"You're taking me to my house right??" asked Riddhima anxiously, watching him timorously. Vikramaditya smirked cunningly.
"That depends on your behaviour. If you're a good girl then we'll think about dropping you back home but if you're not then...."
"What do you mean??" she interjected curtly and hastily. Vikramaditya chuckled shamelessly. His veined hands operating the steering wheel.
"Oh darling!!! Only if I could tell you what I actually mean. Isn't it enough of an answer that I am a bad person!!! Hm!!" he responded cryptically. A shudder ran through her body. There was a strange glint in his devilishly beautiful eyes. What was he planning to do?? Was he planning to consummate their marriage??? Riddhima shuddered just at the mere thought of that. Somehow she'd managed to turn the situation in her favour last time but not always will the tide be on her side. She was sure that if he decides to do what he'd left unfinished last time then there was no escape for Riddhima. However, she wasn't being so pessimistic today. If the circumstances weren't chosen by her then she can atleast choose to organise her thoughts in a more positive way. Besides thinking positive costs you no penny, in addition it saves you from having a panic attack.
"I understand not a word you say. You probably talk to mountains or skies." she grumbled, irked with his equivocal responses. Vikramaditya chuckled. Outside the car, the rain was falling heavily. The heavy grey clouds were sagging lower above the town.
"Because you don't want to Riddhi, the same way you don't want to understand my feelings for you." he whispered, eyes front. Riddhima shifted uncomfortably on her seat. Did that somehow make her a villain?? It was he who fooled her all this while and just because he developed feelings for her during her stay in his mansion, doesn't mean she'll also feel the same way about him.
"Oh this rain. Why's the weather so upset??" she changed the topic. Vikramaditya looked outside his window and watched as a film of mist covered the window. The mist had turned the glass translucent and therefore only scanty details of the outside world were seen by him.
"I hope there's no landslide. The rain is pretty bad." he pondered, maneuvering his car carefully and vigilantly on the serpentine roads. Riddhima gasped.
"Oh please don't say such things. God please just stop this rain already." prayed Riddhima. Vikramaditya didn't respond and kept driving. Fortunately Riddhima skipped the taxi ride (she was made to) and sat in his car. Because soon after she sat in the car it started raining heavily. She could only imagine what would've became of her in that taxi. Atleast she had him with her and this gave her a sense of security, although she didn't wanted to feel that way. Getting stuck on the road with an unknown taxi driver was simply a nightmare. Thankfully she's with him. She never know that a day will come when she'll be thankful for his presence.
"Do you wanna eat something??" he asked as he espied a little food shop at the corner of the road. Riddhima was hungry. Apart from those gol gappas she's eaten nothing and her stomach was grumbling to be honest.
"Yes, thank you." she replied, too eager to eat. Vikramaditya pulled up close to the shop. He asked Riddhima to sit inside as he went in and came out a second later with an umbrella. Any other girl would've mentally went awe but Riddhima had seen the dark side of him. So, he helped her alight the car while holding an umbrella for her just so she didn't get wet in the rain. She noticed that his clothes were soaked in rain and she really felt bad since his clothes were expensive. He, on the other hand, wasn't bothered at all.

When they both entered the shanty hut made of local wood and straw, warmth braced them both since fire was lit inside the hut. Vikramaditya gently draped his arm around her waist and ushered her in. The residents of the hut, probably also the runners of the food shop, immediately stood up at the sight of them. Riddhima was fascinated to see them standing in respect for them. There was a man, around mid-50s, a woman probably a year or two younger, a boy in his 20s and a girl in her early teens. They all had weather beaten faces but they looked kind and amicable by every means. They asked them to sit politely.
"It's our honour to have Mr. and Mrs. Raghuvanshi with us here today." the man said politely. Indeed it was written on their faces how delightful they were to see that the wealthiest man in the entire state was inside their shanty hut with his beautiful wife. Riddhima smiled at them kindly.
"What can I do for you Thakurji!!" asked the man, his hands folded in respect. Vikramaditya looked affectionately at Riddhima and said.
"Ask madamji what she wants to eat." and Riddhima blushed. The woman quickly ran and stood next to Riddhima.
"Yes Thakurani ji, what would you like to eat??? Vinu, bring the menu for Thakurani ji." the lady yelled at her son who quickly ran and fetched a bit worn out menu for Riddhima. Riddhima felt a bit uneasy, I mean Thakurani was a bit high appellation and she wasn't sure if she deserved it or not. Nonetheless Vikramaditya was happy with people referring to her as Thakurani. This title was reserved for the wife of the Thakur of the town, which after his father is him, so naturally she becomes the Thakurani. Riddhima silently went through the menu while Vikramaditya was standing close to the fire to dry off his clothes.
"Um, 1 shahi paneer, butter naan, malai kofta and.... the rest you can ask Thakurji." Riddhima told the woman with a smile.
"Order for me as well, I am not going through the menu. I am absolutely hungry." he said, adding more wood to the fire. Riddhima huffed.
"One dal makhani, dum aloo, and mixed veg, that's his favourite." she gave the complete order and the woman quickly went downstairs to prepare the meal. Riddhima, didn't noted at the first glance, but the main cooking area was downstairs. Perhaps this upper portion was meant chiefly for the customers. The man was sitting on the small stool beside Vikramaditya.
"What's the situation up there??" asked Vikramaditya authoritatively. Riddhima keenly heard them while leaving a message to Mrs. Rautela that she was with Vikramaditya. The rest they would interpret themselves.
"Oh!!! Thakurji the debris had came sliding down just a little uphill. The roads are blocked. Don't see any progess until the sun comes up." he informed him. Vikramaditya heard him grimly. Riddhima was tensed.
"That means we can't reach the uptown." she queried. The man shook his head sadly.
"What's the report from downhill??" asked Vikramaditya. The man looked up at him and responded politely.
"I don't think so any landslide took place there. I believe roads are accessible." he told him. A sense of relief washed over Vikramaditya.
"That's great, atleast we can make it to my house safely." he said. It was a positive news as he was really anxious to reach a safe place with her. Had he been alone it wouldn't be such a huge problem, but she was with him and he can't just spend the night anywhere after all. Riddhima was ambivalent about spending the night in his house. But then it was the only option available and since it was better to spend a night in a house that you know than at a house that you know zilch about.
"Riddhi inform your uncle and aunty that you are staying with me tonight." he told her. Riddhima nodded and started dialling Mr. Rautela's number.
"Food is ready." said the woman hesitantly as she came up. Vikramaditya's eyes twinkled like a 5 year old.

