Accidentally Ever After

by Mariyam Hasnain

  “Since Rishabh is back, I can’t live in that flat anymore. Flat that you’ve given to me.” Natasha stops for a while and then continues, “I’ve bought a new house. I needed cash for down payment,” she speaks at once, trying to keep her voice steady and firm.

  It feels as if someone has sucked all the air from his lungs. His face turned ashen. Pain crawls across his face, covering his laser-sharp features. Pain of betrayal. Pain of heartbreak. Natasha feels her heart crying too.

  “You can’t work here as well. Did you get that, Natasha Malik?” Again, he pushes his palms against the hardwood of the table.

  “Then fire me.”

  “Shit. I can’t even ask you to leave.” Helplessness covers his face. His features softened, eyes drooping, brows furrowing. It feels as if tears are about to spill out of his gloomy eyes. Natasha fights back with her own tears. She can’t afford crying in front of him, not when he’s almost on the verge of leaking emotions.

  Natasha pushes the chair, its feet scratching against the tiled floor. “Thanks for saving my reputation.”

  She trudges to the exit, opens the door and comes out of his room without even throwing a backward glance at him.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Blood boils inside Vikram’s veins. He palms the glass paperweight and fists it hard. His grip tightens on the glass body. Next moment, the paperweight flows across the table and hits the sidewall, shattering into a million tiny pieces.

  Vikram buries his face in the cup of his hands. Tears spill out of his eyes. Emotions leak out of his soul.

  Natasha Malik I’m not going to leave you.

  A thought occurs to Vikram’s head and he picks up the receiver.

  “Inform Mister Purohit of Purohit Developers that I want to meet with him. If he agrees, arrange my meeting with him in the evening.”

  ***

  “Marriage. You want to marry Sakshi?” Mister Purohit narrows his eyes, sipping his cocktail. The club’s environment is eclectic and there is a female dancer on the stage, swaying on an old song. Mr. Purohit drifts his eyes from Vikram to the female in skimpy clothes dry humping the metal pole.

  “You heard it right.”

  Purohit doesn’t speak for a long while. He’s busy eye-fucking the dancer, who’s probably of his daughter’s age, twirling around the pole. Minutes later, he tears his drunken eyes away from the dancer. His hooded gaze lands on Vikram.

  “Sakshi is a free-spirited girl. She’s wild as a willow, ready to experience life as it comes. She’s interested in you that doesn’t mean she’s ready to commit for a long-term relationship or something as conventional as getting married. She’s yet to experience life. She has yet to see it. After all, she’s just twenty-one. I don’t think she will agree on marrying you. However, dating is a different thing. She might agree on that but that also I’m not sure because she was really upset the way you’ve behaved with her last time.” Purohit swirls the beverage in his long-stemmed wine glass before gulping it down in one greedy slurp.

  “I don’t indulge in meaningless dating and one-night stands. The only thing I can do to take the Krishnagiri project forward is to offer my hand for your daughter. In return, you’ll sign on the deal papers.”

  “Now, you’re talking like a businessman. Let me talk to Sakshi.”

  “Sure.” Vikram nods before downing his drink and slamming the glass on the table. Purohit has again gotten busy with staring at the girl who’s now taken the chair as a prop and is grinding and rubbing herself against its back.

  This isn’t Vegas nor strip clubs are a legit thing in this country. Still, bars and nightclubs sneak out ways to get semi-naked men and women on stage. Dry-humping the poles, the chairs and offering lap dances to eager men like Purohit.

  “I need to push off now. You want to…”

  “Let me enjoy the evening, boy.” Purohit smirks, eyes still fixed on the half-naked young woman grooving vulgarly on the neon-lit stage.

  “Goodnight, Mr. Purohit.”

  “Goodnight, Vikram. I’ll get back to you in a day or two.”

  “Great!”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “Hey pretty! what’s up!” Priya beams peering over the cubicle wall.

  “Hi, how are you? Long-time. No see. Where were you?” Natasha gazes at Priya as the later occupies the adjacent chair.

