Typed On - 12/10/2018

Chapter 9- Be Ready On The 25th

Memories. They haunt us for life. Whether it's good or bad. You can never forget someone or something easily. You just can't forget those days. Those happy or sad days.

She hated him. She did but she couldn't deny the fact their childhood memory made her smile. Like never before. Jaanvi sometimes missed those days. Those days when she didn't hate him, when she teased him and played with him carefree. Unlike now. Growing up was always scary to her. Other children smiled and enjoyed their birthdays but she didn't. Each year, her birthday reminded her that she'll leave her father soon, it reminded her of her mother's death.

The little girl—in her childhood—really thought her father would hate her, or even never celebrate her birthday. After all, she was the cause of her mother's death. She felt guilty, till this day she does. She just couldn't forget it, ever.

But Ansh was different, the credit goes to Ishaani, she did change him. On Jaanvi's birthday every year, he was the happiest person you could see. He enjoyed seeing his daughter growing up, it helped him appreciate and love himself knowing he's raised a beautiful and strong women all alone.

You just can't go back to your childhood. Never. Talking to Kiaan and Dhruv was different in the past because they were little kids. Now, they weren't. Jaanvi hated rumours which is by she created her distance as much away from boys in public. She decided not to fight or even talk to Kiaan ever in public, she couldn't stand the gossips.

"So, looking at their Kundali, it would be good if they get married within two months." The priest's voice brought her back to reality. She looks up meeting Kiaan's eyes. She shifted uncomfortably and nervously seeing his intense eyes on her.

"I don't believe in all this." She points out her view on displace to everyone. It wasn't really about her believing in them. It was just to create an issue so the wedding wouldn't take place too soon.

Ansh raised his hand shaking it dismissively meaning 'ignore her.' He couldn't risk anything with his daughter's future.

"Uncle two months is too early," Dhruv also comments—agreeing with Jaanvi—because two months wasn't enough for a lavish wedding preparations.

"Everything would be fine Dhruv," Roshni speaks assuring him with a kind smile but her voice distressed, "I can't wait for Jaanvi to become my daughter-in-law."

Normally girls would blush or shyly look away, instead, Jaanvi quietly and quickly rolls her eyes looking at Kiaan, who was looking directly at her with unreadable expressions.

Her eyes were burning in fury. She thought he'd protest about the wedding date but instead he stayed silent looking at her. It was driving her crazy.

"Okay, do whatever you want. After all, I have to get married one day anyways." She stressed the word 'have' scowling at Kiaan aguishly.

He didn't seem bothered at all with her comment because what he did next drove her nuts.

"Cool, let's get married in one month then. Two months is too much, my friends won't be able to attend my wedding in December. So November is fine."

Shocked.

One word to describe everyone's expressions. Dhruv just stares at his brother, considering to ask, 'are you okay?' He couldn't grasp why his brother was in a hurry.

Roshni, on the other hand, wasn't expecting this answer from her son but she seems delighted. Ansh was happy knowing that Kiaan is fine with the decision.

"November it is then" Sunil smiles.

"No!" Jaanvi stands up glaring at Kiaan, "I'm busy in November. I'm a bride, after all, I have things to do. Bridal wear won't be ready this quick." She smirks in a silly manner. She was pretty sure everyone would buy her excuse.

Kiaan stands up from the couch impatiently, glaring back at her losing control, "A tailor can do the fitting in a day if you throw money on his face."

She gave him the excuse-me look, folding her arms across her chest she huffs, "Unlike others, I do not throw money at peoples faces. There's a thing called selecting a dress, which takes time too."

"For that you need money." Kajal mouths, which thankfully no one saw. She was referring to Jaanvi's 'I don't throw money at peoples face' comment.

"Jaave" She hears Ansh.

"No Hero! I need time to find everything the way I want it. It's not like I'll get married again." She shoots back looking at him directly in the eyes, provoking him to say something. She could see his face boiling in anger from the redness. One second he's joking the next he's angry. Wonderful.

