Is she really a stranger? Who’s she?
Just as a thought of knowing the lady from the past occurs to Vikram’s head, he opens his eyes.
What?
When Vikram thought of devouring the sight of the beautiful siren sleeping next to him, his vision is clouded with an empty bed. Her side of the bed is empty, made-up and cold. This means she has left long before Vikram has risen.
What the heck? Where the hell she has gone? Bathroom? Yes. She must be there.
Vikram quickly rises from the bed. Not bothering to cover his nakedness, he scampers to the en-suite and pushes the door. The plush bathroom is empty.
Vikram marches back to the room. His eyes dart across the room. He couldn’t find any discarded clothes on the carpet—neither the lady’s nor his. Then his gaze lands on the sofa and sticks to the stack of his formals, folded and placed neatly on top of one another.
Shit. She left without even bothering to say goodbye.
Vikram massages his temple unknowingly dropping himself down on the bed. After pondering over the woman's insensitivity and heartlessness for a while, he looks around. He's getting impatient. Anxious to find a single clue that the woman might have accidentally left for him.
Vikram feels his eyes literally growing wide. A sliver of hope shines in his lonely heart, as his gaze lands on a piece of white folded paper on the side table.
He quickly reaches the table and grabs the paper. Unfolding it, he holds it close to his eyes.
Thanks for the night.
~N
Shit. A disappointed grunt escapes Vikram’s lips as he reads those words scribbled in uneven cursive. What the hell does this N mean? She didn’t even bother to give me her full name. How the hell I’m going to find her now?
Vikram rises from the bed. His feet falter as he trudges to the en-suite. Again, he looks back. When his eyes long for the beautiful woman he had spent the night with, he is greeted by an empty room and an empty bed.
Much to his chagrin, he himself feels empty inside. What has gone wrong with him? It was just a sweet little one-nighter. Why the hell he can’t stop thinking about the woman? One-offs are not new to him. In fact, he has had several crazy one-nighters like this before. It was after he felt overwhelmed with meaningless sex day in and day out that he’d sworn off casual sex.
Then what the hell happened to him last night? He felt ensnared not only because the woman looked damn sexy but also because he felt an old connection with her.
What does this all mean?
Does he know her?
If he does why is he not able to recall who she is?
Though many, he remembers all his past affairs. He never fails to recall the faces and names of women he has dated in the past. Then why the hell he couldn't recognize her?
Vikram is in his thoughts when his cell phone buzzes.
Scrambling to the side table, he grabs his phone and puts it close to his ear.
“Yes, Keshav.”
“Boss, you’ll be needed in the office at ten. There’s a meeting with the Purohits.”
“It’s Christmas day. Off day, is it?” Vikram scowls.
“But you nodded for this meeting. Wanna reschedule?”
"Yup. Eleven a.m.” Vikram massages his forehead as a sudden ache rises from the back of his neck and travels to his head.
“Don’t tell me you are still in Mumbai, Vikram.”
“Yes, I am. I missed the evening flight,” Vikram growls.
“You okay? You don’t sound all right?”
“I’m fine. I’ll be there. Get all the details ready. Ask Priya to meet me in the conference room before meeting,” Vikram speaks into the mouthpiece.
He then disconnects the call, drops the mobile phone on the side table and marches to the en-suite.
Inside, he launches himself onto the glass-paneled shower floor and turns on the shower knob. Warm water starts drumming his head. Vikram closes his eyes, leans down and pushes a hand against the cold tiles of the wall. He wants the warm water to take over his hangover, diffuse the headache, and cure the emptiness of his heart.
Why the hell is he feeling unnerved? Is this bullshit in any way related to the woman running away after spending a night with him? Or is there something darker, more powerful, more mysterious lurking behind all this?
Whatever. Vikram decides he’s not going to think about his one-night stand anymore. He finishes the business and gets out of the bathroom with a white towel wrapped around his waist.
He reaches the sofa and picks up his folded clothes. The moment his hands touch the fabric, last night’s events play a fresh film in his mind’s eyes.
