Ariya FF : Ajeeb Dastan. CHAPTER 21 UPDATED 21/02/15 - Page 25

With no care about his warnings or demands, I take my own time to change and have my breakfast. After all, I'm doing a favour to them. I care less about it right now, as I am stuffing my mouth with chocolate waffles.

Matty questions me, "How are things at the mansion?".

"We're starting off today by next week the mansion will be ready."I repeat the same what Mrs Rose had told me on the phone. Within a week or so the mansion would be ready and I would be free. Can't wait!

She nods taking in my details.

I pause my breakfast and look towards Matty who was busy setting up the table. She seemed very tired by the look on her face.

"Matty, may I ask you something?" I speak carefully.

"You may." she says giving me a warm smile.

"Mrs Malik, Arjun's wife... I haven't seen her around, why is that so?" I speak my words carefully forming.

I see the debating look on Matty's face to answer my question.

She walks inside the kitchen and continues washing the dishes in the basin. I walk towards her and help her in wiping the crockery aside.

"Well there is a lot spoken about this. But the truth only they know. Some villager's believe that he may have murdered his wife, some say she has an affair so she may have eloped..." she sighs and looks back to me.

I was tensed with the little detail she told me. I feel Matty rub my back in round motion and then I realised was soaking back the wiped dishes.

"It's okay love. You don't have to believe in these rumours. I know Mrs Rose very well, her son, he may show a dark personality but they think well."

I struggle to pull a smile on my face. I know she was trying to calm my reflexes because I was to work with them around. And with these thoughts lingering in my mind would mean I'd change my mind.

But strangely I did not find Logan so threatening, criminal kind of a person. Little I know of him is he's married and his wife has disappeared. He loves his mother so much that he cares to see her happy by giving away the mansion so close to his heart, then he loves dogs but hates fluffy... he's rude towards me for of course genuine reasons yet I don't think these things makes him a bad Lord.

I turn around resting my back on the counter; I run a hand through my hair. Something is not right. The way I felt about these things. The way he was getting under my skin.

I finish wiping the dishes and return to my room, grabbing all my stuff I head to the door.

Matty was sitting in the mini library reading a book.
I clear my throat and she looks up with a lovely smile.
"Riya, do you need something" she says while attempting to get up from the armchair.

I squat towards her feeling, resting my hands on her lap gesturing her to sit back. I was grateful for all the care she was giving and showing towards me. I smile at her and take her hand in mine.

"If you think I can be of your any help, please don't hesitate to ask. I am always here. No matter what." I feel my eyes moist and throat heavy.

Matty traces her on my face lovingly.

"You said it; it's more than enough darling." She kisses my forehead and I jump onto her for a hug and leave for work.

I was already running one hour late. Girls do take time and I guess Mr Logan should bear that in mind.

I walk towards the huge mansion, filled with trucks parked outside; the men already started working.

Everyone stares at me as I make my way inside the large door. Holding on to my handbag I gather courage and step ahead.

Logan was not around. I let my tensed shoulder fall down. Phew!

I walk towards a man inspecting household items.
"Hello."I say politely. He looks towards me; he was tall in his forties or so. "Oh hello! Ms Riya right?"
"Yes" I say nodding my head and giving a handshake.

"I was expecting you. Shall we." he offers me to walk first to look around the mansion. I nod and follow him. "And you are?" I ask.

"Mark Tomson, I'm Mrs Rose's manager. I'll be assisting you. If you need anything just give a shout."

"Nice meeting you Mark. I hope you don't mind me calling you that."

"Oh not at all, I'm absolutely fine with anything." he smiles at me.

We take a tour around the mansion, inspecting the rooms except for Logan's room that was on the upper floor.

I pen down the material required for the re-decorations so that the things are here on time. I felt at ease to have Mark around me else it would have been a nightmare to handle this on my own and work around Arjun.; with all the weird ideas rushing in my mind.

It was already afternoon, the sun was heating up the cold Cornish air. My throat was dry and hungry stomach growled for food. I speak to Mark to arrange light lunch and drinks for all of us.

As he heads outside, we hear a jeep outside come to a stop. Arjun steps down claiming the keys from the jeep and shouts for Mark. He looked ubber cool in his maroon hoodie and pair of blue jeans, I realised myself staring at him.

Mark runs to his master with quick strides. Arjun and him speak for a while which I couldn't hear from far. He looks to where I was and returns his gaze on Mark.

Mark orders his men to come along and they pull out medium sized boxes out from the jeep and left it inside the kitchen.
"What's happening?" I ask Mark, ignoring Logan who was just behind him.
"Lunch for all of us." he smiles again.

I look at Arjun taken by surprise by his actions. I remember Matty' words saying that he thinks well about others. This could be slightly right. However he was very rude to me this morning.

He stops by me, while Mark heads inside to help his men out.

"So I hope you made it here on time?" his one eyebrow arched in curiosity.

"Well why I should," I cross my arms over my chest, "I should be asking you, don't you know how to address people in the mornings?" I ignore his question, while my stubborn self takes charge.

He scoffs taking a step towards me. I continue, taking as a step back, my back touching the cold wall "And you should know that girls take longer. Your wife should be doing it too?"

Oops! What did I just say? Right now the only think I could wish for is getting killed by Logan.

Logan is not pleased with the reminder of his wife. He steps closer to me, pressing me closer to the wall, if possible with his right hand. His eyes filled with disgust and hurt.

The moment he stepped in towards me, I gasped while his grip on my arm getting tighter. I felt my eyes pool with tears, I looked around but the workers were busy feeding themselves with the food Logan had delivered.

"Tell me..." his face nearing mine, and stopping just by my ear. "What?" I found myself ask him back.

".. How well do you think you know her? Tell me... he says with his clenched teeth.

"Stop please", I mumble by his jaws. "You're hurting me." I plead to him.

I feel the grip loosen on my hand, and he marched back to his room.

I look around to see if any of the men were looking at us. I step outside into the lawn trying to calm myself and get rid of the tears that were rolling down in pain that he had caused me.

I was right; he can't be a good person, never ever. He may think well about others but why does he treat me like that?

After a while, I hear footsteps stop behind me, turning around I find Mark standing there his one hand holding the drink and the other pizza slices on a plate.
"What are you doing here?" he asks his eyes showing a fatherly concern towards me. I quickly take the food from him upon his request. Realising how much hungry I was I bit on to some pizza.

"Admiring the nature" I say inhaling the air with a wide smile.

He gives me a warm smile." So let's call it a day. Tomorrow we have a long day."
I give him a nod while sipping the drink.

He starts to walk back to the house.
"Mark.." he turns around. "Thanks for this" I say raising the drink n food.

Mark nods with a warm smile and leaves.

Night was the same as before but except for Josh, everyone else was present. Josh was still away for his assignment. I kind of missed him though; his company would always keep my irrational thoughts away; thoughts about Logan and his scary attitude.

Well, how much ever Patrick displeased it; Matty spoke up in between dinner, telling us about the fund raising event for poor families. She spoke about events that will happen during the couple of days; music with karaoke, art displays, food stalls. I was amazed how well she was handling all of it on her own and a bit too guilty for being out of this. All of a sudden an idea popped in my mind.

.Hey don't complain, I told ya its gonna be short. Anyways keep your lovely comments coming in. And I'll make sure update as soon as possible. May be I'll drop a spoiler. Coz you gonna love what's gonna happen next. Till then, see ya.