Page 52 of The Pursuit
CHAPTER 19 (One love)
TRISHA
I felt a bit uncomfortable in the lehenga I was wearing. It had been years since I had worn such a traditional attire—the last time was during my own engagement ceremony, which now seemed like a lifetime ago. Life was good back then, but with Krish in my life now, it felt more meaningful and driven.
My eyes were fixed on Meher as she mingled with her relatives at the event we were attending in South Bombay. It was good to see her enjoying herself, especially given the escalating threats against the Shergill and Walia families recently. I scanned the lawn, ensuring Meher’s other guards were in position before my attention was drawn to a group of young boys, a few years younger than me, openly admiring me.
I sighed and looked away, thinking,‘typical kids.’ That’s when I recalled Meher’s earlier teasing about showing me off to her cousins and an idea formed in my mind. Why not poke a little fun at Krish, who had been so adorably insecure about me wearing this lehenga to an event where I might catch the eye of other men?
Turning my back to the ogling boys, I took a selfie, deliberately angling the camera to capture them in the background, staring at my almost backless back. I playful pouted in the photo and quickly sent it to Krish with a message.
‘I might have a fan club of boys here who want my attention.I didn’t know traditional attire could make my charm irresistible not just to men but young boys too.’
I smiled, knowing his reaction wouldn’t be good, and sure enough, my phone pinged with his reply moments later.
‘Tell those boys to keep their eyes and their hands to themselves, or I’ll have to teach them a lesson they won’t forget. And as for your ‘charm,’ it’s always been irresistible to me, no matter what you wear.’
I giggled at his cute, naughty, and jealous mix of a reply. Trust Krish to turn a teasing message into a possessive declaration of his feelings for me.
A while later, true to her word, Meher introduced me to her cousin brothers. As they flirted with me, exchanging harmless compliments, Meher couldn’t resist teasing them back.
“You’re lucky Trisha isn’t in her bodyguard avatar right now,” she quipped. “Otherwise, you’d have to watch out for her stunts and kicks.”
We all shared a laugh at her joke, and I checked my phone to see if Krish had sent any further messages. Unfortunately, my mobile network connection was weak, and I had to ignore it for the time being, focusing instead on keeping a watchful eye on Meher as the event continued.
During a lull in the festivities, Meher sidled up to me, a mischievous glint in her eye. “So, Trisha, did you like any of my cousins yet?”
“Meher,” I rolled my eyes playfully.
“What?” she grinned. “Don’t tell me you need Krish’sapproval for that too. But besides, it’s fun to see Krish all riled up and possessive over you.”
“Well, I’m glad you find it amusing, but he is not possessive of me,” I replied dryly, though I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Krish’s adorable jealousy.
Meher nudged me conspiratorially. “Admit it, Trisha. He is. And you love it when he gets all worked up over you. It’s cute.”
I felt my cheeks flush slightly, but I couldn’t deny the truth in her words. There was something undeniably endearing about Krish’s protective instincts, even if they bordered on the irrational at times.
Before I could respond, another one of Meher’s cousins approached us, his eyes fixed on me appreciatively. “Meher, you didn’t tell me your friend was so beautiful,” he said, flashing me a charming smile.
Meher grinned, clearly enjoying the opportunity to tease me further. “Ah, yes, this is Trisha. She’s not just my friend, but also my bodyguard.”
The cousin’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A bodyguard? But she’s so... delicate.”
I couldn’t resist the urge to play along, stepping closer to him and giving him my most intimidating glare. “Appearances can be deceiving,” I said in a low, challenging tone.
The poor boy visibly gulped, and Meher burst into laughter at his discomfort. “I tried to warn you,” she scolded her cousin playfully. “Trisha may look like a delicate flower, but she’s a force to be reckoned with.”
I winked at the flustered young man, unable to resist the urge to have a little fun at his expense. “Don’t worry, I only unleash my ‘stunts and kicks’ on those who deserve it.”
His cheeks flushed scarlet as he stammered out an apology, quickly making his retreat. Meher and I dissolved into a fit of giggles, drawing curious glances from those around us.
“You’re terrible, Trisha,” Meher chided, though her eyes sparkled with mirth.
I shrugged unapologetically.
“He should learn not to underestimate a woman, especially one trained in the art of combat.”
Meher looped her arm through mine, her expression one of pure affection. “I’m so glad Ayaan hired you as my bodyguard. You’re not just protecting me—you’re keeping me entertained too.”
