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I move back and shake my head. “I don’t want to meet him. Not today.”
“Okay, then let’s go somewhere quiet,” he insists.
I bite my lip for a moment before I give in. “Okay.” I feel a painful twinge of guilt about the fact that this is what I agreed to. Then why am I crying and portraying myself as a victim here? Nevertheless, I really need to escape from here to get my head together. And his suggestion is sounder than what I can decide at the moment. My brain is still trying to process the fact that I will have to live through a marriage that’s nothing but a cruel joke.
Akshay grasps my hand and pulls me towards his car. On reaching his car, he opens the passenger door for me and I slip into his red Audi.
“Do you want to go for coffee or a walk?” he rumbles as he sits behind the steering wheel.
“Can we stay here?” I don’t care that we are sitting in a parking lot. All I need is this solitary time.
“Okay,” he agrees.
I watch him open the dashboard as he pulls out a bar of dairy milk chocolate and places it in my lap.
“Thanks,” I say gratefully as I pick up the chocolate and unwrap it, taking a bite, despite the fact that it is not going to help me clear my mind. How can I forget that girl standing there in that attire, claiming to be Ranveer’s girlfriend? And what makes it worse is that she seemed to be his type too — confident, sexy, bold, beautiful, and free-spirited.
Our silence isn’t awkward or uncomfortable. This is exactly what I want under the given circumstances.
After a couple of moments, I sigh and speak, “I am fine. Thanks.”
“I have my doubts on that,” he answers, his voice hoarse with emotions.
Fine, I feel like a fool because I am not calling off the wedding after knowing that my husband will continue to cheat and humiliate me. To my chagrin, I can’t say that aloud.
“At least he is honest and not making fake promises to me,” I tell him, trying to keep the wobble away from my voice.
“I’m not going to argue with you about that,” he answers. “But you need to talk to him.”
“It doesn’t matter.” It’s not the first time that I have been cheated on. This is why I don’t want to ever trust a man with my heart.
“I call your bluff. You definitely are affected by it. And you can try to put on all the carefree attitude you wish to, but the truth is that it’s hurting you.”
That’s not a lie; my heart is shattered. However, not wanting to discuss it further, I change the subject.“How long have Ranveer and you been friends?”
He narrows his eyes on me. “That’s a nice way of dodging the bullet.” He sighs and looks straight ahead for a minute and then utters, “I give you that. We won’t talk about it until you are not comfortable.” His face softens as he continues, “To answer your question, since childhood.”
“Wow! You both must be really close then.”
“Yes. That’s why I can assure you that even if he is a jerk, but within, he’s a nice man. He knows how to put his loved ones in front of himself. And I truly respect him for the kind of person he is.” I tilt my face, showing my obvious disbelief, and he shakes his head, laughing. “You will get to witness that for yourself when you know him better.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe.”
“Trust me on this, if it’s anyone, then it’s him who needs to be given a chance,” he says gruffly. “This wedding will surely be what you both exactly need.”
I swallow the huge lump in my throat. “I will surely give it a try.” As if I have any option.
“How about that coffee now?”
I shake my head and open the passenger door as I reply, “Maybe next time. I need to go to my boutique.”
“Take care,” he replies, bidding me adieu.
As I exit his car, I cudgel my brain to assess if his words are true. My mind is still racing. I wonder how am I ever going to find my way. I am stuck in this hopeless muddle where I need to steer around the potholes of my marriage.
Chapter 13
Ranveer