They ate handsomely at the food shop. The food was absolutely delicious and warm. They even had some tomato soup afterwards. Although it was Vikramaditya that drank the full bowl of soup, Riddhima just took a sip or two since she was already full. Following that they paid the man, although he was resisting and claimed that it was his pleasure to host them, but eventually Vikramaditya paid them and he paid him extra since in this rainy night he and his family left no stone unturned to feed them and make them feel at home. And then they sat in their car and drove downhill to the valley where Raghuvanshi mansion was situated. It didn't take them much time to reach the valley. The rain was still falling heavily and has filled the otherwise dry brooks and channels. When Riddhima alighted the car, coolness braced her. Not just ordinary cold, the coolness actually had gave her goosebumps. She could feel her body turning cold under her clothes. Although she wasn't wanting it but she nervously stepped closer to Vikramaditya just so she could recieve some warmth. And though it didn't take away all the cold, it did alleviate it to a certain extent. Nonetheless, they strode into the house. Vikramaditya asked Riddhima to go upstairs and told her that he'll come in a minute after locking all doors and windows. The workers of the mansion were on a day off, Vandana was visiting her sister who lived in Mussoorie, his idiotic brother was out of town for office purposes (Vikramaditya send him off to fetch some files) and therefore they both were alone. So he was making sure all the doors and windows were bolted tight. Riddhima, obediently went upstairs. However, she still was cold as a freezer. She knew why this was happening and it wasn't a new thing. When heavy rain hits and temperature plummets, sometimes she get cold as fuck. She was feeling so cold that her teeth were chattering. Quickly she ran towards the bed and jumped under the covers. The warmth of the blankets did little to alleviate her trouble. Thankfully Vikramaditya came in time.
"Riddhi are you ok??" he asked with concern. Riddhima looked at him from under the covers.
"Kind of. This weather just....Aachoooo!!!!!! Sorry....just makes me all cold and freezing." she told him through her chattering teeth. He looked at her for a second before removing his shirt. Riddhima's eyes widened. If he's starting his consummating rant again than she's throwing a vase at his head. Her horror doubled up when she saw him coming up on the bed.
"What do you think you're.....Achooooooo!!!! doing??" she sneezed and said. Her nose already was red like a Tomato. He didn't say anything but laid next to her, covered a blanket upto his chest, placed his hand on her waist and gently pulled her to him. She looked at him aghast as he brought her close to his chest before wrapping his arms around her fragile body. Riddhima would've yelled but the warmth of his arms was so calming that her anger completely melted away. And instead of struggling, she found herself shifting closer to him, so much that her head was resting against the support of his chest.

For a few minutes they both were silent. Riddhima's eyes were heavy and fortunately she was feeling quite warm now, although she still liked that warm feeling of his arms.
"Why did you remove your shirt??" she asked yawning, her eyelids drooping. He kissed her forehead gently and smiled.
"Well, because body warmth is the best way to cut the cold." he told her sweetly, taking her hand in his and kissing her fingertips softly. She yawned as her eyes started to close on their own.
"Yet still why remove the shirt??" she wasn't sure what she was saying. Sleep was taking over her fastly. He looked down at her and chuckled. It was futile to answer since she was already half asleep. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her on her lips.
"I love you Riddhi." he whispered, closing his eyes.
"Hm Hm...." she hmmed in response to which he laughed.
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