▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰

Shrikha's V/o

Sitting on the terrace and staring at the night sky was my thing to do. The pure blackness of the night was my comfort, the blanket of generous velvet that made me feel safe. The cool winds made me smile while it felt an easy escape from my dark world of everlasting pains. I used to come here every night and close my eyes as the blackness cocooned me, a place in which my dreams may flow freely.

I sat on the couch, as my feet twitched listening to calming music, staring at the sky as a few things did disturb me. "Come back to Earth, Miss." I heard a voice followed by a chuckle. I did recognise the voice, which solely belongs to Kabir but I chose not to revert back angrily as I used to. I stared at him, how could someone behave so normally after the destruction he had faced in his life?

"I know I am handsome but don't stare at me like that, sharam aati hai mujhe." He said, acting like an idiot, making me roll my eyes. He sighed and switched off the music.

"Tell me what's the matter?" He spoke in a serious tone as he sat next to me.

"I am just confused." I replied as I tied my hair into a ponytail.

"I may help you, tell me what's disturbing you." He spoke with a soft smile on his face. He looked cute, I always adored his smile but pretended as if I hated him, which he was aware of. I shrugged off my thoughts as he gestured to me to speak.

"I know we are friends of Sameer but are we doing the right thing? Is he wrong? He kills people and we help him to hide his mistakes. You help him by saving and covering his mistakes via law and documents while I help him to maintain a clean chit image before the media. Are we supporting him in his wrong doings?" I spoke.

"Firstly, he does not kill innocent people, even you know that. You know that he is not a bad human being or a serial killer who would kill anyone without a reason." Kabir said, I shook my head agreeing to what he said, still unsatisfied by the answer. 

"Shrikha, stay away from the black and white thinking traps. He's our friend after all, it's our duty to help him and be there for him when he needs us the most. He was the only person who stood by us in our difficult times. If he does any wrong thing then we will surely try to make him understand and rectify that mistake. Don't stay so silent Shri, it does not suit you." Kabir spoke as he pulled my cheeks. My heart fluttered as he called me 'Shri'.

"What the hell has happened to you Shri! You are blushing?" Kabir said dramatically, receiving a punch from me.

"I agree with what you say but, I feel Sameer is hiding something from me." I spoke what I felt at that moment, Kabir stared at me for a few seconds and ruffled his hairs averting his eyes. 

"Shri, conflicted feelings is an artefacts of a money-nexus world, for we are born to follow the direction of the soul with empathy and logic working together upon the right path. What we can do at this moment is just trust Sameer. It would have become a matter of concern when he does something really wrong, supports wrong things or treats Naina in a wrong way which he isn't doing at the moment. Trust me, I won't let anything go wrong." Kabir spoke as he held my palm in his while I simply looked at him who assured me with his eyes.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

"Get ready for your punishment Khaza." Sameer whispered against her ears huskily, sending shivers down her spine. Naina shut her eyes tightly as he kissed her earlobe. She was petrified as she heard unbuckling of the belt. Was he going to hit her? The only thought made her tremble like a dry leaf. She breathed in and out but air couldn't enter her lungs. She starved for air while her heart raced at tremendous speed. She stood there at her spot for what felt like an eternity but was actually only five minutes. Satisfaction of security was nothing but a distant memory, and an invisible force crushed her from every possible direction. The only person who she trusted at the moment was Sameer for her safety but right now her mind stalled, unable to think of the possibilities he could punish her. She did not wish to be hit or beaten by him at least, else she would break down. Her mind hit with her past memories, making each second submerge in fear which had made a permanent mark on her heart, and a vivid imagination made her wonder whether it was just her mind playing tricks or reality.

"Khaza."

Sameer called her touching her face at which she shrieked in horror. Heaving for breath, her eyes trailed towards his face, his eyes which held rigidness. They had a thousand hues of blue and a small touch of hazel radiating in softly swooping arcs. While his face was cold devoid of any expressions. His tattoos peeked through his undone shirt making him look breathtaking. Even he was staring at her. Why was she scared all of a sudden from him? He thought to himself, wiping off the thin layer of sweat on her face he made her look at him. He noticed the emotions in her eyes were fathoms deep, yet they carried the warmth and life of the sunlit surface. There was something related to her which he was oblivious to, he noted subconsciously.

"Please don-don't hi-hit me." She spoke like a whisper, breaking the silence.

"Have I ever raise my hand on you Naina?" She swiftly nodded her head in the way of no and stared at the floor, still trembling.

"Look at me.'' He spoke in an authoritative tone. She bobbed her head in a way of no, fidgeting with the hem of her dupatta lost in her thoughts.

"I said look at me!" He yelled, making her gasp inaudibly and stiffen at her position. She tilted her head towards him a bit as tears coursed down her cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" He screamed again in irritation.Those precious pearls did hurt him too but he was too stubborn to accept that fact.

"You were the one who asked me to punish you instead of the guard who let you go." He said in frustration.

