Chapter 28: chapter 28

“Are you nervous, Imu?” Isha asked, noticing the way Imara’s hands trembled slightly as she checked herself in the mirror. She looked mesmerising in her black sequin saree, with her hair flowing down one shoulder and her sleeveless blouse highlighting her flawless complexion and slender arms.Imara, biting her lip, nodded and asked, “He would say yes, right?”“He would be stupid to say ‘no’ to you,” Isha reassured, gently placing a hand on Imara’s shoulder. “You are a gem, Imu. This...” She looked around at the orphanage, her eyes filled with gratitude. It had been her home for as long as she could remember. “You have given so much to this place, to me, selflessly. You spent every penny of your pocket money by donating it for us. Anyone would be a fool to not realise your worth…..”“Baat baat par senti ho jati hai…” Imara rolled her eyes and playfully slapped Isha’s arm, hissing, “You talk this nonsense of being an orphan one more time and I will stop talking to you Ish, I swear. Now come on….we are getting late…”Isha stayed rooted to the spot, causing Imara to furrow her brow in concern. Isha then tenderly held Imara’s face in her hands, reassuring her, “There’s no way anyone could resist loving you, Imu. And I’m sure that Dheeraj loves you more than anything in this world...”“Ish....,” Imara panicked as Isha slowly disappeared. The trees blurred into a hazy outline. The orphanage gradually dissolved, and her clothes turned into a ghostly mist. The image shifted, revealing her in a different outfit and surroundings, which triggered a familiar sense of unease. It was Dheeraj’s home.She saw Dheeraj, standing by the gate of his house, his hands firmly tucked into his pockets. Her tears fell as she implored, “Dheeraj, please... I am so sorry. I just found out what happened. I had no idea Papa and Bhaiya would do such a thing. Please believe me, please...”“Imara…” Dheeraj murmured softly as he moved closer, “They did nothing wrong…”“I’ve left them. I’ve left it all behind. I don’t want their money. I just want you... please,” she pleaded, reaching out to wipe away her tears. Despite his countless promises to always ensure her happiness, he didn’t offer his comfort. He simply let her cry.“You may not realise it yet, but the life I lead is different. We were never meant to be…," he softly murmured as he took a step back. While he tried to close the door, Imara placed her hand on it, her eyes filled with desperation as she whispered, “I can’t imagine my life without you. I love you...” Her voice quivered.“I...,” he paused to take a deep breath, “I am getting married to the person my parents have chosen for me. I hope you can understand.” With that, he closed the door, leaving Imara stunned.Imara was startled by the deafening noise, causing her to jolt awake and sit up in bed. With trembling hands, she reached out to wipe away the tears still streaming down her face. She looked around and felt a wave of loneliness crash over her. Cursing herself for turning down Isha’s offer to stay with her, she realised just how alone she truly felt.Dabbing at her tears yet again, she reached for her water bottle, only to be startled by the sudden ring of the doorbell. She nearly choked on her water in shock, quickly glancing at the clock to see it was almost 1 AM.Deciding to stay put in her room, she waited to see if the bell would ring once more. And it did, prompting her to jump out of bed, made her way to the front door, and—just in case—grabbed a wooden shaft for protection.When the doorbell rang again, she tried to steady her voice, demanding, “Who…who is it?”“Imara,” Adhiraj’s voice echoed through the door, causing her to jump in shock.“What are you doing here?” she demanded, her anger growing with each passing second.“Open the damn door!” He ordered.Furious at his unexpected visit, she asked again, “Why are you here in the middle of the night?”