A Twist of Fate (Slow Updates)

14

Ananya was tying her shoelaces when another thought struck her. It creeped up on her and took her completely by surprise. She was so shocked that she discarded her laces in the midst of tying them and sat up straight to contemplate this thought.

How could she have not seen it earlier? How did she miss it?

"Oh God!!" She whispered to herself in horror. The whole time it was right in front of her and she never saw it. No wonder she was the 'chosen' one for this entire charade. She was a sitting duck. What a goose she is!?

She tired her shoelaces quickly and zipped her bags. She wore her jacket and wished she had some whiskey in a flask so that she might take a swing of it before challenging Vikram. She zipped her jacket grimly and the instant warmth provided the much needed courage.

Ananya opened the door and walked towards the stairs. She could hear Vikram speaking on the phone. She slowly and cautiously descended the stairs and looked at Vikram's back, who was busy walking and talking on the phone.

She took a step forward in indignation just as Vikram turned around. Their eyes met and both stopped short in their way.

"I'll call you back." Vikram said to the person on the phone without breaking eye contact with Ananya and cut the call.

Ananya couldn't breath. One glance from Vikram was enough to melt her and he was looking at her rather smoulderingly. She willed her lungs to breath in air and tried to hold on to her anger, to give herself the impetus to state her argument. She could hear her heart beat in her chest and could feel the butterflies take flight in her stomach. She saw Vikram slid the phone in his jean pocket. He was still wearing the same jeans he had worn in the morning. So much had happened in the last few hours that the fact that they had kissed and made out only a few hours ago felt surreal.  She glanced at his hand- the hand that had touched her intimately in places that no other man ever had.She felt herself turn red and hot around her ears.

"Ananya?" Vikram questioned her softly. He took a cautious step towards her like he was approaching a shy deer and suddenly she felt her anger come to her rescue. She was not a docile lamb nor was she a shy deer. She was a strong and independent woman and by God! She was going to be treated as one.

Ananya shook her head to clear all the 'love fog' clouding her head and formed the sentence in her head. Praying that her voice didn't quiver, she asked Vikram in a cool and controlled voice, "Who are you, Vikram?"

Vikram looked a little shocked, however, the shock was quickly replaced by a sly smile and Ananya felt admiration reflect in his eyes.

"What do you mean, Ananya?" he questioned her in return, copying her cool and controlled tone of voice as he leaned casually against the kitchen door and pushed both his hands in his jean pockets.

"You bloodly well know what I mean. There was a lot more going on than you are telling me. I may not have noticed earlier but you are ..." Ananya stopped as Vikram's sly smile turned into a lopsided grin.

"Please continue. I am..." Vikram prompted her nonchalantly.

"You are... NOT... what you seem to be." Ananya said. "You have been behaving in a weird manner. On some occasions you are quite chilled out but on other you act as if the house is under military seize, we have strange men dressed in all black sneaking around this house, the children are supposed to be hidden away, apparently even from their parents, the telephone is monitored, and then . . ." Ananya stopped as Vikram walked towards her.

"and then..." Vikram again prompted her as he touched her upper arm and Ananya felt a warm current travel from the point of contact to her entire body.

"and then..." Ananya started speaking and stooped as he rubbed her arm in warm circular movements.

"and then..." He asked her in a soft whisper, his lips barely touching her ear and to her chagrin, she found herself wishing that his lips would touch her ear. She felt like she was going mad, wanting his touch and hating him at the same time for his shady situation that she couldn't comprehend.

"and then... you are in possession of a weapon. So, WHO the fuck are you?" She asked harshly and pushed herself away from him. She was so wrapped up in moving away from Vikram's inviting warm arms that she almost didn't hear the main door open and softly close behind her. Before Ananya could turn around, she felt a shape blow on her neck and everything turned black.

***

Vikram caught her before her limp body hit the floor. His olfactory lobes were flooded with her fragrant scent and he felt a wave of longing tide over him. She felt so soft and vulnerable in her unconscious state, completely disarmed and amicable in his arms. He felt guilty for pulling her into this situation and uprooting her life but it couldn't be helped. He had felt proud of her at the way she had handled the situation so far and had shown extreme courage even in the face of the unknown. Her kind heart had immediately agreed to risk her own life for the lives of two strange children. His heart melted as he looked at her. Everything about Ananya felt very personal and intimate, which made him scowl at the man standing near the main door in anger.

"Why did you do that?" Vikram asked in anger. Sunil shrugged as if it was part of his daily job.

"She was asking questions." Sunil replied nonchalantly and side stepped Vikram who still had his arms wrapped around a knocked out Ananya and was slowly maneuvering her body towards the wall.

"So what? She was asking the right questions." Vikram grumbled even though he knew his reply was weak and futile and he already knew Sunil's reply.

"Questions that you are not at a liberty to answer." Sunil retorted just as Vikram had anticipated.

Vikram grinded his teeth in anger and balanced Ananya's limp body against the wall in a sitting position in silence.

***

Dear Readers,

Hope you all are doing well!

Honestly, I had not been able to inspire and motivate myself to finish this novella. The last few months have been an emotional roller coaster ride for me. I have had my sister's wedding, my beloved grandmother's death and the birth of my child  within a span of a few weeks.

However, the messages from you all made me realize that I must continue with the story and find the inspiration and motivation within myself to reach the end.

I hope this chapter is up to the mark and you enjoy it.  Do vote and comment so that I know you enjoyed it! :D