Toxic ~ Even if we can't be together in the end - Chapter 23 Up ! - Page 24

Originally posted by: ArhiMaria

Harsha, Harsha pardon my absence for a little bit but you kind of stumped me. I can see how much fun you are having writing from Adi's perspective but I had no idea how to take this guy leave alone comment on him but here I am. I have always concentrated on Zoya and how much I have admired your portrayal of her so let me shift focus to Adi now. Prior to getting his perspective, I was getting these intense vibes from him specially the way you were describing his and Zoya relationship, it was intense and alluring. They affected each other like no other and it was so exciting to see their story unfold infront of our eyes. My preconceived notions led me to believe our Adi carries this facade of a bad boy persona when deep down he actually feels strongly for Zoya and is channelling his anger out but somehow redeemable based on his intentions and wisdom/maturity he may have gained as he aged.

Then in came this adi who is obviously brilliant at his job, is super arrogant about it and at the same time carries this sullen, stubborn and hormonal teenager inside him. His inner monologue amused me to no end particularly the way he corresponds with his female audience aka us readers justifying his questionable behaviour?...I haven't witnessed this much it's endearing but makes me want to strangle him at the same time. Specially when he wants to objectify women and use them and their body for purely sexual needs and then gives us reasons for how all men think like him. The way he was treating his lady friend the previous chapter kind of appalled me. he even told us that it is purely physical, he has Zoya in his mind as he screws other people. Yet all his reactions to Zoya have also been physical. it kind of killed his character for me, we all know that it is so very real but can you blame a gal from being a tad idealistic in the fiction world? :P Will you forgive me if I tell you as of now I kind of have this intense dislike for him? This latest chapter shows some more shades to him when he is sharing his wisdom with us but he is yet to redeem himself for me.

On a positive note, I think I like his mum. Their interaction was adorable and the last bit of his interaction with Zoya has me super curious, I am going to hang on the cliff for my dear life!! :P

Ps. by now you already know how amazing you are but I will tell you again. You are brilliant for making us feel so strongly for your characters being the feelings of intensive like or dislike. Kudos and salutes!👏

Aditya's POV

"I wish I never met you !"

I grip her wrists and pull her close.We are lip-to-lip.Now here's when I would have kissed her. But, not now. Not gonna happen. Because this isn't about me and my raging hard-on. Not anymore. So I hold back. But don't think it's easy, because it's not. There's nothing I want more than to mold my mouth to hers and remind her how good it can be between us. I lean in and rest my forehead against hers. She closes her eyes. I brush my nose against hers and inhale, needing a fix.

And then I whisper "I wish you tell me the truth. Tell me where the hell you have been for so many years"

Zoya opens her eyes. There's surprise in those brown beauties. And fear, like a deer that just caught a hunter's scent. She clears her throat trying to pull it together. "I will be in touch with Mrs Gupta"

She takes a step back but I am faster. I close my hands around her waist and draw her in. "Oh no you don't"

I pull up the private investigator's email and all but slam my phone screen in her face.

Background Investigation : Zoya Siddiqui

In front of my eyes her face changes colors. From rosy to pale to white. She stares up at me, her emotions such a roiling storm of anger and ... concern - why concern ? - that she trembles in my arms. But the vulnerability vanishes after a moment. I can literally hear her barricading her emotions.

Slam. Slam. Slam.

She looks ... self-destructive. Beautifully self-destructive. Like Joan of f**king Arc on the French battlefield. Ready to annihilate anyone in her path. God help me, if it doesn't turn me on.Fire dances in her eyes as she snaps "What the heck is all this ? Is this some kind of insane job requirement I was not aware of"

I don't reply. I am too busy trying to decipher her emotional turmoil. Time for some knowledge session folks - There is one thing, one very important aspect you need to master to be successful. You can be a mafia or a business magnate, if you don't know how to read body language - you are dead. Figuratively and literally. You may have the bullshitting skills of a politician and a vocabulary to rival Shakespeare's, but if your body language projects you as a pussy ... you are a pussy. Most people have no idea how other people see them. But, when was I most people ? My darling ex-girlfriend's tone might be mocking but her body is ... scared. See how her fingers dig into my shirt just a little tighter, how a little bead of sweat licks her supple neck and how her eyes tighten forming crinkles ? It's not howl of a tigress but the pleading of a ... of a scared mouse.

