Part 23 | The Bike Ride

NAIRA

" Yeah sure, I got it. And what about the contract with Roopar's? I need the details on my table by tomorrow. Also the slum reconstruction project ... " I rolled my eyes and slumped back into the couch, focusing on the highlights of some stupid football match Kartik was watching.

It's right when they say after marriage two lives get interconnected and entangled.

Now even my life has become boring like his! Like seriously who works on Sundays!!

Come on! You have a beautiful wife sitting before you, and you don't even pay her attention.

If Rudy was here, I could have atleast played basketball but he is out of the State for a match and will be returning only after a month.

Arjun and Aditi are out for a movie date, Dhruv is meeting Siya's parents for the first time tonight, for dinner. He is hell nervous but I know he will pull it off.

And I have been doing literally nothing all day!

Never in my life I had spent such a boring weekend! And the reason is you, Mr. Oberoi!

I looked at Dory who smiled at me sympathetically. Even she understands my plight but my so called husband here! Damn!

I threw a couch pillow at him and walked up to his... Correction, Our room.

" Well, I guess it's just you and me tonight Stefan! " I decided to re-watch the vampire diaries.

Just then my eyes landed on a sticky note stuck in the mirror.

There was a plain peach top with a black jegging and a long thick brown shrug lying on the dressing table.

' It's winter so don't skip the shrug. your boyfriend is waiting, don't take too long, *wink* '

I smiled remembering his words three days back.

Three days ago,

" Today's headlines - billionaire bachelor spotted with his Mysterious girlfriend outside Hilton Hotel. " Kartik said as I got into the bed.

" Do you want to do something about this? " I asked relaxing in his arms.

" Not really, unless you want otherwise. " He spoke lazily, running his fingers along my tresses.

" And why is that so? " He gave me a naughty smirk.

" Well.... Who will say no when you can have a hot girlfriend along with a beautiful wife. Two in one! " I slapped his arms playfully but he just laughed seeing my entire face turning into a hue of pink shade.

" I am gonna Tease you, flaunt you as mine, spoil you without limits." He said in a husky voice before pecking my lips.

Present

I rushed outdoor all energized, "Kartik, I am ready.... Woah! " I gasped seeing him dressed in a full sleeve hoody t-shirt and jeans, leaning against a stylish red white Ducati sports bike.

" Wait, is this yours? You have a sports bike!! " I was dumbstruck.

" My grandfather had a craze for sports bike. This was his gift on my 25th birthday. This was his last gift before his death, I haven't used it since then. It's special to me, so I thought why not make Our first bike drive memorable with this. " he smiled at me.

"Are we going in this? " I beamed in excitement as he nodded.

This is freaking cool!

" Let's go then! " He passed me a helmet while he helped himself with one.

" What's with this new look? " I asked referring to his dress that almost covered him up entirely. I have never seen him wearing casuals while going out.

" I want to spend time with you alone, not with the cameras around. You call it Private time when it's kept private! " I smiled with a small chuckle.

The engine vroomed as I got in the back seat with my legs left dangling on either side of the bike.

The gentle breeze brushed past my skin as he drove smoothly alongside a lonely highway stretch. My hands moved from his shoulders to his chest, interlocking my fingers in the front I leaned on his back.

I could see his smile in the rear view mirror.

He placed his hand above my interlocked ones as he gave it a quick feathery kiss.

I don't know where we are going, but

I just wanna go on like this, with him forever.

------

" Careful, it's a bit slippery. " Kartik instructed as he held my hands guiding me to the top of something that looked like a small mountain made up of huge boulders.

" there we are! " As we stood on the topmost rock I held my breath for a second.

The sun had met the blushing sea, painting the sky in a beautiful deep Orange. Shadow's long gone, but it's not dark just yet.

We sat on the huge boulder, " This place means a lot to me. Whenever I feel low or wanna be alone I used to come here, right from school days.

It knows all my secrets, I have cried here, shouted in joy, seeked comfort in silence." He paused for a laugh, " even wrote a letter for my crush sitting right here. "

" You never told me! " I rebuked.

" You never asked. " He raised his hands in surrender.

" Who was it? "

Unlike him, Why am I not any of his firsts.

You really thought he will not have any past relationships!

I hoped.

" That was during my College days. I proposed her in the most cliche way, during a valentine's day with a rose and letter. " He laughed, " She was beautiful. "

" Did she accept? " Obviously who will reject a charmer like him.

" She did. We dated for about 3 years but It didn't work out, We had our differences but we managed somehow. She wasn't honest with me and it all ended." He turned to face me.

" I don't appreciate a relationship without honesty, where every thing said would be half truth and half lie."

After a brief pause I questioned to which he raised his brows. " Umm... Do you know where she is now? "

" Not really, I heard she moved to Dubai with her husband. " He shrugged.

phew! She is married.

" Thank God" I muttered under my breath.

" What? "

" Nothing... Nothing at all. Is that all or there's a list? " He briefly guffawed.

" Do I sense jealousy? " He pulled me by waist.

" Do you have any of your Firsts left to share with me?" I really wanted to know.

" To answer your First question. No, After her I didn't Commit to anyone until you came dashing into my life. And for your second question... "

While I waited for his answer quite desperately, his thumb traced my lower lips with his smile still lingering.

