It has already been 3 days that Bani is staying in Veer's Seattle House and they're still not allowed to go out. Staying inside the house is not boring actually. She's spent her days talking to Vishakha about random stuffs... reminiscing their old times. Bani loves her company. Two of them together have given Bella the house tour which caused Bella an ant size of freight after learning that this house actually has a punishment room where Veer brings his enemies or victims to kill though both Vishakha and Bani were discreet enough to not show her the location of the room. And Now Bella prefers rather staying in her room sleeping like a log all day.

Bani has decided to somewhat forgive Mahir and he's been coming to Bani everyday anytime to catch up a conversation. And Bani being too kind to ask him fuck off, is continuing the chat. And much to Bella's dismay Bani actually likes talking to Mahir while Bella and Mahir clearly click like water does on hot oil.

She's been eating well, resting good, having good chats with friends, didn't have to see Veer in these three days, everything was bearable. It's been three days and there is no sign of Veer. No one has talked about him to her and she certainly is not going to ask anyone about him either. And of course Bani Bani couldn't bother bother less so she would rather keep her curiosity to herself. Yet she still can't help but feel the slight pinch of worry crawling inside her about where he might be...if he's okay....and it's making her restless.

Add to the top the memory in this house is not entirely pleasant to her. Every cell of the house carries her moments with Veer...happy(if she could call any) or sad.... bitter or sweet... resentment and rejection everything. And it's suffocating her. She doesn't want to see Veer's face yet last night she found herself climbing up the stairs...making her way towards Veer's office. But Veer was not there. She almost stayed up the whole night trying to catch up the sound of car.

Another two days pass and this morning Bani just can't stand this hideout arrangement anymore. Why should she be held prisoned like this when others can stay out as much as they wish??? She has a life that no one has any right to dictate other than her. Bani storms outside the house veey early in the morning only to get blocked by a bunch of guards.

When the guards stop her from going out Bani glares at them, "What? I want to go out."

"Sorry mam, your can't." One of the guards replies, "Boss's order."

Bani scoffs, "boss's order?? Is it?? Then call him and tell that I want to go out."

When the guards stand motionless that only riles up Bani's anger even more and she shouts at them stomping her foot on the ground, "I SAID CALL HIM. NOW!!!"

Then one of them calls and when Veer picks up the guard informs Veer about Bani. Bani can't hear the conversation of the other side but sees how the guard flinches in every two seconds while holding the phone to his ears.

Bani snatches the phone from him and speaks, "It's me. Bani."

There is a silence before Veer sighs speaking in his cold monotone, "What is it?"

"I want to go out. It has been almost a week and I'm practically locked inside your house. I didn't sign up for this, Veer!!!" Bani replies edging by each second.

"You can't." Veer plain voice comes out.

"I can't???" Bani seethes, "who the fuck are You to tell me what I can do or not when you are out there clearly having the fun of your life???"

Veer sighs heavily before growling, "Listen Bani, I have work to do. I don't have time for your childish tantrum right now. If you're really getting that bored then I'll appoint some more nannies to babysit you until my work is done but don't rile me up by defying my orders or messing with my security. Now go inside. You can't go out."

Just then Bani hears a lady voice calling Veer's name on the other side of the phone and she's no mistaken who that person is. She knows that woman to her every cell. And to think Veer is with her confirming her wildest suspicion while she's up here all night and days worrying about where he might be, suddenly she finds it hard to breathe.

Surge of anger rushes through her vein and she challenges Veer in raging, "Really? You think I can't get out there on my own?? You think you still can tame me with that damn ass power of yours? Fine...here then, Veeranshu Singhania, " Bani grits her teeth and whispers before cutting the call, "Try me!!!"

The next activities happen in a flash of eyeblink. Bani throws the phone on the ground...pushes two guards away from her front who were clearly taken aback at this sudden attack and in one run, Bani is outside of the main gate. By the time guards have recovered themselves and ready to catch Bani, Bani runs for her life. She doesn't know if she will succeed or not but she wants to get out of that hell. She wants to get out of the horrible feeling that is storming inside her. Her mind is still on the voice that called Veer's name and she keeps running deciding to stop only when that voice and this screeching pain will ease from her heart.

...................................................

