Author's Note: Here's a quickie. I am in the mood. (sleaze and grease aside, don't shudder. It's not that bad I promise).
You all should know by now I am a chronic sufferer of SLS. SLS is an illness so grave no doctor in the world can cure it. So, excuse this chapter all you cringing fans. Consider it fan service for a certain ship. Or better yet, just for myself.
*SLS= Second Lead Syndrome
But worry not, the next chapter will be fan service of another kind (aka our OTP ship might sail a little. Keke). Anyway, this chapter does give you insight into our main lead's past and intentions as you will hear from the horse's mouth.
Enjoy!
She recalls with annoyance the first time she fell for his charming person. He'd been a lovable twenty something- tall, lanky, increasingly handsome upon close inspection and she'd just brushed against the big and bad 3-0. How cruel the fate! Had she been a little younger and a lot more confident, she would have long gone skinny dipping in his pool. Alas, that was nothing more than a distant dream now. The man locking his arm in hers was wrinkled around the eyes just like her. Perhaps he was more appropriate for her age. Besides, he was the adopted son of Shamsher Malik so if she couldn't have the sour grapes, she'd settle for the blueberries. Of course, who would have known then that the young brother Sameer's first greeting to her would not be a hello or a namaste. Instead, it would be an astounding "I am going to marry you one day" declaration.
Madhu found herself speechless. Her partner was equally dumbfounded before he composed himself and shrugged off the comment as a joke between two brothers. But boy was it the exact opposite. Little brother was playing footsie with big brother's girlfriend under the table. She appeared flustered for a few seconds, smiled awkwardly, then pulled aside the mischievous little brother to give him a dressing down.
"Watch yourself kid!" she admonished sticking an unfamiliar cigar between her two front teeth. Actually, she had no idea when her ten dollar tobacco pack had been replaced by a 40's Cuban.
"I knew you liked a good smoke", he offered her a light and she immediately put it out on his shoulder. He flinched back in pain. This was certainly not expected.
"What are you doing?" he roared.
"Warning you to run before you burn", she answered with a straight face and walked back to the table where her boyfriend was waiting.
For an ordinary citizen, this was a clear indication of disinterest but for Sameer Malik, it was a challenge worth accepting. Day and night, he would try engulfing her thoughts with himself, sending her thoughtful gifts and effortless gestures that could sweep a harem of women of their feet let alone a weak bodied Madhubala.
But she was weak no more! Or never was, to be more precise. She avoided him like the plague and when they did run in to each other, her piercing eyes forced him to look away. It was as if she refused to back down in confrontations. So he shunned confrontations and calmed down for a little while. No, not give up. More like a calm before a storm emerging.
And then it happened. He caught her staring at him from a little corner of his eye. And it wasn't a lost glance, the kind you give when you are thinking off into space. Rather, it was focused in on him admiring every sculpted feature of his face. In fact, a strategic finger near the bottom lip was also helping her catch her drool. Big brother was busy typing away at his computer so Sameer took the opportunity to call out Madhu on her actions.
"I see you girl", he whispered in a low and husky voice.
"Um", Madhu snapped back to reality.
"See me out for a second?" he asked.
Madhu turned to look at her boyfriend who was oblivious to his upcoming loss.
She cautiously followed as Sameer guided her through a clearing of woods. It was getting suspicious fast.
"Hurry up and spit it out!" she declared.
"Your wish is my command", he said and pulled her leg up to his waist locking it tightly around him in a knot. Then, he pushed her into the nearest tree trunk and hovered over her lips close enough to entice her but never enough to satisfy her want.
She panted heavily but did not lose her wit.
"Tsk, tsk. Horny teenage boys", her entire frame shook with laughter and Sameer could not help feel a little embarrassed.
But provoking him now was perhaps not the best idea. He ended up sticking it to her, in the literal sense. His swallowed her lips as if he would eat her whole person leaving behind only a trace of bones.
Her vision blurred from the lack of oxygen and she pushed him aside on a whim. His head hit the nearest tree branch and he took the fall harder than anticipated. She reached down to inspect his wounds.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she ruffled his hair to look for a gaping hole.
He did not answer but his actions gave away his intentions. He pulled her into his lap and captured her 'just bitten' moment on his cellphone.
"Say daal makhni", the camera flashed and he promptly messaged the photo to his brother.
"No more sneaking out. He knows you are mine now", he was somehow proud.
This was it! Life was no romance novel and Madhubala was her mother's daughter. And like dead mama, may her soul rest in peace, homegirl would not take this abomination lying down. So she got up on her feet and gave him a tight kick in the balls.
Sameer winced around in pain for a good ten minutes. Madhu simply climbed a tree and enjoyed the show from a safe distance. Then, her mind started playing mahjong.
"High risk, high reward girl!" she tried to convince herself.
The young master already liked her. Might as well jump ship from the old fart to the true heir of a conglomerate. But no, she could never be reduced to a notch on some man's belt. Especially never a Malik's belt! So she weighed her options once again.
Things were likely not going to work out with the senior brother Malik. He was too reserved for his own good and seeing the biological son had his eyes set on her, adopted brother would certainly bow out to reserve favours with the grand daddy boss. That was no surprise to Madhu so her next best method was to watch and wait for Sameer to make a move.
But she would not be Madhubala if she did not pave her own paths.
"What can you give me?" she asked Sameer flat out.
The poor boy still overwhelmed by his testicular agony had no choice but to entertain her musings.
"Anything you want", he said.
"I want marriage. Sans prenup. And a freedom to divorce whenever the f**k I want. Do whatever I want, whenever I want. On your money. How's that? Not possible? I thought so". She climbed down the tree, straightened out her sleeves and began to walk away.
"Wait", his voice called out for her after a while and she turned around with a knowing smile.
"I agree. To all of it. In exchange, you meet my parents", he put his bet on the table and she felt like dancing on rooftops. Lovesick boy was handing out his cards to her willingly. Of course, she would oblige. It was only after marriage that she found out she was the nave one. Like Sameer often says, "there is no such thing as a free lunch".
Author's note: Oh by the way, Sameer and big brother did have a little fight. A few fists were thrown around but Sameer settled it quickly by offered a few high priced stocks in exchange. Madhu was furious that she was valued at the market price of a few stocks but she should have known. Senior Malik never did know her worth.
Members Lounge
