Page 75 of Let's Start with Forever
His heart churning and fear thrumming through his veins, he raced towards the car and saw Raashi step out of the other passenger door. He breathed a sigh of relief. He searched for his sisters and seeing them standing on the side unharmed, gave a short prayer of thanks as he reached the girls.
Raashi spotted him and ran into his arms. He saw Rishi reach the twins at the same time.
“Are you hurt?” Sameer asked. Raashi shook her head.
He touched her face. “Are you sure?” Raashi nodded again clearly.
He held her hand and walked to his sisters. They were in shock as well. Luckily, their seat belts had been strapped on and the car airbags had deployed at impact. They were safe although slightly bruised. Sameer calmed them down while Rishi called the cops.
It took an hour for the police to arrive, for the girls to give their statements and to lodge a police complaint. It seemed like the longest hour of his life. The SUV that had banged into them had disappeared without a trace. On hearing about the car accident, Sameer’s parents had insisted everyone come home at once.
This was the second time in a week that someone had tried to harm Raashi. It was definitely no coincidence that the car had rammed right into the passenger door where Raashi had been sitting. It was sheer luck that she had moved to the other side of the car and wasn’t injured. Had she stayed seated where she was earlier, she would have been badly hurt. He needed to be alone with her and hold her in his arms, just to convince himself she was fine. As soon as this dinner with his parents was over he was taking her home and not letting her out of his sight...forever.
The next morningSameer sat in his office thinking. He had figured out who was behind the attacks on Raashi. In the long interminable night while Raashi had slept soundly next to him, Sameer had lain awake thinking, pondering over all the possibilities. And each time, his mind came up with the same answer.
Lifting his cell, he made the call. He got connected on the second ring.
“Natasha, I need to talk to you,” Sameer got to the point immediately. This wasn’t a social call.
“Sure, go ahead,” she said.
“I’m sure you have heard. I am getting married to Raashi.”
“Yes, congratulations,” Natasha said.
“Thank you. But that’s not what I called for.” Sameer stood up and started pacing around his office.
“Okay, I am listening.”
“Raashi has been involved in two accidents last week. Both could have been fatal but by some stroke of luck they were not. Fortunately, she is fine. However, there is something I need to ask you and I hope you will be truthful.”
“Me, why me? I don’t understand, Sameer. Do you think, I am involved?”
Sameer heard Natasha’s surprised tone and pressed forward. “Not you, no. But it could be your father.”
“My Dad?” Natasha gasped. “Absolutely not. How could you make such an accusation?” she asked angrily.
“The last time I met him, he threatened me, although indirectly. And now Raashi is being targeted. So forgive me if I don’t believe that he has nothing to with these accidents.”
He then proceeded to tell her about his conversation with her father. Natasha heard him out. “Sameer,” she said, “I understand your concern but I assure you that it’s not my father.”
Sameer took a deep breath. “Jiten Arya is known to be ruthless in getting what he wants and if he thinks he can harm the woman I love, then he is sorely mistaken. I will do anything to protect her. He will lose if he is waging a war against me,” he said strongly.
Natasha stayed silent for a few seconds. “Let me talk to him, Sameer. Give me time till evening to revert to you on this.”
“Fine. I will wait for your call, but remember, if he has anything to do with this, then it will not end well!” Sameer said and disconnected.
27
Raashi hadn’t heard from Sameer. No message, no call, nothing. And when she had called him, he had spoken briefly and distractedly. So, now here she was, walking up to his office. She was not okay with this silence between them, especially after last night.
Raashi blushed recalling the passionate night they had shared. As soon as they had entered her house, he had kissed her wildly, fervently. He didn’t even take time to undress her properly. He had made love to her hard and fast. It was as if he wanted to possess her thoroughly just to prove to himself that she was alive and well. He had held her in his arms for a long time afterwards and then later he had gently undressed her and made love to her again. This time slowly and leisurely.
But throughout the night he had hardly spoken a word. And for the first time, he hadn’t been there in the morning when she’d woken up. He had left her a message telling her that he would pick her up from work in the evening. But, she was finding it impossible to concentrate on work with all this silence from him. So she had come to meet him and to figure out what was bothering him.
Sameer was working on his laptop when she opened the door to his office. He looked up as she entered and smiled at her.
Raashi went around his desk and planted a kiss on his cheek. Sameer pushed his chair back giving her space and she settled onto his lap putting her arms around him.
