This is, yet, another short story!
I was bored and I had this idea for some time. Hence, I started writing but I wanted to expose the story, probably sometime, the end of this month once I complete the rest parts. But then you all entered my thought and so bearing in mind that you guys might also be bored. I thought I'd post and see if you are interested reading the rest of the chapters I wrote, so far. I sincerely request you to ignore any mistakes... and I will try and correct them onwards.
Happy reading!
Were they.....
"Fated for each other?"
Prologue
"Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over."
March 19th 2007
He clawed his way to the very top of the corporate ladder. Now he's one of the wealthiest men in acclaim. And, now, all he needs is her. The hope is set; the delicate red roses and a dazzling diamonds, the traditional marriage, the most memorable honeymoon, and most of all, adorable babies.
The drive to her place seemed quick, so quick that he barely remembered it. In fact the last year of his life seemed like a blur. But as he sat parked in front of her apartment, rubbing his eyes, he began to wonder who was writing his life story, and after some consideration realized nothing as screwed up as his life could be scripted.
Sighing to himself, he watched the sky begin to glow with the hint of morning skimming the horizon. Four years ago he would have never thought his life would be like it is today. In fact he never would have thought that he would utter three of the most ridiculous, yet hardest words he ever knew, that he would consider marriage-twice, that he would be "the man" he once dreaded running a business empire and all, and he would definitely never expect to be sitting in front of her door with his heart possibly on his sleeve. But he was at her door, and his heart was slowly making its way to his sleeve.
Sighing once again he began to wonder when he lost himself and the answer wasn't even one he had to think about. He hadn't lost himself, in fact when the glossy black haired wholesome beauty residing in the apartment across from him had walked into his life, to safe his business empire unintentionally, and then into his heart she had helped him find himself.
He had wanted her to be with him for the rest of her life. He wanted them to savour their togetherness as they grow older. That small part of his consciousness that he refused to acknowledge had prodded him into coming here so he could take her where he wanted to. So she could be with him until the very end. He needed to prove to her that he was worthy enough to be her chosen soul mate, her protector, her only lover… her husband?
I
June 19th 2007
It's hard to forget someone.
Especially, if that person meant a lot to you...
You can't forget the feelings that you have.
All those memories and the times that you shared
When that person you so loved, turns you down...
That's unforgettable.
He sat quietly, oblivious to the many people surrounding him, except for her. He watched her. Watched her laugh and chat amicably with her young sisters. Was it possible to love someone so completely and yet hate them at same time well?
Yes, he admitted to himself.
He loved her so, body and soul. He loved her sweet, lilting laugh, that beautiful smile, those luscious lips that he had often dreamt of caressing. He loved the intelligence that blazed in her deep brown eyes; eyes that seemed to see straight into his soul. Eyes that were able to read him so deeply, to discern his every emotion. He loved her spirit; both her fiery temper and her gentle, loving and supporting nature, which made her a true person. He loved her so much it hurt.
And yet, he hated her.
He hated her for consuming his every thought, for continually infiltrating his dreams. He hated her for offering him friendship when he wanted so much more. He hated her for making him love her, for ruining all other women for him. No one could ever take her place in his heart.
No one...
He wanted to stop loving her. He had tried to stop loving her. It would have been easier to stop breathing.
He had been hurt countless times during his past, but that seemed merely physical pain. It could not compare to the level of pain and anguish in his heart, right now. The intensity of the emotions constantly threatened to overwhelm him.
It was exactly three months since the day she'd turned him down, since the day she broke his heart. She did what no other women did, or would ever do. He still couldn't forget her last words, 'you come with bigger price. And I can't afford that..'
And that was it. Nothing more... nothing else was left to say. So, he decided to get out of the country the same day and went to Germany, to bring back the man he used to be before he met her, ruthless and untouchable. To restore the emotions she brought out of him.
He arrived a week ago only to discover she was getting married to another man!
If only he'd succeeded, if only he could forget her... he was still finding it hard till the present day!
