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“Don’t leave me…” Jhanvi purrs, grabbing my wrist.

I have to leave. If I don’t, we might end up doing something she will regret the next morning. But I can’t reject her request so I sit next to her on the bed and stroke her hair.

“Go to sleep, Jaan.”

“Ummm.”

She snuggles to my arm, placing a few kisses on my fingers before drifting to sleep. Finally!!

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It’s 03:00 am and I am still sitting next to Jhanvi, watching her sleep. Gosh!! How can someone be this beautiful? She has tossed on the bed multiple times in the last 2 hours, but she hasn’t left holding my arm yet, neither I chose to walk away. Stroking away her hair falling on her face, and sometimes rubbing her soft cheeks, I have spent every second watching her breathe, almost counting them, listening to those soft snores from her partly open lips. I’m ready to spend the rest of the night like this, admiring my wife, and dreaming of those moments when I can do a lot more than just drool her. Whatever happened between us in the club again today cannot be missed. The kind of chemistry we have is a myth for others. I had urged her to choose me and give this relationship between us a try, and I swear if she had agreed, I wouldn’t have minded claiming her and consummating our marriage right in that private booth in the club. God knows I wanted to do so and the level of control I have shown to avoid scaring my wife. This time Jhanvi didn’t reject me, though. She gave me a choice. She wants to choose between my revenge and her which is the most difficult decision of my life. She knows how much I have struggled to see this day - the end of Durga Raichand and everything that she has built and is controlling so far. How can I let it go when I am this close to success? I know Jhanvi is unhappy, which is why she came here to confront me and ask me something I’m not prepared for. She asked me if I would still revenge Durga Raichand had my mother asked me not to, and give up all this despite being so close to win? Why did Jhanvi ask me that? Maa is dead and this entire revenge is for her. I agree even after I succeed in showing the downfall to the other Raichands, I won’t get my mother back, but won’t her soul be happy? To see her son avenging those painful days she had to suffer when alive? I have no reply.

CHAPTER 36

Jhanvi

I wake up smelling Aarav’s cologne around me. And though I am tantalized and want to breathe this forever, I want to know how that’s possible because for sure, Aarav cannot be here at my home. This is just a dream, or rather, I am hallucinating his fragrance around. I stretch, toss, and yawn, opening my eyes slowly. Wait. This isn’t my bedroom, nor is this my house. Where am I? Soon, the flashes of last night in the club clears my thoughts. Jealousy brought me here to Aarav’s hotel room and I don’t recall what happened thereafter. Did I pass out? Probably. Did he put me to bed? Where did he sleep? I realize the black dress is still on me, which means nothing happened between us. My sandals are missing though. Did he take them out? Gosh! I hope I wasn’t a trouble. Damn hell. My head hurts too. Hangover!! After our yet another passionate moment in the private booth at the club, I couldn’t stand seeing Aarav agreeing at drop Kate to her hotel. Since I have known Kate for years, and I know what all she can do to get the attention of a man if she really likes him and last night, she proved that she liked Aarav a lot. I kept imagining what she would try on him, and that led me to lose my count on the number of shots I had. I even didn’t let Jaya know I was leaving and took a cab straight here to check if Aarav brought Kate to his place. It’s sick of me to show distrust in Aarav knowing how badly he is into me, but at that instant last night I couldn’t control my jealous heart.

I turn to my left and find a sticky note attached to the bedside table with something written on it.

‘Take the hangover pills with this juice’

Juice? Pills? I search for them and yes, they are right there. A glass of orange juice and two pills for my hangover cure. Obviously, Aarav arranged them for me. But where is he? I take the pills with half of the juice and get down from the bed. It feels odd to walk out in my clumsy dress, which has started pricking my body as I wore it for the whole night. There’s another sticky note on the door.

‘Head to the kitchenette.’

Wow!! Now, what’s in the kitchen? I see no one in the living room but there are two pillows on the couch and the way they are arranged looks as if Aarav slept here last night. Such a gentleman!! He let me sleep in the bed alone.

There’s a full tray of continental breakfast in the kitchen, and all I have to do is heat the brewed coffee in the microwave. There’s another sticky note glued to the tray.

‘Eat everything.’

Typical Aarav. Always commanding. Well, I won’t ignore this command though, as I’m starving. I want to know where he is and when he will come back? Should I stay here until he returns or leave? But right now, all I want to do is satiate my stomach. I take the loaded breakfast tray in the living room, turn on the TV, and begin to eat. I also fetch my phone and check my messages. No message from Jaya. Strange. I drop her one now about where I am and not to worry. Her reply is instant.

‘You are late. Aarav messaged me last night that you are with him. I need details!!’

My cheeks flush at her reply. She thinks Aarav, and I have sorted it out but though I want the same, I don’t think it’s that easy.

I’ve finished eating everything as commanded by Aarav when the doorbell rings. Oh God, is he back? I don’t think I’m prepared to see him, but I still have to open the door which I do. It’s a hotel staff.

“Hello Ma’am. That’s for you.”

She hands me three bags.

“What are these for?”

“Mr. Raichand wanted me to pick this up for you. He ordered a few things and wanted to be delivered to your room.”

Aarav ordered? What? I thanked her and shut the door. He’s got dresses, shoes and some accessories matching the outfits. Again! He is the only one who can do this for me. Every dress he has bought is as per my choice and color. I want to thank him. Can I? My phone beeps and dropping the bags on the couch, I first check the message. It’s Aarav again.

‘Hope you like them. Feel free to use the shower and don’t you dare leave the room until I reach. An hour more, Jaan and I’ll be there.’

The flush of heat spreads through my body. He wants me to use his shower, wear these dresses he purchased for me and he doesn’t want me to leave until he is back. Why? Though I want to accept every demand he makes today, I still don’t give in so easily.

‘If I was so important, you would have been here, not left me alone in your master suite.’I reply.

Hitting send, I head back to the bathroom and check the shower. His touch lingers here. I can’t help imagining him under that shower, washing himself, recalling our kisses so far. What an imagination. Though I want to go on with it, the message beep breaks my trance again.

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