21) I like chocolates

The fun starts now, Arjun is here! Oof, I love my babies so much 🥹🥹

Kiara's POV

I was following Arjun when I came to a realization and stopped mid-way.

I am still in dad's shirt.

Oops.

Big problem.

Very big problem.

After that 'amazing' escapade two hours ago, I could not bear to come in front of that devil in that dress. So, I quickly rushed back and changed into my longest pajamas that I could find and a full sleeved top so that not even an inch of my skin was showing except my limbs and face. I even wanted to cover my face with a scarf after the incident but then decided against it.

What if he mistakes me for a thief?

Tripping twice in those long pajamas and giving myself a pep talk, I managed to drag myself to the dining room without running away from here.

Arjun was already seated on the head chair, eating silently. His eyes were trained on the food, hard and unmoving. His jaw was set tight and it was a miracle how he managed to eat without even opening his mouth.

Looks like he's grinding his food.

So obviously I decided to sit on the chair opposite and farthest to him as he continued to ignore me.

We ate our food in complete silence and I was becoming restless with each passing second.

How could he be so silent? I can't even digest my food if I don't talk for at least 20 minutes while eating.

Say something you handsome goblin!

I started tapping my foot, a common habit that I've acquired whenever I become impatient and his eyes immediately snapped up to me. The force with which he was glaring at me was enough to bury me deep in the earth's core.

"Stop." I suppressed a shiver at the angry tone of his voice.

Oh, so he can talk.

Good to know his vocal cords still work.

I was a second away from pulling my hair in frustration when all of a sudden, he started coughing uncontrollably.

Yeah, yeah. Go on. Continue coughing. Choke on your saliva and die so that I can be free.

Where was my phone? I wanted to video tape this so that I could post it on Instagram.

#devilchokingtilldeath #freedomfinally #innerpeace #partytime

I had no intention to help him but the inner voice in me called out that I would have to do something.

I hate my inner voice sometimes.

Dying from choking on your own saliva sounds quite easy and uninteresting, doesn't it?

Let's help him so that he can die a painful death later.

Sighing heavily, I heaved myself from the table and poured some water in a glass, placing it in front of him.

What else did you expect?

I would offer him with my own hands? Oh puh-lease! I would rather splash it on his handsome face.

Still coughing and rubbing his chest, he looked at the glass and then at me. Narrowing his watering eyes at me, he stood up without a word and went in the kitchen. My jaw hung open as he disregarded me completely.

That.... That stubborn ape!

Fuming in anger, I picked up the glass to haul at him but closed my eyes, counted to ten and placed the glass back on the table, a little forcefully than needed. Clenching and unclenching my fists, I sat back on my chair.

No, Kia. You can't kill him right now. Look at what you're wearing. If you want to be on TV for killing the richest guy in Delhi, you should be dressed properly for the occasion.

Yeah, seems legit.

Maybe one day I could push him from the balcony and say, "Oops, he slipped."

Or simply poison him.

Or I could slip a tarantula in his bed at night.

"What the actual fuck?" A very angry voice shouted, snapping me back from my plans of arranging a tarantula.

As the kitchen was directly in front of the dining room, my eyes followed the direction of the voice and I could easily see the devil who was staring at his fridge in shock.

Oops.

I quickly sat up straight with wide eyes and turned to my food, pretending to be very much interested in it.

Oh, look. A potato.

Woah. I have never seen a potato before.

I poked it with my spoon and hot steam emerged out.

Ooh. Would you look at that.

How intriguing!

Feeling a pair of angry eyes on me, I cleared my throat non-chalantly, taking a bite of my food and acting oblivious to the world around me.

Hmm. I didn't know potatoes were so tasty.

"Why the hell does my fridge looks like a chocolate factory?" He growled.

Um.

The weight of the gaze became too much so I reluctantly shifted my gaze to the fridge and couldn't help but drool at the sight.

