Chapter 32: Chapter 32

"And then one day, you'll feel your world has changed altogether the moment he'll touch your hand and your heartbeats will drum."

Shree's Perspective

"Ouch!" I winced as I stupidly trimmed my finger instead of lady finger and before, I could put it in my mouth, my hand was grabbed by someone and my finger was being sucked by him and that him was no other than, Abhimanyu.

"Is it paining?" He asked, sucking on my finger and my mind immediately worked on importing some intensely erotic images didn't know where from.

I opened my mouth to close it instantly as he snapped, "Why do you daydream in kitchen? I don't even understand why you come here if you can't take care of yourself."

"Relax! It's not that deep." I mumbled, placing my finger under tap and let the water wash it.

"Show me!" He grabbed my hand again and dressed it. I took the time to adore him. This man never ceased to amaze me truly, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you and what I see, is blood." He said gruffly and I frowned, "You came to see me? Why?"

"To check if you're cooking or not?" He leaned back to the slab as I started cooking, "Then go now as you've seen me. I'm working." His presence was affecting me on serious notes as he craned his neck, smirking at me, teasing and tingling my insides.

"It's my kitchen." Came his cocky reply. Did I mention that he's still his cocky self? Ah! Seem some things can never be changed. Two days ago, he'd offered to take me to the shopping but I'd rejected flatly and he was very sad. I could sense it. I...am confused. I wanted to be with him, I wanted to give him a chance, I wanted to go normal but I didn't know why... I was afraid.

Afraid of the fact; he might go back to his snobby self. He might ditch me again. He might reject me again.

There's nothing you can take for granted.

Nevertheless, to persuade me for his offer, he manipulated everyone as in mom, Badi ma, Vidhi bhabhi and Anshu Dada for a shopping spree and eventually they brought me over for it.

"Check this. I think pink suits you." He'd said when he saw I was confused among sari. I smiled shyly on his petulance of coaxing me.

That day he'd tried to buy almost everything that caught my eyes and I was sure that he was going to be lame duck but I wasn't letting that happen.

"Do you think buying off the whole store can win my heart?" I'd questioned, only to cease his leaking wallet. He was afflicted but that was needed. He'd bought me twelve saris, six pairs of heels and uncountable number of clutches. He was being changed in heart but... I didn't want something as trivial as flowers and dresses for the blunder he'd caused, it wouldn't make for my aggrieved heart.

"Fine then, I'm leaving." I turned to go when he pulled me back and caged my waist, "Why? You are my wife. You don't need to go anywhere."

My eyes widened on his open flirting, no matter how much I shooed him away; he managed to extract ways of touching me, pecking my forehead. I felt loved this way, but at the same time, I felt angry on him. He just didn't care if anyone's around or not.

"Leave me Abhimanyu. What are you doing?" I squirmed and he tightened his arms around me, "Are you talking to me? As much as I know, you're treating me silently. Aren't you?" He mocked and I shot a glare at him, "Don't play smart and leave me."

"Forgive me! It's been two weeks." He said with desiderative eyes clapping on deep in mine.

"That reminds me," I preamble, "Stop sending those bouquets and cards in my office. Everyone has begun to think that I'm having an affair." I tried to sound stern and he chuckled, amusedly.

"No worries baby...I'll drop you tomorrow. They'll begin to think you have an amazing husband." He winked at me and I mocked, "I wish it was true."

His smile dropped, so did his hands. I squeezed shut my eyes reprimanding myself to moderate a mouth filter. His brown eyes clouded with hurt and he repelled, looking away.

"I too wish that to be true." He mumbled, moving away and I held his hand.

ESV sniped, 'Leave him you stupid! He'll think you care about him'.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." I apologized and he shook his head, whipping his head back "I'm not offended. You don't have to say sorry."

He was to walk away when I clutched his hand, "Then stay here. I'm making your favorite Chicken Tikka."

ESV fumed, 'Idiot! Slaking down will boost his advances. Don't go for it. Shoo him away!'

