Chapter 8

 “Sorry Preeti work calling. I have to get to work. I hate to leave you but…” Gautam came back after the phone call. He was visibly disturbed.

“Anything… anything wrong? Can I help?” she asked concerned

“Nothing. Nothing at all. Urgent unavoidable work that’s all. Pick you at 7PM?”

She agreed and they kissed a quick peck on the lips. He dropped her to her office. She decided to get some work done instead of moping around at home. She almost immediately missed him. Nothing in her office interested her that day. Neither the chirpy banter of the younger colleagues nor her boss’s attempts to cheer her up were successful. He thought she still was upset about the impending loss of employment. There was something nagging at the back of her head. Oh God Rewa didi. She wanted to call her. Suddenly she felt guilty that she had almost forgotten her sister in her jest for a romp in the sack. She blushed… was it that? Just a romp? She immediately called Rewa.

“Hello Didi…”

“…Preeti dear… so good to hear you. I am so miserable. Ma and Bapu are just not letting me out of the house. They caught me meeting Suyash last evening when I had gone out on the pretext of visiting the parlour. Preeti…it’s horrible. Only you can do something. I don’t want to marry Vikram Singh…”

“…That’s his name? Vikram Singh?”

“Whatever it is Preeti, he is not Suyash… I can’t imagine my life with someone else besides Suyash… Preeti come soon…”

“…Yes didi…I called you to tell you I have applied for leave. As soon as it gets sanctioned I will take the next flight and come home…I Promise.”

“Ok… I will be waiting Preeti…” Rewa spoke in a meek voice and it killed her to hear her sister suffer.

She kept her phone on her table and rubbed her face… What would she do in Alwar. How could she help her sister? Should she ask Gautam? No he was strictly against her visiting Alwar. As she looked around the office she saw a new screen saver on her colleague’s laptop. It read,

‘Love is when you look into someone’s eyes and see everything you need.’

Was it how Rewa felt when she was with Suyash? She felt just that when she looked into his eyes as she came… It then struck her, her saviour had blue eyes. She always thought he did… was it her hallucination? Though she had no doubts Gautam was the same person who had saved her twelve years ago, she often wondered about his current brown eyes. Not that she had any complaints. They were the most expressive browns she had ever seen and it suited him. But why were his eyes blue those years ago? Did he wear cosmetic lenses? But why? Her list of questions was only increasing but there were no answers. The moment she thought about him her insides turned into mush and she forgot the world around her.

The next few days Preeti had a fixed routine. She woke up in the morning in his bed most of the time their limbs intertwined with each other. She realised she slept like a log following hot steamy sex the earlier night.  Sometimes she woke up even in the middle of the night when he would kiss her or finger her awake. Early mornings were usually filled with occasional shower encounters. Once, two days after she had been here,  she was in the bathroom longer than usual. He banged the door open and barged in. Before she could react he lifted her up in a fireman’s carry. She could only squeal. With a swift movement of his hand he pushed aside all the contents on the huge vanity unit near the sink. He made her sit on it and dragged her towards him. She was immediately wet in her apex looking at the passion in his eyes. She spread her legs. He pulled down his shorts and before her next breath he plunged inside.  She looked at him and saw the veins in his neck bulging as he grunted slamming into her again and again.  That did it for her and she shattered in his arms as he held her tightly towards him and rocked hard till he released with a loud cry.  The next day onwards that got included in the routine. He would enter the bathroom right after her. Sometimes he took her against the wall, sometimes on the vanity stand or sometimes he would use the hand shower to get her to climax. He would then kiss her deep and leave the bathroom for her to finish off her bath.

 One day during breakfast, she was setting the cooked eggs on their plates. He held her from the back and picked her up as she screamed flailing her legs in mid-air. He took her to the adjoining dining hall dropping her on the dining table. He took off her camisole and her inner garments with a speed which surprised her as she laughed. He took the tube of honey and to her shock he spilled it on her breast, stomach and her intimate dark triangle of curls. She shivered with the chill but she almost leapt out of her senses as he started to lick the honey off her body. He suckled her breasts their collective moaning vibrating the surroundings, he licked off every trace of the sweet thick liquid on her. He then reached her curls and that was something she would never forget. At first what started with a flip of the tongue soon developed into a full-fledged feast as he called it. He ate her up… She lost count of the nuber of times she had exploded on the table and when moments later he plundered her core, they came together with the biggest earthshattering climax. The very thought of it gave her the chills and she shivered all over again, riding the waves spreading through her body.

Every time they got together they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Preeti thought he was insatiable but she missed him too…she craved him, his body.  He had taught her to explore her own body and enjoy doing so. Just that morning, she woke up at her home because he was to get late earlier evening and they hadn’t met. Her need for him so blatantly urgent; she pushed her fingers through her hipster and found her moist folds. She put in a finger then two and circled her clit with her thumb. With the other hand she held her bed sheet unduly tight as she fell apart crying out his name and panting hard.

She blushed every time she thought about their encounters. Many times her colleagues caught her lost in thought or smiling. These days whenever she was with him, very often they spoke about her work, her hobbies, and her career. She had never opened up to anyone ever since she was in Mumbai. Her emotions were all bottled up. But with him she spoke about everything. Her neighbours, her family back home about whom she knew very little these days. She saw that he stiffened every time she mentioned Alwar so she refrained from talking about it. He too spoke about his shared love for cooking and that apparently his business was doing well. Though he only mentioned it in passing, it was a start; at least he spoke about himself. He said he had a family consisting of an aunt who brought him up when his parents died early and his younger sister who was married. He was almost fifteen years older than Preeti but looked younger because of his obsession with fitness. What would her parents or extended family say if she declared she wanted to marry him? Marry? Now where did that thought come from? She didn’t even know how he felt about her. There was only one way… she had to find out.

He hadn’t taken her back to the room on the second floor of his house. She was getting adventurous by the day. She wanted to try that as well…

That day her office was celebrating. Their jobs were safe. The branch wouldn’t close. They wanted to go out for dinner. But she hadn’t seen him for a day now and was missing him. She had texted him like she usually did from office but as usual he always read but never replied. Though he couldn’t keep his hands off her behind closed doors, outside he behaved as if couldn’t stand to touch her. At times she was confused but decided to take things slowly. She knew he was shy and loved his solitude. He had often mentioned that to her as they talked. Today her colleagues were not taking a no for answer and finally she agreed.  Their company had a tie up with a hotel nearby which housed their guests during important meetings. Their company had four branches across the country but most meetings were held in Mumbai because of logistic convenience. Another reason was the efficient staff under Preeti’s supervision. Today they had reserved half the diner in the hotel. There was a dance floor which had appealed to them. The drinks were sponsored by their boss. So by 8Pm she was at the venue in a shimmering black outfit with her shoulder length hair let down. She had barely applied makeup except for bright red wet shine lipstick. She had rarely partied in Mumbai but today she felt liberated and she had Gautam to thank for. He had induced some strange confidence in her and she felt light. She smiled as she imagined him whispering sweet nothing into her ears. She had to clench her thighs to stop the throbbing. She had to stop thinking about him… her juices threatened to overflow. Soon her colleagues joined her and after a round of drinks they all went to the dance floor. She didn’t like to dance so stayed for a while watching them.

Suddenly a waiter approached her. “Excuse me ma’am, this is for you.” He handed her a little envelope. Strange, she thought looking around. She opened the envelope and there was a folded letter. She slowly opened it wondering who sent it.

Come upstairs… room No 306. I am Hungry…

                                                                  -GR

Oh My God… He was here. She couldn’t contain her excitement. She made an excuse to a fellow colleague and rushed to the elevator. Soon she was panting in anticipation as she stood outside 306. She knocked softly. The door jerked open and he stood wearing his black shorts. His eyes gleamed as they took in her appearance. . She fiddled with her purse and looked down at her trembling fingers. He held her hand and suddenly pulled her in. He held her shoulders in front of him and kept looking at her. She saw emotion in his beautiful eyes. Wait…was he…was he crying?

He pulled her to him and held her tightly as if scared that she would disappear if his hold was loose. He buried his nose in her hair and whispered, “I… I… I want you… right now…”

“Me too.. take me fast…Gautam…please… fast…”

In the next moment she was out of her clothes and on the bed. He came to her on the bed and suddenly flipped her on top of him.

“Ride me…” He said with a breathy voice.

She was mesmerised and adjusted her position to slide him in her warmth.  Keeping her arms of his chest to support herself she started moving up and down. He raised his hips to match her movement so she felt him touch her intimate points as soon as she sat on him. He held her bouncing globes in his hands and kneaded them.  As their movements increased pace he pinched her nipples and at the same time hardened inside her. She rose up the sensory whirlpools of delirious intensity and fell on his chest totally spent, as he pulsed his release within. He rubbed her back with a constant rhythm and soon she drifted off to sleep.

When she woke up she was alone on the bed. It was midnight. She yawned and she pulled the sheet around her and started to look for him. She saw him in the balcony of the beautiful suite. He was looking at the dark world outside with hands on his hips. As if he knew she has come he turned around. He opened his arm and she went into his embrace. He held her close and kissed her head.

“ Gautam…”

“yea..”

“I… want to…. Um… try that…um…”

“try what dear?”

“…um… that room in your house… the red room…”

Silence. Did she upset him?

He took in a deep breath and looked at her. “Are you sure Preeti?”

“Gautam…I don’t know about being sure but I.. I trust you…totally.”

He hugged her and kissed her forehead.  “Then tomorrow…it’s a promise. Pick you at 7PM.”

She spent the whole of next day tingled in anticipation of the evening to come. She had worked up most of her demons as far as physical intimacy was concerned. She had never ever dreamt of arriving at this stage. She still had a long way to go as far as her nightmares and fears existed…but she now had the confidence to cope up. She had Gautam with her. She was in love. She didn’t get the nightmare these days. It was because of him. She was deep into this now…

But the question remained… was he into her or was it just physical for him? Did…did…he love her?

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 7

She was stunned to silence by her fast arrhythmic heart beats and the deep pools of desire in her core. His hungry mouth traced a trail up her inner thighs leaving her trembling for more. He grazed the other thigh and moved towards her centre. He adjusted his shoulders beneath her thighs and raised her buttocks with his hands cupping her globes behind. She was on her elbows straining to look at him and then fell back on the bed breathing heavily biting her lower lip. She prided herself on being prepared for any eventuality in her life but for once she didn’t know what to anticipate…

She felt his breath on her soft folds before he kissed her there. His stubble felt so soft and soothing to her nerves that she wanted him to be there permanently. A shiver passed through her. He looked up at her again. She came up on her elbows again. She had to watch him. If she want turned on already then a vision of his mouth on her mound did it in. He used his fingers to separate her lips down there and licked her right at her core. Holy Shit… she felt her arousal stream out of her crevice. Her head fell back as she started to find her breath. He licked her up and touched her bud. He took the clit between his thumb and index finger and pressed on it. With his other index finger he circled her opening and she spread her legs inviting him, further. She could hear her own moans as he sucked and pressed. Slowly he pushed his index finger inside. She thought she would be repulsed at the invasion but she liked it… loved it and that brought down her anxiety. He slowly started moving the finger in and out of her wetness. She found herself holding his head and raising her hips further to match his strokes with her own. The tide was rising within her. He bit her inner thigh and pinched her clit simultaneously as he moved his fingers deftly. She screamed as the waved of orgasm travelled through her violently down to her curls. He continued to finger her finding those ridges within her intimate walls which were still in spasm.  She exploded all over again on his finger clinging to his head as she sailed in pure ecstasy.