Light brown doe eyes dance in the depth of Vikram’s heart.
Ah!
She must have touched these clothes before folding them and placing them on the sofa. Her fingers must have formed the creases of the pants and jacket and the shirt. Her touch still lingers on the fabric. Her fragrance still hangs in the air of the room, in bed, in those crumpled sheets and blanket.
No matter how much Vikram denies the intense magnetism he feels toward the lady, he couldn’t get himself an inch away from her thoughts.
She is with him the entire time, clustering his head, flustering his thoughts. Vikram couldn’t deny her presence even when he checks out of the hotel. Drives to the airport. Flies back to his city and reaches his office.
Chapter Four
Months later…
“So, we’re all set. Lancaster’s deal is super important. Let’s be on toes,” Vikram speaks as he finishes the presentation and slides into his chair.
“You all can leave now.” He dismisses the meeting burrowing his gaze to his MacBook.
“Keshav, I want you to submit proposals to Purohits as soon as you can. Revise the pricing and see if they’re agreeable on the latest change of plans,” Vikram speaks as the rest of the staff crawls to the exit door.
“Yup, boss. I’ll be doing that and sharing the proofs with you before sending over to them.”
“Great! If we get this deal, we’ll be able to get the expense covered and start making profits.”
“Smart work pays off. I’m sure we’ll get the deal,” Keshav says.
“Smart work, huh…” Vikram leans back and swivels his chair, twirling the black ballpoint pen between his fingers.
“Yes, of course. Since the day you’ve taken over the charge of this crumbling company, things have been improving at a fast pace. I hope Jaysingh Enterprises will soon regain its old status.”
“Yup. It will. I’m bound and determined to get Jaysingh Enterprises back to its old glory.” Vikram throws his head back on the headrest and gazes at the ceiling.
“You look disturbed, boss. Is everything all right?” Keshav asks.
“Well. Not exactly.” Vikram still gazes the ceiling, the ballpoint pen still twirling in his fingers.
“What’s wrong?”
Vikram doesn’t speak. All the time, his eyes are either sticking to the ceiling or opening and shutting on their own accord.
“Tell me, what’s the matter, Vicky?” Keshav rises from his chair and reaches out to Vikram. “I know you since we were kids and I’ve never seen you in such a bizarre mood ever."
“Bizarre?” Vikram smirks, shifting his focus from the ceiling to his childhood buddy’s face.
“Yes. Bizarre. You’ve always taken things in stride. Then why such a sorry face. You look like shit. Like you haven’t slept for ages. What’s the thing, Vicky?”
Vikram looks at his friend as Keshav leans against the edge of the table and stares at Vikram.
“Do you know someone whose name starts with N?”
Keshav doesn't speak and only stares at Vikram.
“There are plenty of folks whose names start with N,” he speaks after a long while.
“No. Someone from our school days or probably from college.”
“What?”
“Someone from the past.”
“Who? A woman?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, come on Vicky. It was you who used to be a woman’s magnet, and it was I who envied you and we did have a fight over this. Remember?”
“Yes. I remember everything, every single girl I dated back in high school and even during college, but I couldn’t recall a girl whose name starts with N.”
“What is so special about this N thing?”
Vikram takes out a folded piece of paper from the front pocket of his jacket and lifts it to Keshav.
Keshav narrows his eyes as he grabs the paper and unfolds it.
“I see.” Keshav lets out a cold breath. “So it’s your one-night stand behind all this.” He stops for a while and then continues, “But dude, since when you’ve started thinking about your one-night stands.” Keshav smirks, turning around, and sliding back in his chair.
“It’s not just a one-night stand with any random woman. I went sober a while ago. You knew that, didn't you?”
“Sober?”
“Sober is not always related to alcohol.”
“Really? Since when? Is sober the new name for abstaining from insane sex.”
