Dated: 13th February, 2024
Word count: 4k+
Target: 70+ votes and comments

BTW your author officially turned 18 today 😌

12 | Her Heaven |

Urvi:

I stared at the empty room in front of me. I cannot do it. I nodded vigorously and turned around only to bump with a huge wall like person.

"Ouch." I rubbed my nose, sniffing silently. I frowned and stretched my head upwards, of course.

"You have to be messy, always." He sighed nodding in disbelief before moving ahead of me and sitting on the bed. I bit my lips slowly and turned towards him.

"You showed up unexpectedly." I murmured, while he raised his eyebrows at me. I just shrugged carelessly while he dived himself in his phone. I came forward slowly and stood in front of him. Sensing me beside him, he looked up slowly with those eyes.

"I cannot stay here Ridhit." I breath out and he threw his head down, shutting his eyes. I had a feeling that he had expected this. But I guess he isn't clear about what I'm meaning to say. "I mean, this room. Together."

His head shot up and eyes met mine, while mine immediately darted away. Reluctantly and unconsciously my eyes again went to him, who held a smirk. I shifted uncomfortably, something running through me because of his gaze.

"You mean, the bed?" My throat dried at his comment. I looked at him, who had that 'oh so innocent' look while questioning the same.

"Ridhit?" I whispered, legit unbelievably.

"What?" He asked, stepping forward. My heartbeat accelerated and I immediately stepped back. "You're afraid of sharing bed with me?" I blinked several times, trying to take in his comments. His feet did not stop after one step. He came forward till my back touched that stupid wall.

"I...I never said that." I mumbled, looking here and there.

"Oh, so you have no problem is sharing bed with me." I frowned, looking at him. He has grown horns on his head, which is why all haphazard thoughts are coming in this mind.

"What has happened to you?" I asked, unaware as words came out of my mouth.

My back leaned, as he hovered further. I gasped, almost inaudible as his gaze intensed and never left mine. "You're afraid of sharing bed with me? You'll lose your control." I cursed my body controls when my eyes drifted to his lip movements.

Damn you stupid body.

You're suppose to be in my control. Not the vice-versa.

I opened my mouth only to utter inaudibly. "Ridhit."

"Hmm?" He was so close to me. And it was for the first time I wasn't pushing him away. Neither he was taking a step back. I had a huge control over my feelings as the time passed through. But with him, things are always out of my control. I'd never thought I'd say yes for a fake relationship just to get away from my household. Allowing someone this near is another shocker for me. Treating his project as mine, working day and night, not as my work but as a will to bring out the best in it, treating his cabin as mine, and having that zone with him, where I'm exposed to him. My true self is as it is in front of him.

As I look deeper, this eyes bore into mine and I realized the state of mind he's in. Even though my main motive was to get away from my parents, he has to live with it. Watch his father in front of his eyes and witnessing someone else taking the place of your mom.

"I'm sorry about what happened." And I was sure he understood what I was talking about.

His eyes shifted a little, but never leaving mine. "I have stopped hovering over it, a long time back." Our whispers were so feeble, that even air had no access to it.

"My situation, somewhere feels lot more simpler than yours." I whispered back, and allowing myself to rest there on the wall as he made himself comfortable by placing his hands on my either side.

I saw his eyes hardening and nerves appearing on his forehead. "Don't." His stern voice reached out.

"Huh?" I was confused.

"Never belittle your suffering just because someone else had a tough past." I was touched by his words.

I've spent my entire life, convincing myself how hard my parents have worked to provide me a lifestyle today. And throughout this journey, nobody has ever told me this.

Neither I've undergone introspection. I was too scared for it. Introspection is realizing what you're doing. And I was too afraid to let my thoughts hover myself for a longer period of time. Because under that subconsciousness, I'd never realize what I'd do and where I'd hurt myself.

I looked at him, before speaking you, "You can be a good motivation speaker."

He looked at me and chuckled deeply. "If being honest is public speaking, then I guess yes." I looked down and chuckled, before lifting my gaze again to him. He sighed and stepped back slowly, resulting in a disappointing void in me.

I peeked behind him slowly and looked at the room. The bed. He probably witnessed me glancing and smirked real slow. I squinted my eyes and huffed, "You know what? I can do it." I placed my hand bag on the couch and strolled towards the bed before sitting on it, with my legs folded and myself facing him.

He chuckled deeply before nodding his head, "Let's see Ms. Khatri."

I immediately got alerted. "Let's see what?"

My heartbeat dropped when he walked towards me and stood before me, while I was still sitting on the bed. He took a step back, and leaned down slowly towards me.

My eyes widened and back immediately arched back to prevent any sort of contact. Nevertheless, his arms held my shoulder to prevent further bending, and bent himself a little more to allow his fragrance to reach my nostrils.

