Chapter 33

Chapter 33
She lay on her bed, her eyes staring at the ceiling blankly. Silent tears escaped her eyes and vanished in her hairline. Sleep was far away from her eyes. Her face turned red due to continuous crying.

Her hand fisted over the blanket when she recalled the occurrence a few hours ago.

She strolled to her room when Avyaansh left, wiping her tears harshly from her face. She straightly went to the closet and dragged her suitcase out. Thankfully she didn't arrange her clothes and things in the closet.

She descended the stairs and was about to reach the door when a hold on her wrist halted her steps. A harsh pull on her arm and she landed on his hard chest. His arms wrapped around her waist in a tight grip.

She hissed and struggled to get out of his clutch. "Leave me" she spat while angry tears soaked her cheeks. "Seems like you didn't get what I told you earlier" He chuckled and jerked her closer to him.

"I am not staying here with you, leave me" she was adamant and he mused. He liked her fierce side. Her cheeks were puffed in anger while her nose flared and she looked irritated while trying to free herself from his clutch.

"You are not going anywhere. Not unless I want to. Got it" he said in his deep rich voice. If earlier she was scared then now she was furious at him.

"If I disgust you this much then why the hell do you want me to stay here with you? You already have someone who has your interest so kindly let me go" she shouted having enough of his manipulation.

"Well that's true but…" he trailed, peering down at her. "I still won't let you go," he said with a smug smile and that was it for her. "Leave me Avyaansh," she said with her gritted teeth. "Looks like you won't listen to me. Okay, fine then" he said, leaving her and standing in front of her.

Before she could take a step back she was turned upside down when he hauled her upon his shoulder while he turned back and started walking towards the staircase. When she saw they were moving away from the main door her struggle intensified.

"Put me down" She began screaming and hitting on his back with her tiny fist or trying to kick him but it didn't affect him a bit. Her hair was casting on one side while she didn't stop punching his back or trying to move her legs.

In her haste to get out of his clutch, she clutched a fist full of his hair from the back and gave a harsh tug earning a groan from him. She didn't stop here, she started scratching the back of his neck which earned a growl from deep within his throat.

All her attempts died down when he grabbed her rear in a warning and her eyes went wide in horror, hitching her breath. His grip was so firm on her ass. Her heartbeat quickened. She tried to pry his hand but his grip was firm. The next second she was tossed on the bed face first with her body bounced twice on the mattress with the impact.

She raised her head and her red eyes snapped in his direction where he stood with his signature smirk marring on his face. "What do you want huh?" She gritted her teeth as she sat up on the bed glaring daggers at him.

He chuckled before coming closer to her but this time she didn't cower back in fear like every other time. Instead, she glared back at him without breaking the stares.

Interesting.

"Now, now, I see my little dove is angry" he mused as if talking to a five-year-old. She inhaled a deep breath before saying "Let me go" He shook his head while standing at the foot of the bed with his hand inside his pant pockets and said "I have to give you the demo. Fine then" Saying this he took out his phone and dialed his assistant Tarun.

"Hello," a sleepy voice can be heard from the other side. "Tarun, cancel the meeting with Rajeev Singhania tomorrow and ask the finance team to indicate the legal notice of canceling the investment in the Singhania industry and…" Before he could say anything, Shanaya cut him in mid. "S…stop" she stammered looking at him in disbelief.

He glanced at her and ignored her, he again said "Yeah, cancel the deal. I don't want to do business with the Singhania industry and stop the investment…" He was talking when Shanaya jumped off the bed and ran to him. She grabbed his arms "Stop, please" Her eyes were shining with fresh tears and she gave him a pleading look.

"I'll call you back" saying he hung up the call and shoved his phone inside his pocket. "So, you still want to go, little dove" His voice filled with mockery while he tugged a strand behind her ears, she gulped down the humiliating tears and looked away. Her one bad move can cost her father to lose his business. "No" she whispered, pushing back the tears that threatened to come out of her eyes.

How could she forget why she said yes to Neil. Her father needs help and her clumsy action can crush Rajeev's year's hard work. If she was ready to marry Neil then she can also stay with her now devil of a husband just for her father's sake. "Good" Giving her once over look he left her room.

Her heart felt heavy and then a sob broke on her lips and she shut her eyes in despair. The whole night went for her tossing and turning on the bed but couldn't sleep a blink.

The morning sun rays scraped his face. He was sleeping on the bed. His upper body was naked and he was just wearing his trousers. Groaning in his sleep he pressed a remote button and the curtains of the window closed.

He got up from the bed extending his muscles. He walked inside the closet and got ready in his tracksuit. It was his routine to hit the gym in the morning before going to the office. He was running on the treadmill when his phone buzzed angrily for his attention. Pressing the stop button he walked towards the wooden bench where his phone was ringing. Grabbing his phone from the bench he saw Natasha's name flashing on the screen.

Sliding the green icon he answered the phone. "Avyaansh, come here quickly. You need to go on the site today" He heard her flipping through the pages. She must be busy checking the arrangements and files.

"Alright. I'll be there" saying he hung up the call while wiping his face with a towel. It was 7 in the morning when he came back to his room and went to the ensuite bathroom to take shower. He hissed when the water hit the scratched spot. A smile graced his lips recalling his wife's red face and how she was tempted to get out of his clutch.

He rubbed the back of his neck where the scratch marks were and glided his fingers in his hair thoroughly. After taking the shower he walked into his closet wrapping a towel around his torso and took out a grey suit with a dark blue shirt and brown shoes.

