Chapter 18

Chapter 17

"She was his Angle without Wings.

He was her Demon without Horns.

Indeed, Opposite Attract."

Riddhima took two steps back when she came in contact with the wall?

"Did you like your gift Sweetheart?" Vansh whispered near her ear. 

She gasped ready to turn. When he pinned her to his chest. Back to front. His hands coiled around her trapping her completely. He kissed at the top of her head. She felt a sense of Deja Vu. She was back again in the garden with the masked man only this time she knew who it was...

"Leave me right now," she demanded with a stony face. If her hands were free she would have turned and slapped him hard.

"Won't you scream for help today?" He spun her around, there was a pleased smile on his lips and his dark eyes held a mischievous glint in them. He turned off the music.

"Let go" she started her struggle. He did not move an inch but kept looking at her futile attempts to free herself she stopped "What do you want?"

"tsk tsk I thought you must have figured it out by now."

"I did not and leave me" she pushed him.

This time he allowed her to leave his arms. She quickly took two steps back and he moved forward

"Leave me alone" she felt a wave of tears burning the corner of her eyes.

Seeing he was undeterred from his pursuit, she started moving backward until she hit the back of the piano. She held her right hand open protectively in front of her. "Stop"

Instead of stopping he quickly kissed her outstretched palm. She quickly took her hand back and taking that opportunity he put a hand on either side of her trapping her effectively.

"What do you want?"

"You." He leaned over her and she plastered herself flat against the open piano lid.

He brushed a strand of hair from her face and stroked her cheek.

"Look I don't know what you mean or maybe this is your idea of a joke but let me tell you it is not funny. This is sick." But even as she said this she realized if he was joking, he won't have those masks...

"You know I have imagined you on this piano with me and not just playing..." he gave her a wink. She gazed at him in horrified disbelief.

"However, I know you are confused right now. Let's have dinner tonight and discuss our future." He commanded her and took a step back

Dinner, future, us??? was he mad she thought

"You are insane..." she said in the same disbelief lacing her voice

"I will pick you up at 8 o'clock sharp. Be ready."

"In your dreams" she slid out from the left side with the available little space.

As she reached the door, it was closed she realized there was no handle doorknob or lock present. How do you open this? she panicked, 

she could hear the footsteps behind her getting louder

"It is a remote lock" Vansh pressed the button on the remote

she backed as the door opened. As soon as it was opened enough to let her pass she hurried but he grabbed her arm and once again turned her to face him. He had an impish look about him

"Run," He whispered "I love to chase"

and she set off at a run along the passage...

*****

"You let her leave..." commented a surprised Aangre

"Did you think I will kidnap her?" Vansh's tone was playful

Aangre observed Vansh, he was in a better mood considering the last two days.

"No not Kidnap...are you planning to?" scepticism laced his tone.  Nothing can be impossible when it came to his whimsical boss.

Vansh kept quiet "I want to see who is her go-to person in dire situations."

"But what if she goes to..." Aangre was not sure if he can take Kabir's name, seeing his last two days' behavior "police station?" he finished.

Clever of Aangre to not take Kabir's name but he always knew how Vansh worked.

"No one will believe her, she does not have any proofs but, if she runs to that Hawaldar then..." he left rest unsaid but Aangre understood.

*****

"Sia?" Dadi entered her room and saw Aaryan with her.

"Look Dadi! Aaryan Bhai gave this to me." Sia exclaimed happily as showed her the book 'The well-tempered garden'"

"Aery wah, very nice" she smiled "Sia, how was your physio session?" Dadi asked curiously making Aaryan look at her

"It was as usual..why?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to meet Riddhima, saw her leave a while ago," replied Dadi cautiously.

"You can always meet her tomorrow" Sia stated the obvious

Aaryan left Sia to her book and followed Dadi out, she looked troubled.

"Dadi, what's wrong? and please don't deny because you look worried."

"I just saw Riddhima leave a while ago, she bumped into me and she was scared or maybe even crying. Do you know anything about this?"

"Uh..No, maybe it's something personal. Ignore it. I have a call. Bye," Aaryan left why did it feel like he could not meet her eyes?

*****

She stepped into the shower. Her mind was in shreds. As the water poured down it helped her to calm a little.