There were around 20 chocolates, a Sundae box of chocolate ice cream, a chocolate cake, some chocolate brownies and a chocolate shake in the fridge.

I have a chocolate fetish.

Smiling sheepishly at him, I mumbled like a small child. "I like chocolates."

"So, you're planning to start a chocolate business?" He deadpanned with the most blank expression on his face.

"No, these are for me." I exclaimed loudly.

He crossed his arms on his chest. "You know you can go out next month again to buy them. There isn't a curfew going around here."

I gave him an extra sweet smile. "This is my stock for less than a week. 5 days at max. And don't worry, Mr. Singhania. I'll go out next week again to buy more chocolates. Phew. I didn't know you cared so much about me." Placing a hand on my chest, I gave him an over dramatic thankful expression. The look on his face was priceless.

"Don't test my patience, princess." Drinking water from the bottle in the fridge, he came back to the table.

A shiver went down my spine and I blamed it on the cold weather.

That's right. I shivered because it's very cold here even if it is only the end of August. Not because of that stupid nickname and not because how deep his voice sounded.

As I was glaring at my food, I realized something.

"What's in the locked room above?" I blurted out all of a sudden and clamped a palm on my mouth.

My big mouth is going to get me in trouble someday.

Chewing his food, he slowly raised his eyes towards me and stared. "What makes you think that you can talk to me?" He asked rudely.

I stared at him dumbly for a few seconds and then yelled. "You... You... Macula latuta!"

"Excuse me?"

"I just called you a monkey, you idiot."

"Mind your language." He growled.

"Mind your attitude first." I snapped.

"If you have any problem with it, don't talk to me then."

Oh god. Can someone please murder him?

"Ughhh." I cried out loud. "I hate you."

"Mutual feelings, princess."

"Don't call me that."

"I'll call you whatever I like, whenever I like. It's my mouth. Thank you."

"Well, it won't be when I duct tape it." I slammed my hand on the table.

"Be my guest." He replied without even looking up at me.

How could he be so calm while I was ready to burst then and there?

Controlling the urge to bang my head and moreover his head on the table, I picked my spoon and we again dissolved into silence.

"Oh, my god." Gasping loudly, I immediately stood up from my seat, knocking the chair in the process and looking at Arjun fearfully. "I know what's in that room!"

"You're in the mafia, aren't you?" I gaped at him. "That's what you're hiding in the room. There is all the mafia stuff hiding there."

"What?"

"You're hiding all the guns, weapons and top-secret files in the room, aren't you?" I shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"How could you do this?" I stomped to him, yelling furiously. "You didn't even tell me. My life could be in danger." I poked his chest with my forefinger. "And all because of you."

"Lis-"

"Oh no." I cupped my face in dread. "I am married to a mafia leader."

"Kiara." Arjun said but I continued to rabble and panic, pacing around.

"No, no, no, no. What if someone invades the house in search of you and I get killed instead."

"What the hell are you talking about?" He rolled his eyes, a frown creasing his forehead.

"Oh really? I have read enough mafia novels to know what happens in these situations." I emphasized.

"What?" He looked extremely confused and irritated.

"Yes! Don't you know that this is what happens in such cases? The hot mafia leader gets married to a sweet, innocent girl. Although the guy is quite scary and rude but he is fiercely protective of his wife. And the sweet angel knows nothing about her husband's business but she's also attracted to his mysterious persona. And when the girl finally warms up to the guy, that's when the rivals attack." Narrowing my eyes, I hunched my back a little and made a pouncing action through my hands. "They kidnap the girl to get back on the mafia. And obviously the guy will come to rescue his wife because he has developed feelings for her. But in our case, we hate each other. Which means," I stood up on the chair nearest to him, full on glaring mode, "that you're never coming to rescue me if I ever get kidnapped. You're going to get me killed." I yelled in hysterics. "Oh. My. God. I swear to God, Arjun Singhania, if I die then I'm going to haunt you forever." I ended with a long screech, huffing angrily and taking heavy breaths due to my sudden outburst.