What in holy hell ?

Then my little mouse scoffs "Does Meridian Corp put private investigators after every employee ?" So cute. I capture the ends of her long hair, twirling them around my fingertips. There is something about her hair. Something that called to the feral part of me that wanted the strands to stick to my sweaty chest after I had come deep inside her "Not everyone. But, you my sunshine are a special case"

"Aditya this is illegal" she warns. Just like I had Zoya's hair wrapped around my little finger, she had me wrapped around hers.

"Sue the f**k out of me if you want. Later" My thumb rubs circles on her collarbone and she rewards me with a shiver "I don't give a rat's ass about your little defiance act, sunshine" My hand moved to grab the back of her neck "Why did you change your surname ?"

"Seriously ?" She shrugs out of my arms. She wanted to back off and regroup. And I let her. You see, life is a series of risk assessments. You need to know when to pounce and when to back off. When to kiss and when to cuddle. When to acquire and when to sell. I let my sunshine have her moment of false security. She moves across the desk and plops down on the leather chair. Then smoothes down invisible crinkles on her skirt and folds her hands across her chest "Fine. Whatever" Her words are careful. Planned. "I got married. Then divorced. He was a great guy. Really you should have met him"

"Married ?"

"Yes. People get married all the time" She taps her forehead in the universal sign of forgetfulness "Ah, silly me. Obviously you wouldn't know of the concept. You are too busy f**king your way through the globe"

I ignore her caustic comment. As much as I enjoyed bantering with her, I meant business this time "And I would have believed you if not for this" I scroll down the document and read aloud

Zoya Qureshi registers name change. Petition filed for 'Samaira Kapoor'. Withdrawn after 10 days.

New petition filed. Petition granted. New name : Zoya Siddiqui.

No marriage record found. Reason for name change : Unknown

I lift a brow, questioning "Want to explain Zoya Siddiqui ?"

"Or should I say Zoya Qureshi ?" I spat "Maybe you prefer Samaira Kapoor ?"

Her gaze is blank, locked against any cypher or clues "I don't owe you any explanation" she says with finality, gets up from her chair and moves towards the door.

"You step a foot outside and I wouldn't be responsible for the f**kfest coming your way" my voice dropped to deadly seriousness.

She halts, spins around with her eyes shooting daggers. She opens her mouth to argue, but I interrupt her. "Sit down" I jerk my head towards the couch facing my bookshelves of legal books and charity plaques for Meridian's work with non-profit organizations. "I am not your pet !" she screams in indignation. I stride towards her and she takes a step back. I almost roll my eyes. As much as I would love to pin her and have my way with her against the door, my intentions were not sexual. Now.

I yank open the doorknob and stick my head out. "Mrs Gupta, you can take the rest of the day off. I have things under control here" Her eyes nod in understanding and she begins packing her purse. Told you I have an awesome secretary - she never questions me. Ever. Whereas, the she-devil inside my office never stops.

Having taking care of any unintentional eavesdropping, I lock the door and lean against its heavy wood "I've given it a lot of thought. You disappeared into thin air after leaving the note. Like woosh" I snap my fingers "You were gone" I stuff my hands in my trouser pockets "You didn't marry anyone. You just changed your surname" I cock my head "Why ? Why would you change your surname to Siddiqui if not for marriage"

She looked wild, ferocious but with a ... brokenness. What hurt her ? Or who ?

"You are clearly not paying your investigator enough. Seeing the piss poor job they are doing. I WAS MARRIED" she sat down on the leather chair across the desk and not the couch - her little act of defiance. My cute little kitten.

I straighten up and walk towards the desk, sitting on the edge of it, letting my knees touch hers "Lose the attitude Zoya" I pull her forward by the sapphire pendant around her neck "And tell me the truth"

She is breathing hard, I could feel her heart flailing wildly under her silk blouse, ready to jump out of her chest, her eyes as wide as they could go. She murmured something as I tightened my grip on her pendant and pulled her so close that we were lip to lip. "Do you plan on answering me Zoya ? Aren't you tired of this f**king charade ?" She tried to look away from me but I yanked the pendant stilling her movement

"Tell me this, and God help me, tell me the truth Zoya. Did you really get an abortion ?"