 She must have dozed off. She felt a warm cloth touching her mound.  She raised her head but felt limp after the mind blowing orgies she had felt just moments ago. She was eager for more. She felt the last few spasms still passing through her body as he touched her down there and she closed her thighs catching his hands between them. He increased his pressure as he stared into her eyes. At that moment something shifted in her heart. Was she falling for him even deeper then before?

“I want…you” She muttered softly.

He was in his boxers and she could see the bulge making a tent right in front. She was aroused all over. He lifted her like earlier and carried her out of the room. She gasped as he marched downstairs towards a bedroom. She yelped into his shoulder as he kicked open the door to his bedroom. He deposited her softly on his bed. She felt the soft covers beneath her back.  She felt the bed dip as he joined her. She could feel him breathing hard. He climbed above her and balanced himself on his elbows on either side of her face.  He looked into her eyes and said, “When I claim you it will be on this bed and not in some kinky room.”

He bent and claimed her lips. The waves of passion as their tongues met rose so high she could feel the storm begin inside her body. Continuing his kiss he removed his boxers in a jiffy. She jerked up as she felt his hardness at the entrance to her core. She tightened her hold on his arms. He raised his head and looking into her eyes with a smouldering look said, “Preeti you trust me don’t you?”

“Yesss” she whispered.

He moved away quickly and was back with the condom sheathing his manhood. He held her thighs apart and positioned his shaft at her entrance. She closed her eyes in anticipation of pain as per what she had read and heard. But he moved his body upwards, his organ sliding along the slit of her essence. Oh God that felt…heavenly. She opened her eyes to see him look into hers. He kissed her and moved downwards towards her breasts. She was so focussed on the impending invasion that she jumped when he took her rosy pink nipple between his lips and sucked pulling it deep into his mouth. She had barely felt the raging storm because of the sensation at her bosom that she didn’t realise he had entered her. It pained very slightly and in a moment he was housed completely inside her wetness.  It dawned on her that he had diverted her mind to reduce her anxiety about… penetration. She pulled his head towards her face and kissed him hard on the lips. He slid out and then plunged deep inside her. The sensation so overwhelming that she arched her body above the bed. He rocked back and forth gradually setting into a rhythm. She folded her legs around him and raised her hips to match his rhythm. Every time he hit a point deep inside her, the storm within her raised a notch higher. His tongue did the trick in her mouth as he devoured her.

Finally he increased his pace. He dipped his finger down near their union and pinched her clit. She screamed into his mouth as the storm broke her barriers and washed through her jerking her body. Before she could come down he rode her like a maniac and threw his head back as he roared his release inside her. Not before she had another wave of orgasm sweeping through her body. He collapsed on top of her digging his head in her neck. They held each other, clinging to each other all sweaty and spent.

A while later as she lay half asleep in his arms him stroking her arms underneath the covers, her head on his chest, he asked. “Preeti, are you hungry?”

“Hmmm.. no. I mean I am hungry but more sleepy… mmm.” She kissed his chest and shut her eyes. His hold on her tightened and she hugged him as well.

She must have slept of immediately. And for once in years she had a complete undisturbed sleep. Without any dreams to haunt her.

She awoke with a sharp prod on her lower back. She opened her eyes and was a little disoriented. It was then the last nights events came back into her mind. She blushed as she felt the warmth behind her back. She was lost to the world deep in slumber and didn’t know when he had moved them to spoon her. Not that she was complaining. Was he awake? At least his member was as she felt it close to her ass cheeks. She pushed her bottom towards him. His hand lying on her hip tightened its hold and he pulled her further towards him. He kissed her ears and bit the cartilage as he whispered, “Good morning beautiful”

Her insides turned mush as he raised her leg closest to him and positioned himself at her apex. She too adjusted her pelvis to accommodate him as he slowly entered her. She raised herself up on her elbow sideways to orient her body properly. He took the leeway offered and moved his other hand from beneath her and caught her breast. She almost peaked but the slamming into her tenderness reignited another spark which was slowly turning into a blaze within. Within moments he pinched the bossom he was fondling she was ablaze with euphoria. Before the embers could cool he erupted inside her with a growl so hard his vibrations seeped through her body and touched her deep.

She collapsed on him and he in turn on the bed, both trying to breathe hard getting down gradually from the peaks they just scaled.

He prepared a bath for her and went off to prepare breakfast. She stepped into the bathtub of a simple but elegant bathroom. She had messaged her boss she wouldn’t be coming to work and would complete her reports and email them from home. Gautam had smiled and had kissed her when he had seen her type the message. She smiled and closed her thighs as the sensation arising from the kiss hit her again. The warm water soothed her sore opening down below. She didn’t know if she could sustain another round. But if the flutter in her heart was to be considered she was ready. The very thought of doing it again with him set her core throbbing. She smiled as she finished her bath. As she emerged the aroma of something appetising reached her. She quickly wore the clothes he had kept out for her; her inners were of the perfect size. How did he know her size? He had kept a long black skirt with white silk blouse. They fit her as if tailor made for her. They looked new. Did the clothes belong to someone else? A girlfriend…. No she rubbished the thought in her head. He seemed like an expert in what they did last night and early morning… then there was that room upstairs. She had read about kink. But did he get women here? How many before her? She shuddered to even think of it. She didn’t want to ruin her mood. He hadn’t committed anything to her and she was the one who had pushed him. She took in a deep breath and went towards the kitchen.

The vision that met her was something she would remember for a long time to come. Gautam stood at the kitchen platform flipping a paratha … Really? The man had cooked Paratha? He was only in a white bath towel and was swaying to some music playing through the earphones, his back towards her. His well-toned back which she had scratched and hugged and kissed…

“If you are done staring…can we eat?” She was shaken from her thoughts. How did he know she was here? He turned around and smiled. Gesturing her to the adjacent dining hall he placed the pot of tea…oh my God.. Chammomile tea. Her favourite. Next he brought the stack of steaming parathas and white butter. Wow…cauliflower parathas, again her favourite. Her mouth watered. He got their plates and offered her a chair. Once seated he didn’t let her serve them but instead did the honours himself. He made sure she had at least two while he downed six! The chamomile tea calmed her nerves even further.

She asked, “How did you know I like this…in fact love all this?”

He kept looking at her. He stood from his chair opposite hers and came on to the one next to hers. Immediately her heart leapt. He held her by her shoulder and pulled her close to him. He bent his head in her hair and breathed in her shampoo. She had loved the fragrance when she had used it. He coiled a lock of her unruly curl.

“Hmm… you smell great…”  He bent further and nipped at the crook of her neck. “…hmmm delicious enough to eat…” Her core was throbbing, her insides pulsing.

Just then a phone rang somewhere in the distance. He shot up an annoyed look and gave her a quick peck on her cheek before leaving the room.

She heard him answer the call and his voice faded away.

She collected the empty plates and carried them to the kitchen sink. She was so used to doing her own chores even before coming to Mumbai that this kind of waiting upon seemed too frivolous. Oh… a girl could get used to this. As she turned after washing the last dish and hanging it in the stand, she saw his t shirt which he had hung on the stool in the corner. She reached out held it close to her face. It smelled of him. Oh how much she loved it she could spend a lifetime with it. She suddenly looked up as realisation struck her. She was in love with him… probably always was.

Oh God, she didn’t know if he even remotely felt anything for her. Yes, he was her protector. They were yet to talk about … the incident. She was yet to get answers to the unending questions swirling in her head. She didn’t even know who he was besides his first name. And she had willingly submitted herself to him. Now what did that make her? To her surprise, she didn’t feel an ounce of guilt.  She wasn’t an avid reader but once she had read a quote by Paul Coelho.

Say ‘NO’ without guilt

Say ‘Yes’ without fear.

And she had done both!

She realised her heart was in trouble. Deep trouble.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 6

The wall opposite the bed was filled up with… Oh my God, were they whips? She walked wide eyed towards the side wall. Different kinds of whips lay hanging from beautifully moulded hooks. She ran a finger over them. They were very soft feather like. But each had a different texture. Her skin tingled where she felt them each giving her a different sensation. Some whips were hard and some, a combination of the two. She shuddered to think what it would feel on her body. Strangely, it created a sense of anticipation more than fear. Her insides were fluttering already. Did all this feel like how she was doing now? She looked at the adjacent wall. Here were handcuffs made from different materials. Sponge, rexin, steel, molded plastic, satin, velvet and fur. She touched all of them and once again her senses were all over. She was breathing heavily. She was aroused just by the surroundings and he hadn’t even touched her… She then saw scarfs, different lengths and different materials as well as different length of cloth pieces and ties, of varying materials. Next was a wardrobe with drawers. She didn’t know if she wanted to see what was in them. Already it was information overload. She looked into the adjoining mirror and gasped to see him standing right behind her staring intently with those beautiful browns. The other lights were off she didn’t even realise when he had done it. Only the light focussing on them was left on.  His hands were drawn into fists hanging on his sides and she could see he was struggling for control. Looking at him in the mirror she moved her hand behind and gripped his palm. He immediately grasped her hands and pulled her towards him, her back touching his front. He bent his head and whispered into her ear.

“Just look into the mirror. Just enjoy. It’s all about you today…”

Her breath caught at the feel of his breath in her ear. He interlocked their fingers and nipped at her neck. She bent her neck giving him better access. He kissed, bit, sucked and blew on it continuously. She could hear her moan as she tightened her grip. He rubbed his erection at her lower back but instead of being repulsed she realised she wanted it more. She pushed her dearie behind and smiled as she heard him grunt and nip her neck a little harder. He moved to her ear and licked her pinna. He bit it gently and she almost came in her pants. He left her hand and held her hips. He ground his arousal against her. She was so overwhelmed she lost her energy and bet forward supporting her weight on the stand before the mirror. But the position further pushed her backside against him and he increased his pace.

“Preeti-look-at-me.” He spoke with a strained voice. She obeyed and looked at him in the mirror. He was sweating, his jaw was clenched.   