“You know you can also ask me these questions once you let me in,” he retorted, now clearly annoyed.Imara’s hands stumbled over the bolt as she hesitated to unlock the door. She didn’t trust him one bit, but she also didn’t want to deal with the hassle of him causing trouble outside. Gripping the shaft tightly, she couldn’t help but think how fast and strong the man was. Her kicking moves hadn’t worked on him before, but surely he couldn’t be immune to the pain the shaft could bring if he dared touch her.After mustering her courage, she swung the door open only to have the man charge inside. His jaw clenched. Imara stepped back, holding the shaft defensively in front of her, and quipped, “Why are you here in the middle of the night?”Adhiraj narrowed his eyes at her nerve and took a deep breath to calm his own nerves before declaring, “We are leaving in ten minutes!”Imara’s eyes practically jumped out of her head before she fixed them on him with a piercing gaze, challenging his authority. “You can’t just boss me around like I’m your pet or something. Didn’t your mother tell you to come tomorrow evening to pick me up?”Adhiraj shot her a steely glare and moved closer. But Imara stood her ground, prepared to fight back if necessary. He simply stated, “That only applied if you were at Rathore Mansion. Ten minutes, Imara.”In a defiant tone, Imara shot back, “Or are you here because you’re worried about your fucking reputation being tarnished when I am staying in this ‘below your standard’ place?”“I don’t fucking care about your defiance to everything I say,” Adhiraj bit out, furious at the way she was justifying her act. “Ten. Minutes. It’s your call whether you would prefer to walk or have me carry you.”“You dare lay a hand on me…” she challenged, tapping the shaft on the floor.Amused by her feistiness, Adhiraj stepped closer and remarked, “You have resorted to shafts now.”Imara stood there, shooting daggers at him as he closed in and declared, “Your MMA moves aren’t working on me...” he arched his brow, causing Imara to squint in response. Before he could even wrap his head around the situation, Imara raised the shaft. Anticipating a hit, he skillfully blocked it while she cleverly used her foot to strike him squarely on the knee.The man stumbled, but quickly regained his balance. Seizing the opportunity, Imara pulled a slick 360-degree turn and aiming for another sharp blow to his knee, proving that her skills were more than just for show.Adhiraj’s quick reflexes saved him as he stepped away at the last moment, leaving Imara off-balance. Refusing to be deterred, she quickly adapted her strategy, using her free hand to angle the shaft and deliver a powerful blow to his balls.With a firm grip, Adhiraj held the shaft back, fuelling Imara’s anger at his overpowering strength. Reacting instantly, Imara pulled back from the shaft, only to regain her grip and redirect it towards Adhiraj. He effortlessly deflected her attack, spinning the shaft upside down, causing Imara to stumble and lose her balance.Adhiraj quickly reached out with his other hand and grasped Imara’s hand, pulling her closer. Her hand was now twisted behind her back, and her body pressed tightly against his. No matter how much she squirmed and wriggled, the man’s grip on her remained unshakable. She hissed, “Leave. Me.”Adhiraj flashed her a smug grin, flipping the shaft expertly before tapping it on the floor. “I must say, I am quite impressed,” he whispered.“I couldn’t care less about impressing you,” she sneered, attempting to stomp on his foot but missing as he dodged with a smirk. “Kalaripayattu...” he said casually.Imara seethed, glaring at the shaft and then at the man who wielded it with such skill. “You might want to learn a thing or two about your husband before you try to take him down,” he teased.“Husband my foot….leave me this instant,” she yelled, frustrated with her lack of knowledge about his abilities. Clearly, she needed to build her strength.“Careful…!” He murmured, holding her tighter and leaning into whisper in her ear. “Careful of what you say, Little Tyke. Or I might take it as a hint you want me to go down further with my lips…”As he tried to ignore the intoxicating scent of sandalwood surrounding her, Imara shut her eyes to push away the strange sensation his words were stirring up.“You have lost seven minutes….Imara.” he murmured, causing her eyes to snap open and then shut again at the sensation of his voice. “If we don’t leave in three minutes, I am spending the night here, with you, on your bed.”The thought of him on her tiny bed sent a chill down her spine. She couldn’t move, terrified by the idea. “Two minutes, Little Tyke,” he whispered, releasing her. There was no way he was going to leave her alone to cry herself to sleep.Stepping back, he kept the shaft away as he scanned her apartment, taking in every little detail. Imara stumbled and hurried into her room, knowing she had pushed her luck.