Chapter 29
VEDIKA
For years, Vedika had wondered what all the fuss was about when it came to men.
Where were the fireworks exploding, the violins playing, the tingling in your blood?
For years, she’d searched for it and found nothing…
She’d secretly wondered if maybe she preferred women instead? But nope, no tingling there either.
But now, as her lips found Daksh’s, her tongue slipped in and explored his mouth, MY GOD, everything tingled! Diwali came early and forget the violins, a string quartet played in her head.
This was everything the books and movies had taunted her with. This was everything her imagination had conjured up but reality had never delivered. This was everything she’d been missing in life…This was finally hers.
“What the fuck??”
The irate voice had Daksh dumping her into someone else’s arms. Vedika blinked up into Kabir’s angry face.
“Kabs?” she asked. “What are you doing here? Are you real?” She patted his face, her fingers tweaking his nose. “You are!” she said in astonishment. “How?”
“Magic,” he said dryly.
“I know!” she agreed solemnly. “Real magic.” She leaned in closer to tell him in a loud whisper that carried over the music, “I felt things.”
Behind her, she heard Kimi giggle.
“Don’t laugh,” she said, craning her neck to see her cousin but getting an eyeful of a bemused Daksh instead. She leaned close to Kabir again, one eye still tracking Daksh’s beautiful face. “Fireworks, violins, and tingles,” she told Kabir solemnly.
“Is that so?” In an aside, he muttered, “I am going to kill you,” to Kimi. Kabir started to walk towards the door, away from Daksh. Vedika gave a little mewl of protest then settled down when she realised Daksh was following them.
“Give me back to him,” she muttered to Kabir, watching Daksh over Kabir’s shoulder. Daksh had a protective arm around Kimi and was trying to keep her from being jostled in the crowd.
“No.”
“I want my tingles back,” she said petulantly. “I’ve never had tingles, Kabs,” she cupped his face with her hands and moved it so he was looking at her. “Never until today. Nothing works normally for me in my body. I don’t feel the way other girls do. Not until him.”
Kabir stepped out on to the pavement, raising his eyes to the heavens. “Why God? What did I ever do to you?”
“I’ll bring the car around,” Daksh’s amused voice cut through Kabir’s plaintive tirade.
“I’ll come with you,” Kimi muttered, casting anxious looks at Kabir’s furious face. “Kabs, I-“
“Later,” he said tersely, struggling to keep Vedika from slipping out of his arms and running to Daksh.
“I’m an octopus,” Vedika beamed as she squirmed in his arms, trying to escape him. She wanted her tingles dammit.
“Sure honey.” Kabir’s face softened but his grip around her stayed firm. One of his security people stepped closer to help but he shook his head at him.
Vedika beamed at the man. “Hi.”
The big, burly, tattooed guard smiled back. “Hi.”
She glanced anxiously around, not spotting Daksh. “Is he gone? I can’t hear the music anymore.”
“That’s because we’re standing outside.”
“No.” She snorted. “Not that music. The kind that makes you feel squishy here.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “And sparkly here.” Her hand started to move but Kabir caught it firmly.
“Vedu sweetheart, I’m begging you,” he said, his voice strained, “let’s wait for Daksh and Kimi in silence okay?”
“Daksh is coming back?” she brightened. “Yay.”
Kabir muttered. “Fuck my life.”
A second later, a car pulled up beside them and Daksh and Kimi got out. Vedika squealed and launched herself out of Kabir’s arms and into a startled Daksh’s.
“Ooof,” he gasped, a little humiliatingly she thought, she wasn’t that heavy! She snuggled closer into his embrace, trying to climb up his body like a squirrel on a tree.
“Let’s go,” Kabir said curtly. “The two of you can sit at the back. I’ll drive. Kim, get in the front.”
He nodded to the security who had their own vehicle ready and before anyone could say another word, their little convoy was on its way.
Vedika snuggled into Daksh’s side, in the backseat, blissfully happy. What a wonderful day! The string quartet was back!
Daksh caught her hand gently as it started to wander inside his shirt and returned it to her lap. “No, sweetheart,” he said, his voice achingly sweet.
“Why?” she pouted. “You don’t like it?” Her stomach squirmed, not the good kind of squirming, as she sat back.
“Is it the hair?” she patted the short, flyaway strands.
“I can stick it back. I wanted to ask the lady to give it to me but she didn’t.
Maybe, I’ll go back tomorrow and oh…” Her voice trailed off.
“What’s wrong?” Daksh’s voice sharpened.
“My tummy hurts.” Her voice quivered. “Oh this is not good.”
The car sped up almost like Kabir had jammed his foot down on the accelerator. “Five minutes, Vedu,” he said from where he was pretending not to listen to the shenanigans in the backseat.
“Hmm.” Vedika’s head was starting to spin. She closed her eyes and dropped it to the seatback. A strong arm went around her, pulling her close. She snuggled into Daksh’s chest, giving the muscles under her cheek one last, longing stroke.
Her stomach twanged again but in a distant, warning kind of way. “I think,” she said, sleepily, “I’m fucked.”
“No sweetheart.” Daksh’s husky murmur reached her through the waves of sleep. “I am.”