"Okay" He nodded and I walked back.
"Who's that girl you are seeing?" His question stopped me in my track.
I was still facing the door.
"Someone important to me" I said without turning around.
He had never interfered in my personal life before.
"You are a heir of surya group, Be careful of the people around you" He said. "You can't be together with just anyone, Keep that in mind, Marriages are mostly arranged in our field to strengthen our power and expand our business" He said.
I turned around slowly.
Now that mahesh is out of picture, Do you see me as a potential successor!?
"Business is one thing, My personal life is another thing, I am not like Abiram or Mahesh, I won't do what I don't want to do" I said firmly.
Or...I will do, What I want to do..
He looked at me a moment and I didn't back down.
"Bring her home then, Let me see what kind of girl she is to have you speak back to me like this" He said.
I smiled slightly.
"When the right time comes, I will bring her home, I am sure that you will like her" I said before walking out of there.
"What did he want, Sir?" Karan was waiting for me in the office.
"He want me to find the president of palace group and convince him" I said.
"Are you going to meet him?" karan asked me. "I heard he's very stubborn old man who live his life like a king" He said. "it will be difficult to find him if he don't want to meet you"
I laughed at that.
"Not difficult, It will be impossible to convince him" I said. "It will be more easy to convince their CEO" I said.
"What are we going to do?" He asked again.
"What are you going to do, Karan" I asked him back. "You have been following me all these years, Now you know that I don't have surya group's best interest in me, I am here for revenge" I said. "Why are you still trusting me?"
"Because you are my boss" He said. "And ever since you joined surya group, Even though you won a lot of lawsuits for Abiram and Mahesh, The violence have reduced very low" He said. "You prefer to trap the opponents smartly, Not by killing them out of your way, Everyone admire you" he said.
I laughed at his explanation.
"Even though you don't make any sense, I really wish that a particular person would think that way about me" I said.
"Trishana" Karan said, His face turned to worry. "But sir tomorrow-"
"I know" I said.
No one has to remind me what's going to happen tomorrow.
"Nothing is going to happen tomorrow, I will make sure that her meeting won't happen" I said.
"What..what are you going to do sir?" Karan looked at me in wonder.
"I am going to tell her everything today, That's the only way out of this now" I said.
"But sir, We have a meeting tonight about tomorrow's plan after SI thomas reach here with the informations" he said.
"I know" I nodded. "I will try to come back by then" I said. "If by chance I can't come, Manage the situation for me" I said. "I need you to be alert and follow my order"
"Ok sir..just..just be careful" He said.
"Karan.." I stopped for a moment, He was still watching me. "I won't blame you if you decided to not work for me, If the situation is worsened, I want you to abandon me, It's the only way you can survive" I said.
"What are you talking about sir!?" He said, Looking at me oddly. "You better take care of yourself, I cannot work for anyone else and I don't want it too" He said.
"Just keep it in mind, I won't hold it against you even if you back away" I said and karan started to reply, But I cut across him again.
"Not that I am going to get into trouble" I said. "After all, I am the infamous lawyer of surya group" I added.
Karan looked relieved to hear that and he grinned, Nodding.
"I am leaving now, inform me if there's anything going on here, Keep watch of Abiram too" I said.
He nodded again.
I walked out of there.
Will she turn up today?
What if she doesn't come?
I started my car.
I will make sure that she attends the party tonight.
My personal phone started to ring while I drive back.
I smiled as I saw the number.
"Shyam?" I attended the call. "Aren't you busy?" I asked him. "Why would the groom call me at an important time like this?"
"It's me, Arjun" Anjali said. "I heard some explosive news, Is it true?" She asked me.
"What did you hear?" I asked even though I could imagine it.
"Are you seriously dating someone? Are you bringing her here to the party today?" she asked me.
"Yea, You can meet her today" I smiled.
"Oh My God! It's true then!" She exclaimed.
"I told you it's true!" Shyam shouted from the background.
"Arjun, No one believes me when I told them that you are bringing your girlfriend here" shyam said.
"I wanted to make it a surprise, Why did you announce it to everyone?" I laughed.
"Arjun! I..I cant believe that you have a girlfriend!" Anjaly said.
"Not just girlfriend" I said. "I already proposed to her" I said.
There was complete silence at the other end now.
"Um...Then we will wait for her" Shyam broke the silence.
"Hey, I can't find my necklace I was going to wear today!" Anjaly was shouting in the background now.
Shyam groaned.
"My good friend, Let me advise you, Woman changes the moment you are going to get married, Enjoy your dating life maximum before-"
"Shyam!"
"Uh..I have to go now, See you" He disconnected.
Trisha.
"That's enough varsha, I am not comfortable" I said as she gave me a glare.
"Do you know what's special about Rose reception hall?" she asked me.
"Only the people at the top of foodchain can afford to attend it, If you don't want to make yourself presentable, You are going to regret it" She said as she started to correct the pleats of my saree.
"Saree and high heels are not my thing" I shrugged. "Even though I started my nerdy look for my career, I have grown to like it, so comfortable and stress free" I said.
Varsha gave me another glare.
"That's what we call a fashion killer" She said. "Every time I see your baggy clothes my hands itches to make changes in it"
"Varsha is too dangerous than we think, Trisha" Aditi laughed. "stay still if you want to survive"
Aditi was assisting varsha to dress me up.
"Ok, Your saree is correct now" varsha said atlast. "Now I will start with the hair"
"Why do I feel so exposed?" I asked her. "Honestly!I don't want such a revealing blouse!"
"This is not a revealing blouse! I had had even backless blouses, Trisha!" Varsha said. "Show off your slender figure and lovely collarbone with confidence Girl" She said. "And get used to it, I am thinking of designing you some proper dresses" She added.
