MAYRA'S POV
I tilted my head a little towards the car window and inhaled a sharp breath, stealing a glance of Rehan who was driving with his eyes fixed at windshield. Atmosphere inside his car seems to be silently comfortable. The sun has already settled down leaving behind the dark clouds. And at such moment, nothing could compare the joy of heading towards the beach.
Yes beach. I don't know how he agreed to the idea of going to the beach at this time. But for sure I am glad about it.
"You are so confusing."
My eyes quickly turned in his direction. Says the one who himself is most confusing. Licking my lips I dared to question his comment but the way his expressions were tough and rigid, I caught my words before they came out.
"But I don't want to solve you. I like the way everything about you challenges me to go deeper into you till I understand everything about you. You are the confusing mystery for me and I must add a beautiful mystery." He said and shifted his eyes towards me, flashing one of his heart melting smile.
A sudden heat rushed up to my cheek and slowly I pressed my eyes shut, trying to calm the uneven breath which has developed due to his words. A moment later, a smile danced over my lips and I bite the corner of it to suppress the giant smile which for sure was ready to come.
Mystery?
Then for sure, he doesn’t have any idea that what he is like. He brings that sensation in me which came to a person when they are about to unwrap their present. But yes I know very well that now he is no more mystery to me because now he's an excitement to me. Excitement to feed my curiosity about him.
"Mrs. Malhotra now would you like to step outside and give me the pleasure of spending this beautiful moment in a beautiful surrounding with my beautiful wife." Familiar voice dropped inside my ear and I found that we've already reached our destination and Rehan is standing near the car's door.
I inhaled a deep breath and quickly tried to hide my blush with a smile but I failed terribly as it was completely impossible for me to get unaffected by his words. I stepped out and instantly get welcomed by the mesmerizing view in front of me. I blinked twice and wrapped my hands around me, feeling blissful.
"Wow." He whispered in a voice which was full of amusement and happiness.
I secretly caught a look of him whose eyes were beaming with joy and ecstasy. His lips were curled into a smile.
Mayra isn't this is the Rehan for whom you were waiting? It is true that all we need a little patience and a warm love to bring out the real person out of his shell of darkness.
"In mere four days you've shown me what actually living a life meant. I couldn't wait for next coming days." He muttered and took off his shoes after having the glimpse that I am removing mines.
Sand felt so comfortable against my bare feet and I quietly took a step towards him and softly inter locked our fingers together. A chill sensation arises from his touch and I just shook my head in disbelief that now it has been many times that I interlocked our fingers but still every time it feels like the first time; Like that strange sensation, that spark which erupts from his touch making me feel like it is the first time that I am touching his fingers.
Now I know why they say that it feels crazy to be in love.
"Whatever happens in upcoming days, I am sure you'll love it but for now let's just live in this moment." I said with a small smile and he chuckled in response.
“I am already living my every moment to its best just by being with you."
My eyes went wider and nervously I clenched my fist. My heart goes hammering hard in my chest with my mind which continuously tried to swallow Rehan's word.
How much I wish I could confess my love for him? But could I.... ever? I quickly brought myself out of my trance and walked with him near the water. Cold water touched my feet making me realize the fact that there is no such types of people called as cold hearted because deep inside they do have a warm corner which is waiting for someone to just come and spread that little corner to it's whole.
"Will you be with me....when I have nothing?" I raised my eyebrows at his question and looked at him but his eyes were fixed somewhere else, somewhere searching the end of sea which in reality has no end. His expression was blank, completely different to earlier.
"Nothing means if I will no longer be who I am today?" More confusion clouded over my brain after hearing his next sentence.
"What if something happens and again I will start to hurt you? What if all my riches will end? What if I will no longer be the popular face among business and media? What if I end up being the reason behind your tears? What if........" I quickly shut his words in between by placing my first finger over his lips and simultaneously tighten the hold of our interlocked fingers.
His eyes travelled to meet mine and everything at that moment froze. He flickered his eyes twice and then closed them in frustration. I replayed his question again and again in my mind but all I got was fear.
Fear of him depending on me.
I always wanted to make his life beautiful and I do want to be a part of his life till forever.
But I never wanted him to get attached to me in a depending way. I don't want this.
Never.
"Don't depend on me Rehan." I said which only came out as a whisper.
I fixed my eyes on our feet which were only at a few feet distant to each other and slowly removed my finger from his lips.
"Is this how you are going to answer my questions?" His voice sounded deep and dominating same like the multiple times when he was angry at me.
Somehow I shook my head and tried to take a step back and turn around, not wanting to look into his eyes.
"You have also shown your true colors. Don't you?" He asked in a dangerous voice, pulling me closer to his chest from our interlocked fingers.
"Now you want to run away from me, right?" He again asked but without looking at him, I pulled myself away from his hold and after taking one deep breath, I said “Home. I want to go home."
He next said nothing, just chuckled dryly.
Reaching near his car, he pulled out his cellphone and dialed someone's number and at the same time he jerked my hand away from his hold.
I stumbled back and quickly wiped the newly formed tears.
He leaned near the car and when I collected enough guts to look at his face, my heart almost constricted in my rib cage. His face was emotion less; devoid of any expression but his eyes were reflecting different story. They were showing hurt in them.
He pressed his eyes closed and ran his fingers through his hairs. Suddenly Ron and James both came and Rehan gestured towards me and before I could understand anything, he entered inside the car and drove off.
"Mr. Malhotra said to drive you home, safely." Ron said with a bright smile.
I nodded and exhaled deeply.
Where he went at this time? I questioned myself. With trembling fingers I tried to call him but the second next, he rejected my call.