“For fuck’s sake, will you stop this? I thought you’ll help me finding out N. Rubbish. You’ll never improvise.” Vikram grits his teeth, rises from the chair and reaches the glass window. He looks down at the streams of morning traffic. From such an extravagant height, vehicles on the road look like several ants crawling in lines. Vikram pulls out a pack of Marlboro Red from his pants’ pocket. He then picks a cig out and lifts it to his mouth, pinching it between his lips. Pulling out his pocket lighter from the front pocket of his jacket, he lights up the cigarette and took a long drag.
Vikram is observing vehicles creeping behind one another when he feels a presence around him. A warm hand lands on his shoulder.
“You need a break, Vicky,” Keshav says.
Vikram exhales, cancer stick dangling at the corner of his mouth. He turns around. Brushing past Keshav, he saunters to his chair, and once again slides into it.
“A holiday you mean?” Vikram taps the top of the cigarette with his index, flicking the ash off it, letting it fall in the silver ashtray.
“Yes. A holiday. Just you and me.”
“We aren’t dating, are we?” Vikram smirks, securing the cig back to his mouth.
“Oh, come on, a boys' chill-out kind of thing—a bachelor party. What say?” Keshav slides into his chair, brown eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
“You think we can afford going on a holiday right now?”
“You don't have to worry about all that. There would be plenty of time to chill out and booze in Krishnagiri.”
“I think we’re going for a land deal there?”
“Land deals suck the heck out of me. I seriously hate dealing with legalities and all. Do you think I can tackle the two-day ordeal without chilling out in my favorite pub?”
“Do we have pubs in Krishnagiri?” Vikram stubs the cigarette out in the ashtray. Pushing back his chair, he stands upright and saunters to the door.
“It’s expanding at a fast pace. It's no longer the old sleepy town it used to be,” Keshav says.
“Do we still have mango farms there?” Vikram pulls open the door.
“Of course they are there. You can’t imagine Krishnagiri without mangoes. But not as extensive as they used to be when we were kids.”
“This isn’t good news,” Vikram says as the two march past the many cubicles and enter the refreshment area with a small coffee vending machine.
“I know. Commercialization has taken a toll on the city.”
“Hmm.” Vikram lets out a cold breath.
After filling their cups with black beverage, they walk to the guest lobby and sink into the giant leather couch there.
“So are you in?” Keshav asks crossing one leg over the other.
“In for what?”
“For the night out at Krishnagiri.”
“Only if we manage to get the deal.”
“Done.”
Vikram sees Keshav’s mouth curving with a winning smile.
Chapter Five
This isn’t the first time Vikram is visiting Krishnagiri. In fact, the small South Indian town used to be Vikram’s refuge from the tyranny of Mister Jaysingh. The senior Jaysingh was a man of rules and regulations. And while Vikram had a very sheltered and protected childhood, there’s always been something amiss in his life. Perhaps, it’s his parents’ everyday arguments and fights that kept Vikram away from enjoying the naivety of childhood. It was after coming to Krishnagiri, at his aunt’s farmhouse, Vikram felt at home. Else, the giant mansion in the city always felt like a haunted castle with a ruthless beast inside.
“I don’t know why Mister Reddy has chosen the crowded Cosmos to sign the deal.” Vikram glares at the crowded street as the Mercedes navigates through the busy roads of the Krishnagiri downtown.
“I think because it’s the oldest pub in town. You remember when it opened. We used to go there every Saturday, stealing tickets from your dad’s pocket.”
“How can I forget that. That was the only thing I loved about childhood. Coming to Krishnagiri and staying in the farmhouse and then roaming around the city are the only memories I cherish about my childhood. Rest has all gone to settle in the dump folder of tarnished memories.”
“We had some crazy fun times at Cosmos, Vicky. Do you remember when we hit on the same girl?”
“Yeah.” Vikram smiles shifting his head from the window to Keshav.
“I still remember the color of her scarf.”
“Maroon.”
“Hell. Yes. You too haven’t forgotten. Do you remember the girl’s name?”
“Umm… I think I do.” Vikram massages his temple and then speaks, “Madhulika Rao.”
