Chapter 19

"Fucking behave".

"Remove your hand please".

Her voice came low and persuading.

" Get along with it. And smile"!!

He commanded her and she refused to do so and tried to take off his hand when he dug his fingers into her flesh causing her to wince in pain.

"I said smile and let go of your hand or I will claim your lips right here in front of everyone".

She gasped as she left his hand and looked away. She felt him inching close to her ear as he growled.

"Fucking smile".

She forced a smile on her face and that's when he backed away with a...smile? His grasp loosened on her waist as he looked forward and saw a woman eyeing them from their kitty girls group already. Cursing himself internally thinking if she has seen the indifference between them he smiled at her and proceeded to walk near her along with her.

She was a big shot and he had to meet her. In fact, everyone here is a big shot. If meeting the known big shots is to be kept aside he came here intending to get introduced to the new ones.

On reaching them he greeted her.

"Hello, Mrs.Hooda. Hope you remember me".

He spoke friendly and with a genuine smile as she broke into a genuine smile as well.

"Forgetting the friends who were in needed times isn't a culture of Hooda's family. I very well remember you".

" That's my pleasure. You look gorgeous by the way. I guess still men might be hitting on you irrespective of being the daughter-in-law of Hooda's family ".

" Nah. You got it wrong. They might be hitting on me because I'm a daughter-in-law of Hooda's family. You think gold diggers are only women".

She laughed heartily as he smiled at her taking the glass from the bartender. The bartender offered her the drink as well but she denied it.

" So what. It's not like you don't have money. You can control him and spoil him as well. And top of all. You are single ".

" But I'm loyal to my late husband ".

She said sipping the drink from her glass. Aasha's eyes snapped at her as she took her appearance. She was draped in a light golden saree as her hair flowed down beautifully with heavy earing and neck pieces and she had a thick bracelet on her wrists. She applied bold red lipstick and the same color red bindi on her forehead which became a final touch of her showcased authority in her appearance. She looked bold, independent, confident, and beautiful, and was draped in richness from top to bottom. It's not that she is thirsting for richness or jewelry but she's just grasping the amount of difference they have when they both are widows. One was queen while the other was caged. The difference spoke volumes. But though her in-laws would leave her to her wish she still couldn't be like the woman that was in front of her.

This is her. This is what she prefers. She always wore a light-colored dress. The ironic thing is white is her favorite color. A color that depicts peace, light, simplicity, purity, and innocence. In short. She choose white as her favorite because she saw her qualities in that color. She was able to see those desired qualities only in white color. And maybe that is why she never felt any problem with her white dresses as daily wear dresses. But at one point she missed those other plain colored clothes.

On feeling her gaze Mrs.Hooda turned to her and Aasha flinched back at the sudden connection of eye contact.

"Who is she"?

The old lady asked and he looked at her and then at the lady.

"She's... just my companion".

The old lady squinted her eyes at him playfully.

"Come on. Don't lie to me".

"Really. It's the truth...

Saying that he leaned forward as the lady leaned in as well as he whispered in her ear.

" There's still a long way Mrs.Hooda. Don't spoil it already ".

Saying that he straightened back as the lady bit back her smile at the youth. Turning to dumbfounded Aasha the lady spoke.

" Hey sweetie. What's your name".

" Aasha".

She chooses to not say her full name while being with other men.

" That's a beautiful name".

Said the old lady as she stared at her with a pinpointed stare as she spoke.

" Your beauty is reminding me of my youth dear. You are really pretty. Be careful. Beauty attracts possession ".

The old lady said still not taking off her eyes as she sipped her drink while her thoughts wondering how a lady can be this beautiful. For a word like beauty, she can easily stand as an example.

"Don't worry Mrs.Hooda. She has my back. I'll protect her".

The old lady has a " really" look at him.

" You are a man Mr. Arnav. Who knows you are backing her for your own selfish reason".

"Please don't fret if I say yes ". He said as he laughed lightly and then turned to his side looking at her with a dark gaze dancing in his eyes as a spark of fire lit in them. His look gave a dark chill as he gulped looking at her.

And all the while Asha kept her mouth mum. She wasn't even given a chance to talk. Every dialogue ran between them leaving her isolated. Slowly their conversation diverted as they began to talk about business and she felt bored listening to their talks. It felt annoying as they were talking about something where she is finding it hard to understand. And soon their conversation ended as he left her with the lady to talk with other officials.