"Jai, are you alright ...?" One of his closest business rivals, inquired.
He was suddenly jostled out of his agonizing thought.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He snapped, through his anger, for intruding his thoughts.
She could feel him before she saw him. She felt his anger, and agony its way across the floor and it threatened to overtake her. It was stifling and cold and dampened every feeling. She reached out with her mind and tried to concentrate, but the torture was too much. She thought she was going to explode in a minute.
Another gentleman man approached her. He pulled her up from her seat and dragged her to the middle of dance floor. They moved to the beat of the music. He guided her to dance and she moved with grace on the floor. Usually, he wasn't one for dancing. The last few times he did it caused him mess, but for her, he would do anything. He smiled at her and swung her around the floor.
She looked up and saw the object of her thought watching her dance and she smiled at him fearfully. She danced with him more than once; she thought he was everything she ever wished for, but then she'd been wronged. Perhaps they weren't fated for each other. Whatever happened between them was in the past. And right now. Right now, her dance, herself was for him, the man who was guiding her to dance. Her fianc.
They danced a long period, before she pulled away.
She's beautiful. Thought the man to himself. He was the luckiest man in the universe.
"That was very romantic dance, Aparajit." A gorgeous woman interrupted his thought, as she approached him with a smile.
Aparajit looked at her and grinned. "I'm getting old, Sonali." He said, taking her hand for a dance. "Don't have the stamina I used to, it's high time I settle down." He winked at her suggestively.
"You have a plenty of stamina and patience, too. I wish you and Bani a very long lasting happiness." She whispered in his ear.
"Besides, it's about time you two get together." She said. "You have been waiting for this moment for a very long time." She thought their relationship was so romantic, but then, everything about Aparajit was romantic. She was happy for him. She had known him for years and was pleased to see him find someone wholesome, compatible in mind and spirit; who loved serenity as much as he did.
"Well, she certainly keeps me on my toes." He replied. "Don't know how I got so lucky as to deserve her, but damned if I ever let her go."
"If you don't mind me saying it, you deserve some happiness." Sonali answered, the alcohol allowing her to be freer with her opinions.
Aparajit smiled and continued to sway to the music."One more dance, then I'm going to join my fianc." He told her, as he watched Bani walk in the direction of a balcony, separating herself from the crowd gathered here to celebrate their joy of new beginning.
Jai was thinking very deeply when he was suddenly jostled, once again, out of his agonizing reverie.
"Jai, I think it's time you should go home..." His dearest friend advised him, saving him from any self humiliation.
He nodded and slowly stood, all the while smiling through his misery.
'Steady, man' he thought to himself. 'Just make it quick.'
He cleared his throat and raised his wine glass. "To Aparajit and Bani, on their engagement day. May they find eternal happiness?" He said, practically choking on the words. While the crowd around the bar cheered, he walked out, resigned to his own tortured fate.
He was in hell. And he wasn't sure if he was going to let her go that easily?
Bani reached out and probed the other man's mind and his intent. The images flooded her and invaded her consciousness. She staggered and gasped at what she saw. She looked at Jeet and saw that he was still distracted. She knew he wouldn't see her leave.
Aparajit looked around, sometime later, as he scanned the room. He couldn't spot Bani
"Everything alright?" Sonali inquired, standing beside him.
"I can't see Bani." He said, as he continued to scan the room.
Sonali looked out into the crowded room and shook her head.
"I'm sure she just went to the ladies room, Aparajit." She said, positively.
II-A
Bani left the party along with her sisters. She couldn't stand anymore facing the man she once thought was her world, knowing that she was never going to be a part of his life because of her own misfortune. She didn't have any choice there were reasons she had to do what she did. Reasons she couldn't afford to take a risk by taking any action to prevent form happening. Thus, she succumbed to her own bad luck.
Thinking on her way to her apartment, why Jai showed up at the party? Surely after what had happened between them that day... what she'd done to him, he wouldn't have wanted to see her face again. So why was he here to night? She was certain it wasn't to wish her a long-lasting happiness.
