Hello All! This is Niki. I had writtenan OS for another forum once and when I was editing it, I found that it fits Ritwick--Palak quite well. So here's it...after some changes.
Hope you all enjoy it.
Webs of Hatred
"Ah so finally Dr. Palak has decided to come out of her hiding place!
The familiar drawling tones met her ears, as immediately her insides twisted to a knot, her heart steading up its pace. Of all the people to run into, it had to be him.
Her shoulders stiff, she turned towards the dynamic presence of the man she had been avoiding furiously for the past week. Her eyes fell on the tall figure decked in a grey suit and a pristine white shirt. Her eyes trailed the unbuttoned collar to his roughened features; dark brows framing his beautiful eyes, high cheek bows highlighting his strong jaw and finally those beautiful sensuous lips she had dreamt of.
Gritting her teeth she tried to regain some composure. She could not afford to lose her countenance here, especially now that to in front of him.
"Mr. Noon, how nice to see you here! she spoke coolly while her heart hammered at a tremendous pace.
Ritwick Noon stared at the woman in front of him with a glint in his eyes. He let out a harsh laugh at her response and watched her shoulders stiffening uncomfortably.
"My word, I am really flattered you find my company nice'. I mean with all the techniques you had devised to avoid me, I must admit your response is quite unexpected. Then again, you had always been a deft hand at playing pretend, right Dr. Palak?
Palak raised her eyes to meet his and nearly staggered back at the hatred that pooled in those orbs. Her heart lurched as pain sheared through for reasons she had yet to comprehend. No matter how much he insulted her, humiliated her, she could not find it in herself to fight against it. She could neither defend herself, nor could she hurt him like he hurt her.
It was a state of utter pitifulness that she found herself in, unable to break out from her binds and yet in a continuous need for her torturer to be around her. A self-inflicted torment, she could not find a way to free herself from the dark shadows that choked her spirit and haunted her dreams.
"So, Ritwick drawled as he stepped closer, his hands deep into his pockets, "why are you here, Dr. Palak?
She gulped as she suddenly felt a strange sense of nervousness grip her. Immediately she stepped back a few paces only to find him step closer into her private space, the gap between them shortening. Instinctively she backed up farther until she slammed into the wall, the cool surface augmenting her heightened sense of awareness.
"I am here for an interview, she blurted out, her eyes flitting from one side to the other trying hard not to focus on the man who stood a hairline's breadth away from her. A chuckle left him and she felt him inching closer. She felt his lips reach her ears as hot breath breached them and a shiver wracked through her frame.
"Interview? he breathed out gently. "Or another master-plan to hoodwink another guinea pig? What are you aiming at this time? Simply break marriages or abscond with the bridegroom? Or maybe become their friend and then double cross them?"
A spurt of anger erupted in her.
She was tired, so very tired of the regular taunts and barbs she had to face.
Ritwick Noon, the bane of her life and unfortunately her ex-best friend haunted every step of her life, plaguing every cent of her peace and now she had enough. He had hurt her dignity, her self-confidence and she had been reduced to a sobbing wreck after he was through with her. And yet she had suffered in silence, drank in her misery quietly, never returning any of his harshnesses back for his every painful barb ignited in her a sense of regret at the loss of a relation, a bond and death of a friendship. The end of a companionship. It was toxic and anguishing and she had done what she thought was best. He had told her to get out of his home and she had disappeared from his life; resigned her office and re-located. She had even kept track of him so that she could go out of her way to avoid him. And she had been successful, until today.
"Is keeping silent another of your tactics sweetheart? For they will surely not work on me.
She took in a deep breathe. "Let me go.
There was a certain sense of challenge at those words and he understood them quite well. Ritwick surveyed her, letting his eyes drift over her dark lashes shadowing the familiar dark eyes he knew by heart. Her pale countenance contrasted with the bright red of her lush lips; something that had always drawn his eyes but had ignored for she was his friend. Ex-friend, he reminded himself, and that meant no more considerate behaviour.
His eyes dropped to her supple chest that gave into the tantalizing curve of her waist and he nearly staggered at the jolt that went through him; his thoughts making his blood boil in desire. His head throbbed as their proximity brought to him her seductive whiff of her scent, the combination of jasmine and something he could never place, that made him feel heady and tempted to lose his senses and act on the devious fantasies he nursed; fantasies that had multiplied and returned with vengeance after she had left his office all those months ago. He still remembered the tortured nights when he could not sleep; the cries of his sister deafening his ears while his deranged mind could only prop up fantasies of the one who had destroyed his sister's life, spread on his bed, all naked and beautiful.
He inhaled sharply and she took a startled breath. Immediately his sexual fantasy took a turn as the hunger for her began a primitive pulse in his body. He wanted to devour her, hurt her, destroy her, and own her. He wanted to have all of her, knowing full well that she had never known anyone intimately other than their accidental kiss fuelled in him another volcanic need to stamp his ownership on her for the world to see. Then he wanted to hurt her, make her regret her conspiracy to cheat his family, teach her a lesson for daring to take betray him and destroying his sister's life; all the more wanting to hurt her for making him want her.
