Votes and comments needed. Till then bye and take care.

Radhika was scribbling random things on the notepad while Veer who was sitting opposite to her staring at without a blink. His facial expression gives away what she means to him.

She looked up and waved her hand in front of his face,"Hey got lost somewhere?!"

He thought to himself, "In you."

He shook his head and shifted his gaze away from her.

She took a sip of her vanilla latte and spoke,"Hey you liked some girl in our college right?! You never told me who she was."

He was caught off guard by her question still he answered,"Yah I did but she would have never thought the same about me."

Radhika gaped at him,"What!!! Stupid female!! You are rich, successful, charming and handsome. I pity her."

He shook his finger at her,"Don't pity her. If I have all this qualities then even she should be crowned Miss world."

Radhika raised her eyebrow, "Is she more beautiful than me?! I wonder if I know her."

He smiled at her and thought, "Yah you know her but not more than me."

He nodded,"Yes."

Radhika was now bitten by the bug of curiosity. She wanted to know who was this girl in their college who was her friend's love interest for so many years.

She held his hands and spoke desperately, "Hey then tell me her name naa."

He refused,"No its not that necessary. Forget it. "

She narrowed her eyes at him,"You stupid fellow!! I can help you woo her. Please veer tell me her name nah."

He stated,"I'll tell you when the right time comes."

He pulled out his wallet from his jeans pockets and placed a note of 500 on the table.

He got up and spoke,"Come let's go. Still a hour left for sunset. Would you like to come to beach with me?! You like beaches?!"

She got up too and beamed with happiness, "Yup. I like beaches?! I love beaches. I love the smell of wet mud."

He chuckled,"Yah I remember how you use to take handful of sand and blow it and then you use to cry and wail when it would go in your eyes."

She punched his shoulder and scolded,"Hey shut up!! We all have our own share of habits."

He smirked, "Well I haven't seen anyone in love with the salty sultry smell of sand."

She fluttered her eyelashes stealing his heart, "I do love it."

He joined his hand and bowed down,"OK Your Highness, you are the one and only solitary unique piece in this world."

She tucked a lone strand behind her ear and proudly stated,"I know."

She walked ahead of him and he tailed behind her. How he wished, he could walk along with her holding her soft hand. He had always loved her but she had no idea that the guy who was always her rescuer in college had her in his heart. If only she could understand that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, they wouldn't have been drifted apart.

She was everyone's favourite because of her unseen, innocent, untainted, pure beauty. She was beautiful and everyone praised her beauty from the time she was born. she knew that it may be the man's world but a beautiful woman could wrap a man around her little finger. Her wise grandmother had taught her more than enough. This was one of the reason she had build big stone walls around her heart. She had always heard from her grand mom that man can never truly love one woman till his last breath. A man can never love woman for who she is, he could only love her for the body that contaminated his thoughts. Lust is a substitute for Love not a compliment. She had her ambitions to be successful without a man's helping hand. She had decided she would stay alone for her whole life without a man to dominate her. Her grand mom always taught her to never love someone more than her own self.

Though Radhika wasn't a selfish, self obsessed bitch still her heart had become bitter because of her grand mother's wrong teachings. She had so much life around her but she needed someone to breath life in her heart.

After watching a spellbinding and awe-inspiring sunset on the beach with Veer, she returned home. Arjun didn't even glanced over at her let alone talking. Even at the dinner table he was dead quiet. She couldn't understand what wrong she did to deserve this cold shoulder from him. She missed their bickering and his sinister dark mesmerizing eyes stealing chances to look at her.

She lazily entered inside the bedroom and marched over to the couch and sat down crossing her legs.

When Arjun made a appearance, she straightened up and spoke, "I need to talk Arjun."

He angrily answered, "I don't want to look at you let alone talking."

She turned him towards her holding his shoulders and let out a plea," Arjun please tell me what's wrong?! Did I do something wrong?!"

He pushed her to the hard concrete wall and pinned her hands above her hand and brought his face dangerously closer to hers. She started feeling uncomfortable with his cool minty breath fanning her face. Her heart was in her mouth ready to jump out. He spoke in a fury filled tone,"You are the reason for everything that has gone wrong in my life. Only because of you I can't meet Aisha. I can't close all the mouths talking shitty things about her. Only because of you, people call her my mistress today. You wanted to run away from your wedding but why you fell in front of my car?! I wish I had never helped you."

Hereyes welled up and ears pained at the audacity of hoarse voice full of hatred.Her heart throbbed with pain. Undefined, unknown, unbound and  tremendous pain.

