Niharika

We walked back to the beach house in silence. We entered the house through the back door. We were in the kitchen, staring at each other. He averted his gaze and looked here and there. I knew that he was feeling a little awkward after his breakdown. I smiled. "Hmm. Sooo... What's for dinner? Are we getting a food delivery?" I asked to ease the situation. He looked up to me with raised eyebrows. "What? No. I mean. I thought you would like to cook something for us." He said.

"You want me to cook?" I asked him narrowing my eyes. "Yes. I missed your cooking." He said. I stared at him. "I. I mean. I haven't had a chance to eat your food in a while. You haven't cooked any thing after that day." He said and stared at me. We both lowered our eyes in realization. He moved close to me and lifted my chin with his index finger. "I'm really sorry for that day Niha. I shouldn't have left like that. It was just that, I. I was..." He trailed off. He closed his eyes and sighed. "It's ok. I understand." I said and looked away. All those memories came back, his shocked self and regretful eyes flashed in front of me. I gulped hard and turned my face away from him.

Instantly he cupped my face and made me look at him. "No, no, no. I. I don't regret it Niha. It was one of the wonderful moments in my life. It's just that I was angry at myself. It felt like I was taking advantage of you when I told you that I was not looking for a relationship. I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry." He said and rested his forehead against mine. I looked at him and I could see that he was telling the truth by looking at his eyes. I held his wrists with my both hands. "I believe you." I said and gave him a warm smile. He sighed in relief. "Thank you." He said and kissed my forehead.

"So what you want for dinner?" I asked. "Anything. I would eat anything that you make. I really missed your food." He said. "Oh. Now you stop there ok. I already told you I'm not an excellent cook. So there is no need of any sugar coated words." I said narrowing my eyes at him and turning around. "Well, for me you are the best cook in the world." He said while hugging me from behind. I scoffed. "Hmm. I would like to help you but I have a video conference in 10 minutes." He said looking at his watch. "It's okay, I can manage. You are excused." I said turning around in his arms and putting my hands around his neck.

We stared each other for a moment. His gaze fell on my lips and he slowly lowered his head and pecked my lips. I blushed and bit my lips. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out read the message. He cleared his throat. "I should get going." He said. I nodded my head. He walked away and climbed the staircase to the bedroom.

After looking into the You Tube for about 15 minutes in search of a simple recipe for dinner, I finally settled with simple white sauce pasta and grilled chicken salad. After almost two hours I finished cooking and started to clean the kitchen. I was cleaning the counter top when someone grabbed me from behind. I gasped in shock, but sighed in relief when I hear Ved chuckling. "Don't scare me like that." I said to him while getting out of his grip. He smiled. He has changed into a black t-shirt and sweat pants and his tousled hair was wet. "Sorry. So, have you finished cooking? Any help needed?" He asked. "No. Everything is finished. If you don't mind can I take bath before having dinner?" I asked. "Sure. You go. I will set the table." He said and pushed me towards the staircase. I smiled and went to the bedroom.

I took a quick bath and started to dry my body. That's when I realized I have no other clothes with me. I sighed annoyed. I put on the bath robe and peeked through the bathroom door to see if the room was empty. I walked into the bedroom and saw a pair of sweat pants and a white hoodie neatly folded and kept on the bed. I smiled and took it.

I went down wearing the sweat pants and hoodie. I frowned when I saw the lights were off. I looked around and the only light in the house were around the dining table. I walked towards the dining table and saw the dining table set beautifully with candles and roses. I looked at it with amusement. I felt Ved standing behind me. I smiled when he hugged me from behind. He kept his chin on my shoulders. "You like it?" He asked. I nodded my head in a yes and smiled. "Come then. Let's have dinner." He said. He held my chair as I took a seat and then he sat across me. We had dinner in peace with a little chit chat.

We finished the dinner and were washing dishes when his phone rang. He looked at his phone and frowned. "I have to take this call." He said. I nodded and he walked out of the back door to the patio. I finished cleaning dishes and wiped my hands in the kitchen towel. I opened the fridge and took out my favourite chocolate ice cream. I didn't bother to take another bowl. I just sat on the counter top with my legs crossed and started to eat from the container. I was about to put another scoop into my mouth when someone held my hand. I turned and saw Ved standing next to me and he brought my hand with the spoon to his mouth and ate the ice cream. I smirked. He let go of my hand and I took another spoonful of ice cream and was about to put it in my mouth but he again grabbed my hand and ate the ice cream. This time I frowned. "Hey, get another spoon and eat yourself." I whined. "Nope. I like to eat it this way." He said and smiled widely. I narrowed my eyes at him. Someone is in a mood to play I guess.

