Part – 1
One more hour.
Looking up at the monitors in the flight Gauri could see the flight making a descend towards her destination – Calcutta. Thank God she was almost there.
When she heard the airhostess's voice asking everyone to fasten their seat belts for the final descend to the airport she thought " I am home"...The announcement made her think of the forgotten beauty of Calcutta, the Bay of Bengal and the beauty of the rivers surrounding the city.
No matter. She had been determined to get here to Calcutta on her own, to be on her own.
After taxing on the runway for more than half an hour the pilot finally got his passengers out the door and Gauri sighed with relief.
She was exhausted and tired from her long flight. Her bag which was packet for a short flight to New York from D.C, not for her sudden desperate flight to Calcutta was heavy as she dragged it behind her.
She got out of the airplane and looked up. In the shimmering heat of Calcutta the walls of the airport was like a mirage, a dream. Gauri had been running on adrenaline for so long that it could have well been hallucination; if she din't know that she was up to her last dollar- with spending everything on her ticket to Calcutta yesterday morning from Washington D.C.
Was it only yesterday? It seemed like a life time.
She had been eagerly climbing up the stairs to her boyfriend Sashank's apartment in L Street in NW D.C. She was already anticipating a big grin, a big shout of Joy, Sashank swinging her around, the minute she announced that she was coming back for good from San Francisco. She had been away on a two month long project for the FBI and while she was gone, she had made a decision – She was ready to share her life with sashank.
She had opened the door calling his name. Then hearing the sound of the shower, she had thrown caution. What a better way to prove to sashank that she was ready to settle down.
Without announcing her arrival, she had opened the bathroom door.
Sashank wasn't alone. Through the glass panels of the shower stall she could see two bodies. Sashank with his jet black hair plastered and flattened by the spray and a curvaceous raven haired gal. Their bodies were entwined in the glass shower stall.
Gauri has stopped dead as her dreams came crashing down, rooted to the spot as her dreams and her reality unblinkingly crashed to bits.
And then the cool blast of air she had brought in when she opened the door had made sashank to look up. He wiped a hand over the glass, as he stared at her stunned face.
His mouth opened and an expletive formed on his lips. Gauri's mouth was frozen as her feet. Sashank shut his eyes and opened it again. Now, there was less regret and more defiance in them.
She spun away to hide her foolish vulnerability. She yanked the fridge open and took a gulp of ice cold water and slammed the door – Nowhere near as she slammed the front door on her way out.She'd run down the stairs, her bag dragging behind her, desperate to get into the streets in where crowds of people passed, unconcerned of her world spinning out of control. Nothing had changed for them.
But for Gauri the world had gone upside down.
She had spent her 2 months in san Francisco thinking about sashank, about their relationship, about whether he was "the one". She'd taken things slow, unwilling to go to bed with him just because he was sexy and wanted to go to bed with her. She'd seen her sister, Kaya; do far more than that. Gauri had always thought that she had to be "sure" before she got intimate with a man. She had finally been sure but sashank now had someone else!
She couldn't stay with him obviously. In fact, she couldn't bring herself to stay in D.C any longer. She had to get out.
She made a quick call to her boss at the FBI – Head Quarters. She was due for a vacation and her boss had been asking her to take it after this very difficult assignment in San Francisco. He approved her vacation and she was all set. D.C was not big enough for both of them. She had to get out now.
There was any number of places she could have gone- to her parent's place in Mclean, to her cousin's place in Bethesda, to her sister's apartment in Ithaca, New York where Kaya was doing her under graduation. Everyone would take her in. And they wouldn't ask a million questions either.
But she couldn't do it.
She din't want to see them, din't want to witness their sympathy. She wanted to get a way.
And so she had come to Calcutta.
Her parents had been born here. So had her grand parents. And even though all of her own family were long gone to seek their fortunes in the far corners of the globe, they all still called Calcutta home.
Some of her best early childhood memories were of time spent in their house. Her parents must have traveled more than a dozen times between India and USA while she was growing up.