He gazed at her with a loathing rage," I regret the day I met you!! I regret helping you!! I regret marrying you!! I regret that I have to call you my wife even if it is in front of the world only!! And you know what I regret the most?!

She didn't had any wish to know more and torture her senses more but still she nodded.

He thought in his mind,"I regret that I feel protective about you. I try my best to let go off this feeling but still it never let's me be at peace. I wish I didn't feel like saving you from this dark, selfish and crude world but I do."

He pushed her away and harshly spoke,"I don't owe you any answers."

She wiped her tears and promised herself that she'll never cry for this man only if she had it in herself to keep that promise. She let her body fall on the couch but her sleep had bid her goodbye. His harsh, rude, heartbreaking words echoed in her ears and her heart pained with unbearable pain. Why they had to wait for one year?! Why they couldn't have their freedom now?! She had to find out a way to leave Arjun's life. And that was best for all, she thought. Arjun didn't deserve to live this life when his heart was somewhere else. He wanted Aisha not her and even she didn't had anything to do with him. She thought deeply about the whole situation. They could stay apart and get a divorce when the year ends. This way he could see Aisha and she will not see hatred in his eyes.

Early in the morning, she got up and incoherently her gaze travelled to bed. He looked so peaceful when asleep. He safe regarded her respect and her family's honor without having any kind of relation with her. He was a true gem and he deserved to be happy. She sat down at the edge of the bed and caressed his dark and unruly locks. She spoke in a sincere tone,"Arjun I am sorry. Though unintentionally I ruined your happiness. As for what you did for me then thank you will never be enough. What you did that was just great and I can never repay your favour. I promise I'll try my best to find a way out of this mess so you could stay with Aisha. I am sorry once again."

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and stood up and threaded towards the washroom to freshen up. When she descended down the staircase, her in laws welcomed her with a heart warming smile. She wished that she could swallow all her pain and greet them with not real smile.

She held her hand bag over her shoulder and took slow strides to everyone waiting for her on the dining table.

Avantika could make out from the lines of worry and tension strikingly visible on her forehead that she wasn't alright. She paraded over to her and took her aside.

She asked in a concerned tone,"What's the matter sweetheart?!"

Radhika tried her best to keep a straight face. She held back her unshed tears and sobs and spoke, "Nothing mom. Everything is good."

Avantika narrowed her gaze at her,"You think I was born yesterday?! Do I look like a fool to you?! Last night you were only looking at Arjun trying make a conversation with him. Now you gave us all this forced smile. Tell me Radhika."

Radhika couldn't hold onto to her tears anymore. Her eyes drip with tears. Her walls, the walls that holding her up, making her strong just... collapsed. She threw her arms around Avantika and cried like a small child tensed and worried sick.

Avantika rubbed her back and placed soft nothings on her head with other hand and rocked her gently.

Radhika pulled back and whispered in a shaky choking tone, "Mom I am so bad. Today only because of me Arjun has to go through all this. He can't live his life the way he wants just because of me."

Avantika wiped her tears and spoke in a calm assuring tone,"No I know my boy. If he truly thinks that everything happening to him is totally against his will then he will fight tooth and nail to get things done his way. He won't sit till he gets them done but look he isn't doing that right now. He is not mad at you its just that he is not able to accept his father's dictatorship. He is a man now so he does not like to be ordered around by anyone even if the person is his own father. He just took out that anger on you probably."

Radhika asked in a stammering voice,"Does....Ar....Arjun...hat...hates....me?!

Avantika shook her head and spoke "Darling you don't even know the correct meaning of hatred if you knew then you wouldn't have asked me this question. Hatred fuels the desire to destroy in a person. Arjun had your back from the time he saw you. You only feel the desire to protect someone when you care for that person. He does cares for you more than you can imagine. It's just that he does not know expressing rather he doesn't like it."

"But what about Aisha?! Won't she hate me if Arjun starts caring for me. She might even misunderstand our relationship."Radhpka sniffed

"Radhika, you are his wife and though Aisha was the most long lasting, record breaking affair of Arjun's life still its over now. I always felt that girl is bad news and I still feel the same. See Radhika if you really want to see him happy then keep him away from that bitch."

Radhika eyes widened in shock,"But how can I...."

Avantika cuts her off,"Trust me darling, only you can. You believe me right?!"

Radhika nodded without a shadow of doubt in her head,"Yes mom."

Avantika smiled contently and kissed her forehead, "Radhika, If you really care for Arjun then please keep him away from Aisha."

Radhika quizzed, "But why Mom?!"

Avantika answered staring deep into her eyes,"I can't give you a valid reason but you have to promise me you'll do it for me."

Radhika murmured confusingly,"But mom...."

