Chapter 17
Kavya
“Ewwww!” I squeal, closing my bedroom door and leaning back against it, my heart doing flip-flops. My cheeks feel warm, and I don’t need to look in the mirror to know that my face must be bright red. Luckily, when I stepped into the house, Sunita Aunty was already asleep; otherwise, I’m sure she would have noticed my flushed face. I touch my lips with my fingers, still feeling the lingering heat of his kiss. My body is buzzing with tingling sensations, making me feel both jittery and exhilarated.
As I walk to my bed, I set my mobile on the nightstand and toss my purse carelessly onto the bed. Flopping down on my back, I stare up at the ceiling, replaying every single second of the kiss. Me, kissing Reyansh! I’ve never considered myself daring; I’ve always been the type to think things through and act rationally. Even with Deepak, I maintained clear boundaries, restricting myself to hugs and kisses on the forehead or cheeks. But with Reyansh… there’s something about him makes me want to throw caution to the wind and live in the moment, rather than overthinking everything.
Rolling onto my side, I tuck my hands under my cheek and stare into the soft, dim light of my room. That kiss wasn’t just a random, impulsive thing. It didn’t feel like a fleeting moment or something I would regret. Instead, it felt perfect in a way I didn’t expect. The way he held me, and the way his lips met mine… Gosh, he had me melting into his arms—it was like everything clicked into place. I felt safe, desired, and alive all at once. A sense of rightness and contentment permeates every fibre of my being, igniting desires I never knew existed. I never imagined that a single kiss could transport me to an entirely new world of sensations.
And beyond the physical effect, the way he makes me feel emotionally also touches my soul deeply. The happiness I find with him is a unique kind of bliss that helps me escape all my pain and sorrow. He makes me feel cherished and secure, reassuring me constantly that he’s there for me and will protect me from any harm. The care and respect he showers on me moves me deeply, making me feel that I matter.
And there’s a voice within me urging me to share what’s going on in my life with him simply because he deserves to know. Taking a deep breath, I contemplate, ‘ But can I be brave enough and open up to him about my parents’ accident? Can I trust him with my secret?’ I wrestle with my thoughts before coming to a conclusion, ‘Perhaps I don’t know him completely, but I trust him enough to be my pillar of strength. And maybe deep down, what I really need is a shoulder to lean on.’
With that thought, my heart is made up, and my mind supports my decision. Tomorrow… Yes, tomorrow, I’ll pour my heart out to him, ensuring there are no secrets between us. If we’re building something real, it must be built on a foundation of honesty and transparency, devoid of any secrets and deceit. The betrayal from my past relationship reminds me of how vital honesty is in love.
The sudden ringing of my mobile phone shatters the silence, jolting me out of my reverie. I reach out to pick up my phone, and my heart gallops in my chest as I see Reyansh’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hey,” I say softly into the phone.
“Did I wake you?” His deep voice is like a soothing balm, instantly calming my frayed nerves.
“No, I was just lying down.”
“Would it be too cheesy if I admitted that I can’t get the kiss out of my head, and you’re the only one on my mind?” he asks, his voice low and husky.
My heart does a little flip at his words. “Nope, not cheesy at all. I’ve been replaying that moment in my mind too,” I reply softly.
“You have no idea how tempting it is to sneak into your room right now, and how hard it is to hold myself back and resist doing something impulsive and crazy.”
A soft laugh escapes me. “Crazy definitely defines you, but I also appreciate your patience,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. Inside, though, I feel that familiar flutter in my stomach, the kind that makes your toes curl and your knees go weak.
“You’re totally worth the wait,” he says, his tone sincere.
“That means a lot,” I reply, touched by his words, and before I can stop myself, words flow from my mouth. “My ex-fiancé didn’t respect my choice to wait until marriage for sex. Instead, he got another woman pregnant, claiming I failed to fulfill his needs.”
“Wait, does that mean you’re a virgin?” he asks, his curiosity piqued.
I pull the phone away from my ear, staring at it in disbelief, before placing it back and saying, “Seriously? Out of everything I said, that’s the only thing you picked up on, Reyansh?”
“Of course, my focus is entirely on you and not on that asshole ex of yours.”
This man always finds a way straight to the core of my heart, “Reyansh, you...”
