4.

This feels just like old times!” Keya chirped from behind the steering wheel of the car. She was zipping down the empty road like a pro. “Absolutely,” agreed Sheena, who was sitting next to her. “Yes, well other than the fact that both of you are married and have husbands now, it is like old times indeed,” Eliza said from the back seat. Her two friends had surprised her by landing up at her place unannounced for dinner earlier in the evening. They had chatted long into the night. Both their husbands were out of town and neither of them wanted to call it a night so here they were zipping in Keya’s car, music blaring, at four a.m. “Come on, let’s stop for some coffee,” Keya said, slowing down as The Marquis loomed up on their right. She took a U turn to head towards the hotel. She reached the gates of the hotel in no time, stopping for the security check. Suddenly, a bike appeared on their side and came to a halt. The rear rider got off and.knocked on Keya’s window. Raashi’s eyes met Keya’s panicked ones through the rearview mirror for a second just as Sheena leaned forward and exclaimed, “Oh look, it’s Rishi!” Keya rolled the window down as Sheena continued to talk excitedly, “Rishi! You gave us quite a fright.” Sheena leaned forward again and squinted her eyes. “Huh! Is that Charley riding the bike? Wow! I can’t believe it,” Sheena exclaimed. Charley ! He was here. Raashi’s heart stopped before it beat again. All her pep talks to herself on staying in control and being immune to him when she saw him next went for a toss as her heartbeat accelerated. “Meet us at the hotel porch,” Rishi instructed Keya. Oh No! She would be face to face with him in the next few minutes and there was no way out of this predicament. Charley parked the bike at the porch of The Marquis and waited with Rishi as Keya brought her car to a halt beside them. “Hello, you two. Fancy meeting you guys here,” Sheena remarked, stepping out of the car. She came forward and gave him and Rishi both a hug and then Keya walked up to them and did the same. Finally, he turned his head to see Elizastepping out of the back seat of the car, walking slowly towards them, watching him closely. He looked back at her with a wry look and his lips curved. She turned her face, dismissing him entirely as she walked towards his brother. Charley saw his brother grin as he saw Raashi. “Oh! Awesome. You’re here as well, Raashi. I thought it was just Keya and Sheena,” Rishi said enveloping her in a huge bear hug and then he held her for a second more and said softly, “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you around in a long time. Is everything okay?” “I’m fine, Rishi. What’s happening?” “Charley ’s had a hard night. So right now we were just letting loose, racing on this beauty.” Rishi pointed to his prized possession. “Wait a minute, Charley was racing your bike?” Sheena asked, her eyes as wide as saucers. Charley pursed his lips. “Yes, Sheena. I was riding the bike and yes I was speeding on it as well. Just because I don’t usually race bikes, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to.” “But that’s so not you,” Sheena continued, “you’re too straitlaced for fun stuff!” Rishi hooted in the background and Keya laughed as well. Scowling, he turned to look at Raashi, who was unsuccessfully trying to smother a grin. He gave Sheena a glaring look, but as usual it had no effect on her whatsoever. Agreed, Rishi was the dare devil in the family, not him. Still, why did Sheena have to make a big fuss about him racing Rishi’s bike? It wasn’t a big deal at all. “Cut it out, Sheena!” Charley snapped when she continued to twitter and make fun of him. She narrowed her eyes and made a face at him. Sheena had been at war with him ever since his one-night stand with Elizaand she used every opportunity she got to infuriate him. But right now what irked him the most was the fact that Elizahadn’t acknowledged him again. She was snubbing him for the second time in the same week. Well, he wasn’t going to ignore her for sure. “Hi, Raashi,” Charley said and before she could even react, he pulled her in his arms and hugged her tight. Surprised by his behavior and not wanting to create a scene in front of the others, Elizalet him hug her and hold her too close than was necessary. She stood stiffly in his arms, trying not to show any sort of reaction to him even though her heart rumbled inside her chest. Charley stood back from her, still holding her arms and appraised her from top to toe. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail on top of her head. Slight strands of hair had escaped and were falling on the sides of her face. Her beautiful brown-green eyes were storming with angry heat and her luscious pink mouth was set in a straight line. She was dressed in blue denims and a fitted, bright red vee neck tee shirt that molded her curves. Charley turned his gaze back onto her face and looked right into her eyes. “You’re ignoring me. I’m hurt.”.