Heya, guys. Here comes the delayed next chapter. xD Chapter 48
I have been trying to find the answers of your questions that you asked me to, and I hope I will be successful soon enough. So far there has not been much success given opponents are much harder nuts to be cracked, read a message in Ishani's phone. The text was sent from Gauri, her cousin, at 11.30 in the morning but Ishani, having been busy for the rest of the day, barely paid attention to it. Ishani came to Ranveer's office to finish the remaining tasks that needed to be done before her final departure from the deal with Ranveer. It was, however, the end of the deal' in particular, for their partnership still remained intact. That morning Ishani like her routine time went to the office and attended the necessary meetings and freed herself in the late evening around 6.30 and returned back to her cabin. Ranveer was to return today and she waited for him as though waiting for him for years. They had not talked since their last conversation 2 days ago and that single moment of his assurance was enough for Ishani. She trusted him.
The time flew idly with the sky being covered with a light blanket of the grey clouds and a lazy breeze sliding through the window, stirring the papers kept inside. The sun, still hidden behind the clouds, began to glide down while Ishani chose to bring her attention back to the work. For some weird causes the day felt different. She tried her best often not to smile when a soft blush crept over her lips unknowingly leaving her in unanswered thoughts why she did so. Although the hours felt excruciatingly long Ishani could not wait to see Ranveer today after one whole week!
It wasn't long when she found herself swirling in her feelings once again when Ishani heard a rough knock at the door.
She looked up; no one was there. Wondering she was going through her bizarre dreams once again Ishani brought herself to work once again.
The knock on the door came second time, as rough as ever. "Come in!" she said, without looking at the door now, but no movement was heard. She waited for a few moments for someone to enter before she looked up and a very familiar face was peeking through the transparent cabin door in slight anticipation. "Chirag!" she gasped.
Chirag Mehta now entered the cabin swiftly as though gashing the marble floor with his haggard, heavy steps, a flower bouquet in his tight grasp.
"Hey, Ishani." He leaped forward and wrapped his one arm around Ishani as he handed her over the orchid bouquet. "You love them so much, don't you?"
Ishani nodded lightly, wiping the sweat that suddenly appeared on her face, as she looked at Chirag. He had changed since last she saw him two years ago. He now looked well-to-do and much happier. Perhaps the fad of the marriage was the reason. His eyes seemed brighter but today they failed to consist something that she knew. They did not look familiar.
"Chirag," Ishani said, moving out of his arms while he eyed her uneasily, "you were supposed to be coming next week."
"I lied," Chirag laughed. "I wanted to surprise you and look! You are stunned."
Ishani made a failed attempt to smile, and not having anything else to say she asked him to take a seat. "You should've informed me. There are many things I have to finish before I go." Her voice was uncomfortable and low.
"We will do this together now. And, Ishani, don't worry about anything. I'm sorry for abandoning you all this time. You know""
"It's alright, Chirag," Ishani said waving her hand in denial. "I don't want to talk about it. Leave the topic here."
"I went your office and Mr. Khanna informed me you're here. So this is Mr. RV's office. Grand building, I must say." Chirag spoke taking a look about him. "I'm impressed. I've wanted to see him for some time and now seems like the time has come."
A glimmer shone in Ishani's eyes. "Of course," she said immediately, pride explicit in her tone. "Ran"I mean RV has had it all on his own."
"For how long has he been here?"
"2 years."
"Where is he, by the way?"
"He's been out of town or a week. He was supposed to be returning today. I hope he comes back soon," Ishani said slowly, more to herself than Chirag.
"Well," Chirag said, changing the topic of the conversation. "Are you excited?"
Ishani smiled hesitantly. "About what?"
"Our marriage, honeymoon," Chirag said enthusiastically. "I have planned so much already."
"Chirag, we are not married yet. This talk can be done sometime later."
"Oh, come on, Ishani," Chirag squeaked in his usual playful tone. "We're going to get married now and you don't have to shy away from me." Chirag moved closer to her while Ishani, terrified, sank back in her chair.
"Stop it, Chirag," she said, standing up and moving away as Chirag made an attempt to block her way with his right arm.
"Babes, why are you so afraid? Don't worry; I'm not going to harm you. Come, come!" Chirag again took two steps ahead when Ishani pushed him away.
"I said stay away!" Ishani shouted. "Don't you get it, Chirag?"
