Page 71 of Forbidden

“We can begin now,” Jhanvi voiced out, finishing her call.

“Not without a coffee. Can that be arranged?”

She looked surprised and then flushed at my demand. This is the least she could offer someone who’s come to meet her for business.

“Sure.”

She picks the phone and asks for two coffees while I make my way to her desk. Watching Jhanvi in formals is a treat to my eyes. In a knee-length black pencil skirt and a cream color top tucked in, she looks like a Greek goddess. I could watch her like this for my whole life.

Her secretary brings the tray and keeps it on the table. She is about to pour it from the flask when I deny her.

“Leave it, Darcy. We’ll manage.”

She gives me a flushed stare, the one which bothers Jhanvi a bit, and then rushes out. I hope she got jealous. But maybe it’s too soon. I pour the coffee in the cups, with exactly two cubes of sugar for her as she prefers.

“You know everything about me, don’t you? My allergies, favorite color, outfits, food… Is there anything that you don’t know about me yet?” she asks, taking the coffee mug I offer and sipping from it.

I lean back on my chair without breaking our gazes from each other.

“You really want to know what I am yet to unleash about you?”

Goosebumps litters on her skin as she guesses the meaning behind my words. I know everything about her physical world, behavioral and emotional. All that’s left for me to explore is the intimate level and I can’t wait. Jhanvi keeps the mug aside, looks down and does something on her laptop, which is just an attempt to ignore extending this conversation.

She clears her throat. “I don’t want to waste our precious time, so let’s discuss what this meeting is for.”

I agree with her suggestion, and the discussion begins. Two hours is all it takes for me to understand what exactly her Charity Trust expects from its partner, and I explain to her how my company plans to fulfil it. Once we are on the same page, I offer her my smile, especially for the confidence and the satisfaction on her face which I noticed rarely so far.

“Simply genius. I thought no less of you and your working personality, but now that I see how you handle it all so well, I must say, you are rare.”

Her eyes gleam in delight, but she shrugs almost the next instant.

“These buttering dialogues cannot change the equation between us.”

She has no idea how soon she’s going to change her mind and give us a chance to be together. But I don’t say that yet as I can’t scare her more than she already is. Getting back on my feet, I am ready to leave, only to halt again at her voice.

“There is something else I want to ask you.”

I stop and turn around. Jhanvi circles her table and leans on it. Finally, I get to see her completely unlike before where she was sitting behind that desk. She’s a temptress I can’t ignore for long. I hope she gives in soon to my desires because this distance between us was killing my effing soul.

“That other night you said you chose me over every pain, happiness and motives you have had so far.”

I recall admitting that to her. I meant every word I said that night and it wasn’t the drink I had consumed or the taste of her kiss or the heat of her body I touched. I was in complete sense when I confronted Jhanvi that night about my need of wanting a real marriage between us.

Now Jhanvi stares at me like she’s letting me process her words. Once she is sure I recall which moment she is talking about, she continues.

“Does that mean you have dropped the idea of avenging the other Raichands?”

I laugh. It hurts to laugh over a matter which so sensitively connects every fiber of my body. Jhanvi doesn’t say a word, just crosses her arms and watches me laugh. I finally stop, rub my jaw, and then reach her in two long strides. Now she stiffens. I push her against the desk and trap her there with my strong arms on either side of her body.

“The fall of Durga Raichand is the only reason I am surviving, Jaan. It’s never going to change. Not even when I am on my deathbed.”

The moment I say the last line, Jhanvi raises her hand and shuts my mouth.

“Is this revenge worth your life?”

Her question puts me in a dilemma. I’m ready to give my whole life if I have to just see Durga Raichand losing the battle, but Jhanvi asking me it’s worth startles me.

“You chose a woman over all your motives and then if that woman chooses you back, what is the point when you are ready to lose your life for revenging someone? What is she getting in return? Your mind games? Your scarred soul? Or your bruised heart? Why would a woman choose a man who can’t be hers completely by his heart, mind and soul?”

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