He slowly stood up from his chair and gave me a weird look. He blinked once, and then twice, opening his mouth to speak something but no words coming out of it.

I've seen this look many times before. These are the same expressions that my friends usually give me while expressing their concern over admitting me in a mental hospital.

I was quite proud that I had managed to leave him speechless.

He finally managed to say something that made me angrier. "What kind of stupid novels do you read?"

Now, I had almost climbed on the table. "Don't you dare say anything about my novels." I roared and then climbed down.

Placing one hand on my forehead, another on my waist, I paced around dreading about my future.

"This is bad, very bad." I muttered to myself and then turned to him. "At least show me a secret passage way to a safe house."

"Wh-? There's no such secret passage."

"What?" I screeched in horror. "How could you be so irresponsible?" I faced away from him. "If you're in mafia, then you sh-"

"Kiara!" Arjun shouted and I turned around only to bump into a hard chest. My eyes quickly snapped to the devil, who was looking at me with a strange expression. He held my arms and pulled me closer to him, an inhuman voice escaping my throat. His face came closer to me and my eyes grew wide, my breath quickening. He leaned closer and closer until there was a very small space between us and I froze in my place, all my worries about me being assassinated by a hot Italian mafia leader long forgotten.

He was so close that I could easily see every tiny detail of his face.

He has very long eyelashes.

"I am not in mafia." He pronounced each word slowly, explaining to me as if I was a small child. "Got it?"

Unable to speak anything, I just nodded my head vigorously.

"Now go and finish your dinner." He instructed. I nodded once again, my heart beating in my chest.

Oh look. I had suddenly turned mute.

I don't know why but whenever this guy comes close to me, my heart rate skyrockets.

Why the hell does he has this effect on me?

"Kiara?"

Damn. My name sounds really good from his mouth.

What are you doing, Kia? You hate him. You cannot think about him like this.

"W-what?" I looked at him.

"Leave me."

Huh?

"Let go of me." He pointed downwards and that's when I came to my senses and realized that I was clutching his shirt tightly.

"Oh." My face turned red and I immediately stepped away, clearing my throat awkwardly.

Feeling embarrassed, I walked up to the dining table and sat down. Arjun came a few seconds later and picked his plates to keep them in the sink. After washing his hands, he went back to his room.

"But what's in that room?" I asked just as he was about to close the door of his room. His eyes locked with me and guess what he did?

He ignored me.

As always.

"Goodnight to you, too." I shouted sarcastically as he closed the door.

What's wrong with this guy?

"Stupid, idiotic, hot goblin playing with my mind." I muttered under my breath.

*

"Which one? Blue or red?" Anushka asked, holding two dresses in her hands, one blue and another red.

We were in the shopping mall as Anushka wanted to buy something for an upcoming party.

Smiling slyly, Maahi leaned against me, putting an arm against my shoulder. "I prefer black." She smirked.

Anushka made a confused face. "But I don't have bl-" she stopped mid-way when she glanced at Maahi who was looking behind Anushka and biting her lip not so subtly.

Anushka turned around to look at what intrigued Maahi so much and rolled her eyes when she saw a cute guy in black. I snorted and continued scrolling through my phone.

Needless to say, that they had forcibly dragged me here.

"Kia." Anushka whined out loud and stomped her foot. "Stop scrolling and help me."

I looked up from my phone, stared at her and then at the dresses as if I was searching for an answer to a physics numerical. "Red."

Anushka nodded. "Okay, I'm gonna take the blue dress."

Great. Why ask me then?

"So, tell me Kia. How's paradise with Mr. Hunk?" Maahi wiggled her eyebrows, nudging me in the ribs.

"Seriously?" I groaned.

"Uh-huh."

"Oh, come on, Kia. You know you can tell us." Anushka smirked as she came near us, her eyes and ears attentive for new gossip.

"Guys! He just came back home last night."

"A lot of things can happen in a night." Maahi shrugged with a mischievous smile.

