PAINFUL PLEASURE [COMPLETED]

45. Action

AVNEET’S POV

“Do they have a warrant?”

"Yes, ma’am,” the security guys said.

“We’ll be there,” I said and ended the call.

I sank on the bed, and Siddharth was immediately beside me.

“What happened, baby?”

I lifted my tear-stained face to meet his gaze. “Police are here.”

“We expected as much. Don’t worry, they’ll go after some interr-”

“They’re here to arrest you.” I cut him off.

“What?” he asked in disbelief.

“They have a warrant,” I sobbed in his chest.

I wanted to stay strong; I really did, but it wasn’t happening. I was feeling too many emotions and too much sadness to not break apart at this moment.

“You love to see me in handcuffs,” Siddharth joked.

His lips trembled, and it was taking effort for him not to break down, too.

“We have to explain the situation to them,” I said, getting up and washing my face. My eyes were red. They weren't swollen yet, but we were getting there.

I brushed past Siddharth, but he held my arms. He laced his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.

“Once we go down, you’ll be the only one who comes up,” he started.

“No, we will-”

“Shhh,” he silenced me. “Listen to me, baby. Stay strong, okay? Stay strong for me. I will come back, and we will be back to being a happy couple. Till then, stay strong and know that I love you.”
I nodded.

He loosened his hold on me, and I walked towards the elevator. I looked at him, gulping down every inch of his beauty. It hurt too much to look, but it hurt even more to look away.

“I don’t remember the last time I slept without you,” I confessed.

“I won’t be gone long, baby.”

The elevator door opened. We held each other’s hands and walked out in unison. Inside, we show weakness. Outside, we show unity.

The policemen stood in a group at the entrance of the penthouse, accompanied by a few female officers too. They watched us come out, hand in hand, walking too close to each other.

Closer than a victim would walk to her abuser.

“Officer,” we acknowledged.

“We have an arrest warrant against Mr. Siddharth Nigam,” the main guy said.

“This warrant has no basis. You only have the word of mouth of an unknown girl and a three-second video, which could mean anything,” I said.

“The judge deemed it enough evidence to issue the arrest warrant.”

“The judge? Or the money currently warming his pockets?” I shot back.

“Questioning the law is also a crime,” he reminded me.

“Questioning corruption ain’t one.”
“Let us do our job, ma’am. We do not intend to create a scene,” he said.

“We’re amidst chaos, far past just a ‘scene’. You must understand, office. This whole thing is a lie. I’m his wife, and I'm telling you that he has never even looked at me the wrong way.”

“Men tend to act differently around women not related to them.”

“My husband is not this kind of man,” I argued.