|Deception|- PreRish SS (Part 4 PG 13)(Updated 11OCT) - Page 2

Gosh! The teaser is so gripping.

Please continue soon.

I loved your writing. ❤️ But, very sorry, I didn't understand the picture at all. There's one guy reading, one guy picking his shirt up, one girl on the bed, One at the door. Who's who I haven't understood. But I am guessing once you start updating it'll get clear. But I absolutely loved it. ❤️ Continue soon, and if possible can you send a PM?

Part 1 - "Despair"

“This should not be happening”, she groaned loudly hiding her contorted features in the warmth of her hands, loose tendrils from her bun falling around her face.

She seemed like a picture of hypocrisy dipped in arrogance.Seated in a room that would put Royals to shame, surrounded by artistic extravagances nothing short of millions, in one of the plushest hotels of Switzerland,she was cribbing! Irony!

Prerna scoffed mentally as she pulled her head back and tucking her lousy curls back in place took a good look at the antique mirror.

She looked decent, beautiful maybe except for that unbecoming look in her eyes. And the worst was the jewellery around her neck that she had forever dreamt of wearing. Mangalsutra. Anurag ke naam ka. Yes, she was now Mrs Prerna Basu! Such a happy news.

And yet all was not roses and peaches in her heart. Three months back when Mr. Bajaj had suggested divorce, she had been thrown off guard by his out of the blue proposal. Theirs had been a marriage of convenience. He had given her Anurag’s freedom while she had gifted him the satisfaction of seeing Mohini Basu burn everyday as her beloved son writhed in spasms of agony on seeing the love of his life playing ghar ghar with someone else. Mr. Bajaj had a deep seated grudge against Kaki maa that she had never been made privy too. Nonetheless, she detested the sadistic grin that would grace his features whenever any of the basus would point a finger at him with scorn or waste their caustic words on his crocodile skin.

He was a twisted man, derived pleasure from the agony of others, bloomed on the suffering of others and knew nothing of restraint and control when it came to destruction.She had positively loathed him. She had tried to! But every day spent with him revealed a new facet of his otherwise maniacal personality. He respected her and their boundaries. He belittled no one no matter what they would do unlike someone she knew! His kindness was just as messed up as his head. He would never give alms to poor but offered them jobs of their caliber if they were willing to work. Otherwise, for all he cared, they could rot in a gutter!

Sometimes he wouldn’t even bat an eyelash to the plight of others. He didn’t pretend to be bothered either. And this virtue of him made her respect him. He was a very honest man, no pretensions at all. Even she was not that honest. He wouldn’t feign smiles to please others and would definitely never let himself fall to help others up. This was a major personality defect in her; he would point on many occasions.

Six months spent with him as his better half weren’t all that bad. He was not the ideal husband material and yet he had tried everything in his accomplishment to become a husband that she would be happy to be with. Indeed, the man who refused to comply to anyone’s expectations would bow his head willingly simply because marriage, a deal nonetheless, was a pious relation and a woman who left behind her family to nurture someone’s else world deserved every happiness. He ensured that for her. No matter what he was to others, he was very caring when it came to her.

And somewhere along the line, their original motives had lost their lustre. She had started to see him in a different light despite his f*cked up character when one day he just offered an amicable separation. He offered no explanation neither did she demand any. Because she was happy to be free. She ought to be as he had stated after all she was given another chance to live her love story. She hadn’t been too thrilled about it though. And still she had walked away without a fight, without a demand.

Anurag and her family had almost lost their minds in their marriage preparation. She hadn’t allowed her throbbing heart to ponder the strange unease either. It was natural to miss someone whom she had grown accustomed to in the span of 6 months. And whenever she would remember her ex- husband, Anurag’s radiant smile and the glow on his face would dull all those memories. It reduced her guilt. The immeasurable pain she had caused him…the weight of it all seemed to mellow down a little, bit by bit. And it was not like Mr. Bajaj needed her or anything.

And yet the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach had only intensified with every ritual they had celebrated. The moment she would’ve died to relive had made her feel absolute dread, the dread of impending doom. She had wanted to back off, unnerved by her own reactions and yet she hadn’t. She couldn’t jeopardize everyone’s happiness based on her indecision that could most probably be some marriage jitters! She had awaited that happiness and yet had felt but only numbness as she and Anurag had been declared man and wife. To be precise,she had recalled hers and Rishabh’s wedding, very vividly; the colour of his sherwani, the dimples on his jaw and how blank his eyes had been. She had felt his fingers on her partition and his hands around her neck as he had claimed her his wife.

It must’ve been paranoia. She after all was getting married for the second time. Totally normal!

Anurag had insisted Switzerland for their honeymoon, had went and booked the same hotel she and Rishabh had stayed in. Talk about déjà vu! They had gone and seen every goddamn place she had visited with Rishabh, be it the Rhine falls or the paragliding,they had done it all. And she had only done a few limited things throughout their tour.

a) Flinched every time Anurag would entangle their fingers or hug her.

b) Remember Mr. Bajaj’s facts about the rhine falls or his jibes at her before paragliding.

c) Cursed him for goddamn being at their honeymoon spot with a new woman everyday!! As if she could talk! Heights of hypocrisy!