"Sweetheart," Chirag said, now more sweetly and holding her hand, "I'm sorry. I was just trying to..." Ishani pushed Chirag away again as she freed herself from his grasp and ejected at the doorstep, panting.
"Stop it!" Ishani yelled.
"What's happening here?" She heard a voice as she tried to compose herself. The voice would have seemed like a dream had it not been the she waited for it the most in this entire week.
Ishani turned back.
"Ranveer!" Ishani gave a huge sigh of relief as Ranveer came further.
"What"" Ranveer's began but words faltered as his eyes fell on a dejected Chirag who by now gained his sensed back and, composed, came in front of Ranveer.
"What!" Chirag said. "What the hell are you doing here, Ranveer?"
"It's his-" Ishani said, while Chirag interrupted her.
"Oh, wait! Ishani hired you as her driver here? Is it, Ishani? And look what you're wearing! These clothes do not suit you. Why don't you""
"Chirag," Ishani said, "listen to me."
"No, Ishani, you listen to me. You know everything about him, don't you? He's a cheat, a fraud! And you are nave. Stupid. He's taking full advantage of your innocence and you""
"Shut up, Chirag," Ishani yelled, not looking at either Ranveer or Chirag. Ranveer kept quiet all this while as his tired eyes observed her closely. Tired because Ishani could see they lacked their usual gleam.
"What?"
"Ranveer is RV," Ishani said in a defiant tone. Chirag gave a start and soon burst into countless peals of mocking laughter, moving himself from one place to another.
"He is RV?" Chirag said, pointing his rough fingers towards Ranveer and laughing madly. "What a nonsensical thought. It's not a fool's day, darling! It would be better if I am not fooled today by my fiance. Please have some better reasons to defend your ex-best friend."
"The place that you are standing upon right now is his property and he owes credit for his success to no one but himself," Ishani cried sternly. "I should like you to keep that in mind from now onwards whenever you talk to him. He is RV, and you know very well what that means."
"RV has a different image in India, you see," Chirag said, trying to control his piquant laughter. "I always wondered how he manages to keep himself that way in India. Now I understand this." He still laughed absurdly.
"Chirag, I told you something!" Ishani said, now a hint of anger visible in her voice. "Keep your mouth shut and""
"And what, baby?"
"Apologize to him right now!" Ishani said, pulling Chirag further.
"Apologize? Are you mad?"
"I said apologize to him right away, Chirag."
"No, it's alright, Ishani," Ranveer said calmly, no sign of emotions in his tone. "It's perfectly fine."
"No, Ranveer."
"Ah, yes!" Chirag sighed, and to Ishani's astonishment his expressions suddenly changed to those of apology as he looked at Ranveer ruefully. "I shouldn't have said anything." Chirag came towards Ishani and wrapped his arm around her waist tightly so that she could not move, and pulled her towards him. Ranveer looked away.
"No, it's alright," Ranveer said, and turned to leave.
"No, no, sir," Chirag said, leaving Ishani confused. "I should've known how to respect the youngest billionaire of the country; and it was so immature of me to judge you like this. You know I was slightly flustered seeing you, the man who worked as a servant at my would-be wife's place, to be at such a position as you. I hope you do forgive me now."
Ranveer looked at Ishani. Her apologetic eyes met his, but no audible words were spoken. Yet she understood somewhere that he wanted her not to panic as Ishani too stopped her struggles. Chirag's voice had become inaudible to them until both, Ishani and Ranveer, came out of their reverie and realized Chirag still continued to say few more unpleasant words.
"I think you do have something, Mr. RV," his voice getting flattering, "that my Ishani could stay over here for so long. I'm extremely grateful to you, believe it or not. Though the only thing I want to pray is that hopefully she is not smitten by you or that would be""
"I suppose you have just arrived, Chirag," Ranveer said in his usual RV-like-tone. "You should be taking rest. I'm sure journey from Mumbai to London is very tiring."
"Oh, not as you make it look like, Ranveer. It's been delightfully pleasant and when you have few means of joy no journey remains tiring or boring." Chirag coughed as he said so.
"I'm glad. Glad for more than one thing. I will pray for you," Ranveer said, while Chirag looked at him, confused.
"Well, I think we've waited so much, sweetheart," Chirag said, looking at Ishani, "that now I cannot wait for the day we will get married."
"Take him, Ishani. I'm sure he doesn't want his marriage to get delayed anymore."
