There was a wonderful smell in the air as the first rain of the year hit the ground. Vapors from a hot cup of ginger tea reached Ruhi's nose, but she was oblivious to these heavenly smells and the blissful sounds of the slowly falling raindrops sliding down the windowpane, or the gently blowing wind.
Perched on a windowsill in her room in India, she looked out at the dark heavy clouds in the sky which were holding up the rain for too long before deciding to let go finally. She reached for her US mobile again to access the voicemail from Rafael she saved as a voice memo.
She played it over and over while crying, remembering the warmth in his voice. It was from the day they had plans to go watch a movie on a Saturday and he was running late at work. He called her when she was getting ready and left a simple voice message saying sorry for running late. She listened to those words a thousand times over the past few day
A few days back in San FranciscoRafael was in one of his worst moods because it was Ruhi's birthday today, and he couldn't stop thinking about her or about the day he promised to take her on a fancy date. He had reserved a table for them in the most expensive and exquisite French restaurant days ago and had placed orders for many presents because he wasn't sure what she would like.When picking presents for Alisha, it was alwaysKhloe who did all the work, while he stayed toobusy to even know what the present was. With Ruhi, he wanted everything else to wait so he could find something to bringthat sparkle in her eyes again;the same way they sparkled in the Indo-Chinese restaurant when he said yes to treating her.Her cute wild mane, eyes wide with excitement, and cream color skirt which got several wrinklesbecause of him. He frowned hard, trying to forget her face from that day, but the adoring gaze she
Ruhi curled her fists on her sides and stood still. Her heart was a thundering mess as her eyes met Rafael's warm, hazel brown eyes. Looking at his pictures had got too painful, and she had stopped it many days ago. But seeing his gorgeous face and worshipping gaze threw her off control. She snapped out of the trance andlooked at him with eyes clouded with anger.It appeared to her that he was in a heated conversation with her dad earlier, hostility coming off in waves from her parents.Unlike theirhardened faces and furious glances, Rafael seemed to be calm and apologetic.He was elated to look up across the room and see Ruhistanding there. All the feelings that ran bone-deep within him surfaced, and he went speechless as butterflies flooded his stomach.Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her hard and deep, as if his very life depended on it. Before letting his wild kisses take over her senses, Ruhitried to push him away wit
Alisha pulled over in Rafael's Maybach at his mansion on the evening when he had already left for India. She tried to reach him multiple times over the past few days, but he ignored her calls andsnapped at her when she showed up at his home or the hospital.She took a different approach and made it sound like she wanted to meet him for work reasons. She insisted on coming over to his home in the evening after she was done with a meeting with her investors. Rafael did not bothercanceling the meeting, even when his tickets to India were booked.He treated all his dozen cars as his babies and wanted his Maybachback. He allowed her to drive his cars in the past but always asked her to return them the very next day, unlike this time when it slipped out of his mind until she wanted to schedule a meeting at his home with him.He asked his driver to take the car when she showed up and check it thoroughly for any bugs. He looked for bugs even in the pas
Dhruv gawked at Ruhi, as he always did when he saw her in traditional outfits."Yes?" Rafael wrapped his arm around Ruhi and raised a brow at Dhruv, resisting the urge to punch him in the face for showing up at her house and staring at her right in front of him.Ruhi pushed Rafael's hand away and walked toward Dhruv.She wanted to make him feel welcome."Dhruv, hi!" Keeping her voice steady, she turned around to her mom. "Mamma, this is Dhruv whowe talked about.""Oh..." Her mom wasn't sure what to say."Oh? Mom?" Rafael asked her, feeling betrayed."We weren't sure if you would ever come, Rafael. Even you weren't sure about your visit." Ruhi's mom explained."So?" He flashed an angry glare at Ruhi for not caring to even explain herself. He grabbed her by the arm when she acted unbothered by his anger."Are you ever going to explain anything to me?""She's not eighteen... and it's not easy to find someon
Rafael woke up around five in the morning and found Ruhi sleeping on the other end of the bed, withher back facing him. She loved to cuddle and never moved away from him before. Reluctant to leave her side, he pulled her close andstayed in bed for hours, watching her sleep and drawing circles on her body with his fingers. While he knew she was going to push him away even more now, he was strangely at peace while looking at her sleeping figure. He couldn't help smiling when he remembered her sweet, long moans all night, wanting him and feeling the hunger for him as much as he hungered for her. "Rafael..." She said his name in her sleep and moved closer, with her eyes still closed. "Mm." He looked at her adoringly and tightened his grip around her waist. Reaching for his face, she pressed her cheek against his stubble and mumbled inaudibly before burying her face in the crook of his neck. "Wake up, you have been sleeping fore
"It was your dad's idea actually. The houseboat thing," Rafael said, unable to turn his eyes away from Ruhi.Her twinkling eyes and beautiful, soft curls framing her face had him mesmerized, and he was amazed at how quickly she forgot all about staying mad at him.She bounced around, exploring the ultra-luxurious boat with an open lounge area, a viewing deck besides a rooftop deck, a kitchenette,a skilled crew including an onboard chef, a spa, and an elegant dining space with panoramic views."Hmm... everything is fantastic, except one thing." She turned around to look at Rafael, who was following her. "Why is there just one bedroom? I have no option to kick you out if we fight because the crew and bodyguards will be occupying the outside and rest of the rooms.""No one is going to get into any fights today." He kissed her on the forehead."I love how cozy everything feels!" She hugged him and thenfell on a plush couch in the living roo
"Argh, that pampered piece of shit!!" Ruhi heard Adira's voice first thing when she returned with Rafael and walked through the front door. Adira was yelling at her parents."Why does she always get more than she deserves? She didn't even ask for it, and you guys still want to do it?"Her dad replied in a calm voice, "She gets more because she has a good attitude and is happy even when she doesn't get more, and that'swhy she gets the best in the end."Her mom added, "And stop comparing yourself with her. We spent almost ten million on your wedding, and your husband even wanted a dowry. We still have to constantly feed their egos with more money and presents. Not to mention your ego. All we spent forRuhi's wedding were the flight tickets to get there.""But she fucking didn't even ask for it! Why do it now?""Lower your voice, Adira. And stop with foul language." Her dad was losing patience."Do what?" Ruhi interfered, and Adira s
"She's very excited about traveling in the business class for the first time," Rafael told himand walked toward where she was standing."Ah, so he finally remembered me. I thought both my parents and your dad are all on your side now." Ruhi moved to reachfor the phone in Rafael's hand.A distant gunshot and a swish of a bullet came out of nowhere and passed right next to her as she moved out of her position,hitting Landon in the arm.Rafael dropped the phone and pulled her around.The next shot followed in less than a second, hittinghim in the back. She could feel the bullet as it pierced through him because he was holding her close.He moved herout of the way with so much force before the next shot was heard that she tumbled over the sand, making him lose balance as well, toppling right over her."RAFAEL!!" She ran her hand over his back, screaming as he held her in a protective grip.Open firing betwe