After he left her with the lady they both began to have a women-to-women conversation. Mrs. Hooda shared her aged experience while Aasha shared her youthful dreams. After a year there was a heartful smile as she talked with the lady. For a while, she forgot all the bad things that happened to her as she spoke about her heart content most of the topic being about the dance. Mrs. Hooda being a good listener listened to her and put her words in between her talks simultaneously. One thing Mrs. Hooda observed is she can be talkative if she connects with people.

They were still talking when Mrs.Hooda excused herself for a short while as a new guest approached her. In the meantime, she randomly looked around her surroundings but suddenly her eyes fell on him making her nervous.

There is this shadow looming on half of his face as he stared at her intensely. Still, he didn't bother to look away and she found his staring scary and dark. His stare gave bad vibes as she stared back at him. His stare made her chills run down her spine as she looked away and turned her back to him. Though she looked away she felt her subconscious saying that he was still staring at her and that made her body rigid and alert as the tiny hairs on her hands stood up.

Soon the lady got back to Aasha and they began to talk when Arnav reached them.

"I guess I'm sorry for spoiling your mood. It's time. We have to leave Mrs. Hooda ".

" Sure no problem. It was my pleasure to get a beautiful companion at this boring party. She put me busy listening to her talks".

His brows raised in amusement. He never saw her talking so much and the fact that she entertained Mrs. Hooda is shocking to him. She is a silent bird.

" And what did you guys talked ".

"About many things. But most of the time it is dance. You know from her childhood she danced more than 50 times in a temple. That's a quote achievement. I think she loves dance".

The lady spoke as he turned rj her with a questioning gaze.

"Really. I never know".

He said and she didn't look at his way as her cheeks flushed.

"Any way. Thanks for looking after her Mrs. Hooda. We'll meet again".

He shook his hands with her and left the place. Soon they were in the car and he began to drive back to the house.

On the way, he momentarily from time to time took a glance at her driving with his one hand while the other hand's elbow rested on the open window of his side. She has her concentration outside the window in the passing buildings as he took in her details. He got his eyes staring at her lips again and again and sometimes he found his eyes running over her frame. Taking a deep breath he turned away and concentrated on the way trying to ignore her. But her thoughts in his mind disturbed again as he clenched his jaw. He doesn't know what spell was thrown at him as he couldn't stop thinking about her. There is this thirst in him asking him to take her to quench it and it is becoming hard day by day. He tried his best to avoid but what happens if he really takes her once? What is stopping him? Just once wouldn't harm anything and after that, he can let go of his thoughts for good. This has to be taken out of his system this instant.

Driving the car forward he took turned the steering vehicle to a particular turn to his left as he began to drive in an isolated spot.

She didn't question anything as she doesn't remember the way.

He stopped the car at a point that looked like a big playground with trees around the playground acting as a boundary. Stopping the car he sat in his seat silently as she stared at him and then at the surroundings.

"W-where are we"?

She asked meekly and he closed his eyes gulping down as he heard her melodious voice.

"Sir"?

"Get down".

"Huh"?

"I said get down. Now"!!!

She got down from the seat and closed the door as he too got down and came forward at the front of the car. Leaning back on the car he lit up a cigarette as he began to smoke. She didn't bother to ask him why he stopped here and stood by the car. Suddenly he called her.

"Come here".

Her body shrank at the tone he used and slowly she stepped forward in front of him. He looked up at her as his eyes traveled down at her every inch for the nth time. She saw his eyes staring at her and that made her uncomfortable. Instinctively she joined her hands at the front as if it can provide a sense of security but it didn't. She felt exposed under his scrutinizing gaze.

"Listen here".

She looked up at him with her hands fiddling with each other.

"You will be free from house chores. You can leave the house and can go away to any place you want to live. You will have the desired amount in your bank account. Besides that, I would give you the jewelry you set your eyes on".

He said as he took another whiff and smoked it out to his side. He studied her face and found her staring at him confusingly.

"This is the highest pay I have ever paid to anyone. It's not like I'm complaining. You totally deserve the highest pay. But it's my first time to pay this high".

Her eyes wide and frozen as they were debating between the truth and denial.

"Coming to the point. I'm willing to spend a one-night stand with you. And a thing wouldn't be spread out of this car after we are done".

There was silence for a few seconds as she froze in her spot with her side eyes tearing partially. She just couldn't believe what she heard. It was like a shock to her. It took time for her to grasp what he said. As soon as she came out of her denial she stepped forward and swung her hand and a sound echoed as his face turned to his right.

Now it's his turn to take time to understand what just happened. He raised his eyes as they shimmered with red anger.

She just fucking slapped him. And all he saw was red.