"So, will you hit me like others did?" She questioned in a low dull voice,evidently shivering, being scared of him and his anger. Like others, what does that mean? Who had hit her before? Sameer thought.

"Did I say I will hit you? Do you want to be hit by me?" He asked her at which she bobbed her head in a quick way of no quickly.

"So what's my punishment?" She mumbled. Sameer sighed and dialled someone staring at her scared figure.

"So your first punishment is that you won't ask any question when I ask you to do something." Sameer spoke as stepped towards her. She looked at him with a confused face wiping off her tears carelessly and nodded her head in a way that was okay.

"Kiss me then." He said casually waiting for her reaction. She stared at him, her eyes widened in shock, taking in more light then required.

"Ji?" She fumbled, stepping back staring at him in utmost disbelief. He smirked as he pulled her by her waist towards himself.

"You can't question me Naina." He whispered as he placed feathery kisses on her cheeks.

"Mr. Maheshwari.'' She uttered, pushing him a bit. He hummed in response caressing her cheeks with his thumb making her heart flutter erratically.

"Kabir." Naina mumbled, pointing at the door,he made an impressed face raising his eyebrow.

"Nice try Mrs. Maheshwari." He spoke as his signature smirk lingered on his face. Naina gulped in fear as he pulled her again towards him, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear staring at her glowing face which had touched a pink hue due to their proximity. She glanced at him and palmed her face in shyness. Sameer let out a deep chuckle seeing her acting so childish. He leaned, eyeing her lips.

"What the hell!" They heard somebody curse. Sameer sighed in frustration as he recognized the voice and turned to see the person, glaring at him angrily. 

"What? Don't see me like that." Kabir spoke.

"What are you doing in my room? How did you even enter?" Sameer yelled, making Naina flinch.She held his hand gesturing him to calm down.

"Naina, mai bahar ja raha hu so will you come along?" Kabir spoke, ignoring Sameer. Naina pursed her lips and shook her head in a way of no hesitantly. 

"Do you wish to go?" Sameer asked her.

"Will you permit?" She questioned back.

"Sameer mai hu na, I will take care of her. It will be a perfect devar-bhabhi date."Kabir interrupted their talk. 

"She's my wife."Sameer said, clenching his jaw while listening to the word 'date'.

"You are acting too possessive bro." Kabir commented as he chuckled and noticed Sameer holding Naina close to himself.

"Naina, aapko jana hai?" Sameer asked her again in his usual cold tome. She glanced at him and nodded her head in a way of no, doodling on his chest pulling her lips into a sad pout. Sameer stared at her while Kabir sighed. He walked towards her and pulled her hand with slight force.

"I am going to the mall and will buy burgers for you, you love that right?" Kabir whispered in her ear lowering to her height, her eyes twinkled listening to him frown at the very next moment.

"Mr. Maheshwari will get angry, and he turns into a monster in anger." Naina said in a complaining tone but bit her tongue realising what she just spoke and turned to look at Sameer who was standing there with cold expressions put up on his face.

"You are too funny Naina." Kabir giggled, ignoring glares he was receiving from Sameer.

"You can go with him but my bodyguards will come along too." Sameer spoke in a stern tone. 

"Are you serious! Who goes on a date with bodyguards?''Kabir wailed.

"Firstly, you are going to shop for Shrikha's birthday so it's not a date with my wife. Secondly, what matters to me is her safety so bodyguards will accompany you both."Sameer spoke in a serious tone.

"I am strong enough to safeguard her Sameer and it's final that no guards of yours are going to accompany us and spoil our personal private date." Kabir spoke in retaliation. Sameer sighed, giving in to his demands as he knew Naina will be safe with him. Naina stared at Sameer in shock, seeing him agree to Kabir. 

"And I have come here to give you this file. Though, I was not expecting to see you both about to kiss each other." Kabir spoke as he handed the file to Sameer. Naina looked down as her face seemed to be heated listening to Kabir's comment.

"Check it once bro." Kabir said as he saw Sameer keeping it on the table without even checking it once.

"I trust you Kabir." Sameer said with a slight smile on his face. Kabir nodded his head a bit and then left the room. As soon as he left, Sameer turned to face Naina. Naina gulped seeing him smirk and ran from there.

"Nanu bachao!" She screamed in a babyish voice but before Sameer held her wrapping his hand around waist and placed one hand below her head so that she did not get hurt. They fell on the bed while he hovered over her making sure he did not put his weight over her frail body. She opened her eyes to just see his hypnotizing eyes which held some indescribable emotions in them.

He palmed her cheeks gently looking into her captivating eyes. He gently pressed his lips against her soft saccharine pink petals. Before she could withdraw her mind from its far places, his arms were around her while his palm which rested below her head trailed down towards her neck, pulling her more close to himself. She felt again the rush of helplessness and numbness, the surging tide of warmth that left her limp. "Kiss me back Khaza!" He said in frustration, deepening the kiss. She started to respond back, she opened her eyes a bit to only find the face of her husband was getting blurred and drowned into passions of desires. He held her head across his arm and kissed her, softly at first, and then with a swift gradation of intensity that made her cling to him as the only solid thing in a dizzy swaying world. 

