Chapter 41: chapter 41

CHAPTER-16SHIVAI stare at the man standing before me. His head hung low as if he is ashamed of himself but I know better not to believe his act.“So, what do you think I should do with you?” I ask in a calm tone. Yes, I am cool as a cucumber. I learned this from Gowri. The calmer you are the more irritated your opponent feels.“I am sorry. I really didn't know she is your wife. I swear I wouldn't have messed with her if I had known.”“That means you would have assaulted some other woman?”He looks at me with a feigned shocked look.  I am already done with his drama. “Jay, seriously do you think that I haven't done a background check on you?” I ask.His face falls and his shoulders slump in defeat.“I never meant to hurt your wife. I was just obsesse-” he starts.“Stop dragging Gowri into this,” I tell glaring at him. “I am sorry. I didn't mean to. My anger and desire got in the way. But please don't give that bad behaviour certificate. Please. I will not get a job anywhere. I promise to redeem myself. But don't–” he stops short as I wave him off.“I am sorry too Jay. I too don't mean it. But my duty as a trustee gets in the way and I have to do this,” I tell giving him a smug look. The same one he gave Gowri when he defamed her.“Please,” he begs. Nope. Not happening. Call me a cold-hearted monster if you want but I don't feel anything towards him. I just want to ruin his life. I can't even pity him for what he had done.I WANT TO MAKE THIS MAN FEEL HOW IT IS TO BEG SOMEONE FOR SOMETHING. MAKE HIM FEEL POWERLESS AND HELPLESS. Judge me! I don't care if this is right or wrong. “If I don't give that certificate then you will start your tricks again. I don't want it to happen again. I don't care what your excuse is for your behaviour but you have to stop this right now. Stop treating the women as a pleasurable thing. Stop giving them compliments and flirting with them when all you want from them is sex,” I tell in a stern tone. He flinches at my tone but doesn't refuse my accusations. Gone is the happy and confident Jay. The one who is standing before me is shaking with nerves. Isn't that how Gowri stood before him begging him to let her go. Let him get a taste of his own medicine.“But, this will ruin my life,” he pleads.Ah! Speaking of ruining lives. As if he is a knight in shining armour.“This only ruins your career. But what about those women whose hearts you broke. What about that woman who did suicide. That is called ruining life. You know, I want to hand you over to the police and let all your loved ones know what a pervert you are. But I am not going to do any of those if you give me your word to not spoil another women's life.”“I will. I promise,” he tells quickly. Too quickly.I only give him my loathing smile, “Do you think that I will not know it if you approach another woman. You have underestimated me, Jay. I learnt your whole life history in less than twelve hours. So, it won't be difficult for me to learn what you are up to in the future.”“What do you mean?”“I mean I have my own ways to learn about you. In short, I am watching you. Go find some other job. You are not capable for to be a teacher.”“You can't dictate my life,” he tells his nostrils flaring. I only give him a calm smile which only infuriates him more. He is helpless and he knows it. “Why can't I? When you dictated the lives of seven women when you told them you are in love with them.”“I didn't. I don't know what you speaking about,” he protests still trying to feign innocence. “Do you want to know the names of the girls whose life you ruined? Where you met each of them? How you made them fall for you? Or the names of the hotel where you took away their innocence? ”The expression on Jay's face is priceless. It is terror mixed with confusion and fear. I feel oddly satisfied.“I.. do... don't..,” he stammers.I shrug, “I have evidence, Jay. Don't think the women will always be silent. I am warning you now. Stop being like this and redeem yourself. Or else I will not think twice to ruin your life.”🍀🍀🍀🍀GOWRI“So, you both played a good game with me?” ask Renu madam after the session. We both are walking together to the office room.“I am sorry Madam. I really didn’t want to lie to you but I promised him.”“It is fine,” she tells in a dreamy tone. “As long as you both are together. I am so happy today. I just loved the way Shiva stood up for you before all those people.”I smile despite myself at that memory. I never expected him to do that. When he declared loudly to everyone that we were married, my insides turned warm making that an unforgettable moment in my life.We both enter the office together. Renu madam goes to her room and I continue inside the office. Until I hear voices inside a room. I stop short in front of the translucent door.“....I will give you my word. I promise you to redeem myself,” I hear a voice say. The voice belongs to Jay. “Great. If you don't you know what will happen,” another voice commands and I instantly recognise it as Shiva's.As if knowing me standing me outside, Shiva calls from the inside, “Come in.”I open the door. Jay is standing with his head low while Shiva is sitting on a chair with his legs propped up on the table. Shiva looks so relaxed and calm. If I hadn't heard Shiva, I would have never guessed Shiva was blackmailing Jay. Shiva's lips curl into a reassuring smile when he sees me. The sides of my lips turn upward. Shiva gets up from his chair and comes near me. Jay is still looking at the floor.“All done?” Shiva asks.“Yes.”“Can we leave?”“Yes, but I want to speak with him for a moment alone,” I tell motioning to Jay.Shiva doesn't ask me why as I expected instead a cloud of concern passes on his face.“Are you sure?” I nod.“Okay, then I will wait out. If there is anything call me,” he says and leaves the room but not before giving Jay an if-something-happens-to-her-then-you-will-be-dead look.I take a deep breath and look at Jay. I could feel the same fear and terror claw the way through my body but I push them back not wanting to be afraid of Jay. Breathe Gowri. You have to face your fears. You have to face him.“Gowri, I am sorry,” Jay tells finally looking up but his gaze doesn't meet mine.“For what? For letting your true colours reveal?” I snap no longer afraid of him. He flinches at my tone. I take the steps toward him this time. Before he could understand what is happening, I raise my hand in the air and slap Jay in his face. It is an earsplitting slap that comes with a loud sound. Slapping him felt more empowering than kicking him yesterday.His eyes turn hard and he is about to yell at me but stops short as he sees my dead glare.“You are sick. Very sick and weak that you let your desires rule your life. I just wish you would recover from it and stop giving in to the desires and live like a man one day,” I say as he rubs his cheek where my fingers are imprinted from the slap.I leave the room but Shiva is nowhere in the office. I exit the office and find him standing at the entrance. He turns around at the sound of my footsteps.His eyes are soft, “You okay?” he asksMaybe it is the climate or the way his voice is concerned or it was the way he stood by me when I was shrinking in fear and helped me face it. I don't know exactly why but I run towards him and throw my hands around him a hug. He stiffens. His hands not moving to return it.“Thank you,” I tell to his collar button.I am about to pull away embarrassed about the awkward hug when puts his arms around my waist pulling me closer. I gasp a little but he doesn't let me go.My eyes flutter close as the world fades away and I lay my head on his chest. He smells amazing. I listen to the pace of his heart while tracing the outline of his collar button. His heart pace matches mine. Wild and fast. His body is strong and muscular. I have a strange urge to run my hand on his abs but I have not yet lost my sanity. He is warm and I like hugging him. I don't want to pull away.That is when the thought hits me. I am hugging Shiva for the first time. My husband. The man who would leave in ten months. The closest physical contact we have ever had but I don't feel repulsed by him. Instead, I love the way his body feels against me. Oh no, what the hell is happen-“Oh my God, you both look cute,” a high pitched feminine voice gushes.🍀🍀🍀🍀