Rise of the Devil - Part 33

 

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Chapter 33



Khushi’s POV


I can’t believe I could pull this trick and win the bid!! All thanks to Aman Mathur for being such a kind and helpful man. He is a gem. Me and Devil are driving back home from Sartaj Mansion. And since he is busy on calls, with someone, I quickly text a message to Aman, thanking him for his generous help. He sends me a winking smiley back and in return I reply a hugging emoticon.


“Who’s making you blush?” Devil intrudes in a hoarse voice.


How could I forget he is as possessive as I am for him? But I like to tease him a bit which I do.


“An old friend… old Crush in fact,” I lie.


I put my phone back in the small wallet I am carrying with me and meet his heated gaze.

“Old crush? You had one?”

“Plenty..” I bat my eyelashes as I reply.

His fingers automatically fist and I am already feeling bad for those guys whom I admired during my college days. I am never going to introduce them to Arnav Singh Raizada for sure.


“Every girl has a childhood crush Devil. Don’t overreact.”


I touch his arm but he doesn’t touch me back.

“Why is he messaging you now?”

“Just like that…” I shrug. Aww.. he is so cute when jealous. “Chill Arnav..”

“That’s not the answer I want to hear Khushi.”


His gaze penetrates through my heart this time.


“Another man is making my Queen blush and you want me to Chill?”


Oh God!! He is going off topic unnecessarily now. I grip his arm tight.

“I was pulling your leg. I was messaging Aman. To thank him. He sent me a winking smiley and I sent back a hugging one. I hope you trust me and Aman that we know our boundaries. He might be your friend, but he is my friend too now which I never had. I mean.. All these years I only had girlfriends. Aman is the first boy friend I have. Do you have a problem with that?”


I am to the point. I don’t want Devil to make an issue of it later. He cools down immensely as he realizes I was messaging Aman and no one else but his thumbpad lingers on my face, just at the corner of my lips.


“Aman can be your friend.. But if he makes you blush, I might have a problem with that.”


HECK!! What should I do to this man? I am annoyed by his extreme possessiveness but I am loving it too. It’s cute and dangerous. It’s sinful and pleasurable, both.

“You need a drink to calm down,” I declare. “And I need one because you promised we will drink together.”


He smiles. It’s the cutest smile he has given me so far.

“We can start with a Red Wine please?” I add. “I have heard its romantic to have Red Wine with your partner.”

“You watch too many romantic movies?”

“I’m hardcore romantic.” I flickered my eyelashes again and the next instant, he pulls my jaw to place a kiss on my lips.


The kiss is Hypnotic!! As always.


*****************


Arnav’s POV


Khushi knows how to play with my jealousy and how to win over hers. Whatever act she put out there at Sartaj Mansion makes me believe she is the only one who can hold that title of “Devil’s Queen.” I kiss her in the backseat of the car, clearly aware that anyone could see us. We had a driver and bodyguard at front seat and yet I kissed her like we were in our own private bubble. With Khushi, I felt like walking over a thin rope. I had no control over my actions and though it was good for the husband I was, it wasn’t really right for my mission. She might be supportive enough for my mission to bring the Dark world down, but clearly with she next to me, I was more vulnerable than I ever was.


We get down the car and are about to step inside the Villa when one of the security guards reaches us with a box.


“This has come specially for you, Sir.”


I take it knowing if the guards have allowed this package inside, it has been thoroughly checked for all kinds of threat. Yet, I won’t open it before Khushi.

“Go change. I will see you in a bit.”


She obeys my commands and heads inside the house. I take this box and move to the Bench at the garden. Opening it here is safe!! It has a phone inside with a note.


‘Turn ON the phone for my message – Jaipal’


JAIPAL? He sent this package? I quickly ask the guard who delivered this and they say it was a courier company guy and they have already verified his identity. Nothing seemed wrong with the delivery. I don’t waste time in doing as per the note from Jaipal. But obviously, we take some more security measures. My team ensures turning ON the phone doesn’t trigger any explosive device, if any, and only after that, we switch On. The phone has only one video recording in it which I don’t delay to play. It’s Jaipal, sitting on a Single-seater recliner with that same cigar in between his fingers, watching me straight in the eye.


“Hello Devil King. Wish we could speak over a Video call like this but I won’t take that risk knowing you are hunting for me badly. That’s why a pre-recorded video is better.” He laughs and I want to smack his face. He looks absolutely fine, but the room is dark which is why I cannot get any clue of where he could be?


“Anyways, let’s not waste time in irrelevant talks.” The video continues to play. “I have something important to warn you King of Devil.” Jaipal moves closer to the camera and his expressions turn stony. “Your Queen messed up with my business and I think she has connections with the Police. That’s why all my Casinos were raided the immediate day when I escaped from you and your men. She stole my dairy, didn’t she?”


I swallow nervously. So Jaipal thinks Khushi is supporting the Police department against the dark world? He doesn’t know its me who is going to bring this poisoned world down!! I don’t lose my focus from the video which continues playing.


“Save your Queen if you can Devil King… Because soon enough, I am going to take her away with me.”


I Punch my fist on the pillar in rage. How dare he warn me that?


“And you know what I do with women I hate?”


