Interlude 18: The Fire of Passion

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A/N: Hey there everyone! :D :D Here is the next update! :D :D

Also, this chapter is dedicated to Matsh (belated happy birthday!) and Sonal (advance happy birthday!) as their small birthday gifts. <3 <3 And also sorry for the slight delay in the update, I've been unwell. :/ :/

Happy Reading! :D :D

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The ninth day of October dawned upon the city of Mumbai with two sets of shrieks from two particular rooms.

Ishaani fell off her bed in shock, her chest heaving in erratic fear. The eyes! How had she never noticed them before? Maybe it was because they had never been the center of her focus before. All it had been about was the fear that it was going to be her last moment as the gun's barrel remained the sole focus of her dreams. But for the first time in twenty years, there was an alteration in what she saw. For the first time in twenty years, she saw the killer's eyes until Ranveer came in between.

The eyes with the same manic hatred. The eyes that made her soul burn in loathing.

Chirag's eyes.

The rest of the dream remained the same, Ranveer's blood splattering upon her face as the bullet ripped through her shoulder the next moment. And it was the same torture then of watching the life seep out of him, along with his blood. And now that she'd finally seen Ranveer, she couldn't help but notice how he looked exactly the same in her dreams as he looked now, and it put her at further unease.

For the first time in twenty years, she understood the reason behind the lifelessness in their eyes. It was as though her dreams were mocking her plight as fate laughed upon her helplessness cruelly. Did they meet just to be torn apart again? No, that couldn't be it. Something didn't feel right. Something didn't fit. It was as though she was seeing the puzzle of her dreams all wrong, the eyes the crux behind them.

And that only increased the foreboding her heart already felt.

-x-

Ranveer yelled at the top of his voice as he woke up, his soul shivering.

It had been the most absurd dream!

In the dream, he was a phoenix. A handsome white and pink feathered phoenix. It was a rather unusual colour because phoenixes were general meant to be flame coloured. But it didn't matter to him because it seemed just fine. With him was another phoenix, as brightly coloured as the rays of the sun. The other phoenix radiated and made him glow golden too in spite of the vanilla shade he had, and it made him feel relatively powerful too.

But the other phoenix seemed to attract not just his attention, but the attention of several other unwanted creatures too.

He knew that he had to protect his companion from the vultures that were now rounding around them. And so he stood in between like a shield, pushing his companion into a bubble of security. Oh, how valiantly he fought against them as he kept his companion away from harm! He bore all the wounds and pains of his companion as he pushed it away beyond their reach until it suddenly faded away from his view. He kept bursting into flames from time to time, getting reborn from the ashes of his previous self when he would finally succumb to the wounds inflicted upon him.

Until at long last, he was surrounded by a pack of snakes.

He'd forgotten about his companion by now. All he knew was that the snakes weren't allowed to cross the line. What lay beyond, he couldn't recollect in the heat of the battle. There was something that he stood in front of, knowing that the snakes weren't allowed to cross that line because that only meant harm to the one he was trying to protect. But he didn't know who. His latest rebirth, and the longest one he'd survived for until then had weakened his memory.

It was all fuzzy.

And amidst the pack of snakes he stood alone, fighting his way out of it by clawing and breathing fire and beheading them all bravely. How he had so much strength to kill, he did not know. But like they said, sometimes the greatest of wounds were often delivered by the most unexpected of weapons. And there was kill after kill until only one snake remained. The largest of all. The deadliest of all.

And suddenly, he noticed a bunny with grey eyes... maimed and hidden underneath it all.

Chivalry coursing through his veins, he risked his life courageously as he rescued the bunny from the clutches of his only remaining opponent while the snake silently observed him in mirth. And everything seemed calm until the bunny suddenly turned into a snake and struck him.

An accomplice! An imposter! A mole!

He fell upon the ground uselessly but managed to bring the imposter down with him, breaking its neck. And then all that remained was the last snake that now slithered towards him with purpose... slowly, stealthily. He tried to flap his wings but he couldn't. The venom from the bite had paralyzed him. He didn't want to go down without a fight! He'd fight tooth and nail for that last breath! If only his body would move... The snake suddenly opened its mouth to reveal large dagger-like fangs, ready to penetrate his neck for the final kill when out of nowhere something flapped in front of his eyes.

The phoenix he was protecting.

The most beautifully fierce one that he'd ever seen.

The memories came back one after the other from his previous lives.

But it was too late.

His companion flapped its fire-coloured wings at the snake violently, its talons now finding its way into the snake's eyes as it clawed at it, blinding him. The snake hissed in fury, striking blindly as it coiled and recoiled again in pain, until he struck himself. It was within a matter of minutes that the snake was dead. But that didn't matter, because he had to see who'd saved his life.

The phoenix turned out, red slashed all over the yellow too. Until he couldn't distinguish whether it was red or flame-y. Because it was both. His companion fell upon his feet, its eyes staring into his own as it weakly flapped its wing at him, as though trying to wipe away the pearl of a tear that left his eye at the sight of what had just happened.

