Page 36 of Fallen

“Nothing. Just a bit tired.”

“Of course, last night’s party has exhausted you. Get some rest.”

He places a quick kiss on my forehead and then strides out. I breathe normally as soon as I am alone again. Whatever stunt Aarav has pulled tonight to instigate this misunderstanding and fight between me and Rudra is not going to work. And I’m going to make sure he knows that too.

*************

AR Group

Nothing can stop me from meeting Aarav today, not even his secretary or guards who follow me as I march towards the conference room where I am told he is chairing a meeting with the internal teams.

The moment I open the door, all the eyes of the attendees are on me, including Aarav Raichand who is standing right at the center of this wide rectangular table. In a dark black suit with a light beard covering his jaw, he is not just intimidating but his presence burns my body in ways I hadn’t imagined.

“I need to speak to you. Right now,” I demand and though he is silent for almost a few seconds, he doesn't drop his gaze from mine while commanding his team to walk out. As soon as everyone disperses, including his security who had tried stopping me before, I march inside.

“So eager to meet me, huh?” Aarav mocks. “Which excuse do you have today to come here by the way?”

“Shut up,” I snap. “How could you tell Rudra about that …” I pause when his brow twitches as if coaxing me to say it.

“That what?”

Fine. If he wants to do this, I’m not backing off.

“That hickey on your neck,” I complete my statement. “How dare you, Aarav? What is it that you want to prove?”

He walks towards me with his hands in his pockets and I feel like I am forgetting to breathe. Aarav has an aura no other man could carry. Even a simple walk from him felt intimidating. My heart patters like rain against the glass as he reaches close enough to me that his shoes touch my formal black ballerinas.

“You didn’t warn me to keep it as our dirty secret, Jaan.”

My eyes go wide. It’s waste scolding him for calling me Jaan despite so many warnings so I focus on the reason I am here instead of debating.

“Thankfully Rudra didn’t misunderstand me,” I retort. “He trusts me that I won’t ever leave his side.”

I want him to fume at this but he shrugs nonchalantly.

“He took this so lightly because he has nothing to lose,” he debates. “Only a man truly in love will show his possessiveness in every action. Only a man in love will have a problem if his partner marks some other man with her passion. Rudra is clearly not in love with you. He loved Khushi Thakur and you are Jhanvi which I’m confident he knows that too. Obviously, a man like him won’t waste his time in misunderstandings. He has a bigger agenda which I’m yet to find out and you are yet to believe.”

What kind of explanation is that? I don’t know how to respond. He thinks Rudra knows I am not Khushi? Why would he do that? No. I am not letting Aarav brainwash me again.

“To hell with your logic. I don’t care what you think about us but stop playing these nasty games. You can’t separate me from Rudra.”

“Just like he can’t snatch you from me.”

Aarav’s instant replies to all my sentences render me speechless.

“Anything left to blabber or are you good to go so that I can do some work?” he mocks.

“You-”

“Ah, yes. Hold on a second.” He walks to the phone and asks his secretary to bring a specific envelope. In a minute, that woman walks inside, hands him a white envelope and leaves.

“Take this along.”

“What is this?”

“The only thing that belongs to you which has got nothing to do with me.”

His reply confuses me and curiosity pokes me to check the contents of that envelope. So, I open it only to find a cheque from Aarav of the same amount which I had donated to Sikand Charity Trust.

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