“Hell, yes. Madhulika.” Keshav beams.
“How eager we were to meet her again,” Keshav speaks.
“And the funniest of all this was that we both were hitting on her the same time.”
“Yeah.”
“But indeed you’re good at recalling names.”
“I remember them all.”
“Except Miss N. Right?”
Vikram pinches the bridge of his nose as doe eyes flash in his mind’s eye.
It’s been months since that night, but the memories are still fresh in his head and heart both. No matter how hard he tries, he couldn’t forget the sultry beauty even for a second. Vikram has tried everything to find her out. With a single letter N and nothing else, it was impossible to find the lady. Even then Vikram fought tooth and nail. Contacted his old friends and acquaintances with attempts to get a single piece of information about the lady, but he failed. Miserably and hopelessly failed in tracing out the doe-eyed beauty who took Vikram’s breath away.
“Hey, we’re here," Keshav hollers pulling Vikram out of his thoughts.
The car halts in front of Cosmos. And though it’s been decades since Vikram visited the pub, the old structure looks familiar and very much in its old glory. It feels as if the owner or caretaker of the pub has left it as it was years ago, perhaps to preserve the old charms of the eclectic pub.
At least, there are certain things that are still the same as they were years ago. Cosmos seems to be one of them. Vikram feels a tad better. Though he’s been constantly thinking about the upcoming land deal with the Reddy's, it's his one-night fling that keeps him occupied all the time. But even then, he feels good about his visit to Krishnagiri.
When a few moments ago, he was frustratingly annoyed over the idea of having a meeting at Cosmos, now he feels light-hearted and happy. Sometimes, it’s good to travel back into the past, taking a trip down the memory lane, visiting old cities and places where you’ve been in the past. Just to break the monotony of life. Of late, Vikram’s life has become quite routine. He has buried himself in work so much so that he hardly has any time left to think about relaxing and rejuvenating.
A year ago, Vikram was summoned to come back to India
to perform the last rites of his dad. After the funeral, when Vikram was all set to go back to Italy, he had to stay back. He had to take charge of the collapsing legacy—The Jaysingh Enterprises. Vikram became the reluctant owner of the collapsing empire. Empire that was once flourishing had gone to ruins because of looming debts and market manipulations of the competitors. Vikram couldn’t deny the responsibility that’d been dropped on his shoulders. After all, he’s a man of his own rules and principles. In his dictionary, there’s nothing like showing your back to responsibilities even if they possess the stamina of changing your priorities.
He took the charge of the crumbling business and since then he’s working day and night to help Jaysingh Enterprises regain its old glory.
“Let’s get into the wolf’s shoes,” Keshav hisses, adjusting his tie knot as they enter the dimly lit pub.
“What?”
“We’re going to finish the deal, man. It’s better if we shed our good boy skin and get into the grooves of real businessmen.”
“You mean the cold calculated ones.” Vikram smirks swaggering past the tables and chairs.
“You’re right.”
The moment they reach their reserved table, both Srinivas and Srishankar Reddy stand and greet them with smiles.
Chapter Six
“Ready to rock the night, girl?” A hand lands at Natasha's back as she smooths out the collar of her white blouse, buttoning up the top button.
Plastering a weak smile, Natasha ties the strings of her white apron forming a bow at the base of her back. She looks at Samantha for a moment and then lets out a sigh of what sounds like frustration.
“Life happens, Natz. I know it’s hard. Chill, babes. I’ll be taking care of the tables. I’ll call you should I need any help. So sit back and relax." Samantha strokes Natasha’s back.
“You’re already tripling your shift, Sam. I don’t want to feel sorrier for you.”
“Nobody should feel sorry for anyone. You’re helping Kiran, filling for her when she’s struck by an awful flu, and I’m helping you so that you and your baby get some rest.” Samantha grabs Natasha’s hand and takes her to the easy chair in the waitresses’ room. “Sit back and take a nap or two, let the baby sleep as well, before I summon you to get back to work.”
Accidentally Ever After Page 2