Chapter 9

Chapter 8

“I Loved Her

Not for the way

She danced with my angels,

But for the way

The sound of her name could

Silence my demons”

He stalked towards his her, after their dance he was eager to spend some time with her. But he was not one of those people who rush into anything and regret later, after all, there was no use in crying over the spilt milk. He liked being guarded especially when he was feeling the way he was…. But the moment he saw her with that boy, his lip curled upward thinking about the way she was looking at him and him? how dare he look at what was his?

He decided to think thoroughly before going ahead with anything, but after looking at both… his need to see her, speak with her increased tenfold. He must do it, or he will go mad. Hell! how did this happen? He was sure she came with her sister, then where did this boy come from? When he danced with her, he did not for once thought she may have someone in her life already. He needs to know how deep they are in this relation of theirs. The thought itself made him angrier than he already was. Not that it matters. The boy he can be taken care of easily but her…

He stopped a few steps behind her, she was standing in a corner engrossed in looking at different types of flowers and decorations. It seems she likes flowers a lot…

“A beautiful girl like you should not wander alone this late at night” he bent and whispered near her ear from behind scaring the daylights out of her. She gasped, in the blink of an eye Vansh pinned her forcefully to his broad chest. His hands coiled tightly around her delicate form caging even her hands. He pulled her flush against him. Her back to his front. He was breathing heavily.

“Wh..Who are you?” she stuttered obviously still shaken with the way he had crept up on her. She tried to get out of his grip, but his hold was too tight for her. She tried to turn her head sideways to look at him.

“Don’t” she stopped hearing the warning in his tone. He bent his head and kissed at the top of her head.

“What the hell?” she asked clearly outraged at his action, he grinned. She renewed her struggles to get out of his grip, in response to that one of his hands had fingers digging in her waist. Quickly he used his other hand to pull on the mask which he kept in his pant pocket.

She was terrified now. She screamed. “Help…” while keeping her efforts ongoing.

In one swift move, he turned her around to face him without vanquishing his possessive hold on her.

“Do you see anyone here other than you and me? Who do you think is going to listen to your plea of help?” he mocked her

Riddhima was shocked to see the masked man. “You…. What do you think you are doing? Leave me at once” she seethed. But even as she said this, she looked around there was no one there except them. What is going on? How was that possible a while ago she saw 2 or 3 couples walking here? She looked back at him and said in a levelled voice “Leave me now”

“Not so scared now that you know it’s me ha?”

As he held her waist and pulled her impossibly close, her hands were stuck between them, she tried to push at his chest which was of no use because the more she tried to pull herself out of his grip the tighter his hold on her got. So, she decided to see his face and tried to pull his mask. He knew what she was trying to do.

He took hold of her hand and said, “Don’t do it if you want to leave this place.”

She was more scared now, she felt the tears pool in her eyes as she replied with an unsteady voice

“I don’t know you, please leave me.”

Looking at her tears he felt smile slip from his face “I don’t have any intention to harm you, relax” his voice turned gentle.

She looked at him incredulously. He cornered her, crept up on her, manhandled her and he is saying he did not want to harm her? Is he mentally unstable?

He chuckled realising where her thoughts are heading…

She narrowed her eyes at him as she asked, “What do you want then?” He kept quiet staring at her, wanting to imprint her face to his memory before he finally replied with his own question.

“Do you really want to know?” he brought his face close to her and whispered “Riddhima…”

He left her and slowly took a step back “You can go but don’t wander alone at night…”

He did not have to tell her twice she turned and ran till she reached ballroom doors which were situated opposite to their current place. Someone had closed the doors. She grabbed the handle and pulled thankfully doors were not locked. She turned once before entering the ballroom, he still stood there staring at her….

*****

“Let’s go Sejal” as soon as she entered, she searched for Sejal.

“What??? No please let’s wait some more, it’s just 11.45” Sejal complained

“Doesn’t matter, I am leaving with or without you, and I think you have had enough of the drink”

Seeing Riddhima so determined Sejal agreed anyways she was drinking more than usual was feeling tipsy.