And in that one moment where their eyes met, he recognized those black orbs.

They were hers.

Ishaani.

Her eyes shut and her wing fell weakly by her side, not moving anymore. The venom was coursing through his senses, and yet it wasn't killing him. He could only stare at her in shock, his heart feeling like it would explode as he couldn't breathe anymore. Was it the venom finally beginning to snuff the breath out of him? Or was it the fact that his life wanted to leave his body now that her life had left hers?

Both of them were suddenly enveloped by the flames until everything was gone.

And his eyes flew opened as he yelled at the top of his voice the next moment, heaving and sweating profusely as he felt himself go cold. Not Ishaani... Not Ishaani... was all he could whisper to himself in paranoia. It was just a dream, that's all. But something disturbed him deeply. It was after eight years that he was having a dream as absurd as this. Gone were the days where he could rely upon Love to guide him through the miseries and the mysteries of his emotions and his life.

Just like everyone else, even Love had left him.

Or maybe he'd left her, he couldn't determine which. But something was terribly amiss, the horror of his dream still lingering with a sour taste in his mouth. It all felt too... real. Dangerous. Threatening. It was as though he was seeing the puzzle of the dream wrongly. It were not her eyes that disturbed him. It were the eyes of the snake that did.

And it only increased the foreboding that his heart felt.

-x-

RV and Miss Parekh sat opposite each other, both of them lost in thought.

Miss Parekh had opened the meeting with the introduction to the consignment project once again, briefing up all the task force members up to date. She didn't have to check through her notes even once because it was something that she'd practiced to above sixty times until she could detail the entire plan in her sleep too. RV stared at her silently, hearing everything that she had to say, unable to keep the awe he felt at bay. She'd lived up to everything his Mota Babuji had expected her to live up to.

And yet... there was something... different, about the way her eyes glimmered today. It wasn't with the passion of the work that he'd seen in her eyes two days ago. It was as though something was pestering her, nagging and gnawing at her at the back of her mind. But she was alright - alive in flesh and blood and that's what mattered. But he knew that look in her eyes regardless. It was the exact same look she'd have upon her face when she would see that nightmare. But they'd stopped years ago.

Then what was troubling her now?

She took her seat gracefully in the full-sleeved, pale coral peplum dress, the dress reflecting her pale complexion even more. But he also noticed how she kept fidgeting with her arms, as though seized by an urge to itch at something bothering her. Something was off. But he would ponder upon that later as the cue for him to speak had been given.

RV stood up quietly, picking up from where Ishaani stopped swiftly, his mind settling back upon business. He never let his personal and professional strands mix. Ever. Continuing smoothly, he briefed the team force about how a parcel of a hundred diamonds was to be sent through the London Diamond Bourse where the sampling would take place. If approved, the rest of the consignment would be then assessed in detail.

Miss Parekh knew the entire project well enough to let her mind zone out and wander upon other things. And the first thing it lingered upon was RV. His voice was as charismatic as ever, and the little flutter that her heart felt at the power of his personality was something she felt welcome, albeit distracting. Especially in the simple aubergine shirt and the grey-three piece suit that he'd worn today, the coat and vest of which he'd done away with, only leaving behind the gradient tie of the same shade. 

He'd learnt how to wear a tie then, and do his shoelaces too, she mentally noted as she noticed his shoes and smiled distantly. He'd lived up to everything her father that hoped for him to achieve. And she couldn't have been in more awe of him in that moment.

But he looked tired today, she noticed further.

He didn't look too so when he'd visited the BSE the previous day where she'd been trading at the peak of her voice. He was meant to silently observe, not make his presence known. And yet she'd spotted him standing far, far away from sight, staring at her trading with what she could unbelievably decipher was a look of silent pride upon his face. He'd never seen her on the professional front before, even less so like a proper trader like he and her father were. She hoped in her mind that she was atleast living up to her father's grace and reputation when it came to the battlefield she was charging upon with all her skill and might, even though the poise and grace never once left her not unlike her father.

Her father had not taught her the ground rules of the stock exchange or trained her for it like the way he'd done with Ranveer, but the only two times she visited it were enough to give her unusually sharp brain a snap. She did dearly hope that her father would be proud of what she'd made of herself in the world of business, starting from the title she'd so rightfully inherited from him. But now that her father couldn't tell her anything in person, she had to rely upon the protg for answers. But even before she could turn to catch another glimpse of him some time later, he was gone.

And then there was now.

Something about the way his eyes twinkled in the lights of the day took her by surprise. There was something... different, about them today. As though there was something that was troubling him. She knew that look from years ago when he'd dream about Love. But those dreams had stopped years ago.

Then what was troubling him now?

