Ashes of Rain -Team FF - [Part 4 - Pg 4]

Part I - "Milady"

She shivered and rubbed her arms as another wave of rain drops caressed her skin. Only if she knew it would rain, she wouldn't have worn half sleeves. Yeh bin mausam ki baarish. She irritatingly thought. The irritation for rain wasn't because it was raining, but it was due to Mr. Ego keeping her in office beyond her office-hours for just a stupid recheck of files which she could have done tomorrow, but no he likes to see her suffer. The darkness of the night was at its peak and the coldness wasn't making it any better. She would have paid extra fare only if she could find a taxi. She was freezing to death, but there was no sign of any cab. The god damn phone had to die too right at that lucky moment. She sighed in frustration and looked for a coin in her bag and fortunately she found it. At least I can call Paakya. She finally heaved a sigh of relief. When she was about to walk across the road towards the phone booth, the bright light of car blinded her sight. She tried to look past the lights and to her luck he was staring at her with his egoistic eyes. She stepped back, but her eyes didn't leave his gaze even for one. She expected him to drive pass along with splashing the mud water on her, but to her surprise he stopped right in front of her.

"Hey you Miss. Damsel in Distress get in before someone literally makes you damsel in distress." He eyed her from head to toe. Her clothes were clinging to her, bringing out the shape of her body while the cold drops of rain made her color pale.

She rolled her eyes and didn't even spare him another look after listening to his usual arrogant voice. There was no way that she was going to sit in his car. First of all he was responsible for her situation and secondly he might have hidden agenda to make her suffer and might as well even kidnap her. His moods swings and his intentions changed faster than people's clothes. She shook her head and kept on looking around for a way to get away from this vex.

If she was stubborn then he was maha-stubborn so he wasn't going to let her alone and that too while her clothes were soaked and clinging... No way. As much as he hated to help her or the way his ego clashed with hers, he still felt something different. Something he refused to accept or even understand. But whatever it was, it was locked in some dark corner of his heart. Well, maybe his heart was full with darkness, but he wasn't going to let her be alone in that darkness. He stepped out in that harsh rain, the water drops rather felt like hard crystals due to cold. He took hold of her arm and pulled her to the car. She stared at him with annoyance. He didn't even give it a thought whether she was irritated or not. He just stared at her questioning eyes, slightly amused by her annoyed expressions.

"Will you honor me with a dance milady?" His voice felt smoky in the coldness of night, but it still made her shiver along with shocking her.

Her eyes shot up to meet his eyes, which had a glint of playfulness in it. His voice and his words felt like a romance from yesterday. It was like an old fashioned romance which people only felt in books. Suddenly the essence of that night felt like a passionate script from Shakespeare's story.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Part II - Burn

Or maybe it was just a tragedy. She thought as she heard him chuckle. She rearranged her thoughts. How could she even think about him like that? He was emotionless and the only thing that ran through his mind was the thought of profit from everything and anything. She looked away and shook her head slightly.

His smile faltered when he saw her expressions changed. For a second he saw something different in her eyes. He himself thought as if she was not his employee, but someone who was playing with the strings of his heart. He wanted to play along. He wanted to let this play of words make him crazy just like she always played with his nerves with her actions, words or sometimes just by her presence. But then again, he swore to not let anyone close to his heart. What the hell is she doing to me? Unknowingly she was breaking every rule he was making for himself.

"You were seriously expecting me to sweep you off your feet with a dance in rain, weren't you?" He teased her.

Of course I did expect it. She rolled her eyes, but she was equally stubborn and she knew well how to save her hard persona. She masked her emotions with a sly smirk and crossed her arms across her chest as if looking down on him.

"You are talking about sweeping me off my feet?" Her lips curved up in a simper and he squinted and tilted his head. "I think for that you'll have to have a heart which I am not too sure if you have one."

Her words burned his heart. She shouldn't have any effect on her, but she was literally affecting his every emotions. He gritted his teeth and he was about to close the passenger door, but her words stopped him.

"uhhh about dancing." Ohhh how he wanted to wipe off that sly smirk off of her lips. He just gave her angry smile. "Do you know what dance even means? I mean I already know you are useless in the dance case, but I just wanted to know. General knowledge you know." She shook her head as if she was genuinely curious, but he knew she was mocking him.

"Don't play with fire Miss Jadhav. It seems pretty fascinating from far, but it can leave pretty bad scars." He warned her, but she was in for it and there was no backing out or maybe she just wanted a little burn.

"You seem to have a PhD in empty words. If I clearly remember you said something along the lines that I am a coward. Last time I checked I work in your company and correct me if my wrong, but I think this is your car."

Before she could catch his actions, she was already unbuckled and out of the car and his face was few inches away from hers. She looked in to his eyes and his eyes were intense. Oh god what the hell did I get myself into? She couldn't decipher what was going on in his mind, but the intensity in his eyes sent shivers down her spine along with the cold rain.

"I believe in actions not words Miss Jadhav." His whisper left lingering sensation on her skin.

"But what's in for me if I win?" His words finally caught her attention.

"That's only if you win." She had that lopsided smile.

"Why don't we leave that for later so what's my prize?"

"Lay out your cards Mr. Singhania. There is no way you are going to win, but let me grant your wishes." What is he going to ask? Her thoughts made a run for the possible things he would ask. Maybe he is going to give me more work. Or maybe he will double my hours so I can crack under pressure. Or maybe he -

"Okay. So Miss Jadhav if I win I want a day of your life."

His words caught her off the guards. She just stared at him confusingly. Her mind was preoccupied with all sorts of things, but not even once it crossed her mind that he would ask for something like that. She was about to ask but he just shook his head giving her the sign to put all her conditions out.

"How about we switch roles if I win?" She replies and he tilted his head and waited for her to explain. "How about I rule the throne of RS for a day and you serve me coffee. You know a taste of your own medicine?"

"As you wish Milady." The slight sultriness in his voice was a distraction to her thoughts.

She watched him as he walked to the car to play a song. There was a sincere smile on her lips. The melody of Kuch Khaas Hai touched her ears as he held out his hand. She put her shivering hand in his and he pulled her closer. They were mere inches apart. He put his hand around her small waist and even in that frosty cold night the sensation of his hand on her waist burned her with passion. In that moment there was no ego, no challenge, no anger... just intensity, passion or maybe even... love.

Kehna hi kya, Tera dhakal naa koi,
Dil ko dikha, dil ki shakal ka koi,
Dil se thi meri ek shart yeh aisi,
Lage jeet si mujhko, yeh haar hai kaisi.