Arohi's POV

It's 15 minutes past 9 and I'm still waiting for Rohan Nanda in his living room with no trace of him. Even Raghav is nowhere to be seen. I'm a very punctual person and when someone doesn't respect time it really irritates me. It's not like he is the first person who is making me wait, it has happened before. People in the industry are not so punctual, and I don't expect him to be any different but at least show some manners by informing beforehand.

This guy is getting on my nerves even in his absence. God! What have I gotten myself into?! I still couldn't figure out why all of a sudden he wanted to work with me. That still remains a mystery.

"Excuse me, Rohan called us at 9. It's already 9:15. When can we see him?" I asked politely to the servant who came with a coffee tray.

"I have no idea madam."

"Where's Raghav? Can you call him?" I asked.

"Yes I can do that." He said with a smile. "Yes, please." I said with an irritated voice. I didn't want to be rude to that man, it's just that I was not in a mood to be good to everyone.

He left to call Raghav. After sometime he came back and informed that Raghav is coming in few minutes and left once again.

After waiting for 10 more minutes I saw Raghav climbing down the stairs.

"Good morning!" He said cheerfully. This guy is always in good mood.

"Well, Good morning Raghav! But first, tell me how many more hours we have to wait like this? Where's Rohan?" I was definitely not in a good mood and it was clearly visible in my voice.

"Rohan?..." Raghav was about to say something but was cut short...

"I'm here sweetheart, have you started missing me already?" There comes Mr. Rohan Nanda climbing down the stairs with an annoying smirk on his face.

"Don't you dare call me that?" I said a bit angry while he kept looking at me with a smile, correction, mocking smile. "You are 20 minutes late. Do you even know that?!"

"Yes, I know that Ms. Arohi, but you should know that it's my album and I can do whatever I want. I don't need to give you an explanation." He said as he made himself comfortable in one of the couches.

I sat down on the couch opposite to him while Vivek sat next to me. Raghav brought a file and put in down on the teapoy.

"Here are the contract papers. Sign them." He said pushing the file towards me.

I took the file and started reading the papers. As I was reading, I felt a pair of eyes on me, I took my eyes off the paper and looked up to find Rohan staring at me the whole time with a faint smile playing on his lips. Creep! I gave him an irritated look to which he replied with a smile and a wink? Did he just wink at me?

My eyes went wide and I gasped. "Jerk!" it came out a little bit louder than I expected. Raghav and Vivek who were talking till now looked at me, confused.

"What is it Arohi? What happened?" Vivek asked with concern.

"Ah... well..." I didn't know if I should say that.

"Now, what is it Arohi?" Rohan asked faking concern. Trying to suppress a smile. Idiot!

"Nothing!" I said irritatedly. "Let's get back to business now."
With that, I took the pen and signed the papers and handed it back to Raghav.

"I'm planning for 10 to 12 songs in this album out of which 4 I already have written, so 6 to 8 more to go." Rohan said filling me up with the details. "We will be working at my house."

"Here? Why not in the studio?"

"So, I want you to be present here whenever I want. As I can work anytime, I don't have a fixed schedule. I work whenever I get in the mood." Rohan said completely ignoring my question.

"Listen, Mr. Nanda." Vivek said grabbing attention from everyone. "I don't think she can come here anytime you want her to. We need to fix a schedule." Rohan looked at him for few seconds with a plain expression and then looked at me. "Well, she has to. She just signed the contract and it says she 'have' to work according to me."

Shit! I should have read that more carefully...I regretted just signing it without taking a proper look. Rohan looked at Vivek and continued, "and I don't take people's advice when it comes to my work. I work according to my plan. And as you know it's MY album, not hers." He finished while sipping coffee which his servant served him.

I didn't fight back because it's just useless, he finds his ways. I have willingly walked into this, so I can't complain either.

"When will we start working on the album?" I asked after a few seconds of silence.

"Starting now...." He said casually taking another sip of his coffee.

"Now?.....umm...ok."

"Well, before that I just want to give you an advice. It's up to you whether to take it or not." He said with again with that blank expression. "I like to work mostly at night till late hours. So you need to come here at night too. Therefore, I advise you that it will be good if you stay here. So that it will be easier for both of us."

