Hidden Hues Of Henna

Seena zori

Raghav wanted to laugh.

He was not one for finding delight in misery of others nor was he one to rub bad luck into a person's face.But,the way Pallavi Deshmukh was looking at him right now,simply amused him. He had arrived here to threaten her,make her apologise but now he wanted to rile her up, irritate her just as much as she irritated him.

The woman had guts he had to agree, even if begrudgingly. He could count on one hand the number of woman who have had the guts to stand tall in front of him and two of them were his own mother and sister.But Pallavi Deshmukh did not just stand tall before him,she also gave back just as good as she got.Like right at this moment when the situation is way out of her depth,when she is literally and metaphorically trapped with him,she still was trying so hard to be brave.

He watched as she stepped around the corner, maintaining a good distance from him,and went to the closed shutter. She tried to pull it up using the small handle present at its end but it was useless. The metal shutter was hard enough to pull up from this side and Farhaad's strong hold on the other side made it impossible for her to draw it up. She tried once,twice and a third time before giving up with a huff.

"What the hell is this? Why did you shut down my shop! And what is this saree ka dukaan nonsense!?" She fumed facing him.

"Nonsense you say?" He rose his eyebrows."This is isn't exactly the safe way to talk to -"

She cut him off harshly,"I will talk to you however I want to! I told you yesterday and I will repeat for you now-You,are not the boss of me! So cut the nonsense and get the shutter drawn up right now!"

Raghav chuckled lowly as he walked around to sit on the chair she was sitting at. Leisurely leaning back in the old chair and crossing his right leg over the left one,he eyed Pallavi Deshmukh who stood behind the small counter glaring at him. Her jaw was set,shoulders staunch and those exotic eyes were spitting fire at him.

"Chill saree ka dukaan!" He snickered."You are so uptight."

"You-"

He cut her off this time."I will get the shop opened only when you sit and talk with me."

"Talk with you?" She asked incredulously."Do you think this is joke? It's morning and I have a shop to run! So take your tantrums and go find somebody else to talk to!"

"This shop you claim to run...,"he gestured around the small room with a finger."..Is mine now." He pointed to himself, hiding a smirk.

She clenched her fists tightly before abruptly crossing her arms in front of her chest as if trying to hold back from hitting him. Raghav was too amused to care that she was practically shaking with anger.She looked brave he would give her that.He slowly raked his eyes over her figure and when she consciously fixed her hair, pulling them in front,he knew she was intimidated by him.She was just very good at hiding it.

That's what girls did anyway.Hide,act,lie and cheat. She was no different. His eyes hardened at the thought.

"W-why would you buy the shop?"She sounded hesistant.

"Simple. I have the money." He shrugged."Something which you apparently don't."

She scoffed shaking her head looking heavenwards.Meeting his powerful gaze she asked,"What do you want Raghav Rao?"

"Let's see..." He jumped up from the seat abruptly causing Pallavi to step back.He strode further inside the shop and tutted in a mocking way as if to mock the small size of the shop. Turning around he faced her,who was still standing at the same place,watching him with utmost attention.