They were kissing like crazy, like their lives depended on it. He slipped his tongue inside her mouth making her moan softly. Her fingers gripped his silky hairs, pulling him closer while her other palm curled up his shirt. She felt her veins to throb, never had she felt like this before. Sameer broke the kiss as he felt her push him a bit, for breath. But,at the very next moment his insistent mouth captured her parting trembling lips, sending wild tremors along her nerves, evoking from her sensations she had never known she was capable of feeling. Breaking the kiss he joined his head with hers heaving for breath.

"I will complain about you to Nanu because you kissed me once no twice." Naina mumbled like a cute kid. He stared at her for a few seconds and then gave a full-blown smile which turned into an uncontrollable laughter. His laughter was so free and pure, so childish despite his adult years and his usual serious behaviour. His laughter came to her ears as a tickle and bounce. His laughter sounded like the soundtrack of his soul, what made her heart flutter. He rested his head on her crook of neck still giggling at her innocent talks.

"Why are you laughing? I am serious." Naina spoke pouting angrily, Sameer simply pecked her lips making her widen her eyes in shock.

"Why are you so cute Khaza?" He asked her.

"I am not cute." She spoke in retaliation. Sameer raised his head to look at her but in that process he noticed a vague dark-spot-like mark on her shoulder which was exposed as her dress had been disheveled. Naina caught him staring at her so she quickly adjusted her dress.

"What was that Naina?" Sameer questioned.

"No-Nothing, actually I am getting late. Kabir must be waiting." Naina spoke, trying to sit straight. Sameer shrugged off his thoughts and got up the bed.

"Be with him and if you need something or want to buy anything then use this card. You can also use the money which I had given you. If you need more than ask me, okay?" Sameer spoke as he handed her credit card from his wallet. Naina stared at him for a few moments and looked away.

"Khaza?" Sameer uttered cupping her face with his palms as he wiped a lone tear which flowed from her eyes.

"Why are you so nice to me?" She questioned as her voice faltered.

"Because you are my wife and as I have told before you mean something to me and the only person for whom I care genuinely after Nanu is you." He replied to her with honesty laced to his tone.

"Mr. Maheshwari." Naina called him thinking about something to which he simply hummed in response.

"I want something," She continued.

"Ask then." Sameer replied but listening to her, he curled up his fist trying to control his anger but nodded his head in agreement making her smile widely.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Naina helped Kabir to choose a gift for Shrikha. He never left her hand as for time being she was his responsibility and if anything happens to her, he knew Sameer will kill him with his own hands. He had bought a gold bracelet for Naina, even though she refused him to do so. After a few hours of fun, they went to a cafe.

"Don't you want to eat anything, Naina?" Kabir asked her as he saw her playing with fries and had not even eaten anything. She nodded her head in the way of no.

"Missing Sameer?" He asked.

"A bit."She said sadly, still looking troubled.

"You can share with me anything.What's disturbing you Naina? Is it about the contract?" Kabir asked her.

"I do get worried about the contract but at this moment I am not troubled because of it." She said in a low voice.

"Listen Naina, I am always there for you. You can share anything with me and trust me I am a good advisor." He said, making Naina chuckle a bit.

"You are really a self-obsessed Kabir." She said, "I know I am self-obsessed but not more than your husband." Kabir replied. Naina puffed her face in anger listening to him comment about her husband.

"Jaisa pati vaisi patni highly possessive." Kabir said, pulling her cheeks, making her smile.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Naina was staring at the ceiling disturbed by some thoughts. A comfortable silence prevailed in the room, Naina switched sides trying to sleep but was unable to sleep. She stared at her husband who was still working, typing something in his laptop simultaneously sipping his coffee. His chocolatey hairs were disheveled, while his first few buttons of shirt were undone making him look hot. Naina sighed, mentally smacking her head for staring at her husband so shamelessly.

She got up and walked towards the couch where he was sitting and laid on the couch resting her head on his lap, pulling the duvet close to herself. Sameer was startled by her sudden move but did not speak anything and continued doing his work. He felt her nuzzling into his waist. He heard her sobs were stifled at first as she attempted to hide her grief, then overcame by the wave of emotions which broke her down entirely. All her defences washed away in those salty tears. Her cries still had a rawness to it, as if the pain was still an open wound.

"Khaza.'' He mumbled in concern trying to look at her face but she held onto him, digging her face in his waist while her fists had held his shirt so tight she could feel the sweat trapped inside them.

"I-I don't want to go there. M-Mujhe nahi jana vaha." She uttered as her voice quivered while her body evidently shivered. Sameer placed his palm on her head, unable to comprehend what she was trying to say.

▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰

Thank you for reading!

Do not forget to vote and comment down your views💜