***
It's been two hours since he drove away from the beach and still I haven't heard a word about him. Panic started rushing over my senses and the only thought which came inside my brain was,
Where was he?
I clenched the bed sheet tightly and tears continuously went down my cheek. Biting the corner of my lips, I dialed his number again but like last two hours, his phone remained switched off. My head started throbbing harder and a sudden feel of fear enveloped me.
What if once again Rehan will become cold and cruel? I know that now he will think that I am selfish but I am not.
Suddenly I heard my cellphone buzzing and something inside me told that may be it was Rehan but I was wrong. It was from an unknown contact number. I hesitantly received the call.
"Mayra?" From the other side someone said my name which I guess rather sounded like a question.
Who will call me at this time?
"It's me Max. Come out... Just come. I am waiting okay?" He said and quickly ended the call.
Max?
I closed my eyes and quickly went outside. As I reached the main gate, I spot a black car at a little distance. With my heart thumping louder, I collected guts to take few steps forward.
Why is he here? I just hope Rehan won’t witness him here at this time otherwise I don't know what will happen.
"Before you ask any questions, just here me out." He said in a serious tone.
My eyebrows knitted together and I just simply nodded. To my periphery I found both James and Ron giving me questioning look. I passed a smile at them, telling that I know Max. They nodded and went back.
"I need your help. Please Mayra, just come with me." He pleaded.
His eyes were so vulnerable. I don't know why but this time he looks genuine, unlike other times. I pressed my lips together and without saying anything, I started opening back seat’s door but before that could happen, he has already pulled the door next to him for me. I hesitantly grabbed the seat and couldn't stop myself from asking,
"Is it something related to Rehan?"
He shook his head and turned his face in my direction. "I swear there's nothing related to him. Just please help me." And after completing his words he fixed his eyes straight at the windshield. His Adam’s apple moved down slowly.
"My sister's son... He... Mayra… He's not well. I don't know what happened to him. He…He has fever and he's not taking his medicine. He wants to meet his parents... But... But..." He shuttered and at the same time his hold on the steering wheel tightens. His face became more restless.
My heart clenched after watching him in this state and to some extent I clearly get the idea why he was behaving like this.
I placed my hand over his shoulder and squeezed it a little. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
"Thanks for coming with me." I smiled at his words to which he tried to return but failed in doing so.
"We're here."
I followed him, inside his house. Soon he reached in front of closed door and directed me to go inside. I nodded and after taking a deep breath, I slowly opened the door. Many servants were present inside the room and after watching Max, they all went outside. I let my eyes land over the bed where a child was sitting on the bed, wrapped in a blanket. I smiled and slowly sat next to him. He has his face covered, which I guess just to hide.
"Hey." I said and that's when he removed the blanket away from his face and looked at me with wide eyes.
As soon as his face became visible to me, I almost gasped in surprise. This kid was no other than the one whom I met in the park, a day before yesterday. My smile went bigger and almost felt like I was dreaming.
"Y-You?" He said in disbelief and after that coughed a little.
I hurriedly creased his back till his coughing stopped.
"Surprise. Will you now tell me your name?" I said and pinched his cheek a little.
He scrunched up his red nose cutely and shook his head. His hairs were all messed up and his face looks tired and pale. I touched his forehead which was burning.
"Uncle Max has brought you here?" He asked cutely and as I was going to reply him, Max said
"Yes Drew."
Oh, so his name is Drew.
"But I asked for mommy and daddy." He whispered and tears started oozing out.
I felt sad for him and to some extent I found my childhood in him. I also used to ask everyone about my parents but those four walls of orphanage were enough to answer that there's no one for me. I chewed my inner cheeks and placed a kiss on his temple.
"Drew your Mommy and Daddy are busy in creating a beautiful home for you that's why they have told your uncle to take care of you. But if you will not take your medicine then how this evil fever will go away?" I questioned him to which he surprisingly dropped his jaw and looked at Max who was just looking everywhere but Drew.
"Really Uncle Max?"
“Err…Y-yes." He replied and rushed out of the room.
I smiled at him although form inside I felt terrible for lying but I hope at least due to this only he will take his medicine.
"So be a good boy and eat your dinner then take your medicine. Okay?" I asked and he nodded enthusiastically.
That little childish twinkle returned back into his eyes. He stood on the bed and wrapped his arms around me.
"Will you feed me with your hand? That woman who feeds me is very bad. She forces me to eat when I don't want." He complained with a pout and kissed my cheeks.
A pool of happiness dropped over my heart and a strange feeling towards him developed inside me. A feeling of connection. I wanted to adore him, love him, play with him, spent my time with him. Cuteness of this child can for sure make any one to adore him.
He hardly drank the soup and made several face while eating green veggies and somehow finished his medicines with my hand. Whole time I was smiling and so does he.
"Friends?" I asked and he nodded after giving me his cute smile. I don't know why but his smile to some extents reminds me of Rehan.
After few seconds he poked my cheek and pointed towards my cell phone which was glowing. I had it on silent mode. Maybe Ron or James were calling. I took my cellphone in my hand and that's when my heart accelerated.
Rehan was calling.
I quickly received the call and waited for him to say something but when all I got was silence from other side then I said, "Where are you Rehan?"
A dark chuckle came in response which made a chill shiver down my spine.
"I am at our house but where are you Mrs. Malhotra? Busy with your boyfriend huh?" He taunted and once again chuckled.
"If you don't want me to do drugs again then bring my new drug back to me." He added and that's when I realized that he was completely drunk and wasted.
I felt my heart scattered. My pulse started throbbing and with shaky voice I let my words out. "Drug?"
L
"Yes. You are my drug. One that I couldn't live without." He whispered and ended the call.
And now I know that my fear has come true.