MY ANGEL IS A DEVIL

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 :

Rudra Pratap felt a pang of offense at her sarcastic tone and glanced at her, trying to discern whether she was mocking him or being serious. To his surprise, Pravalika wasn’t even looking at him. Her gaze was fixed on a particular point, her brows furrowed, and her hands shoved deep into her pockets.

Both Rudra Pratap and Aditya followed her line of sight. They saw it, the spot where the chandelier had been fastened. A few ropes dangled loosely from the pillar, clearly severed, suggesting that someone had deliberately cut them.

Pravalika, still staring at the scene, finally spoke, her voice laced with uncertainty. "I'm not sure... but this feels like an attempt at murder. I can't just dismiss this as an accident after seeing how the ropes were cut. I’ll inform the local police station and lodge a complaint", she said, pulling out her mobile. Just before making the call, she glanced around and asked,"Where is the management? Why hasn’t anyone shown up yet?".

Aditya swiftly stopped her from dialing and firmly stated,“No, Valli! We’re not lodging a complaint. We’ll handle this ourselves. Don’t worry about it”.

Pravalika shot him an annoyed look and retorted,“This is serious, and you don’t want to report it? What if someone had been hurt? Do you realize how this could ruin your reputation? Fine, do whatever you want, but don’t call me that. I’m serious”.

Before Aditya could respond, the management arrived, their faces pale with terror. The manager, trembling like a deer caught in a lion’s gaze, stepped forward and apologized profusely.

“Sir! I’m the manager here. We deeply regret the accident and will investigate the matter thoroughly. Please don’t hold a grudge against us. Forgive us this once”, he pleaded.

Aditya’s eyes darkened, and he growled,“Forgiveness? What if that chandelier had fallen on us? Is this how you ensure safety at an event organized by a top businessman? Do you even understand the consequences if one of our guests had been injured? I warned you to be vigilant with the workers and to monitor everyone entering this hall. Where are your safety measures? You promised us security and refused to let us manage it ourselves. What do you have to say for this failure?”.

Turning to Suraj, Aditya commanded,“Suraj! Get our men to block all exits and check for any suspects. Send a team to the CCTV room and review the footage. I want this incident thoroughly investigated. Understood?”, He then addressed the guests, offering a sincere apology. “Gentlemen! I’m deeply sorry for the disruption. Please continue enjoying the party. Thank you”.

Finally, Aditya faced the management again, his voice like thunder. “What are you waiting for? Stop gawking and clean up this mess immediately. I’ll deal with you later”.

The management staff quickly scattered, rushing to clean up the area and restore the venue's cheerful atmosphere, eager to let the event continue without further disruption.

Pravalika stood in stunned silence, her eyes fixed on Aditya. She had misjudged him. In her mind, he was nothing more than a spoiled rich brat, a playboy who inherited his position in the company simply because he was Rudra Pratap’s only heir. But what she witnessed now contradicted everything she had assumed. He took command of the situation with an authority that left no room for doubt. His swift actions, the way he calmed the guests, and his determination to uncover the cause of the accident, all of it revealed a side of him she hadn’t expected. He wasn’t the pervert she had thought but he was the Lion, the king of the business world.

After giving orders to the staff, Aditya noticed Pravalika staring at him, astonishment written all over her face. He approached her, keeping a respectful distance, remembering her earlier behavior, and teased,“What? Have you started liking me so much that you can’t take your eyes off me?”, His voice was husky, laced with that signature smirk of his.

Pravalika was taken aback by his audacity, her eyes widening in disbelief. She immediately crossed her arms over her chest, lifted her chin defiantly, and retorted,“What makes you think so highly of yourself? I was beginning to think you might be a gentleman, but perhaps I was wrong”.

Before Aditya could respond, Rudra Pratap and Rajeshwari Devi approached, thanking Pravalika for her courageous act.

Rudra Pratap gently stroked her head, his voice soft with affection. “Pravalika! Thank you so much for your help. We might not have seen the sunrise tomorrow if it weren’t for you. We are truly indebted to you. Anytime, anywhere, if you need anything, I’m just a phone call away. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Okay, child?”.

Mrs. Rajeshwari Devi took Pravalika’s hands in hers and added,“Yes, Pravalika! I am deeply grateful to you for saving my husband and my son. Please, don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you ever need anything. We mean that from the bottom of our hearts”.

Pravalika stood there, her eyes wide, feeling incredibly awkward at their show of affection. Her body stiffened under their touch, and she instinctively took a step back, distancing herself from them as much as she could without being rude.

