Part-12
'Mad, bad and dangerous to know'
He stood looking at the screen with his head tilted on one side and than after a long pause he turned around and addressed his colleague, "She was shot on her back and was found naked in the room while Mr. Winston was found dead in the street near her house."
"Yes, sir."
"And she has told you that he was going to be there to see her but they didn't meet."
His colleague nodded.
"What all do we know about Riddhima Gupta?"
"She is one of the biggest Hollywood celebrity, has an unblemished reputation and lives with her aunt."
"Does she suspect anyone? Any rivals or enemies?"
"According to her she has none. Besides, she is someone people adore and I don't just mean the public but her fellow actors, friends…everyone. She is an extraordinary woman."
He looked at his colleague in polite astonishment, although he already knew all that about Riddhima gupta but her being adored by everyone was still hard to digest and he had his own good reasons for it.
"Do we have any information regarding her past?"
"Her past? I don't know….I mean, Neena Orsini brought her here and got her launched in Hollywood. There never was any information about her past."
"So you mean to tell me nobody ever wanted to know where she came from or who she really is. She is a huge star and you are telling me none of her fans or the media ever wanted to know about her past."
"Well, we do know that she was born in this very city. She was never involved with any man but yes, she is very close to Samuel Presley. Media has always speculated about their relationship but never had anything concrete and they have always claimed to be friends. Apart from this she does make a lot of donations to schools and there is one school in Florence which is her particular favorite, she once said in an interview that she has some memories with that school. That's it, I guess."
"Fix me an appointment with Ms. Gupta."
"But sir she's gone to India for the hotel project she is doing with Mr. Malik."
"Alright. Let Mr. Presley know that I want to meet him today."
"Right sir."
He turned back to the screen as his colleague left the room. He stared at Riddhima's face displayed on the screen and as he continued to stare at the screen a thousand thoughts ran in his head…thoughts about what his next step would be to progress the case….thoughts about the possible motive behind shooting Riddhima who was supposedly one of the nicest person alive but mainly thoughts about Riddhima Gupta herself. He found it impossible to think of her as somebody devoid of all evil. He had seen her movies and had even met her once but for some weird reason he could never make himself like her despite her extraordinary beauty. He always felt that something is fishy about her…something she is trying to hide from the world. Her exquisite beauty failed to enthrall him, nor had her enormous charm captivated him. He could always sense something very shrewd and callous in her. It was peculiar but he found himself very unresponsive to her despite her sensuous charm. He always felt that it was a faade she presented to the world, and it was limited to her looks and did not run down deep in her. It was like there was a lot more to this woman than what met the eye. He reached for the button and switched off the screen. With a contemptuous movement of his wrist he reached for the case file on the desk. Nothing made any sense to him. The police had failed to catch the person who had fired the shot…both the times and whatever information he had did nothing except confuse him further.
She was shot AND found naked in her room, he repeated in his head. Naked because she was changing out of her day clothes but why would she do that if she was expecting Mr. Winston, who was apparently found dead in the street, run down by a car which was being driven by the murderer. His facial muscles tightened as a thought crossed his head and he narrowed his eyes. Maybe John had seen the shooter who than killed him deliberately? Could it be that John was IN the room when the shot got shot? He smiled as he than thought that Riddhima's being naked would than make more sense. But the smile slipped and the look of amusement got replaced by a hard bitter look as he started contemplating the thought more seriously. Could the pure and revered Riddhima gupta be having an affair with a married man? He needed to know more about Riddhima Gupta. Neena Orsini can help him. He made a step towards the phone but stopped and decided he would visit her unannounced.
So that was the first step he would take, knowing more about Riddhima Gupta because with all the information they currently had…it would take them nowhere. He sat down again on his chair and dragged a file towards himself and placing the papers in a red folder….he sealed it. It was a case file for one of the most high-profiled murder case he had just solved. He was the best in the business and was thus approached by Samuel to solve Riddhima's case. He placed the file aside as he heard his cell ringing.
"Hello?…..okay….let Mr. Presley know that I'll be there." As he hung up he got out of his chair and walked out of the room. Handing the file to his secretary he walked out of his office and towards his car smiling to the people who greeted him on the street. As he got into his car he looked at his watch, he was supposed to meet Samuel in half an hour and with that his work on the case would start and so would the work of unraveling the mystery that he had always linked with Riddhima Gupta. He ran a hand through his longish brown hair as he started his car, his eyes twinkling with excitement of, what he thought, would be one of the most interesting case he ever worked on. His face expressionless as it always were…..one could never make out what he was feeling or thinking by the look of his face which was always blank and strangely unyielding and almost cruel. His forehead was furrowed slightly as he continued to think about something. His brilliant blue eyes, a reflection of his masterfully self-assured self, gleaming at some rare amusement. He was blessed with a grace and elegance unusual in a man…..his tall and broad physique made him look very attractive and almost larger than life and very disconcerting. As he stepped out of his car on reaching his destination….he could feel several eyes turn to him and stare as he walked towards the hotel entrance. Reaching the front desk he addressed the woman sitting there, "I have a dinner reservation under Mr. Presley's name."