  “Got busy with some pending work but I’m not here to talk about work.” Priya’s eyes glint with mischief.

  “I know that. You’re looking for some gossip.”

  “No silly. I have a box full of gossips and news.” She edges closer and hisses against Natasha’s ear.

  “Spit it out.”

  “Guess what?”

  “What?”

  “Vikram Jaysingh is getting married.”

  The moment those words escape from Priya’s mouth, Natasha feels like someone has jabbed a knife in her heart.

  “With whom?” she asks, her voice wobbly, tremors of heartbreak crushing her heart in pieces.

  “With Sakshi Purohit of course. The alliance of two big real estate giants. This is going to be the biggest merger in the world of real estates in the past several decades.”

  “Th…t...'s... such a great news,” Natasha fumbles. Voice chokes in her throat. No matter how much relief this news has brought to her, she still feels dubious about her heart. What if her heart, her emotions, her feelings come in way of helping Vikram to get back his company? What if her heart fails her? No. She won’t let her feelings hover over her thinking process. Right now, this is the best thing she can do for Vikram. For the sake of Jaysingh Enterprises, for the sake of Vikram’s dream, she must sacrifice her love. She must keep quiet. She must behave normal. She must behave as if she knows Vikram only as her boss and not as a man who has been inhabiting her heart for the past several years.

  “Yes, it is. Now, we don’t have to worry about anything. Once the alliance happens, we all are going to have a safe and sound future. I’m even hearing rumors that all employees are going to get bonuses and twenty percent pay hike. And all these announcements will happen next week, the day of their engagement.”

  “Engagement?” A surprised mumble escapes Natasha’s lips.

  “Yeah. A little birdie told me they are planning to throw a huge bash. A party where Vikram would announce his engagement with Sakshi Purohit and the merger of the two big companies.”

  “Great! It’s party time.”

  “This is going to be a huge party. Mister Purohit will leave no stone unturned in making it a grand one. He has already bought an island in Fiji for his daughter and would-be son-in-law. After engagement, they would be off to Fiji for a pre-honeymoon thing.” Priya winks.

  “So, he’s cruising to Fiji after the engagement then who’s gonna take care of the pending housing project.”

  “Oh that will happen on its own, girl. It’s only the lack of funds that the project is trailing. Once we have enough funds, things will progress at a fast pace. We all are here to look after the work in his absence. And if that’s not enough, his right hand Keshav is here. He’s going to head the Krishnagiri Project. I hope we will wrap the project up on time and lure people in to buy luxury flats and penthouses." Priya takes a quick breath and speaks, "You know what?”

  “What?”

  “We’ve already got around thousand bookings in the last two days. I guess the rumor is circulating pretty fast, spreading like a jungle fire.”

  “Good for them.” Natasha exhales a cold breath.

  “For us too, dearie. I’ll get going now. I have Bob waiting for me in the lobby. It’s our wedding anniversary.”

  “Hey, anniversary girl. Wish you all the best, lovely.” Natasha rises from her chair and covers Priya in a hug.

  “Thanks love, and I learned you’ve got back to your ex. You guys have patched up?”

  “Yeah.” Natasha drops her eyes to the carpet.

  “Let’s plan a family outing together. You, your boyfriend, and kid and me and B
ob.”

  “Sure.”

  “Give me a heads up.”

  “I will. Take care.”

  “You take care too.”

  Priya pecks Natasha’s cheek and the next moment she’s gone, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions for Natasha.

  Has Vikram forgotten her?

  Has he moved on?

  How does it matter if he has moved on or not? At the end, he’s doing the right thing. This is the only way he can save his crumbling business.

  Natasha wipes the corners of her eyes and sniffs before getting back to work.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The party is in full swing. Since it’s a working day, for the convenience of the employees, the event is organized in the company premises itself. The terrace of the building is beautifully decorated with red roses and white lilies. The entire terrace is fringed with rows of big china vases with many roses and lilies in them. Several white-linen clad chairs with red ribbons grace the rose petal carpeted floor.

