Chapter 8

####PAST WILL BE IN ITALIC FONT AND PRESENT WILL BE IN NORMAL FONT####

*Jiya Pov*

"So, did you buy the red dress?" Raj asked, walking towards my table.

"What?" I asked him, frowning completely irritated by the disturbance.

"Red dress! Which is compulsory for the function!" He explained, and I closed my eyes.

"I forgot!" I mumbled and sat back.

"How can you forget? That Rose is talking about nothing except about the 'Oh my red gown' and 'How beautiful I will look'. I am getting a headache sitting there." He said sitting on my table.

I gazed at him and sighed, not asking him to get down. I rubbed my forehead thinking how will I get one in this less time. I don't even have the money.

"I can't believe I forgot." I said, leaning in my chair.

"Hey! In these small small countries, these small small things happen Senorita. Do not worry." He said grinning.

(A Bollywood movie dialogue by Sharukh Khan-Srk)

"Don't kill Srk's charm with your bad mimicry." I said and he raised his hands, laughing.

"What is happening here?" We heard a new voice and turned to see Mr.Mehra.

"We are just discussing about her forgetting the red gown for tomorrow Sir." Raj replied before I could say anything.

"Why are you discussing about it with her?" Mr.Mehra asked frowning.

"I am her Date." Raj replied grinning.

"You have a work waiting to be done on my desk. Come and take it." Mr.Mehra said after a few minutes.

"Ok Sir!" Raj said, nodding and started walking inside Mr.Mehra's cabin, but turned to saying, "I already bought one for you Senorita so don't worry."

I glanced at Mr.Mehra to see him already staring at me.

"Hey, Senorita!" I said when he walked inside the house.

"Boys are not called by that." He said shaking his head.

"Then who are called by that name?" I asked him, placing the bowl on the table.

"Girl is called." He replied smiling.

"Well, I am not getting called by that name, so I am calling you that. And you can't stop me from doing it." I said and grinned at his narrowed eyes.

"Ok SRKian. Now what is special for dinner?" He asked sitting down.

"Err... it is pazta senorita." I replied sitting down.

He sighed and said, "I would have bought food from some restaurant right."

"I am trying senorita. One day, you will eat the food I will make for ten people at a time. Mark my words." I said grinning.

"I am sure by that time I don't have any teeth." He said, and I pouted.

"Don't pout and serve that pazta." He said, and I grinned serving him.

"Mark my words, Ms.Sarin. In tomorrow's function I will have dark circles under my eyes.

I heard Raj's voice when he walked outside Mr.Mehra's cabin. I glanced at the big file in his hands and sighed.

"I will help you after office hours." I said, and he grinned at me.

After leaving my table informing Mr.Mehra that I am leaving, I walked towards Raj's table and sat beside him.

"Thanks for this." He said, and I shrugged continuing to do the work.

"What are you doing here?" We heard someone asking, and I didn't look up already knowing who it is.

"She is helping me, Sir." Raj replied.

"Can't you do your own work?" Mr.Mehra asked.

"I have finished all the work Sir. If there is anything else I can do it." I said glancing up.

"No!" he mumbled and walked inside the elevator.

"So where is the dress?" I asked him when we both walked downstairs.

"I will bring it tomorrow afternoon when we both leave for our house." He replied, and I nodded thanking him.

"Can you drop me?" I asked him looking at the time.

"My pleasure!" He replied and walked away to bring his bike.

"I will drop you, Jiya." I heard Mr.Mehra's voice and thought when did he walked here.

"I have ride, Sir." I replied, not looking back.

"Good night, Sir." Raj said, walking towards us with his bike.

"He is so grumpy man." Raj mumbled when I sat back of him.

"Can you drive without talking?" I asked, and like I asked he did.

"Good night!" I mumbled, walking inside.

"Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna." He whispered, and I rolled my eyes.

"Jiya! About one lawyer I talked to you, right. He is ready to do your brother's case without any fees first." Mom said when I walked inside.

"Vimala! She just walked inside. Don't start your words." I heard Dad's voice.

I walked away, ignoring both. I lay down on my bed and immediately drifted off into sleep.

"I am such a lucky girl." Ms.Rose started her talk from the morning itself.

I rubbed my forehead and then felt a cup on my table. I glanced up to see Raj. He glanced at Ms.Rose and scrunched his nose and then smiled at me.