“Now…touch-your nipples…I can see them pebbled up…”

She looked at her chest. Indeed her arousal was visible on her chest. She rose up and with trembling hands touched her breasts. She then looked at him with inviting eyes. His hands left her hips and held her palms over her breasts. Slowly, he pressed them and she squeaked arching her back. He sucked her earlobe and rubbed his hands over hers on her breasts and pressed them alternating with the circular motions. She could feel the building up of the pressure within her core. Her insides started to clench. Slowly she withdrew her hands from under his on her chest so that he was now directly holding her breasts.

“Preeti…” He whispered. She nodded and raised her hand to pull his head down from the back and raised her mouth to kiss him. The action caused her chest to further push in his palms and he now slowly fondled her bosoms. He also continued to grind her from the back and met her lips with his own. He was ravenous on her lips and at the same time pinched her nipples through her tank top. That was her undoing. She screamed into his mouth as she shattered. He didn’t leave her mouth as he kept up with his hands, and rubbing her at the back with his manhood. She leapt up once again as he came too, with a guttural sound muffled in their kiss. She went limp in his arms as he released her mouth. He held her close and put another arm under her knees and lifted her. She put her arms around his neck and buried her head in his chest as he carried her to the bed. He laid her on the four poster bed and kissed her forehead. As he rose to leave she held his hand, with both of hers.

“Hey, I will just be back alright? I er… need to get cleaned up.” He smiled at her as she reluctantly let him go. He entered the attached bathroom.

He had switched on the single piece of light above the bed where she could only see the ceiling with it’s beautiful carvings and the light casting a shadow of those carvings adjacent to each other. It raised her mood.

She was struggling to keep her eyes open as she heard the water running. That was an awesome feeling. Was it what they call… an orgasm? She shuddered clenching her thigh as the aftermath of the waves passed through her again. She had never touched herself. She could never get herself to do it after…

She heard him emerge from the bathroom. He had changed into a loose T shirt and black cotton shorts. Something between them had changed today. He came close to her.

“Come Preeti let me take you to your room. You can sleep there. I have um… kept some clothes for you. You freshen up while I get dinner.”

She was hungry…yes. But not hungry for food. She realised with a jolt that she wanted him. For the first time in her life she was carnally attracted to a man… not any man. She wanted HIM… only him. As he bent to lift her she held his hand.

“Gautam…” she whispered.  As he looked at her with his penetrating brown orbs she said, “… take me…”

“Yes Preeti. I am taking you…”

She tightened her hold on his hand and shook her head. “Um…I mean…TAKE me Gautam…please. I want more… beyond what just happened. I mean… Gautam…please be my first.” She looked at him with tears threatening to spill.

He smiled his rare smile and sat next to her on the bed. He held her cheeks and gave her a quick kiss on her lips. “Preeti, I have never wanted anything so badly as… you. It’s been torturous for me to stay away especially after I had a little taste. But… your first time should be… should be with someone who deserves you, cherishes you. Not the likes of me…”

“…No…” She cut him short. “…I don’t want anyone else. I never wanted anyone else. Its… it’s always been you Gautam…. But if…you don’t want this then….”

Before she could complete her sentence he slammed his lips into her. She fell on her side on the bed and he was sprawled upon her. Immediately he turned on his back taking her along so she was now on top of him. He held her cheeks and kissed her like there was no tomorrow.   As their tongues clashed she clutched his t shirt.

He moved his hands on her back and slowly raised her tank top upwards. He moved his palms along her back tentatively. She stiffened and looked up from the kiss. He didn’t remove his hands but his touch was soft.  She relaxed and dropped her head on his chest.  He moved his hands further upwards and unhooked her bra. Her breathing became erratic and her grip on his t shirt tightened further.

“Are you alright?” He asked huskily. She nodded feeling his growing erection near her thighs. Her senses were all haywire.

He turned her so that she was now under him. He balanced himself extricating her hands from his t shirt. Very gradually he removed her top and gently moved her bra as well. She was topless now shivering underneath his heat.

“Preeti…let me touch you?” His voice was barely a whisper.

She shut her eyes tight and nodded. He used his finger and traced a line from the base of her neck to the left breast. Each of the touches drawing a shiver out of her. He was holding on to his control threatening to snap anytime.  He caught a breast in his palm. Her breath caught as she felt his rough hand on her smooth delicate skin. She felt her nipple pebble instantly calling for his attention.

“look…at me Preeti..” His voice barely audible.

She opened her eyes and saw his face was approaching her breast in his hand. Without breaking eye contact he kissed the tip and as she panted he took the beaded pink tip in his mouth. He sucked and pulled gently. At the same time his other hand took control of the other breast and he held that nipple between his thumb and index finger. As he sucked this he also gave a gentle pull to the other breast. Her breath was now coming in short gasps as she pushed her chest further into him. She could feel the rising tide within her. All that she could hear was the suckling sounds from him and her moans which were getting more and more intense.  The room itself had contributed to the rise of heat within her. Just as quickly he gave her nipple a little bite and she saw lighter behind her eyelids as she arched her body and screamed shattering into a million pieces…

He still didn’t release her. She held his head closer as if her life depended on it. Reflexively she spread her legs to accommodate him further and before she knew she closed them around him.  He released her bud with a pop as she still trembled with the aftermath of her newest orgasm. He removed his t shirt and she opened her mouth to gawk at his super toned abs. She raised her hands instinctively and touched him. She heard him catch his breath as she moved her hands across his torso.

As she touched his stomach and came further down towards his hips he caught her hands.

“You continue that and I am not going to last. This is about you Preeti… ABOUT YOU. Let me show you…”

She was so overwhelmed she couldn’t stop the tear from escaping down her cheek. He bent and kissed it away. She felt his chest with bare minimum hair prickling her sensitive skin. She further arched her back wanting to feel him more. He gave her a quick kiss on her lips and moved downwards towards kissing her everywhere, on the neck, breasts, ribs, stomach, lower abdomen and he touched the button of her jeans and looked up into her eyes. As if asking her. She raised her hips. He opened the buttons and with feather like touch on her skin he pulled her jeans lower and then got them out of her feet. She lay before him in a piece of white scrap covering her core but she wasn’t conscious. In fact the way he was looking at her with his shining brown eyes as if she was the most desirable woman in the world clenched her insides. He sat on his hunches in between her legs. As he looked into her eyes he held the edges of her panties in his fingers. She was now trembling with desire and a need she had never felt before.  Her panties followed the path of her jeans and she now lay bare before him. This time there was no fear… only desire waiting on the brim.

She looked wide eyed as he dipped his head towards her deepest juncture, her heat…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 5

…he tore off her clothes and held her hands down on either side and bit her lips so hard she tasted blood… ‘No…No…please don’t… NOOO…’what was that banging noise… someone was calling out her name…

“Preeti…Preeti…open the door… it’s me…”

She jolted upright her palpitations still on. She held a hand to her chest to calm her erratic heart. As always she was crying…like she did everytime she had the nightmare… She checked the time it was 2AM

She walked upto the door and opened it. He stood there in his vest and pants.

He held her cheeks and wiped her tears off with his thumbs…

“..Preeti…”

She leapt into his arms sobs breaking out of her body as if she had never cried before. Her arms around his neck she held him tight. She was on her toes as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. He lifted her and took her near the bed. After a few seconds he released her and made her lie down on the bed. He sat next to her and ran his index finger down her face. He bent down and kissed her forehead. Before he could rise up again she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him towards her. He straightened alongside her and kissed her. Initially a few pecks on her lips to check if she was ready… but she opened her mouth and that was the invitation he needed to enter her softness. She touched his stubble… oh how much she was coming to love it… she held his head on either side as he deepened his exploring… She raised her torso to feel his chest. Before she knew he was on her. His legs on either side of her hips and supporting himself on his arms on either side of her chest… she pulled him towards her and he obliged. He took a tentative hand towards her breast and touched it…she stiffened. That ended the moment even before it started.  He rose above her and moved away…and sat on the edge of the bed with his elbows on his knees, hunched down breathing heavily…

She got up and sat on the bed hugging her knees. “…I…I..I am so…sorry Ga…Gautam…I… can’t…get that out of my head… So…sorry…”

He stood up and turned towards her. He came close to her and sat on the bed.

“ Preeti, do I scare you?”

She shook her head denying it.

“Have you… had you ever let anyone…touch you…I mean intimately?”

She shook her head again. She had calmed down by now the panic had passed. She looked at at him and said softly, “I…um… I could never let anyone touch me…you… you were the first to even kiss me… I wont deny, I had a couple of so called boyfriends… but…both left me…. You must be knowing it right?  They left because I didn’t let them close. But you know Gautam, I didn’t feel anything when they left. In fact I was relieved. But today… today I am miserable… I want you Gautam… I want you so badly…I don’t know who you are but still feel I have known you since ages….”  He raised his hand to cup her cheek she held that palm within hers and said, “…um… can I ask you a favour Gautam?”

He nodded giving her the go.

“ok… I…I want to … you know… I want to feel it… feel the union of two bodies… I have only read about orgasms but I want to feel it too… I don’t want the memories of my past to ruin my today…” She tightened her grip on his palm and said, “… will you… will you be my first?… I cant imagine myself with anyone else… you know me…everything about me….”

He pulled her towards him and hugged her tight. He dug his head into her hair and took in the shampoo fragrance. “Preeti…  I don’t deserve it but it would be my honour to abide by what you just said, to pleasure you. I promise you… you will experience intimacy. I promise you will erase the bad memories and replace them with what we create. I promise you will love your body and love to pleasure it. But…”

“…but what?” She asked anxiously looking up at him.

“But…Preeti you will have to trust me on this… can you.”

She pulled his hand towards her chest and said, “Gautam, if there is anyone I trust with…this… it’s you. But please be patient with me alright?”

He must have felt her anxiety rising. “I promise, YOU will be setting the pace and YOU will be taking the lead… I will only guide you where you may need. You may take all the time in the world…I don’t care about that…”

She hugged him tight and nodded into his chest.

“Ok Then tomorrow to be precise today evening be ready by 7PM. Dress casual. We will go out… I will take you somewhere… ok?”

She looked questioningly at him but nodded.

He left her apartment early morning with a promise to meet her that evening.

The whole day in office was spent in anticipation. If she was upset about being fired it didn’t show on her face. In fact she wasn’t even thinking about it. She went about her work robotically and couldn’t wait to leave the office. Her colleagues sent her questionable look when they caught her blushing lost in thought.

She was waiting with a bated breath as the clock neared 7PM. She had worn a faded blue jeans pant and baby pink tank top, her favourite outfit. She only put on a pink lipstick.

The doorbell rang sharp at 7Pm and she could feel the bounce in her steps as she rushed to answer the door. He stood there leaning against the frame with his trademark black clothes top to bottom.  He came in shutting the door behind him.

