Accidentally Ever After

by Mariyam Hasnain

  “I stay at a working women’s hostel.”

  “What?”

  Natasha feels her lips curving into a weak smile. “Baby out of wedlock is not always seen in a good light. Not everyone was on the same page with me when I decided to go ahead with my pregnancy.”

  “Shit! So they gave up on you.” Vikram’s brow furrows.

  “Or rather I gave up on them.” Natasha shifts a bit in her place. A single thought of going against her parents brings a hurricane of old memories. Her parents were shocked. They tried everything to goad her to end the pregnancy, but Natasha was adamant. She wanted to keep the baby. Not only because she feels a divine connection with her unborn child but also because the baby is her only hope for survival. She would have been a mess of flesh and bones without her little bundle of joy breathing inside her womb. She was almost on the verge of collapse, almost ready to fall apart when she realized the presence of another life inside her body.

  A new light replaced the darkness of her life. She breathed again.

  A thin film of water glazes Natasha’s eyes, and a lone tear rolls down her cheek.

  “I’m sorry,” Vikram whispers, slithering closer to her, snaking an arm around her.

  On its own will, Natasha’s head leans down and finds Vikram’s shoulder, resting on it. She closes her eyes, inhaling the warmth of Vikram’s body wrapped around her. Vikram folds her in a hug, his huge arms covering her from both sides.

  “I’m sorry I ran away without saying goodbye. I was suffering from a major heartbreak and didn’t want any more complications in my life,” Natasha hisses against Vikram’s chest.

  “Calm down. Relax.” Vikram’s coffee-laced breath falls on her face, and she feels warmth radiating across her whole body.

  They sit there for a while before Natasha realizes she must get back to work.

  Poor Samantha, she’s been having a hard time with one server off duty for such a long time.

  Just as Samantha’s tired face flashes in Natasha’s eyes, she quickly pulled herself away from Vikram. Straightening her back, she wipes stray tears hanging on her eyelids.

  “I need to get back to work.”

  The moment those words come out of Natasha’s mouth, she notices Vikram’s eyes grow narrow.

  “You aren’t going to work at the pub anymore.”

  “It’s not easy to find another job, especially in the era of economic slowdown.”

  “Let’s not discuss the economic condition of the country. I’ve had enough of these rants. You’re coming with me.”

  “I don’t want to go with you and why should I when we’ve never been friends. Except that one night, we haven’t shared anything, have we? On what basis, you’re asking me to go with you,” Natasha blurts.

  “Still, you’re coming with me.” Dark piercing eyes almost pin her dead in her place.

  “I don’t work for you. You can’t order me.” Natasha's voice turns wobbly. Her heartbeat quickens under Vikram’s unwavering gaze.

  “I can and you have to listen to me. Because even if you think we have nothing to do with each other, I desperately need you in my office.”

  “What?”

  “We want a reliable person to handle accounts and finances of the company. Our old accountant is retiring from work next month.”

  “I don’t have any experience in finance and accounts. I’m not eligible for the job.”

  “We’ll make you learn everything. Now no lame excuses.”

  “I have a job here. I work here. This is my life. How can I leave everything and go with you? It’s irresponsible,” Natasha groans, raising a brow.

  “Type your damn resignation and email it to your boss. Tell him you’ve got a job at Jaysingh Enterprises. Ask him how much you need to pay for quitting without serving the notice period.” Vikram’s commanding voice pierces needles in Natasha’s ears.

  “Have you gone out of your senses, Vicky? It’s not that easy. You can’t decide my life sitting on a roadside bench under the lamppost, in the middle of the night. I’m working hard to make ends meet and I just can’t leave everything behind and go with you.”

  “No more excuses, Natz. And no matter how much you hate me for calling you Natz, I will still call you with that name. Now come on. Don’t preach. Let’s get back to your house, pack your stuff up and we’re leaving tonight. I have nothing left to take care of here in Krishnagiri and I’m not going to let anyone stop me from taking you with me, not even you. Did you get that, Miss Natasha Malik?”