"We'll find everything." Roshni explained Jaanvi, "November it is."

____

The Rajput family were heading to their house today. Jaanvi was over the moon hearing the news a couple of hours ago. She couldn't wait to see Kaan walking out the door. She was in her room reading a book when Jay steps inside. Her eyes move from the book to his face.

"Jay." She smiles closing her book. Her smile has no limitation.

"Di," He starts, sitting on her bed. "C-can you call Aditi here?" He requests her hoping she'll agree.

Jaanvi blinks for a few seconds. His behaviour was different all of a sudden. "Uhh, why? What's wrong?" She worriedly questions leaning a bit closer to her brother.

"It's that—" he discontinues running his hand through his hair, "I don't like her talking to Dhruv so much. And Rashi wanted to spend some time with Dhruv too." He complains like a small boy.

This made Jaanvi angry.

"So, you're here not because you want to talk to me casually, but because you have work for me? You want something in return." She states clearing showing the anger and hurt visible on her face. "Look, Jay, I'm not going to call Aditi here because you and Rashi want me to. Do it yourself, how many times am I going to do things for you? If she's talking to him maybe because they are getting along. From this, you should learn how to start communicating by yourself Jay." She places her hand on his shoulder despite being disappointed and vexed.

"You can't divert anyone's attention for long, you need to gain it. Earn it. If Rashi wants to talk to Dhruv and if you want to talk to Aditi, do it yourself. I've already got enough on my plate." Saying this she heads out her room taking her phone in her hand.

How long will I keep doing things for them? She can't also be their teacher. They need to learn to build a relationship—a life—on their own.

Going downstairs she noticed Aditi and Dhruv talking and laughing once again. It made her smile, for some reasons. Dhruv didn't get along well with new people but it was different with Aditi, and Jaanvi liked that difference. Ignoring the two she walked out the main door.

____

"Mrs Gupta owes two thousand rupees from last two months." She calls out to one of her employees.

"I'll remind her, she's just having her cake at the moment." Replies Asha.

"Okay, good then." Came Jaanvi answer looking down at the account papers. "The lady's always ready to eat for free. I'm running a business, not a food bank." She mutters with a pencil in her mouth as she grits her teeth on it and ties her hair in a messy bun.

"Chewing on a pencil can be harmful." The voice was familiar and captivating.

Her incredible eyes framed with long natural lashes lift to find his deep brown eyes boring in hers. He wore a white shirt with dark blue jeans, which made him look even more handsome because of the choice of colours.

Embarrassed to be caught staring Jaanvi distracts herself by looking down at the papers, "What is it? What brought you here Mr Kiaan." She question barely concentrating on the paperwork.

He leans on the desk closer to her, "twenty-fifth of November." He informs with a heavy raspy voice.

Jaanvi lifts her eyes once again, "What?" She asks getting confused all of a sudden hearing a random date.

"Your memory is really bad, eat some dry fruits, they help." He suggests insouciantly trying to read her face. "We're getting married on the twenty-fifth of November. I suggest you start shopping now since you're stressed about your bridal wear." An evil smile appears on his face teasing her about the clothes.

"No." She frowns standing up from the chair. She didn't realise she yelled until the people sitting inside the café looked at her. Smiling embarrassingly she took his hand leading him to the storeroom. "It's too early. I'm not getting married that quickly."

"Wait," he acts as if he was thinking, "Didn't someone say, 'I'll get married one day so,' what's the problem now?" Kiaan licks his lips to suppress his grin.

"Stop repeating my words." She scrunches her nose at him. "As far as I know you're not interested in me than why are you fine with this arrangement?" The question fills the atmosphere inside the storeroom.

"My mu—" She cuts him off.

"Don't pull the mum card. I know you're worried about her but you could have made an excuse to extend the bloody date but you didn't. Why?" She pokes his chest in anger. She wasn't ready to marry him. Far from it.

