Chaahat

Chapter 26: Sleep

Xavier watched Riya in his arms, he wanted to spend his nights holding her and spend days gazing at her. Her serene face glows under the dimly lit room. Her chest rises and falls rhythmically with each breath, a soft melody in the quiet room.

He traces the urge of her cheek itch his fingertip, marvelling at the softness oh her skin. Riya stirs slightly, nuzzling closer to him, her hand landing on his chest and fingers curling around the fabric of his shirt. Xavier can't help but smile at the sight. The vulnerability reflecting on her face pulling the sterns of his heart.

Leaning down, he presses a gentle kiss to her forehead, whispering sweet nothings in her ear into the stillness of the setting sun. In Riya's arms, a sense of completeness that he's never known before. And as he holds her close, her cherishes the moment.

His thoughts are interrupted by a text notification in her phone. He picks it up, reading it to himself, "You shouldn't have done that, you shouldn't have gotten close to him."
A soft rustling sound catches his attention, a faint unease prickling at the back of his neck as he notices a shadow passing by the crack beneath his door.

The slight flicker so quick that he almost misses it, not wanting to is this chance, he gets up. His senses on high alert s he reaches the door, he hesitates for a second, looking back at Riya. He doesn't wan to leave her here, but this is more important.

Opening the door, his breath catches in his throat when he sees the shadow disappearing around the corner, swallowed by the darkness.
With adrenaline running through his veins, Xavier carefully follows the shadow.
The shadow scurries down the stairs until it reaches the now empty courtyard.

Xavier rushes down, looking around to find the shadow. But he can't find it anywhere, like it disappeared in thin air. Not understanding what happened exactly, he looks around, running up the stairs before coming back down. He knows there had been someone, but now he can't seem to find him.

Not wanting to miss his chance, he immediately calls Shourya to inform him. And in a few seconds, he sees Rohan and Shourya rushing down. A baby's bottle in Rohan's hand as he skips down the stairs and under other circumstances would have caused a laugh , but not today.

"He was right here. I just know it, I saw him upstairs and followed him down."
Xavier tells the men what he saw as he watches the door open the Haveli close.
"I'm certain he hasn't left, and all the guests have. So whoever this sick stalker is must be somewhere here."

The men split up to ensure they can cover the entire Haveli in a short period of time. Meanwhile, in the quiet room, Riya stirs in her sleep. Her eyes open slightly as she unconsciously reaches out for the warmth of the man whose arms she had fallen asleep in.

Confusion clears the sleepy fog in her had when she doesn't find him beside her. Insecurity hits her like a truck, gnawing at her insides. Riya sits up, pulling the sheets tightly around her as if seeking solace in its embrace. The faint scent of Xavier liners in the air, adding to her insecurities.

Memories flooding her mind of the moments she shared with Xavier just before she had fallen asleep. The faint scent of Xavier ligers in the air, mingling with the slightest bit of the evening sun peeking through the window.

"Does he regret it?"
Her whisper echoes in the empty room. Questions swirl like a storm in her mind, each one more haunting than the other. Wrapping an arms around herself, Riya's sadness begins to turn into frustrations. Vulnerability spilling down her face in the shape of hot tears.

With a deep breath, she makes a silent vow to confront Xavier head-on whenever she sees him. Confront him for his actions, demand an explanation. She throw the blanket off her and rushes out, back to her own room. A few minutes after she leaves, Xavier comes through the doors.

He's been looking for the stalker, so he thought to ensure Riya is safe. As he crosses the threshold of his room, his heart sinks to the pit of his stomach. Finding an empty, devoid of the warmth and presence that had filled the room not so long ago.
A sense of unease washes over him, mingling insecurity.

His eyes are set on the blanket that is pushed to side, evidence of how harshly it's been pushed. He isn't sure if he's done something wrong or if she's left because she regrets everything.
"She left just now."

A deep, husky voice breaks Xavier's trance and he immediately knows who it is. The voice is familiar yet still unrecognisable. Xavier turns, coming face to face with the man he's been hunting.
"I knew it."

A smirk makes its way on the stalker's mouth as he moves past Xavier.
"I knew it must have been you"
Xavier's words cause a laugh to erupt from the stranger. Xavier's hands curl into a fist as he watches the creep sit on the bed.

"This smells divine."
Xavier watches him whisper the words as he runs his fingers on the bedsheet where Riya had been lying.
"Why?"

Sakhsham looks up at Xavier, "Why I did this? I did it to get close to her. She wouldn't give me the time of day for a long time. I begged my dad to get me a date with her for years, and Raj uncle didn't allow it. I texted her, I dmed her, I mailed her, I wrote her letter. Just to get her attention."

Xavier's lips turn into a sneer as he watches the man speak. With the other hand, he presses the record button on his phone in his pocket.
"I wanted her attention, she didn't give me any. She left me with no other choice."

Sakhsham takes in a deep breath before lying down on the bed. Xavier cringes as he watches the sick man cover himself in the blanket before he buries his nose into the pillow that Riya had been using.
"And finally she gave me attention. Finally."

An eery smile covers his face as he cuddles against the pillow, and a split second later, his smile turns into a pout. "But then she gave attention to you. How rude of you to get in the way?"

Xavier's defence rises through him as he waits for him to finish.
"A poor, ex-army man turned bodyguard, who has a daughter as his only family. Maybe he has a father, but he has no clue where he is. How can he get in my way. Me, who has a multimillion dollar company, who can keep up with her expenses."

Insecurities runs through Xavier, unsure of what to think.
"Maybe she's just having a faze, but just remember, you're not worth her."

His words echo through Xavier's ears when he hears Shourya and Rohan come through the door. Xavier doesn't notice anything that happens after, Sakhsham's voice continues to run through his mind.

HERE YOU GO!
SEE YOU IN THE NEXT ONE!