"Thanks for your concern. But it's fine, I'll come whenever you want me to." I said with a bit attitude. Here, I haven't even figured out how to tolerate him during work hours and now staying at his house with him always around, that's a big fat NO!!

"OK then." He said standing up from his couch. "Let's get started." I said imitating him.

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

Rohan lead me to the room in which he works and wow! I must say that was a pretty big room with a wall-size window which showcases the beautiful garden. The room had almost all instruments perfectly arranged. I was just looking around awestruck when Rohan brought me back by snapping his fingers at my face.

"huh?..oh.. yeah!" I said looking at him, a bit startled.

"Here..." Rohan handed me some papers. "Take a look at this. I have written something for the fifth song. It will be the song about lost love or something like that maybe..." He said as he walked towards the table and two chairs arranged near the wall size window. He placed himself on one of the chairs. I followed him and sat on the other one, opposite to him. I took a look at the paper, it's not complete yet, just only a few lines.

"I thought that I've been hurt before
But no one left me quite this sore
Your words cut deeper than a knife
Now I need someone to breathe me back to life

Got a feeling that I'm going under
But I know that I'll make it out alive
If I quit calling you my lover
Move on...."

It's so beautiful! I looked up at him amazed. No matter how he acts or how much jerk he is in reality, he always amazes me with his work. He could have been amongst my favorites if he was somewhat a good person. But nevertheless, I do respect him for his work.

"It's really beautiful Rohan." I said genuinely with a smile.

"I already know that darling! It has to be this good if it's written by me." He said with so much pride and his signature smirk as a cherry on top. He and his big fat ego...I immediately regretted complimenting him out loud.
I made a mental note to myself to never praise him, ever!

"The main thing is how good you can write." He continued, leaning his back on the chair, his eyes never leaving my face. "So... you can start."

I read the half written lyrics again and started to think of lines to make them complete. I've to think of something good, I don't want to destroy its beauty. After thinking for a long time, writing, scratching, and again writing. I finally completed the unfinished first stanza of the song. I read the whole thing once again and I was satisfied with my work. I smiled at myself. Whole this while Rohan sat there without a word, staring at me. It was a bit irritating but I ignored him and focused on my work. I looked up at him with a small smile.

"Here." I said as I gave him the paper but he didn't make any effort to take it. He sat, relaxing on his chair with both his hands at the back of his head, stretching.

"Read it for me." He said, tilting his head to the side with a lazy smile on his lips.

"Ok," I said and started to read what I wrote out loud, for him to hear.

"You watch me bleeding until I can't breathe
I'm shaking falling onto my knees"

I saw him standing up from his chair, stuffing his hands into his jeans pocket and walking towards me. I felt my heart beat raise without any reason.

"And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches"

He went past me, behind me. I continued reading until I felt his warm breath on my neck, I gasped and stopped reading. I turned my head to the side to find him looking at the piece of paper in my hand. Our faces were inches apart. His both hands on the side of my chair. His closeness made me uncomfortable but that didn't affect him. He was just looking at the paper.

For the first time, I noticed how good looking he really is. Whether be it his perfect jawline, dark eyes, thin pink lips or his beard, all complimented his face. No wonder why girls go gaga over him but what's the use good looks when he doesn't have a good attitude, good nature.

I think God doesn't give everything to everyone, all have their negatives and positives. Not everyone is blessed with every good in the world. I have everything I want but not what I need....my Rahul... And so Rohan has everything, talent, money, looks, girls, fans, everything still he doesn't have the ability to appreciate it, he doesn't know love or to love. Strange!

"Ahem ahem..." I heard Rohan clearing his throat and I realized I've been staring at him all this while. His face was still close, the only difference was that now he was looking at me instead of the paper.

"You can drool at me later, sweetheart. I know it's hard to resist me. But first let's just get finished with these lyrics and then... you can drool at me all you want, I won't stop you at all." I gave myself a mental slap for staring at him. I immediately turned my head back at the paper, making sure to keep a comfortable distance from him and started to read again.

"I'm tripping over myself
Aching, begging you to come help

And now that I'm without your kisses
I'll be needing stitches..."