And with his desire came the vigorous sense of self-loathing and anger. He closed his eyes as the wave of disgust rolled through him at his weakness in front of her. His weakness at succumbing to her wiles despite learning a thorough lesson and paying a heavy price for it. Cheating and duplicity were in her blood. After all, she was a woman. What else did he expect!
And as for his desire, it was only physical attraction nothing else. With that in mind, he furiously squashed that tiny voice in his heart that told another story.
Ignoring that voice, he turned his cold eyes to the prisoner held between him and the wall.
"Why should I let you go? So that you can weave another web? he cocked his head at her. "Alas, the little spider is herself trapped. What to do now?
Her breath hitched and he felt her soft supple form tremble. He watched as her beautiful eyes wet with unshed tears meet his and her lips tremble. The primitive madness in him rose again and he pressed closer to her, his hard frame completely enveloping her curvy softness. She let out a whimper at the sudden action and bit her lip as she stared at him with sudden panic.
"W-What are you d-doing? Let me go!
She tried to wrench herself out of the prison of his arms but failed. Her heart thumped erratically and her head felt dizzy at his closeness as the unknown feeling of longing spread in her again. She blinked back her tears as she fell invalid against the reaction of her own body and heart.
He felt revulsion colouring his thoughts as she pretended her victim card. His eyes hardened.
"Stop playing a victim Palak. I have seen the real you. Don't play victim...and whatever happened to those sharp retorts and ever burning self-respect and all that shit to never appear weak to your opponent? All those disappeared the moment you left Noon Biotech?
A vivid hurt lanced her at those words and her chest throbbed as if someone had wrenched into her ribcage and twisted her heart out. She felt weak, vulnerable and tired.
"What do you want?
He smirked and leaned forward invading her senses. "Good, you finally come to the matter. What I want is simple Little Spider, do not avoid me again. He pressed hard to her now, the cold wall digging into her back. "Don't you dare run away again! No matter where you go, I will find you. Understood?
She remained silent feeling the shadowy cuffs locking her into the dark pit again. A sense of resignation and frustration weighed in her. His harsh breath was the only warning she got when he grabbed her jaw and lifted it for her eyes to meet his. His touch burned her and something in her stomach coiled.
"Understood? he asked softly, a sinister faade layering his tone.
She nodded. His eyes darkened and his fingers gently touched her cheek. She froze and a trembling rose in her. He inched closer; she felt the danger enveloping her, the blazing longing dulling her senses, clouding her instincts. His hand felt hot against her clammy skin. His hot breath met her lips. He was close now and she could see his dark lashes distinctly.
She had to move, she had to go away before things went south. She had to go away and she lunged at him, desperate to free herself. However before she could do much more of a damage, he caught her hands in an iron grip and pinned them against the wall. She stared at him in apparent panic and next second he angled his head down and his lips captured hers.
It was a sudden paralysis that hit her as his lips attacked her with a sensuality and confidence that made her incapable of any thought. Her hands loosened and as if realizing her incapability of struggling, he released her wrists, instead choosing to grip her waist with one hand gently kneading the luxurious curve and entangling the other in her dark mane bringing her closer to claim more of her. Her hands mindlessly moved to his shoulders and tightly grasped them as she wrapped herself around him, giving him access to every bit of her as he tasted every inch of her mouth, leaving her burning and wanting for more. Her breasts tingled and his arms tightened into a cage she never wanted to escape.
A heated moan left her and all of a sudden, the haze broke. At once he dragged his lips away from her and stepped back. Breathing heavily he watched her taking in shuddered breaths, her hair disheveled and her frame trembling as she stood pale and shocked at the events.
There went her second kiss, her hazy brain reminded her and her shaking fingers gently touched her ravaged lips. Funnily enough, she could not bring forth the anger she had felt the first time to thrash onto him for stealing something personal again. It was as if she had only lost and lost since she had met him.
"Your resignation is cancelled. Every time any employee wants to leave Noon Biotech, they need to serve a notice period of three months and you broke the rules. So, unfortunately, you are still employed there.
No, her mind shrieked. She did not want to go there, back to seeing him every day. All these months had been tough enough trying to avoid him while he appeared at every place she could possibly work in.
"B-But Rohit had said...that I-I can go, she tried to remind him of the special case of her employment.
"Too bad, Ritwick drawled, "that I head Noon Biotech and not Rohit. I am the boss. So when I say something, that's it. And I want you in the office tomorrow at 10 o' clock sharp. You will be working for me till I want and you will not apply for other interviews.
Saying so, he literally raced across the room, unlocked the door and stepped out leaving behind Palak softly staring at the doors that announced his departure.
She slowly slipped down as her legs refused to hold her and settled into a crouch on the floor. Her heart thundered and she felt tired, inexplicably tired. Her head felt dull, heavy; her body a trembling wreck. But what affected her most was the tiredness of her soul which fell claustrophobic and suffocating.
She did not mean for this to happen. She only wanted Radhika to get her rights. The child to not be called a bas***d! For Samar to own up to his responsibilities! It was just the curse of Fate that while doing the right thing she ended up sacrificing her friend.
A tear slipped down her cheek and only one name remained on her lips.
Ritwick!
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
