𝙁𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚

Chapter 36 - Unveiled secrets

❝Baithe baithe sochoo ye bhi
Ki tu hai mera
Ankhein dekhe rahein teri
Tune kya kiya?
Jaane tu na batein meri
Kahoo toh main bhi kya❞

Tiara's Pov

I sit upright and my eyes widen. I didn't expect a call from there. After a month of queries, I had almost forgotten about this. Calming myself, I ask the lady politely, "What's your name?" She answers immediately, "Rupali, Rupali Ganguly."

Akshit keeps on driving, but I can feel the shift in the air from fun to tense. He wants to question me but is restrained by this conversation. I start, "Well, Rupali, this is not a great time to talk about this. Can you please call me later?" That earns me a look from Akshit. She responds, "Sure. When will you be available, ma'am?" Akshit immediately murmurs a "Never," but I ignore him and reply, "Possibly not today, but tomorrow you can contact me after 5 pm." She says, "Okay, I will. Thank you," and hangs up.

I slowly collect my things and put them in my purse. The office was still far away. The silence stretches until he finally spoke, "Are you going to move out of the house?" He was looking at the streets, and for the first time, I wished he would look at me and talk while driving. I could've read him a little. Was he angry? Sad? Hurt?

So without thinking much, I honestly spoke, looking straight, "I was thinking of moving out. I started thinking about it the day you said you hate me." I notice him flinching a little at that, but I continue, "Well, I still think about it because I can't always stay at my best friend's place--" he interrupts, "Of course, you can." I continue, "Don't be stupid and let me finish. I don't even pay for it. I know nobody minds me but loves me, but I feel bad. And I am not sorry for feeling bad about it. I wanted to pay, but Aunty, Uncle, and Shri were all so against it. And anyways, I need a place of my own. Kiara wants to move in with me, and I want her to, but she doesn't know I don't have a place of my own. Neither do my parents. Please try to understand the problem, Akshit."

He doesn't respond for a moment, breathing deeply. He was angry. I can't even see his eyes through those glasses. Finally, he speaks, "There isn't a problem. You are just creating one in your head, Tiara. You can stay with us, and so can your sister if she wants. You can let her know about your stay, and I don't think it even matters if your parents know or not."

I look towards him and speak, "And what about paying? Can I pay?" "Damn it, woman! You are going to be my wife," he immediately responds, gripping the steering wheel in a death grip. My eyes widen immediately, and my cheeks flush. I open the window near me and let the wind cool my hot cheeks. It's been raining for days, and the air feels cold, but I still feel hot. He doesn't show much of a reaction. It's a slip of the tongue. I mean, he is not thinking that far, is he? He looks fine; he doesn't offer any explanation or apology. He must not think this far. Not with me.

I pretend that he never said those things and start, "Stop acting stupid, Akshit. My sister can't stay there." He goes along with my pretense and replies, "Well, then we can buy her a place to stay. I think she can manage by herself." I was bound to be silent. This time he wasn't wrong. His idea fits. But I was also partially thinking about how he said 'we,' not me, not him, but 'we.' Akshit Yadav was indeed a gentleman. But it will be me.

I was silent for a long minute, but I decide to speak, letting him know that I haven't given up, "You won't be able to do anything if I move out, just so you know." He doesn't respond for a minute but smirks and later says, "How naive of you to think I can't do anything. I'll drag you back home, to my room, and it won't be very pleasant, Ms. Sharma, but you will like it." I couldn't contain the shy smile. My cheeks are on flames, but I still speak, "You are making an awful lot of promises, mister!" He looks at me through those sunglasses and says, "I will keep those if you want," then stops the car and leans over me.