Ishq hua (Duet 1)

Chaptet 25: A war of wills

Aira:

The silence in this house regarding me had become a living, breathing thing.

A presence heavier than the people in it.

I had never thought being surrounded by so many people could feel so lonely.

Arsh had been all the same, still denying everyone from speaking to me.

Since the past three days, after Mr. So called annoying Oberoi ordered me to never wear a Saree again and broke a few of his expensive and rare collection cutlery saying that's what I wanted, he hadn't been home.

And I hadn't been listening to him.

Who does he think he is? My owner or something?

Sochta hai khareed rakha hai mujhe.
Unke orders tab sunu jab mujhe koi salary dete ho?

So, in Aira rebellious spirit, I did the exact opposite. I changed my entire wardrobe. Every single dress, jeans, and top? Gone. Replaced with sarees. Silks, chiffons, organzas - pastels, deep hues, embroidered, plain - I bought them all. It's a little odd since I am still new to wearing sarees regularly, but damn, do they make me feel beautiful.

At first, it started as pure defiance. A way to get on his nerves. To see the flicker of irritation in those dark, brooding eyes when he would realize I'd yet again ignored his absurd demand.

But the irony? He wasn't even here to see it. Not a single reaction. Not a single scowl. Nothing.

And that, somehow, made it even more infuriating.

But who cares? He will return one of these days and find me doing all the things he asked me not to.

I mean, imagine the fucking insanity I have been feeling because the one person who speaks to me hasn't graced me with his presence for three straight days.

But he makes sure I follow through his demands - and oh he has his loyal pet to announce the so called demands to me.

And yet they are not allowed to speak a word to me.

I might as well have been a ghost wandering the halls, invisible to the men who worked for him.

But ghosts didn't have to eat.

Didn't have to sleep.

Didn't have to sit at a dinner table with that one person who hismelf refused to acknowledge her.

I did.

And I was sick of it.

Being forced to have breakfast, lunch as well as dinner with him is a fucking nightmare with his eyes grazing every inch of my skin, his knees touching mine, his hands serving my food but his lips not speaking a single word and his eye never meeting mine.

It's so much peace without him.

He hasn't even called once to check on me.

Good for me, becuase these days, I had been spared from staring at his face for the day.

Arsh was staying at home, taking care of a few things that according to him needed his quick attention.

And I didn't care one bit about his so called import tasks.

Arsh Oberoi can go to hell for all I care and beside this was a golden opportunity to bring my plan in action.

For the sake of my plan, even if his so called loyal followers wouldn't speak to me, I would make them.

And I knew exactly how.

Food.

It was the simplest bribe. The easiest excuse.