“Damned womanizer!”Prerna cursed at her reflection distinctly reminiscing him roaming the streets,hand in hand with a woman so beautiful that Prerna had to google to check if it wasn’t Ms World or universe or whatever!

Why the hell was he here?! And why was he omnipresent wherever she was?! He was even staying in the same hotel! She had seen it with her own eyes that neither he nor Anurag had used to locate each other. It pissed her to realize that she knew of his presence in her vicinity and was dying from anxiety while he didn’t give a flying fig except flirting with bimbos!

“Wait…what?!”Prerna growled out loud as she let her tresses fall loose around her shoulders that were peaking through her cold shoulder gown. Why was she so concerned about Mr. Bajaj?!

“I am Mrs Basu now and not Mrs Bajaj! Get a grip, Prerna. You are married to a man who loves you madly!” She poked the mirror and as an afterthought added another few unsure words, “And who you love! Don’t waste your neurons after a man who doesn’t’ give two hoots!”

However she stepped back as she reanalyzed her words. They sounded strange. Unsure added. She wasn’t just married to some man. It almost sounded like a convenience being with someone who treasured you! And a burdensome thing to shoulder their expectations.

“That man’s Anurag for christ’s sake!” Prerna scrubbed her face and glared at her reflection, “And refrain from using Mr. Bajaj in every sentence. Sounds like I’m jealous or someth—

He leaned in towards her ear as her face split into a shy grin at his words.

“Vese, this is general knowledge but I’ll let you know nonetheless. You are looking gorgeous, Mrs. Prerna Bajaj. So pretty that I feel proud to be receiving jealous looks from the folk around. What.a. pleasant feeling!” He hummed with a wink as she only shook her head.

“I would’ve been pleased too, had this been more of a compliment rather than your jerkish feeling of supremacy over others!” She pouted as he chuckled in response making her face grow warm.

“Gawdd! Nnooo!” Prerna shouted irritated, turning her face away and towards the window.

This is wrong! So wrong! Thinking about a man other than her husband.

Prerna clenched her fist. Using the word husband screams but a moral responsibility but Anurag is not some responsibility. He is her love.

He is. Right? Or is he?

She closed her eyes and fisted her gown between her fingers tightly.

Mrs. Bajaj, you are my pride.

Prerna, aapki izzat main hi meri izzat hai.

Your smile is the most infectious disease I’ve ever known

“Prerna….”

Her heartbeat shot up as a familiar warmth which had consoled her on many occasions enveloped her. She felt her back pressed against his hard muscles as his arms held her hands and his fingers rubbed slow circles on her palms, easing her tension. Tickle of his warm breath against her neck as he nuzzled his nose against it forced her to lean her head back to give him further access.

“Prerna…”

“Rishabh..”Prerna breathed in his intoxicating scent.

“Prerna! You Okay?!”

A loud banging followed as her eyes flew open abruptly and she looked around to find the room empty except for the loud knocks against the door.

As she opened the door, Anurag stepped inside worried and cupped her face. “Tum theek ho na? Why didn’t you respond? I was so worried!”

Prerna held his palms on her face and moved them away slowly. The touch that once comforted her was making her uncomfortable.

“Uh…I..was in the washroom..” Prerna smiled as Anurag sighed in relief before he went on to chide her and soon shifted to his rants about the exotic dinner location he would be taking her to.

She fazed him out. The only thing she could hear was how soft her name had sounded on his lips,how warm his breathing had been and how inviting his touch was. Her imagination’s touch.

She was going insane.

“I am tired. Definitely tired”

Sooo, how’s the starting? I am hoping that you will find it worth a read. Do share your views!

Ouuu, color me intrigued. I'm very excited to see how the roles are changed now that legally Rishabh will be the other man, but I have a feeling that in her heart he's the one she'll reluctantly be loyal too. I have very idea of where this could possibly go, but I love that Bajaj in your story is already off the bat grey. He's loathsome, dark, mysterious and all of it works SO well for me Definitely following this story and I've put it under my watch list! Happy writing friend!

very interesting start, can't wait to read the rest.

I’m loving this! Mr. B as the other man, the object of her fixation. Wow! 😍

You have me by the throat. This is the exact premise that has my heart. Pre falling for RB when she has Anurag! Perfect.

Also, your diction. Wow. I love how beautifully crafted this is. Give me chocolates, this story and leave me in peace. That's all I pray for now.

Please please please update soon.

~Aparna.

Very nice start... keep it up👍🏼

Very different & interesting story👏

Waiting for next

POST DIVORCE YAHHHOOOOOOOOOOO😎😎 This means we get Prerna yearning for him wipppppppppeeeeeee! Cant wait to read more, I can't deal though Anurag is quite whack in the head to have brought her to the very same hotel for their honeymoon🤣