FROM DARE TO LOVE (Editing)✔

CHAPTER 58

Next morning, I come at the breakfast table still dressed in my night clothes, loose orange and white tee and polka dotted shorts. I see Adnan is sitting at the dining table reading newspaper and Vimala busy in the kitchen making breakfast

'Get me cornflakes, Vimala' I called

'Ji, Didi' she replies

As I sit Adnan places his newspaper and looks at me 'Good morning, Bhai' I say resting my arms on the table. My smile fades on seeing his stern look. He removes his reading glasses and looks at me

'Why didn't you tell me you were working for Riad?' he says. I was dreading this moment. I take a deep breath and went on to explain that I didn't know Liqa was related to Riad.

At engagement, I found Riad is her cousin, I wanted to back out but then this project was really big and so I couldn't refuse.

Adnan nods his head; he looks down at his newspaper and then back at me 'Was she there too...' he asks softly. I look at him, I could see his eyes getting moist. I knew who he is asking about. Should I tell him everything about Urooj? That she is a widow with a son, Atif. Can Adnan bear the truth? I opened my mouth to reply, I have decided to come clean and not hide anything. But before I could say he sticks out his palm and stops me. Perhaps, he too knows he might not be able to handle the truth. Vimala then gets our breakfast and we eat in silence.

*

Two days to wedding,

I and Ruchi are sitting at a café in the Marriot hotel's lobby and sipping our black coffee. We have been here since morning 9, running around the place. We checked the room where all the guests will be staying, room 610, Riad's room. I smirk looking at the key card that read the number. As wedding planners, I and Ruchi have duplicate of everyone's key. Tomorrow all the guests will be coming. I and Ruchi just checked on the bridal suite clicking photos and mailed it to the decorators it will help them with the decoration.

'Yaar, one week was so relaxing and now work again' Ruchi sighs. I smile, she gets so whining. But my smile turns into a frown when I see Rishabh standing just behind Ruchi. He places his finger on his lips asking me to not give it away that is behind her. So, I pretend to listen to Ruchi blabbering about work and how tiring but fun it is.

She gasps as Rishabh places his palm over her eyes, I place my palm over my mouth to muffle a giggle.

'OMG. Baby!' Ruchi gushes happily on seeing Rishabh who flashes a very bright smile at Ruchi

'Hi, jaan' he responds and pecks her lips

'You here, Baby what a surprise...?' Ruchi says pecking his lips again

'Guys...please get a room' I say chuckling

'Oh that toh we will get' Rishabh says winking, Ruchi blushes. Rishabh then goes and gets a chair for himself from the table opposite us and sits beside Ruchi. He throws his arm around Ruchi and they begin talking. I smile, Ruchi's face lights up like 1000-watt bulb when she had seen Rishabh, their exchange of words and then them sitting and chatting, they are so much in love. I always had admired them as a couple, they are perfect. But now, watching them I felt a tinge of jealousy. I glanced sadly at my tattoo. Whenever I miss Riad I talk to the tattoo but sadly tattoo won't come talk to me, hug me, kiss me or even make love to me, it's only Riad who can do that. And now, looking at the two love birds, madly in love sitting in front of me I want Riad even more.

After we were done with the coffee, I went to check every room that has been allotted for the guests and send Ruchi and Rishabh to check on cars and the chauffeurs. Before departing I warned them to behave. They shrugged and nodded innocently. By evening we were done, I met Ruchi and Rishabh at the entrance. I decided to head home while they were heading for some private time together. I nudge Ruchi's arm winking at her, she blushes hard.

I am about to leave when I get a call from Hanan, I wondered why she has called. I pick up the call within few rings itself.

'Hey, are you free tomorrow night' she asks after the customary greetings. I replied in affirmative.

'Great, tomorrow you and Ru— (Ruchi, I corrected her) ya Ruchi come to the Marriott Bar. Liqa is super tensed before the wedding so, we girls are having her bachelorette party. Just us girls and drinks and of course the special men (I felt her wink from the other side).' she says

I felt little apprehensive, but she insists a lot, she added that I and Ruchi feel like family and therefore she has included us in the plan. There won't be many girls. I am tempted for a fun night. So, I agreed.

                                                                                                          *

Next morning, I get ready around 7am. Adnan is leaving for a meeting to Mumbai and will be back two days later, I accompanied him till the airport. Before leaving he asked me to be careful and take care of myself. I say him the same, we hugged each other and bid an emotional good bye. I come home and informed Vimala I am off to the venue for work and will come home late, I didn't mention about the party. I took my party wear; I will change in one of the rooms there.

I am greeted by Ruchi at the reception, this time she was late by fifteen minutes. When I glared at her she said she couldn't pick the dress for the party. Honestly, she is more excited for party than anything else.

I enquired about the cars that were to bring the guests, they informed me that few cars have left and some more will leave in the afternoon to get the remaining guests. The first set of cars will get Liqa and her family.

I send Ruchi to the bridal suite while I went to check on the rooms for the guests who are going come as first batch.

I started off with rooms in the 7th floor, on the floor where the bridal suite is. I kept going from room to room, the checked on the room service and if the room is perfect.

I felt my heart flutter when I stand in front of room 610, the door to the room is closed. I wondered if the room service is done for the room, since it's Riad's room I want it to be perfect as I don't want any inconvenience for him. Using my duplicate key card, I entered the room. I look around and the place looked neat and tidy, sadly there is nothing much to do in the room. So, I ticked the room on my list and am about to leave when I paused at the bed. I smile, this is the bed where Riad will be sleeping. I wondered how he will look like while sleeping. Does he sleep shirtless or with clothes on? Thinking about clothes my mind wandered to his cute butt and I blush.

'Yes...I have come...'I freeze on hearing Riad's voice. He is coming to the room, I looked around frantically, if he sees me coming out from his room he might think I am up to no good, so I quickly hid behind red and white curtain. I stand there still making sure I am well hidden and also my shoes aren't peeking from under the curtain.

I see him enter, he is on phone with someone. I peeked little from behind the curtain to have a good look at him. He is dressed in grey suit, white shirt and blue tie. Haye! He is looking so handsome. He squishes his phone between his ear and shoulder and unties he tie. I watch him remove it and fling it on the bed, then comes off his coat. I smile, he cuts the call when a room service enters his room carrying a red Samsonite bag. Riad asks them to place it on his bed. They nod and followed his orders and leave. The door closes and Riad gets on the bed. I watch him unzip his bag and fish out his casuals. I blushed watching him unbutton his shirt one by one, my fingers itched to do it for him. He shrugs off his shirt dropping on the bed exposing his chiseled broad slightly tanned chest and perfect abs. I felt slight drool leak from corner of my mouth as I eye him. Then he unbuckles his belt and goes to unzip his trousers when

"Chori Chori dekhe mujhko har deewana" shit! My phone rings loudly. I and Riad we both freeze.

'Who's there?' Riad says sternly looking towards the curtain behind which I am hiding. I gulped- busted.