  The lights are many and installed in the form of lamps on metal pedestals at every corner of the huge deck. Soft instrumental music plays in the background. Vikram watches couples swaying on the mild tunes of an old number.

  His eyes every now and then wander to the entry point, looking for someone special. No, it’s not his would-be fiancé but a woman who has been living in his heart for god knows how many days, months, and years. He’s looking for Natasha.

  Vikram is in his thoughts when a huge hand lands on his back. He turns side only to find Mr. Purohit and Sakshi standing next to him.

  “How are you, young man?" Purohit strokes his back.

  “I’m good. How are you?” He glances at Mr. Purohit and then his eyes shift to Sakshi. She looks stunning in an off-the-shoulder golden gown, eyes gleaming with happiness.

  “As always—fit and fine.” Mr. Purohit raises his glass, amber liquid swirling inside the glass tumbler.

  Sakshi changes side and reaches out to Vikram, looping her naked arm with his.

  “You know, Vikram, you're a real charmer, man. Else, it would have been a Herculean tax to coax Sakshi for the wedding thingy.”

  “That's the only way to have him, Dad.”

  “Okay. Fine. Now you two argue and debate and keep this old man out of the battleground. Excuse me.” Mr. Purohit shakes his glass, sips the remaining wine. Next moment, he’s gone.

  “Dance?” Sakshi speaks extending a well-groomed hand.

  “Sure. Let’s.” Vikram takes her hand in his huge one, smiling. But only he knows how fake his smile is. How much he disapproves the whole extravaganza, the woman he is going to marry, and the entire arrangement with the Purohits. But what to do when life throws you curveballs. The engagement date is fixed. Still, Vikram is fighting an inner war with his own self. He wants to marry Natasha, but Natasha has her own family. He doesn’t want to marry Sakshi but there’s no other way out than to lure Mr. Purohit to invest in the crumbling company.

  Vikram is in his thoughts when the air stirs with a wave of awareness. A familiar fragrance wafts into his nose. He looks around and notices Natasha standing at the other corner of the huge terrace. Their eyes meet for a split second and Vikram feels his heart shattering into a million pieces.

  “Why do you want to marry me, Vikram?” Vikram is busy observing the woman in black gown at the other end of the deck when he hears Sakshi speak. He shifts his eyes to Sakshi.

  “Umm… that’s the only way to lure your dad to invest into the housing project.” Vikram smirks.

  “That would have been easily done had you just agreed on…” Her words trail as she smiles.

  “Sleeping with you?”

  Sakshi shrugs her shoulders, edging closer, grinding herself against him. “I mean… yeah… why a life-time commitment.”

  “I hate getting laid for a night or two. I’ve had enough of one-night stands that now I feel nauseous with a mere thought of sleeping with a woman for a night and then parting ways with her.”

  “You don’t sound like you belong to this world.”

  “Okay, so I’m an out of the world entity now. Right, Sakshi Purohit?”

  “I don’t know you, Vikram. You’re still a puzzle to me.”

  “You don’t have to know me to sleep with me.”

  “That’s what I’m telling you why we are getting married. I don’t know you, nor you have any intention of knowing me. We are two humans with crude sexual desires for each other. Can’t we seal the deal with a good-night fuck and go our separate ways. Easy Peasy!”

  “Haven’t I told you I hate casual relationships?” Vikram clears his throat, “I think it’s complicated for you.”

  “You’re complicated, Jaysingh and you’re making my life complicated too. Something which I never want to.”

  “So you don’t want to marry me?”

  “I want you in bed. I want you to take me, rough, raw, or tender or whatever way you prefer. I want to feel you inside of me. Your sight makes me go crazy. It clouds my vision with all the possibilities. Things we can do together, reach together, explore together. If the cost of living up my fantasies is to marry you, I think it’s not a bad bargain.” An evil grin decorates her face. And in that moment, Vikram hates her like he has never hated anyone before, not even Natasha’s boyfriend. Like father, like daughter. Cold and calculated filthy-minded rich assholes.