Then her mobile phone rung and she received. "Hello?" Aparajit had called her.
Bani made up an excuse and told him that she had a bad headache and couldn't stand the music and all the noise. So, she she'd left. She even insisted when he'd suggested coming to her to make sure she was okay and asked him to stay back and enjoy the party. He did, without her.
When Bani and her sisters finally arrived at her apartment, she said to her sisters she'd lie down and they accepted her excuse of avoidance. She went to her bedroom and so were her sisters. There seemed nothing to talk about that would change anything. She already made her mind.
.....
He stood at beach staring at the dark sight of the sea, listening to the waves as he blocked out the sounds of the world until all that was left were the soft sounds of the rolling waves and the sea gulls in the distance. The sea continued to increase in magnitude, while the dead calm still held as a cool breeze blew through his hair. He didn't want to go home. He had to give himself a moment to get over his effect.
Jai turned to the waves staring again at the steady motion of the ocean. In, out. In, out. The endless distance of water stretched before him, falling deeper into his melancholy with each passing minute. He didn't know how long he was there; isolating himself from the people. He just wanted to be alone, away from everyone.
Despite how much he'd tried to get over and forget about her the last three months he miserably failed. The truth was, he missed her more than anything, so much that it hurt to think about the future without her in it. He remembered her every time alone or within many people, her smile, her voice, her laughter, her funny jokes as she challenged him to make him laugh, her excitements when she was in a good mood, her playful pokes to his chest, but most of all her sparkling dark-eyes.
Jai was thinking deep and hard, trying to stimulate memories, when his mobile phone rang like it did previously several times, leaving behind a number of missed calls. He'd been ignoring for the whole night. He didn't want to talk to anyone. Why couldn't they just leave him be? He sighed, and impatiently received the call without bothering to look at the caller's id.
"Yes?" He snapped.
"Jai, it's me." The man said calmly.
"I'm really not in the mood right now, Tarun." Jai said evenly.
"No need to let out your frustration on me, Jai. I know how you feel." Tarun said. "The reason I called you is because I want talk to you personally, Jai. I want to show you something. And before you announce your disinterest of the things I tend to show you. I think it's very important that you should see, Jai." He paused, sighed. "It's about Mr AD... and Pia."
All the sudden feeling alive, Jai sighed. "Where are you?" He asked.
"I'm sitting in my car behind yours. Now, are you coming or not?" Tarun said. But Jai was already approaching him in anticipation.
When Jai met AD for the first time, at some business party after the day of his arrival back to India, he didn't approve one single thing about the man. Tarun noticed his apprehension then and said to ease his tension, that his feelings were natural, he was just being jealous. But the truth was he suspected something strange about the man and he didn't like it at all.
So how the hell was he supposed to let someone he couldn't trust marry the woman he wanted to trust with his life?
Jai decided then to find out about him and hired a private investigator to do the job. Tarun knew Jai's instinct ha never been wrong before, so he supported his decision.
Now, what could AD and Pia have in common? Jai wondered, mystifying as it was, he felt excitement in a very long time.
This was going to be very interesting....
.....
She sat on the edge of her bed taking deep breaths and trying to relax. It was a painful decision she'd made, she was acting upon it. But she'll get through and things will get better, she hoped. There's no reason to be scared. Aparajit wanted her and he said he loved her very much; he'll do anything for her.
Had she made the right decision for herself? We'll she be happy being with him? Perhaps, she thought. She was doing the right thing, except... Bani's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, loud pounding on the apartment door.
"Banee!" A familiar male voice shouted. "Let me in!"
Bani quickly stood and unlocked the door, allowing the man to come bursting in. He momentarily lost his footing but quickly regained his balance as he spun around to look at Bani. She was still clad in her gold and cream-coloured sari and he stared appreciatively at her figure. She glared back at him, taking in his appearance as well. He was still wearing the same suit, a black trouser, the first few buttons of his white-shirt undone.... revealing the gold chain necklace circling around his neck and his chest hair, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up and holding one hand his jacket and the other a bottle of champagne, which obviously had not been his first alcohol.
