What if...??

24: Part of me

To make the air lighter, she joked, "But couldn't you think of something new? Pasted my idea on me, I didn't thought you to be a cheater. Tsk..tsk." He just chuckled in response.

.

Next day they bid goodbye to the place where the made some of their best memories.
Flying to reach their home and to their family.
No matter how good the vacation was it had to end sooner or later. The bittersweet goodbye was the hardest.

.

"Movie date (you pick + our first date is still pending! You wasted your money, remember!!!)."
"Stargazing"
"Dancing in the rain."
"Coffee date."
"Bake a cake with me."
She read out loud as the sat in the flight, his head on her shoulder, "Not bad Mr. Kapoor, but I think this is a gift more to you than me!" In response he just snuggled more in her, hiding the blush which formed. A sly smile played on her lips, as she continued to read while running her hand through his hairs. She can very well imagine Ram covered in flour and sugar, playing with the ingredients more than actually making the batter, and even somehow if she managed to bake a cake he would impatiently pacing around asking when the cake would be ready to eat every minutes. No doubt she would love that version too.

Some chits contained the lyrics, she knew most of them which was shocking to him as she sang the words while reading.
"Cause all of me loves all of you. Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections."
"When I look into your eyes it's like watching the night sky or a beautiful sunrise well, there's so much they hold."
"You've been my inspiration. Through the lies, you were the truth. My world is a better place because of you."
"And when you smile. The whole world stops and stares for a while. 'Cause girl, you're amazing. Just the way you are."

"There still is a lot to learn darlin. Wait and discover." She answered as he kept staring her with astonishment, eyes wide and round. An oddly large chit caught her attention, as she unfolded and read she was moved,
"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don't know any other way to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams."

It was an extract of a sonnet by Pablo Neruda, which she high-lighted in her copy. Unable to swallow the lump of sentiments down her throat she just kissed his forehead before placing her head above his, drifting into slumber.

.

Landing home they were greeted by Vik and Kunal. Together the 4 of them made there way to Kapoor Mansion, freshening up they all visited Adi and Bri.

"Welcome back Jaan." Brinda hugged him as she greeted them.
"Where is my boy?" He asked excitedly.
"Huh Ram, you forgot me so soon! You didn't even said hello to me let alone hug me!" Adi complained. Everyone laughed seeing him whining and ballooning up his cheeks. Just then a shrill cry rang, gathering their attention, Brinda and Adi made a dash in the direction of the sound. Soon she came out with a bundle of joy who ironically was crying at the top of his lungs. She rocked him gently till he calm down and now began to laugh. Ram took him in his arms and gazed him in pure adoration, the two other boys came over his shoulder and began to make funny and to be perfectly honest creepy face at the baby who just laughed harder in response. After a while the toddler slept peacefully.

"How old is he?" Priya asked.
"9 moths completed just a week ago." Adi answered.
"So what's the name?"
"Haven't given him one, waiting for you to come back." Bri answered, "But I know a thing for sure this boy in just a week became mine, I know he is adopted but I will never ever want him to feel that way. He became my part, part of my heart, part of my soul, the pieces got intertwined with his and I love him so much." Everyone became silent listening to her, Adi placed her head on his shoulder as he placed his arms around hers supporting her arms which held their baby.
"Angad." Ram said, breaking the silence. "Angad meaning part of your own body."

They couple nodded and happy tears forming in all their eyes. She softly whispered Angad and placed a kiss on his forehead.

.

A few days passed away quietly and peacefully. Ram grew a lot attached to Angad, spending time with him, playing with him, he even began to team up to create trouble for the new parents, which they did not liked a bit.

.

Sitting down exhausted due to the ceaseless meetings through the day, he made Adi take a week long holiday to spend time with the baby and bond who was bit reluctant knowing the work load. A message from an unknown number popped in his screen.

"After what I did, I didn't expected this calmness from you. I know my plans weren't successful but at-least I though you'll do something like increasing security around you wife. She got lucky in Seychelles but trust me she won't everytime and even if I won once you'll lose your everything."

The message left him in panic as he tried to call her. Once, twice he tried but she didn't picked up. Fear gripped him, breathing heavily he ran down the stairs into her floor and dashing into her office still she was no where to be found. A staff member happen to just pass through who informed him that she was in a meeting. He then remember that she informed him yesterday about this conference. He just slumped there in her chair, tired trying to normalize his breathing. He didn't have the faintest idea about time, it might have been hours or minutes or just few seconds but he didn't cared. His mind filling up with ugly thought clouding his senses. As soon as Priya entered worry carved on her face, her colleagues filled her up about her husbands condition.

Seeing her he just engulfed her in a bone crushing hug. Afraid to let go, his grip so hard it began to hurt her but she didn't let go, instead returned his embrace and rubbed his back ever so gently. After a minute or two he let go of her. Muttering a sorry for his behavior and making his way back when he felt a tug on his wrist, her hand rapped around his wrist stopping him. She without a word lead them through and settled themselves up the floor in his cabin, on the way she messaged his P.A. to re-schedule his meeting for the day.

Offering him the glass of water, she asked, "What happened Ram?" She rarely used his first name and wen she did they both knew she is in no mood of beating round the bush. Taking a few breaths he said, "I got a text, rather a threat." Her face harden, "A threat not to me but to you, you promised you won't hide these type of things from me so tell me did any accident happed during our stay at the island?"
"No, none I can think of." She said, revisiting all the days in memory, "Oh yes, do you remember the day I gifted you flowers? So when I brought and was crossing the road again an overspeed car just zoomed slight an inch away from me, but I didn't gave the incident much thought thinking the driver to be drunk which is a common sight there."
"And when were you going to tell me?" His voice laced with passive anger.
"Sorry, it just slipped off my mind the minute I saw you and saw the smile on your face when I gifted you the bouquet." She whispered, hearing her part of his anger disappeared.
"Please be careful luv."
"I will. Do you have any idea who might be behind this."
"Honestly no and that's what is scaring me. I can't lose you I will not lose you."
"You won't." She placed her hand on his cheek and other on his arms trying to reassure him.
"But who might be behind this? Neither can be Shashi or Mr. Sood or mo- Mrs. Nandani Kapoor she didn't know about our vacation." Ram tried to eliminate the people who couldn't do this.
"We didn't told many people about it, let's see who knew, Shubhu, Shivi, Akki, Sandy, Adi, Bri, Kunal and Vicky and none of them can do something like this. Tarun and Pawan couldn't, then who's left?"

After a minute both of them answered in unison, "Vedika."

A/N: Hi guys!
So I mentioned those lyrics cause I like them all too much but not enough to treasure them and the extract from the poem, that gesture means so much to someone who loves poerty or is a bookworm, having another person who cares enough to actively put effort to read something you adore is an absolute delight and Ram is someone just like the one who would do something like this.
These are my thought do share your own.

A cliffhanger, I love them!
Hold your breaths 'cause the next part might steal them away ;)

Until then....