Niharika

I lifted my head up and closed my eyes when the cold breeze touched my cheeks and neck. The smell of sea is addicting. I opened my eyes and looked at the evening sea. The half of a glowing, radiant light loomed on the water horizon. A warm sensation spread through my body. I walked back and sat on one the chairs and took out the book and started to read.

I took my eyes away from the book when I heard my phone ringing. It was Kavya. I smiled and attended the call. “Hey. What’s up?” I asked happily. “Wow, someone seems happy. Han!!” She asked excitedly. I laughed. “What? Are you enjoying your newly wedded life? It seems like I won’t get the opportunity to kick his ass.” She teased me.

“Oh shut up Kavya.” I scolded her, my cheeks heated up. “Awww. I could see you blushing from here.” I didn’t say anything just smiled. “So how are things there Hari? Are you comfortable living there?” She asked seriously now. I sighed. “Yes for now. I asked him to let me work in his company. He said he will let me know when he come back today.” I said. “Hmm, that’s good. Don’t simply sit and let wander your mind to your past. Be busy with something.” She said. “Yeah. I know.” I replied.

“So, how is Vedant treating you?” She asked again. “He is being nice. You know what, He said I’m the first one who cooked for him in years.” I said excitedly. “Oh. So proud and happpy. Han?!!” She teased again. “Kavya.” I scolded her again. This girl never leaves a moment to get on my nerves. She laughed at me, but then she said with a serious tone. “Hari. Remember that you have been through hell. So next time when you give your heart to someone be careful that it won’t break again.” I was silent. Am I falling for him? “Hari.” She called me, her voice was concerned. “Yeah. I know. I will be careful.” I said. She hummed for a reply. Then we talk about some random things for some more time and said our goodbyes.

I looked around. The sun was gone. I was so immersed in the story that I didn’t see the sky becoming dark. I closed the book lying in my lap and stood up. I walked forward and leaned on to the railings. I looked towards the busy city. The city was immersed in lights. The roads were filled with vehicles running with red and yellows lights. The sea is not much visible now, but the sounds of waves were able to hear from a distance.

I looked down. I saw a red Mercedes Benz A- Class Sedan entering into our apartment complex. A smile crept to my lips. It was Vedant. I turned and took the book from the table and walked inside the home. I locked the balcony door behind me and stalked towards the front door. I opened it and saw Vedant with a surprised look.

“Hmm. I was in the patio when I saw your car entering inside the compound.” I said. He smiled and nodded. I opened the door wider for him to enter. “Welcome home.” I said while gesturing with my hand. He scoffed and walked in. “Freshen up and come down. I will prepare dinner.” I said while walking behind him. He stopped and turned to me. There was a frown in his face. “The maid didn’t come today? Raghu told me that she will be coming today.” He asked. “Yes. She came.” I said smiling. “Didn’t she cook the dinner? He told me that she can cook.” He asked in confusion.

My smile vanished. “Yeah. She knows how to cook. But I said her not to.” I said with a bored expression. “Why?” He asked again. “If you didn’t like her I will ask him to bring someone else.” He said seriously. “No. No. She is a nice girl. I liked her. It’s just that... I thought of cooking dinner by myself, so told her to leave.” I said and mentally face palmed myself and hung my head low. I am an idiot. He was not so impressed with my cooking. I know that I am an average cook but... Shh... What was I thinking? Come out of the trance Harika. He was just being nice to me. I sighed.

“I will ask her to prepare dinner from tomorrow.” I said while lifting up my head. I gasped in surprise. He was standing right in front of me. There was a smile on his face. He slowly took a strand of my hair and rolled it in his finger. “I’m sorry. I would love to eat the dishes you prepare everyday for the rest of my life. It's just that I don’t want to burden you with anything.” He said looking at me intensely.

His fingers moved to my cheeks. He caressed my cheeks gently. His gaze gave a knot in my stomach. I could feel the goose bumps raising behind my neck. I gulped and licked my dry lips. His eyes fell on my lips. I could see the lust forming in his eyes.

He moved even closer. Our bodies were almost touching. My mind was telling me to push him back but my body was doing the opposite. It ached for his touch. His thumb reached my bottom lip and brushed it lightly. A gasp escaped my mouth.

His other hand went behind my neck pulled me even closer. His fingers caressing my neck was giving shivers down my spine. He bend his neck and our faces were just an inch apart. I leaned into his touch.

He firmly pulled my body against his and closed his eyes. He brushed his lips with mine. I closed my eyes when his grip on my neck tightened.

Suddenly his phone rang and we both opened our eyes. He immediately left his hold on my neck and took a step back.

We stared each other. My cheeks were like red tomatoes. I looked away blushing. I looked at him after a moment.

His face was in shock. Regret was written all over his face. He breathed heavily rubbing his forehead. Without saying anything he stormed out of the house.

I filched at the sound of the door closed behind him. My breath got struck in my throat. I gulped. What was that just happened now? We almost kissed?!!

I looked at the closed door for a few minutes. He regret it. I feel a prick in my heart. Why?!! We already agreed that this is just a deal. We both will go our separate ways after everything sorted out. It's not like we love each other right. Then why is it hurting?!! Am I falling for him?!!