"Jai, what are you doing here?" She snapped.
"I came for you, Banee. I came to pass on my good wishes to you, Banee."
"You're drunk, Jai. You shouldn't be here."
"Now this has to be the first truth that came out from you, so far." He held out the bottle of the champagne. "Perhaps we should drink to that and to your imminent nuptials." He spat out.
She didn't dignify his sharp remark with an answer, but simply stared at him. When she didn't respond, Jai simply shrugged, took a large swig of the alcohol and then set the bottle on the side board in the sitting area inside her apartment. Turning back to her, he began moving toward her. Bani took a few steps back, and again, hoping to put some distance between them, but to no avail. She was backed up against the closed door to her bedroom and Jai quickly closed the distance. His close proximity sent a shudder of fierce emotion through her, much to her own surprise. She fought to suppress those strong feelings she still had inside her and focus on her anger at his appalling behaviour.
"Tell me, Bani, are you happy?" He asked softly.
"Yes." She breathed.
Jai brought his face closer to her, placing his flat palms both side against the door, trapping her completely. She could smell the alcohol on his breath. "I think I should kiss the bride-to-be." His low, rumbling voice sent a wave of fear through her body.
There was no escaping this night. She was trapped in her own made dilemma.
II-B
Bani pulled back and turned her face away from him. But Jai responded quickly, grabbing her chin to bring her face back toward his. He locked his gaze with hers and slowly traced his fingers over her lips. Bani gasped in surprise as his mouth came down hard on hers in a searing kiss. He kissed her, mercilessly ravishing her mouth. It was hopeless bushing him. She was powerless in front of this... very strong and deadly-gorgeous man, she fall in love with so deeply. She couldn't take anymore, so she gave in and succumbed, melting against his.
The feel of her soft lips against his barely fed his hunger for her. She could hear his groan as he pressed his lean form against hers. Several moments later reality sank in, Bani tore herself away from his lips, gasping for breath. She was sure he could hear her heart pounding in her chest.
"Why are you here, Jai?" She asked.
Jai stepped back from her and reached into his jacket. His hand reappeared, brandishing a small knife. Bani gasped in surprise at the sudden appearance of the weapon.
"Aparajit?" She gasped, fearfully. Goodness, this was the worst situation she'd ever been in. Was he really thinking of killing Aparajit? Bani wondered, traumatized.
"What about him" He said merely.
He touched the tip of the knife lightly against the skin of her left shoulder. Bani shivered at the contact. He slowly trailed the knife down her skin, his eyes never leaving hers. All vestiges of anger and fear left her awareness as her feel affection for him, surged forth. He stopped the movement of the knife just above the swell of her breast, her chest rising and falling with each breath. He let the knife rest there briefly before suddenly slicing through the traps of her sleeveless sari-blouse. Bani quickly brought her hand up, trying to keep the slip from exposing her bra- cup. She drew in a breath when Jai's hand covered hers, massaging there. Bani drew his hand away, his warm touch leaving a tingling sensation on her skin. Gazing into his eyes, she shut her eyes and reached for his face. He groaned as her hand stroked his face, making her fingers their way to his lips.
Jai closed his eyes, enjoying the sensuous caresses of Bani's hand around his face. But he needed more. He opened his eyes and slowly removed her hand from his mouth. He locked his eyes with hers, letting her see the desire burning within him. Her own gaze grew darker as her eyes hooded with her own arousal. She gasped when he suddenly grabbed her, kicked the door to her bedroom open, and hauled her up across the room and dropped her on the bed. He turning back only to lock the door and then strode back towards her, climbed over the bed and unashamedly covering her body with his.
Jai mattered something unintelligibly against her lips, taking pleasure in her sudden passionate, he stood and removed his clothing in record time. Moving back to finish what he'd started, he practically tore the sari from her body and unashamedly made love to Bani.