No Place had ever taken the place of home as Calcutta had.
She loved it. The minute she stepped into the pavement and hollered for a taxi she knew things would get better.
She gave the address to the taxi driver and closed her eyes in the back seat. She could definitely breathe here. She could definitely be herself. She could start all over again.
She hadn't been here, since her a week long visit in January. Then the weather had been almost cool. Now, it was mid-summer and the sun was blazing hot. She was sweating and exhausted as she got out of the taxi dragging her bag along.
The house would be empty. There would be nothing to eat. The electricity would have been shut-off as nobody was staying there. She would have to get the electricity up and running get some food and do a little bit of shopping but she din't care. She would have to do everything herself. It felt good. Keeping busy would be a good thing.
Immersing her self in Calcutta would distract her and, would help her get her life into perspective and giver her a new beginning.
Sashank had rung her cell phone en route to the Dulles airport.
"It's not as if she is important to me" sashank sounded peeved. It felt like Gauri was supposed to accept what he had done.
"Sure, the gal will be so pleased to hear that" She said bitingly,
"Well, what do you expect?" Sashank demanded.
"You made me wait for nearly 3 years before you could finally make a decision" he said indignantly.
"Smart of me, I would say" Gauri retorted.
"You are such a cold fish Gauri. You done have a single passionate bone in your…."
"You want passion, o.k... I give you loads of passion!" And Gauri had flung the cell phone from the taxi onto the freeway which was immediately squashed by passing cars and trucks. She had only wished it was sashank under the cars and trucks rather than her cell phone.
That had been the most satisfying event of the whole day. She now allowed herself to think about it and a slight smile lit up her face. Then, she made up the few steps to the gate that lead up to the walled garden and then into the house.
Sweat was streaming down her back and between her breasts, and her long black hair, which she had scrapped into a ponytail, was now hanging limp and coming loose. Tendrils were floating around the sides of her face.
She needed a cold drink and colder shower, provided she could be awake that long.
She opened the gate and let herself in. She could breathe the scents of the Jasmine and the roses in her parent's garden. She finally felt like she could breathe a little bit easier, for the first time in twenty four hours the desperate urgency to get way was fading a little bit.
Her breathing steadied as the walls of the garden enveloped her and the stillness of the evening calmed her. The house felt dependable, strong and solid. Not like sashank for sure.
Comforted by the feeling of home, determined, she squared her shoulders and grabbed her bag with renewed energy, and hauled it up the last few steps to reach the house.
Gauri breathed a sigh of relief as she found the key in its usual hiding place. She said a silent thank you to her father as she slid the key into the lock and opened the heavy Oak door.
Breezy? Gauri frowned. The front windows were open. The curtains were slightly swaying from the breeze coming out of the bay. Had someone figured out she was coming??!
Had Sashank called her parents house looking for her...Oh! No! That would ruin everything. She pressed her fore head in dismay.
But then she noticed a pair of men's sandals beside the door. Her heart leapt with joy. May be one of her cousin's were visiting. She could only think of one person who would be here at this time "Anupam….?"
He had always been her closest cousin. He would understand and sympathize and maybe she would finally believe that all men were not like Sashank.
"Anupam?" She called out eagerly as she walked towards the kitchen when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She turned expectantly.
A lean, dark, handsome man with tousled jet-black hair, sharp nose was coming down the stairs.
He had very good cheekbones and a hard chin. He was handsome in a rough way. He still had his morning growth of beard which made him look all the sexier. He was well proportioned. Maybe from working out Gauri thought to herself.
She supposed he must one of her extended families, friend. He was from the looks of it in his late 20's or early 30's which put him in the same age bracket as Anupam. Maybe he was Anupam's friend. This would be the sort of charming thing her cousin would do. Ask one of his friends's to use the house when no one was there.
But this man din't look the least bit civilized like her cousin. As he was staring at her from the stairs, the only way Gauri could describe him at the moment was his eyes showed profound dislike for her.
Well, she wasn't happy to see him either.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded. Showing her the door he said, "Never mind, whoever you are just get the hell out of my house".