I groaned while Aditi laughed at me.
"You too Aditi, It's not like you were born with jeans and tees!" Varsha told her sternly and it was my turn to laugh at her.
"Now, You look gorgeous, Trisha" Varsha took a step back and admired her work. "But I should say that Arjun really gifted you a wonderful saree" She said. "If it was someone else, I would say that he's a keeper girl" She added.
My heart skipped a beat at that.
"Varsha, Arjun is already head over heels for her, You don't have to go to this extend" Aditi said.
"This has nothing to do with seduction! This is my career, My passion, Trust me Trisha, You will thank me later, You really don't want to be the odd one out, right!" She said in a final word and I nodded.
Arjun.
"You are late sanju" I said. "I have been waiting for you for a long time-"
"I am here, I can see you" She said through phone.
"Where?" I looked around and heard the horn and turned to her.
"Wait, I feel stuck here!" She added and I walked to her car.
"What's so difficult-" I stopped in my track while opening the door halfway.
She was looking beautiful in the saree I got for her.
"You.." I said, My eyes zeroed on her exposed slender waist.
"Uh! Help me out" she said, bringing my attention back to her face.
"Come on" I said as I took her hand and literally lifted her down.
"Arg...high heels with saree was a bad idea" She said as she tried to balance herself and leaned to me unknowingly.
"What are you wearing, Sanju!" I exclaimed, watching her front.
Her blouse has a wide neck, showing off too much creamy skin and To make it worse, It was low.
Not low enough to see anything, But the level where it's too tempting to see further.
In short, Nothing revealing, But really teasing.
"What's wrong?" she looked at me. "Do I look terrible?" She asked me. "I knew it! I feel awkward too! I am not a saree kind of girl-"
Terrible? You look tempting..
"Stick close to me today" I said. "I don't want any guys to have any wrong impression" I said. "Make it clear that you are already taken" I said.
She stared at me.
"You look beautiful, Sanjana" I said slowly. "In fact, I had been angry with you for not contacting me the past two days, But you just made me forget about it" I told her and her face turned red slightly.
"Come on" I offered her my hand and she took my hand.
I helped her to my car before coming around to the driving seat.
"Just enjoy the night" I told her. "Don't be nervous" I said as she looked tensed.
"Tell me more about this best friend of yours" she said.
I started to drive.
"His name is shyam, He proposed his childhood sweetheart, Anjali" I said "Both of them are my friends" I said.
"How do you know them? Are they lawyers too?"
I shook my head.
"Business" I said shortly. "We knew each other" I said. "And we were at college together while doing MBA" I said.
She looked surprised.
"You..you majored in law, Right?" she asked me.
"Yup, I am a business student too" I said.
Trisha.
Suddenly I felt like I am looking at a whole different person.
I realised that I don't know a lot about Arjun surya narayan.
"I feel like..we are not acquainted enough" I said slowly. "Why do I feel like that?" I asked.
"You will know everything about me today" he said. "This is the day I am going to be open with my secrets" He said.
"I don't understand" I said.
"If you really want to get to know me, You will succeed today" he said again.
"Are you keeping something from me?" I asked him.
"Aren't you?" He asked me back and I looked out of the window.
"I think everyone will have their own secrets" I said.
Arjun nodded.
"I hope you will think like that in my situation too" He said. "We are here" He added while we entered the huge decorated gate.
"You said they were childhood sweethearts, How did you know them?"
"I grew up with them" he answered.
"What?" I asked, confused.
That doesn't make any sense!
He grew up with them? In surya group?
No, He was living with his mother and then he was taken by the orphanage before narayan found him...
So they are friends from his orphanage?
I looked around the grand function.
No..no..This looks like grand engagement party!
"Sanju, Are you ready?" He asked me.
Ready for what?
I wanted to ask, But I nodded anyway.
I hope my gang will be around.
So Arjun opened the door for me and supported me out of the car.
"Don't be nervous, I will be right beside you" he said and I looked at him again.
"What do you-" I stopped as people started to surround us.
"Sir! You are here!?"
"Everyone's waiting for you"
"Who's this beautiful girl with you sir?"
Something flashed and I looked at the young guy.
"So it's true, You are here with your fiancée, Brother Arjun" The guy said.
"Dont scare her, Let me take her inside" Arjun said easily. "And delete that picture, Rohith, you know I don't like to be photographed" He said.
"I was taking the picture of your fiancée" the guy said.
I looked up at Arjun, my eyes full of questions.
he smiled down at me, Looking carefree and relaxed.
"Don't worry" He assured me as he walked me to the main door.
But my mind was screaming to me already, I could feel that something is terribly wrong here, I can feel that.
Two security men were checking the invitations and taking care of suspicious people.
As soon as we reached there, They straightened up and nodded respectfully.
"You are here sir?" They said politely, But my heart was hammering inside me.
There's a gun in my bag!
I tightened the grip on the strap.
I have told them countless time that I wouldn't need it!
"Welcome ma'am" The guys at the security desk bowed slightly while welcoming us.
Arjun wrapped his hands around me and walked me inside.
Oh my God!
It was so close!
"Sanjana" he said slowly. "Are you feeling ok? You look...tensed" he said.
"What's going on Arjun?" I asked him. "I feel that..that we are..we are entirely in a different world" I said.
He nodded.
"We are indeed in a different world, sanju" He said easily. "My world, You are safe here, So no need to worry" He added and told the guy in front of the main hall to open the door.
So before I could ask him anything, The double doors were opened to a grand decorated hall.
And Everyone- I meant it when I said every single person in the hall turned to us- As if they have been waiting for us to enter.
I was rooted to the spot when the flashes started, I was brought back to the earth when I felt Arjun tightening his hands around me.
"Shall we?" he asked me, Smiling.
--------------------------