Avantika cuts her off,"No ifs and buts just tell me you'll do it."

Radhika reluctantly gave her a positive nod though her conscience didn't supported her decision. She had made two promises whose requirements were completely different from each other. If she kept her promise to Arjun then she'll break the promise made to his mom.

Arjun who had come downstairs walked over to Radhika. He was feeling a lump of guilt pricking in his throat which was hard to swallow. He had just lost control over his bottled up fury.

Radhika greeted,"Good morning, Arjun."

He was taken aback by her pleasantries. This was not what he had expected.

A small smile played on his lips,"Morning."

He turned to Avantika, "Mom do you mind if I take Radhika out for breakfast today?!"   

Avantika cupped his face and spoke,"As long as you both are together I don't mind anything. "

Radhika objected,"But Arjun aren't you busy?!"

He held her hand and locked his eyes with hers,"Well we should make time for friends if we hurt them.''                              

Radhika shook her head,"Arjun, its alright. you don't need to do all this and I think I'll be late to my work today so I need to rush now."

He quickly interrupted,"Fine I'll drop you and I will be able to see where you work and who is your boss. I need to make sure that you'll be safe there."

Radhika retorted, "Its not needed and my boss is a genuine guy, the best part is that we know each other since college. He is not a bossy arrogant fellow who loves to scare the shit out of his employees. He takes care of me there."

The admiration brimming in her eyes and softness of her tone while talking about Veer didn't go well with Arjun. His hand balled into fist, his nails digging into his palms. His teeth clenched together.

He stated in a icy cold tone, "Pass my message to him that its not his job to look after you. Its my job to take care of you."

Radhika stared at him shockingly,"But why do you want to take care of me?!"

He gave her a half smile,"Because its my right and since I answer your one question you have to answer mine now."

Radhika folded her arms to her chest and spoke in a firm tone,"I am not obliged to answering your question if I don't want to answer it."

He took a step towards her making her take a step back,"Its a two way street when you ask me questions. I answered your question now you have to answer mine."

Radhika stuttered feeling deeply affected by his proximity, "OK...As...Ask yo...your question."

"Do you have feelings for your boss?!" He asked in a sardonic bitter tone.

She gasped,"WHAT!!! NO!!"

She continued,"He is just a friend and how could ask me such type of question?!"

He smirked, "Its just a simple question which you answered."

Radhika furrowed her brows in confusion, "But why you asked me this?!"

If only Arjun had the answer to Radhika's question then maybe he could have answered but he was tongue tied himself. He didn't know why he needed to know but the fact was he just needed to know. That's it!!

He thought for a minute and answered,"See Radhika I don't want you to trust the wrong guy. This is Mumbai and there are more bad, evil bastards out there than the good souls. So I am just trying to keep you safe."

Radhika replied,"Arjun you don't need to worry. Veer is a good guy and I forgot to tell you before that I am going go with him to the Film festival party this Sunday."

Arjun glared at her with seething rage. He wished he could just lock her in one room and forbid her from meeting any man except him.

He stated in a hard thick tone,"You are going but not with him. I'll take you there myself. "

Radhika pulled her brows together in confusion,"You're invited?! "

He replied,"Yes we sponsor such big events and Mr Bajaj, the one who is behind this event is dad's good friend."

Radhikaspoke angrily,"So you will take me there as your arm candy?! Sorry but I am not interested."

He narrowed his eyes at her,"I am not asking you. I was telling you that you are coming with me to the party as my wife."

She corrected, "Temporary wife."

He smirked,"We'll see."

He lifted his hand to look at his wrist watch and spoke coldly,"You took a lot of my precious time. I'll pick you up from your office in the evening."

He walked away from her and out of the house leaving her bewildered, baffled and aggravated at the same time.

My Questions

1) How was the update?!

2) What you think about maddened, wild and aggressive Arjun?!

3) Do you think Avantika has a valid reason for keeping Arjun away from Aisha?!

4) Which promise do you want Radhika to fulfill?!

5) Are you eager for Veer and Arjun's first encounter?!

6) Last time i asked you to comment on Arjun's character. All of you seem to be impressed with this Arjun But let me tell you there is more to his character sketch. I will never project Arjun as goody two shoes and people who have read my all stories can suggest that Arjun will never be a saint if its Asshna writing the story. So my question is how many of you doubted this from the very beginning of this  story?!

7) Veer+Radhika= Vedika, Veerika, Veera, Veedhika, Veradhik, Radhveer.  Which one did you like?! You can suggest your own too. 

8) Your favorite character?!

9) Review the whole update.

10) Rate the update.