The Heart Invader

CHAPTER ONE

Nothing. Absolutely nothing in the world could have prepared her for what walked in through the door. Although grammatically speaking it should be 'whoʼ walked in through the door. He was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her life. And not just good looking, he was tall, lean and impeccably dressed. He must be around thirty four – thirty five years of age. The minute he entered the tiny, cheerful little office, he seemed to dwarf it. Oh yes, he really was something. Stunningly gorgeous

thought Radhika. Right from his sharply tailored grey suit, open necked pale blue shirt and shiny black shoes. He should have been standing in a menʼs fashion magazine instead of the office of a play school. Just then he looked straight at her and she became aware of this strange sensation that felt like she was falling..........falling through thin air. Her stomach swooped and she surfaced to find herself staring into unfathomable molten brown eyes.
"Madam ji", Gopal, the security guard spoke just then. How come she hadnʼt even noticed him? And he was standing at the elbow of the man! But thank God

he had spoken. He had helped break the strange spell she had fallen under and she couldnʼt thank him enough!
"I told him that it was long past the scheduled time but he insisted on coming in." he was now informing her in a harassed tone in Hindi. Before she could respond to that he spoke. And his voice matched the rest of him, dark, smooth and arresting. "I am sorry for arriving late and for any inconvenience this is causing but I am here for the Parent Teacher meeting."
Finally she found her voice and her composure and turned to Gopal, "Theek hai Gopalji, thank you. Iʼll take care of things."

As Gopal exited she turned to the other man and said, "Actually sir the Parent Teacher meeting got over about an hour ago and almost all the teachers have left so I am not sure if can help you."
Although if you sit down I can spend all day looking at you........
She could feel the blush climbing up her cheeks. Which was ridiculous because he was a parent for Godʼs sake!
"Like I said I am sorry for being late but if I could just see the teacher concerned." He pressed. "This will only take a minute. Please?" his eyes pinned hers.
She felt a fizz going through her entire body. What was happening here? And why did that 'pleaseʼ sound like an order? But nevertheless he had said 'pleaseʼ. Any way it would be best if she got it over with. His presence was playing havoc with her nerves. And now that he had deigned to arrive he actually thought it would 'only take a minuteʼ? Which rarified world did he live in?
"Please take a seat Mr.........?"
"Madhav Dewan." He filled in.
"Thank you", he said taking a seat on the other side of the desk from her. Whoever she was, she was pretty. Very feminine, very pretty. For a minute there when he had stepped in to this
charming, sun-washed room he had been taken aback. She had been standing behind the desk sifting through a folder of some sort. She had looked up at him and immediately captured his attention with her beautiful honey brown eyes lined with black kohl. The attraction had been instant. And he could bet his last Rupee, mutual. She looked fresh and alluring in a pink and white churidaar kurti. Her hair, tied in a high pony tail fell to her waist in a glossy black mane. He was sure she wasnʼt a day older than twenty – twenty two at most. Somehow this instantaneous flare of attraction disturbed him as it was not only unexpected but also unwelcome. Madhav Dewan......on hearing that name Radhika felt a vague sense of foreboding. She cleared her throat, "and you are here for........?"
As he spoke somehow she already knew the answer. "Aditya Dewan."
The restless sparks of attraction were now instantly replaced by sparks of anger. She sat down on the chair across from him. He spoke again a little impatiently this time, "may I speak to his teacher please? Her name is Miss Radhika Kapoor. I had a note from her in his diary."
"A third note." She said frostily.
His eyebrows rose fractionally before he said, "yes. So may I? If you could just find out if she hasnʼt left....?" His deep voice bordered on the impatient agin.
"I am Radhika Kapoor, Adityaʼs class teacher Mr. Dewan. And yes you got yet another note from me because you wouldnʼt respond to the general circular which is usually sent." She had to force herself to speak calmly. "But now that I am here can we get down to it please? I havenʼt really got that much time." For a pretty little thing she had quite a firm tone of voice, he noted.
"You havenʼt got that much time?" she asked incredulously. "You have not