His Soul

Chapter 2

It's been two days since Ansh's birthday party. We spent the night in Raut's mansion as Anjali aunty insisted on it in consideration of my health. Mom and Papa were upset with my decision. They did not even talk to me properly, which made my days even more miserable.

Pathetic? I know and can't help it.

I got ready for my office. I wore my red trousers and a black top underneath the red blazer; I walked down the stairs. Mom and Papa were sitting at the dining room table eating their breakfast.

"I don't know how to convince her anymore." I halted my steps when I heard Mom's voice.

"I know. I can't live in a peace after knowing what happened in her office that day." Papa's voice cracked a little as he said 'office'.

"So do I. When Siddharth told us what happened in her office and who he might be. I was totally terrified." Mum spoke while massaging her head.

"I just hope she will say yes to this marriage. It hurts me to see her still suffering from that trauma, Mansvi. Siddharth is the only man who can protect her and keep happy."

"I know. He is the only one I can trust with her. I can't see my Ruhi still having those terrifying nightmares. She thinks We don't know anything but we know how our daughter is still suffering." A sob escaped from Mum.

"Yeah. But we can't force her into this marriage...." Papa started saying. I couldn't hear any more of this. My vision blurred as tears formed in my eyes.

They knew...

They always knew I still have those nightmares.

They are always worried about me.

They have tears in their eyes just because of me.

They did everything for me from the beginning. They gave me this life, food, a house to live in, clothes, a good education, and most of all love and care.

And what did I give back to them, f*****g tears? I thought they knew nothing about it but how wrong I was. At this moment, I know what the right thing to do is. If me marrying that hoity-toity man will bring them peace then so be it.

Everything for them.

"Papa."

Their head snapped in my direction. Mom quickly wiped away her tears and sat up straight.

"What happened, beta? everything's alright?" Papa asked worriedly.

I looked down. Fidgeting with my fingers. It was a hard decision but anything and everything for my family.

"Mummy, Papa. I- I am... I am ready for this marriage." I murmured softly, looking at my fingers. They didn't say anything. It was pin-drop silence for a long painful minute. I looked up. They were staring at me with wide eyes and parted lips.

"Are... are you sure, Ruhi?" Mum asked as she couldn't believe it in her ears.

"Yes, Mum. I am ready and I am not doing it under any pressure." I reassured them with a small smile. A big smile broke across their faces upon hearing my answer. They both took me in tight hugs.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Ruhi. You have made the best decision. You will not understand anything for now but you can thank us later." Mum said in excitement.

"Yes, Ruhi. Now I can live without any worry. You made us so happy today." Papa said, pulling back from the hug.

"I'll be right back just wait here, let me tell this good news to Anjali." Mum practically ran towards her room, probably to call Aunty. I felt at ease when I saw them smiling happily. I'll never let them down. But it is not over yet.

I wanted answers that only Siddharth could give me.

____

I stepped out of the elevator and stormed past his secretary's desk. Before his secretary could stop me from going in, I barged into his office.

There he was. Sitting in a black leather chair like a damn king. Hair slicked back but a little messy as he had run his hands through it more than once. He was wearing a tight white shirt, sleeves rolled up. His veins stood out as he held a file in his hands. Overall, he looked oh so sexy.

Oh, why it is getting so hot in here!

"Done checking me out?" His velvety deep voice boomed in the office, making butterflies in my stomach flap their wings.

Waving away those butterflies, I glared at him, and with four long strides, I stopped next to his chair while he observed my every movement with narrowed eyes. Furious was an understatement. I propped both my hands on the armrest. Leaning down, I came closer to his face and gave him a stern look as if I could intimate him with my glare and posture as he always manages to do to me. But the next second my mind and heart went dizzy as his signature cologne hit my nostrils.

Hmm... How does he manage to smell so delicious every f*****g time?

"Now, now. You tell me, Mr. Raut. How the hell do you know what happened in my office that day?" I gritted out.

In a swift motion, I was in his lap, straddling him. His left hand was on my back, inching me closer to him slowly. He grabbed my jaw and tilted my head up, closer to him.