The woman's head jerked up and she spoke slowly, "You are FBI agent, Drake Monroe."
He smiled his characteristic disarming smile as he nodded politely. The woman after a moment of staring at his face directed him to his table. He saw Samuel sitting there and walked towards him and extending his hand spoke, "Drake Monroe at your service."
************
Samuel looked down at the table and saw several cigarette butts lying in the ashtray. He had been smoking for an hour now. He threw back his head and spread out his legs with his shoulders touching the chair he was sitting on while his arms dangled limply. He felt physically exhausted and emotionally drained. He had been like that for almost two days now…..Riddhima had called day before and apologized for being rude but he just could not get the words she had said to him out of his head. He wished he could stop thinking and go to sleep but sleep evaded him….he had not slept properly for almost 2 days now. He wanted to fly down to India and see Riddhima again….touch her….feel her and know that nothing has changed between them but maybe his doing that would spoil things further. He had tried to read the scripts he had been meaning to read but he had found his mind frozen and he just stared at the words unable to understand anything. He placed them aside and sighed defeatedly, pressing his fingers to his temple he massaged it slowly and than closing his eyes he smiled as he could see Riddhima's face flash…her face, as it was when they had met for the first time. He had expected to see some average, inexperienced Indian heroine trying and wanting to have and fit in the glamorous world of Hollywood having nothing to recommend her and knowing nothing about what it took to be a part of this world. When he had reached the set and had walked in, his eyes had landed on a girl dressed in a white chiffon tunic wiping off her makeup and talking animatedly to the director. She was sitting on a chair with her bare legs stretched out and her posture marked with an arrogantly pure self-confidence, an effortless precision. Her eyes twinkling with laughter as she talked to the director, enjoying the conversation. Her lively, radiant face looked candidly innocent with a touch of sharp intelligence pretending to be unaware of the attention she commanded. He had forgotten anything or anyone around him existed and had continued to stare at Riddhima with a childlike fascination and joy and venerable pleasure filling his heart. He had no idea for how long he had stood there staring at her….it was the director who had seen him and than walked towards him and had said, "Samuel, meet Riddhima gupta. She is the girl I have chosen for your film."
The words had him dumbstruck but even before he could react the director took her towards the screen in the front and played the shot they had just done and when he saw her on screen… it felt as if a bolt of lightening teared him apart. A few moments back he was busy damning this woman he now so badly wanted that if he could…he would take her down right in the middle of that room.
When the scene was over they both turned to him and he felt her eyes on him and without looking at her he addressed the director, "Draw a contract, she is going to be the lead heroine of this film." With that he had turned around and sat down on one of the chairs trying to compose himself before he could talk to her. After what seemed like ages she walked to him and sat next to him but spoke nothing. Than, surprising himself, he had turned to her and extending his hand he had spoken in a voice much controlled, "Miss. Gupta, am Samuel Presley." and she had given him a dazzling smile, taking his hand. "I know and thank you so much for choosing me to be your lead heroine….
She had talked some more but he failed to hear even a word. When she had placed her hand in his…he was struck by the immediate eloquence of their skin in contact and as he had continued to feel it and look into her eyes…hearing her laughter with her eyes bright with excitement…he had felt the hungry, palpable lust in him break and give way to something more deep and he had felt his heart flood with happiness on feeling an emotion he had never felt before.
Samuel felt his lips curve in a smile as he came out of his thoughts. His attraction for Riddhima had grown into affection which had deepened into love which is why every gesture and every word from her mattered so much. Ever since she had left for India he had felt her slipping away and the talk on the phone that day had broken him.
He heard the door open and he saw his butler step in.
"Sir, Mr. Drake Monroe wishes to meet you today. His secretary just called. What should I tell him?"
"Tell him we can talk over dinner." As the butler turned around to leave he added, "But don't invite him here. I need to get out of the house. Just invite him to a hotel and reserve a table."
"Yes, sir."
*************
Riddhima, clad in a bathrobe, sat down next to the window and observed the rain drops falling on the grass outside. She loved rains…they always had a calming effect on her but today even the rain failed to relax her messed up thoughts and the restlessness in her. A few moments back she was in Armaan's room, in his arms and everything seemed perfect but now it all seemed wrong. What was she thinking? If Abhimanyu had not knocked on the door something terribly wrong could have happened. She had decided to keep a distance from Armaan which now seems virtually impossible. He had left the room when Abhimanyu had told him there was somebody to see him downstairs and she had quietly slipped out of his room and came into hers.
"Oh it didn't mean anything." She spoke harshly to herself. Armaan is probably just lusting after me which he will get over as he does with all women, she thought but hoped otherwise.
It didn't feel like lust…when he touched me…when he looked at me….maybe it's a lot more than…
She shook her head stopping herself from completing her thought….she shouldn't hope…she shouldn't dream…she will get hurt. Armaan is a very dangerous man. He is not somebody she could get rid of like she did with the other men in her life besides when she is with him she can barely control her emotions….he triggered feelings she had buried deep in her….he can ruin everything but what if he does love me?
