Thirty Days

Thirty Days : Teaser

“Listen, I've got a great deal for you,” Anu declared, pressing hands on the table. He arched a sly eyebrow up, smirking at her mockingly. “Deal for the boss?”

Anupriya rolled her eyes, “The office hours are over, and we're not in the premises anymore. So, if you can just cut the dirty crap, hear me…”

“Although I really don't have time for your rubbish, just bark!” Cutting her rudely, he lifted his coffee mug and took a swig. Anupriya merely burned him with a dark glare. She had to control the urge to throw the coffee on his face. Taking a deep breath, she came to the point. “If you cancel this marriage, I'll do whatever you want!” 

Yuvaan laughed, scornfully. “That you will do, even after we get married. What kind of a stupid deal was that? You wasted my time. See you at the office tomorrow, Ms. Acharya!”

He was about to get up when she stopped him, “I love someone else.” She spoke in a breath and exhaled. Phew! There she said it. And wow, it was much easier than she thought. 

Thankfully, he paused. “Who?”

She swallowed a breath and eyed him with a renewed confidence, twisting her lips. “I don't want to tell you.”

“Alright, so what do you want me to do about it?” He asked her, boringly. She stared at him with her jaw hanging to the table, “Are you serious? Just say a no!”

“No for what?” 

Anupriya curled her fists and gritted her teeth. He was fucking testing her patience. She didn't want to create a scene. Not in the restaurant he owned, she was sure he'd have her thrown out in zero point one second. “For the marriage, Yuvaan. Say no to marry me.”

“What rubbish.” He left the chair and threw a disgusting look at her, “I'm leaving first. Don't be late to the office tomorrow, or consider this month's salary gone.”

“Hey!” She called desperately. “You can't do that.”

“Then tell me the name of your lover?” he demanded and then rephrased, “The guy you love! Who's he, your crush? Celeb? A one sided love? A book boyfriend? For God sake, is he even alive? Don't tell me you're imagining this?”

“He is real, and he's someone you don't know!” She spat, standing up and meeting his eyes. His gray eyes - like his father's - glowed differently before he caught her chin and pulled her face near to him, “I don't know?”

“Yuvaan,” Anupriya shuddered from his touch. 

“I have known you since grade four, mou. You were the ugliest girl in the class, so it's clearly not your body doing the charm here and well, I don’t even want to comment on your brain. You failed in grade seven…”

“I suffered from measles.” Anupriya defended herself, hotly. “I had applied for medical leave, you punk.”

“And you're not into crafts. I mean I have seen you draw. Even a nursery kid draws a better butterfly than yours.” He snickered as if she never stopped him. Anupriya felt the smoke coming out of her ears when he left her, “So I don't know how anyone can like you, unless he's dead and desperate.”

Anupriya swatted his hand off and hissed through her tightly clenched jaw, “Fine. I am unlovable. Just don't marry me.” 

“So you can marry your imaginary lover?” Yuvaan grilled her more, “Unless you give me a name, I won't believe…”

“Amir Yusuf! Happy?” She blurted out and winced upon realizing her mistake. If this pig opened his mouth in front of her father, she was gone. A part of her mind decided to stab him with the fork on the plate, but then she didn't wanna go to jail. 

“Yusuf! A Muslim?” Yuvaan’s thoughtful voice caught her attention and she scowled at him, “Yes, he's a Muslim. So? I love him and we're happy together. Our religion doesn't…”

“Lucky man!” Yuvaan chuckled, breaking her sentence. “He can marry again.”

“What?”

“His religion legalizes four marriages. So, I’m happy for the lad. He doesn’t have to put up with you for his entire life. Can get rid of you any time and marry someone else. Even better, marry three more girls.” Yuvaan shoved three fingers in her face, laughing. 

Despite the sizzling anger in her, she didn't say a word. It was a waste of time to talk to him. Yuvaan Jerk Prakash was a big time egoistic, unapologetic and batshit crazy man. She kept looking at his cocky grin and cursed him inwardly with the nastiest words in the world known. 

“Ouch.” He winced, touching his lower lip. “I cut my tongue. You are really brutal with your cursing, Ms. Acharya.”

Ignore him, Anupriya took her bag and faced him. “Whatever. I told you the truth, tell everyone that you won’t marry me.” 

“But I will marry you. Why should I lie?” He said smugly, wearing his goggles. Anu gaped at him, “But… I love… love someone else, Yuvaan.”

“You don't understand this, do you?” He grinned, pulling her closer to him by her arms and pecking her open mouth. “You don't need to love me to get married, manni mou. Hate is enough for a lifetime.” 

More like a short update it is, isn't it? The word count is 800 plus. But, I just didn't want to edit and kill the soul of this scene. So, the leads are quite familiar, hmm? Yes, this will be a sequel to FIVE WEEKS, and will focus on the second generation. I've one more story planned for another character in this story, but I can't decide the name.

I hope you've read FIVE WEEKS but if you haven't, it's ok. You can still read this one as a standalone. Don't ask me about the update schedule. I will update whenever I have time, but I'll try to make it twice a week. I said I'll try, not promising. See you in the comment section. 

Love,
Shruti Omar.