RV sat down once he'd finished speaking, each of the task members doing their introductory session one by one while the rest of the task members sat on either side, making rigorous notes about the presentation that was going on. RV and Miss Parekh both let their eyes dart around the room in reflex, taking in everything that was being spoken and yet letting their mind run free until their eyes fell upon the only other woman sitting adjacent to RV's left in the room, who was amongst the finalized ten of the task force.

Both of their eyes widened as the feeling of an uncanny resemblance popped into their minds at her sight. But Ranveer beat Miss Parekh to unlocking his version of the memory from where he saw her. The next moment, he felt his fingers graze upon something underneath the table. Something unwanted and extra, protruding not unlike a spy sticking out in a crowd. And in that split second, something clicked. Yes, it was obvious. A sabotage. It didn't completely make sense to him, but his instincts yelled it out to him nonetheless. 

Always trust your instincts, Ranveer. It'l never guide you wrong. His mentor's words.

Ishaani still remained bewildered as she felt her blood go cold at the sight of the woman. She knew her from somewhere, but she didn't know where. Damn it! Her eyes found its way back to RV once again in reflex, only to find him eyeing the girl with interest. She felt her blood unfreeze, and now suddenly boil. If only she could give him a whack across his face or throw a paper weight at him!

Wait, did Miss Parekh just feel jealous?

Nine out of the ten members had already presented their introductory sessions by the time RV and Miss Parekh snapped out of their thoughts. All of them were now were up to date with their designated tasks except the other woman, and the only one in the room who was yet to present. She finally stood up, clearing her throat softly.

"Good morning. I'm Shanella Carvalho."

It didn't take two minutes for all the men in the room to turn their fullest attention to her, smiling slyly to each other as Miss Parekh cocked her eyebrow at no one in particular. Men. Always objectifying women. And Shanella Carvalho was a particularly full-figured woman with the most mysterious of grey eyes, the perfect curls of highlighted blonde to go with her otherwise brown hair. It was no wonder why all the men in the room suddenly eyed her with such undivided attention, seeing how her turquoise blouse and black skirt hugged her figure snugly.

She began her introduction, but all Miss Parekh could do was take in her voice. Or rather, the familiarity of it. It was as though she'd heard it somewhere before in an unpleasant memory. Her eyes scanned her coldly as she noticed the way she was staring at RV, biting her lips every two minutes in allure. But what made her blood boil even more was the way he was staring back at her.

Since when did he flirt with random women? And why were his fists clenched so tightly upon the chair? It reminded her eerily of the time when Chirag-

Miss Parekh looked at Shanella in shock, her mind suddenly taken back to the moment that had changed her life forever - Chirag with her in the room. It was the same girl! The same once she'd seen him in the room with the day before he'd thrown her out from the house. She shut her eyes as the disgusting scene of them in the room crossed her mind in a flash, her groans of ecstasy still reverberating in her ears.

That was it.

She couldn't take it anymore, especially not with her eyeing RV the way she was. No, she couldn't bear it. She couldn't bear anyone eyeing him with such kind of intentions. No she couldn't.

"Ms. Shanella, if you'd focus upon your presentation rather than upon Mr. RV here, it'd make a much better impression."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, you heard me. Do you need me to repeat the same thing twice?" asked Miss Parekh, not bothering to sound courteous. She never bothered with courtesies anyway. Shanella looked dumbstruck for two whole minutes before she stuttered, now looking outraged as tears pooled into her eyes.

"Who do you think you are to talk like that to me?! My father is the owner of the biggest chain of hotels in Orlando!"

"And I'm the owner of this empire, darling," replied Miss Parekh, a cruel smile upon her face. RV looked at her coldly. "Your father's riches have nothing got to do with what you do here or what kind of treatment you receive."

"Miss Parekh, you're wasting our time. Miss Shanella, please continue," spoke in RV, shooting the former a cold look.

Shanella cleared her throat and resumed speaking after two whole minutes, composing herself. Every single eye in the conference room now darted between the two women, one staring at the other in utmost loathing while the other one found her gaze upon RV once again, who in turn gave her a reassuring smile.

"Is the PPT on his face, Ms. Shanella?" cut through Miss Parekh once again after a span of five minutes, unable to keep her mouth shut. She couldn't...

She wouldn't have the same woman destroy her life twice!

"Miss Parekh, are you even capable of any professional conduct?" questioned RV as he finally chose to look at her. She noticed that he looked angry as though... something was interfering with the plan he was formulating in mind. He'd always get mad at her whenever she disturbed his line of thoughts. But what was going on today was something else entirely.

"And her ogling at you is professional conduct?" she taunted, while several of the men gasped. She was one woman of guts.

"She's addressing every single one of us, and looking at everyone from time to time. So what's your problem then?" shot back RV and more murmurs burst out around the room.

"I don't want her on the task force," stated Miss Parekh firmly and the room fell into a cold silence. The men obviously didn't approve.

