Your fabricated lie

10 - Back to one

Huff! Why is it so tiring? Is it because it is calm? Or else is it because of his presence? God! This is driving me crazy.

I badly hate this silence and I desperately want to break this. The only thing that is stopping me from doing such is the fear that we might end up talking about yesterday's night and clearly, I don't want to talk about it.

"Yesterday night…"

Shit!

"The climate is good right?" I diverted the topic, not letting him complete his sentence. He looked out through the window and nodded agreeing with me. In spite of my efforts, the silence didn't last for long.

"Anu, yesterday – "

"I wonder if climate has an impact on the stock market," I utter the words of stupidity. I mean, I know that was dumb AF.

"What?!" He exclaimed.

Though I didn't want to portray myself that way, it just happened and I can't help it. He turned towards me. "Anu, I – "

"Can't you see I am trying to avoid that topic?" I realized it was time for me to be honest. Moreover, I ran out of excuses. "I know, me avoiding this talk would do no good but I don't wanna talk about it". Though I was not looking at him, I could have a clear vision of his scrunched nose and complaining face.

I stopped the car as there was a red signal ahead. Having a feeling that I owe him an apology, I decided to apologize. I looked at him and said, "Look, I am genuinely sorry for everything. I know I fuc - I mean, I messed up. I was just out of control and - and your journal messed up my thoughts even more. So…"

"You regret kissing me?" He asked and for some reason, it hurt. I promise, I didn't want to sound that way. Somewhere, there was a mistake either in delivering my message or his perception.

Before I could correct my mistake, I heard a honk from behind and it turns out that the signal changed from red to green. Restarting the car, I drove.

While driving I said, "Adi, I didn't – "

"The climate today is good, isn't it?" He interrupted and I understood he wanted me to remain silent. From there on, we didn't have any talk throughout the drive.

In no time, we reached the crossroads. The left from there will take us to his house and the right will take us to mine. I pulled over to the left and looked at his saddened bunny face. I was staring at him and he was looking at his shoes, I guess.

Gulping the saliva stuck in my throat, "Adi…" I called out his name. He refused to answer me and remained like a statue.

When I was about to call him again, "On a scale of one to ten, how free are you today?" He asked. It took a while for me to do the mathematical and statistical calculations. I was not done with considering my schedule yet and he ordered me to get down. Though I am a woman and I got all the power, I tend to follow his orders. Particularly when he is angry.

He occupied the driver's seat and asked me - no, commanded me to sit in the passenger's seat. Like a fool, without knowing what he is going to do, I did everything he asked me to.

"I don't care whether you are free or not but I want you to spend your day with me," he said. As any other girl, I also had all these inappropriate thoughts hearing that statement of his. "Adi, my – "

"I insist," he started the car.

Looks like I don't have another option. He neither took right nor left. He took the straight road. After a while, the route seemed similar to me. I did pass through this in the past but not sure when and where it was.

I could feel his rage spitting out through his eyes. Of course, the speed was also a sign. At this rate, we are gonna get a speeding ticket.

When I almost thought of asking him to slow down, he stopped the car with a sudden break. My body leaned forward and then backward, causing a hit on the back part of my head. Inertia at its finest! Thanks to the cushion, it didn't hurt. Though there was no physical work, I was having a hard time trying to catch my breath.

Breathing heavily, I looked at him then looked at the huge apartment in front.

Wait, what?! Why are we here? This isn't right.

Yes, it was his home where his wife was killed. I mean, she is alive now.

I haven't cracked the chamber of secrets code yet.

Before I could at least prepare a list of assumptions as to why we are here, he got down and asked me to do the same. I was being too dumb and slow as my brain was busy listing out ifs and buts.

He pulled me out by getting ahold of my wrist. There were a lot of times where he pulled me or pushed me but this grip was a bit too hard.

He was still crushing my tiny wrist in the furious palms of his and I couldn't keep up with it. That was nothing less than hurting me physically.

"Adi…" I tried to unlock my hands. I failed. "Aditya," I yelled, pulling my wrists out.

"I can walk on my own," I screamed while my face contorted with rage. "When I am trying to step into your shoes, this behavior of yours is not at all acceptable".

Aditya apologized immediately and we made our way to the elevator. I kept rubbing my wrists gently as it hurt a lot.

While doing so, I noticed the eyes filled with sorry. Guilt was written all over his face. "Sorry," he mumbled softly.

I stopped doing that act as it was hurting him.

Shame on me to be this considerate!

It took ten minutes for us to get out of the elevator, unlock the door, step in and find a neat place to sit. He preferred to stand.

I looked around and the memories of the first time I visited with Karthik hit me and that is when my objective to retake this case slapped me.

Not to save Adi but to find who killed Karthik.

Today I am not sure why we came here but whatever the reason is, I promise to pull out the eyeballs, pin the fingers to the wall and drain out every drop of blood from the one who killed Karthik.