He held her cheeks and whispered, “You are so… so beautiful…” He claimed her lips. She snaked her hands around his neck going on her toes. His stubble felt soft around her mouth. He was a little aggressive in his kiss this time as if he was starved. But she didn’t complain. She felt cherished. She heard a moan and realised it was from her throat. He instantly ended the kiss and rested his forehead on hers. “You… are the death of me Preeti… One more minute here with you and I will forget what I am here for.  Common lets go…” He took her hand and dragged her out of the house.  She saw he had got his car a black coloured Maruti Swift Desire. What was it with this man and black colour?

He drove as if there was no tomorrow her heart was in her throat but she liked the adrenaline rush. For once she wanted to just let go and enjoy herself. It was dark when they arrived in a secluded area. He parked the car in a garage and got down walking towards her. She got out of the car but immediately clutched his hands terrified of the closed dimly lit space.

He held her close to his and said, “Hey don’t worry. This is my home. No one else comes here without my consent. And right now there is no one but you.”

Her heart beats were still on the higher side.  He held her by the shoulders and softly asked, “Preeti, do you trust me?”

She nodded. He continued. “Then just relax ok? There is no rush to do anything. Just enjoy yourself. And don’t worry about anything. Let me take care of you alright?”

She smiled and hugged him feeling better instantly. He held her near the elbow and took her to a door in one of the garage walls. He unlocked it using biometrics and let her enter a beautiful foyer. He followed her shutting the heavy door and setting the locks in place. The foyer was beautifully lit with a circular wall bordering it. The granite below her feet felt good to walk in her sneakers. There was a lovely chandelier right above where she stood the entire foyer getting lit with the hue thrown by the numerous miniature LED bulbs in it.  On the floor right in the centre there was a centrepiece made of marble with a statue of a galloping horse on it in red marble. It was exquisitely designed and she couldn’t take her eyes off it. “WOW” she exclaimed. He stood behind her and hugged her from the back. She initially stiffened but within a moment melted into his chest resting her head on his shoulder as she took in the murals. The art was class apart but what struck her was the use of desert landscape. There were camels and nomads pictured but the most striking picture was of a fort right in the centre. It was more like a ruin. But why did he have it there? She turned in his arms and asked him. “Why is that fort painted there? I mean…its in ruins isn’t it? Which fort is it?”

He released his hands and walked towards the painting. He touched the fort and turned around. “Someday this will be a complete picture…that’s a promise. “

Before she could ask anything else he held her hand and asked. “Want a tour of the house?”

She nodded and they started on the only flight of stairs she saw in that place. She couldn’t help but touch the beautiful and soft wooden railings with wonderful carvings on them. They went to the first floor and he showed her the drawing room. It was huge with light blue walls. There were two small chandeliers that lit up the area. One wall was filled with murals just like in the foyer.  Again, it was landscape of Rajasthan to begin with but it changed to barren terrain with only rocks and no vegetation or people. The fort was there too. Why was it so? She didn’t bother to ask. He would tell her when he felt like…she hoped. The other walls were barren with only the light blue coloured paint. There were no personal photos or anything that even remotely described him as a person or…his family. There was a huge bookshelf throughout one wall. Most of the books she noted were on the history… So he must like ancient history. That’s why the paintings?

There was a huge French window which was shut and curtained floor length. She hoped to enjoy the breeze at that window someday.

He held her hand and showed her the three huge bedrooms and the kitchen.  All bedrooms were identical with attached bathrooms. There too the walls were all bare. She wanted to ask him a lot of questions about him, his family among the other things. She decided she would do it soon.

She loved the spotless modular kitchen with all the latest paraphernalia. Since she loved to cook she knew she could spend her lifetime in this kitchen!!

As they finished the tour of the first level he looked at her again as if he was anxious and spoke softly. “Nervous?”

She held him around his torso and looking up shook her head. “No…not nervous with you around”

“Okay… now for what we have come here.” He held her hand and interlocking their fingers took her to the second level. There was only one room with the door locked. The door was huge and innately carved red wood. What a beauty, she thought as she touched the carving. He took a key out of his jacket pocket and asked her, “Preeti. Do you trust me?”

“Why do you ask so many times Gautam? I… of course I trust you. Else I wouldn’t be here…”

‘Preeti look at me. I am going to take you on a journey alright? Just enjoy. Remember, it’s all about you and your pleasure… and if you feel otherwise anytime you just have to tell me. I will stop then and there…”

She nodded. What was he talking about?

He opened the lock and pushed the heavy door open. The lights came on. It was something she had only heard but never seen. It was a huge room now filled with yellowish light but the overall hue was red… There was a huge poster bed with a soft leather bed and couple of pillows on it. There were curtains not just on the adjoining wall but on the wood surrounding the bed as well. There were some kind of ropes hanging from the ceiling…there were four of them. They looked like stirrups like the one used to climb up a horse. The night lamp on the side stand, had cast a lovely glow inviting her towards the bed. Her breathing was quickening with every passing second.  

  What was this place? Who really was he and most important question of all what was she doing here?

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 4

12 years ago…

Her parents… to be precise her, mother alone along with her tayiji arrived at the hospital to take her home.  She had spent over a month in the hospital room… She had found out… to her utmost disappointment she had no visitors from her home during that duration. That meant only ‘he’ was here for her, taking care of her both physically and mentally. The doctors were happy with her progress too. She had tried subtly asking the nurses on duty about her mystery man but no one seemed to know anything about him. It was as if he had appeared and disappeared in midair… They all jested that she had been hallucinating given her situation and injuries. At the same time they were surprised she didn’t have any contractures or any kind of stiffness and bedsores. There was a physiotherapist who came daily during her stay in the hospital. But she knew for sure… he was there. He had actually saved her life and nursed her back to health.

She didn’t speak a word with her mother and aunt till they arrived home. There was absolutely no change in her house… no one welcomed her, not her extended family, not the servants…no one. She was taken to her room and made to lie down her lunch sent upstairs to her room itself. No one spoke about anything. She wanted to talk. She wanted to vent out…

Later that evening her father and Tayaji came home earlier than usual. She hoped they would at least enquire about her but they were soon followed by the police and she was summoned. She slowly made her way down the stairs and saw grim faces of her father and uncle as the police inspectors were discussing something with each other. There were three of them.  As she came downstairs they all stood up. She expected her father to come up to her and encourage her…offer her some support. But nothing like that happened. She slowly made her way to the couch and sat there. A long poignant silence followed.

“Inspector…” Her father spoke in his stern voice breaking the ice. “…you may ask what you want and please make it quick. We don’t have all day…”

Really …that’s it? That’s all he had to say?

The senior most police man cleared his throat and said, “Ms. Sengar, I know you have been through a lot but we have to catch the culprit… So, tell us from the beginning…”

Preeti had rehearsed this many times as she rested. She remembered the mystery man’s warning. So she said softly, “…um… we were returning from school… I slept off in the car… when I woke up I was hurt and Sukhi uncle and Rohit…” She looked at her father who had unshed tears in his eyes and felt guilty. Survivors guilt probably. Tears prickled her eyes as well… could she have saved Rohit if she hadn’t slept off? And how did they land up in that alley? These were questions she would never have answers to… unless she met him.  Taking in a deep breath she said, “…I found myself badly beaten up…it was dark in that place and there were few men…I don’t know how many… But one of them kicked me and slapped me and… the next I remember waking up in the hospital…” She blinked back tears shuddering. The memory of that place itself got goose bumps, though she omitted most of the parts. Luckily it must have coincided with whatever the doctors must have told them. They asked a couple of questions more… and then started to leave. One of them Inspector Tanveer Raisingh, turned back and gave her a card. “Ms. Sengar, if you remember anything else please contact me directly. Take care of yourself.”

As they were leaving, her father and uncle stood up too. Her uncle said in his deep baritone. “Inspector I hope you have had your questions answered. We hope this meeting with our daughter will be kept under wraps. We don’t want the world to know that she was held against her will”

What? They didn’t want to learn the truth? Not even knowing Rohit’s killers?

After that day her father rarely ever spoke with her. Even communication with her mother had become sparse. She was always grieving her son. Maasa was the only one who was still the same. Her grandmother even at the age of eighty was going strong and had a little voice in the male dominated household. It was on her insistence that she was allowed to finish her schooling and go to college.  Rewa didi was also very close to her.

In the six years following the incident she tried her best to subtly find out what exactly had happened that day… but she still couldn’t figure out so many questions. Why were they targeted… was it because of ransom money? Then why kill Rohit? They would have secured more ransom… her father would have raised heaven and hell and given in to their demands.  And… what was about the locker and the map? She was always lost on the sea of questions where each question only gave rise to few of its own. She tried asking maasa many times indirectly about any lockers or maps…but never got any answer.

Only one thing was constant. The feeling of being watched. Every time she travelled to college or market, temple…she had this hair rising sensation. She rarely ventured out alone. Either it was in the car with her mother or Tayiji or Rewa didi accompanying her or it was her group of school and college friends. Once or twice when she was walking alone a group of local boys eve teased her… They apologized to her the very next day and never even looked at her after the episodes. She somehow knew he had to do something with it.  If only he would speak with her. Her anxiety levels kept increasing because of uncertainties. But in some twisted way he kept her sane.

 Mostly instead of being scared she felt a sense of safety.  But within her heart she was never the same carefree stubborn girl with dreams . She was now distrusting… always watching her back, had constant nightmares… rarely had any friends…

 One day she overheard her uncle and father talking about the business not doing well… That made it clear to her why Rewa Didi was still not married.

‘…get out of Alwar…’

His statement always kept buzzing in her ears.

So she made up her mind and once she finished her diploma she started looking for jobs in faraway cities. Unfortunately since she didn’t have a degree it was difficult to get a well-paying job but this company in Mumbai agreed to hire her. She announced the same night at the dinner table about her decision to go to Mumbai… and to her surprise her father did not object… nor did anyone else react. Maasa was upset but she eventually agreed. Rewa didi cried her heart out… she would miss talking to her.  Her mother was indifferent. She just packed her bags and gave her cash and food for her journey to Mumbai.

Today ….

Preeti was on cloud nine today… He was meeting her over dinner today. Her insides were mush thinking about the kiss they shared yesterday. She could never come close to any male because of the incident those years ago. Men always repelled her. But with him she was…. She couldn’t name the emotion… she was carefree… knew he would have her back…he would catch her when she stumbled…

But today evening she had to control herself…she had to get some answers from him. He wasn’t forthcoming but she had to try. She took leave from her office and painstakingly prepared an elaborate meal. She was a good cook but didn’t know what he may like. She had prepared Gatte ki sabzi, Tangy kadhi, steamed rice, rotis and mirchi bada… She had purchased Gulab jamuns for dessert…  As the clock approached seven, she was dressed in her figure hugging gown, one of her splurges after a performance bonus few months back. She often wore clothes which covered the mark on her neck… or used concealers. But today she didn’t bother. If there was someone who knew about it…its story…it was him. He was the only one she didn’t have to hide the mark from…

Her doorbell rang sharp at 7pm….of course…he had to be punctual…on time…who would know that better than her?

