Page 83 of Always With You

I try to lash out, but I am barely able to swallow. My throat is closing up. Yet I manage to push the words out of my mouth. “I will report to the cops. I will make sure you pay for torturing my friend.”

His smile drops, and his eyes fill with rage. My heart rate elevates.God, Alisha, why are you provoking the beast? Can’t you just keep your mouth shut?He slowly takes a predatory step towards me. I automatically take a step back, but my back hits the cupboard. I am about to turn to my right when he grabs my arm, holding me so tight that his fingers are digging into my arm. He then drags me over towards the bed and throws me down onto it. Before I can roll off the bed, he slumps his body on mine.

My heart is in my mouth. Suddenly, I find it hard to breathe.Ranveer. Please save me. Please get me out of here.I keep chanting, hoping my voice reaches him.

I barely speak above a whisper, “Please let me go.”

He looks down at me and sniggers at me. “Seems like the tables are turned. Just thirty seconds back, you were threatening me to call the cops, and now you are at my mercy. Looks like it’s you who will pay for snooping around. I think I will enjoy punishing you.”

My eyes widen, and I struggle to get out of his grip. “My husband will kill you.”

He grabs my hands and puts them above my head. “For that, he will have to find you first.There are so many places I could hide your body. Your husband will never find you.”

I kick and yell, trying everything in power to get him off of me.“You are sick.”

“Stop fighting me, you bitch.” He slaps me hard across the face, and I freeze.“That’s like a good girl.” He gives me a wicked smile as he takes in my shell-shocked face. He then moves his finger along my face, down my body, and then begins to fumble with my jeans’ button. My heart stops beating.

“Please don’t do this, Jai. Please,” I beg him, tears burn my eyes and my lips tremble.

He grabs my face and looks me in the eyes. “You will payfor the way you had insulted me in front of the entire college all those years back.” I am dumbstruck by his statement. What the hell is he talking about? “Remember Jai Mehta, the backbencher in first year, whom you had slapped tight? As if that was not enough, you tried meddling with Rewa and my relationship.” My eyes look into his cat eyes with horror! Now I understand why he looked familiar! As I recollect, he was always big at mischief and had an air about himself. He had a bet with one of his friends to kiss me. When I didn’t comply, he tried to force himself on me. He was a lanky guy back then, unlike the well-built physique he has now. No wonder I couldn’t recognise him. “You seriously can’t help yourself for being more of a hindrance than a help. Back then, I let you go. But now, it’s time for you to repent for your actions.”

Tears fall down my cheek as I look around the room, finding a way to escape, but I can’t. I lose all my hope. Thoughts of Ranveer flood my mind when I close my eyes.

Chapter 37

Ranveer

I am whacked. The meeting took longer than I anticipated. The day was so crazy busy that I didn’t get a chance to check on Alisha. But I did ask my secretary to call the hospital and find out the discharge timing, which she informed me to be at seven in the evening.

It’s six in the evening by the time I am pulling outside the hospital. At least I made it in time before the discharge. I smile as I make my way to Rewa’s room where I will find my wife. Nothing makes me feel more relaxed than seeing Alisha’s beautiful face. I just can’t wait to hold her in my arms. That’s what I always need after a long tiring day at work.

As I open the room door, my eyebrows furrow when I don’t see Alisha. My eyes move to Rewa who is sitting on the hospital bed while the nurse checks her vitals.

“Ra…. Ranveer,” she says hesitantly when she notices my presence. Her voice is tense.

My stomach drops; something is wrong. My breathing picks up and panic begins to set in.

“Where is Alisha?” I ask as the nurse walks past me and makes her exit.

Her face pales as she looks at me. “She is… is not here.”

“What do you mean she is not here?” I hiss, walking to stand beside her bed as my eyes bore to her ashen face.

“She wanted to help me,” she whispers.

“Help you withwhat?” I spit the words at her. “Can you please stop talking in riddles?”

Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath. When she opens her glassy eyes, she begins to explain. I am shocked when I listen to her. Her voice is breaking as she covers her face to hide the tears.

What the hell did she just say? Jai?My mind starts racing with all sorts of thoughts. I hate that Alisha is dealing with this bullshit all alone. Why didn’t she come to me for help? Why did she take matters into her own hands?

“How the hell do you think it’s okay to let her step into that bastard’s house all by herself? It’s not some Goddamn walk in a store where she will go and get the damn laptop,” I holler, my voice getting louder by the minute. My blood is boiling at the thought of Alisha going back on her promise and risking her life again.

“I didn’t want her to. I tried stopping her but she didn’t listen to me,” she cries, her teeth chattering and her face contorted.

“How did she even step out, despite Ajay guarding her?” I ask, not paying attention to her sobs. Ajay was not even aware when Alisha stepped out.What a fool I have hired!

“She sneaked out wearing the doctor’s coat and a surgical mask. She paid one of the nurses to bring it for her.”

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