He interrupts me. “Kavya, what your ex did to you infuriates me, and a part of me wants to break his nose for it. But strangely, I also feel grateful to him because if it weren’t for him messing up, you wouldn’t be with me. And my feelings for you go beyond mere physical desires. Never doubt that. I’m a patient man, not a reckless boy. I won’t let my desires cloud my judgment and risk losing something that’s so precious to me—you.”
His words should startle me, making me wonder if he’s too good to be true. However, the sincerity in his tone tells me that he means every word he says.
“When you put it like that, you make me feel like the luckiest woman on earth.”
He chuckles softly, “Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”
I can’t help but smile broadly, and that sets the tone for the rest of the night. As the hours pass, we chat endlessly, our hearts opening up and words flowing freely between us. Not before long, I can feel my eyes growing heavy, and I let out a sleepy yawn.
“I think I should let you get some sleep,” he says.
“Sorry, it was a long day. But honestly, I enjoyed the dinner. It was perfect—just what I needed.”
“No need to apologise, I understand. And I’ll happily take credit for the dinner. Get some rest, and we’ll talk more tomorrow.”
A smile curves my lips. “Good night.”
“Good night, sweetheart,” he replies softly as I end the call.
Wrapping the blanket snugly around me, I drift off to sleep. His face, his voice, his smile, his touch—all blend together in the best dream ever.
???
I rush through my morning routine and am running a comb through my hair when I hear my phone beep with a new message. I hastily set the comb down on the dresser and grab my phone. My heart skips a beat when I find a message from Officer Viraj. I cross my fingers, hoping for some positive news, and swipe the screen to read his message.
Office Viraj: I ran a background check on Deepak, and everything came back clean. I don’t believe he had a hand in your parents’ accident. Still, I’m keeping my eyes and ears open.
A wave of relief washes over me as I quickly type back.
Me: Thank you, Officer. Please keep me updated on any progress.
I hit send and then notice the green tick indicating he read the message, followed by the little bubbles that tell me he’s typing.
Office Viraj: I will keep you updated, and as I promised, you will soon have all your answers.
Relief floods through me, knowing he will keep his word as I quickly thank him before ending the chat. I’m about to put my phone back on the dresser and resume getting dressed for the day when it vibrates again. This time, my brows furrow in confusion as the message is from an unknown number. At first, I try to ignore it, assuming it’s an advertisement, but something compels me to swipe over and read the message.
Unknown: You’ve made a big mistake involving the cop and re-opening the case. You better pull back before you regret it.
My heart races as I stare at the message, my hands trembling as I try to type.
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: Someone you shouldn’t be messing with.
Despite the cold sweat breaking out on my forehead, I continue to type.
Me: Why are you doing all this? What did my family ever do to you?
Unknown: Those are questions for another day. For now, stay out of my business. All you’re doing is pissing me off, and trust me, making me angry is not wise. Your sister made that mistake once, and she’s still suffering because of it.
My sister. He’s after my sister. Fear grips me, making every blink feel like an eternity as I struggle to type. Before I can force myself to type anything, his reply hits my mobile again.
Unknown: Meet me tonight at Club Dtown at ten. I have matters to discuss. Also, don’t try to outsmart me by informing Officer Viraj, because if you do, your poor sister, who’s barely breathing as it is, will stop that too. I’ve tried taking her life once, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again. And trust me, this time, I’ll ensure she doesn’t survive. Don’t test my patience.
That’s all it takes for me to type without thinking, terror seizing my heart.
Me: I won’t inform Officer Viraj. I promise. Please, don’t do anything to my sister.
Unknown: Begging! I like it. I won’t harm her until you do as I say. Meet me alone tonight, and I’ll instruct you on how to tell Officer Viraj that you want to drop the case. And please, dress appropriately. It’s a club, not a family dinner—you need to blend in with the crowd, so choose something hot and sexy.
Disregarding his suggestion about my attire, I type.
Me: I’ll be there alone.
Unknown: Good girl. See you soon.
Knowing he’s dismissed me, I continue staring at my mobile screen, chewing on my bottom lip. The logical move would be to inform Officer Viraj about this call and have him trace the phone number. But fear paralyses me from doing any such thing. I can’t risk anything happening to my sister. Losing her because I tried to do the right thing is a risk I can’t afford. The thought of it is unbearable; I’d never forgive myself if something happens to her. I have to meet this person alone; there’s no other option. It might be a terrible idea, I know, but I’d rather face this danger head-on to save my sister than risk losing her to someone with twisted intentions.