"Are you sure?" He asked, flipping back and I left his hand, resuming my work "Did not you, a moment ago, remind me that it's your kitchen?"

"I'll take that as yes." He grinned and plopped on the slab, grabbing a custard apple from fruit basket.

***

"I'll drop you." I rolled my eyes as Abhimanyu repeated it again. The annoyance of the fact was, he was not going to give up until I accepted. Sometimes, I felt as if he was ordering me not coaxing me and the weird part was, I felt turned on.

Crap!

"No Abhimanyu! You're not. You're not going to drop me because I've my car and you're late." I declared and took my bag but he clamped my wrist, "Fine! But if you are by any chance not going by your car. I'll drop you."

"Why won't I go by my car?" I asked confused and he shrugged, "Possibly because of empty fuel or punctured tires."

Has he hit his head somewhere?

"Why my car won't have fuel or why would it be punctured?" I asked again, irked. His non beneficial predictions were making me insanely late and I'd no idea why he was being weird today.

"That can be a high possibility."

Inwardly counting to ten, I gracefully tried to calm myself; he had begun to get under my skin. "Abhimanyu... Last when I used my car, it was working smoothly and it had sufficient fuel, okay! So don't fret. Now, bye!"

Ten minutes later.....

Grumpily, I sat beside him in his car and he accelerated to drive me to my office. Seriously? Can the self made predictions come true in snaps?

When I reached near my car, I noticed that both reverse tires were fine. I immediately settled on the driver's seat and drove to the office. Midway, I consecutely witnessed flat tires and I had no idea how the hell that happened? When I thought that he'd done that, I checked the fuel meter but it was full. I confronted Abhimanyu but it proved out that he hadn't touched my car. Now, having no other options open, I took his offer because Rhea had pinged my phone with messages and I'd to be at office anyhow.

"You're still angry on me?" My reverie broke as he asked and I turned to him, "No...nothing like that. I am thinking how can both tires be punctured in concert? I mean last when...."

"Ohoo!" He intervened me, "I'm driving you to office, then what's the problem and I've told Deepak to send your car to mechanic. So don't worry!"

"Mmm..." I gave an uninterested nod and involuntarily my eyes fell on his hand when he shifted the gear, surprise overgrew in me.

"Hey you still have the ring on?" Unable to cease my blurring happiness, I launched into him. He had the ring on his finger. Our engagement ring.

Radiantly smiling, he looked at me proudly, "I'd never removed it." His words left something aching in my heart, though the guilt aspect was still untouched but I was a little disappointed in myself.

"I'd removed it, I was angry because you were total jerk at that time." I gave an obviating explanation, twisting my lips.

"Don't feel bad. I know I have been worse but I promise, thereon, you won't have to tolerate this jerk." His words were soft and promising.

"I hope so." I murmured looking at him and the rest of ride went silent. He parked the car outside my office and with hidden impeccable chivalry; he came out and opened the door for me.

"Bye!" I chipped waving my hand as I tended to step away but swiftly, that was what he did, he pulled me closer and lingeringly, his hands snaked around my waist.

With each tracing finger, my eyes went wide looking deep in his and my pulse rose. Averting my eyes from his, I glanced around to find a few figures, who still hadn't noticed us, rushing around.

"Abhi...Abhimanyu... Leave me. We're in public." I whispered to him, trying to pry his hands off me, looking around carefully to not witness any acquaint.

"I'll come to pick you up. Don't take the transport and keep your phone switched on." He promulgated and I nodded fervently, wishing to get done with him as soon as possible. He flicked my hairs back.

"I will. Now leave me!" I barely managed to say, I was not good at the potent display of affection he was subjecting me to. Kiss, cuddle or intimacy was a big No No by my side in public.

"Okay... Bye and take care!" I breathed a sigh of relief as he glided his hands off and I nodded.

"Bye."

Before distancing himself completely from me, he cradled my face and pecked my forehead tenderly, heating up my cheeks simultaneously. His next target was my cheeks that were warm with the blood gathering within them.

"I will miss you!" He said following his routine.

