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“It’s not,” he snaps then pauses to give me a thorough look. “Or maybe itisyou.”
His reply confuses me all the more.
“That’s my wife’s picture. Jhanvi Raichand’s.”
Jhanvi Raichand? All my struggle to set free from his hold eases as I stare back into his intense eyes. While digging about Aarav Raichand I had learnt that his wife died in a car accident two years ago. She’s dead and hold on. Do I have her face? Is that why Aarav is showing such deep interest in stalking me?
Before I can ask him anything further, he leaves me and walks back to his car which John has just parked on the side road. Getting inside, Aarav drives away speedily again, leaving me annoyed and confused, both.
***************
The first thing I do after coming home is google Aarav Raichand’s wife and find hundreds of pictures of Jhanvi Raichand. A few are solo pictures and the rest with the man himself. My God. She is the exact replica of me. She’s around my age and there is nothing that can differentiate our faces and personalities. I lean back aghast that something like this is even possible. Now I understand why Aarav Raichand was stunned seeing me for the first time at the party. Why he was so glued to my face, why he literally broke the glass in his palms when I spoke lovingly to Rudra and why he tried to touch me with his bloodied fingers? Gosh! He probably sees his wife in me.. in my face and I don’t think that’s a good sign.
I stare at almost every image of him and Jhanvi together on social media and some news articles. They look so happy, in love and anyone in the world would say he is obsessed with her. She seems very confident too and they look made for each other. I shut the search page trying to calm my thudding heart.
For a few minutes I still reel in the same thoughts of Aarav and Jhanvi when I hear the horn of a vehicle and the flashlights of the car at my balcony door. I quickly slide the curtains and walk to the balcony only to find Aarav getting down from his Bugatti. What is he doing here? At this time? And he also even knows where I stay?
Aarav leans at the car door and watches me, taking a swig of his drink. This man is crazy. If he wants to drink, he can go home or to a bar, why come here to my Villa? He knows to put on an unnecessary show for sure. Should I ask my guards to make him leave?
Suddenly the reason why he follows me all the time sparks in my head. Aarav seriously loves his wife a lot and even though she is no longer in his life, he can’t make peace with that. He’s alreadyfallen, and it is beyond my dignity to hurt a man like him on personal grounds. But at business, I am still going to make sure his company falls and we takeover because ‘have compassion for your family and be heartless towards your enemies’ has been my only slogan since I became the backbone of the RS Group of Companies and no one can change that. Not even the pain and suffering of Aarav Raichand. Giving him a warning stare, I return to my bedroom to rest.
The next day my guards inform me that Aarav didn't move his car until late at night, and even though it rained, he didn't mind getting drenched and didn't show any desire to drive away, nor did he stop drinking. I'm curious how a man can drink that much and yet drive. A part of me wonders if he made it home safely.
****************
Three days Later
The rain has drenched him. But that doesn't stop Aarav from resting against his black SUV, holding a half-finished bottle of whiskey, dressed in grey trousers and a white shirt with the top three buttons undone, revealing the vast expanse of his chest.
I'm not sure what solace he finds in parking his car in front of my bungalow every night for the previous three days and drinking uncontrollably as if he wants to end his life right here on my doorstep. Or is he here to reclaim his life? Through me?
Despite knowing he was here at this hour, I never failed to stroll in my bedroom balcony, where his gaze fixated on every movement of mine. Even on a freezing night like this, his intense stare warms every inch of my body.
I'm not sure how long this would go on until I finally agree to meet Aarav Raichand, the only man who has haunted my nights too. But this can’t be going on every day. Somewhere this madness has to stop and that’s only possible when I meet him and ask him what exactly does he want from me. That’s the only way he and I, both, can get our peace back.
I’m about to return to my bedroom when my heart flips seeing Aarav fall unconscious next to his car. Without caring anything else, I dash out of my room in that same nightdress towards the gate where he is lying unconscious. He has bruised his forehead again and God knows I want to whack this man for being so reckless about this pain.
“Aarav?” I pat his cheek, raising his head on my lap as I kneel next to him on the ground.
The rain is still pouring and I am completely drenched like him.
“Aarav..” I pat his cheek roughly this time and he opens his eyes.
Something transpires in my body as he raises his finger and grazes my cheek. He’s drunk so obviously he doesn't know what he is doing but why is my body responding differently? I haven’t allowed even Rudra to touch me like this for the past few years.
“Jaann…” Aarav murmurs as his thumb brush across my lips and this time his stare, touch and voice send a tremble throughout my body and makes my nerves go haywire.
My body electrifies as he keeps stroking my lips. Raindrops from my lips fall on his lips, and he licks them off as if it's the most sacred thing I’ve gifted him.
What the heck is happening to me? I’ve never been this vulnerable, needy and drawn to anybody’s needs, especially the kind that Aarav Raichand exudes every time he meets me or is around me. With great difficulty, I put him back in the car, and then snatch his phone. I forgot to carry my mobile when I came running down here. I can’t let this man in my house nor can I leave him here to die. Calling for help is the only option I see. I know someone who can take him away and make sure he is safe again.
The moment I press the power button of his phone, I see his wife’s picture. For a few seconds, I feel drawn to her.. the charm that she has, the smile, the happiness on her face is something I miss in me and have yearned to have one day.
‘Jaan’
This is what is written on her picture and I guess Aarav Raichand called his wife that.And he called me that too a few minutes ago?I shut my eyes to let go of these thoughts and glance at Aarav again who is in a semiconscious state. I’ve buckled him on the passenger seat and he has no energy left to free himself.
“What’s the password of your phone?” I ask, but he doesn't seem to understand. “Password, Aarav,” I pat his cheek to bring him to his senses and give me what I need. God, his skin is burning. Three nights he has been driving here, drinking and drenching in rain. What else did I expect if not a fever like this?
