Chapter 66: chapter 66

Adhiraj had decided not to drop her off at the factory. Yet as she approached her car, he quietly trailed behind her. Just as she reached for the car door, he surprised her by grasping her waist and spinning her around before drawing her close to him. The sensation of his touch and his closeness caused a shiver to run down her spine. It left her breathless. He cupped her face, and she felt the warmth of his palm against her skin. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead, causing her to momentarily lose herself in that sensation.“I will be there to pick you up in the evening. Take care, Little Tyke!” He whispered, drawing back from her and walking away.For a moment, she stood there, her mind in a haze, trying to process what had just happened. As Adhiraj’s car left, she was snapped back to reality. She lightly touched her cheeks and forehead. The feeling of his touch still lingered.She wanted to shriek in frustration. Instead, she took the wheel and drove off. And now, as she entered her office, her nostrils were flaring in temper.“What’s going on, Imu?” Isha inquired, her brow furrowed with concern. The memory of Imara’s tearful breakdown from the day before was still fresh in her mind. She couldn’t shake the worry that she was still upset because of Dheeraj.“I will kill him, that asshole, that despicable man, that…,” she shrieked, “That Adhiraj Singh Shekhawat. He is so dead!”Isha’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she stifled a laugh. Thank goodness it wasn’t Dheeraj who had riled her up this time. And Isha noticed she didn’t even flinch at the nickname Imu.“Why? What happened?” Isha pressed, eager for the juicy gossip. How much she was grateful to the almighty for bringing Adhiraj into Imara’s life. Despite Adhiraj lashing out at her yesterday, she was still feeling happy. The man was dead worried about his wife.“I just want out of that house, away from him. He is a senseless man, never understanding to keep his hands off to himself.” Imara spat.“What did he do?” Isha probed further.Gritting through her teeth, Imara told Isha almost everything, feeling somewhat relieved as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.Isha’s jaw dropped, forming a perfect ‘o’ as she whispered, “So he holds your hand while you sleep and gives you a goodbye kiss when you leave! I thought he forced himself on you.”“He would already be dead in that case,” Imara spat, plopping down onto her chair and resting her head on the table. She pleaded, “Help me, Ish. Help me out of this situation.”In response, Isha questioned, “Why are you wearing these earmuffs and gloves today? You didn’t wear them yesterday!”Imara looked up at her friend and snapped, “He watches me like a hawk. Didn’t you see what he did yesterday? I just don’t want to give him a chance to lay a finger on me again.”Isha nodded, her gaze fixed on Imara, and affirmed, “You’re right! He shouldn’t have taken you away like he did yesterday. It’s obvious he was trying to touch you, not because he cared that you were cold or upset.”“What do you mean?” Imara squinted her eyes at her friend.Isha shrugged, “Nothing! It’s just…leave it. Let’s concentrate on the current project and get you off that god awful home, okay?”“Why does it feel like you are mocking me?” Imara snapped. It seemed like all she could do was snapping these days. Because nothing, like seriously nothing, was going on as she wanted.Isha walked out of the office, tossing over her shoulder, “I hate him too, Imu. The way he shouted at me yesterday was proof enough that he was indeed a despicable man.”Imara stood up from her chair and followed Isha out, asking, “He shouted at you? When? Why? What did he say? And why didn’t you tell me?”Isha climbed the stairs on the production floor, answering, “Don’t worry about it, Imu! He is insane, self-centred. He might have thought you would keep him awake the entire night if you caught a fever again. So he blamed me for not taking care of you. So senseless!”“Isha, just tell me what he said, for God’s sake!” Imara called out, chasing after her friend, utterly perplexed as to why she was so desperate to get the details.“I never expected that a man of his stature, busy as a bee, would tell me he has expectations from me, that I will take care of you. Seriously, do I look like I have time to babysit you, Imu?” Isha scoffed, running her hands through polymer balls set to go under the boiler.“Isha, you’re not making any sense!” Imara snapped, turning Isha around to face her. “Why are you beating around the bush? Get to the point!”Isha cupped her face and mockingly replied, “The point is, he expects all of us to take care of you, just like he does. I mean, is that even feasible? Who has the time to keep up with your mood swings, to stand your temper, and make sure you’re bundled up in earmuffs, gloves, socks, and a coat to protect yourself from the cold? I swear, if he yells at me again, saying he expects me to take care of you in his absence, I’m going to tell him that I’m not obligated to do so. My Imu is a grown woman, mature enough to understand what’s right and wrong and how to take care of herself. Right, Imu?”Imara squinted and swatted her hands, hissing, “You’re supporting him!”“Dare I, Imu?” Isha shook her head. “Absolutely not! Let’s start working on the toys. I have received the confirmation of the designs. And we also need to look after the lot which if going out today, to Mr. Shekhawat’s subsidiaries.”Without giving Imara a chance to speak, Isha swiftly led her to the packaging floor. She was confident that she had conveyed what was necessary to Imara. Despite wanting to, Isha decided against informing Imara about Adhiraj being aware of Dheeraj’s visit. She believed that this knowledge would only further upset her friend, as Imara might perceive it as Adhiraj pitying her.Once the work began, Imara boxed up all her jumbled thoughts and concentrated on the task at hand. Meanwhile, Adhiraj was engrossed in reviewing the files of the remaining colleagues who had worked with Dheeraj and Imara, when someone knocked on his door.“Come in!” He ordered and Sanchit walked in.“We are bidding for two new projects,” he said, sliding the files towards Adhiraj.“The housing projects on the outskirts of Jaipur?” Adhiraj confirmed, only to have Sanchit nod in agreement and say, “Raghuvanshis are also bidding for it.”With a frown on his face, Adhiraj listened intently as Sanchit informed him, “Avir Raghuvanshi has taken over the construction business from his uncle Pratap Raghuvanshi.”“Wasn’t he handling their export division abroad?” Adhiraj confirmed.“He was,” Sanchit confirmed. “I couldn’t get through as to why this sudden change now? But the entire management has changed in their companies, even the servants at their properties, especially at their home.”Adhiraj rubbed his jaw in irritation. “That means we have no informers?”Sanchit shook his head thoughtfully before stating, “Not for the time being. I have informed them to lie low, for now, unless the situation settles down.”Adhiraj raised a brow at Sanchit, asking, “And how come none of it was there in the news?”“I think there would have been an uproar after sudden changes in the management. And I have come to know they will hold a press conference soon,” Sanchit confirmed.Adhiraj took a deep breath before he stood up. He circled his desk, twirling a paperweight in his hand as he instructed, “Find a private detective and get me everything about Pratap Raghuvanshi.”“On it,” Sanchit nodded.Adhiraj held the file for the two projects that Sanchit had bought. “I will handle these,” he declared, a cue for Sanchit to leave.