"You know it. And making it come from my mouth will make it dirtier." I blinked my eyes to absorb what he uttered. I felt myself going blank after he stood straight and I fell on my back on the bed. "Consider it your house." He left before uttering those words, almost inaudibly.

I sat there, holding my heart closer. My heartbeat was so loud that it was audible to my own ears. Goosebumps arose my skin, and I felt burning under his gaze.

He did not even touch me, and I'm reacting this way. I have no idea what will happen when he'll actually touch me, hold my hand, embrace me, kiss me. 

What am I even thinking?

Why will he kiss me or touch me. Remember Urvi? He said he's not interested in touching you?

Of course.

And why will even I be interested in touching that vim bar. "Of course." Great. Now my own subconsciousness is mocking me.

I shook my head, before jumping off the bed and stood there, in the middle of this big room. It was actually really big. A huge bed, with ever so soft duvet. The room was adorned with dull yellow light and fur silky carpet underneath my feet. Couch was placed adjacent to the bed, and a balcony that provided view to the garden.

The room smelled him. Every corner of this room screamed "Ridhit Merhotra".

But the only problem in this room was that, accept for the color of light, rest everything else was black. I cringed bad upon finding not a single flower around me.

Nevertheless, I picked my suitcase and lived towards the closet. I sighed finding the same dark colors repeating.

God, his obsession with black.

I shook my head before opening a cupboard, to find it filled, not dumped, but filled properly with his clothes, which consisted of nothing but suits, suits, suits and more suits.

Oh god, I'm truly staying with a robot or what. He doesn't even own a single piece of casual.

No wonder we are in a fake relationship and not in a real one.

I shut the door, and stepped aside, to open another cupboard. Much to my own surprise, this one was completely empty. My eyes further wandered and fell upon the sticky note over the the door of the cupboard.

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉
𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆...

I rolled my tongue against my inner cheeks and smirked at his note. I quickly shuffled through my purse and pulled out a small box. I turned towards the cupboard and carefully peeling out the sticker, before placing it in the box carefully. I shut it again and kept it in my bag.

I huffed looking at the work ahead, nevertheless, picking up my clothes slowly and placing it in the cupboard. The cupboard was quiet spacious for to accommodate my entire stuff. It took another half an hour for me to complete my work. I walked around the closet, and then into the bathroom to find another empty cabinet. He has even made some place on dressing table for my stuff.

End:

He has started giving some place to her everywhere.

And unknown to him, her traces everywhere will do no good to him.

She'll leave herself everywhere, before this game of inheritance completes. And she'll be left with nothing but him.

End:

Ridhit:

Another day fell by. My eyes, which were acquainted to a dark morning, were suddenly welcomed by a flash of light. Rays of sun. I shut my eyes again, to accommodate myself with this light. Creases formed on my forehead, as my eyes went to look around the room and brain immediately registered something.

She wasn't around

I ruffled my already messed up hair and threw the duvet aside. I got down the bed and looked around, again. She wasn't here.

Okay, so? She isn't here. She'll be here only. Why do I need to care.

Everything is fake

The bathroom was vacant, but as I gazed around, this room, suddenly dint felt like mine. The nag of of couch reminded me of her presence. Her cosmetics, basically a lipstick and kohl cream reminded me of her presence. Her day care in the bathroom shelf reminded me of her presence. That absent note realized me of her presence.

Everything is messed up all of a sudden. Unknowningly she's playing with my mind, and obviously my subconsciousness or consciousness always search for her.

I messed up so bad, and the worst part is, that I'm not even regretting.

I had to start my day, for which, I freshened up quickly and ascended down the stairs, walking straight to the dining area. My hunger immediately died seeing someone I don't want to glance even, in front of me. Mrs. Merhotra on the side chair, having her breakfast. My dad is never around during this time. She has it alone.

Is this day gonna me the same, ruined?

My steps immediately reversed and headed back, before a voice stopped me, "Urvi must be expecting you Ridhit. Wait for her at least." My step mom's voice halted everything around me. Lavender smell hit my nostrils and I lifted my head, to witness her coming down from those stairs in...Indian.

My breath hitched brutally. A white Anarkali Kurti with red borders and flowers along with white leggings and a dupatta. I shut my eyes and snapped my head to the other side.

And I thought the day is going to be the same.

She looked ahead at me, before coming towards me. "Let's go?"

I frowned, "Breakfast." A sudden wave of realization hit her and she tilted her head a little towards the dining behind.

She nodded blankly, "Yeah, Breakfast." I inhaled shakily, before turning to occupy a seat. I sat leaving to chairs between me and Mrs. Merhotra followed by her.

The house help came forward and uncovered the lid of the dishes. Something was different. Omelet and cakes? I looked at the helper who served me and raised my eyebrows. "How long have you been working here?"