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I woke up hearing the door bell ringing continuously. I looked around and realized that I slept on the couch yesterday night. He didn’t come home yesterday after storming out.

I stretched my body a little and walked towards the door to open it. I opened the door and saw a man in his late 30’s wearing a black suit.

“Good morning mam, I am Naresh Yadav. I am Mr. Aryan's sectary. I was told to take you to Aryan's office. He said that you will be joining the Aryan’s as a staff.” He informed.

I looked at him in confusion. “Where is Mr. Aryan?” I asked. “He left to Dubai for a business meeting. He will be back after two weeks.” He said smiling.

The heaviness in my chest increased. “I will be ready in a few minutes.” I said.

“Sure thing. Then I will wait for you in the parking lot. Call me when you are ready.” He said while extending his card to me.

I took it and nodded my head before closing the door. I walked towards my room. My eyes were stinging. I couldn’t hold the tears when I entered the bathroom. They were flowing through my cheeks. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. He left the country without even informing me. Doesn’t I mean anything to him? Did he regret it that much?

I wiped my tears. Yeah, this is just a deal to him. A deal that allow him to get his stupid revenge. I am nothing in between that. I should also take it like that. What happened yesterday was just lust. Don’t let it get on your nerves, Harika. I signed determined.

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We were on the way to the Aryan’s office. I was looking outside. The car was moving like a snail due to the heavy traffic. I could see hawkers selling their goods, peddlers walking through the busy road. Students waiting for their buses, pot holes in the road filled with rain water, just like how the busiest city in the country should be.

“Excuse me mam, Mr. Aryan asked me to inform you about something.” Naresh told turning to me from the front seat. I looked at him. He looked hesitant. “What is it Naresh?” I asked.

“Hmm. That. Mr. Aryan told me that don’t tell anyone about your relationship for now. He said that he will tell everyone once he is back.” He said while looking down. I scoffed. So he don’t want to acknowledge me as his wife.

“Fine.” I said trying to not show my disappointment on my face and turned to look back at the road.

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The car stopped in front of a skyscraper, Aryan’s Enclave. Naresh led me to the elevator and we went straight to 60th floor. He led me to a door on which a sliver colour name board is attached. Siddharth Aryan, CFO, was written in golden letters on it. This might be his brother.

Naresh knocked and someone from inside asked us to come inside. The office was very specious. A black five seater sectional sofa was placed on the right side with a grey carpet underneath. A large glass table is placed in the centre of the room. And the back of it is covered in floor to ceiling glass windows. There was a young man sitting in the leather chair behind the glass table. He looked up and saw us. He gave a smile and stood from the chair. He is as tall as his brother and handsome too. I thought. He shake his hands with us.

“Hi. I am Siddharth Aryan. You might be Ms. Niharika Varma, the girl my brother told about.” He asked. I smiled and nodded. He asked us to take the seats before him.

“So my brother told that you are an MBA Finance graduate.” He asked.

“Yes.” I replied.

“So would you mind working as a financial assistant here?” he asked. “Its that you don’t have any previous experience in real estate. So let us see how fast you can learn. Then we will think of a better position for you. Is that ok with you?” he asked again.

I smiled. “Yes. I'm okay with it.” I said.

“Okay then. You can join from tomorrow. You will receive your offer letter by mail.” He said.

“Thank you.” I said with a happy face. I shook his hand and got up from the chair to leave.

“Excuse me Ms. Niharika.” He called me from behind. I turned and gave him a questioning look.

“How do you know my brother?” He asked with a serious face. Oops!! What should I tell now. I looked no where particular while thinking an excuse.

He chuckled. I looked at him. “Relax. I was just curious. This is the first time he is recommending for someone. That too for a girl. It's really surprising you know. So I thought you might be someone important.” He said with a teasing smile.

I gave a fake smile. Yeah I’m someone very important to him. Someone who provides him a lot of shares which allows him to rule an empire of a chain of hotels in the country.

I said goodbye to him and walked out of the office. Raghu dropped me back to the penthouse. I opened the doors and went inside. I went inside the kitchen and saw that the maid has already prepared the lunch and kept on the kitchen island before she left.

I washed my hands and ate the lunch by sitting on the small breakfast table placed in the kitchen. I was washing the dishes when my phone rang. I washed my hands and dried it in the kitchen towel and walked towards the living room. I took my phone from the sofa.

I looked at screen and saw an unknown number. I frowned and attended the call. I brought the phone to my ears with doubt. “Hello.” The familiar husky voice asked from the other side. My breath caught in my throat. My eyes started to burn. I bit my lips to stop them from trembling.

“Hmm. I hope everything went smooth in the office.” He said.

He left me without saying anything after yesterday night and this is what he ask first. I could feel my muscles tightening because of the anger raising in me. “Yeah. Everything went good. I can join the office from tomorrow.” I said without trembling. I took a deep breath. “And don’t worry. I didn’t say anything about our relationship. Anyways it’s going to end soon. So the less people know about this, the better.” I said with a serious tone.

“Niharika, I…” I heard him saying but I cut the call before he could complete it. My breath became heavy and my anger turned into tears. Such a idiot I am. I have completely fallen for him. And it hurts.