"She's the best of the ten over here," remarked RV, his eyes staring at her own ones in defiance. He was not going to let this go her way. She didn't know what she was talking about.

"I've seen better," she boasted, but RV's glare made her bite her tongue.

"Miss Parekh, you've wasted five minutes of our precious time already. So unless you can keep quiet, control that tongue of yours and be civil, you can stay here."

"Are you threatening to throw me out of my own conference room?" asked Miss Parekh, the incredulity in her tone obvious. RV didn't bother changing his expression.

"I'm warning you," he corrected, the atmosphere of the room now fraught with ice that the two tycoons eyed each other with.

"I'll say whatever I feel like saying as part of my feedback," she shot back, now looking furious. RV raised his hand as he stood up from his place suddenly.

"That's it. Out."

"What?"

"Out. I ban you from attending any further meetings until I deem it fit," barked out RV, and the room was as silent as it could be. The drop of a pin could cut through like an explosion.

"You can't throw me out from my own goddamn office!" exploded Miss Parekh at long last, looking livid. The indignation in her voice made goosebumps erupt upon every single person's skin, excluding RV.

"This isn't your company's board meeting, Miss Parekh. This is the first JV meeting taking place where we're both 50% partners. I have equal say, and hence, I ban you from attending any other meeting henceforth," ordered RV, and she sprung upon her feet in indignation.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm dead serious. Seven minutes are already gone, Miss Parekh. Three minutes more to make your way back to your cabin before I ask Mr. Puneet to escort you," warned RV, not in the mood to entertain any nonsense. The net had to fall right.

"Sir, I-" stuttered Puneet, but no one bothered to listen to his protests as everyone's eyes were upon the two warring sides.

"I'm not going anywhere," stated Miss Parekh boldly, her eyes challenging him to say another word against her.

"You've never learnt to walk away with dignity now, have you?" he questioned, unamused.

"Not without a veto."

Instantly, nine hands rose into the air in favour of her dismissal. Nine men who wanted the cold bitch to get a taste of her own medicine at the hands of an even bigger bas***d. The remaining men kept their hands down just out of fear. RV cocked his eyebrow at her sardonically.

"9-7. Leave."

Miss Parekh didn't have to be told twice as she slammed the door behind her in fury.

-x-

"That was very impressive what you did today, darling," remarked RV as he entered the coffee room, his eyes upon Shanella in amusement.

She reminded him of a rabbit with grey eyes. A rabbit that he'd seen only once before several years ago. Oh yes, he could sniff the crisp air that was deceiving so much. But RV was better than that. He'd seen enough in those eight years to know when to trust his instincts.

"Thank you so much, sir," came the reply as Shanella turned around, looking at RV in surprise. The two of them were alone in the room. And yet RV knew that her surprise wasn't entirely genuine - she was expecting him to make the move, but not that quickly.

"RV will do just fine," he breathed out as he covered the distance between themselves.

He eyed her curiously for two whole minutes before he finally decided to cup her cheek. His instincts were never wrong, especially when he was on a purpose.

"I'm making you the head of the purchase department for this project."

"Oh wow, that's brilliant! I- I don't know what to say!" she exclaimed, her face thunderstruck for two whole minutes. She clearly couldn't believe her luck. Her arms now found its way around his neck boldly. That was quick.

Overconfident, in his opinion.

"How about a cup of coffee?" asked RV, jerking his head in the direction of the machine.

She bit her lip and nodded her head in excitement as she felt him tread backwards, his other arm slithering around her waist in a protective curl. Seeing the line she was taking, he knew what would work next. The slow weave of manipulation. A false sense of security. All he had to do was tread slowly... carefully. He was nearly there. The bait was in place.

"Oh, I'm so happy right now that I could even kiss you!" she remarked, her eyes suddenly staring into his own greedily. Her back hit the wall as RV stared at her, rubbing her cheekbone slowly, purposefully as her eyes shut against the strong touch of his thumb.

"I wouldn't mind if you did," he commented slowly, his eyes now sparkling with malicious delight.

Shanella tilted her head to the side, as though contemplating what was to be done next. Smiling at him slyly, she flicked his head towards his right with her finger and let her lips linger upon his cheek before retracting away, staring at him notoriously. RV looked at her and smirked, amused. How clich. The wait game. So much the better. He shook his head and began chuckling when his eyes fell upon the door. The chuckled died away in his throat as he saw Miss Parekh standing by the door, looking cold.

"In my cabin. Now."

She didn't bother for a reply as she walked away with her head held high, even though her eyes looked like they could murder him. RV winked at Shanella quickly, that made the latter's features relax to his utmost relief. The bait was still in place. Good.

He now made his way towards the cabin that was once his mentor's. Oh, it was the making of RV in that room during all those years of preparation and knowledge... But gone were those days. RV was here now in flesh and blood. Reaching the door, he didn't bother to ask for her permission as he entered the cabin, looking irked. Her interruption in a moment like that was not a welcome one.