"Ok." I sighed and took another spoon and put it in front of his lips. He opened his mouth but then I suddenly took it back and put it my mouth. He gave me a startled expression and I put out my tongue in a teasing manner. "I'm not sharing my ice cream." I said and turned around to the other side. I took another spoonful of ice cream and put it inside my mouth. But before I could gulp it down my neck was grabbed from behind and before registering what was happening his lips smashed into mine. I gasped in shock and he took the opportunity to invade my mouth with his tongue. He took his time to explore every corner of my mouth. I moaned in pleasure and his grip on my neck tightened, his other hand held my cheek firmly and he deepened the kiss. He let me go when we both were out of breath.

We stared each other. My lips were parted and my breath was still uneven. I could see the ice cream smudged all over his lips. I know mine is no different. He looked at me and licked his lips. "This tastes better." He said with his husky voice while wiping his lips with his thump and his eyes full of lust. I was getting turned on. I looked at his desire filled eyes. His stare intensified and he was looking for any disapproval from me. I gulped hard and when my eyes fell on his lips. The second he sensed that we both are on the same page, without wasting another second he moved between my legs and pulled me in for another breath taking kiss.

Our lips move in sync and our tongues fighting for dominance. I ran my hands through his tousled hair in soothing way. His hands moved under my hoodie and started caressing my waist and slowly moved to my belly. Desire was building inside me; my hands gripped his hair tightly. He moved his head to side and started kissing my jaw line. He tugged on my zipper and started to pull it down slowly leaving wet kisses down to my neck and collar bone. A moan left my mouth. But then I held his wrist stopping him from opening my zipper further. He stopped and looked at me confused. He took a step back frowning. "You want me to stop?" He asked. I nodded in no. "Then?!!" He asked. "Uhmm. I. I think we... we should go upstairs." I said glaring at the front glass walls. It's not like someone will be peeking at us but I felt uncomfortable. I looked at him and he was looking at me with a seductive smirk. I could feel the heat burning my cheeks. I bit my lips and face palmed me.

He held my wrists and moved my hands from my face. I hung my head low. I was too embarrassed to look at him. He lifts my chin with his index finger. I know that now I look like as red as a tomato. I closed my eyes tightly. "Hey, look at me." He said but I didn't open my eyes. I hear him chuckle. "You look so cute when you blush." He whispered in my ears his thump trailing small circles on my neck. Then suddenly he nipped and sucked my earlobe. My eyes flew open and I gasped. He leaned close to my face; the smirk never left his face. His hands went under my thighs and he lifted me from the counter top. My hands automatically went around his neck and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I looked at him in surprise. He gave me that seductive smile and caught my lips for another kiss. He took the staircase to the bedroom without breaking the kiss. I smiled through the kiss and ran my hands through his long black hair, knowing how the night is going to be.

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I stirred in my sleep when the sunlight hit my face. I felt the grip on waist tightening and I was pulled closer to a hard chest. I smiled when he nuzzled into my neck. Then he started to give wet kisses on my neck. I giggled and opened my eyes. I turned around to face him. "Good morning." He said while resting his head in his elbow. "Good morning." I said in a hoarse voice. I stretched my arms out. He pulled me close and pecked my lips. I put my hands around his torso and snuggled close, resting my head on his chest. He rested his chin on my head and hugged me tight. "As much as I would love to stay like this, I have an important meeting to attend." He said. He sounded a little disappointed. I scoffed. I lifted my head to look at him. I caressed his cheek and kissed his chin. I brought his ears down to my lips and nuzzled his neck. He groaned. "Then you should get ready quickly." I whispered and got out of his hands quickly. I rushed to the bathroom but was pulled back to a hard chest. "Not that quick." He said while running his lips through my neck and tightening his grips around my torso. I tilted my head to a side so that he could get more access. I moaned in pleasure when he nipped my neck where it is sensitive. Suddenly he withdraws from me and I groaned in lack of closeness. I turned around to look at him and saw him with a teasing smirk on his face. I narrowed my eyes at him. "That's what you get when you tease me." He winked and walked into the bathroom. My mouth fell open and my cheeks redden with embarrassment.

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We reached our pent house. We walked inside with hand in hand and a playful smile lingering on both of our lips. We both halted when we reached the living and saw a fuming Arohi standing there with her hands folded across her chest. She looked at me from top to bottom. I was still in Ved's hoodie and tracks. She gritted her teeth. I felt like déjà. "You said you will be back yesterday." She asked looking at Ved with a glint of accusation. He tilted his head and rubbed his forehead. "Yeah. Something came up. We couldn't make it back yesterday night." He said while giving me a side glance and a wink. I blushed instantly. I bit my lips from smiling and looked away.

"What was that something that made you both stay out whole night?" She asked with a raised voice. I scoffed and looked at her. Who does she think she is? My mother-in-law?!! Who gave her the authority to question us? "That's none of your business. We are married. It will be better if you don't meddle in our matters." I said coldly. She turned towards me with a pair of furious eyes. She was about to say something when my phone rang. I ignored her and took it out of my pocket and saw Ananti's name flashing. I frowned and attended the call. "Hey. What's up?" I asked. She didn't tell anything but I could hear her sobbing. "Hey, Ananti what happened? Are you crying?" I asked and walked out to the patio. "Can you come here? I. I can't... We. We don't know what to do?" She said and cried. "Hey. Hey. Relax. First tell me what happened?" I asked softly. "It's dad. He. He is no more himself. I haven't seen him in conscious for a long time now. He is drunk every time. We tried to stop him but he won't listen to us. And yesterday was the worst. He. He hit mom." She said. I gasped in shock.