  Vikram rises from the bench and grabs Natasha’s hand before pulling her up.

  “This is abduction. You can’t force me to go with you.”

  “If worrying for your long-lost friend is called abduction in your dictionary, then yes, I’m kidnapping you. You’ll be my hostage until you get back to life again. I want that same nerdy female I did so want to date back in high school.”

  “You wanted to date me?” Natasha speaks as her feet follow the man in crisp white shirt and black tailored-fit pants.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Okay so you’ve found your missing piece of happiness?”

  “What?” Vikram lifted a brow. They were discussing the upcoming board meeting a few moments ago. Keshav's out of the blue comment irritates Vikram's senses.

  “It’s no longer a mysterious N now. Right?” Keshav smirks.

  “Good that you found out.” Vikram drifts his eyes away from Keshav and fixes them on his laptop.

  “She’s our new accountant, isn’t she?”

  “So you know that also.”

  “I’m surprised at how easily someone’s opinion changes with time. A few weeks ago you were like against any hiring. We decided to shift one of the Operations’ people to the Transactions. And then suddenly, you went ahead and hired a lady who has little to no experience in accounts.”

  “She needs help.”

  “She needs help, or you need her.”

  For such a blunt statement, Vikram doesn't have anything to say. His chapter with Natasha is yet to be written. He still has a fair chance of taking things forward with his old schoolmate. The same woman who unfortunately happens to be one of his several one-night stands. But would Natasha ever be able to come out of her gloomy past? Would she ever be able to see Vikram? The real man behind the facade of a cold-hearted, selfish, rich brute? Would she ever be able to forgive him for overlooking her the entire high school years while she was around him all the time? How could Vikram explain to her that it’s her reluctant nature and her simple plain looks that drew Vikram to her like a moth to the flame. Yet, he kept his distance. How he wanted to unravel the mystery of her deep brown eyes. Despite the burning sparks, he restrained himself from looking at her. He avoided her. Because he knew the moment he would look inside those innocent brown eyes, he would be a goner.

  He didn’t want to fall in love back then. His occasional flings and affairs were enough to keep him busy. He didn't want to fall for any woman because he knew love only hurts. It only brings pain. He had heard his parents fighting behind closed doors, yelling, screaming, throwing things at each other.

  When he grew up, he decided that he will never ever let emotions rule his logical thinking. He decided he would never marry. He would never have a family. He would never fall in love.

  But then he noticed Natasha. The nerdy girl in loose sweaters seemed like a tiny petal of rose. Fresh like a dewdrop. Fragile like a flower. Away from all those glitzy females that Vikram ever dated, Natasha was plain yet mysterious. Simple yet intelligent.

  Vikram was impressed with this dainty girl but kept his distance.

  Years later, when Vikram saw a stunning beauty in the pub, he instantly felt a connection with her. It’d been a decade. She had changed a lot. He couldn’t recognize her. Couldn’t recognize that the lady in black mini-dress is none other than his high school crush.

  The connection he felt with the stranger was strong enough, Vikram couldn’t stop himself from comforting her. And
though Vikram had taken an oath of abstaining from casual sex especially from crazy little one-nighters, he gave in to the demands of the sultry lady. He broke the oath. He broke his own rules. He slept with her.

  And then she was gone.

  Before Vikram could gather his senses, he suffered major setbacks in the business. Even then he kept on searching for the lady, wherever he could. He spent hours searching for her on the Internet. Days thinking about her. Weeks reminiscing the memories of that crazy night with her.

  Vikram has often felt that his remote past is colliding with his recent past. But whenever it happened, Vikram shook away the idea. He couldn’t believe that it’s Natasha. That the lady he met at the pub and later spent a night with could ever be the dainty girl from high school.

  “You lost in thoughts, I’m leaving.”

  Vikram hears Keshav speak. The chair is pushed, its feet scratching against the tiled floor.

  “All right, suit yourself.” Vikram buries his stare to the screen in front of him.

