It was raining cats and dogs. He wasn't surprised because after all Musiyari village was known for for its water springs that could get rid of any skin eruptions. He had explored the picturesque hamlet blessed with scenic splendour. Now he was heading back home. His flight was going to take off at 11 pm and it was only 8 pm so he had so much time to kill.

He was driving very slowly. It was a deserted creepy road but no way in hell he was afraid. He hadn't come up with a decision still. He hadn't received or made calls to Aisha. He was guilty for hiding but he didn't wanted to hurt her by telling all this. His mom had send photos of few girls and he had not glanced at any.

He couldn't ask Aisha to leave modelling because it would be so unfair with her. He didn't wanted to interfere in her career. He had no right to control her life. The rational side of him wanted to let her go because he would never ever will be able to choose her over his mom. That was no shadow of doubt in that. But then their precious sweet memories flashed in his mind and held him back from leaving her hand to never to hold again.

Why did life had to be so complicated?! He wasn't so confused anytime in his life. He was clear about everything from the very beginning. He always had a plan for future and a scratch of plan B available too. Then why the hell relationships couldn't be as simple as business deals?! Why he couldn't crack them like he cracked the business deals with the snap of his fingers?! He didn't wanted to hurt his mom nor he wanted to break Aisha's heart. She had loved him the way he was. She had seen his good and worst both. She was the first girl he had allowed to see the soft hearted side of him which was only reserved for his family. The most crucial point of their relationship when she had  miscarriage. They had lost their child and he couldn't forget that forever. No one knew that except both of them. He was attached to that unborn life they had created and then all of sudden he got to know that it was no more. His world had stopped for a moment and the pain he felt that was undeniably the most painful suffering ever. But still that amazing woman had held his hand and said everything will be alright, Arjun. I am there with you.  Even though she was going to immeasurable pain which was nothing compared to his she had comforted him. That was the lowest point of his life and she had put her whole soul in pulling him out of the darkness of great depression.

Could he really do this to her?! She didn't deserve to be treated like this when she was a true gem. But his mom ruled his mind and heart both. He couldn't imagine his life without his mom. He wanted both of them to be with him. How on earth he will choose between them?! He couldn't understand.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice a figure running ahead of his car. For God's sake he got alerted and applied brakes. He couldn't see the person as the vision had become blur because of the water droplets on the front glass of the car. He drove in a very slow pace following the person. After reaching near he could make out it was a girl.

She was running as if her life depended on it. She was clad in red ethnic ghagra and her legs were moving so fast as if they had pinwheel attached to them. She turned to look back to check if someone was following her or not.

Arjun froze. She looked like a celestial nymph from heavens. He hadn't seen any girl so flawless and so very beautiful. The dress she was wearing was beautiful but he felt as if it got honoured to be on her curvy fair body. Her brown eyes shone brightly, reflecting the warmth of the sun in the darkness of night. She was bewitchingly beautiful and he didn't know if he had been possessed or what but he was in awe of her beauty. She was a succubus, beautiful and dangerous for a man's health. Alluringly, she would blink her eyes from time to time, allowing her eyelashes to flutter like the wings of a butterfly. Oh god, her eyes were simply spellbinding. 

But what he saw in those doe like eyes was Fear and only fear. Was she scared of him?! He thought.

He got out of his car and closed the door and threaded towards her.

She looked even more beautiful from so close than far. Her pink lips quivered, hands trembled and feet took steps back on their own.

She spoke in a shaky tone," D-o-n't c-o-m-e n-e-a-r me."

He asked out of blue," What are you?! Are you even real?! I haven't seen someone as beautiful as you."

She squeaked, " Whattttttt?!"

He regretted what he just said and spoke," I mean why are you running on this deserted road?! You know its not safe for a girl to be here all alone."

She fluttered her eyelashes, " Oh I can take care of myself. As for your first question I have eloped from my wedding. I have to reach the station and catch my train before its too late. Nice meeting you Mr whatever and thanks for your concern."