How much ever he despised me, he have never once raised his hands against anyone of us. "How. How is she now?" I asked. "She is okay now." She said while sobbing. "Can you please come here? I'm scared. We both don't know what to do? Please sis." She was begging. I felt my eyes stinging. "I will come. Don't worry okay. I will be there as soon as possible." I said. She hummed in response and we ended the call.

I walked inside and saw Arohi with teary eyes and Ved with a cold expression. I looked at them. She gave me death glare and left the house without uttering a word. I turned to Ved, he smiled at me and opened his hands wide gesturing me to come. Without hesitant I went to him and we hugged tightly. "What happened to Arohi?" I asked. "Nothing. I just told her that her flat is ready to move and she can go there straight after office. And she don't have to come and pack anything everything will be there when she reach there." He said calmly. I lifted my head and looked at him with creases on my forehead. "I know I can't let her stay here for long Niha and trust me I was not planning to make her stay here for long. I know you were not comfortable around her. And I'm sorry about that. I had to arrange a place for her to stay and safe from her father. Everything was sorted out and I was planning to tell her about the flat by evening but I guess it just kind of slipped my tongue." He said and pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Is that why she cried?" I asked, giving him a questioning look. His eyebrows rose further and he opened his mouth to speak. "Aha. Uh-uhmm. That. mmm. They were happy tears." He said suddenly after stuttering. I gave him surprised look. He smiled at me sheepishly and pulled me in for a hug. This man!! "Why did Ananti called?" He asked to change the subject.

I don't know how he is going to react when he hear what I was about to say. "Hmm. I want to go to Pune for a while." I said without looking at him. I felt his body stiffens and he pulled back from the hug. "Why?" He asked. He sounded serious and his voice left its playfulness. I slowly lifted my head and looked at him. "It's about dad. He is becoming an alcoholic." I said. "So? Why is it bothering you? For God's sake he is not even your dad, Niharika. Then why the hell do you want to go back there? Have forgot everything he did to you?" He shouted and moved back in frustration. He turned around not facing me. "It's not only for him. Mom and Ananti need me. She sounded terrified. She told that yesterday he hit mom." I said. He stiffened and then turned around. There were creases on his forehead. "Then you are definitely not going there. What if he does something to you? And. And that bustard is also there. I can't risk your safety. You are not going. That's it." He said stubbornly. I know he was talking about Karan. I sighed. "I have to go Ved. I will take care of myself. Even though they are not my birth parents they raised me. As I told you before, they are the ones comes to my mind when I think of parents. And Ananti, she is my baby sister, like Sid is to you. I can't leave them like that. They are not strong enough to handle any kind of stress. They were pampered for their whole life. They have never faced any difficulties in life before and this is the first time dad raised his hand against mom. I know he never considered me as a daughter but he never hit someone. I just want to make sure that they are fine." I said and put my hands on his cheeks. "And as for Karan, I highly doubt that he will be having any time to come for me when he is dealing with all the law suits that you put him through." I said with a smirk. He looked surprised. Then he cleared his throat and looked away. "I don't know what you are talking about." He said without looking at me. "If you say so." I said and shrugged my shoulders.

He looked at me with concern. He sighed and put his hands on my waist and pulled me towards him. He rested his forehead on mine. "I don't like this. But if that is what you want I will let you go. But promise me you will be safe. If anything happens you will call me. I would like to come but there are important meetings I have to attend. And you should come back as soon as possible." He said. "I promise." I said keeping my hands on his chest. He sighed and nodded his head. He kissed my forehead and hugged me tightly.

"Hmm. Can you check which the next available flight is and book a ticket for me? I will get ready." I asked. He nodded and I turned around to go to my room, but he held my wrist. I turned to look at him. "There is one more thing you have to agree with me. Then only you are going to leave this house." He said seriously. I frowned. "What is it?" I asked. He pulled me into his chest and held my waist. "That you will move into my room when you get back here." He said and smiled. I scoffed and bit my lips. I was blushing and I looked down. He lifted my chin. "I really want to give it a try Niha. I know I promised you that I will let you go but I am afraid I won't be doing it any time soon. Let us give a chance to us." He said. His eyes were calm and clear. I knew he meant every word he said. I smiled at him and nodded my head. He hugged me tightly once again. I put my hands around his body and leaned into the embrace.

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I know I said that I will be posting on Sunday but the chapter was ready, so I thought I will post a bit early. I hope you enjoy the chapter. Have a happy reading. Thank you.