"Well?" he asked her irritably that caught Miss Parekh's attention, who was now standing by the window, looking lost in thought. She turned back to look at him with the most dangerous flicker of fury as she shut all the blinds of her cabin faster than could be expected of a woman in such high stilettos. Her cabin was the only room devoid of a CCTV footage camera.

Before RV could say anything further, Miss Parekh thrust him against the wall in ire.

"Who the heck do you think you are to throw me out from my cabin?!"

"Who the heck are you to decide what anyone does or whoever ogles at me?" came back the cheeky reply and she gave him a venomous look. She didn't care about facades anymore. She wouldn't have this nonsense in her office.

"That's unprofessional!" she bellowed at him, thankful that her room was sound-proof.

"Oh please, like none of the men do that when you are speaking," spat back RV, his eyes flaring up momentarily. So he had noticed, wondered Miss Parekh before she pushed the thought away from her mind quickly.

"And what about what you just did?" she retorted, her eyes demeaning. This was not her Ranveer at all.

"That's none of your business," shot back RV, now looking aloof.

"She's been a non-existent employee for two years, and suddenly you make her the HOD of Purchase? What did she do to earn the extra favour?" she questioned with bravado. She couldn't believe the language she was using, but her rage always had the capability to wash away all of her senses.

Today was no different.

"Wow, you've finally started speaking the tongue of the society then," he remarked, looking scandalized. Who was it beneath the eyes though? , she wondered.

"And you've finally been living up to it. This is a man's world, Mr. RV. Women don't reach the top unless sexuality is brought into play," admitted Miss Parekh, her voice frigid.

There was a time when she'd scoffed at her mother when she'd told her this. But what wrong had her mother ever said? For all she now knew, every single thing that her mother had spoken to her that day was true.

"What do you have to say for yourself then?" questioned RV, his face now inscrutable. What was it that just flicked across his features? Was it the fear of what she might have had to do to reach where she was today?

"Some things never change, Mr. RV," came back the offended response, and his eyes relaxed just the tiniest bit. The implied question had an implied answer.

Several men had fallen for her looks and offered her favours, but compromising with her morals and ethics was the one thing she'd never succumbed to. And she knew that if her late father was alive, he'd have been proud about this irrespective of whatever she'd done to Ranveer.

"A lot clearly has," remarked RV, now sounding airy. "Why do they call you Miss Parekh? That's odd for a married woman," he commented suddenly, locking gaze with her. Even though her soul trembled violently as his gaze was this close to tearing down her facade, she stood her ground.

"My choice."

"Oh alright. I thought there was a time when you were dying to be Mrs. Mehta," he taunted, and she gasped. She would not have him exploit her weaknesses like that!

But hadn't she done the same thing two days ago?

"Mind your own business," she punctuated through grit teeth. RV looked at her disdainfully.

"And I'm doing exactly that. What's your problem with Shanella?" he asked, his tone back to the same brisk one. She hated the lifelessness about it, and yet there was something unusual about the tone with which he was talking to her today. It felt... a little more alive.

"She gives me bad vibes."

"Grow up. This isn't some teen jealousy drama," said RV as he smirked. Miss Parekh didn't.

"Then this isn't some typical office seduction drama either. Just stay away from her. She doesn't seem right to me."

"Give me a good reason why."

"I- I can't. But just trust me upon this," she pleaded, her eyes colliding against his stony ones in futility.

"Why should I?"

"Because I care about you," came the answer by instinct. RV gasped, the facade finally getting a little more transparent. And all she could see was a badly wounded soul writhing in mortal agony. With the agony of the statement that she'd just spoken imprudently.

"Oh really? Why? All I ever was to you was your servant," leered Ranveer, his tone now suddenly sardonic. Miss Parekh found her feet retracting behind slowly until her back hit the wall.

His eyes frightened her. Especially after knowing the fact that this was her handiwork. Years ago, he'd seen the handiwork that his cold disappointment had done upon her when she'd broken down in his room one night; today, she was seeing hers upon him.

Oh, how she missed the warmth of the cold metal in her hands...

"Don't say that!"

"I'm just saying what the truth is," came back the swift reply. The facade was up again. Ranveer had faded away. All that stood was now a lifeless RV, someone who didn't have any essence anymore. And neither did Ranveer have any to infuse.

"So is that all you think of me now? This is all I matter to you?" asked Miss Parekh in a hollow voice. She felt her facade on the border of bursting into shreds. But she couldn't let that happen! Not at any cost!

"You don't matter to me anymore because you don't exist for me. No love, no hate... no feelings. All of them dead," expressed Ranveer dispassionately. He might as well would have wrung her heart and sapped it of its life.

"I don't believe you," whispered Ishaani to him in a hollow voice. Her existence depended upon that love! Without it, she was... dead.

"Really? You want proof? Here," he whispered back as he covered the distance between them, until their faces were barely inches apart.

