The Logical (Wo)Man

The Embrace

Sia’s Point Of View

I know I am going to regret this but my BFF didn’t give me a choice. She threatened to cut all contacts if I didn’t attend Shouranya’s wedding. It’s not like I didn’t want to but I feared the consequences. And there I was standing with Joey on the porch of a lovely two storied Villa with a huge garden heavily decked up for the wedding. I could also see the glimpse of a swimming pool at one end. Their family was pretty rich. I knew that from before but now I got to know that they have an excellent taste when it came to decor.

“Will you stop being all nervous and get going? Joey rebuked.

“Yeah after you!”

“No, I am not falling for that trick. I know you’ll run away as I turn back”

“No no. I’ll never do that!” I tried to force a smile

“Okay lets go”

She held my hand just in case I tried that. I have to hide somewhere. I cannot face him. Once Joey gets busy I would sneak out and find a hiding place. I know I am thinking like a mad woman right now but that’s the best solution. The interiors were looking fabulous and so was Shouranya. She was wearing a crimson red lehenga that had a flary look. She wore light jewelry yet was looking gorgeous! I greeted and hugged her tight and she landed a sweet kiss on my cheeks.

“Congratulations Girl! “

“The sexiest bride to be “ Joey chirped.

I scanned the entire room and there was no sign of him. “Maybe he went out for some work” I felt relieved but I had to hide somewhere before he came back.

We did a bit of chitchat and while Joey got busy, I sneaked out as planned.

Shouranya was also present on that fateful day when I walked away from my past. She observed closely as she was my wedding planner then and supported me with all her heart.

My mind was immersed in thoughts as I sneaked away from the wedding crowd and was now standing in front of a huge wooden door at the end of a passage. Suddenly, it flung open and I was about to turn around when I saw him.

He was looking celestial in white polo Ts and khakee pants and a glimpse of his breath taking biceps excited my mind. But, what he said next shook me to the core.

“Oh there you are darling! You are late! “Shouryajit exclaimed

What the hell? Why does this man start his sentence with “There you are…” every time we meet? And did he just call me “darling”? Is he out of his mind?

“I was almost about to go and get you myself. You look divine my love!” His voice filled me with surprise.

He pulled me inside the room which I think was probably his office/study as it had a large office desk with 3 revolving chairs. It was well decorated and had an expensive sofa set on one side over looking a large French window. I could also see a small wooden floored veranda across it.

A woman in a creamy white off shoulder dress with crimson lips was glaring at me. She looked almost like a lady vampire with witch like eyes ready to suck all of my blood.

“This is Smriti, daughter of Monia Aunty, my mom’s friend “.

Her eyes threw daggers at me.

Suddenly , Shouryajit wrapped me in his strong arms and pulled me to his chest. His scent made my mind go crazy. It was so appealing that it automatically made me hug him back.

“I missed you” he muttered.

“Mmm” I replied still in a trance.

The warmth of that hug numbed my senses. It was strange that I was so close to him and yet it felt so good, whereas I should be running away from him as per plan.

Then he placed a soft kiss on my forehead and looked straight into my eyes. There it goes. We both were spellbound all over again.

“I can’t take this b*llsh*t anymore. I ll see how far you can go b*tch” That woman barked at me and stormed out. The hard slamming of the door brought us back to senses.

I tried to free myself from him but he won’t let me go. I struggled a bit and after a long silence , I muttered “This is not right.”

“Yeah, I know, she is not right for me at all!” he exclaimed.

“No! I am referring to what you just did.”

“Oh that. I am extremely Sorry Sia. Please accept my apologies. Trust me, I didn’t have any other choice” he pleaded.

“I would have to go” I struggled to free myself from his tight arms.

“No! don’t leave me like this.. I mean I don’t want a scene right now. It’s a big day for my sister”

“Why did you.. forget it”

“Sia let me explain”

“No explanation is required.” Besides I am not your girlfriend or anything that you are bound to ‘explain’ , I thought.

“Sia please. Hear me out, at least as a friend?”

“Okay go ahead”

He made me sit on the sofa and started explaining. Who this woman was and how is she trying her best to bed him etc. Then he went on to say that he told her, he was engaged to me and we were getting married soon. Honestly, I found it really funny and a smile played on my face.

“You find this funny?”

“Honestly yes. I can never imagine a woman doing all that crazy sh*t just to get laid.”

“So, you don’t believe me?”

“I do. But I was just speaking my mind out”

“Sia I request you carry on this act for a week”

He wants me to be his fake fiancée for a week. What has my life come to? I sighed.

“No that’s not possible” not in this life.

“Okay. I know it’s too much to ask but can we be friends at least?”

“You and I? I am just an IT employee with an almost satisfactory pay package to support myself. And you are the Chief Cons…”

“I know our backgrounds” he cut me out.

Really? How did he know? Maybe Shouranya told him. Did she tell him about my past too?

“Okay let me make it up to you. Lunch at Chilo’s , Day after tomorrow?”

“I am..”

“Please , just a friendly Lunch and nothing else”

“Okay” Did I just say that?

I came out of his room and went downstairs. I saw Joey and others chirping like sparrows on a picnic. I joined them and tried to stay as calm as possible. It felt like a dream. My mind tried to reason out that, maybe he was going through trouble and I am just helping him out.

Suddenly I got a text from an unknown number.

“Hey Sia , this is Shouryajit”

“I forgot to mention that I’ll pick you up by 1 pm that day”  

How on earth did he get my number? Now he was totally freaking me out. Was he stalking me? I am sure Shouranya would never have shared these details. Then how?...