Three days into the huge revelations and almost no traces of notably doubtful activities, Karan was performing better with respect to his health and improving on his nervous triggering everyday. With all the substantial efforts we had put into curing and saving him, he was genuinely grateful to us.

Sprawled out on the bed next to him, I observed his gloomy face, decked up in pain. Brushing my palm across his wrist, I was trying to console him. "Everything will soon be alright, Karan. Why are you so worried? Just because you aren't receiving any update calls from the rehabs, it doesn't mean your uncle is unwell. Trust me."

"I am worried, Preeta. He has been living in that centre for so many years without any family member to talk to, not even his own son. He is leading the life of a prisoner, confided in a single room and fed bitter medicines, tortured in the shock room... I mean I can't do anything for him. He hates me," Karan lamented, rotating on his elbow to face me.

"Please Karan, don't pressurise your heart." My palm touched his knuckles smoothly.

"I had always wanted to bring my uncle home but he wouldn't. Sameer was also not agreeing to fetch his father with him because he was very busy in his profession. Why is it that after earning degrees and jobs, children often forget to spend time with their parents?" Karan suddenly asked, caging my wrist and smartly pulling me to his chest.

"You happen to understand the importance of something when it is lost, Karan. We both have lost our parents and only we know the pain of it. This is life..." I wept, hiding my face in the depression of his chest.

He ardently kissed my forehead before fondling with my moistened cheeks. "You should stop weeping, Preeta. I hate when you do that because it clinches my heart. I feel as if I'm making you cry."

Sleeping into the comfortable solid chest of a billionaire was never among my future plans until I found him. Lying with him on the same bed was becoming my favorite hobby and needful habit daily, his arms encircling my body into a constricted frame. I was loving the new feeling, emotional attachment of staying so near to him and willingly letting him to kiss me whenever he needed.

Karan and I experienced a scanty sleep that night. I stayed awake almost throughout and he was sleeping peacefully, clutching me. Every night that passed by, we weren't facing any harmful situations during the dark hours and it was a great relief.

At around four in the dawn, I didn't realise when I fell asleep except his fingers raking my messy hairs. When I woke up, it was already eight in the morning and I found my head resting against his chest for the entire time. I lifted my chin to glance up at him and his fixed gaze on me took my by sheer surprise.

"Oh! I am sorry, Karan. I kept sleeping for such a long time. I should have been more careful." I ducked my head lower to detach from him but he wouldn't drop the idea of holding onto me.

With a little grin and rise in his eyebrows, he murmured, "I didn't mind even if you fell asleep last night. In fact, I was guarding you this time while you slept."

I was surprised to witness the lack of fear in his speech but it delighted me. The plan of bringing Mr. Dushyant and Sameer into the bungalow was working since Karan wasn't getting triggered anymore and Mr. Karthik must be surely impressed with me.

"You've grown up, little boy!" I cackled with the usage of banter as we climbed together to reach the terrace for his physiotherapy.

I stood by the parapet railings, gaping at the workers near the entrance when Karan rested his palm on my shoulder. "What are you gazing at so attentively?"

"What are these people doing?" I asked, a tensed look hovering over my face.

"Don't doubt them, they are my workers. They are fixing the glass cases for the flowers. Remember my promise?" He reminded, pecking my cheek.

"I do remember it but how is the mechanism going to work? I mean will the flowers remain evergreen throughout?" I enquired, waiting for his answer with patience.

"If you keep flowers in fresh water enclosed in glass containers with the supply of ample of oxygen, they won't droop anytime soon. Even if they do so any day, I will get them replaced." He explained, taking my hand into his protective casing.

"You have got some intelligence in that little brain of yours." I teased him, laughing at his innocence.

"Eh! I don't possess little brains at all. What I think is that it's you who possesses a big head with a little brain, aptly representing the ape family..." He chuckled underneath his breath while I bulged my eyes, shooting daggers at him.

"I what? You called me an ape!" I threw my hands in the air to catch hold of him but he began running ahead of me, descending down the stairs swiftly with no more traces of limping in his limbs. He was faster than me, jumping and skipping steps, giving me positive vibes that he had finally improved on his health.

"I just nicknamed you besides the original one," He said screaming, sprinting across the corridor while I followed him, twisting and turning on my heels for the next five minutes.