Bani feels herself pathetic as she keeps running sneaking through one alley to another. She feels like her heart has stopped beating and now she refuses to let it beat again. She feels so worthless right now.

This morning when she came out, she didn't really plan on coming out of the mansion like this. That morning stunt that she pulled was actually in hope of getting to talk to Veer. She was going crazy inside that house worrying about all the possibilities where he might be and she needed to know that for sure. She did hope Veer might come back from wherever he was or tell her why it's not safe for her to go out now. But now she regrets her choice. Veer didn't come back. He said he didn't have time for her. He is fine. More than fine. With her. He's there with her...maybe sharing their own private moments. Bani chokes her own breathe. How stupid she really has to be to think that maybe...maybe Veer did care which clearly isn't the case.

Bani refuses her eyes from watering. She keeps running across a crowd alley until getting bumped by someone. Bani almost falls when a firm hand encircles her waist swinging her on her foot again. For a second Bani jolts thinking it's one of Veer's people but then she sees his face.

The person staring back at her is equally shocked to see her here of all places. Slowly his lips curl into a smile as he mouths, "Hey...Bani?? What a pleasant surprise to see you here! Umm..."

He stops when Bani just kind of keeps staring at him. But then she realizes and gets off of her shock quickly forming a small smile, "Hey... Siddharth! Yeah... it is indeed a surprise to meet you here like this."

His name is Siddharth Chopda. One of the renounced actors in the industry. They have bumped few times in the parties...both have worked for the same brands couple of times though separately. But that's all. They haven't really interacted much...not specially to hit a conversation out of nowhere in the middle of the Seattle city.

"Yeah..." Siddharth scratches his head, "I'm on a vacation here actually. What about you?? You stay in the neighborhood...no?" He trails off while following Bani top to bottom with his eyes.

Bani looks down at herself frowning and understands the weird look Sid is giving her. She's practically in her sleeping suit and shorts. Anyone would think she's a local here living just across the road. Bani comes up, "Uhh...yes. I'm staying here with some relatives of mine. Thought I would just jog a little bit!!"

Siddharth nods, "I see.... would you mind if I join you??" He asks suddenly and gets flustered all over, "I mean it's okay if you mind. I was just getting bored walking alone."

Bani stares at him not quite sure what she should reply. That was kind of out of blue. She gives him an awkward shrug, "Yeah sure....I mean where's the harm?? It's just the ordinary Seattle and us."

Sid lets out a laugh too, "Yeah... Seattle and us. But not quite ordinarily though..!! I have this gorgeous supermodel beside me and no camera to pop up!!" He jokes and Bani laughs.

"Talk about yourself!!"

"So..." Sid again keeps looking at Bani and when she raises her eyebrows questioningly he speaks, "You gonna walk around like this?? It's cold here...you know!!"

"Uhh..." Bani looks down embarrassed slightly. Yes it's cold outside but she really isn't feeling anything nor does she have anything with her right now. She doesn't even have her phone with her.

"Well....if you don't mind..." Sid juggles out of his hoodie and holds it to Bani, "Take mine. I'm wrapped enough here. You must be very familiar of this localisation to come out without anything like this, huh??"

Bani takes the hoodie offering Sid a silent smile. To be honest she's stayed here for quite some time but she doesn't know a block about this city. She wasn't allowed to roam around that time and once she got her divorce...Bani never even thought in her furthest dream to come back in this city ever again where Veer's breathe existed.

As soon as she wraps the hoodie around her, Bani realizes how cold ger body was and how emotionally numb she had been to not realise it till now. She pushes back the thought and decides to stroll around for a bit. Right now anything sounds better than thinking about that hell.

As they walk around the pavement... passing around all the busy people... looking around small shops... skyscrapers, Bani finds herself slowly relaxing. They share small conversation about work...what next...some past projects. Bani noticed that Sid actually kept tab on her work as he complimented her for her several photoshoots and exhibition. Not surprising but she's glad that people from the busy industry are also sparing some time to look at her work. Bani also shared her views of His recent movie. They pass a good time to be said.

"It's good here, right...?? No paps...no extravagant attention!!" Sid comments as they sit in a small cafe sipping their coffee and crumpets.

Bani hums, "Yeah...it does. No matter how used to we are with the cameras and crowd, still sometimes it feels good not being the center of attention and be just be ourselves without caring for being judged. We also deserve a normal life, you know...!!!" 