How long had it been since they last stood this close to each other? Both of their minds protested as they knew what was going to happen, and yet somewhere deep down, it felt right. 

Ranveer and Ishaani needed that solace even after all those years, after all those betrayals. They needed the solace that only the other could provide to their wounded and weakened souls. RV took her hand in his own gently and placed it beneath the fabric of his shirt. His skin was cold.

"Can you hear it beat anymore, Ishaani? Can you hear it beat at the sound of your name anymore?"

She gasped as he finally took her name. Her name. And suddenly, there was no RV anymore. All that stood in front of her was a dead Ranveer. Not even the wounded soul. Just a dead Ranveer, awoken from the grave of his past.

"No... No..." she whispered as she tried to feel the beats of his heart. She could feel none. Only a spreading coldness that prickled her fingers.

"And why does it matter to you? You have your husband with you," he sneered as his arm circled her waist slowly. What was he up to? He himself didn't know. But he was quick to notice that she didn't have rings upon any of her fingers.

"Don't bring him into this," she shot back fiercely, the thought of Chirag as her husband leaving a bitter taste upon her tongue. Poison would have been sweeter than him.

"Oh, possessive, I see. And stop keeping your eyes upon me. I can watch out for myself," he warned, his eyes turning her heart into stone.

And the facade slowly slipped away, leaving behind an empty Ishaani. There was no Miss Parekh in the room nor was the vulnerable, broken woman. She was numb. Dead like the man in front of her.

"You think you can, but you can't."

"Why does it matter at all, Ishaani? You got what you wanted in life. A loving and supporting husband, the career of your life, the backing of your family. What does it matter whether a servant is a part of your life or no?" asked Ranveer in self-reproach. And yet he was blank. Numb. Dead to the feel of her skin against his.

"You're my best friend!" she begged in an inaudible tone and he smiled ruthlessly, slashing a wound against her dead self.

"Were. That best friend of yours is dead."

"Don't say that!" she shrieked softly as the flash of her nightmare flew right before her eyes. She shut her eyes and turned her face away from him. What kind of sickening game was this?

"I'm only saying what's true. He died the night you made him vow upon his mentor's ashes," replied Ranveer as he pulled her face back so that their eyes met. He knew how to inflict damage upon her. He just wanted to see his handiwork.

"Stop it!"

"It hurts, no? You'll eventually learn to live with it," he mocked, his eyes finally leaving hers as he increased the distance between them. He turned to leave when she pulled him back by his tie.

"Prove it! Prove it that you don't care for me anymore."

"I don't-" began RV, taken off-guard by her sudden approach. He could see a demented fire burn in her eyes now. The same fire that represented the phoenix...

"Why? Afraid that your heart will betray you?" questioned Ishaani as the distance between them closed, their eyes straying nowhere but upon each other now.

"I don't have a heart left anymore."

"Keep saying that to yourself," she taunted as she voluntarily slipped her hand underneath his shirt to feel his beats. She couldn't feel any. 

Ranveer smiled at her mercilessly as their noses brushed against each other's now. They were lost in the hypnosis of the tension between them that was too much to take. Too much was unsaid and undone. Too much was damaged of themselves... How could they deny the antidote when it stood right in front of them?

"What can you see in my eyes, Ishaani? Do you see any life remaining in me anymore? There was a time when just the sound of your footsteps would make my heart beat so wildly, and here we are today... I'm this close to you, but I feel nothing. Can you see it, Ishaani? No difference. No difference at all... You don't mean anything to me because you don't exist for-"

Ishaani tugged at his tie roughly as his lips met her own ones in surprise. For once if only he'd ever learn to shut up! Ishaani could feel him try to pull himself away and yet, he couldn't. It was as though the magnets were attracted, and with it, a pool of emotions had broken away, flowing through the way their lips connected treacherously. Emotions that two dead people were finally given access to. Or just one plain emotion that had the essence of the rest - passion.

Ranveer shut his eyes as he let his lips taste her own ones slowly, intimately... passionately as his arm circles around her waist for the second time that afternoon. It was as though he'd found life again after all those years. As though Ranveer had finally found the slightest flicker of warmth and comfort through the cold, despondent prison of his heart. As though he'd been given a spark of hope.

Hope is where the dead see the spark of life.

Pressed against the wall and his lean figure, Ishaani let her free hand find its way into his hair as she devoured his lips, as though they were the elixir of life she needed all along. There was a pain with which they kissed each other, as though the miseries of heartbreaks were finding solace in the arms of the other, knowing that all that existed between them was each other. All that she was aware about was the pain and passion she felt coursing through her heart simultaneously, the sensation of being kissed the way she was as though someone had created an explosion of colours in her barren heart, devoid of any colour but pain.

Colours blend all the pain within until pain becomes a colourful story.

Their lips departed after long intervals, as though leaving the other's lips would mean breaking the hypnosis of the moment. Ishaani let her fingers trail painfully through Ranveer's hair while his other hand now travelled up to her neck that he cupped for support.