With her heart thumping in anticipation of what was to come she opened the door. He stood dressed in complete black just like yesterday. What was it about this man and black colour? Not that he looked bad…in fact he looked so good her heart fluttered …  and those eyes… they were like the ocean full of the swirling waters the waves of emotions brimming to rise up high….His stubble… she longed to feel its softness against her cheeks as he….

She must have been staring at him. He cleared his throat. “..er… Preeti…can I come in?”

She blushed and stepped aside. He filled her house…such was his persona.

“…um…will you have some juice? Orange?” she was wringing her fingers.. He almost smiled as he came close to her. He took her hand in his and rubbed her palms with his thumbs. She caught her breath.

“Preeti…?” he said so softly she felt something in her tummy. “…you don’t have to be nervous around me… got it?”

She only nodded. “.I… I… will g…get that juice…” She released her hands and rushed into the kitchen.

As they sat on her couch, she switched on her TV and connected Netflix… “Any particular choice of movie?” she asked.

Why did she want to watch a movie… had she lost it…?

“Anything will do Preeti…” he said as he made himself comfortable on her couch and spread his long legs ahead. He spread his hands on the back rest and kept watching her every move with those beautiful browns. Preeti’s hands trembled as she selected her favorite movie, Sweet home Alabama…

She came and sat next to him on the couch. She had seen the movie upteen times but always loved watching it from start to end but today her attention was totally on the virile heat next to her. Before she knew he was playing with her hair and she didn’t know how they came close on her couch. They were now sitting with their thighs touching. She bent her head resting it on his chest and he held her close to him. In a couple of moments she felt him kiss her head…she looked up tilting towards him with a hand on his chest. He was looking into her eyes with an intensity that could burn anyone… his hold tightened as he bent his head down and claimed her lips. Her hand rose and cupped his cheek. The soft stubble against her palm only increasing her awareness… His tongue in her mouth aroused sensations she didn’t know existed. He tasted of the orange juice they just had. She started to feel the rush of helplessness with euphoria passing through her as her core throbbed. She felt her back on the couch and his weight partly on her as he held her head tightly with his hand behind her skull., as though she would escape… with his other hand he touched her thigh through the slit in the gown. She jerked up….and gasped the moment suddenly gone.  He stopped the kiss and looked into her eyes. She felt her tears falling on the couch and tried to hide them…

He held her hands and pulled her upwards. He sat up on the couch and pulled her close. She snuggled into his chest holding his jacket and she cried softly.

He caressed her head and asked, “What is it Preeti? Did I… Did I hurt you dear? I… I am sorry.”

She shook her head and buried her face further in his chest. He held her tightly. After a couple of minutes she moved away from him and shut the TV. She stood up and on wobbly legs went to the kitchen. She was bent over her kitchen counter and she felt him come behind her.

He turned her around by her shoulders and lifted up her chin with his finger. “tell me…” he whispered. She looked into his stricken eyes.

“…i…i… cant… I can’t get in…intimate with anyone because of…. Of…that incident….You have been the first person I kissed… I can’t bear the touch… I see that man…..” Reflexively she embraced herself and he hugged her. They stood like that for a couple of minutes. Her breathing gradually even out.

He held her hand and brought her out of the kitchen. He made her sit on her couch and sat on his heels in front of her. Holding her hands he said, “Preeti…look…what happened was NOT YOUR FAULT alright? Neither Sukhi’s death nor your brother’s nor what happened to you. The fault was entirely someone else’s. You were the survivor. You fought bravely… tried to save yourself. Even after the incident you didn’t give up…didn’t sink into depression like many others who would have. You have made a name for yourself…built a career… made a life… away from all that. Now listen to me…listen very well… “

She had stopped crying…already feeling better than she had in years.

“…Preeti those memories … are a part of our lives… good and bad all memories are a part of it… we can’t escape them. We can only face them and not let the bad memories affect our lives. When we…succumb to those memories those people have won… if we don’t then we have won the battle. It’s tough…I know it is… but we have to cope and move on… Life is short… we have to live it to the fullest …. Got it?”

“I … I hope when i go to Alwar I can feel as confident as I am feeling now….”

“NO…Absolutely NOT…” He roared.

Startled she looked at him. “Wh…what?”

“YOU ARE NOT GOING BACK TO ALWAR…ALRIGHT? How many times should I make it clear? Not now…not ever. Stay away from that place…” He was breathing hard. She didn’t want to take the topic further. She didn’t want to go there anyway. She had just had a momentary yearning and worry on hearing Rewa didi yesterday. She didn’t tell him that.

Preeti nodded and looked down at her hands in his.

“…I um smelt some lovely dinner in the kitchen… can we have it? I am hungry…” He said with amusement in his voice.

She chuckled and dragged him as she went to the kitchen. She took out the cutlery and gave it to him. “Keep these on the center table…I will get the dinner. Just five minutes.”

Over the next half an hour they enjoyed the lovely spread. Preeti barely ate but she was thrilled to see him devour everything. He appreciated everything she had prepared… her happiness knew no bounds today… by far these had been the happiest moments of her life. After dinner he sat on the couch and she got them gulab jamuns served in two bowls. She handed him the dessert and sat next to him. She loved the feel of his body and craved for it. It was as if he sensed it he further pressed his thighs to hers. She blushed and looked away.

What kind of magic was he doing on her? She felt shy and coy around him in spite of the fact that they had kissed…

He kept the bowl on the table and leaned back on the couch shutting his eyes. It was then she realized he looked very tired.

“Um… Gautam?” She patted his knee and he opened his eyes with a hint of a smile. “…You may…um sleep in my bedroom. … I mean… I will rest here on the couch….”

He frowned “do you want me to stay…?”

She looked down at her clasped hands… “Um…yes…please?”

“Ok…on one condition…you will sleep in your bedroom and I will put up on the couch here…” As she started to argue he raised his palm and said, “…no arguments on that…”

She gave him spare linen, pillow and a blanket and went into her bedroom. She freshened up in the attached bathroom and changed into her new night gown. She usually slept in her camisole but today she felt conscious. She had a pretty spaghetti strapped satin night gown bought last month at a fair. She hadn’t worn it before tonight. She looked into the mirror and saw how the material hugged hr curves just in the right manner…would he like it? Just thinking about his reaction aroused her. She could see her nipples pebble up through the gown… her core throbbed. Why was she acting like this? She knew it was him… No one else could get those hidden forbidden desires to the surface. She thought they didn’t exist in her…

She shook her head… he wouldn’t want to see her… why would he? She was just a cry baby after all…

She went to her bed and lay down…but sleep was far from coming. Last night too she couldn’t sleep in anticipation of seeing him today. And even now as he lay a few feet outside her door…sleep eluded her.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 3

The stench was unbearable… she looked around but there was no one in that huge godown… It started getting dark…then there was a whirling noise… the shutter opened and the black vehicle arrived with masked men. One by one they all stepped out of the car in slow motion… they started moving towards her and she started to step back… she moved till her legs hit something…it was a cot. She fell on the cot and they laughed the noise booming in the exaggerated acoustics of the godown. The noisy clatter echoed through the area and vibrated inside her skull… before she realized one of them pushed her down further on the hard bed and started tearing off her clothes. She wanted to screamed physically stop them but she could do nothing…she struggled but she couldn’t move… why couldn’t she move… will her savior come this time? Who was shaking her now? Someone was calling her out her name… Preeti….

“…Preeti… Preeti…. Wake up… look here dear…” someone was calling her. Preeti opened her eyes and sat up with a jerk as her head pounded. Clutching her head she looked around… she was in her flat. What had happened?

She looked up and saw the tall man from the elevator walk in towards her hurriedly from the kitchen. She should have been scared but she wasn’t. It was as if she had known him for ages. She didn’t even question him being in her house. She accepted the glass of water he offered. It was then she actually saw him… he was much older to her. Strong oval face with overnight stubble…almost bald but the most striking feature was his eyes…they were her favorite and familiar in shape but they were brown. Not the same blue which had stood out in her dreams… ended her nightmares with a sense of calm. But the browns too had a similar effect on her.  Even now as her breathing slowed towards normalcy, she sipped the water and looked at him. He was staring right into her eyes. There was some sort of uneasiness in them….something she felt he was trying to convey. She was lying down and slowly adjusted her position on her couch in her living room while he sat on the opposite chair across her. His stance was rigid and he appeared tight with tension.

“Nightmare?” He asked her in his deep baritone.

She could only nod, her insides still trembling with the after effects of her dream.

“…Um… what happened…in the elevator…?” she asked softly.

He stood up with hands in his pockets. He had worn a pair of black jeans and black t shirt with a black leather jacket with huge collars that could be raised up to cover his ears. He looked away as he said, “… you fainted in the elevator. I got you home…”

“…Th…thanks… for everything…for all these years…”

He suddenly looked at her and once again averted her eyes.

Drawing in a deep breath he said, “I…I will take your leave now… You are alright. I have heated milk from your stock in the fridge and cut few fruits … do take them. You should be fine…. And… don’t EVER skip breakfast…”

How did he know that?

“…Wait…” She said startled. “… Don’t go please… don’t leave me…” She realized what she said and covered her mouth with her palm, her eyes wide.

“… I… HAVE TO GO. Take care…” He said firmly and turned to leave.

She gathered all her strength and rushed towards him. She held his hand… his strong and hard hands. “pl…please… don’t leave… I can’t take it…any…anymore… Pl…pleeese…”  Her last word was almost a whisper as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She saw him breathe heavily. He stared down into her eyes his jaw rigid she could see a muscle ticking. She couldn’t read the expression spanning his facial contours… Suddenly he held her by the shoulders his fingers digging into her soft skin… She must have grimaced and he suddenly left her looking away. She instantly regretted it…she missed his touch.

“…You don’t know me Preeti… don’t know me at all…” he growled softly…his breathing still erratic… as if he had run a marathon.

“… I want to know you then… I have waited for twelve years… I…I… know you have been watching over me in Alwar and for a while in Mumbai too…” He gave her a sudden glance and she nodded and continued, “… I could sense it… I know when you are around…”

He moved aside from where she stood and started walking towards her main door.  She rushed towards the door and stood with her back to the door facing him. “..No…I won’t let you go like this… Please… I…I want some answers… don’t… don’t go…”

“…move-aside-Preeti…” He said in a low commanding tone. The look in his eyes was molten enough to melt someone.