" I don't know about the firsts Mrs. Oberoi but you will be the one to share all my lasts. "

He captured my lips for a gentle passionate kiss. It was slow but synchronised movements as our tongues played to explore the sweetness of each other's.

Amidst the sound of waves clashing the surface of rocks, I heard him say,

" you will be the end of me, baby. "

---------

2 days later,

" Kartik, are you searching for something? " I asked as I saw him making a mess in his office.

" Naira that goddamn file!! I need it for the meeting. " He replied while hastily pushing all the files around.

" Calm down, let me help you. " While he was checking on the shelves, I was looking for the files in the drawers.

After a couple of minutes I spotted a file placed beneath a bundle of report papers.

I pulled out the file but along with it fell a few photographs.

" Is this the one?" I asked holding the file for him but my eyes focused on the photos.

Those were the same bunch of Kartik's family photos I had seen last time. I was about to place them properly in its envelope when a certain photo captured my eyes.

It has Nisha walking down the aisle and the groom looking at her.

The groom! He looks familiar....

" This is it! Love you baby. " Kartik kissed my cheeks from behind and I hurriedly hid the photo in my clutch.

" Tina, call someone and get the room cleaned." He instructed via the intercom.

" Comeon, let's go. We are late already. " He urged me.

" Yea.. yea. " I placed all the photos back in the drawer except for the one in my clutch.

Conference hall,

" So the resort is..... " Someone was explaining their presentation but my mind was completely off the place for it was trying hard to remember the person in the photo.

I have seen him somewhere.... Umm Somewhere....

Just then my phone rang attracting pairs of eyes in my direction. Murmuring a sorry, I declined the call and placed it in silent mode.

It was Jason. Why is he calli....

My eyes widened, " Jason " I audibly whispered.

Kartik who sat beside me, snapped his head to look at me with a frown.

I looked at my watch. Hell no!

" I have to go. " I spoke to myself.

" But Naira what's.... " Kartik held my wrist under the table.

" J- Jason... He.. I have to go. " I shook off his hold and promptly stood up, once again gaining attention of the dimmed room.

" Nairaaa..." I heard him.

And In a flash I was out of the room.

Hell the lift was in ground floor but I am in freaking 7th floor.

Stairs!

Being in a rush, I took the stairs.

" Taxi....taxi... " I shouted waving my hands to stop a passing by car.

" the air -airport" I said breathlessly to the driver.

I need to reach before the boarding starts.

I pulled out the photo from my clutch. My eyes started tearing up involuntarily.

After the 15 minutes drive, I paid for the taxi and entered the airport, excusing myself through the cluster of travellers I finally made it to the waiting lobby beside the baggage check-in where Jason said he was waiting.

" Ira... Ira... " Ana Andrews, the cute 3 yrs old Toddler I met yesterday, giggled and started wiggling in her dad's arms.

Robert's face broke into a smile.

" Naira I thought " I interrupted Jason.

" Nisha, isn't it? " I gritted my teeth while Robert looked at me in bewilderment.

" Your wife whom you loved Or I must say cheated on. " His face lost colour but soon reflected hurt.

" I did not cheat on her. " I shook my head vigorously.

" Lies. " I hissed.

" What your husband thinks doesn't necessarily have to be the truth, Mrs. Oberoi. " I was left dumbfolded.

Mrs. Oberoi?

So He knew who I am.

" What's the truth then? "

--------------

KARTIK

It was heavily pouring outside and my mind was a mess inside.

" You need to calm down guys." Arjun tried.

" For God sake, It's half past 9 and we have no clue where she is! " Dhruv rebuked impatiently.

Aditi sighed as she repeated kept pressing numbers on her phone," Jason isn't picking up too... " Worry skating across her face.

My eyes never left the wide open Entrance, waiting for her without a blink. It's been more than 6 hours since she left the meeting abruptly without a word, except for a whisper of her friend's name.

Like seriously what does she expect me to infer from this? Does she think I have some telepathic powers or I know mind reading!

Initially I was so annoyed by her actions, atleast she could have told me where she was going, But No just run away! As hours passed by, my annoyance transformed into frustration and now she had left me hell worried.

" Any news? " I asked over the phone.

" No Boss. We are try..."

" The hell you are trying! One hour is all you get. Find her at any cost. I need her! Do you get that!! " I roared back furiously.

" Where can she disappear all of the sudden?" Listening to Aditi's words something struck me. My head snapped at the direction of Dhruv who looked at me wide eyed.

" That's it! I am done waiting. " I grabbed my car keys and left the house with a screech of my car tyres.

------

It's just a house.

Without you, it's never a home.

You are my home.

-------

********

Did you guess it right?

Hope you like the chapter

🤍

I am actually super excited

Because after months long wait and postponements,

thanks to all the pandemic chaos!

By god's grace I am finally entering my college life from tomorrow.

#grateful

Which means I'll be busy

😂😅 Lol

But I'll continue to write the story.

So chill!

There will definitely be updates every week and as I get free time I'll try with early chapters.

All you guys have to do is

kindly bear with me,

give me some time to write the content in the best way

And lastly motivate me like you have been doing

with your votes and comments.

Anyways

stay tuned !

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