"Get out! Who the hell are you asking me to get out?"
"Now, Just a minute buddy," she said glaring at him. At least he spoke English. In fact he sounded American as she did. So, he must definitely be Anupam's friend, "I am not the one going anywhere!"
He was the one who was in her house. He had no right scowling at her and asking her to get out when this was her house. And she was damned if she was going to be kept away from her own house.
"Excuse me" she ignored him and walked towards the kitchen.
He barred her." Where do you think you are going?"
"I want a drink" she said. "I am dying of thirst here, now move."
He din't
"Look" she said. "Whoever you are, Did Anupam give you a key to the house?"
He looked confused. "Anupam, who is that?"
So definitely not Anupam's friend then, "My Cousin"
"Never heard of him, How did you get in?" he shook his head as his wet hair fell on his fore head.
"How did I get in?" It was Gauri's turn to stare. She kicked her bag and said, "With my key, I live here."
"The hell you do?"
"Well, not always," Gauri admitted.
"But, I could if I wanted to, I am Gauri Chatterjee. My father owns this house."
His expression cleared." Not anymore" he said cheerfully.
"I do"
"What?" Surely, she din't hear him right. Probably, it was the heat stroke, sure was exhausted enough that this did not make any sense at all.
"What are you talking about? What do you mean, not anymore?"
"Who the damned hell are you?"
"Shiv Kapoor"
As if, that was supposed to mean anything. She just looked at him blankly. "So?"
"So, this is my house and I own it."
"No" Gauri said firmly, Confidant that her family would not have sold their ancestral home. "No, you don't own this house. This has been in the family for generations and this house would not have been sold at any cost. This is our house"
"Was". Shiv said easily. Past tense. He said sorry which he din't mean in the least. He sounded indignant and righteous as Sashank.
"Prove it" Gauri snapped.
"Whatever you want" he said easily. He walked to the office at the right side of the house. Opened a draw on the old table and got plucked some papers from a folder.
He came back and thrust the papers into her hands, then stepping back, watched her reading it. It was an agreement between Shiv Kapoor and her father.
"What have you got with our company?" she demanded
"Keep reading" he said easily
"Your father sold 60% of the company's shares to me; I own the company now, with you father being a minor shareholder."
She could not believe her father could have done something like this without discussing this with his two daughters.
"He did this without telling us." Shiv just inclined his head. And waited.
"Pretty much," the annoying shiv kapoor agreed. "But it's legal. Therefore this house is mine. So I think, Miss.Chatterjee," he added pointedly, "that it's you who needs to leave this house".
Gauri digested it. Considered it. She hadn't spend her last dime on the ticket to fly half way across the world to get away from one pompous male only to be pushed by another.
She looked up at shiv and said "No"
"What do you mean, No?" He looked surprised as though no one had said that too him in his entire life.
Well, Gauri thought. It's about time someone did.
"Well, which part of No don't you understand? NO? It's a big house Mr. Kapoor, don't worry I am even here. I have every intention of forgetting you are!" and she lifted her bag to go to her childhood room.
"Wait! a damn minute!" He grabbed her arm.
"You can't stay here"
"Of course, I can. This is a big house".
"I don't want any company. Especially, woman's company."
"Tough luck". She reached her room and pushed open the door, then turned to him. "What are you going to do? Throw me out of here?"
His fingers balled into fists. A muscle ticked in his jaw and she could swear that given a chance he would have strangled her. But he din't touch her, just glared.
"Look" He said after a moment. "There are hundreds of hotels in Calcutta, why don't you stay in one of them?"
"Can't afford one."
I'll pay the price for it. You can even stay in the most luxurious of hotels in Calcutta."
"I can't take money from you. I am sorry." "No way, am I leaving this house"
"This is my house- was my house" she corrected bitterly.
Shiv kapoor shrugged, "So, ask your father to pay for your hotel then. I am sure he can pay for a hotel room."
"No!" she almost screamed.