"I've not permitted you to call me an ape even though guardian angel is fine for a nickname." I hollered, growling as loudly as I could.

He took a turn at the corner before entering his room, reminding me with a chuckle. "But you invited it and I could see it coming."

Our feet tripped together next to his bed, trampling each other before I fell on top of him, my fingers clasping the shoulder straps of his vests. His playful face lit up with laughter as the joys of ecstasy began to overtake us. We were soon into each other's embrace when he suddenly brushed his cheek with mine.

"You are such a pure soul, Preeta," He whispered, hastily kissing my chin. His muscular arms were tightened around my waist, the length of our bodies almost touching and our breaths mingling into each other.

We hadn't kissed each other for the past few days since the new fear of the three mysterious words had already preoccupied our minds. We were missing each other's touch so badly that it was difficult to stay away for so long. The kisses we had shared were a regular habit for us, a stronger means of consoling each other. It was an expression of exchanging emotions and maybe denoting the initial stages of falling in love.

"I missed you so much, Preeta. Kissing you has become my worst and best habit, all at once." He remarked in a husky voice before crushing his lips with mine hungrily, portraying that it was the only thing which was his lifeline as he continued to savour me.

Our tongue met again this time and the taste of him felt like tequila. It was compassionate, fantasizing and demanding, teasing the inner conscience of mine in slower motion. I kept pulling at his hair every time he bit my sensitive lower lip, a pure feeling to prove that my world was getting confined in only him.

He rotated quickly to change our positions, gliding on top of me like a swimmer. His phone fell out of his trouser's pockets, landing on the bed with a thud. He ignored it since I was his sole priority at the moment.

He shifted lower to leave devouring bites to my nape, moaning every time he bit me in the skin. His fingers were rubbing my shoulders gently as his lips trailed all over my collarbones, leaving wet layers wherever it passed. I was cherishing every bit of the pecks he was rendering me as if they helped in healing my loneliness. I believe it was working the same for him too.

He gasped next to my earlobe, panting for breath momentarily. It was difficult for us to get over the affection anytime soon but we parted when the bell to his cellphone rang. I glanced over at the screen of the mobile that was lying next to me and the caller's name almost took my breath away.

*Mahira Luthrani (Home)*

The unwanted caller's name was clearly visible to me.

As soon as Mahira's name flashed on the screen, my throat turned dry and I froze for a moment before handing over the phone to Karan. I quietly moved out of the bed and stood by the window, pondering over it. I already disliked her from the very first day and why on earth would she call him in the first place?

I heard Karan receiving the call and answering her, most probably in a jolly mood.

"Hey, how are you?"

"Tonight? I'll get it ready for you guys."

"Be there in time."

"Take care."

I soon realised he had disconnected it.

I was standing in absolute silence, staring out of the window without conversing with him again. I jerked out of my dream when I felt his hand patting my shoulder. "What happened to you, my guardian angel?"

I shook his hand off my shoulder. "Nothing, Karan. I think you should take some rest after the hectic physiotherapy."

He journeyed behind me, holding my shoulders in his strong grip and placing his chin on top of the right one. "Tell me what's wrong, sweetheart? Your face seems dull."

I stood in quietness while he was inhaling the sweet jasmine aroma of my newly washed hair, kissing the side of my head. Unable to resist myself from his close proximity, I decided to directly enquire, "Why did Mahira call you?"

"They are coming to stay over tonight. We generally organise parties often and today is Prithvi's birthday. I couldn't deny them," he replied in a mild voice, intoxicated from my pleasurable presence as he kept hugging me from behind.

"How can you permit them to enter the house without informing Mr. Karthik? They are coming to stay over for the night and you know it can be dangerous to allow unwanted guests now!" I groaned, angered by his actions as well as a little irked by the least expected caller.

"It can be good in a way, Preeta. If the real culprit is one of them, you may get hold of it. They are my closest friends and I really can't refuse them, especially to Mahira," he casually spoke but it stabbed my heart for a mighty second.

"She is more important to you than your life?"

He frowned his forehead before pecking the side of my neck. "She is my friend since childhood. I know your first encounter with her wasn't as expected but once you get to befriend her, she can also be your best friend as she is mine. She isn't bad at heart."