He replied," Arjun."

She furrowed her brows in confusion, " Huh?!"

He stated," Arjun Mehra, my name."

She shrugged, " Oh what do I have to do with your name?! Listen I can't stand talking to you here. I really need to cross the boundary of Musiyari before my family gets to me."

She walked away from him but he stopped her," Hey wait. I can help you."

She turned to him," Oh Really?! Why do you want to help me?! If you have a cheap fucked up mind then let me warn you I am wearing seven inches heel and it won't take me much time to smack it on your face."

He shook his head," No you are safe with me. I have no such intension to hurt you. I just think you shouldn't be here alone at this dark hour of night. It isn't safe."

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously," Why do you care?! Don't tell me you fell in love with me when you first saw me. Listen I know I am every bit of beautiful as I believe myself to be but..."

He cuts her off," You are so full of yourself. I have seen more beautiful girls than you and as for the answer of your first question then I offered to help you for the sake of humanity. "

She scanned him from head to toe. Her brain was telling her to run away as fast as she could but on the contrary her heart found him genuine and wanted to believe him. After switching off her feisty warrior more she couldn't stop herself from checking him out. His curls were midnight black and his eyes were dark brown, framed by graceful brows. He skin was tanned. He had prominent cheekbones and a well-defined chin and nose. He had an angular symmetrical jaw. Muscles rippled across every part of his body. She couldn't see his chest as he had buttoned enough but a part of her wished she could. The other very small part said she should get ahold of herself. She let out a shaky sigh.

She gave him a half smile," I am sorry for behaving like a bitch. Actually I was terrified that you could be one of the men my father had send to get hold of me. I had taken so much efforts to elope and I didn't wanted it to get ruined."

He nodded," Its alright. I'll drop you near the station."

She beamed in happiness, " Thank you so much. By the way I am Radhika Mishra."

He smiled," You are welcome, Radhika Now before your family reaches here let's hurry OK?! "

She stated," We have to cross the boundary of Musiyari anyhow before they find me."

He lead her to the car and opened the car's door for her. She got in and he got in next to her.

As the drove pass shuffling trees and desolate streets she looked out of the window.

He asked," What are you looking at?! You cannot see anything clearly in this darkness. "

She replied," I am not seeing anything out of the window I am feeling the wind fanning my face. I wish I could be like the wind. It doesn't has to listen to others and do everything against its will. Its moves where it wants to move not where others wants it to go."

Arjun turned to look at her. There was a truthfulness in those chocolate brown eyes and a gloominess in that voice," You are wrong even the wind has to change its direction periodically. And none of us can have the dream life where we want everything to be according to our will."

She smiled," You are saying as if you are going to be hanged to death soon and you can't save yourself. "

He laughed, " Yah very soon."

She replied, " Nothing can be worst than getting married to a guy with braces and who drinks bourn vita still. You know my ex fiance would ask his mom's permission if he had to go to the loo too."

He couldn't help but laugh throwing his head back. She had a very good sense of humour.

He spoke," So you ran away because your fiance was a complete mamma's boy?! "

She shook her head, " No no no that is one reason but I ran away because I don't want to get married to anyone. I won't let those butchers  sacrifice me like a lamp."

He pulled his eyebrows together in confusion, " Who are you referring to as Butchers?!"

She answered," My family. Who else?!"

He objected," Whatever it is they gave birth to you. You shouldn't use such words for them."

She replied angrily," That doesn't mean they got the right to make my life hell. I'll marry a guy of my choice rest I'll show my middle finger and say fuck off. "

He chuckled, "So you mean you want to fall in love and then marry?!"

She arched her eyebrow, "What is love?!"

He stated," Well I myself haven't been there yet. I don't know what is love but you said you wanted to marry the guy of your choice."

She replied, " I said I'll marry the guy of my choice but when I said I'll marry when I fall in love?! "

"But that's what usually girls do."

"Well I am not one of those girls. I don't need romance I just need him to treat me with equality and respect my individuality. And love is all bullshit."