"Have you ever thought what you'd be if not a model??" Siddharth inquiries.

'Whore or dead probably' Bani's mind snaps but she shakes it off and shrugs casually, "Doctor maybe?"

"Doctor??" Sid cocks his head in interest.

Bani nods, "Mmm...when I was a little kid, I always wanted to be a doctor to help people. Then as I grew up to a teenager somewhere modelling got my interest and I thought it would be cool to be both a doctor and model" Bani smiles staring up at ceiling as if remembering her old self.

Sid smiles as his eyes glitter looking at Bani. Bani sits straight and asks back, "What about you? What did you want to do if not acting??"

Sid shrugs, "My whole family is into acting you see...! I grew up watching the actors and this is the only thing that I felt I have in my blood."

Bani nods understandingly and smiles animatedly at him, "And you are great at your job. Keep going, actor!"

Sid chuckles back, "Same to you, Bani Singhania. Great work and you definitely know how to show someone good time. It was nice meeting you."

Bani smiles standing up, "I'll just go and wash up!"

Sid hums as Bani heads towards the restroom. By time she's done washing her hands and ready to get back in the dining area a strong hand wraps around her neck pushing her against the wall. Bani's eyes almost pop out of socket at this sudden attack as she's ready to scream but then she sees the attacker's face.

Veer is seething just some inches away from her face. His hot angry breath hits Bani on face every now and then making her hot and bothered to the places where she shouldn't be. Both just keep staring at each other in the empty restroom Veer catching his breaths... trying to get hold of his anger while Bani breaths rapidly unable to ignore the loud thump inside her chest and this sudden proximity.

"Told you to stay home, didn't I??" Veer hisses gripping her throat a bit more harshly.

"And I told you to try me, didn't I??" Bani hisses back gulping through her pressed throat.

Veer's lips curl while eyes stays as ferocious, "My! My!...now the kitten has got teeth, huh??? Roaring at the lion ...is she??"

Bani's jaw tightens as she answered, "I'm a human with feelings, you asshole! It was your mistake to take me as some helpless kitten!!"

"Are you now..??" Veer sneers with wild gleam in his eyes and runs his gun over Bani's jawline, "guess what if I kill you and your little friend in this very cafe, huh?? No one would even know your existence!!!"

Bani's eyes widen. She knows Veer's not someone of empty threat. She squeaks, "Don't you touch him!! He's just a colleague. He's nothing to do with your business!!"

"Really?? You want him alive?? He's that special, huh??" Veer growls, "Then be a good girl and come to the car, right now!! You've wasted my time enough. Now don't make me waste the bullets of my gun!!"

Bani comes out of the washroom trying to calm her frantic heartbeat. Veer swiftly passes their table and climbs in the back of his Audi leaving the window half open. Bani stands by their table looking at Siddharth who's still sipping his coffee totally oblivious of the threat around him.

"Umm...I will leave now." Bani utters as smoothly as she can.

Sid lifts up his eyebrows at this sudden announcement, "Now??"

Bani hums looking over the Audi. Sid says again, "Okay...let me drop you off then." To which Bani immediately declines.

Veer has already lifted his gun up, scratching his jaw. Bani gulps and looks back at Sid, "No! That won't be necessary, Siddharth. I have few works to take care of before heading home. You don't need to bother, please"

Sid falters a bit, "Umm...okay. As you say. But be careful from next time, okay??? It's not safe to go outside without your phone or anything. I almost thought you eloped!!"

Bani's heart comes to her mouth hearing that. She just shrugs laughing awkwardly, "Yeah. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, for the breakfast. It was nice meeting you."

Sid smiles, "Well...I should be the one to thank you...but I'm not taking your thank you for free either." He smirks looking at Bani comically.

"Huh??" Bani knows she's pushing Veer's patience by each second and she doesn't want what happened in Hawai to happen here again.

Sid laughs freely, "Next treat is yours, madam!! Take care."

"Oh!!" Bani exhales. Then moves out of the cafe waving her hand, "Yeah..! Till then. Bye."

As soon as Bani reaches the car a strong hand jerks her inside the car and the door slams shut immediately.

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Happy reading ♥️♥️♥️