He was joyfully praising Mahira in front of me, the one who had insulted me without reasons on the very first day. Do I have to mention that her name was sitting on the top among the list of suspects who were trying to harm Karan?

"Weren't they your college friends as far as I know? How can she be your childhood friend now? Didn't you complete your graduation in correspondence?" I was trying to connect the dots.

"Students under correspondence also need to attend college. I used to attend classes in the weekend but they attended daily since they were regular students, though a few years younger than me. I started late and they helped me in picking up the lessons. It is only Mahira whom I know since childhood. She is the foster daughter of the man for whom I used to gamble. We met at his house and she was a little child then. She has been close to me since childhood so I can't refuse her easily. I do trust her," he said smiling while my heart bled, symbol of utmost jealousy.

"So she has the reason to get you killed, isn't it? She is the foster daughter of the man who left all his fortunes in your name instead of hers. Last but not the least, you didn't even bother to inform us that her surname was LUTHRAni, one of the three mysterious words!" I shoved him away, not bothered of how he must have felt due to my indecent behavior.

My blood was boiling like a hot furnace with the mention of Mahira and now that even her surname was as such, my doubts were fortifying more on her. Karan frowned at first, trying to anticipate my cold behavior before raising his eyebrows to respond me.

"Preeta!" He took a random step towards me. "Mahira had left the house of her foster father when her real parents were found. She shouldn't have any reason to get me killed. LUTHRAni is the surname of her biological parents and the name of their VILLA. I don't visit her place at all so how can Vikki's words be true? At least she doesn't have reasons to murder me because she is my well-wisher."

"So the party will take place tonight!" I said before moving to the desk for working on my files. I was not feeling the urge to speak on matters of Mahira again. She was already under our doubts and his praises for her was filling more of the hatred inside me. Karan nodded in affirmation before we both abruptly concluded our conversation for the day.

________

Mr. Karthik and I had discussed on the consequences of the party and he instructed me to behave normally before the guests. According to his wits, the party was taking place to our advantage since we could easily track the real culprit if it really was among any one of them. I couldn't help but agree to all his silly demands, though I hated to come face to face with Mahira again.

Shrouding an off-shoulder magenta colored long trumpet gown, I fitted my feet into maroon ballerina cushioned shoes for the party tonight. Light diamond jewelry formed the basis of accessories with the dress and the long hair that I possessed was left open to flutter with the wind, the multilayered curls adorning my exposed shoulders.

While I was dabbing the finishing touch of foundation on my cheeks, a perfectly dressed Karan stepped out of the loo all of a sudden. He was wearing the Burberry's party blazer coat in black, assisted by his slim fit trousers. Slaying hot in his usual smoking attire, I tried hard not to ogle him this time.

The fragrance of his cologne was a betrayer to my conscience, always managing to draw me towards him. I wanted to avoid him after all the Mahira fiasco yet I couldn't keep him off my head. Fictitiously ignoring his unavoidable presence, I sprayed some black opium perfume across my skin. My eyes were facing the mirror yet his handsome image was visible to me near a prominent corner of the looking glass.

To my amazement, Karan was staring deep down at me, startling me with his ogling behavior. I was growing beautiful every time he stared at me. His eyes were like gems which could make me fall for him each time whenever he glanced at me. I saw the glint of excitement in his magical brown beads, sparkling against the narrow emerging streak of neon light in the background.

He was moving closer to me. With each step that he took, my heartbeat raced up, synchronising with his random strides. We could feel each other's inclination even if we were not directly viewing each other. It was some sort of an intangible connection which had seeped in through our veins, the urge of mutual needs. The driving craziness that we possessed was acting like a rebellion against all our egoistic elements.

He interlaced his fingers with mine, hugging me from behind and whispering in his distinct voice, "You are drifting in charismatic vintage, Preeta. How can I not savour you?"

His romantic gesture wasn't unknown to me and the softness in his powerful hoarse voice was already giving me goosebumps. He was turning into my favourite passion day by day and shooting a refusal at him was becoming very difficult for me. He was developing into my yearning desires and I was inevitably falling for me. I was growing fond of him and his alluring features without much to my self-realisation.

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To be continued...

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A/n:- Please adjust with Mahira's surname...*👉👈*