And that broke the spell for Ishaani.

She was horribly reminded of a moment when a brute had nearly choked the life out of her when he'd kissed her as a punishment, his rough lips doing more damage than good as it struck her lips with an inhumane force, making her lips bleed. The memory of that day was still etched in her mind with nauseating clarity. She couldn't do this.

Not as long as Chirag stood in between them. She couldn't let her guard down like this, not until she'd taken her complete revenge upon him.

Both of their eyes snapped open at the same time, their lips still upon each other's. But it wasn't the same anymore. Because the person who came out from the kiss was no longer Ranveer. It was RV, whose eyes were now staring into her own cold-heartedly.

There was no elixir because the vulnerable selves were slowly fading away into the prison of numbness. Their lips now collided against each other coldly, the gentility and intimacy from earlier now withering away just as quickly as it had come. Passion ceased to be as they felt no love. They felt no love because there were no emotions left in them anymore. And there were no emotions left anymore because there was no hope. RV and Miss Parekh were both oblivious to the concept of hope and stomped out what little their older selves urged them to embrace.

RV separated himself from her slowly, his eyes burning with the ferocity of their intimate interlude. He couldn't do this. Not now. Not until he'd gotten what he'd come here for. He couldn't let himself fall weak like this. He couldn't let himself fall prey to the dying soul within him. No. He was on a purpose too, just like her. And this was wrong... No, he couldn't do this!

But a moment's worth of passion was enough to help them sustain. For now.

"See, no difference at all," he whispered, his eyes staring at her brutally in hope to break her down. But all it did was backfire at him as his gaze collided against her stony ones. Gone were the emotions... Gone was the life from them.

She took away her hand from upon his chest, still unable hear the beats of his heart any longer. She still couldn't feel the warmth of his heart any longer. He was cold, just like her. But it didn't matter to her any longer because her facade was up already. Miss Parekh was back. The cold, manipulative bitch was back.

"Get out," was all she whispered icily before RV made his way out from her cabin without another word.

-x-

RV stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself aghast. What had he done? He'd kissed her! He'd kissed her! A married woman no less! What was the matter with him? Why couldn't he feel anything? Why was he so numb? Why was he so dead?

He drained his eighth glass in a row, and yet his senses were as acute as ever. This had been his only ever vice. And yet that vice wasn't enough to drown him into the pits of sleep. All that his mind did was sew the net that had to be spread for the rabbit. Oh yeah, it had to be all very intricately done.

If only the phoenix wouldn't stand in the middle.

Sighing, Ranveer got up from upon the bed of the luxurious suite room and walked up to the desk. Something wasn't right. Ishaani Parekh was a woman of morals. She'd never succumb to something like this, especially after being married. And he'd seen the anger flare in her eyes earlier that day when he spoke about using sexuality as a tool to reach the top. 

Some things never changed. 

And yet that episode happened between them.

No, something was off about the entire equation and RV had to have his answers now. He'd waited enough! Picking up the phone, he quickly dialled through a number. The response was almost instantaneous.

"I need to know everything about Ms. Carvalho. A complete background check, both personal and professional."

"Anything else sir?" asked Rishi from across the line, sounding worried.

"That'll do."

Before anything else could be said, RV disconnected the line and quickly put through the next number. This time, it was a while when the phone was answered.

"RV! How are you?" came the booming voice from across the line.

"I'm good, Piyush. I hope that I'm not disturbing."

"No, it's alright. Tell me, how may I help you?" asked Piyush, now sounding shrewd.

RV knew that he'd have to play his cards right if he wanted to retrieve the information he wanted. RV didn't like not knowing things. And after what happened in the office today, those answers were crucial now more so than ever.

"I need to know something and I need an honest answer from you."

"Okay."

"From how long have you been acquainted to Ishaani apart from our school days?" he questioned, softening his tone to a one of worry.

He had to play his cards right. He had to bring about the emotions that RV failed to ever feel. The Ranveer within him somehow seemed to help him in his purpose for the first time. The tryst from this afternoon had afterall, allowed him to feel emotions, even though they were still locked underneath the prison of numbness. The walls around his heart were made of iron. They wouldn't melt away so easily.

"Five and a half years."

"And how did you get in touch with her?" questioned Ranveer further, hoping that he'd find the answers that he was looking for.

"My wife was her classmate in college. Is that all?" asked Piyush, now sounding uncomfortable suddenly. RV knew that he was playing his cards right.

"What about her husband?" Silence.

The pause was a prolonged one as RV heard Piyush sigh from across the line, as though going through a mental tussle of whether or not this question was to be answered.

"I don't think it's my place to tell you about that," came back the final reply, the uncertainty in it making it all-the-more fishier for RV. His instincts were right... Something was drastically off. He pressed further.