"We didn't even talk properly for god's sake."

"Who says you need to talk?" Anushka chimed in and winked at me while I face-palmed.

"When will you grow up?" I moved away from them, rolling my eyes and they started giggling like school girls who had been noticed by their crush for the first time.

"Morons." Muttering under my breath, I went to the t-shirt section.

As I was searching for some t-shirts, I noticed a group of some bulky, rowdy men standing in a circle nearby and lazing around. The thing that bothered me the most was that they were smoking although this was a no smoking zone.

I walked there and spoke in a polite tone. "Excuse me, sir. Can you please smoke somewhere else? It isn't allowed here." I pointed towards the sticker which clearly stated 'No smoking'.

One of the guys with a huge tattoo on his neck, sniggered and looked at me. "And what if we don't?"

I raised my eyebrows slightly at his behavior. "Please try to understand. It i-"

"Hey, little girl. Just shut your fucking mouth and leave." I gasped at the crude words.

"Can you at least talk nicely to me?" I raised my voice lightly.

Another huge guy who had tattoos all over his arm and a metal tooth, stepped forward and glared at me. "Listen here, you girl. We are being nice here. So, leave. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe."

Who does he think he is?

"I am trying to talk some sense into you idiots b-" I was cut off abruptly by someone holding my arm. Anushka stood aside me, looking quite worried and alarmed.

"I am so sorry for what my friend said. We won't disturb you people." She apologized to them.

What?

"What are you saying?" I removed my arm from her hold. "Why are you apologizing on my behalf when I haven't even done anything wrong?"

"Kia!" She hissed angrily and pulled me away from there, not before saying a small sorry to them once again.

"Are you mad? What were you thinking?" She whisper-yelled, glaring at me.

"What's wrong with you, Anushka? There are kids around us. You know how dangerous passive smoking can be for them." I said, exasperated.

"You don't know these people. They aren't like us." She shook her head, grimacing slightly. "Don't mess with them."

"Bu-"

"No more words, Kia. Come on. We are leaving. Maahi is at the counter, paying for the dresses." She took my hand and stalked towards Maahi. Me being helpless and clutched in Anushka's hands, had no other option to follow her. I rolled my eyes lightly at her over protective behaviour.

"Shoot, I'm late." She muttered.

After paying for the dresses, we went to the parking space and Anushka and Maahi sat in the car.

"I'm dropping Maahi to her home. Do you need a ride too?" Anushka asked, peeking her head out of the window of the driver's seat.

"Nah, it's okay. I'll manage." She was already getting late. Moreover, the penthouse was not a long way from here.

I waved at them as Anushka drove the car out of the parking space. Checking my jeans pocket for my phone and house keys, I left the mall and entered the adjacent lane. It was quite deserted and dark.

I increased my pace as an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

As I was walking, I couldn't help but feel as if someone was following me.

Don't be ridiculous, Kia.

Shaking away my paranormal thoughts, I continued on my way and tried to focus on literally anything else but all my thoughts came to a halt when I heard footsteps behind me.

My heart started beating rapidly and not in the way when Arjun was near me.

Wait a second.

Why was I thinking about him?

Shaking my head at the ridiculous train of my thoughts, I quickly took out my phone and turned around a corner. As I was about to enter another lane, I saw the men from the mall following me.

Shit.

My inner conscience clapped its hands in sarcasm.

I told you my mouth was going to get me in trouble someday.

Anushka was right. I shouldn't have messed with them. When they had asked me to leave, I should have simply gone from there. But no. Miss Kiara Sharma likes to poke her nose in others' business.

Mrs. Singhania actually.

This wasn't the right time, Kia.

"Follow her." Someone yelled behind me and I started running.

Oh god. What was I gonna do now?

The sound of heavy footsteps increased and so did my speed.

Trust me to get into trouble anywhere, anytime.

In my haste to get away from there, I didn't know how and when it happened but a hand latched around my arm and pulled me into a thin, dark alleyway.