None of her family knew that she was here. She was determined to keep that way. The last thing she wanted to do was announce her humiliation with sashank to her parents and sister.
"Suite yourself, you better come with an idea sweetheart, 'cos I definitely don't want you here. Got that!"
"But-"
"No" He was adamant. "I've had it. No woman. I am sick to death of them".
Gauri blinked, "So you….prefer men?" pity, actually because shiv kapoor was a gorgeous piece of work from God.
"I do not prefer men" he snapped, then raked his hands through his hair furiously. "I am sick to death of constantly followed by woman at all hours of the day"
Gauri gave him a thorough once over and lied with dripping sarcasm "Well, you are not that handsome or gorgeous!"
"Well, I never said, I was! It's the damn magazine in India – all that stupid article about India's sexiest that, sexiest this..."
Gauri laughed," So you are what, India's sexiest & rudest -----?"
"India's sexiest NRI" he muttered. "It's crap. All of it. Tell that to the entire woman population who read it and think they are the woman of my dreams!"
"So, that's why I don't want any woman hanging around here" he muttered.
"Trust me; I wouldn't look at you if you were the last man on this earth. Make it the second last man on earth" she muttered under her breadth.
Shiv heard it and quirked his eyebrows.
"Ah, Like that is it?"
Gauri scowled, "Like what is it?!"
"Running away from a man."
"I am not running away from anyone!". She retorted. "I just needed a break ...a vacation after grueling 21/2 month job in the West coast. The job drained a lot out of me and I need some R&R that's all" It was the truth at least most of it.
"Look, I would love to stand here and chat with you but I am really tired. I need to sleep; I haven't slept in the last 24 to 36 hours"
And without waiting for him to say anything- Gauri turned her back and headed for the bed.
Behind her there was silence and after a while shiv said, "Okay, you can sleep it off. I am going out to meet friends. And when I get here tonight you better be out of here".
Shiv muttered as he left the house. He'd just begun to breathe a little easier in the last few days and now this!.
He was overreacting and he knew it. But it was a shock to hear the door open and see an woman standing there.
"Damn beautiful and attractive woman." With her beautiful dark brown eyes and long black hair she was really a beauty even as his hormones registered the fact his brain had sent the fact the background.
He wasn't interested and she wasn't his type! Too irritating..!.
He liked woman a lot – but he preferred to be the hunter and not the hunted. He was happy playing the field as long as the woman understood the score.
He was glad that he made that little Missy understand the fact and had made sure that she was not getting any ideas.
He did feel a little bit sorry that she had come to Calcutta for nothing. But at any cost he wanted her out of the house. Too damn bad. If she din't like the idea then it was her problem and not his.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he cranked up his stereo and drove his BMW towards the club where he was meeting his friend that night.
It was almost mid-night when he got back. He climbed the winding stairs to the front door – and stopped dead seeing Gauri cross from the living room to the kitchen.
His good mood evaporating, Shiv thundered into the house and went directly went to the kitchen.
"Listen, Din't I tell you-"
"Shivvyy..." A sultry voice sounded from the living room. Shiv jerked around. A tall slender gorgeous woman – every man's dream woman, he'd thought when he had first met her- came running towards him for a hug.
"Ipshitha" She was no longer a dream to him. She was a waking nightmare. If there was one person he did want to see in his house other than Gauri Chatterjee it was Ipshitha Bose.
But before she could reply another young familiar voice sounded from the room. He turned and it was his cousin Maya.
"Aunty, send us over" confirming his worst fear. "Isn't that wonderful."
"Send you here, Why?" he knew he sounded harsh but he was spitting mad.
But Maya was immune. "She thought you need protection as women are bothering you." He had to give full marks for his mother's perception. But, why the hell did she think that more women would improve his situation?
And she had send Ipshitha of all people with Maya. What was wrong with her? Ipshitha already knew the score. He had been very clear when their affair had started a year ago.
"No string!"
"Strings! I am not interested in a long term relationship." She had said.
But she had a given him a bombshell when she declared she was pregnant.
