Avni's POV

"Stop.", Mr Khanna halted my steps that were ascending the stairs of the basement."We forgot something, Miss Mehta."

"What?", I voiced out but of course this man, this man who I love with all my heart doesn't care to answer my question. I'll take the revenge from you, Mr Khanna, let the vicar ask if I want to marry you and then I'll stay silent just the way you always do.

"You won't dare.", he threatened, tightening his grip on my wrist and I facepalmed myself mentally.

"I said that aloud again, didn't I?"

"Do you want me to lie to you?", he raised his brow and damn him for being always right, damn his perfectly plucked eyebrows, damn his beautiful eyes, damn him for-

-being hot-shot.'

-always being attentive, can't he just miss out on my words for once.

"Everyone turn around.", Mr Khanna commanded and all the heads turned robotically except me and that creep because he was tied to the chair. He was badly bruised, I mentally praised myself for asking James to get him here. Ain't I intelligent?

'Stop this self-praising stupid.'

"Hurting her was your biggest f*cking mistake Vidyut. She's mine and no one dares to touch something that's mine.", Mr Khanna said and kissed me on my lips but for the first time I couldn't concentrate on how warm and soft his lips were against mine, my mind was busy in processing his words. When did I say I belong to him?

Behind me, Dywane growled or better attempted to. Why? Well, he ended up coughing. In normal terms, I'd have laughed at this but right now my mind had only one thing. I love Mr Khanna so does that mean I am his possession now? And the most important question -Will I be able to keep my feminist morals aside and readily accept to become his?

Or am I just overthinking all this, he wouldn't have meant those words in that way, had he?

Of course, he wouldn't have, he knows my stubborn feminist self. But I can't forget he's also Mr-Controlling-Chauvinist-OverlyPossessive-Hotheaded-Mr Khanna and that he practically ordered me to marry him.

"Miss Mehta.", Mr Khanna snapped at me and I came out of my little trance and that's when I realized I was now in his room. He locked the room and inched towards me.

"Did you just say I belong to you?", I asked Mr Khanna, my heart thudding in the ribcage. For many people, it'd be a useless question but I want to make sure that I won't be a bird in a golden cage, because if it'd be so, I may have to take few steps back. 

He slipped his arm around me and pulled me towards him. Heat surged inside me but I pushed the fact aside that his touch and his proximity was making me go crazy. Focus Avni!

"Did I?", he whispered. 

"Y-ou said I am your-s.", my words were trembling. Mr Khanna's cold eyes didn't seem to hint what was going in that smarty brain of his. He gently brought his palm to the back of my neck and tilted my face upwards so that his eyes were staring right into my soul.

'Goddammit Avni why are you being so flustered, you aren't asking something wrong. Get a freaking grip on yourself.'

His breath tickled my lips and I am sure I would have been melted right then and there if it wasn't for the goddang question which was eating me.

His lips came in contact with my jaw. Holy mother of sweet little Jesus! What is he doing?" You have a problem with that?", his sweet torturing kisses were nearly making it next to impossible for me to concentrate. Keyword: nearly.

'Good Avni, don't let his kisses go in your head. That manipulative son of a beautiful lady whose son is a total control freak!'

"Yes I do.", I managed to answer without stuttering. Goodness! Is there any concept of icy fire because wherever this Block of Ice was trailing kisses, my skin was feeling hot. I need to see a doctor real soon.

"And why so?", he whispered back in his low deep voice. My mind was trying to concentrate on what I had to say next but was failing continuously. The only thing running in my mind was that his lips were creating havoc on my cells. Bloody hell! I need to see a doctor tomorrow itself.

"Tell me, don't you want to be mine?"

"No." and his lips froze right there. He stared into my eyes as if challenging to take the word back but no way in hell was I going to do so. His embrace on me tightened and what may I add there, was a flicker of pain I saw in his eyes. My heart constricted thinking I was the reason behind it.

"Then why did you say you love me?", he questioned coldly."Was all this just an act?"

Ouch, it hurts. He thought all that was an act. A freakin' act!

"You think I don't love you?", my voice was so low it could be hardly heard." You think so freakin' lowly of me.", a tear escaped my eye, I never knew he had such insecurities. Just because I refused to be his he thought I don't love him.

'It's because you didn't clear that genius.'

"You say you love me and the next moment you refuse to be mine. What does this mean, Miss Mehta?"

"Mr Khanna you're not understanding what I mean to say.", I brought my palms to his cheek ignoring the sparks I was experiencing while doing so. Concentrate! "What I mean is I'm not someone's possession and I won't be ever. I love you and no one can change that ever... but if you think that means you'll have all control over what I do, who I meet whatsoever I beg to differ that'll have to change.", I said softly caressing his jaw.