She was practically fuming when she returned. They did not let her leave till she accepted to ride.

"The gates won't open if you do not travel by assigned car..." That was what Mrs. D'Souza told her.

As soon as she reached home she called Nia but before she could say anything else it was Nia who gave her grave news.

"Nani is in critical condition. The doctor is not sure she will survive the night." Nia was very close to her Nani. During her parent's divorce, she spent the majority of her time with Nani. Riddhima couldn't tell her now. She consoled her.

She started recalling her last few days. She realized he had trapped her. He was her sister's boss. He owns the majority of shares in her hospital which means if she goes complaining it won't work. She will have to resign. She will search for a job elsewhere but Sejal...She shook as another unbidden thought came to her mind, did he invest in Lifebeat because of her, and Sejal's promotion. If he was capable of doing this, what more can he do? She felt faint. She needed time to think this through.

what will she do now? One thing was sure she will not have dinner with him. After her shower was finished she slumped into the bed. Sahil can she ask him for help? Suddenly an idea struck her. She checked the time on mobile. It read at half-past seven. 

She will go to Nia, her hometown. After their successful internship, Riddhima had spent a few days with Nia in her hometown. Her Nani was a sweet person. Nia's mother knows her. No one will object to her visit. That way she can be with Nia in her tough time and will get time to think this through. Most importantly she will be away from Vansh.

She dropped her a text 'do you mind if I come to visit?'. Instantly she received a reply 'It will be great.'

She quickly got up and packed a few clothes hastily, simultaneously called Sejal to inform her. She will call in sick tomorrow. She booked a cab. She will update Nia about her visit on the way she decided. Now he won't know where she is.

*****

"I will be off the radar for the next few days. Call me on another number if anything is damn urgent." Vansh smirked and left

*****

What is wrong with this girl? Yesterday they planned everything on house hunting and today she is running to that Nia? They will have to look for a new home as soon as possible...

"Hey Sejal" her friend called her "where are we going to party?"

"Wherever you want. How about Drinkery51?"

Her friend whistled and started spreading the news.

Sejal was almost sure she got this promotion because Vansh took an interest in her. She will be working with Vansh directly. What more she could ask for...oh there was something she wanted more than working alongside Vansh. Now that she will be working with him she has plenty of time to achieve that...

*****

"He brought the land at a really cheap price. He did not even speak directly, his right-hand man Aangre did. and now he is after one of my old projects..." Her father was shouting

"Uncle, you could have sold this land to someone else. Why did it have to be Vansh?" Sunny asked his uncle rationally.

"Because Vansh wanted that land and when I acted pricey, he made such conditions arise that no one will want the land. I have lost the land."

"What old project dad? and why is he so interested in that? and I thought you said the deal was successful?" asked perplexed Ragini

"Vansh wanted a land which is near his latest project Iris. A big project he is going to earn billions in it. I thought I will get a good profit out of it but he made the conditions unfavorable. I let it go not having any other option. As if that was not enough now he is meddling in my old project.don't know what are his interests here but I have court cases filed against me. Government officials are badgering me. At this rate, we will face major losses..."

*****

'What's wrong with her phone? She was trying to call Nia..' Riddhima looked out of the window, it's been an hour she was traveling it was dark outside. The road was deserted save for a few passing cars. It will take more than four hours to reach...

Car came to halt suddenly. "What happened bhaiya?" She asked the driver

The driver didn't say anything just got down from the car. Frowning she got down "what happ.."

There was a car in front of them. Stupefied she stood rooted to her spot. Vansh Rai Singhania was walking towards her. A wicked smile on his face.

He nodded at the driver who picked her bag from car dicky and handed it over to Vansh's driver.

"What are you doing?" She finally found her voice and turned to the driver "hand over the bag to me that's mine."

"You can leave," he told the driver and started moving towards her.

She backed away "no wait.." but the car already left

She turned and was startled to see he already stood close to her

His hand went to the back of her head. The scream was stifled. He pressed a handkerchief to her face which covered her nose and mouth. Darkness clouded her vision. She heard him say "breath love, I got you"

Vansh picked her unconscious form, sat with her in the backseat. "Drive" he ordered and turned to gaze at the girl in his arms, His Riddhima...

Note:

Thank you all for your encouraging comments.