  Vikram jerks back, his hands dropping off Sakshi’s body as he steps back.

  “Don’t like my idea of marriage? We can still seal the deal with a good-night fuck, Vikram. Why do you bother investing your whole life into something routine and monotonous? We can be only fuckbuddies for a night or two or for a few weeks or till the time we want to. We can still go to Fiji and enjoy our stay there. Then, come back, announcing that we didn’t get along well with each other. The deal will still be on. Dad doesn’t bother a thing until I’m happy and satisfied.”

  “I’m sorry, but I need to go.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’ve something to take care of. It’s urgent.” With that said, Vikram trudges to the exit of the terrace. His steps are long, quick and hasty as he marches to the elevator.

  All the time while Sakshi was blabbering about marriage and sex, his eyes were on Natasha. He noticed her talking on phone. Though far away from him, Vikram could see her face losing color. She grows pale and ashen. He saw worry covering her otherwise pretty face. She rushed to the exit. She abandoned the party without letting anyone notice her slipping.

  Vikram reaches the ground floor and asks the receptionist.

  “No. There’s no record of her leaving the office. She’s still in the office.”

  “Thanks.”

  Vikram rushes back to the elevator and reaches her floor. She’s nowhere to be seen.

  Where the hell have you gone, Natasha?

  Not finding any way to trace her out in a maze-like building, Vikram calls her as he reaches to his own floor. The bell rings. Hell. It rings. She’s on his floor. What is she doing here? Million questions ring inside Vikram’s head as he keeps the phone close to his ear. Her phone stops ringing. Vikram dials it again and this time he can’t hear the ring.

  Hell. She has put it on silent. Vikram shoves his mobile phone in his pants’ pocket and follows the vibration.

  Soon, he is standing at the threshold of his room. Vikram never locks his door. He pushes the door.

  “You, here?” A knot forms at the back of his throat when he notices Natasha standing near his chair.

  “I’m sorry, Vikram but I need this money.” She stuffs the cash in her blue leather purse before zipping it up.

  “You’ve stolen money from the drawer, Natz?” Vikram speaks as he enters the room and walks to the table.

  “I’m sorry but please let me go.” She scoots past him and rushes to the door.

  He grabs her by the elbow. “Not before you tell me where you are going.”

  “I’m going home, dammit. Where else
would I go?” Vikram sees tears forming in her eyes.

  He loosens his grip and let go of her arm. She looks at him one last time and then she’s gone.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  “Shit, I got late.” Hoping that this won’t be her last day of work at Jaysingh’s, Natasha steps out of the elevator and strides to the floor. She flashes her card at the door, pushes the door and enters the brightly lit floor. The moment she reaches her cubicle, she hears heels clanking against the tiled floor. Next, Priya storms into her tiny cubicle like a wild wind.

  “I have bad news for you. In fact for all of us.”

  Natasha sets her purse on the desk and glances at Priya who’s now leaning against the wooden desk. Gone is the chirpiness, now she looks dull and ashen.

  “What’s the thing?” Worry crawls inside Natasha’s head. She chants a silent prayer just as a gloomy thought of Vikram backing off from the engagement occurs her head.

  “Vikram has canceled the engagement.”

  “What?” Natasha feels her eyes narrowing. “Shit,” she mutters a curse.

  “There’s not going to be an alliance between Jaysinghs and Purohits. He has confirmed this in a press release a few minutes ago.”

  He has ruined everything.

  Natasha clutches her forehead, dropping herself on her office chair. “What would happen now?” she mumbles.

  “Exactly that’s what we are all worried about. Mister Purohit has withdrawn all his support. He has ceased the release of funds. The company is going to shut down sooner. We’re all doomed.” Priya exhales a cold ragged breath.

  “He can’t do this.” Natasha rises from her chair and scurries past Priya, exiting the cubicle.