"Thanks!" I mumbled and drank the coffee.

"Meet you in a few hours." He said walking away.

"Are you sure?" I heard another voice and looked up to see Mr.Mehra.

I sighed and replied "Mr.Mehra! Do you need anything?"

"Are you sure you want to go with him?" He asked again.

"Mr.Mehra!" I started to say, but he stopped showing his hand.

"Just answer yes or no." He said in a serious tone.

"Yes!" I said in the same serious tone.

"Ok!" He said with a glare and walked inside.

I frowned at his action and shook my head to continue my work. I need to finish everything before afternoon.

"Ready?" Raj asked.

"Why are you so excited about this?" I asked him, frowning and locked the computer.

"You are not? That Rose gave all the words and already left to get ready. Every girl does that." He replied in a shocked tone.

"Well, I am not a girl. I am woman, and these things don't matter." I said, and he saluted.

"I will be late." I said walking outside my room.

"You are going to too many parties these days. Are you being safe?" Mom asked.

"I am!" I replied actually shocked by her question.

"Wow! You are looking awesome." Raj said when I walked outside.

"You are looking good." I said sitting behind his bike.

"I am sorry I didn't bring any car as I don't have one." He mumbled.

"We need to go to the office, and Sir will take us there." I said, and he nodded.

When we walked there, Mr.Mehra is already waiting for us and there is no sign of Ms.Rose.

Mr.Mehra continued to stare at me, and I looked away not wanting to remember another memory.

"I am sorry for the late. But they say we should be fashionably late." We heard Ms.Rose voice.

"Shall we go?" Mr.Mehra asked, and we all walked towards the car.

Ms.Rose pushed me away to sit in the back seat, and I sighed at her behavior. I sat on the other side, and Mr.Mehra got inside of my side making me move completely towards Ms.Rose.

Raj sat in the passenger seat, and the car started. I tried my best not to let him touch, but the speed breakers have another thought in their minds.

"Can you shift?" I asked her, and she was too happy to comply.

I sighed, leaning on the window and in no matter of time, we reached the venue.

"Madam!" Raj said, giving his elbow. I took it, and we both walked inside.

"After the meeting we both will leave." I mumbled.

"What? But I thought there will be enjoying." He said mumbling back.

"Like I already said you will do what I ask you to do." I said, and he nodded reluctantly.

"I am leaving, Sir." I said when the meeting finished.

"What? You have to stay." Client asked, and I frowned.

"Just for some time, Ms.Sarin." Mr.Mehra said, and I nodded walking towards Raj.

"I am bored." Raj mumbled after a few minutes.

"Shall we go then?" I asked, holding my purse.

"Let's dance." He replied and dragged me towards the dance floor.

"Well, dance." I said when I saw that he is standing numbly on the floor.

"I don't know how." He said, and I looked at him shocked.

"Don't worry." I said and made him place his hand on my waist and hold my other hand.

"Now just listen to me, and you will know the dance." I said and started talking about technicalities, and he listened calmly.

"Wow! Where did you learn Ms.Sarin. You are dancing so well." He said smiling.

"Let's dance." I said, pulling him from the couch.

"What? You don't know how to." He said when I placed my hands on his shoulder.

"Then teach me." I whispered, and he did.

"I love you." I mumbled and pressed my lips to his, and he kissed me back.

How much comfort will he give me? It is already two months. I thought and kissed him more passionately hoping he will break his idea of waiting until I am ready.

How can I tell him directly?

"Can I have this dance?" I heard him asking and turned to see Mr.Mehra.

"We are leaving." I replied and started walking away.

"Just one dance." He stopped holding my hand, and I immediately jerked it, but he again pulled me to him.

"Just once." He mumbled and started dancing.

I stared at his eyes, and we both started moving. I held my breath with his this much closer proximity.

"I missed this." He mumbled and bent a little.

"I didn't!" I mumbled back.

And that's all there was. No words exchanged, and we continued to dance just staring and staring with each memory rushing inside like a rocket.

"This is just a contract marriage with her. And in a few months, it will be over."

"No!" I mumbled stepping away and walked towards Raj to see that everyone is just staring at us, until now, and there was a round of applause for us.

"Can we please go?" I asked him and he just stared at me with shock but nodded.

He dropped me without asking any further questions in a cab and left after I greeted him 'good night'.

I lay on my bed and drifted off into sleep hoping not to get that memory again...