Fear clouded his eyes. A hand held mine below the table, causing my eyes to shift towards the her. "I told them, I'm sorry." She whispered, shifting her eyes down.

"Sir we.."

"Stop." I said, my eyes not moving from hers. The helpers came forward to pick the dishes. "Serve it."

"But.." My eyes fell on the helper who uttered that word and raised my eyebrows. "Sorry sir." They served us quickly, and picked up the discarded dishes. Creases arranged themselves on my forehead as I felt her hand slipping off mine.

Her touch was missing

Hating every bit of it, I had my breakfast. The breakfast which I hated the most seemed not less than a twelve course meal. Tongue did not want to puke it out, it was her wish.

Glancing her time to time, I silently made sure that she has her breakfast completely. But, anger surged me seeing her appetite. One omelet and a piece of cake.

You gotta be kidding me?

And I wonder why does she keep falling now and then. A sudden memory of the day, she was slaying lifeless in the middle of vacant office rushed in. Something gripped my heart.

I glared at her, who seemed unaware of my glares and shook my head in disbelief. My eyes searched for the dish, hands reached for it and served her another piece. Her mouth fell apart and eyes snapped at mine.

"Ridhit?" She hissed and I paid glared her for her tone. But of course, whom am I kidding.

She's Urvi Khatri.

She glared me back with equal intensity, for the first time someone unaffected by mine.

I sighed, realizing it's of no use to tackle her this way, "You want to faint again in an empty office? Go ahead and keep that piece back."

"But-"

"Have it." I said, for ones and for all. She huffed angrily before having the piece silently. It took me another moment to realize that we weren't alone, and we just gave a good show to the other person sitting here.

"Urvi." Mrs. Merhotra called her out slowly, taking her complete attention. I did not turn my head towards her, but had my ears on.

"Yes?" She replied softly, keeping down her knife and fork.

"It's good to see Ridhit like this around someone." She said, smiling slowly. My gaze swiped up to hers slowly. She, who was looking at Mrs. Merhotra, came slowly down to my eyes.

Our subconsciousness roared out loud, "It's all fake."

But my behavior towards her wasn't to show someone something. It just happens around her. And, I agree, that I'm like this only around her. It's so weird, that even this is something I'm not opposing.

She averted her gaze from mine and smiled at her. Another few minutes, and we left the house. "Uh." I called abruptly, while she halted her steps and looked at me. "Same place right. Let's go together?" Wait what. I asked?

She hesitated, before speaking up, "We can but.." She trailed off. "I need to go somewhere else from here. And then to office."

"It's fine." I said. "Let's go together." I said, and she hesitated before nodding slowly. We walked towards my car. I took the driver's seat and she sat beside me. Something was beating inside me at an insane speed, sending her sitting somewhere every man wishes a girl to.

I turned on the gear, before glancing at her, waiting for her to speak up. "Temple, Ridhit." I nodded, and here we went, somewhere where I never I'd step.

Her eyes spoke volume when I called her out for breakfast. She did not have habit of having breakfast, and for the first time I sat on this table with his wife. Only because she was here. She must be expecting me. Because she is new here. Even though everything is just interwining itself like nylon threads, her moving in did not leave an ounce of doubt, that her being here will bring some change. Unexpected, and a wanting one.

How about to start with, the change she made in my room.

For the first time, sunlight entered my room, as if brightening up some dark places of my heart that always were used to the devil's darkness.

"Uh.. you don't like omelet?" I heard her asking, pulling me out of my trance.

I glanced at her and focused on the road again, "I dint." Not anymore

"I'm sorry, I had no idea. They asked me what to make and..I told them, thinking the most common breakfast." She explained and I sighed. Who's gonna tell her that I instructed them to ask her about these from today and not to Mrs. Merhotra or her daughter anymore.

"You don't have to explain." I said and she kept quite. I dint like it. "Why temple suddenly."

She looked at me, before gazing out, "I had a wish to." Something wasn't right. But I decided not to ponder.

As the temple arrived, something clogged my throat. We got down the car and headed towards the entrance. But something pulled me back.

Do listen to Tere Hawale from Lal Singh chaddha from here onwards <3

"Maa, why do we need to go to the temple? You say God is everywhere na." An eight year old boy innocently questioned his mother, who was standing in front of the idol and praying silently. A small smile came on her lips listening him, and she knelt down in front of him.

She caressed his cheeks before replying. "Because, this is God's house. And when we really wish for something, we come to his house and pray for it."

His eyes twinkled. "Then I will ask for a toy car. He'll get me that too?" His mother chuckled listening him and nodded, moving her gaze towards the idol.

"He's everybody's." She whispered, holding his hand tight. She took aarti from the priest and swept it over his head slowly. He grinned, before she chose to pray for his every wish to come true.

