Rikara - FF - Book | ✓

Story 2 || 20

Chapter 20 : The Lured Devil

Gauri looked at herself in the mirror. She was ready. The day had arrived, the one where Anika would tie the knot with Shivaay Singh Oberoi. Gauri had dressed up in a lehenga that Anika had selected for her. She wore beautiful clothes and jewelry and had taken the efforts to make a beautiful bun of her hair curling the dangling fringes that now kissed her neck's end.

Any other days she would've appeared beautiful to herself. But Gauri had lost the zeal to live. Nothing excited her anymore. Nothing mattered. She was drowning in some dark place. Frantically screaming for help, for anyone to see her. The waters were sucking her, mercilessly. It was becoming harder to keep herself from drowning into the depths. A loud sound brought her out of her imagination. She turned to figure out what was happening. It was the washing machine beeping. She sighed. The same old scene again. Until now it was just nightmares but now those nightmares had started wrecking her daytime. Gauri sat on the sofa as a tear escaped from her eye. Was this what people called depression and loneliness? Whatever it was, it was terrible. She got up quickly and grabbing her sling purse she stepped out of her apartment. She needed air to breathe. Once outside she felt better. She tried smiling. It remained an unsuccessful attempt. But she was glad that she actually tried. She promised herself as she sat in the auto-rickshaw that she would be a happy sister today. For Anika's sake if not her own.

* * *

Gauri's lips were now well accustomed to the curve that was far from being real. But everyone bought it including Anika. The world did not know that it was terribly fake. She turned slightly when she heard shuffling behind her. Her eyes met familiar, deep brown ones. Her smile slipped away. He smiled. That evil smile. He sat beside her his eyes showing amusement. Dark amusement. Gauri was tempted to slap him once more. Restraining her thoughts she turned her attention to Anika.

Her sister was beaming today. Her face glowed naturally in that pink hue. Every time she looked at Shivaay, she smiled. Every time he looked at her she would pass him a shy smile. Maybe it was love after all. Gauri, however, won't be able to tell it distinctly. Cause she had never fallen in love.

"Looking all pretty huh?" His voice sounded in her ear. She turned and their gazes met.

"It's my sister's wedding. I had to look my best."

"I wasn't talking about you," he smirked. "I was talking about your sister. Step-sister." His lips twisted into what Gauri would tag the devil's smirk. Gritting her teeth Gauri got up and walked around to the other side of the mandap sitting close behind Anika, directly opposite to the devil.

Omkara inexplicably was amused. Just one comment from him and she was so riled up, so affected. He couldn't help but let his eyes feast on her figure. How was a woman like her still single? His eyes glanced over her neck and then below. He was tempted to leave his marks there. She had held his eyes from the beginning ever since she worked for Jaanvi. But now that she was always so around and so much, more, closer she enticed him. Her scent tempted him. The sight of her golden skin lured him. He had had many sleepless nights ever since she had joined work. No woman had ever been so tempting to him. That's why he drew the line.

But every time he saw her. His mind wanted to flip his modus opernadi. In such a way that this game would give him more pleasure. But every devil had his weakness, and so did he. He was conflicted when he came to her. Unruly desires in making and warnings ran in his mind every time he laid his eyes on her. He reminded himself that she still possessed a threat to Shivaay's happiness. That one way helped him to keep his desires locked.

* * *

Gauri was happy that there had been no work, no office no dealing with the boss for the past three days. It was Anika's reception party. The lawn had been decorated royally. Her sister glowed in the golden gown she wore. Shivaay's hand would barely leave her shoulder. If it wasn't on the shoulder it would be on the waist. From past half an hour Gauri had been sitting alone at one of the corner tables. She had been noticing the looks they shared. She smiled, was that what they called desperation? It certainly wasn't one-sided. Anika's hands found their way to Shivaay's arms or chest every time she posed for a picture. Even if she didn't look at him there was a lot of movement in their hands. Gauri smiled. Maybe they were dying to be together. What made people so mad? Could another person mean so much to anyone? What was love? What was passion? What was longing? How was it to be intimate with someone? Would she ever know?

Who was she kidding? Her smile loosened and slipped away. She would forever be alone. Why would someone love her? Her mind echoed the bitter reality. She was alone. She had no one to call her own. And perhaps would die like that. The flashes of her drowning in the darkness came floating back before her. She was screaming but there was no one to hear.

"Madam?"

Gauri jerked out of her mind's darkness breathing heavily. The waiter looked at her weirdly.

"Would you like to have something?" He asked her politely putting before her the tray filled with expensive glasses. The glasses filled with clear liquids. He said a few names. All Gauri caught was vodka and champagne.

She nodded in a no taking a deep breath. The dark flashes again. What was happening? She no longer wanted to stay at that spot. This was scaring her. It was like someone else controlled her mind. It was happening more frequently now. Why? She had no clue. All she knew was it was terribly dark and scary.

She looked around there were sounds of cutlery clinking, people laughing and talking, and soft music. She felt the environment slowly turning into dark waters. Not again. She stopped the waiter walking up to him. She picked up a random glass and gulped it down. Then another. The liquid was sort of bitter on her lips and gushed down her throat like some hot lava. It took her two minutes to get over the bitterness. She felt better. The way you feel when you get rid of a tight hugging gown that clings to your body crushing it. She felt like that. Loose. She smiled walking away. Anika was forgotten and so was everything else. She felt better.

She had barely walked a meter down to the side of the huge lawn where the lights darkened and the noise faded away. She liked the feeling. God, she should've had a glass more of it. Anyway, the glasses were too small. Humming to herself she walked into the shadows. She wasn't afraid of the darkness anymore. There was an abrupt hurdle in her path. 'Ow' she squealed softly. She opened her eyes wider trying to fathom what she had banged into. A figure, a man's figure. "Sorry!" She muttered. The man turned around. His eyes shining brightly in the darkness. She bit her lower lip looking at him. Was she at fault or he was responsible for their collision?

Breaking out of her confusion as she felt her closer to the man she realized his arms were around her waist. "What?" She uttered. She could speak no more because there was a mouth over hers. Teeth nibbling at her lips. Freaking hell, what was even happening? She gasped on feeling the acute pinch on her lips. Eventually, something hot moved in her mouth. Jeez, she was being kissed!

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-Anami!♡