Shiv found it hard to believe. He was a careful man. He had been very careful with Ipshitha. He'd asked to see the tests and asked to talk to the doctor.
Ipshitha was appalled, then angry. "You don't trust me."
She had cried and wailed. Shiv was not moved. "We'll know soon enough," he's said.
And after tow weeks there was more tears followed by an announcement that she was not pregnant.
Shiv had learnt his lesson and had severed all ties with her after that incident. They hard parted ways almost seven months back.
Shiv hadn't seen her again until this minute.
"So nice of your mother to let us spend a week here and so nice of that girl to let us in" Ipshitha said.
Shiv's eyes narrowed, "Which girl?"
"Gauri, the girl in the kitchen. She was so helpful. She helped us with our bags too"
"Was she?" Shiv said through his gritted teeth.
"Oh! Yes! She was wonderful" Maya agreed beaming.
He'd kill her. She knew, he din't want anyone here. Especially, not a woman who was trying to set her eyes on him again.
"She was sure you wouldn't mind us intruding on you" Maya reported.
"Did she?" Shiv's jaw just snapped.
"Where is she?"
"Making us a snack in the kitchen" Ipshitha said showing her hands towards the kitchen.
If he could have killed her with a look he would have. But right then, she sashayed into the living room carrying a tray full of snacks for the two girls.
"I know you would love to have company." She told him with a challenging look of her own. Our Indian culture is famous for its hospitality and feeding the hungry.
"Is it?" Shiv retorted "I thought was the corner stone of our culture".
Her expression grew wary but she immediately came up with a retort. "Both, I think" aiming a friendly smile at both the girls "Battling with your friends is fun as battling with your enemies don't you think?".
"I expect we'll find out now" he took the plate out Gauri's hands forcefully and thrust it into Ipshitha's hands.
"If I may have a word with you, Miss Chatterjee?"
"I don't' think-"
"You don't need to" he told her as he dragged a reluctant gauri behind him towards the bedroom.
"Mr. Kapoor, I am not-"She shouted.
"That's what you think," he retorted back and she tried to protest again, he stopped her the only way he knew how.
He pressed his lips against hers and backed her down the short hall and into his bedroom and shut the door forcefully with his foot. He met her furious glare with a satisfied smile. "All's fair in war, Sweetheart!"
Part 2
What the heck do you think you are doing? – Gauri pushed and shoved him away as her eyes blazed with fury. Her eyes were looking anywhere – but him. She was furious with herself for allowing him to kiss her.
The room was a masculine room. It was decorated in earthy tones. The minimalistic dcor drew one's eyes to the large bed which occupied the center of the room, just like the man who was glaring at her just as angrily as she was glaring at him. The room fit its occupant beautifully.
"More to the point, who gave you the permission to open the doors of my house to strangers Miss.Chatterjee?" he said through gritted teeth.
"Well, they are not strangers to you, I would say", She was still trying to catch her breath as she could feel heart slamming against her ribs. She could still feel the imprint of his mouth against her lips. It was doing odd things to her being. She never felt this way even when Sashank had kissed her.
Oh My God! She had to muster every ounce of her self-control to remain sane.
"Your cousin-Maya said that your mother send them. And from the look of things it looked like there was more going on with Ipshitha than he was telling her.
"But, to you they were strangers. And they should have only been that to you. You very well knew that I did not want anybody in the house-," Shiv bit out.
"I know, you have told me often enough in the last 24 hours" She said exasperatedly.
"They are not somebody you don't know. Your mother has sent them for god sakes, if you don't like them. Fine. Throw then out. Go ahead do it. You can go and tell them to now to get out of your house".
"I can't do it"
"Why not"
"You know how Indian mother's are. If my mom finds out that I am here she will start meddling more and that would be the end of my peaceful stay here" he paced as he cracked his knuckles and walked around the room.
"My mother thinks she knows what's best for me" he sighed
Gauri couldn't stop herself from asking "And that would be-"
"A wife-"he said at last
Gauri started to laugh.