Are you so bitter about this love concept because your ex boyfriend cheated on you?!

"Ha ha ha. I was never in a relationship. And if my so called ex boyfriend would have done that then I would have made sure he wouldn't be able to fuck anyone after cheating on me."

"How?!"

"Common you know how. Now don't make me say it. I might be feisty but I don't want to dirty my mouth going into details. You aren't so dumb, are you?!"

"No I am not. I am just amazed by the way you are. I mean you are so different inside out."

"You mean I am so fragile and demure from outside and I..."

He cuts her off," No I don't see you as a weak kitten. I meant you are unbelievably strong because running away getting unnoticed by hundreds of people isn't a piece of cake."

She spoke in a mocked tone" What you want to do?! Pat my back?!"

He laughed, " You have a very smart mouth." He completed his sentence in mind," As for your back I would have just pulled on the doris of your blouse."

He slapped himself mentally," Get a grip Arjun. Stop being a pervet."

Her eyes welled up, "I know I have a very smart mouth but I had my cheeks marred because of the same mouth."

He fisted, " You mean they slapped you?! Its not right to raise hand on girls. I can never do that."

He handed over a tissue to her to wipe her tears.

She smiled," I know you can't even if you want to."

He stared deep in her eyes," How do you know that?!"

She stated," Well you are every bit of honourable man as per my judgement based on the time we spend together in your car. You took me inside your car because you felt it isn't safe for me out there. You didn't judge me when I told I have eloped and last but not the least you saw me in different light not like some damsel in distress. "

He spoke," You trust people very easily. You are quiet gullible. "

She shook her head," Nahhh not at all. I have my instincts and I can read faces very well."

He quizzed," OK so can you guess what is on my mind looking at my face?!"

She replied," You look confused about something. "

He beamed," Bingo. So true."

"Mind telling me what your confusion is all about?! I mean we are complete strangers to each other so I won't judge you."

"I don't know I am not used to expressing my feelings. But still I'll try. My mom asked me to choose between my girlfriend and my family." He confessed.

"Why do you have to choose?! You should make your mom understand that she can't just control your life like this...."

He cuts her off angrily, " See this is why I didn't wanted to tell you. My mom isn't controlling me. She is worried about me and she thinks Aisha is not right for me."

Radhika apologized," Hey look I am sorry. But what you think?! Is Aisha right for you?!"

He replied, "She is perfect but I can't choose her over my mom. I can't hurt the old woman at this age. I think I am very confused but the answer will always be my mom. I can leave Aisha for mom but I can't leave mom for Aisha."

Radhika felt irked," You all guys are one and the same. All of you are chameleons. You just want to fuck around and when it comes to marriage. You people be like Mom I'll marry the girl you select blindly. Your wish is my command. All of you are mamma's boys."

Arjun jaw clenched hard and nostrils flared," How dare you?! shut the fuck up. You don't know what problems we guys have to face. We want to keep everyone happy and in the end we are the ones who are the frustrated like hell. My mom thinks I have changed and she isn't the centre of my world anymore and Aisha thinks I treat her like a fucking nobody."

Radhika felt guilt pricking her. She had no right to judge him like this. She cracked her knuckles nervously and her fingers dipped in her mouth with her teeth grazed on her nails. It was her habit when she had something bugging her.

Arjun spoke in a hard tone," It's bad manners to chew on your nails. Take your fingers out of your mouth."

She closed her eyes tightly and spoke, " OK I am sorry. I didn't mean what I said. SORRY."

He smiled, " See its that easy no need to feast on your nails."

She rolled her eyes and incoherently turned her head towards the road. But what she saw twisted her insides vigorously. Fear leaked through her.
She could feel the sweat drench her skin, the throbbing of  her eyes, the ringing screams vibrating in her ears, and the thumping of her heart against her chest.

She stuttered dead scared," Arj....Arjun....Th....They...found me."

Votes and comments please.

Love Asshna😘😘