She stood up and walked to the dressing table in the middle of the room and noticed her disheveled look. She smiled looking at her reflection. It was a mocking smile that reflected the pain in her. The mockery directed at herself…she, who still thought that someone could actually love her….she had been hurt so badly and she still thought love exists but what if he does care about me? He had said he would never hurt me. But he doesn't know anything about my past and when he will come to know about what all I have done he would hate me forever. She looked away, closing her eyes as she felt her eyes go wet.
"Riddhima!?" She whirled around as she heard his voice and saw him enter the room closing the door behind himself.
He looked at her face and saw the tears slipping down her eyes and he quickly moved across the room and stood in front of her holding her chin and turned her face upwards. It was almost as if he understood what she was going through but of course he didn't. He had no idea what pain she was suffering at that moment. He looked confidently in control of himself and she felt as if his self control was helping her gain hers and when he released her face and pulled her in a hug, a sob escaped her lips and she felt her hands going around his waist, gripping him tightly. She let go of the reins she had on her emotions and vented them out burying her head deeper in his chest….she sobbed uncontrollably. She felt as if now she knew what his purpose had been tonight and he had well accomplished it. He had broken the wall she had built around herself….he had helped her vent out the pain in herself….without knowing anything about her past he knew her better than she did herself.
He broke the hug and made her sit down on the bed and himself sat down near the foot of the bed. "You know you can tell me what it is that made you cry?"
Riddhima looked down at him and shook her head.
"I hope I haven't hurt you in anyway? I didn't mean to…..but am sorry if I have."
"No Armaan…you haven't hurt me." 'you made me happy' she wanted to say but didn't.
"Riddhima, are you sure you are alright? I mean….
He trailed off but the look of concern in his eyes touched Riddhima as she bent down and kissed his forehead. "I am fine Armaan. I was just…reminded of something…but it has nothing to do with you or us…am fine….believe me."
He nodded and looked away for a moment and when he looked at her again Riddhima saw that he was smiling. His face suddenly radiant, "Riddhima, I….
He hesitated for a moment and than taking a deep breath he continue, "I uh….would you like to come out for dinner with me?"
He wasn't surprised when she laughed out loud. After all that happened between them, he was still hesitating. She nodded her head. "I would love to."
"Great. Than be ready by 8."
He kissed her lightly and left the room. When she rose from the bed, a few moments later, she felt strangely at ease…her head finally rid of the conflicting emotions. She had reached a final decision….she would go on this dinner and would try to know about how Armaan felt and if he did feel anything about her…she would discourage him because there was no way she could tell him the truth. Yes, that is what she would do….no matter how hard it maybe, she would have to stand by this resolve or else she would not just destroy herself but also the people whose lives are connected to her.
**********
Armaan gripped the pillar next to him as he saw Riddhima descending the stairs clad in a white dress, the silk of the dress brushing against her legs and exuding sex appeal. A diamond bracelet gracing her wrist, the only ornament she wore. She looked sinuously sexy and surprisingly pure….above all reproach. There was a delicate sheen to her skin and her face looked exquisitely vulnerable.
When she came and stood next to him Armaan felt a desperate need in him to touch her…. Take her in his arms but he resisted and satisfied himself by offering her his arm which she gracefully took. They rode to the hotel in silence and when they reached there, Riddhima was surprised to find the hotel empty.
"Armaan, why is this place empty?"
"I sort of booked the whole place."
"What!?"
"Yeah, well I don't think I can talk to you with people staring at us as they obviously would since they don't get to see a Hollywood star everyday and than there would obviously be at least a couple people who would approach you for autographs and that would just spoil the whole thing."
Riddhima shook her head with an amused smile on her face.
"Now you wait right here and I'll be back."
Before she could protest he ran inside the hotel…and just than her cell phone began to ring. She frowned on seeing the number flashing on the screen. The code was of Florida.
"Hello!?"
"Ma'am am speaking from Blue lakes elementary school."
Riddhima frowned and quickly snapped. "What is it?"
"Ma'am, an officer called today and he wanted to know about the nature of your relations with our school. I think he is investigating your case and he even fixed an appointment with the headmistress."
"What!?" Riddhima snapped and than getting a grip on herself she spoke in a much controlled voice. "Look you can't refuse to see him. Let him come and meet the headmistress and tell him just about the donations I made to the school. Make sure he doesn't come to know anything about Aida."
"Yes, ma'am"
With that Riddhima hung up…her face creased with worry.
"Who is this officer? I will have to talk to Samuel about this….god knows what new officer he has appointed now."
She calmed herself and turned around when she heard someone approaching her. She saw Armaan walking towards her. The evening was already ruined for her. The officer was going to go the school in Florida and there he may come to know about Aida…the only thing that mattered to her now….Aida, her daughter.
*************
Finally done!! Am SO very sorry for not updating for soo long. But will try and be more regular now and will now update the other fics first…and about the little twist in the end… don't know how you guys are gonna take it so will be looking forward to your comments.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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