But Preeti was unfazed. She didn’t fear him. He had to know that. She shook her head. “…Sorry but I am not letting you go this time… I just…I want to thank you…please just stay for lunch… its pouring heavily anyways…”

In a flash he moved very close to her… his body barely touching hers. He was breathing down her face. She looked into his eyes. His beautiful eyes were filled with turmoil… she had the urge to kiss it away… suddenly he caught her hair at the nape of her neck… she gasped as he tightened his hold and pulled… making it painful but she didn’t budge. He was breathing heavily. Gripping her jaw with his other hand he slammed into her mouth. He wasn’t a patient man at all… and she didn’t expect him to be either. He was rugged and rough which was visible in his tight hold over her….literally and figuratively as well. He devoured her …the pressure of his mouth on hers as if he was trying to flatten it…she pushed her head back and opened her mouth welcoming him inside as he plunged into her softness. He explored her mouth. She felt the heat rising inside her as their tongues clashed. Her nipples had peaked and were extra sensitive as her chest touched his hard torso. She lifted her arms and touched his chest… gathering his lapels in her palm. His other hand now held her hip and pulled her towards him as he started to grind his erection against her flush. She felt heat radiating from his body and seeping into her though their clothing…she wanted to feel him. She pulled him further towards her…but suddenly as if something snapped and he realized what he was doing he moved away with a jerk releasing her… There was look of horror on his face. They both stared at each other panting heavily. He shook his head and turned away his back towards her rubbing his hand over his face. She felt the sudden emptiness…again. NO…this time she wasn’t letting him go. She didn’t know where she got the courage from…she hugged him from behind, holding his torso tightly and dug her head in between his shoulder blades.

She felt him stiffen and then slowly soften. He released her hands and turned towards her again.

He cupped her face gently with a look so tender that she leaned into his palm. He rubbed her cheek bone with his thumb and said, “Preeti… I am not who you think I am… I just… I am a BAD person… what you have seen is just the tip of the iceberg and only the good stuff…..”  He touched their foreheads and spoke ever so softly. “…You deserve much MUCH BETTER… someone who can worship you…someone who can respect and love you…cherish you… and… and I am not the one….”

Preeti covered his palms on her face with her hands and said, “…I don’t want to know anything anymore… I am…living today breathing this air only because of you… The only reminder of THAT incident… is the nightmares I get… but I can cope up with them because you…YOU are there …always there at the end of it… YOU…you are my silver lining…”

“…NO…NO…NO….” He yelled and pushed her away. He was angry. “… Do you think life is so easy? Life is not a bed of roses….there are thorns in fact most of it is thorns… you don’t have a clue of the real world …ok? You just…. Fancy an image of someone who saved you once…. Preeti…get out of the fairy tale world. Get a life….”

“…I don’t want a life… YOU HEARD ME….?” Preeti was now openly crying. “… I don’t want to know anything. All I know is that incident and the events following that were enough to last me this lifetime… I…i… agree I have an image of you…but… but… trust me…” her voice cracked. “…trust me when I say, that image is my tonic for living…. I would be dead long ago otherwise…probably would have killed myself. I knew you were around somewhere keeping an eye over me. It helped me sail through those years in Alwar before I left the place…. So… So don’t tell me what I must do… You want to leave isn’t it? GO…go away or should I say… Run away?”

He looked at her with his eyes burning fire. His stance totally rigid with anger. “…. You are playing with fire Preeti…” He said through clenched teeth. “… You will burn to ashes… Stay away from me.”

Saying he strode towards the door.

“I am going to Alwar for a while.” Preeti declared.

That had his attention and he stopped and turned around.

He came back and held her shoulders again. “What? Why? Are you crazy?”

 She shrugged his hands away and said, “Alwar…is my hometown. Its six years now…I haven’t seen my folks…”

“…You shouldn’t go back to Alwar… You should make a good life here…”

“…you don’t get to advise me anymore…. I will go wherever the hell I want to…”

“…GO anywhere but not Alwar… its…its…dangerous….”

“…Is it? Then pray tell me why… why is it dangerous? The man who vio… violated me is dead… you saw to it…”

Without warning he held her lower jaw and pushed her towards the wall. He pressed his body against her and whispered, “Why do you have to make this all about your goddamn ego? When I say it’s dangerous…IT’S DANGEROUS.”

She pushed him away with all her might but barely managed to create a little distance between them.  “EGO? Ego…is this what you think… this is all about? I … I was violated…for God’s sake… lost my little brother and a very close family like person in that incident… NO ONE…. No one cared about me after that… I was the victim but had to bear the brunt of the social stigma. My folks were only too happy when I left. I had to give up everything. My childhood memories, my cousins, my school friends…my …my mom… and you say this is all about my EGO….?” She covered her face and started sobbing… She hadn’t cried so much after the incident but today the dams broke. She was in his arms the next moment as held her against his chest and rubbed her back. She wailed holding his jacket tightly… her gut wrenching sobs tearing through the apartment.

After a while, when her crying bout subsided he kissed her forehead and said, “… Preeti… I didn’t mean to hurt you… it’s just… you have been protected from the nasty world back there.… its horrible and dangerous… if nothing, the memories will be triggered again when you go back.  People may be unwelcoming…. I mean…”

“…then explain it to me…. Um…whats your name, by the way?”

He shook his head and she saw a hint of a smile… “ It’s Gautam… Now listen to me please…. Some things are best not revealed. I know you are brave but there is only so much a person can take… For God’s sake don’t go to Alwar…”

“…Okay…I won’t go…but on one condition….” She said a smile playing her lips.

“What is it?”

“… I want to see you again… tomorrow…” she looked at him with pleading eyes.

“…i…I don’t think it’s a good idea… I am a stranger for all you know…”

“…Gautam, You are closer to me than anyone I know… you know me inside out… I…I want to know you too…the man who saved my life and …my honour…”

He looked at her intently, war going on in his beautiful eyes. After a moment he nodded. “…Ok… “

“…Awesome… come home for dinner tomorrow? I will cook…”

“Ok…ok… I will be here by … 7PM tomorrow… alright with you?”

“Done.”

Preeti was thrilled. She finally was getting to spend time and get to know the man whom she had only dreamed about in the last twelve years.  Would he answer her questions? Would he really be the man of her dreams? She never had a trustworthy relationship all her life… would he be the one… her permanent?

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 2

Preeti got out of the elevator on the sixth floor which housed her office. The building was a giant structure a commercial one by a real estate giant. She had heard about them in Alwar as well. No… she wouldn’t think about Alwar today. She took in a deep breath as she strode into the wing where her office lay. Her subordinates would soon be joining her. She always reached early. Actually she had nothing else to do in her empty apartment.  But here she felt lively. As usual she offered her prayers to the idol of Lord Ganesha at the entrance and went to her cubicle. She knew she had about half an hour before her colleagues would start trickling in. She looked around and stealthily switched on her tab. She used it only for one purpose for last three years…. for news from Alwar.

 She hadn’t visited Alwar after she left the place six years ago and for about last four years she barely had any contact with her folks back home… if she could call it her home.  Guess it never was. Rewa didi her paternal cousin who was close to her when they were growing up used to call once in a while but for a couple of years now she barely WhatsApped her.  Preeti knew Rewa didi had a boyfriend. It was considered a taboo in their misogynist household. Her paternal uncle was an older version of her father who loved their daughters in a way that suited their convenience. They belonged to the archaic school of thought where girls in the household were not permitted to study beyond twenty years of age. They had to be married off. She had 2 older paternal cousins who were married before they were twenty one. They had grownup kids too and apparently were happy in their households. They rarely visited Alwar. Preeti’s family was Rajput, originally from MP. They had then migrated to Alwar two generations ago. Her father and uncle had their family owned diamond jewelry stores. The women at home were never told about the business details but Preeti was very perceptive as a child. Even before she had left home she knew the business was not doing well.  That was probably why Rewa didi was still unmarried at twenty nine. She too could easily escape the brunt because of the same reason. Otherwise they were capable enough to drag her twenty six year old ass back home.

Preeti was good with numbers and had started dabbling in the stock market for last couple of years. She had made quite a bit of money which was a major part of her savings now. In fact last year she had hit a jackpot when the white elephant on whom she had put her money gave record returns. She had a safe nest egg for future use. She hoped to help out her family someday but knew her father would never accept her help.  She would cross the bridge when she came to it… For now she opened up the Alwar news page. As she scanned the usual news about some political parties, climate and other miscellaneous stuff she yawned… but then her eyes fell on a sub headline and her heart skipped a beat…

Sengar Diamonds Pvt. Ltd to launch jewelry line…

She read the article twice to check if it was about her family. Yes, it was. Yashowardhan, her only male cousin was to helm the functioning while her uncle was the Chairman and her father the Managing Director. It was always the same. The brothers had hoped their sons would follow their footsteps and take Sengar diamonds miles ahead. Yashowardhan  was almost as old as her… while if Rohit would have been alive…. She shut her eyes overwhelmed with emotion like it did everybtime she thought about her deceased brother. Twelve years had passed but her wounds hadn’t healed. Even going away from Alwar hadn’t helped. But as always the masked man with blue eyes replaced the memory and calmed her racing heart. She said a prayer of thanks to the Almighty for her life and continued to read the article. She wanted to know how they could manage to set the jewelry line worth crores when a few months ago they were to declare bankruptcy. She had to talk to Rewa didi.  Before she could reach her phone it buzzed with an incoming call. She smiled as she saw Rewa didi’s name flashing on the screen.

“Think of the devil…. I was about to call you….”

“…There’s… some…something I wanted to tell you… I…I don’t know… how to …say…” Rewa was sobbing.

 Preeti sat upright. Why was Rewa didi crying? “… Didi… what is it?…. why are you….”

“…Just listen …. Ok…?”

Peeti didn’t say anything. Just waited patiently for Rewa to calm down. But she was worried about her sister. Rewa didi, unlike her, wasn’t strong headed. She was docile and often bowed to the demands of the family. Maasa disliked Rewa because Dadusa  (their paternal grandfather) passed away immediately after she was born. Preeti’s thoughts were broken when she heard Rewa speak.

“…My… my marriage has been …fix…fixed…”

Preeti didn’t know how to react. Did their family accept her boyfriend Suyash? He was not only a little younger to Rewa but also didn’t belong to their community. Preeti didn’t know anything beyond the fact that Rewa and Suyash loved each other and were going steady for last 5 years.

“….Won’t you ask who is the groom….?”

“…Who Didi? Who is the lucky guy…?” Preeti tried to humour her.

“… I DON’T KNOW…. You get that? I fucking don’t know the guy…” Rewa started to sob again.

Preeti was now silenced… she had never heard Rewa didi swear… she was a goody two shoes girl…

“Calm down Didi… tell me everything.” She tried to console her sister.

“… Our family has arranged my marriage to the highest bidder… do…do you understand? They wanted to save their fucking business so they sold me off…”  Rewa wailed.

“Didi… what are you saying….”

“…Preeti…please come up here… PLEASE… I beg of you. I…I need your help… I love Suyash… I can’t marry some asshole….” Rewa pleaded.

“Didi… you know I can’t come there. Tauji and Bapu won’t like it…”

“…No… in fact they will be happy to project the complete family image… See… I …I need you here…”

“Ok…Ok… when is the um… wedding?”

“… Two months from toady… Please come ASAP….”

“That’s a long time….”

