Couldn't resist a small piece of fiction that leads from after the PriDa fight.
Bubble
The journey back to Gujral Mansion was completed in utter frosty silence.
It had the advantage of being short. Damini was still furious, but numbness was seeping in. She hoped the roads were empty - or God help whoever came in her way tonight. The car swung sharply around the corners. Prithvi, sitting next to her in grim silence, braced himself mildly against the dashboard and cast a narrow look at her set countenance. They arrived at the gates - the guard moved quickly to open it but not quick enough for his mistress. Damini pressed her palm against the horn and kept it there till the man moved the gate and himself aside obsequiously. In the portico, she got out in one swift movement, banged the door shut and swept into the house and away. Prithvi stared after her and brought his fist down on his thigh.
Damini met no one on her way to her room, for which she gave thanks. She could not tell them what had occurred and she could not pretend that nothing had happened - she needed time to think, to be alone. She shut the door on the world and leaned against it. What had happened tonight? How had it gone so wrong?
***
Prithvi stood under the shower, flattening his palms against the wall, letting the water sluice down his face and torso. He didn't want to think about this evening, didn't want to deal with the swirling emotions had held sway over him.
"Tumne mujhpar ek ehsaan kya kar diya tum meri hamdardi ko majboori samjh rahe ho?"
Ehsaan - was that what it was? Ehsaan, a mere favour? He had done what he had done without a single thought - it had been all instinct. But she, SHE, of course would phrase it like that.
"Don't forget mai ab bhi wahi Damini Gujral hun!"
Of course! He had forgotten. She was not Damini - she was Damini Gujral. Arrogant, headstrong, impossible to reason with. Forgotten she came from the favoured, rich classes where they lied, cheated, arm-twisted, bribed, influenced and even murdered to suit their purposes.
But what had gone wrong with him? It was working precisely the way he wanted but because he hadn't been able to control his own impulses, he had spoilt it all. Damn.
***
Damini paced the floor of her bedroom. She went over every word, every gesture... what had happened tonight to make Prithvi so furious? What had he suddenly turned so cold? Had she said something? Teased him when she shouldn't have? Did he mind so much that Uncle and Aunty had assumed they were a couple? No, he'd seemed ok then, embarrassed but slightly amused. What was that he had said? Mai aapka bodyguard hun iska matlab ye nahi ke aap har waqt kisi bhi samay mere saath...
What did he mean? Had she made it too obvious that she was attracted to him? Did Prithvi think she was throwing herself at him!? Good God. Damini held her palms against her hot cheeks in horror. Was that what he thought? Was he that embarrassed, angry and repulsed because she had reached out to him?! She wrung her hands in despair - anger, mortification and unhappiness crowded her and hot tears tumbled out...
No, she would have to retrieve her position, save her pride. Tomorrow Prithvi would come and she would be Damini Gujral again - cool, composed, impervious. She would not wear her heart on her sleeve, allow him to know how much he had hurt her, how much power he had over her... she must fight it. Appearances first, become strong later. She would do it.
***
Prithvi stood at his window, his arm flung against the casing, staring out at the moonless night with a frown in his eyes. He had damaged his position. No matter - he would retrieve it. Ila Gujral was not about to let her Chief Security Officer go because he had had a spat with her daughter. That was no problem. He had also succeeded with putting distance between Damini and himself. Thank God for that. He would no longer have to bear having her so close to him, having that faint scent of herbed flowers every time she stood close. He would not be called upon to ride with her or dance with her. There would be no need to hold her in him arms, feeling her heart race under his... there would be none of that. It was getting too complicated.
He had also hurt Damini. His fingers turned white on the wood he held. She had been angry of course. He understood that - he had a temper himself. But she had been hurt, mystified... she would retreat again behind that tough-as-nails exterior she showed the world. Because of him, Damini who never trusted anyone easily, would add another thick layer to her distrust of the world. Because of him, her loving heart would hesitate over offering love. Because of him, Damini would shed tears tonight.
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