I softly displaced by hands with my lips standing on my toes, Mr Khanna's jaw clenched which means he's also getting affected. So we both need to see the doctor.

"I may be a chauvinist-controlling-cold-bastard but did I ever try it with you? Why did you think your freedom or your control over your life would be snatched, Miss Mehta?"

"Did you forget how you practically ordered me to marry you?", I uttered but the next moment regretted it with all sincerity. I  shouldn't have said that, Stupid! Stupid! Stupid Avni!

 Guilt. It was the first time I noticed guilt in his eyes. Silence reigned between us and before I could amend my mistake he stepped back and stormed off the room. 

Damn you Avni!

~~~

"I-I don't get how do I make him understand this small thing.", I told Liza gulping the sweet fizzy liquid. After Mr Khanna rushed out of the room I sat down thinking about our small talk and that's when Liza came into the picture, I've grown very close to her in this short period. Hers and my thoughts are very similar and that makes it completely easy for me to explain my point of view in front of her.

I told her about the talk obviously skipping the kissing details. She was really angry with Mr Khanna.

"How did that son of a bachelor-uh-excuse me Uncle Rihaan but how dare he order to marry you.", her words not mine.

It took me whole 3 minutes and 34 seconds to calm her fuming self. She told me that the whole night we have been busy with this Dwayne thingy and neither I nor her seem to be sleepy so she told me I need to take a chill pill, again her words not mine.

So here I and her are sitting in the garden, at the poolside at four in the morning under the starry sky. She brought a beautiful bottle of some liquid and when I told her I don't drink, she told me it was just apple juice but I think I doubt her with that. Nevertheless, it feels good having someone to talk to. 

Liza took a sip from her glass," You know Avni, in this matter I agree with you, what you said to him was completely true but Avni-", she turned towards me, "I can bet you won't get a better man than him. He can be a male-chauvinist but you won't see a better gentleman than him, he could be controlling but he'd never snatch your freedom from you. He could be self-conceited but I give you my words he'd always keep you before himself."

"I know that Liza and I don't have any problem with his imperfections, I love the way he is. I don't want someone else, no matter how many times we argue or we have conflicting thoughts, at the end of the day he has to come to me and me to him & no way in hell I want a better man... I want him. I would never want him to change for me, It's just at that moment I uttered that order thing to him. I never wanted to, trust me."

"It's okay Avni, any woman would react the same if she's practically forced to do something she doesn't want to.", she gave me a small sincere smile.

"I don't know what to say anymore. Oh my stars!.", I gulped the liquid down my throat." He just moved out of the room, didn't even wait to listen to me .", I slurred, due to some odd reasons my vision was a little blurry but who cares. I know I'm not well, Doctor here I come tomorrow.

"Liza.", his voice came out of the blue. Nah! it can't be him. It's my mind playing tricks.

"Go away.", I yelled staring into oblivion. All of a sudden I was whirled and my eyes met with a pair of cold brown eyes. Those beautiful eyes.

"Oh well, I think I may have to rush.", Liza giggled, why the hell is she giggling? She gave me a smirk and stumbled her way inside. This girl!

All of a sudden a laugh escaped me, why do I feel so light all of a sudden. Cold eyes were pinning me with them but right at that moment all I could do was stare. Stare into his beautiful eyes to life. 

"You have suchhh beau..tiful eyes Mr Khanna, I'm jealous.", I slurred, what happened to my speaking skills?

"Miss Mehta are you intoxicated?"

"No.", I laughed."I'm no intoxi-intox- whatever posh word you used."

"Sure you aren't.", he mumbled. I tried to move away but ended up tripping on my own feet. How can someone trip on his own feet, I am some unique piece. Mr Khanna's hands reached out to my shoulder balancing me.

"Careful.", he grumbled.

I nodded and took another step and this time I didn't fall, Yay for Avni!

"What did you drink?", Mr Khanna raised his eyebrow at me.

"Such perfect eyebrows.", Mr Khanna's forehead crinkled very slightly.

"What pray are you saying, Miss Mehta?"

"Will you teach me how to shape eyebrows so impecc-impecc oh dang it! I can't use such elegant words like you, can I?"

"I'm sure you can and I suppose you mean impeccably."

"Ah! That's my...my man y'all, he understands my words even when I fail to say them.", I announced to the stars."You listening to me, stars?", I cheered walking ahead. A warm hand clasped around my elbow pulling me back.

"Watch out, Miss Mehta. You will end up falling into the pool.", I ignored his accusation and continued gazing at those bright twinkling cele-celest-celestial hah! celestial bodies. There I got it! He was right I can use these rich-posh words.

"I am sure your stars got it, Miss Mehta. Let's go inside now."