“Okay, at least let me wish my friends goodbye”

*****

“Aangre make sure the girl reaches home safely, I want you to personally take care of this and report back to me after that. There is a change of plans”

“Sure boss” Aangre replied as he saw the girl leaving with one more lady from the party and started following them.

*****

Vansh could have followed Riddhima in his own car and only he knew how desperate he was to do just that. But he was also sure if he did see her one more time, he won’t let her leave his presence.

He walked a few paces forward and picked up her mask which fell when she ran away from him. He left the hotel from the back door; the party was over for him.

*****

Riddhima kept looking out of the window as the car moved, Sejal was half asleep. No wonder with all the dancing and drinking. Her thoughts wandered back to the masked man and she shuddered involuntarily. Who was he? What did he want with her? Was he drunk? Should she tell her sister, Kabir or maybe her friends? She held her head in her hands.

She didn’t want to create a scene at her sister’s workplace which may jeopardize Sejal’s job. And even if she wanted to tell this to someone what will she say? There is mask man who misbehaved with her, but she doesn’t know his name nor does she know how he looks…

She tried hard to remember when he bent down to kiss her hand after the dance, he did lift his mask a little, but the action was so quick that she could not see anything and during the garden fiasco he made sure not to let her see his face. Riddhima knew ethically the right thing to do was complain, someone, after all, small things like this led to big disaster if not handled on time….

All things aside she can’t risk her sister’s job right now with so many financial tensions. She decided to keep silent maybe the man really was drunk. Anyways it’s not like she is going to meet him again….

*****

“I am going home” Kabir frowned looking at the message. He expected that after expressing his interest in her, she will visit him once before leaving or at least give him a call but…

*****

“Our team will handle Agrwal’s deal. I will attend the meeting virtually. I am leaving for London tomorrow. You will stay here and keep an eye on her” Vansh kept shooting instructions after instructions.

“I want all the details ready by the time I return and make sure both don’t meet again till my further command.”

Aangre saw his boss paced the room impatiently, he never saw Vansh this disturbed.

“All okay?”

“Yes,” Vansh snapped and then said in a calmer voice “just do as I say. I want reports on her daily activities”

The second Vansh left the party, he went to his home and started planning his next step. But whatever happened he was certain about one thing, before taking any drastic step he wanted to be sure about his feelings, that this was not temporary infatuation which he may even come to forget as he immerses into his work or maybe even bed another girl. He doubted that is the case. Still just to be sure and hence he took the decision to stay away from this place for seven days. Initially, his plan was to get her details and woo her, after all, who is going to resist Vansh Rai Singhania especially when he can give her anything her heart desires.

Now with that boy in the picture, he was not so sure, and not to forget the feelings which she invoked in him. He never thought he could ever be jealous. People were envious of him, not vice versa. He always gets what he wants. The intensity of his emotions was way beyond, something even he couldn’t comprehend. He needed to stay away from her to sort out his thoughts. But what he can do with the boy? he can’t rest knowing she will visit him. So, he changed the plans Aangre will keep an eye on her. He won’t give such a precious work to anyone else and in the meanwhile, he will try to figure out if this was infatuation or…..

"I think I know him," Aangre said suddenly.

Vansh stopped his pacing and narrowed his eyes giving him a look as if it were his fault the boy was at the party "What did you say?"

"His name is Kabir Sharma. He is a police inspector, and he was here because of the extra security purpose. I briefed him on our security measures and supervised their plans" It was normal for them to have a police force as security officials in each of his parties. 

"Police you say. Hmmm… I wonder don't they have missions on their own? arrange something for him just make sure he does not come back for next few days" Vansh replied with a cunning smile.

"Okay" Aangre nodded and left

With one problem solved, Vansh felt little relived, now he can go to London and try to figure things out. He threw his head back on the couch and closed his eyes a smile adorned his face as he saw Riddhima’s face looking back at him….

Note:

1. Phew! Finally done...

2. Thank you all for your votes and comments

3. Do let me know what do you think about this.