"It's not funny"
She tried to control it by placing both her hands over her mouth but if after all her attempts her lips where still twitching at the corners. She couldn't imagine Shiv running scared because of his mother's machinations.
"She thinks it will get other woman of my back, if she provides the choices." He scowled.
"But, she is wrong. Especially about that one who is at my doorstep, all thanks to you."
"Which one?"
"Ipshitha" he spat the name out.
"Ah." Yes, now she could see it. There had been animosity when Shiv had first seen her when he entered the house. Ipshitha had been startled when she had first seen Gauri at the house. She had actually demanded that Gauri tell her who she was.
"So, you both have a long history hah!" she asked mildly.
"No, History! Or anything. We had a brief affair and its over. It's just that she does not understand that it is over. WOMAN!" Shiv ground his teeth.
"You could have told them that I was not coming back" Shiv slammed his hands against the wall.
Oh! Man! It did not look like this guy ever smiled nor did he looked like someone who saw the lighter side of things. If he was ever asked to play the angry young man role in a movie, he would suite perfectly thought Gauri.
"Well, you told me you were coming back! And I don't have a telepathic brain to figure out what you wanted me to do." She said sarcastically.
"You knew I did not want anyone here in my house!"
"Yup, I knew that. But you were such a jerk to me that I decided to teach you a lesson" Gauri have a cheerful grin.
"Thanks! Damn it!" he jammed his hands against the wall once again. He straightened and raked his fingers through his hair once again.
He was gorgeous specimen of Manhood. Gauri thought. Men like Shiv ought to be locked away. His adverse effect on women like Ipshitha was a perfect example. Why then would Ipshitha a gorgeous girl, come all the way here for a second chance at him.
And Why?. A Woman like Ipshitha can have any man. But it looked like she wanted him.
He walked like a trapped jungle animal." So, how long are they planning to stay?"
"Here in Calcutta?"
"No! Here in my bedroom! Don't be an idiot! Of course, here in Calcutta" he sighed
"Well, they said they were on a week's vacation after which they both have to get back to the U.S for some work!" Gauri said remembering an earlier conversation.
"Thank God! For small mercies" Shiv said
He paced and considered some more. "A week, they can stay a week. You are staying too!"
"Me!" Gauri Stared." but you said-"
"You wanted to stay. You said so and made a big deal out of this whole issue."
"Well, Yes. But-"
"No buts. They can stay for a week as long as you stay and act as my girlfriend!"
"WHAT!"
"You heard me. Ipshitha won't be able to pester me if she knows that I have a girlfriend"
"I'm not –"
"Once they go, you can go too"
"But, I can't go in one week. I have a reservation for 3 weeks"
"You can stay here for one week and for the rest of the 2 weeks stay at a hotel; spend this week looking for good lodging"
Gauri glared, "Why" She asked him at last.
"Why? Are you asking me why as in "Why" you have to play the girl friend or Why as in why you have to leave in a week" which "Why" was it." He smiled cheerfully.
He was enjoying this now and he gave Gauri a mocking smile.
"Of course, I meant "Why" as in why I have to play your girl friend of all things. When I expressly said, that you are the last person - correction the second last person on earth I want as a boy friend!"
"Well! You are broke and you have no where else to go!" he said gleefully.
"Besides, it would give Ipshitha the clear signal that she cannot worm her way into my life again."
Even though it looked like a good proposition Gauri Stalled. "So, you and her have a history is it?"
Shiv din't look like he was going to answer. When Gauri looked at him wordlessly, he finally muttered, "We went out a few times"
"Out with?" Gauri raised her brows and a knowing smile was on her lips.
"You mean, casual dates, being home by 11.00, getting her parents permission that sort of thing!?" she asked with such a devilish grin and false innocence reflecting on her face!
"Slept with" Shiv snarled. "And nothing else"
"Now, What else could there be other than sleeping with someone."
"I mean, No Strings! No Love! It wasn't as if we were a couple. I don't do emotional relationships and she knew the score!"
"Oh! How very nice and charming of you.! Men!" Gauri said angrily
"Look, I never said I was in love with her nor did I claim to be. We hit it off and we spend time together"
"In Bed."
