by Ruchi Singh
Esha stared at him, mesmerized.
"How is the shoulder?" He ran his finger lightly on her shoulder, taking care not to touch the wound.
Her throat felt like charred coal and she swallowed. "They cut the stitches two days back. It'll be fine in a week's time."
Keeping one hand on her nape, he placed his lips over hers in a hard, demanding contact. She froze. His lips felt hard yet warm coaxing her to open her mouth. The whiff of tobacco hit her, galvanizing her to push at his chest. A desperate push. He released her immediately and she sneezed clutching her shoulder. One, two, three...
"Don't tell me you are you allergic to kissing."
"To... to... tobac-cco...," she said in between the flood of sneezes and sniffles.
He waved his hand in the air. "Now that's great... I can't quit smoking... do I have to?"
"What a ridiculous conversation?" she said when she was through with the sneezing bout. "I think—"
"I was discussing with Nick, you are not to accompany me anywhere outside the office or after office hours."
"What will be the point then?" She scowled.
"I don't want you in danger's way."
"What about Nick?" Anger reared its ugly head. "He is your friend, best friend, isn't he? Or is it something to do with testosterone?"
He smiled, combing his fingers through his hair. "No, but it's a dilemma. He is what he is, but you have become—"
"We are digressing." She didn't want to hear anything about herself. "I don't agree with whatever you are suggesting. You'll have to fire me if you want me out of the role."
"Fire you? Yeah, that's a swell idea. But for now, let's park the thought." He chuckled and lifted his hand to touch her cheek. Esha stepped back and he dropped his hand. His lips curved in a mild smile, eyes hooded as he regarded her for a moment. "Sleep tight, we leave for Alibaug tomorrow evening." He moved towards the door and closed it behind him with a salute.
The tobacco laced kiss and the pressure of his mouth lingered for a long time with Esha. She closed her eyes, sniffled, and cautioned herself for the umpteenth time to not get involved, hoping against hope that her heart would pay heed to it.
* * * *
October 29th
Seths' Residence, Mumbai
29th October, 4:30 PM
Vikram insisted on 'getting some damn privacy' and drove his Lamborghini that day to Alibaug. He made Esha sit with him as the other two cars trailed them. He drove with easy confidence without speeding the massive car, enjoying the ride.
"You have not spoken a single word since we started." He threw a glance at her before concentrating back on the road.
She dug her nails in her palm and looked outside her window.
"Esha, do you generally speak less or is it my influence?"
"You have a gigantic ego." She decided to give it back to him. "What are the security arrangements at the farmhouse?"
He grimaced. "That's a great conversation topic too. Well done. Bet you already know them. But manners have been drilled into me from the day I was born so I will comply with the lady's demands."
Elated to rattle him, she mentally punched the air.
"On one side is the beach, of course," he began. "Apart from that we own most of the land around the house. The adjacent two farmhouses are owned by friends. There is no way anyone can see the house or the surrounding gardens from those properties. We have men guarding the premises and there are dogs too. And I'll wear the bulletproof jacket even if I die of humidity." He took out a bottle of vodka from somewhere near the driver's seat, drank straight from it, then held it out to her.
Frowning, she took the bottle and placed it in the slot on her side.
"What? At least let me drink!"
"If you want to drink, then I'll drive."
"No way, no one drives my weakness other than me. Grab the box at the back, I think dada must have packed a hamper, let's have a coke or something." He undid his tie, tossed it towards her, and opened the top two buttons of his shirt.
Esha caught the tie on reflex. Her heart stuttered at the intimacy of the act and she threw it over her shoulder as if it was a wriggling snake. She opened the Coke cans, placed one in the cup holder for him, and took a sip from hers.
"So... who all do you have at home?"
She sighed. "You know that already, it is all there on my file."
"That's an emotionless report. Who is Samar?"
"He is... was my boyfriend. And we were too poor to leave our respective responsibilities aside and marry. So we ended the relationship," she replied, her voice devoid of any feeling.
"And he is marrying now?"
"Yes."
"And you? Aren't you free of your responsibilities yet?"
Uncomfortable with baring her life to him, she lost her cool. "Why so many questions? What do you want from me?"
"Pity you are asking me this when I'm driving. I could've shown you instead." He continued when she didn't respond. "I told you, you fascinate me. And I have read your file... so to cut the story short in plain nutshell, I'm hitting on you."
"I think we had discussed that earlier."
"But that was before you took a ... no two bullets for me."
"Then keep hitting and let your head get injured." She turned and looked outside.
He laughed throwing his head back. The sound felt good to her ears and Esha found herself smiling. It was good to hear him laugh. She hadn't seen him laughing ever since she had been here, or even in the photos she saw on the Internet. Come to think of it, she had never seen him having fun. Granted there were some extremely beautiful women hanging on his arms every time the media covered him, but even attending those social events was work. Probably he never had time to have fun. She clamped down a colossal urge to ask him about what he did during a normal holiday.
"To hell with your argument!" he said when he got his breath back.
"It is human psychology. The more emotionally one is involved with the subject, the more irrational decisions one takes at the time of stress."