After getting ready he walked out of his room when his step halted when he crossed her room. He thought to check up on her if she was still planning something or not. Turning the door knob he walked inside her room. The first thing he noticed was that the curtain was still closed on the window and she was lying on the bed cover in a duvet from head to toe.

Walking towards the bed he called her "Shanaya"

No response.

Shaking his head at her stubbornness he again tried "Shanaya get up" again no response. He inhaled a deep breath he snatched the duvet from her face which earned a whine from her.

"Get up," he said with a stoic face. "I…" She looked at him half-closed while his brow knitted when he scrutinized her pale face. Her voice was just a mere whisper as she again closed her eyes.

Her face was unusually red, her cheeks had dried tears and her lips were pale. He crouched down and touched her forehead with the back of his palm when he acknowledged she was down with a fever.

"You have a fever" he muttered to himself while she turned on the other side whining incoherently. She was burning with fever and her head was aching a lot. "Sarah Auntie" he called her and after a minute she was standing in her room.

"Yes sir," She said looking at him and then at Shanaya who was laying on the bed while her hair was scattered on the pillow. "She's having a fever. Call the doctor. Make some porridge for her. Take care of her, I am leaving for the office"

"Okay sir, I will take care of her" she assured him. He knew Sarah would take care of her but still, he was feeling uneasy. After instructing her he left.

At RM Holdings;

"So they will be here by tomorrow…" Natasha was saying but he was not paying heed to her. His mind was occupied with someone else's thoughts. "Avyaansh" Natasha snapped her fingers.

"Hmm?" He responded. "Where are you lost? You need to leave to visit the site. I am talking with you and you are not listing to me" She looked at him with her furrowed brows.

"I am sorry, what did you say," he said and she huffed a sigh. "The car is ready and the team is waiting for you downstairs. You need to leave" Natasha said, standing up from her seat and collecting the files.

He has to leave to visit the site. It will be taking two or three days and they have to live there. When this thought crossed his mind seemed disturbed.

"Natasha" he called her when she was about to cross the threshold. She turned to him "I need to be home. Can you handle this site visit?" He asked putting all the files back inside the drawer which was scattered on the desk. "What?" She was bewildered.

"Yeah, I can't go there for three days. I need to be home right now" he said hastily grabbing his coat and car keys. "Home? But why?" She asked when he was about to leave.

Inhaling a sharp intake he turned to her knowing well she won't stop here unless she knows the reason. "Shanaya is sick," he let out.

"Are you kidding me, Avyaansh? This work is important and you…" he cut her in the middle with his raised voice "I know dammit but she's also important" he almost shouted while she flinched with the sudden change in his demeanor.

"You can't talk to me like that,'' After a while she said calmly but the disappointment was clear in her voice. He rubbed his face with both of his palms annoyed at his outburst. "I am sorry. But, I need to go home. I didn't mean to shout at you. Please handle this site visit and I will handle it here at the office"

"Avyaansh I don't just don't get it. What's running through your mind? On one side you want your revenge and on the other side your care for her. What do you want?" She had enough of him and couldn't stop the sarcasm in her voice.

"Don't forget she is the daughter of the enemy" She chewed on every word of her. "I know what I am doing. And I didn't forget the difference between the enemy and the enemy's daughter" His facial form was rigid and his jaw clenched. He doesn't like Natasha's prying into his personal feelings when he himself was perplexed at the change of heart. His words were the end of the discussion and he rushed out of the cabin without hearing her reply.

He knew, like him, Natasha is also a workaholic and she will easily manage everything. But what was bothering him was that he never raised his voice at her. If not that, they were best friends since college times and always together whether it was ragging other students or pranking other friends.

The whole university was aware of their friendship. Him being the playboy of the college and Natasha always being his rescue from his crazy exes. Natasha was a hard nut to crack and this was the reason no other boy dared to ask her out. Avyaansh was also protective of her; overall they were best buddies since university time.

Natasha was stunned by his behaviour and how he was restless to return home just because Shanaya fell sick had already proven to her that he has built a soft corner for Shanaya inside his heart. He was still unaware of this but his heart started feeling for her.

Whenever she was in danger he didn't back off from saving her. Whether it was the car blast, panic attack inside the elevator, and most importantly Neil. If Shanaya was involved in any matter he was always restless to keep her safe. Even in his revenge plan.

He just wants to blackmail Rajeev using her but won't let any harm come near her. And this was the top most reasons Natasha was afraid he would get distracted. They were already prying into Neil's background but still had no clue. As if someone is hiding his identity purposely. Shaking her head she walked out of his cabin and went downstairs where Tarun was already standing with the team and a van was waiting for them.

"Natasha, Sir is not coming?" Tarun asked walking towards her when he saw her coming alone. "I am your boss, not your colleague. Call me ma'am" she said with her gritted teeth and glared at him in return, Tarun gave her his signature smile. "Where is sir then?" He asked.

"He has some other work so he won't be coming. I will be accompanying the team" she said, turning towards the group of people ignoring his existence and walking towards the van.

"Great, let's go then," Tarun said excitedly, coming to her and showing her his toothy smile. "Why are you coming? Since Avyaansh will be at the office, you should stay with him as you're his assistant" She said, being irritated.

"Don't worry, Tarun will be going with you all. I will handle it here" Avyaansh said from behind coming out of the revolving door wearing his shades. "Thank you, boss" Tarun beamed and Natasha could only huff in annoyance.

Giving him her deadliest glare she sat inside the van and to her annoyance Tarun chose to sit beside her.