Dhruv's pov!

"Dhruv, we need to talk." Shraddha said and I looked at her intently.

"Sure." I said and she took a seat across from me. She was looking uncomfortable. She didn't look like a homewrecker. I was having double minds.

The whole night, I was having trouble sleeping. I was honest about it. I couldn't stop thinking about her.

There is an integrity shining through her eyes that is so opposing to the idea that she could have an affair with a married man.

Maybe, it is just Sid who is interested in her.

Why are you making up excuses for her, my alter ego taunted.

"You know nothing about me, Dhruv." Shraddha said.

"We can get to know each other.." I said.

Somehow, everything I say is coming straight out of my heart. What the hell is wrong with me? I am simply supposed to get her out of Diya's life. But I can't seem to have control over my own feelings.

Feelings I thought I will never be able to feel.

"It is not easy for me, Dhruv. I am an orphan. I grew up in an orphanage with hundreds of other children. All my life, I had to look after myself. And I have never done anything impulsively in my life. I have never had attachments to anybody except my best friend. We had been together in the orphanage since we were kids. And I am not ready to get attached to anybody either." Shraddha said and desperation hit me hard.

"What is your plan then? To live your entire life alone?" I asked and felt like laughing because that was how I had planned to live my entire life.

"It is better to live alone than get attached to someone and get hurt later on." Shraddha said. The way she is speaking, it is making it hard to believe that she could have an affair with Sid.

Maybe Diya was mistaken. Maybe I was mistaken. But what were they talking to each other in this very same kitchen two nights back? Why did Sid call Shradda to open the door late at night instead of Diya?

"Life is never easy, Shraddha. You gotta take risks." I said as I took another sip of the coffee.

"You have a family, Dhruv. I would never fit into your life." Shraddha said.

"Who says that? Just like you, I am also an orphan. Our mother committed suicide when we were kids. Our father abandoned us for another woman. Our grandfather raised us, but he too died a few years ago. Then Diya got married. Now I am just as lonely as you." I said vehemently, the old scars opening up.

I couldn't believe that I just said that to Shraddha. It was Shraddha's gentle touch on my hand that startled me out of my shock. She was looking at me empathetically.

"I am sorry. I didn't know all that.." Shraddha said gently and I dismissed it off with a wave of my hand. I don't need anybody's sympathy. I never did.

In boarding school and in college, people had looked at me sympathetically many times. Sympathy for the child who was abandoned by their father. Sympathy for the child whose mother committed suicide. And it has killed me every single time.

One weekend, I had come home and refused to go back to college, because I couldn't bear the sympathetic looks. My only friend was Vedant Khoda. Only he could understand me.

'If you can't bear the sympathy, make them look at you with jealousy, Dhruv.' Nana had said.

He took me to a company party and my plus one was one of the leading actresses of that time. Grandpa had looked at me with a smirk and asked me to enjoy the night. At first, I didn't understand what he meant. But the actress made it clear what it was.

We had even reached the hotel bedroom, but I couldn't go forward with it. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't touch that woman. But that didn't stop the paparazzi from making the news viral. The diamond prince Dhruv Khuranna's steamy affair with the hot actress was all over the Telly updates.

The next time I went to the college, it was to see the guys looking at me with jealousy and the girls simpering at my feet.

From that moment, a new Dhruv was born. A Dhruv who portrayed the facade of a rich playboy. It gave me the much needed escape from the sympathetic looks.

Now looking at Shraddha, an unnatural fear crept up my spine. What if she sees those articles and all about my playboy lifestyle. She might never believe the truth.

She will never come to know of it!

"I made my side clear to you, Shraddha. It is now time for you to decide." I said and stood up from there.

"Dhruv.."

"Don't say anything now. Get to know me. I am here for a week. Let's get to know each other and then you can answer me." I said and walked out of the kitchen, leaving her to ponder over what I said.

As I locked myself in my room, I felt confused as I have never been before.

I had come here with the sole purpose of getting the new nanny out of Diya's life. And seeing her had knocked me off. She was beautiful. I have seen many beautiful women in my life, including stunning models who model the jewels for us. But there was something special about Shraddha. Something that made my heart skip a beat.

What is that I am feeling for her? For some reason, I can't seem to let her go. I was feeling something strong for her. Something I have never felt before. Is it possible to have strong feelings for a person whom I hardly know? Maybe it is the strong attraction. Whatever it is, I need it. My life was in a limbo and now I am feeling alive for the very first time. I don't want to let it go.

Shraddha! No matter what, you are going to be mine! Nothing is going to stop me..

A/n

Here goes the next shot...

Please do vote and comment...

Love,

SF❤️