When I finished reading, I found him still close to me. But this time he was looking at me, I felt different under his gaze. I don't know why it didn't make me uncomfortable. His eyes were dark and intense and held me in my place. There's something about his eyes, it held a lot of emotions but never letting you read them. I couldn't take my eyes away. 

Look away, Arohi! 

I didn't like this but my body was not responding to my brain.

"How was it? What do you think?" I managed to ask him, I moved my head back to keep a safe distance.

"I think it was..." He started to say something in a low husky voice and leaned in, his face closer to mine and his gaze drifting from my eyes to my lips and again back to my eyes. I didn't know what to do, I felt my heart beat raising. His gaze grew more intense and I couldn't take it anymore, I looked away, I looked down. What is he trying to do?

After a few seconds of silence, the room was filled with his laughter. Now he was standing away from me and laughing at me, holding his stomach. What is so funny? What happened? I was clueless. I just looked at him in total confusion. Then I realized he was making fun of me all this while.

"Oh god, just look at your face. What did you think?" He asked between his laughter. "I'm pretty sure you don't have a boyfriend...." I kept silent. Rahul just came to my mind, I felt so lonely all of a sudden.

"Just look at you, OMG that face! I'm sure no guy could have come close to you. Or you might not have let him. " Then again more laughter. He tried to control his laughter before saying "Oh oh well... now I get it. Actually... it is the reason... Isn't it why you are still single? and maybe virgin too?" he stopped laughing all of sudden and looked at me with faking shocked expression and again burst into laughter.

I felt like slapping him but I controlled myself and walked out of the room. I thought I could bear him but no! I was so wrong!

***********

I was sitting in his garden, in one of the benches, with my eyes closed. How easily he says things without thinking how it will affect the person in front of him. Whatever he said brought back Rahul and his memories, I felt so lonely, so helpless. I missed him, I miss him. I want him back, I could give up anything and everything to get him back.

A tear rolled down my cheeks and I didn't bother to wipe it. Just then I felt someone sitting beside me. I opened my eyes and looked at my side to find Raghav. He offered me a handkerchief and I took it and wiped my tears. He smiled at me and I reflect it back.

" I heard what he said." I didn't say anything, I let him continue and looked down at my hand.  "He shouldn't have said that. He doesn't have right to comment on people's personal lives and I know about you and Rahul..."

I looked at him at the mention of Rahul. But he was looking ahead at the trees and flowers. "I'm really sorry for whatever Rohan did back there. I talked to him about that. Don't worry, I'll make sure that it won't happen again." He said looking at me like he meant everything he said. The smile was still on his lips and I couldn't resist, I smiled too.

"Thanks, Raghav, you are such a sweet person. But don't say sorry for his mistakes. He should take responsibility for his doings."

"I know, but for now accept my sorry on behalf of him. Don't let him affect you, he will keep on trying to piss you off and hurt you with his words so that you quit this project and go to India forever. I know you are such a strong woman, and I really admire you for that too, don't let him win." He said looking at me.

"If he wants me out then why did he let me sign the contract?" I was confused, if he doesn't like me working with him, he could have let me go, then why?

"Well, let's talk about that some other time. As for now, let's go inside and let him know you are stronger than what he thinks." He said with a bright smile and it did the trick, it cheered me up too. His smile is so infectious!

We got up and went inside. I don't know the reasons yet, but I'm not gonna back down now. No matter what happens, I'll show him that he doesn't affect me in any way. Next time I won't run away instead I'll give him the answers! I started this and I'll finish it. I've gone too far to turn back. I'll move forward regardless of what may happen in the future.

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"Never give up. Today
Is hard, tomorrow will
be worse, but the day
After tomorrow will be
Sunshine."

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Surprise from AroHan !!!❤️💕

Yes, we finally manage to update. Early one as we completed 500+ views. Yaaay!

The song AroHan are composing is given in the media section. It's "Stitches by Shawn Mendes."

Also, thank you guys for all your amazing and lovely comments. They really make us so happy. 

So, at last again the same thing - Vote + Comment

We will come with Chapter 5 soon. Till then, bye.

Love, Kritika & Ammu. ❤️