  The air goes silent again but despite the comforting silence, Vikram feels like a storm is raging inside of him. An emotional storm that’s not letting him to concentrate on anything other than Natasha.

  He’s not happy the way Keshav inquired about Natasha.

  What does he want to know?

  Should I go on the terrace, take a microphone and yell—I’m in love with my new accountant.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I miss you, Sam,” Natasha speaks, her cell phone cradling between her neck and right shoulder as she tears open the instant coffee sachet. She then empties the content in a black porcelain mug.

  “I’m happy for you. And don’t forget it’s only eighty miles. You don’t have to invite me to come there.”

  “You’re not a guest and you’re always very welcome.”

  “I know that, girl. Just kidding. Okay tell me how’s your TDH.”

  “What?” Natasha pours some boiling water in the cup, her phone still clutched between her neck and shoulder. The creamy beverage bubbles and froths, rising to the rim of the mug.

  “Oh ho. Mister Tall, Dark and Handsome—Vikram Jaysingh.”

  “Phew! You seriously have some long-lost love with acronyms. For a moment, I thought you were talking about some pregnancy-related symptoms.”

  “With that I remember you have an appointment coming up with the doctor next month. Have you zeroed in on any ob./gyn there? I have a friend there who recently delivered a baby girl. Do you want me to talk to her? She can help you with the doctor’s name and number.”

  “That would be great, Sam. With moving and all I almost forgot about the appointment. Thanks for reminding me.” Natasha pulls a chair and drops herself down on the cold wood.

  “Don’t take your pregnancy for granted. You’ve had enough of the hard days. Despite knowing that the pub’s atmosphere is neither suitable for you nor for the baby, you worked here.”

  “It’s because…” Natasha’s words trail as she sets the cup on the sleek rectangular table and clutches the phone.

  “Don’t you justify yourself, Natz. I know what all you’ve gone through. You did exactly what a pregnant woman without the support of any friend or family would do. You grabbed the single job offer that came your way—be it working in the pub. But now since you’ve got a desk job, take care of yourself and the baby.”

  “I will, Sam. Thanks for being such a kick-ass friend.”

  “Hell, yeah! Let’s rock and roll, doll.”

  Natasha laughs. The way Samantha beams on the other side, it seems like she is in her element.

  “What’s the thing, Sam? You look extra happy today.”

  “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  “Romeo and Johnny both have graduated high school with good marks. I’m happy for my boys.”

  “Hey! That's great news.”

  “Yeah. I would be happier if that son of a bitch gets to hear the news. Bastard is sleeping with a girl of his kids’ age.” Samantha curses her husband who long ago had left Samantha for a younger woman.

  “Now don’t ruin your day thinking about someone who doesn’t even deserve your hatred.”

  There’s a pause for a while.

  “You’re right, Natz. I’m not going to think about him anymore.”

  “That’s like my good girl. Now come on, smile.”

  “I’m smiling.”

  “No, I can’t hear you,” Natasha speaks into the mouthpiece.

  “You can’t hear someone smile.”

  “I can sense your smile, Sam, like you can sense my pain.”

  “Don’t make me cry, girl.”

  “Take care, Sam and send me a pic of the twins. I want to see their smiling faces.”

  “I will and I’ll send my laughing pic too.”

  “Awesome. Take care, Sam.”

  “You take care too, Natz.”

  A minute later, a cute picture of Romeo and Johnny arrives at Natasha's phone. The twins are all grins with medals and certificates clutched in both hands.

  Natasha is smiling, looking at the picture when her cell phone buzzes with another message. Now, it’s a picture of happy, smiling, and grinning Samantha.

  Her heart swells with happiness. Natasha feels her eyes glazing as she misses Samantha and her time spent in Krishnagiri. How difficult it was to start everything from scratch. Natasha was picking up the pieces of her life when Samantha came to her like a god-sent angel. Natasha had no job. She had a huge lot of emotional baggage. She was pregnant. She didn’t have any place to stay.