"In Bed and out of bed", he said exasperatedly. "She knew the score and she knew that I was not looking for happily ever after ever."
"Of course, you just charmed her to go to bed with you"
"Nobody forced her to go to bed with me!" Shiv snapped.
Gauri gave him one of her best FBI interrogation looks. "Oh! Sure! I believe you…"
"At least, I did not lie to her or give her any false promises"
And Gauri knew from experience that some men did.
Sashank had vowed that he loved her. He had said often enough that he would bring the moon for her. Look where that had landed her. She decided to cut some slack with shiv at least he had been truthful to Ipshitha.
"So fine. You din't want and a serious relationship and she did. Why are you so upset with her staying here? Did she force you to the altar or what?"
It was almost close to truth. Gauri had hit the nail on the head. He decided to tell her what happened between him and Ipshitha. He told her how she played the pregnancy game with him. Once he had finished, Gauri was a little upset too. She did not want to think that there were woman who would trick a man into marriage.
Gauri still tried to defend Ipshitha, "Maybe, she thought she was pregnant truthfully."
He gave a cynical shake of his head. "Pink pigs would fly if that was the case!"
"So, you my dear - Gauri are going to act as my girlfriend. You are going to make sure that she does not take undue advantage of me!" he said that with a false smile and a wink.
"I'm not-"
"Oh! Yes! You are! You are going to stay right here –"by which he meant not only the house but in his bed room too."- and make sure that Ipshitha understands that I have a woman in my life."
"But You-"
"You want a place to stay; you can stay as long as they both stay." He dared her to disagree as he looked hard at her.
Gauri's thoughts were in a whirl. She had reservations to fly back after 3 weeks. Her ticket had nearly wiped out her savings. Paying for her hotel for the next 3 weeks was out of the question. She couldn't pre-pone her ticket as her supervisor at FBI had clearly told her to take the time off.
"Here as in, at the house" she wanted to clarify
"In this room," shiv clarified which she had already suspected.
As if he read the direction of her thoughts he immediately said, "I don't expect-"
Gauri intercepted him. "You are not my type. Mr. Shiv Kapoor. It is never going to happen in this life time."
Shiv started at her. "How dare you say that of me? I never asked you too."
"You of all women are not my type! Got that!"
"If I needed a woman I just have to holler down the corridor and can get one, right this very minute" he said coming closer to her.
"But, you don't need the one down the corridor, do you?!" Gauri retorted.
"Well, this is a useless conversation. I don't need you and you don't need me. We are only sharing this room and that's the end of it." He said.
Gauri thought about the whole idea for a minute and finally said, "As I have to put up with your arrogance and attitude for the next week or so, why don't we change the terms of this pact." She said.
"What-"
"I will stay the 3 weeks as originally planned but after a week I will take a separate bedroom in this same house and stay out of your way" Gauri said.
"Those are my conditions. Take it or Leave it" She said confidently.
Shiv thought about it for a few seconds and finally said, "O.k.! As long as you don't step into my vicinity that should be fine!" he said gritting his teeth as his eyes blazed with fire as he was helpless right now.
Gauri smiled inwardly. Finally, everything was working according to her liking. Shiv could see that she had won this round but he wasn't going to accept his defeat that easily.
He stepped closer to her and braced his hands on both sides of her face as he trapped her against the wall. He bent closer to her as Gauri eyes starred at him. Her lips started quivering as his eyes stared at her lips for the longest time. He came a little bit closer and crowded her. She tried to push him so that she could escape his magnetic gaze. Her hands got trapped in the process as she stared helplessly at him.
His lips came closer and closer as Gauri's lips started to quiver with fear and excitement. He abruptly moved his head closer to her ears and whispered," You are not immune to my charms, Miss. Chatterjee. Beware; you might be my next conquest after all." He straightened himself up and opened the bedroom and went out as though nothing had happened.
Gauri looked at his back with shock at his near truthful prediction.
Shiv Shakti
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