It was late. Arjun didn't realise he'd stayed up this late in the office. He'd been so engrossed in work that it was only now that he realised that it was close to nine. He packed up his stuff, sliding his phone back into his pocket walked out of his cabin.
He crossed Sam's cabin on the way, and when he heard muffled noises coming from the room he froze. He was sure it was Radhika. But what was she doing in Sam's room? Shit. Was Sam up to insulting her further?
Arjun peeked inside the ajar door and the sight shocked him further. Radhika stood facing Neil, her eyes moist and tears coursing down her cheeks. Neil held her by the shoulders as she sobbed softly.
"Chashni...relax, please. It's okay. You know it's all going to be fine. Just until Sam finds out. Please, please don't cry."
He pulled her into his arms, patting her head softly. Radhika clutched his shoulders as she buried her face in his shoulder and Neil kissed her head repeatedly, whispering soft nothings into her hair.
Arjun didn't realize till he heard the sound of his own teeth gritting together how angry the sight had made him. the file had already dropped from his hands and they were now balled into fists, his nails digging into his palms.
Get your hands off her.
Neil did exactly that, but after a good 5 more minutes and they seemed like the longest five minutes of his life to Arjun. He watched on as Neil picked Radhika's bag from the table and slowly walked her out of the room. Arjun moved quickly, picking up his file and hiding himself in the space behind the adjacent wall. Thankfully, when he released the breath he'd been holding in a rush of audible anger, they had already left.
Radhika heated the dinner she'd prepared and set it down on the table. Arjun wasn't home yet. She walked back to their room and decided to wait for him, sitting down by the window. It wasn't long before she heard the door open with a thud. Startled, Radhika turned and looked up to find a furious looking Arjun standing at the door. He was seething, practically panting in anger. Jeez. What was wrong?
She got up and walked over to him, but Arjun turned away, walking over to the cupboard and beginning to search for his clothes. Confused by his behaviour, she frowned and followed.
"Sir?" she whispered, but he went on doing what he was as if he'd never heard her.
"Sir? What's wrong?"
Still getting no response, she walked closer and placed a hand on his elbow. Arjun stilled immediately.
"Why are you so worried? What happened Sir? Tell me please."
"How does it bother you?" he spat angrily.
Now she was utterly perplexed. "Of course it bothers me, Sir. I am your wife. Why wouldn't it bother me?"
"Oh please, Radhika. Let me get dressed. I have a lot of work to do."
HE tried to walk past her, but she stood in the way.
"You're not going anywhere till you tell me what the matter is, Sir."
Radhika's gasp echoed in the stillness of the night as Arjun grabbed her waist and suddenly pinned her to the closed doors of the cupboard. he looked at her with red anger in his eyes. But that was usual. What startled Radhika was the hurt that she could read behind the anger. Arjun was HURT? What in the world could hurt him?
"Sir?" she asked again, hoping he'd read the worry in her voice.
Arjun said nothing. He just moved closer and closer to her until their chests collided, their stomachs touched and their breaths mingled with each other. The concern within Radhika slowly started to ebb away and a numbing feeling replaced it. The same feeling she always got when he invaded her personal space. His cool minty breath hit the hot, flushed skin on her neck, making her lose control over herself. Arjun went a step further, running his nose along the cheek bones. Radhika's eyes closed, the sensation driving electricity through her body.
"Why were you crying today?"
That one question was enough to make Radhika jump out of the pleasure land she'd been sinking into. What? When had HE seen her cry?
"I...I was..just upset over what happened in the morning. I...when did you see me, Sir?"
"When you were with Neil."
The conversation of only a few hours ago came back to Radhika. How she'd found Neil sitting quietly and gone up to him. How she'd demanded the reason and he'd given her the biggest shock of her life by telling her that he was in love with Sam. He'd told her his story, how he'd been head over heels since the beginning, and Sam had been blind enough to not realise it, going behind the man who cheated her in the end. Neil's suffering had reminded Radhika of her own, how she'd lost her best friend because she was in love with a man who wanted to destroy her. How Radhika had borne the worst insult of her life today at the hands of Sam all because Sam was still obsessing over Arjun, to the point that she was ready to believe her best friend had wronged her and not Arjun. They had both cried over the one naive girl they loved more than their lives, who was blind to their affection. She'd told Neil all about Nandini, and he'd sworn he would kill her that very moment. It was only the need to console Radhika in her upset state that had stopped him. But why was Arjun SO upset over it?