"I object to the word 'subject' for me." He threw a quick glance at her, a faint smile on his lips.
"I know you are used to getting everything you want, but by now, at your age, you have to understand that people don't get everything they want."
He chuckled. "I understand that... I haven't had a cigarette in the past six hours."
Her heart dropped to her stomach. This was breaking news! Embarrassed, Esha didn't know what to say to that, so she changed the subject.
"Who do Nick and you suspect?"
He sighed. "Right now, we don't have any suspect."
Vikram fell silent after that, lost in his own thought.
Esha wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed.
* * * *
Alibaug, Mumbai
29th October, 7:22 PM
They entered the sprawling property around seven p.m. The wide expanse of the landscaped gardens had a calming effect after being subjected to the concrete jungles of Mumbai city. Esha's eyes feasted on the sprawling opulence of the two-story bungalow with its own swimming pool and tennis court. At the center of the garden was a helipad with the Seths' logo painted on the concrete floor. As she got off the car, she heard the horse neigh. There was a stable as well!
"Welcome to paradise," Vikram said. He was clearly proud of his home. "My best childhood memories are associated with this house." He looked around and took a deep breath. "Here both of us, di and I, would get my parents' undivided attention. Will you prefer to rest or to take a look around?"
"Hello, Mr. Seth," Reema, his mother's secretary, joined them before Esha could reply. "Chhotu, take Ms. Esha's luggage to the guest house," Reema instructed to the young man, who it seemed was the main caretaker of the farmhouse.
"Guest house?" Vikram frowned. "I had specifically told mamma that Esha is staying in the main house."
Reema looked uncomfortable. "Ms. Urvi and Mrs. Seth had to change a few things."
>
"I'll be fine at the guest house." Esha tried to intervene.
"Esha stays in the main house," he said.
"Sir, there is a shortage of rooms."
"Give her mine," he snapped.
Reema's eyebrows went up for minuscule second before she checked her reaction like the professional she was. Chhotu heard the altercation with avid interest, but his eyes studied only Esha.
"Please... I'm fi—" Esha tried to intervene.
"Sir, we'll manage don't worry." Reema did some mental calculations before she replied in a crisp, professional tone.
"Thanks Reema. I know I can always count on you. Chhotu, please take the luggage to the main house."
"Yes, sir." A smiling Chhotu bobbed and took care of all their suitcases.
"Come, I have a surprise for you, unless you want to rest." Vikram took Esha's arm.
"No, I'm fine."
They began walking on the paved pathway past the back gardens, to the swimming pool.
It was indeed a quite reclusive property, flanked by the highway and the beach on two sides and his friends' properties on the other two. But what about friends and guests the family invited and the servants? Being rich could be complicated. Having means for all kinds of luxuries and then staff to maintain them and then worry about human failings.
"What about those trees beyond the boundary wall?"
"Quit worrying." He unfastened the top button of his shirt revealing the bullet-proof jacket. "Nick made me wear it since he had to go out. I couldn't wriggle out of this after that day."
She smiled. "Good for him or you?"
He grinned and re-fastened the button.
Her heart slammed against her ribcage again. With his hair ruffling in the breeze and that easy grin, he looked young, carefree. The businessman had been left behind in Mumbai. The realization that she was falling for him didn't surprise her. She had seen it coming. Suppressing a sigh she followed him.
The winding stone path led them to the stables on the other side. In the barn, he took her to one of the stalls. A black stallion brayed restlessly as he sensed Vikram's presence.
"Oh boy! I missed you too," he said as the horse nuzzled against his shoulder.
A warm feeling enveloped her heart on hearing the affectionate tone. He looked like a small boy meeting his pet after a long time, talking, rubbing his back, and offering him sugar cubes.
"Esha, meet my buddy Robin. And Robin this is Esha... my..." He looked at her then left the sentence incomplete with a faint smile.
"Hi, Robin," she said turning towards the horse, ignoring the awkward moment. At this rate, she'd soon turn into a heart patient.
"Do you ride?" he asked.
"Yes, it was part of the training at the academy."
"Great! I'll bring you here again to ride when your shoulder heals completely."
Esha glanced at him, but the stable staff had diverted his attention. Would there be a next time? She wasn't sure.
After spending half an hour in the stable, Vikram showed her the six Dobermans and their kennel. No one except the handlers were allowed to interact with the dogs. Chhotu happily chattered along giving Vikram an update about the property. He was a dedicated man, clearly in love with his boss, like all the other employees.
Later, to her relief and disappointment, the family and the guests had begun to arrive engaging him for the rest of the evening.
Esha's shoulder, by now, had begun throbbing and demanded rest. As she slipped out of the drawing room and went up to her room, she realized she had missed her afternoon meds as well. The large, round tub in the luxurious bathroom beckoned her to drown her aches and miseries.
She groaned as she slipped into the blissful warm water. Her muscles relaxed as the bathing salts worked their magic. The two wounds were one inch apart. The one, where the bullet had skimmed the skin, had healed and didn't ache at all. But the one where it had embedded in the flesh gave trouble if she moved her arm.