"I will, too. Now leave." I mumbled as he stepped away taking his sweet time, momentarily forgetting about the audience who must've been enjoying the view. Honestly, I forgot about them too. "Bye."

He ducked inside his car and drove off, before waving at me. Following my nose, I strode to my office directly, hiding my blush and closed the door of my cabin once inside.

I rested against the door, placing my hand over my racing heart. His cute PDAs tended to do this to me. His dazzling smile was enough to quicken my breaths and his cucumber cologne was all I ever want.

"Ahem...Shree, are you inside?" Rhea knocked and I opened the door assembling myself, "Yup. I'm here. Come!"

She ambled in with a grin on her face, "I've heard something."

"What?"

"That Abhimanyu dropped you today." She quipped her eyebrows and I knew what's coming next, still I sat on the chair nonchalant, "Yeah! Actually my car was punctured, so he'd to drop me."

"That's not the point. The crux of the matter is, he kissed you before everyone. Janelle was saying that you two were little much cozy...." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and bit my cheek to avoid the blush.

"There's nothing like that. He just bid a bye." I averted my gaze from hers and logged into my system.

"Don't lie, you little kitty!" She grabbed my hands in hers, smiling. "I know you two are going along. That's good!"

"You know what I wanted to tell you this but I just couldn't because I was guilty." She preamble and taking in my confused expression, she explained. "Actually the day he...you know...I was very angry, so when Akshat called him to inform about you. I'd snubbed him but when I was returning from your home that day, I knocked into him and the look I saw in his eyes about you was commendable. He was talking about you as if you're precious to him. I'll be glad if you guys, finally like finally, start a relationship."

I smiled coyly at this, biting my lip. "He's being different. I think I won't be able to resist him. I won't be able to push him more."

"Then don't. Don't push him, just embrace him with all your heart because this time, I bet he'll cherish you, he'll worship you."

I hugged her tightly, "Thank you. Thank you. I'll talk to him tonight." That silly smile that he'd put on my face this morning stretched into grin and that was sufficient to drag my day.

***

"Hey!" I waved at Abhimanyu, smiling as he parked his car outside and came to me.

"Am I late?" He asked, glancing at his watch and I clicked my tongue, "Nah! I was about to call you. You're on time. Let's go!"

He seemed surprised but nodded otherwise, "Of course! You look merry; did you get a hike or something?" He asked opening door for me.

"Nope! I want to go home early today." I replied as he occupied his seat and he chuckled. "Well, I beg your pardon but we're not going home."

"What do you mean??"

"I mean as of now, we're not going home. But don't worry I'm not kidnapping you." He flashed his signature smile at me before driving his eyes back on road.

"Then where are we going?" I asked, and ESV whispered in my ear, 'Book an OLA cab babe, I think this time he's going to leave you somewhere far'.

Arghhh! ESV!!

"Well that's for me to know and you to find. Anyways, how was your day?" He asked, fixing his eyes on the road and I replied back. "Very tiring. I am going to take a lonnng bath when we reach home. By what time do we reach?" He chuckled when I stretched the 'long' word.

"Have no idea. We have to stay out for a while." He made me a bit excited.

"Where are we going?"

"I am not gonna tell you."

"I've to talk something with you." I mumbled and he hummed, "Hmm...I'm listening."

"No. I will wait until we reach the home." I said and he nodded, concentrating on the road.

"Listen..." He called and I looked at him, "Mind if I touch your hand?"

As if you ask before hugging me.

Looking down, I nodded and he slowly crawled his hand on mine. His fingers gently intertwined with mine and he reached out to kiss my knuckles. A pleasant smile crossed over my lips.

Wasn't he only asking for touching my hands??? I smiled.

My heartbeats drummed as if an orchestra was playing inside. I bet he could've heard it, because soon he released my hand.

"What happened?" I asked when he tried to untangle his fingers. He chuckled lightly and smirked at me, "I've to shift gear."

"Oh okay!!" I immediately let go off his hand, looking outside, mentally slapping my forehead for stupidity.

I've to get a grip on my heart.