“Like hell you are!” Elizasaid, annoyed with him. She tried to move free of him, but he held on tight and whispered softly, “Try harder, beautiful! I won’t be ignored that easily.” He let go of her and took a step back. Elizagave him a slithering look and moved to stand next to Keya. Charley felt a strong tug on his arm and turned to see Sheena give him a silent warning. He shook himself off her and turned to follow the others as they headed inside the hotel. They were all seated around a table in The Marquis’ coffee shop, sipping from the beverages of their choice, when Charley asked Raashi, “Did you recently start working at AquaNox?” Elizasucked in a sharp breath. The past half an hour had passed smoothly and he had said exactly nothing, contributed naught to the conversation all around. He only made her feel uncomfortable with his presence. He had been staring at her as if she was some delicious morsel on a dessert platter. And she, fool that she was, hadn’t been able to stop looking at him either. Tonight, he was dressed smartly in dark jeans and a dark shirt, sleeves rolled up. Why did he have to be so good looking? She was so lost in her own contemplation that she didn’t answer him. The conversation around them suddenly stopped and everyone looked at her, waiting for her to reply. Didn’t he know she owned AquaNox? Thinking of it, he had never paid any attention to her personal life in all the time he had been after her. His main intention had been to get her into his bed and once that was done, he was done with her. She looked from Keya to Sheena before facing him. “Since it opened,” she replied, keeping her tone casual. “I quite liked the place,” Charley commented. “Did you? Considering the circumstances of your departure, I didn’t expect you to recommend it ever.” Ever since that night he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind at all. And now she was sitting within touching distance, her denim clad legs mere inches away from his. To add to that he had held her in his arms far too close and far too long for comfort. Having her in his arms had reminded him of the perfect way she fit to his body. Breathing in her delicate floral scent, had created chaos in his mind. But, his curiosity about her had piqued. He wanted to know more about her and that’s exactly why, now that she was sitting in front of him, he had asked her about AquaNox and her job there. But she wouldn’t take the compliment easily. She had to bring up that part of the night as well. “Really! What happened?” Sheena questioned, interrupting his thoughts. “Yes, do tell,” Rishi said sitting up straighter. Charley took a deep breath. These two just needed the slightest reason to cause trouble and now they were waiting with bated breath to hear about this particularly embarrassing incident. “There’s nothing to tell, except that Charley ’s date didn’t like the place too much,” Elizareplied smoothly. Charley narrowed his eyes, surprised that she didn’t elaborate the details of his embarrassment that night. “Who were you with?” Sheena asked him. “Natasha.” “Do you know that Charley may be planning to...” Rishi started to say, before Charley kicked him squarely under the table. Rishi immediately shut up. Keya took up from Rishi, “Yes, Kabier mentioned that you’re seeing her. But seriously, Charley , Natasha Arya is spoilt, rude and only wants to get her own way every time. I know you were crazy about her once, but I sure hope it’s not the same now,” Keya said in her usual matter of fact manner. Charley remained silent. It was so typical of Keya to say exactly what came to her mind. She was one of the few people who could get away by saying anything to him. Apart from the fact that she was married to Kabier, she had become one of Charley ’s closest friends. He already knew that Rishi wasn’t too fond of Natasha and was actually against her being in Charley ’s life. Rishi was there when he had broken up with her the first time and both he and Kabier knew how tough that break-up had been for him at that time. But what Keya and Rishi and Kabier for that matter didn’t know is that he didn’t want any kind of relationship that could hurt him again. He didn’t want love. Natasha was perfect for him in every way because she was not interested in any emotional attachment. That’s how she had always been and that’s how she still was. She’d made it abundantly clear that she wanted companionship and the social prestige that she would get by being a part of the Sehgal family, if they indeed did marry. And of course she wanted him back. This time around the thought of being married to him definitely appealed to her. They could eventually be good companions for each other and have a comfortable existence together. They would give each other space and the freedom to lead their own lives. Their arrangement was purely business and he was happy that she knew and agreed with what she was getting into with him, that is, if things worked out.“We ought to leave too,” Keya said. Sheena nodded in agreement and they all got up to head home. Rithwik was waiting in his car, a huge black Hummer, at the porch just as he had told her would. On seeing Raashi, he got out of the car and came forward. He kissed both her cheeks and put his arm around her waist. She blushed a deep red when she saw Charley staring at them, his arms folded in front of him. His eyes followed her, never leaving her even when Keya came forward to meet Rithwik. Rithwik winked at Sheena and then he waved at Rishi and nodded his head at him. “Why is it that my two favorite girls are always surrounded by Sehgal men?” Rithwik said to Keya mischievously. “Maybe because I am one of them now,” Keya replied, smiling at him. “Thankfully, it’s only you. I lost you to a Sehgal, but at least I have Elizastill,” Rithwik said, giving her an impish smile. He turned to Raashi. “Let’s go. I have so much to talk to you about.” After Elizadrove away with Rithwik Bali, Charley released the breath he had been holding. Shit! He was still attracted to her. He shut his eyes for a second and exhaled before opening them again. This attraction was going to land him in trouble if he continued down that path. He had spent enough time with Elizain the past to know that she was the type of woman who could make a man completely forget himself. And he had promised himself a long time ago that he would never ever allow himself to be entrapped by a woman again. He refused to walk down the path that led to her. His journey was different and she was not his destination. Seeing her again had messed up his mind. He had to stay away from her at all costs.

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