  Samantha offered her help. She helped Natasha in getting a job at the local pub where Samantha had already been working. She allowed Natasha to stay in her house until Natasha had her own place of stay.

  After admiring the picture for quite a while, Natasha sets the phone on the table. She then lifts the coffee mug to her lips.

  “Ah.” Relief washes over her as soon as she sips the hot creamy beverage. There’s nothing like your first cup of Joe in the morning.

  Sips after sips and Natasha feels relief slowly replacing the fatigue. It’d been a hectic night. Packing, driving, moving to a new place, new house, getting all the stuff arranged, setting up a home, all in one night. By the time the night ended, and the dawn spread its silky glow, Natasha was dead tired.

  Moving to a new house isn’t an easy thing even when you have a helping hand. Vikram helped her with everything but at the end it’s Natasha who endured the anxiety and the jim-jams of moving houses within a span of a night.

  She desperately needs to sleep. Natasha gazes the mobile screen. It’s past nine. Though Vikram hasn’t yet formally asked her to join office, she has received an email from Jaysingh Enterprises in the morning. It’s a welcome message with greetings. The email doesn’t tell her anything about her joining date. It doesn’t have any official offer letter attached to it.

  Should she go to the office and find out what’s been going on? Or should she stay put and wait to hear from them or at least from Vikram?

  A strange feeling envelops Natasha like a glove. Why Vikram is so kind and caring to her when earlier he never used to even look at her? There was nothing between them. No stolen glances. No tender touches. No accidental brushes of skin. During the entire high school, he maintained a sort of virtual distance with her.

  Then why does he want to help her now? Is it because he somehow knows her from the past or is it because he has spent a night with her? Does he do such favors to all his exes? Is he dating someone? Samantha said he’s single. Should Natasha also believe he’s single. How does it matter? Even if he’s single Natasha doesn’t have anything to do with him.

  Thinking that, Natasha rises from her chair and saunters to the kitchen sink. Her thoughts wander to Vikram. Last night’s events play like a film in her mind’s eye. She feels herself smiling. A tingle rushes through her body. Next, butterflies swarm inside her belly.

  “I want that same nerdy female I did so want to
date back in high school.”

  Vikram’s words ring Natasha’s ears.

  Why did he say so?

  Was he kidding?

  He can’t kid with me like that or maybe he can. I should not take his puns seriously.

  Natasha shoves any intimidating thoughts away from her head. She rinses the mug, wipes it with a paper towel and places it back on the shelf.

  Walking out of the kitchen, she marches to the bedroom.

  Once inside, she opens her suitcase and pulls out her black pants and an off-white blouse. She has very limited luggage. This solitary suitcase and few cartons of books and kitchenware. That’s it.

  Natasha spreads her formal clothes on the bedspread and gazes at them.

  Looks good for my first day at Jaysingh’s.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Send her in,” Vikram speaks into the mouthpiece.

  He wasn’t expecting Natasha in office at least not at 10 am in the morning. After a tiring night, she should be at home now. Yet, she’s here.

  Vikram puts the receiver down and rises. He then strides to the door. He pulls open the door and finds Natasha standing at the threshold.

  “Good morning.” She smiles.

  “My morning was okay until I saw you. Now, it’s a great morning!” Vikram grins. He knows he is showing way too much teeth, but then it’s okay when it comes to getting close with the woman of his dreams.

  “Hey!”

  Vikram notices blush rising to Natasha’s cheeks. This woman is gorgeous. Even in plain formal clothing, she looks ravishing.

  Vikram steps aside, pushing the door wider for Natasha. “Please, come in.”

  “I hope I’m not unwanted right now. I called up but your PA told me you were busy in a meeting.”

  “I wasn’t expecting you but it’s a nice surprise.” Vikram pulls a chair for her and adjusts it to her comfort.

  “It’s okay. You don't need to treat me like I’m your very special guest. I’m your employee, Vicky.” Natasha lifts her head and gazes at Vikram, sliding into the chair.