"You think so? but they didn't twinkle at me, that means they didn't understand my words."

"Ah! Because Miss Mehta you see they have grown tired of twinkling all night that's why they aren't flickering now."

"Is it so?"

"Yes. Now let's go inside, you need to sleep.", he pulled me with him but I didn't want to.

"Mr Khanna I don't want to go."

"Miss Mehta move your feet this instant or so God help me I'll lift you in my arms and take you inside. Do you want me to do that?"

That made my feet move on their own.

"I thought the same.", behind me I heard Mr Khanna speaking.

The view inside was hilarious. Liza was running behind Reece, a vase in her hand, Ivan trailing behind them. Hah! they are playing catch me if you can without me.

"I'll also play with you guys. How dare you start the game without me.", I declared smiling. Reece's and Ivan's eyes widened as if they saw a ghost. Do I look like a ghost?

'Do you want me to lie to you?'

"Where were you all night?", I asked my subconscious.

"Who are you talking to specifically?", Mr Khanna asked staring at me as if I had grown two heads. Oh, now I imagine how will I look if I do?

"Mr Khanna, will you love me the way you do even when I grow two heads?"

"You are rambling.", he shook his head and tugged my arm but I quickly stepped back.

"I want to play with them.", I softly said, why the hell are my eyes tearing?

"Avni my bestieeee..", Liza yelled and wrapped her arms around my neck choking me to death. Mr Khanna hurriedly moved towards me, bless him for that. He unwrapped her arms and I took a breath still laughing.

"Is she also high like her?", Reece gestured to me, asking Mr Khanna.

"Uh..", before Mr Khanna could say I answered his question.

"No, Mr Denver I'm low."

Liza giggled and Mr Wilson laughed like there was no tomorrow. Did I crack a joke or what?

"Alright, that's enough. Ivan, get Liza to her room and you come with me.", he tugged my hand pulling me towards his horror film inspired room which nowadays was quite chirpy and lively because of me. I'm such a vibe of positivity, ain't I?

"Of course you are Miss Mehta, though I didn't know you had such excellent thoughts about my room."

Dang, it! How does he know every time what I'm thinking?

"Mr Khanna, are you a wizard-like the kid Harry Potter? Will you teach me those spells he uses for his witchy stuff?", I asked him who was busy tugging me inside his room.

"No and No.", he said and locked the door.

"You are no fun.", I mumbled defeatedly. He raised his eyebrow at me.

"I recollect yours and my definition of fun is quite different.", he said, a slight smirk on his face.

"Oh."

"You understood what I meant?", he asked, amused. The hell does he mean I understood? Of course, I did. Okay, I didn't but he doesn't need to know that.

"Enlighten me what I meant.", he asked, his smirk was widening. When did the block of ice start showing so many emotions?

"Since when you entered my life."

"Oh."

"Yes oh."

I tilted my head in confusion still trying to click the newly found information but along with my head, I tilted my whole body and ended up falling on the bed, bless this soft mattress otherwise I'd have hit my head.

'And then you would have turned crazier than you already are.'

"Always trying to taunt me, aren't you?"

"I didn't say anything, Miss Mehta.", Mr Khanna said, his eyes hinting confusion.

"Oh no, I wasn't talking to you."

"There's no one except you and me, Miss Mehta."

"The hell there's not, I'm talking to my-oh!-nevermind.", I said realising he'd think I'm completely mad.

He shook his head and adjusted my legs and pulled the covers to my body."Sleep.", he mumbled and kissed my forehead. Warmth flooded my heart.

He was about to go when my hand reached out to his hand." Mr Khanna..I..I don't like it when we argue or when you walk away from me.", I mumbled tiringly, sleep was evident in my words.

"Me neither.", he whispered.

"Then why do we fight?", I whispered, my eyes shutting. Minutes later I felt the covers shifting.

"I promise I'll not give ourselves another chance to do so.", his voice was the last thing I heard before slipping into the darkness.

A long and slightly comical chapter after a long time. I tried to fill the chapter with deep emotions, light jokes and heartwarming confessions. I hope I could do justice to your expectations. I hope you got the hint for the next chapter, if you did write a comment *winks*

Anyways talking about the feminist thingy, if you aren't a big fan of Avni's thoughts, I can't change your views about it. Everyone has the right to have his/her own opinions and thoughts, so what she's a character, she has all the right to think so. Her insecurities are justified and I believe I won't change who she is.

I hope you enjoyed reading.

before leaving let me just take a moment to thank every single one of you for showering so much love on this little book of mine. I never knew you guys would love this idiotic piece so much, recently I got so many messages that made my heart melt with love and warmth. Thank you so damn much, you guys are so precious to me I can't describe it in words.

Love love

Aapki seva mein sadev tatpar