"Look Jaa—" not wanting to hear another word from his mouth she pushes him resulting with Kiaan stumbling back a little. Once he balanced himself he looked up at Jaanvi. This time he wasn't in a good mood.

His eyes hold a murderous look caused by her actions and veins pump in pure rage. She was annoying him, the push wasn't just a push. It made him feel defeated, challenged and angry. Holding her wrist he pins her to the wall standing very close to her, leaving no space between them.

His sudden impulsive move squeezes her confidence and anger out of her chest. She suddenly looks scared, shocked and helpless. His grip on her wrists was tight enough to leave marks, she swallows her pain and endures it so she wouldn't look weak in front of him.

"If I'm being nice, that does not give you the right to act this way. Why are you pushing me huh? You could have declined the offer yourself. Then why did you agree to all of a sudden? Weren't you the one who told me 'I won't marry you' than what changed? Did I suddenly become more handsome or worthy to become your husband?" His tone was cold, harsh and mocking and distant. "I don't want to risk my mother's life and I can—" he pauses. Stopping

himself from spilling more than she needs to know.

"Your mother came begging me." She snaps back, angrily looking into his eyes. "She started emotionally blackmailing me." She stops talking. Her eyes lowers looking at the floor. "Because of me mummy died and dad never got any happiness. He wanted me to marry you, and I realised my one decision can payback for all the love, support and care he's given me all these years." The guilt took over and wraps around her thick unbalanced voice.

Her honest words about her mother made him realise that she had no choice, just like him. He felt bad, really bad for her. Not wanting to hurt a broken soul he left her wrist, though he was still standing close to her. "Look, Ariel, I'm sorry. I-I l-lose my temper quick. I-I j—just," He pauses and exhales sharply. "Be ready on the twenty-fifth, I'll be coming to take you."

His words came out very gentle and smooth. The last sentence sends shivers down her spine making her flinch a little. Her anger washed away hearing his words, it felt like he cared. He cared for her for the first time after years.

"I-I'm going now. We'll see each other sometime." With that not wasting any more time, he walks away from the storeroom leaving her all alone.

As he left she touches her heart. "You need to stop." She says to herself feeling her heartbeats increasing rapidly. She doesn't like how she lost her sense whenever he was close to her, it somehow made her feel weak. The fall and the rise of her chest explained so much to her about his presence. She hates feeling weak and uncontrolled.

"H-he," Jaanvi gasps realising what he said. "H-he c-called me, Ariel." The name brought her bitterness and anger for him back but today it brought a smile. An unexpected beautiful tiny smile.

His one-word lightened her mood unintentionally. He remembers. Eleven years and he still remembers.

____

"Why do you seem different?" Dhruv points out as Kiaan sits next to him on the driver's seat.

"Different? Did I grow an afro or something?" Kiaan throws a sarcastic comment to his brother while he starts the engine.

"No, like—I mean you went inside the café all relaxed but came out looking weird. I see a mixture of emotions on this ugly face of yours. There's anger, awkwardness, guilty and—" he trails away and shakes his head as if disagreeing to his thought process.

"And what?" Kiaan frowns. He hates it when people stop mid-sentence having him all annoyed.

"Nothing."

"Dhruv." His voice was stern.

"I see feelings, like—like you were attracted to her. There was a smile on your face as you sat inside the car, did something happen? Did you say som—" his brother interrupted him from fangirling and jumping around his passenger seat in excitement.

"I called her Ariel," Kiaan says truthfully without thinking twice. He swears underneath his breath. "After eleven years I called that stubborn cat Ariel." He grins ear to ear remembering the incident by the pool.

"Decide one name Naan. Either Stubborn Cat or Ariel." Dhruv always addresses his elder brother as Naan whenever he was in a good mood. (An Indian bread/roti type)

Kiaan doesn't like the name, but he can't do anything about it.

"My choice, after all, she'll be my wife." Came out the unexpected response.

Married My Enemy

Edited On – 27/04/2020 (5:17 p.m)