“…PLEASE Preeti… come soon… or ..or I will….”

“… OK fine… let me talk to my boss. I will get back to you after I book my tickets… But tell me…”

“… hey I can’t talk anymore… I hear Maasa’s footsteps….bye…”

Rewa ended the call. Preeti was lost in thought as her colleagues came in. The rest of the day was spent immersed in work and the lunch party but Preeti couldn’t focus.

Something was not right. She was supposed to be unaffected but couldn’t help the pangs of homesickness… She missed her mom, Rewadidi, Maasa and some of her aunts who lived close by. They doted on her when she was growing up… till Rohit came along. Then everyone’s attention had shifted to him. He was the apple of their eyes and the torchbearer of the future generation.  Yashowardhan and Rohit were to take their business to new heights. It didn’t matter that Yash was interested in music and not business… and she wanted to be a part of the business. Sadly it didn’t matter to anyone. In the Sengar household elders dictated the fates of the children. 

“Hey Preeti…boss is calling you in… I think your intercom isn’t working…” Someone called out to her getting her back to reality. It was good that her boss called her… she had to speak to him anyways. She had a lot of leave piled up and a month of it wouldn’t matter. She would delegate important projects to her subordinates and supervise everything online from Alwar. She knew her hometown now boasted of hi speed internet facilities. But as soon as she entered his cabin her boss looked at her with a grim expression.

“Take a seat Preeti” he said.

Oh this didn’t sound good. She had never seen her boss like this. What happened to the chirpy man?

“..Um… All ok sir?” she asked softly.

“Well… Preeti the company is downsizing… you know our last quarter wasn’t good. The board of directors wants to shut down our branch because it’s not profitable….”

“WHAT?” Preeti was stunned… this was a morning of blows.

“Sorry… dear… we …I mean… we all will be losing our jobs…So… I suggest you start looking for something else. You are super talented… and I will give you a good recommendation letter…”

“No…No sir… this company has been like my second home…all of you are my family…. I have given my six years to it… We can work out…”

“…Preeti you don’t understand… It’s …it’s not in my hands… I just got the news today. Next week one of the directors will be coming here to personally deliver the letters to us… till then…please ….don’t tell the others… “ saying he looked away.

Her boss suddenly looked much older to his age. The gravity of the situation suddenly sank in. Preeti tried to contain her tears but it was difficult. She wasn’t bothered about the money. She had enough to last her a lifetime of comfortable living.  But it was this family that she would miss. She couldn’t go out like that… her colleagues would demand to know. She took in a deep breath to compose herself.

“Um…sir… I would like to leave for today…. Please…. I will get the reports done at home and email them to you…” Preeti spoke with her throat clogged.

“…Fine… Take care… are you ok…?” her boss seemed very concerned.

“…I…Iam fine…fine sir… I need some time…. Also it’s pouring heavily… My area is sure to get water logged….” She was rambling

She excused herself and left the cabin. Her subordinates were upset that she was missing the birthday party… but they were all asked to leave early because of the rains so everyone was distracted. She used this opportunity to gather her things and rushed out of the office premises. They were a young fin loving crowd and she knew they wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. The elevator doors were about to shut when she rushed and put in a hand and the doors opened again. There was only one other person in the elevator which was headed downstairs. She didn’t bother to give him a second look. She never usually did… She was so engrossed in her issues; she suddenly got jolted out of her reverie when the lights went off…. The elevator jerked to a halt and was plunged into total darkness. Preeti was scared out of her wits. She always dreaded darkness…after the incident… Her breathing became labored. She couldn’t make a sound; her vocal cords felt choked…

She felt a hand on her shoulder. She knew that touch… Oh Good Lord…. Was it….. She stood still…

“Don’t worry ok?  Help will arrive soon. Stay calm….” He spoke in the same soft voice…but a little heavy.

She wasn’t scared anymore but stunned would be an understatement…

She managed to say “D…D…Dark…. S…s…scared…”

The hand on her shoulder patted her and he said, “What hurts you, blesses you, darkness is your candle… Don’t fear it…you are brave… stay brave…”

She turned towards him in the darkness. She only saw a silhouette.  She touched his arm… it was still the strong toned muscle…  Suddenly the lights came back and the elevator started to move. She saw him… without a mask. And his eyes were brown. What the hell. But she could recognize him without any other physical clue anywhere. More than everything, the feel of him being around, something she couldn’t miss at all. Her tall stranger, her savior was definitely here.

“It’s you….” She whispered before she collapsed into his arms.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 1

Twelve years later

…He held her down the stench of his foul breath making her want to puke… he held her wrists above her head and pressed her body down with his weight on top of her. She wanted to move but she was … paralyzed… she just couldn’t. . She wanted to cry but her throat was … she couldn’t make a sound…  Then he bit her on the shoulder and there was a ringing sound…..

The shrill ring of the alarm jolted her out of her disturbed sleep. Preeti looked down at her sweat drenched camisole, breathing heavily. She touched her neck as a habit…every time she had the nightmare. She felt the roughened skin the only physical reminder of the terrible experience years ago. Twelve years hadn’t dampened the pain every time she had the nightmare, horror revisited in her mind. The fact that she had been violated immediately got her deep hidden emotions spill up to the surface. Tears fell as she recounted the ordeal… she had lost her brother, a loyal employee of the Sengar household, Sukhi uncle and almost lost her virginity to the monster or monsters… she wasn’t sure how many were there. But she actually had a faced a lot of irrecoverable losses… She was the victim… but she was blamed for her brother’s death. Even today she shuddered remembering her father’s words twelve years ago…

She was in the hospital moving in and out of consciousness. They all had thought she was in a coma but she could hear every word they spoke whenever she wasn’t zoned out.  

Soft sobbing… it was her mother… her docile mother who always bent over the whims and fancies of a husband with a primitive mindset. But why was she crying? Her daughter was alive… that means… did something happen to Rohit?

Suddenly there was a hush in the already silent hospital. She knew before she heard his voice, it was her father.

“Enough Priyamvada…”, his voice had boomed in her skull. “… You are needed elsewhere. The rites have to be completed.  You have to come home now….” His voice chocked in between. He sounded tired. What rites was he talking about?

“…I can’t lose her… Can’t lose anymore…” Her mother’s soft voice which always acted as a balm to Preeti’s wounded heart was creaking…

“…. Priyamvada, we have lost our only son… Rohit was supposed to take the lineage ahead… I wish it was him who had survived…. Common don’t waste any more time here. The doctors will care for her….”

She had heard the shuffling of a chair and movement. What just happened? What was her father talking about? Rohit… was no more? And… did he wish she were dead instead? She wept…

She remembered being lonely… in her room. No one visited her. Neither her parents, maasa (her paternal grandmother), Uncle , aunt nor her cousins… What was her fault? Just because she had survived?

She felt the hot tear on her cheek… though she couldn’t open her eyes yet. It was then she felt some presence in the room. For a moment she feared if the monster had returned to finish off what he had started… But then she knew it was him… even before he spoke. She felt his heat as he came close. He touched her cheek to wipe the tear away. He came close to her ear and spoke softly, “Don’t worry… I have got you. That bastard was taken care of… No one will harm you anymore. Not now…. Nor, in the future. I promise…” Anxiety left her body and her heartbeats got their rhythm back. How she wished she could see him… her savior, her hero, her…. her heart galloped threatening to get out of her chest but for a different reason now. So this is what it felt like? At his mere touch? The hidden Mills and Boons novels in her room back home had talked about love…was it like this? But she didn’t even see him or know him. For once in her life someone really cared about her besides her mother. For once someone fought for her… but why? Who was he? She could only remember his lovely eyes as she drifted off to sleep.

She struggled to open her eyes but failed miserably. She didn’t know how long she remained in the hospital but she felt his presence daily. He moved her arms and legs which were gradually healing from superficial injuries. He kept talking to her. He told her she had to get blood running well in her limbs. He told her stories of people she had never heard of who had bounced back from coma. She wanted to scream her lungs out that she could hear him…. Feel him. Every day before he left he would kiss her forehead… She realized she waited for this moment eagerly.

One fine day, she wasn’t groggy anymore. She opened her eyes and saw the ceiling. She knew she was in the hospital. She looked around. She realized she had been moved to slightly sitting position by elevating the bed. She was sure he had done it as a part of his treatment for her. Her room was tiny. Her body was sore but she felt much better… she wanted a sip of water… she tried moving her hands. She could only manage to move her right hand fortunately it was close to the side stand. There was a paper cup filled with water and a straw. She took it with trembling hands and slowly got it to her mouth. It felt like she had forgotten to sip… but she managed and the first sip felt like heaven.  It was then she saw him. He was in the dark corner of the hospital room. She only saw his form. He was wearing a hoodie with hands in the pocket. But she could feel his stare.

“Welcome back to the world Preeti…” He said softly… causing her heart to flutter.

She tried to smile but every little movement was an effort. She placed the paper cup laboriously in her still left hand and raised her right hand gesturing him to come close.

But he turned around and said, “I am done with my job here… you are fine now… I wish you the best in life… your folks will be here soon once the doctor informs them…”

Oh no… he was going away? And she hadn’t even seen him… she wanted to thank him. She struggled to say, “w…w…wa..it.. Pl…ee..ease …” She was panting with the effort. He halted his steps towards the door of her room.

He stood still with his back towards her. He adjusted his hoodie over his head and turned around.  He slowly walked towards her bed, her anticipation raging high… but he neared her bed and she was shocked to see only his chin with his day old stubble. The dim light in the room didn’t help things either. He looked young.  But she couldn’t make out for sure.

“Wh…ay… h…ave… y…ou cover…ed … you…ar… fa..face…” (why have you covered your face)

He didn’t speak anything. Just stood at the foot of her bed with hands in his pocket.

She realized he wasn’t going to speak on this topic… She just said, “th…thaaank..you…f…ff..or e…ev..ry…thing…”  She was panting with the effort on every sound and syllable she was uttering.  He just nodded in reply and was turning to leave… she knew he wouldn’t wait. There was only one resort. She hated herself for it but she didn’t have a choice. She grimaced as if in pain and clutched her stomach… “aaaa…aaaa… it… hh….urts…”

As expected he rushed towards her and held her shoulders. “hey are you alright? Is it painful? Let me call….”

She grasped his hand with her right and struggled, “…no…no…. please…” She felt everything slipping away and the void in her heart expanding. The sand was slipping out of her hands. She lost it and everything she had sheltered in her heart broke the barriers. She started to sob. He sat on the edge of her bed and turning towards her, held her to him.  She hid her head in his chest. She cried her heart out. She cried for her brother who couldn’t see his ninth birthday, for Sukhi uncle who lost his life for no fault of his and… for her plight… an unsure future. She had missed her board exams she was sure of it. She had been here for a long time.  As he rubbed her back, she moved her right hand and touched his chest. It felt like stone… the man must be hitting the gym religiously she thought… But he quickly stood up and turned away…  “When you light a candle you also cast a shadow…you are a brave girl…stay brave… I… I will take your leave now… your parents will be here shortly. Have a great future… Stay away from any controversies and at the earliest finish your studies and get out of Alwar….”