Uncertain of how to respond to their kindness, Pravalika ran a hand through her hair, shook her head slightly, cleared her throat, and finally spoke, her voice firm yet polite. “It’s not a big deal. No need to praise me. It’s my duty to protect people in danger, that’s what I was trained to do. There’s no need to get emotional. I was just doing my job as a police officer. I’ll take my leave now. Have a good day. If you need help tracking down the culprits, you can contact the Commissioner to reach me. Goodbye, Sir! Goodbye, Madam!”.

All three of them were taken aback by her reaction. They couldn’t comprehend how someone in her position wouldn’t seize the opportunity to take advantage of their gratitude. But Pravalika seemed uncomfortable with their emotions and eager to leave their presence.

Rajeswari Devi observed her closely, scrutinizing every detail of her behavior. Feeling Rajeswari Devi’s gaze on her, Pravalika quickly glanced at her, then said,“I’ll be leaving now. Goodnight, Madam. Goodnight, Sir.” She turned to go, only to be halted by Aditya’s voice.

“Valli! I’ll send you off. But before that, why don’t you join us for dinner?”, Aditya asked, trying to prolong her stay.

Pravalika glared at him, annoyance flashing in her eyes. “Don’t call me that. I won’t go easy on you if you keep pestering me with that name”, she warned.

Aditya was about to reply, but Rajeshwari Devi gently placed a hand on his arm and smiled warmly at Pravalika. “Alright, Pravalika! Have a good night, and thank you once again. I hope we see you again soon. Goodnight, and safe journey”.

Pravalika nodded curtly, bid them farewell, and quickly left the venue. Aditya watched her go, wanting to follow, but his mother’s hand held him back.

Once Pravalika was out of sight, Aditya turned to his mother, frustration evident in his voice. “Mom! What’s wrong with you? Why did you stop me from sending her off?”.

Rajeswari Devi eyed him suspiciously. “What’s going on between you two? Why are you so concerned about someone who’s clearly trying to distance herself from you?”.

Aditya remained silent, avoiding her gaze. After a moment, he scratched the back of his neck and finally answered,“Mom! I feel something for her. She’s different, and I want to get to know her better”.

Rajeshwari Devi observed his nervousness and replied,“Yes, she is different. And that’s precisely why you should keep your distance. She’s not your type, Adi. You’ll only end up getting hurt”.

Aditya stared at her in shock, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “Mom! What are you saying? I feel like she’s the moon goddess in my dark life, my sunshine. I think she might be my soulmate”.

Rudra Pratap and Rajeshwari Devi exchanged surprised glances, unable to believe what they were hearing. They had thought Aditya was merely attracted to her feisty nature, but they hadn’t expected him to be serious about her.

“Adi! Don’t say that. Don’t take her seriously. She’s not what you think”, Rajeshwari Devi warned.

“And why do you think that? Because she’s feisty, rude, or just different from other women? Why?”, Aditya snapped back.

Rajeshwari Devi sighed, her voice gentle yet firm. “Adi! I would be overjoyed if you found your soulmate. But she isn’t the one. She’s uncomfortable with relationships and unable to reciprocate love or affection. She doesn’t even like being touched by others, whether they’re strangers or not. I could see her tense up when I touched her, and there was a hint of anxiety in her eyes. It tells me that she’s not what she seems. There’s something deeper, something psychological, that I can’t quite pinpoint”.

Aditya was stunned by her words, unable to respond. If anyone else had spoken ill of Pravalika, he would have buried them without a second thought. But it was his mother speaking, a well-known psychiatrist who could read people within moments of meeting them. Though she had retired due to health issues, her instincts were still sharp.

Aditya was pulled from his thoughts when his father patted him on the shoulder. He turned to face Rudra Pratap, grief evident in his eyes.

Rudra Pratap placed a reassuring hand on Aditya’s shoulder. “Don’t get discouraged, Adi. You’ll learn more about her if you interact with her frequently. Once you understand her, I believe you can help her come out of her shell. What do you think, Raaji?”, he asked, turning to Rajeshwari Devi.

Rajeshwari Devi sighed softly, taking Aditya’s hand in hers. “Adi! I care deeply about your happiness, and I don’t want to see you hurt. But if you’re truly determined, there’s no harm in pursuing her. Just be careful not to get hurt yourself, and make sure she doesn’t either. You know we’re not looking for wealth in a partner for you, but someone who genuinely cares for your happiness”.

Aditya nodded, his voice filled with determination. “Yes, Mom! I’ll do my best to get to know her better. If she’s dealing with any insecurities, I’ll help her overcome them. But I won’t let her slip away from my life”,

With that resolve, the three of them returned to the event, engaging with the guests and ensuring the occasion’s success.