If his anger hadn't been so burning, if his tension hadn't been so knotted, he might have been able to slow down himself, show her tenderness like he did before. If his blood hadn't been boiling with jealousy, the need to have her in his life so strong and desire so greedy, he would her tried to show her all the love and kindness he showed before, she thought.
As they passed the aftermath of their lovemaking, Jai gazed up to look at Bani breathing deeply and watched her. He realizing that she was completely unconscious. He stilled.
"You're mine." He threw the words out like a curse. "Say it." His hands fastened on the sheets and he buried his face against her throat. "Dam it, Bani, say it."
She couldn't say anything as he possessed her, gloriously bruised her. When he noticed her limpness, he rolled over, locking her closer so that she lay on his heart.
He gently stroked her back and relaxed. But his gentle strokes began to bring her head up to look at him. Bani opened her eyes and found Jai gazing at her tenderly. Their eyes locked for a while then reality sank in. Oh, god, what had she done?
Bani pulled the sheet over her and turned away, unable to meet his staring eyes, ashamed of herself of what she just did. Afraid she might reveal to him the real reason of her marriage to AD, not that she didn't wanted to. What would he think of her after what she did tonight? She really shouldn't have done what she did. Not after getting engaged to another man. But God she couldn't stop him, didn't wanted to. Not after knowing how she hurt him and shattering him into pieces.
Knowing what was going trough her head, Jai reached out to turn her around to face him. He caressed her cheek. "I know everything... the truth, Bani."She pulled up to look at him, shocked.
"How... When did you find out?" She asked near whisper.
"It wasn't hard." He said with shrug. "I usually find out what I want to know." He pulled her back. "Nothing that happened before changes the way feeling about you. I just wished you could have told me before." He paused. "You're mine and will always be, come what mine."
Bani squeezed her lips tight, trying to stop the joyful tears threatened to fall down. "So, what...what happens now?"She asked, still finding hard to believe her sudden change of fate.
"You leave everything to me."
She got up carefully as she chose her words. "I appreciate your help. I really do. But I don't want you get involve."
"I'm already involved now, and I'll handle it." He stated determinedly.
Silent stretched between them, her long hair tumbled about her back.
"Do you trust me, Bani?" He asked carefully. Her back side to him was torturing him.
She glanced over her shoulder to his face, and then turned face in front of her. The seconds ticked and he feared the worst. She shut her yes and finally said. "Yes, more than anything."
His hand slipped down to close over her wrist. Even as she opened her mouth to speak he saw the quick wince of pain. Swearing, he looked down and saw the bruises he'd already put on her. He jerked back as if she'd slapped him.
"Jai..." She sensed his tension.
He raised a hand to silence her, he pulled away from Bani, turning away until he could clear the fury from his mind. He'd put marks on her skin. It had been done out of passion and without intention, but that didn't erase them by putting them there.
He heard the sounds of her siblings coming from somewhere inside the apartment. His expression changing from tenderness to anger, he stood up and began pulling on his clothes. He walked to the door, looking out around the seating area inside the apartment, watching her sisters as they went back to their bedrooms. He turned back, without looking at her, picked up his jacket, preparing to leave.
Jai stopped his retreat as his mind contemplated her words. He slowly turned to look at her, he carefully stared at her eyes. He could see her different emotions and also something else beneath the surface.
Then he mattered something under his breath and approached her across the room, kissing her deeply. Jai reluctantly ended the kiss and smiled. "I love you. Is that good enough for you?" He asked seriously.
She looked at him, staring him so deeply. "Yes." She said, honestly.
"Then have faith in me. Don't do anything until I said so. Let everything go as you planned before. I don't want him to suspect anything." He paused and stated seriously. "You will not marry him, Bani. I'll not let that happen at any cost."
"Get some sleep, sweetheart. I know I'll not." He paused. "I need to sort out some stuff first." Jai stood up and stepped out of her bedroom, leaving behind amazed Bani. Was she dreaming?
If she was, she really didn't wish to wake up....
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