"Neil was just...but what has it got to do with why you're so angry?" her brows furrowed together in confusion as she tried to make some sense out of the situation. She couldn't. She suddenly noticed that Arjun was looking down at her lips. Her breath caught, and the muscles in her belly clenched together.
Arjun did not answer her question, and with no preamble whatsoever, took her lips in his. Radhika's gasp of surprise was lost in his mouth, as he seared her with the most passionate kiss of her life. His tongue invaded her mouth, taking in all the sweetness around, and he bit down on her lower lip so hard that Radhika felt blood. His tongue teased her to the point where she couldn't take it anymore. He pulled away long after she'd lost the ability to breathe.
Arjun moved away from her, bending down on his knees to catch his breath. Radhika leaned back against the cupboard, trying to overcome the sudden loss of air in her lungs. WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH HIM?
Arjun still looked at her like he wanted to eat her alive. She gave him the same confused look, albeit it was now mixed with anger. And then his next words hit her like a freight train.
"You're my wife, Radhika. Don't forget that ever. Ever in your life."
And with that he was out, leaving behind a mess of his wife.
Arjun's heart was still racing as he walked along the beach, silently watching the sea. How DARE Neil? And had Radhika forgotten that she was married? Even as he thought this, he knew he was somewhere over reacting. He was just consoling her. Like a friend. And he knew Neil and his Chashni were the best of friends. But still. The thought of another man's hands on her was torture to Arjun's senses. He couldn't tolerate that, irrespective of who the man was.
Arjun realised how he'd reacted, and what Radhika must be thinking of him right now. But he didn't care. He'd had to remind her that she was his wife. His and his alone.
He went back home after he'd gathered enough strength to face her again, yet hoping that she was asleep. But of course she was not. In fact, she was standing at the door of their room, with anger and perplexity on her face. She did not even let him enter before firing her questions.
"What is wrong with you Sir? You have to answer me. Why did you react that way? What made you so angry? The fact that I was upset? And what has it got to do with me remembering our marriage? Answer me, Sir."
Arjun rolled his eyes, not believing that she still did not understand.
"Really Radhika? Just how naive are you? Or do you just pretend to be always huh? Not understanding whatever all this is?"
Her brows furrowed together. "What are you talking about, Sir?"
He shook his head, his heart giving up. "Forget it Radhika. Just forget it. You will not understand. And I can't make you."
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Arjun found himself in front of Sam the next morning, convincing her of his undying love for her again. He didn't have to do much. The girl was such a gone over him that one gentle touch of his fingers made her all wobbly. Even though Arjun felt pain in his chest at her reaction to him. Why couldn't Radhika feel this for him? He remembered his own lost state when he'd touched her this way, and she'd denied feeling anything. Hurt lanced through his chest again. And the way she'd questioned his reaction yesterday. Did the girl really not feel anything for him? But he didn't know he was going to be contradicted so soon.
A noise was heard, startling Arjun and Sam from the position they were in. Arjun removed his hands off her, and turned around to find Radhika standing at the door. Correction. Not just Radhika. A very, very furious Radhika.
"Just how low are you going to get Sam?! He's a married man now. For the love of God!" she shrieked.
"He might be Radhika. But let me tell you. Marriage is not everything. He still loves me. Why would you find your husband in my room in this state otherwise?"
"HE DOES NOT! He's playing games with you. To get you back. That's what I've been telling you from the beginning. But you? Have some dignity Sam. YOU have some dignity at least."
Radhika walked forward, taking Arjun by the hand, and soon he was being walked out of the cabin by her. She lead him to his own, while Arjun silently smirked as he watched on.
She left him when they reached, looking up at him with enraged eyes.
"You will not change right? No matter how many times I tell you. STOP IT Sir. Stop all this. You don't love her. STOP pursuing her just for the sake of your sister."
"If the prey is ready to fall, how do you expect the predator to back off?"
"Because this predator is not cruel enough to victimize a prey who doesn't deserve to be victimized."
"You don't know this predator, Radhika. You don't know anything."
"The only thing I know is that I will not see you with her again. And that is an order." She tried to be angry, but Arjun saw her eyes brim with tears. She was hurt. Just what he'd wanted. A positivity filled him, and he decided to satisfy himself further.
"Why do you expect me to follow any of your orders, Radhika?"
"Because I am your wife, Sir. And you're not supposed to forget that."
She turned and left the room, not realising that her reaction had given Arjun the eureka moment he'd been looking out for.
"Now, now Biwiji," he smirked. "You're in deep trouble."
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ANU
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