"Is this how you will talk to your soon-to-be husband, huh?" He asked huskily. Jaw clenched, eyes darker. My heart was pounding in my chest, ready to jump out of its cage. I feared he could herd how fast it was beating. At that moment my mind stopped working. I couldn't even utter a single word as he was glaring at me and how close we were.

Even though I hate this hoity-toity from the bottom of my heart, I couldn't help but admire his perfect features. Those eyes, those perfect cheekbones, and that perfectly trimmed beard on his sharp jaw. I haven't been able to forget what those lips did to me the night of the road trip.

Ruhi! Not the time to remember that forced kiss! Snap out of it already.

"I- how? I- how did you..." I sucked in a deep breath as he suddenly left my jaw and lowered his head to my neck. He hummed in satisfaction and tightened his hold on me. Sid started peppering me with feather-light kisses. I closed my eyes in pure bliss, enjoying the touch of his soft lips on my skin, almost making me moan in ecstasy.

"I asked you something" He growled, not before biting me at the base of my neck. My eyes widened as a moan escaped my lips.

"Wha... what are you doing, Sid?" I muttered slowly, more of a whisper.

"So f*****g beautiful, fiancée. And you are all mine." Possession oozed from his- now much more deeper- voice.

"I am no-" In a beat, his mouth came crashing down on mine before I could deny. He moved his lips aggressively and possessively against mine as if he was implying his ownership on me. Clutching my hair in a firm grip- not in a painful way; he tilted my face up to deepen the kiss.

This is the third time he's kissed me without asking my consent if you count kisses on the neck as kisses, too.

And yet, did I love each of his kisses?

Hell yeah!

Was it a bad thing that I love his lips on me?

I was about to kiss him back but he took my lower lip in between his teeth, dragging out, and released it. I groaned in disappointment. Chuckling darkly, he skimmed his nose over my neck. His warm breath fanning my neck. I bit my lip to stop myself from making any unwanted sounds.

Why the f**k do I always lose my sanity around this man?

Get a grip woman! You are here to get your answers, not to make out.

As tempting as his kisses are, I needed those answers. Before I could ask him, I was interrupted by his cell phone ringing.

"Speak."

"Five minutes." was all he said, and cut the call.

"Take this card and go shopping. I'll see you on Saturday, at our engagement." He said, handing me his black card and I gaped at him dumbfounded.

Engagement?

I had just said yes to this marriage this morning and they had even set the engagement date. Without my opinion?

I was hurt and furious. How could they do this to me?

"Siddharth, before we get engaged I want some answers." I hissed at him. He stared at me blankly but his grip on my waist tightened.

"How do you know what happened in my office that night? I never told my family or anyone that someone broke into my office then how?" I spoke, gritting out the last part.

His lips tightened into thin lines and some kind of emotion flashed in his eyes, but before I could understand what he was feeling or thinking, it was gone. How could this man not feel anything other than anger and irritation and yes lust for me?

No doubt we had been attracted to each other since we met, but his arrogance and coldness were something I wasn't fond of.

The media and people in the business world have given him the name Devil but when I met him I understood the reason behind it.

"I am not obligated to answer you." He simply stated and slowly moved me out of his lap. I grimaced at his response and stood at a good distance from him.

I knew there was no point in arguing with this man. Taking a deep breath, I tried to cool down my irritation.

"If you don't want to answer, fine, but tell me, Siddharth, why are you doing this? Why are you hell-bent on this marriage? Why are you manipulating my parents for this?" I growled. I swear, I have never been so angry with anyone before as I am now with him.

He completely ignored me and kept gathering his files way too smoothly. He straightened up and reached for his black blazer which was lazily lying on the couch. His every movement was so effortless, so supple.

"Damn it, Siddharth! Answer me, you-" He shut me up with his hard, deadly glare and grabbed my upper arm with a painfully tight grip. It surely going to leave bruises.

"That's because, you are mine, Ruhi. And I already told you that the night of the road trip." He gritted out and abruptly let go of my arm, causing me to stumble back. "Now leave. I'll see you at our engagement." I flinched when he growled, and turned his back on me while running his hands through his hair.

I wasted no time and scurried out of his office. My heart hammered against my chest.

The road trip night? How could I forget that night?