When Daren entered the room, he sensed it was not the same room he had left. The captor took off his blindfold and left. This room smelled nice. It was homely and comfortable. It was a sweet smell. He took in a deep breath, loving its feel. The room was modernly furnished. It had a TV and a sofa set. There was a huge double bed in the centre of the room.
‘These guys sure know how to pamper a guy’, he thought, smiling to himself.
Just then, the door of the bathroom opened. Shocked, Daren turned around, and it was a girl. She was very pretty; you could even call her beautiful. She had a pear shaped face and her hair was tied untidily in a bun behind her face, just to keep them out of the way. But still, she managed to look beautiful, and hot and attractive. Her body had all the curves in the right places, and it was a sight. Daren felt the odd impulse to go near her, to touch her.
“Done examining me are you?” Her voice was sweet and high pitched, but was filed with venom. Her look was hostile, like she could kill him right then and there. This was by far the scariest encounter Daren had had, since he had been kidnapped, apart from the punch, of course. It had been painful, not scary. Her face was contorted with rage. Clearly she was furious.
“Hey, I’m Daren” he said, putting up his hands in surrender. “Who are you?”
“Back off, dude.” she said with another death glare and walked towards the bed.
“Nice to meet you too. But I didn’t catch your name.” Daren was surprised at himself. For the first time in his life, he was flirting with a girl. There had been many instances of things happening the other way round. But him flirting? Yeah, that was a first.
The things getting kidnapped could make you do.
She sat on the bed, facing him and put her legs up, setting the pillows so she was more comfortable.
“Who are you guys? And what do you want with me? I’ve already told the old people I am not going to pay a ransom, but they don’t believe me. And I am telling you again. You are getting nothing. I repeat nothing. I don’t slog so hard and earn my money to just spend on drumheads like you. So you let me go or kill me. I don’t care.”
Daren was hurt just listening to her. The part of her dying just pierced his soul, made it bleed. But hell why did he care? He had enough problems of his own without worrying about her dying, and … wait, did she mention ransom?
“You have been kidnapped too?” he asked, totally surprised.
“Umm.. yeah. You aren’t one of them?” she asked looking at the door, through which he had come.
“Jesus, no. I was called to inform me that I had just been selected for the interview round of a scholarship. I knew I would clear the written test. I went for the interview and here I am.”
“Who are you?”
“Daren, I just told you, honey.”
“no, I mean what are you? Like, businessman? Or…’
Daren did not mis the fact that he got off with calling her honey. That was progress.
“Nothing. A poor high school nerd, interested in a scholarship that would pay his bills and help him study further.”
“So why did these people kidnap you?”
“Bugs me. And why did they kidnap you”
“Obviously,” she rolled her eyes, “They are after my money. I am the heiress of a multimillion dollar empire. But damn me if I even let them get a penny from it.”
So she was rich. He could see that from her attitude.
“But if they call your parents and threaten them to harm you, they get the big bucks, right?”
She winked, “No parents.”
“What? I’m sorry.”
“What did you kill them?” she was suddenly angry and suspicious.
Daren backpedalled, “No, I- of course not.”
“Then what are you sorry for?” She said. “Its irritating for people to keep apologizing for something like that. It drives me nuts.”
“When did it happen? Do you want to talk about it?” Daren said soothingly, comfortingly.
“No.” it was firm cold and hard.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Daren decided to switch the topic.
“so how are you here?”
“I got a call for a business appointment, said it was urgent. Got kidnapped halfway through. My bodyguard was on leave that evening.” She said bitterly.
“How old are you?”
“That’s rude to ask a girl.”, she said pointedly.
“yeah, but did you just say’ business meeting’? You are involved with business??”
“I told you my parents died. So who handles the company? Ta-da me And.”she said pointedly, “Don’t go by my looks. I have many other qualities too.” She winked.
Daren shut his mouth. She was smart. Nice.
But what was so nice about it, another voice in his brain said, good for her. Why the hell was he feeling such weird thoughts ever since he came to this place? He was doing things he never would have done in any other circumstances, and he didn’t even have a reason for them.
This place was really driving him crazy.