My heartbeat wasn't supporting me today. Feet did not have courage to take a step. It's been sixteen years since I've entered this place. Sixteen years ago I entered this place, with my mom's hands in mine. My palms did not hesitate to join in front of him. Because I would do it for her. My mom. And now when I am finally in front of him, but with whom?

My gaze fell upon the girl beside me, who had pulled her dupatta properly and removed her sandals. She walked a few steps ahead, before halting abruptly and turning towards me. I had no answers for her questioning gaze. She waited patiently, before smiling slowly and taking a step towards me and forwarding her palm.

Air breeze suddenly managed to strike us. Her dupatta flew against it, and my palms found its way to hers. I exhaled and removed my shoes, before stepping inside the temple.

"Ridhit." My mom's voice echoed in my ears.

"Ridhit?" And now hers. I nodded in a no to her questioning gaze.

"One minute." I said, removing my palms from hers and fishing out my kerchief. I tied it around my head, before catching hold of her hands and moving ahead. She stopped in front of a flower vendor and collected a few flowers followed by a diya, a match box and a plate. I quietly followed her, just when my eyes fell on something. I looked everywhere and then back at her with a frown.

I stepped aside and walked towards the shop. And in another second, I stood beside her, reluctant. Feeling my presence behind, she turned towards me.

Witnessing my reluctance, she raised her eyebrows and I forwarded her the Chunri I brought from the vendor. "Other ladies are wearing nah. So.." I tried explaining but trailed off when I saw her smiling softly at me.

I scratched my nape and looked here and there, before I heard her whisper, "Laao." She forwarded her hand, which were already occupied by the things she brought previously.

{Give}

I nodded in disbelief and stepped behind her. I spread the Chunri and slowly placed it on her head. She caught it from the other end and I came forward.

God!

My heart really isn't in my favor today

"Ab chale?"

{Now shall we go?}

I nodded, and we moved forward towards the stairs that took us to the temple. Every step I took with her imprinted some meaning to my life, unknowningly. We stood before the huge idol of Radha Krishna.

She forwarded the plate and flowers she brought to the priest and came back to stand beside me. The priest did the Pooja while we stood there patiently amidst the echo of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.

My gaze shifted towards the girl beside me, who stood there with her eyes closed and palms down, joining each other. There was a soft smile on her face, and her lips chanted the mantra endlessly.

My eyes did not move from her, even when every of eyes were stuck on the idol in front. This view managed to give me a serenity which no other thing could. I sighed, looking ahead at the idol.

I'm standing in front of him after sixteen years. Every time, with two most important people in my life.

"Bolo Radhe Krishna." The priest chanted loudly, followed by the other devotees. He then came towards the devotees, followed by us, with the plate that had holy agni and prasad. These things suddenly seemed foreign to me.

{Hail Radhe Krishna}

Suddenly a hand went around the agni and then swept it slowly over my head, leaving me stunned. My eyes automatically fell on hers, who smiled at me before passing the flower we got.

My gaze did not flicker from her. I watched her taking prasad from the priest and bending down to touch his feet. I felt a tug on my hand, which caught my attention. Realizing it was from her asking me to do the same. I did it.

We both bent in front of priest and he kept his hand over our heads before blessing, "Aayushman bhava. Aayushmati bhava."

We stood straight, just when I heard her speaking. "Pandit ji, we have this very important project coming up and we want no obstacles in between. Please bless us so that everything happens without any hiccups." How does she manages to do it every time?

The priest smiled and spoke, "My child, everything happens for a reason. Baaken bihari won't let your hardwork go waste. Karm karo, phal ki chinta karne ke liye kanha ji hai na."

{Do your work, Kanha ji is there to look after everything else, isn't he?}

I smiled slowly, before joining my hands in front of him and bowing slightly. As we turned to leave, we were suddenly surrounded by a group of children, who ran towards us giggling.

"Bhaiya, can we have the prasad? Please?" One of the boy asked. They had this torn dress with bare foot and scratches all over.

I smiled and knelt down in front of them, "Don't plead. Aapka hi hai. Lelo." Urvi passed me the box and I opened the box for them.

{Don't plead. It's yours only}

Not even a second and entire box was empty. Smile never left my lips, watching them eat it slowly, with a content expression dancing over their faces.

My heart felt fulfilled suddenly. Everything suddenly seemed to fall in its place. Or may be it will.

For the nth time in this day, my eyes again went to her who stood there looking at us with that small smile.

And here I thought the day will be ruined. How can it?

End:

Teaser:

"This is my girlfriend's birthday dinner and I surely do not wish to turn it to a business dinner one." I said, feeding her another bite.

***

"You both are behaving as if she'll die tom.."

"Complete that sentence and you'll realize the consequences practically."