A loud laugh from Jaipal and the video completes, the screen turning black again. I hear a beep coming from the phone and without wasting time, I throw it away. The phone bursts into pieces with a loud noise. He had triggered a self-destructing message into that phone which once watched, destructed on its own. There was no way we could hack that video or do anything about it. Dammit!! I had to increase the security protocol of both Khushi and Shashi Gupta.


I call Aman, inform him about this and ask him to expedite his search. Jaipal had to be tracked before he plays any nasty tricks to get to Khushi here. Another hour of briefing my securtity and then I get back in the Villa. Only when I think Khushi must be fast asleep, she surprises me as I find her in the bedroom, arranging a Wine bottle and two glasses at the small table next to bed.


“Finally, you are back,” she chirps rushing to me. “Go change and then we will drink Wine.”


She drags me to the washroom.

“I have already kept your night suit inside. Go fast..”


She pushes me in and shuts the door. All my angry mood is settled seeing her so happy and excited. I am aware of the threat looming over us but I don’t want to scare her nor I wish to spoil her mood. So, I quickly freshen up and when I come out, she is on the couch, waiting for me to join her. The entire look of my bedroom has changed. The lights are dimmed. The thick curtains are wide open but the sheer ones are drawn close. The moonlight glows the room enough for us to see each other. The mood of the room is romantic!! I don’t do romance! I have never tried but then when I see Khushi, I know she will teach me be her romantic partner soon.


“Devil? Will you keep staring at me the whole night?” Khushi’s voice breaks my trance and I join her on the Couch.


She is excited as hell to open the Wine bottle but I don’t let her do it.


“Allow me” I say opening the bottle and she quickly holds our Wine glasses as I pour the Wine in them.

“Wait..” She presses a button on the remote of Music system and some romantic music plays in the background. I wonder how as I never had that one in my collection for sure. As if she reads my head, Khushi clears my doubt. “You had a very boring collection. I downloaded my favorites and copied in pen drive.”


So fast!! She is really fast!! I am just so speechless right now. As the music begins, Khushi raises her glass forcing me to raise mine. We clink them and while I take a swig of the Wine, Khushi sips hers and makes a face..


“Eekks.. this is bitter.” She complaints. “I had heard they are sweet.”

“They have their versions” I continue drinking mine.


She takes another sip and one more and soon gets used to it.


“Alright then.. let’s speak about our secrets.”


I stiffen which she notices and sighs.

“Not dark secrets.. Any secrets.. good ones.. the ones you want to share.”

I don’t think I have much remembrance of the good part of my life. It’s like Mom took it all with her when she died. I take another swig of the Wine trying hard to recall a few. But Khushi begins with hers.


“I am afraid to ride bicycles.. I mean any two-wheelers,” she pouts. “I don’t think I can ever balance them. I love cars though but again, I haven’t learnt to drive yet. Can you teach me?”


I lean back on the couch, without leaving my gaze from her.

“After we finish our self defense training, I will teach you driving.”

“Umm, can’t we do the driving first?”

“No” I snap and she giggles.

“Was kidding. I know why you hurrying to teach me self-defense first.”

“Why?” I blankly ask.

“You get to touch me more…during those sessions.. That’s why”


HECK!! Her mind really works in a different direction all the time. But I don’t tell her that. I like whatever nonsense she talks sometimes. It keeps me entertained and divert me from the usual routine topics.


“I don’t need an excuse to touch my queen..” I declare as I place my free hand over her thigh. She is wearing one of those silky night gown, long enough to cover her knees. The feel of the satin below my cold palm, passes a different current inside her body which she doesn’t hide from me.


I am aware Khushi wants to take this slow. She wants to know all of my past and about my extended family before we can take this step, so I am not going to force her change her mind. But that doesn’t mean I am open to share everything right away with her.


“You are cold..” she keeps her free hand over mine which is already on her leg, and rubs the back of my hand. To warm it!! I keep observing her expressions. It’s like she is studying my hand.. my fingers.. my touch… I take another swig as she scratches her nail over the back of my fingers and soon entwins them with hers. This isn’t good. By such actions, Khushi might break my resolve…


Since I have finished my drink, I put the glass away but she starts pouring more Wine for herself.


“You liked it?” I ask and she happily nods.

“I did. You know what Devil.. First impression cannot always be the last impression. This Wine is just amazing.. and so are you..”

“Me?” I smirk.

“Hmmm.” She drinks some more Wine. “When I first saw you, I took you as a broody angry killer machine but now after all this time I got to spend with you, I see your other side.”


I stiffen again.


“I don’t have other side.” I mutter.


She comes closer to me, her arm stroking the region where my heart beat louder.


“You do have other side Devil.. The most caring and loving side which I suppose you got from your mother. It is just that you always hide it.. mask it behind this broody side of yours.”


I don’t speak a word, but just watch her leaning her head on my chest, side hugging me on the couch, and still stroking my heart.


“And I love both these sides of your personality…” She then raises her chin and looks at my face. “Because they both are real… and they complete you..”


Love? It’s a strong emotion I have never felt anyone else feeling for me. But I want to believe it for her… I want to believe it for my own self. I bend my head and place a kiss on her nose, curling my arm around her waist to draw her close to my body. This is my heaven and no matter who wants to snatch it from me, I will never let them win..


To be Continued.

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