She tried to argue but he continued, “…Don’t tell a soul whatever happened there….just say you don’t remember anything….you were beaten up…that’s all…. NOT A WORD…. if you want to stay alive. The man who touched you is dead but there are others…. So shhhh….” He gestured her to keep quiet.

Before she could comprehend what he said, he was gone. She knew she was going to be fine. She also knew that was probably the last she was seeing him… she didn’t even know him… but why did it feel her heart just got trampled upon?

Today…

Preeti sighed… she had to get up from the bed and get going with her routine. Otherwise she would be late for work. Six years in Mumbai and she was still not used to the traffic… and to make things worse, it was monsoon.  It was raining cats and dogs. She loved everything about Mumbai, except the horrible travel time and the rains… Her area always got water logged.  But somehow she felt safe here…in this locality. Her building was occupied by families and they were against a single woman staying in their building. She remembered arriving one day in the initial week of her stay and her house owner was in a war of words with her neighbors over evicting her. She was scared…not knowing where else to try. She had always thought Mumbai was liberal in its thinking but here there were rules… Rules which said a single woman can’t take up rented accommodation in a family housing society. Strangely the next day everything was settled to her utmost surprise and it was four years and no one bothered her again. She never socialized and kept to herself. Except for a smile here and there no one spoke to her. For last two years she had that feeling of someone watching over her. It wasn’t there when she had lived in a PG accommodation on arriving in Mumbai. But she had that same strong sense when she was in Alwar, after the….incident. It was no different in Mumbai. But it never irked her. She felt safe. Somehow she felt he was around somewhere, her guardian angel as she fondly remembered him.

Professionally she was grateful the city had welcomed her with open arms when she had landed here with just a computer diploma. She had taken up a small job and gradually rose up in rank. Today she was the assistant team leader in her company. She smiled as she remembered it was a colleague’s birthday today and all of them were going out for lunch. That meant she needn’t pack tiffin for herself. She made a mental note of the things to be done today and strode out of her bedroom. She tried to feel happy but like always the emptiness in her heart refused to go away.  The same void created when he had left her hospital room years ago… She had always felt it but it was stronger whenever she had the nightmare.

You are a strong girl… his voice always echoed in her ears and gave her the needed strength to pull through the day whenever she was low.

Today was yet another day and she had to go through the motions yet again. She walked into her kitchen… the only vision in her mind this time was the stubble chin under the hoodie…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Prologue

The car jerked to a sudden halt, arousing her from her little nap. The sharp pain on her forehead drew her out of her daze. She grew numb with pain so bad it gave her flashes of light before her eyes… She felt something trickling down to her cheek. She moved her fingers to touch it… when she saw it was red liquid… wait… it was blood…her blood. Panicking she looked on her side. Her brother lay sprawled on the car seat. His neck bent at an awkward angle…

“Ro…Rohit….” She called out frantically.  He didn’t move. She wanted to shake him but as she moved her left hand a searing pain shot through her blinding her again… she was sobbing now unable to bear it and more than that, unable to rouse her brother. Sukhi  uncle… their driver should be able to help… yes… why dint she think of it before?

“Suk…Sukhi uncle?” No response. She was sitting right behind the driver’s seat. She wiped her cheeks with her right hand and moved forward to call out aloud. Sukhi uncle did have a problem with his hearing. He denied it to everyone especially her father. But she knew. She was a keen observer. She touched his shoulder from the right side and he plunked sideways falling on the side gear. Oh my God…his face was covered with blood from what she could see.  Was the accident that bad? She looked around. Which place was this? It looked like some alley. This wasn’t enroute to their house. Were they still in Alwar, her hometown? She was openly crying looking around through her blurred vision trying to make sense.

She hoped this was a nightmare and her mother would soon wake her up… oh ma come soon…wake me up soon….

It dawned on her. They were returning from school. She had gone specifically for her hall ticket. Her board exams were coming up in two weeks. She wanted to study literature and history…. Her brother Rohit studied in the fourth grade.  She had stayed up all night yesterday completing her maths revision. Understandable she had dozed off as soon as the car had started. 

Oh God…Rohit….

She touched her brother with her right hand bending over him. But he didn’t move nor did he flinch. She had to call a doctor… for that she had to get out of the car. She had to find a pay phone somewhere. What kind of people lived here?  Did no one hear the accident? She was barely sixteen years old but still she had tried to force her authoritative father to let her learn to drive. But he hadn’t allowed her. “Driving is not for girls…” he had declared. Such an archaic mentality …she huffed thinking about it. She heard some sound which made her look towards the front window. It was then she saw it was cracked with a hole through it… oh God…it was a bullet hole. She could recognize it any day. She had seen such cracked windows on the backside of their Haveli where her cousin brother, father and paternal uncle practiced their shots. The rest of the family wasn’t allowed there in those moments.  It was customary that they all….the men knew how to shoot. It was symbolic of their manhood. Though she knew her cousin Yash Bhaisa  hated all of that…

 They were…shot at?

Her heart pounding she heard them before she saw them… they were five men. All were tall and sturdy wielding guns. They were walking towards the car in long strides. Their faces were covered. What must she do? Were they the ones who shot Sukhi uncle? Before she could think the glass on her side of the passenger window was shattered and something hit her head. Her vision blurred before she could registered anything and she was plunged into darkness.

The place stank of foul meat. Her cook Budhia kaki often screamed at the maids for not cleaning up the left overs well. “The place will smell later… of rotten meat… then maasa will kill me you lazy girls…” She would always yell her standard dialogue. She smiled at the memory but her face hurt. Why were her lips dry? She felt parched too.  She couldn’t open her eyes. Something covered them. She wanted to touch her face. But couldn’t move her hands… wait… her hands were tied? Her legs were tied too… but why? It was then the series of events came back to her. She was returning from school along with her brother in their car like every afternoon. She had dozed off… and then there was an accident which had woken her… no… not an accident…

“Wake up princess…” said a hoarse voice.  She tried to wriggle in panic but pain shot up as if her body was on fire…  Suddenly rough hands dragged her on the floor and dropped her somewhere on the floor itself. She smelt cheap smoke. The kind the low level workers in her father’s factory smoked. She despised it…it made her throw up like it did now.  Her blindfolds were removed and she squinted to one side trying to shield her eyes from the sudden onslaught of light.

She tried to speak…her voice hoarse… “ where …where is Rohit…?”

She just heard chuckling before her. She strained to see… she saw a silhouette of a man smoking.  “…m…m… my brother… Rohit… is he okay?”

“Just answer the damn question, princess…”  Why was he calling her a princess?  “… Where is the damn locker containing the map?”

He had to be kidding.

“What?” she asked surprised.

“I won’t repeat myself…princess… don’t test my patience. I don’t have much of it remaining…. Where is the locker containing the map?”

“Wh…what map? I…I really…don’t know what…” before she could complete the sentence she felt a blow on her cheek and she rolled on the floor with agony…

“One last time…. Where – is – the – bloody – map…”

 She kept crying louder this time. What did he want? What map was he talking about?

 She felt the kick to her abdomen and she curved inwards screaming with excruciating pain… another kick and she couldn’t even scream. She tasted blood in her mouth and spilling outside her bruised lips. She was going to meet her creator soon. Oh God take me away… I can’t bear it anymore..

Two pairs of hands lifted her and dropped her on what felt like a bed. I Her hands and legs were untied.  Her entire body throbbed and she could only see darkness…what was happening? Were they killing or ….

She shuddered at the other possibility.

She felt the bedding sink next to her and the man had come closer. His face was covered in black mask. She couldn’t even see his eyes in the dark. He came close to her face smelling of the acrid joint he had just had. “I told you to give me an answer but looks like you want to be adamant. What I had heard about you was right. princess… you are stubborn… now let’s see if you can take this…” with a flash of a movement he tore open her school uniform blouse. She tried to move her numb hand to cover her chest but before that he ripped apart her skirt. She laid before him in her slip….trembling with anticipation of the untoward.  He bent over her and licked her lips. She held them glued to each other numb with pain. He laughed his breath on her face and she looked away… He bit her shoulder and she cried but no sound escaped from her throat.  Within the next second he tore her slip away as if it was a mere rag. She shook her head from side to side trying to mover her limbs as she lay sprawled in her inner garments.  “No…no…No…please…no…” She tried to speak but the words came out in whispers. She felt a rough hand on her flat stomach and move upwards and she winced in pain. She was nauseated and tasted bile. He held her breast and fondled it hard through her bra. She was heavy chested and the pain of epic proportions shot through her senses. She tried to slap his hands away… But he only put his weight on her. As she tried to yell he brought his mouth on hers and bit her lips…

The next moment she felt light as the weight lifted off her and heard a crash. She shut her eyes tightly in fear.. She heard some thuds and cracking of… bone?  There were grunts and the man was swearing out aloud.  But it appeared that he was at the receiving end of the blows. She was so terrified she didn’t want to look in the direction of the fight or whatever it was…  She was close to losing consciousness with the agonizing throb of her body…

Suddenly there was silence and someone threw a cloth on her. She saw someone bent over her touching her…

She frantically tried to slap the hands away..

“shhh… Wait… you are safe… said a hoarse voice… I will take you out of here…” The breathless voice sounded close to her ears…

She stopped moving. The man wrapped her in the bed sheet and lifted her in a fireman’s carry. He took her out of the hellhole.

He ran outside what looked like cull de sacs of varying proportions… but she was hanging upside down and could only make out the myriad confusion in the routes. Soon she saw light…. Something she never thought would ever happen.  He put her down in a car on the back seat and straightened her. Her eye lids were swollen. But through the slits that she could manage to open them, she saw him… he was masked and covered with black body suit… she couldn’t make out much except for his eyes… beautiful  blue  eyes…which pierced through her sharper than the pain which was a constant with her now.

He looked away and shut the door. He took the driver seat and drove them out of that place.  The entire ordeal had taken a toll on her and she fell into a deep sleep.

She woke to the beep of a machine. Her body was not under her control…nor was her voice. She tried to open her eyes but they were stubbornly shut. She heard voices… someone crying softly. Was that her mother? All she wanted to do was rush to her and hug her… she would never be rude to her ever again… was her father there too? Was Rohit Okay? She had wanted to ask the good guy about him but sleep had claimed her before she could. She felt her body shudder with the reminder of what had transpired… She was a strong girl. Maasa always said, she was the strongest among all the girls in the house.  Was Maasa here too?

She had a lot of questions… she wanted to thank the masked good guy too.  He had saved her life and… her honor too…

She was slipping into oblivion again but this time all she saw in her mind was the beautiful  blue eyes staring right back at her….

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