Chirag looked at Ishani in question while she dragged him out of the room.
Ishani emerged out of the office building followed by Chirag instantly.
"Hey, babes," Chirag said, trying to catch up paces with Ishani. "Wait."
Ishani stopped.
"Are you mad at me?"
"There is no reason to be," Ishani said.
"I was right!" Chirag said jubilantly. "You don't think I should have apologized to him, right? You shouldn't have asked me to apologize to him. He must be on the clouds nine for no reason."
"Chirag," Ishani interrupted, irritated, "the thing is, I neither expect you to be respectful towards others and nor you are the first person insulting Ranveer like this."
"I want to talk," Chirag said, now changing his tone suddenly. "Just because I have let you free for so long doesn't mean you are allowed to humiliate me for that""
Ishani smiled. "Being your fiance doesn't mean I'm not allowed to do the things I like. You have absolutely no right on me."
"We are getting married and this attitude of yours"" Chirag said, holding her by shoulders.
"We are not yet married," Ishani interrupted and moved away. "Don't treat me like I'm your wife already."
"What's wrong with you? I came here just to see you, to take you home but you don't value it."
Ishani laughed. "Value! Value what? Didn't you just say you enjoyed the journey so much that you don't need any rest? Why must I value' this? It would be better if you stop repeating the same things over and over again. I know we're engaged but that cannot work unless there are few things are clear between us."
"What kind of things they are?" Chirag asked.
"Can we talk over this tomorrow?" Ishani said and moved towards her car.
"Not at all." Chirag pulled her back. "What are the things that have changed you so much, Ishani? You weren't the same the last time we'd met. You looked very much in love with me but now I cannot say the same thing about you. You are completely changed. You look so strange." Chirag panted.
"Are we done?"
"What?"
"Come. I'll drop you in the hotel you're staying at."
"What?"
"What what'? Where else are you supposed to stay?"
"Oh, right," Chirag said with a shake of his head. "But I'll go by myself. There's a taxi and I'll see you tomorrow. We will be returning back to India in the next three days. I hope all your work is done by then."
Ishani kept quiet as Chirag walked away, and from a distance took the taxi as it slunk away in the darkness. A heavy burden lay upon her heart. The stars in the sky were covered with a thin transparent veil of clouds and the moon rose higher. How everything turned out to be in last few hours was unexpected. Ishani still found it impossible to believe Chirag had actually turned up and was going to take her home in the "next three days," as he had phrased. She hated seeing him and more than that his behavior. Who was he to say anything to Ranveer about his status? Ranveer had achieved everything on his own by working hard night and day and had been on the heights people rarely dared go upon.
Ishani needed to talk to Ranveer about the things that remained in her head unanswered for weeks. She turned back but saw him driving his car away out of the inner entrance of the building. There was no use in running after him when he had crossed now the outer ones as well. Ishani turned back and headed towards her car, her eyes misty.
It wasn't long when Ishani was done with her dinner and prepared to take rest when her phone rang disturbing her unpleasant thoughts more unpleasantly.
"Hello," she said, yawning.
Chirag's voice from the other side came. "Ishani, I want to talk to you something."
"We will talk tomorrow," Ishani said. "There's no hurry."
"Actually, Ishani, I want to apologize to you for my stupidity few hours back. I shouldn't have been so mean to you."
"Chirag, I said we will talk tomorrow."
"I won't be able to sleep if you don't forgive me. You know, baby, I love you."
"Alright," Ishani answered vaguely. "I'm tired, Chirag. Very, very tired. I need some rest."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize the time," Chirag said with sudden apology. "Yes, yes. We will talk tomorrow and also plan for the things we are to do."
Ishani flinched as Chirag disconnected the call. She hated being around Chirag and the thought of going away with him for the rest of her life felt awful and unbelievable.
She now noticed the message sent by Gauri and replied with a simple thank you' and an urgent request to find any clue from Disha or anyone regarding the matter. Ishani had not disclosed everything to Gauri but a great deal had been told to Gauri. Ishani felt content that at least someone would understand her when the time comes.
Her life in London had been much more alive than in Mumbai for years, and she did not want to miss it anymore. There was something more. It wasn't just that that she did not suddenly like being around Chirag, but more. The supposedly eventful day proved to be the most uneventful one and the quest of her questions yet remained incomplete.
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