Clad in a denim shorts and black tank top, Esha relaxed on the recliner in the balcony. She had requested Reema for dinner to be sent to her room and had left the door open. The green expanse of the landscaped gardens no longer soothed her. Watching the family gathering downstairs had triggered a wave of loneliness. She had two siblings and a set of parents who called only if they needed money. The truth that hurt was that they never hid the fact that they needed only her money.
She came out of her reverie when someone lowered the dinner tray on the side table. Her gazed jerked to his face when she noticed the familiar watch and the scar on the arm. "Oh, you shouldn't have!"
"You are in pain." It was not a question, but a statement. "Are you taking your medicines on time?" Vikram asked, touching her hair.
The unexpected affection made her throat swell with self-pity. She couldn't think of anything to say so she nodded and looked at the tray.
"You okay?" He crouched near the recliner.
She swallowed hard and said, "Please don't worry about me. Go to your guests. Please." The last word came out as a whisper. Esha cleared her throat. "I want to be alone."
"Okay." He dropped a kiss on her temple and left the room.
* * * *
October 30th
Alibaug, Mumbai
30th October, 7:40 PM
Vikram stood in the inner balcony overlooking the massive hall, watching the guests assemble for dinner and dance. Owing to the attacks on him, this year, they had decided to host the party indoors.
Almost everyone was present. Vandana di looked up and waved, gesturing him to come down. Jindal, as usual stood far from her, taking too much interest in Viraj's girlfriend.
Viraj had apologized and asked for the funds for the expansion once again. Vikram was considering giving him half of what he had asked, with some ground rules thrown in. Daija, as usual, fussed over Aaryan, who tolerated her patiently.
Vikram sighed when his eyes couldn't find the one he wanted to see. He had left Esha alone the whole day today, instructing Reema to take care of her. He had taken regular updates, though. She had slept through the morning and woke up at lunch, which was good. She had also taken a walk in the evening, which was even better.
He had watched her sink deep into misery last night. Despite a strong urge to be with her, he had left. She needed that time to brood, to let her guard down, and to relax, alone. He knew she missed her family, and also that her parents were not affectionate with the offspring who took care of the entire family. And his attention had brought that ugly fact to the fore.
Could parents be so heartless? What had happened for things to come to this level? He wished he had the rights to know more about her, to ease away her pain. He wished he could ignore his guests and search for her. Be with her. But couldn't, he had a few responsibilities as the host.
His only regret in taking charge of his father's empire was that he wasn't able to lavish enough attention on the people he loved. Loved? Was that what it was? Was he falling for her? Or was it just attraction and gratitude for saving his life?
His thoughts, it seemed, conjured her out of thin air when he suddenly spotted her in the doorway wearing the dress he had gifted her. She looked lovely in the ice-blue and silver ensemble, exactly as he had pictured. All of a sudden, the evening started looking up.
* * * *
Esha looked around, assessing the gathering. She had spotted Vikram the moment she had entered the large hall, but ignored him. More guests had arrived today. She studied each and every person and mentally cleared them from her list of potentially dangerous people.
"Ms. Sinha, you look lovely, m'dear." Jindal stopped her as she made her way towards the table where the canapés were being served.
"Thank you."
"That was some heroic feet you did. Stepping in front of him in the midst of that hail of bullets."
"Where did you hear that Mr. Jindal?"
"Oh, it's all over the newspapers. You are a heroine in the media's eyes."
She smiled. "The media... hmm... I think we shouldn't give too much importance to the media. They have a tendency to exaggerate and glamorize."
"So, tell me how did you land such a plush job? We've never heard about you, no references. And here you are, working directly for Vikram Seth, moving around with his security team."
"Is it such a plush job, Mr. Jindal?"
"Oh, don't answer all my questions with a question. I'm surprised to see no one from your family came to see you at the hospital."
"For a man as busy as you, you notice a lot." Esha smiled and prayed for someone to interrupt and rescue her. Her prayers were answered the next moment.
"I see that you were able to make it," Vikram addressed Jindal, handing her a drink.
She wasn't sure what it was but she took it. Anything to distract the pestering man.
"Surely I can't miss an invitation from my wife's dear brother," Jindal drawled, raising his glass.
"Well then, please enjoy." He gestured at something across the hall. "Mamma wanted to talk to Esha. Please excuse us." He kept his hand at the small of her back.
Jindal looked at them his gaze oscillating between the two then smiled slowly. "Hmm... so this is the way it is. Seth Jr. has got a new toy? Ms. Sinha, make sure you milk him for whatever the two bullets are worth."
The hand on her back fisted. "Sometimes you go too far, Gautam. Please apologize."
Jindal smirked and raised his glass. "My apologies, ma'am," he said and turned to address Urvi's mother, who approached him with a wide smile.
That stung. The remark was aimed to insult. And insult it did, leaving a bad taste in Esha's mouth. She had never been accused of being a gold-digger. Did the Seth family and the world see her in the same light now?
"Esha, please." Vikram steered her towards the pillars. "Don't pay attention to him. He's a nasty man."
"What's this?" she asked raising her glass.
"It's virgin mojito. You are taking medicines and shouldn't have alcohol." He smiled and escorted her to a secluded part of the hall. "I knew the dress would suit you."