"That day, you were talking about the Mehta and Sons take-over and I'm afraid I didn't understand the equation of it all. Isn't that her husband's company? Why would she go through so much trouble to take over her husband's company?" Silence one again.

RV remained silent as well on instinct, trusting his gut like always. It never guided him wrong.

"Ah... I'm afraid I can't tell you anything about that. Confidentiality issues," replied back Piyush after a span of exactly twelve and a half minutes, his tone reluctant. RV knew that if there was any a good time to get an answer to all of his questions, it was now.

"Piyush, please. I'm not asking you for this as RV, but as Ranveer," he pleaded slowly. Just the perfect amount of desperation yet concern in his voice.

But was it RV learning to manipulate emotions at long last or was it Ranveer who was silently guiding him through his purpose to know what the matter with Ishaani was really? But RV didn't have any emotions. The only emotion he ever felt was passion when he was at work. It had to be Ranveer.

And for the first time, the facade of strength had to accommodate the vulnerability. Strong had to accept weak if he had to get answers. RV needed Ranveer.

"I'm sorry, Ranveer. But I've given her my word. I cannot say anything unless she chooses to do so herself," came back the response, and he was quick to catch upon the hesitancy in his tone. It was as though he was trying to restrain himself from blurting something out.

"She isn't going to tell me anything, and even you know that. Please, help me out over here. I need to know everything that's happened, everything that you know that's happened in these six years. Please," he begged further, now letting instinct take over.

But was it instinct or was it Ranveer? Because the voice that now left his lips was no longer the crisp, cold tone of RV. It was the old, soft, mellow voice of Ranveer, albeit slightly cracked. How long had it been since he'd last spoken to someone like that?

"You want a background check, in short," stated Piyush at long last, sounded frustrated with himself.

RV sprang up to the occasion, unable to keep the relief and glee out from his tone. He was losing control upon Ranveer now. The accomplice was trying to make a run from the cold prison, even though maimed. The moth needed the flame of hope now.

"Yes!"

"Fine, I'll come over to your hotel at seven tomorrow morning," came the quiet answer. RV uttered a word of thanks before disconnecting the call once again.

Finally! He'd be getting answers soon enough.

Sighing, RV made his way towards the armoire where his diaries now lay. Picking up the two which he'd require, he flipped open the pages from where his struggle into the world began. It was a struggle then, and it was a struggle now. But since when had his life ever been easy, especially without him not having to fight tooth and nail, life and blood, heart and soul for what he truly deserved? For what he truly desired at the end of it all?

Several years ago, he'd willed to walk through that night just to meet her at the horizon.

But was he willing to do the same after all those years? RV never forgot the betrayals of the past; but Ranveer didn't forget either. He hadn't forgotten his love. Shutting his eyes, RV placed his hand upon his chest. As cold as ever. But for the first time in six and a half years, he felt it thump slightly.

Just a little.

Pitter patter.

RV let the facade fall away slowly as he shut his eyes and sighed. Ranveer was getting dominant now. And so was the voice in his head.

As long as there is hope, you'll always be willing to walk through the night just to meet her at the horizon.

-x-

Ishaani stared at her bleeding arm in silence. A third scar now accompanied the previous ones. 

I thought there was a time where you'd have even died to become Mrs. Mehta. How dare he?!

One scar wouldn't suffice... It wouldn't! She didn't care that she was breaking her rules about scarring herself! She needed the next scar already! She needed to be in control, not out of it!

Ranveer always told her that it was good to let yourself become weak occasionally because even the strongest of people needed to fall weak at times. It's what made them human and stronger. But she was never given the option of falling weak because she couldn't. It was as simply as that. Nobody could break her fall if she broke down now. And she couldn't have that. She could trust no one. No one except her metallic friend to help her see through this.

A second scar now joined the previous one in a parallel strike, more red falling upon the white of her skin. But all that the sickening blood did was remind her about Ranveer and the blood trickling away from his lifeless form in her dreams. She threw the scalpel aside in mental rage, her emotions exploding and imploding at the same time. She didn't know what hit her, but she knew that she couldn't keep up with this for much longer.

Emotions worth five years were no longer in her scope to suppress, especially when Ranveer danced around in front of her eyes in a cold, unfeeling, emotionless shell. She didn't know what to do with herself anymore, not when everything was going wrong in spite of it going right. Something was terribly, terribly wrong. Something was totally off, and the foreboding in her heart was now killing her.

Propping herself back upon her feet in spite of her mind protesting, Ishaani walked up to her armoire and pulled out the three diaries that were kept aside as though contagious. She pulled out the books, the look of repugnance evident upon her face as she carried them back towards her bed-stand.

This was it. This was where their untold story had begun from. If this chapter had to end, she'd have to read it from the beginning.

She'd have to walk through the night if she wanted to meet him at the horizon.

---

Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos. :D :D

Next chapter:
Epistle 81

LadyMeringue2016-12-12 01:00:01