Her Secret

Chapter 22 - HS

"HER SILENCE IS DANGER."

~*~*~

She was working in her office after Shaurya left. She gave him a copy of her schedule and they decided to meet for the party outside Oberoi Mahal at 8 PM. Shaurya suggested keeping their decision as a secret so as to rile up Kartik more than he would have been if they just informed everyone tonight. What Kartik doesn't know irritates him more than anything else. He's the know-it-all guy and it is difficult for him to live on with his life if something is not known to him.

"Now that no one would know who your date is going to be, bhai will be more than just intrigued." Shaurya winked.

Shaurya's words rang in her mind. She couldn't say she wasn't excited. She was very excited to see Kartik's reaction. But there was a hint of hesitation as well. Kartik, as she describes him, is a very unpredictable man. A trait none of his brothers share with him. He doesn't hesitate to take risks and his actions--half the time--are because of on-the-spot decisions. Unlike her, he hates proper planning and precision. He decides things for him at his will. No matter the cost.

While she is used to take calculated risks, stipulate all costs, advantages and disadvantages, Kartik doesn't give a shit. She had heard on the news and watched with her own eyes as he made decisions within seconds. Whatever the side effects might be are uncared for. Or maybe he does give a damn but it's the thrill that guides him.

Understanding Kartik is like doing a PhD in quantum mechanics. Even after that the chances of her to be able to transform herself into an ant woman are more than that of understanding Kartik. She might even squeeze herself into the size of an atom like Antman did, but she has a hundred percent guarantee that if she ever thinks that she knows Kartik to the point, he will do something the next moment that'll make her question it.

Like he strives to prove her wrong.

"Stay away from him."

"Not my brother. Not. Any. Other. Man."

His voice dances in her mind.

To Shaurya, she made it look like she agreed because it was fun. Making Kartik jealous would be fun, would be thrilling. She made him believe that she agreed because one, if she went with Naina rumors could be spread about her, and two, that in a boring place as this event, something worth remembering has to happen. Sure, it will be fun to watch Kartik become green in jealousy.

But that isn't the real reason she agreed. She admits that.

She agreed with Shaurya not just to have fun but also to spite Kartik. She wanted to prove to him a point. The warning that he gave her outside Oberoi Mahal is nothing to her, but some egoistic words uttered out of pure jealousy, and she wants to prove him wrong. She wants to show him who's the boss here. She wants him to know that the time when she listened to him is gone. She doesn't want him to control her anymore.

Those days are gone.

Along with them.

They are nothing but mere business rivals now to each other. Nothing else. She would never admit them to be anything else. When Shaurya called her his ex-bhabhi, she was rattled. When they were together, Shaurya had met her only twice. She wonders how just two meetings with her made him think of her as his bhabhi. She never once heard Ansh or Ary address Kartik as jiju.

Contrary to that, her brothers have always felt annoyed that she had a boyfriend. Shivansh especially. When she had brought the news home, her brother had huffed at her. Her quiet little brother had gone all CID on Kartik and when they first met--