Chapter 10 :

Adhvik's POV

Astounded would be an understatement if I say like that. My heart was pounding inside my chest like some wild beast and about adrenaline, it was shooting to my cheeks and to somewhere else too. I was suddenly feeling so hot despite the coolness inside the villa.

She was standing there infront of me with just a towel around her which barely covered anything. From the middle of the cleavage to the upper thighs, she was covered but the most alluring part was the nuptial chain resting between her puffed bosoms and the vermillion. She looked too gorgeous like that to be ignored.

I wasn't able to remove my eyes from her nor she was able to move. We both were standing frozen in our places when she suddenly yelled at me.

"Get out right now Mr. Raichand", I was startled at her sudden loud voice which brought me back to reality.

I looked away before quickly closing the door and stood infront of it.

"Just tell me when you're done", were the words that I could form because I was still dazed. Her half naked picture was still floating infront of my eyes.

I shook my head and walked over to the window on my left, at the end of the hallway. Since it was open, I took deep breaths to calm down my throbbing nerves. I rubbed my nape while looking down at my other hand resting on the window frame.

I closed my eyes gulping down a hard lump down my throat. Gosh! Why was I behaving so weirdly? I should've knocked but I was in a hurry and it slipped out of my mind.

I kept standing there because I didn't know how long until I heard her voice echoing in the corridor.

"Come inside"

I turned around to find her going inside her room as I followed suit. This room used to be empty but now it felt so warm and full of flowers and fruit fragrance. I was again seeing those previous images of her so before I ended up losing my cool, I shook my head and looked at her who was glaring at me.

I raised my brows, confused at why she was acting like that.

"What?", I asked.

"I know you don't consider me as your wife and don't give a flying fvck to my damn existence in this villa but you should atleast remember that you have another woman living with you under the same roof that you just beside your room. So you should knock instead of barging in", she replied or say blew up. Seemed like she

But I couldn't even form a single word to answer to her words because all in my mind was her half naked image with wet hair, the mangalsutra and the vermillion. Heavenly— would be what I'd say to her.

I shook off my thoughts before ignoring her words and replied, "Be ready by six in the evening. We have a business party to attend. I've assigned two bodyguards for you and a driver. The driver will drive you to the spa and shopping. Do whatever you want to do to get prepared." And then I walked out of the room.

If I stayed there, I don't know what I'd have done because I was losing my mind. That room was consistently reminding me of her previous image.

•

Geetanjali's POV

I wasn't surprised at how he completely ignored my words. After all, we were strangers living under the same roof.

I rolled my eyes before going on with my skincare routine and got ready to go downstairs.

I wore just a simple white kurta with patiala and dupatta. The kurta had simple pastel flower designs over the chest area and the pant had the same designs too. There were few shining beads on the chest area but overall it was simple and good.

I'd have worn pant and t-shirt but I've got married recently so it wasn't so suitable to wear such clothes even at home. Who knows if some relative pops up and goes like "Tumhari biwi to bilkul asanskari hai. Shadi bas hui hai aur abhi se hi chote kapde pehenna shuru?". Such a nuisance.

(Your wife is so uncultured. She's just got married and now only she's started wearing such short clothes)

After wearing a red bindi I walked downstairs. I let my hair stay wet because it'll dry up under the sun once I go for puja.

Once reaching the main hall, I walked through the dining hall, where he sat having his breakfast whom I successfully ignored and moved towards the kitchen. Putting the dupatta over my head, I got to the back of the villa hoping to find a temple there.

And there was. A moderate white temple and the temple area was there, just like in his parents' mansion in Delhi. I smiled.

I stepped forward and picked up the small coper vessel kept on the Tulsi katta and filled it with water to do the Surya Puja. After I was done, I went inside the temple.

I was quite surprised at why a temple was built in his place because he seemed quite of an atheist. Not giving much heed, I went on with praying. After I was done, I took the puja thali in my hand and walked inside the villa from gen kitchen's backdoor.

I roamed the plate around the kitchen filling it with the soft and sweet floral fragrance of the incense sticks and the warmness full of blessings of the earthen lamp. I smiled at the whoever maid I came across before I went inside the dining hall.

It was empty so without any hesitation I did the same there too. Then I stepped inside the main hall but my steps halted spotting him standing there fixing his coat. He wore a deep blue suit with tuxedo and a light blue shirt, his hair neatly gelled and honestly, the cufflinks and the fob chain just enhanced his beauty. He was handsome and I'll admit it just inside my mind. I ain't feeding his male ego by telling him that.

Ignoring him, I started roaming around the room doing the same here too when I heard him calling me.

"Come here Ms— Geetanjali", he called me but my heart audibly skipped a beat and my eyes widened hearing him calling my name. I was surprised because normal he'd be formal with his wife too.

I turned around and looked at him for a few seconds before I walked ahead and silently stood infront of him.

"Do it to me too", he spoke, looking calmly into my eyes.

I slowly took the tray near his face and moved my hand over the flame of the earthen lamp towards him, giving him God's blessings and the wamrness of the flame. I took a small part of the sweet and gave him which he gladly ate after praying. I was getting surprise after surprise today.

"I thought you never believed in God", I unknowingly spoke up.

He opened his eyes and looked at me, "I'm alive because he wanted me to, I believe. Then who am I to not believe in God?"

I didn't respond to which he also didn't and just walked away from there, I stood staring at his fading figure.

After that I went to the temple to keep the plate back and came back inside to have my breakfast. Minakshi aunty served me her delicious handmade food. Yes, I've seen many wealthy people treating maids and servants like some unwanted and negligible beings inside their place. I don't understand what's the reason to do that? Aren't those wealthy being eating what those cooks, one type of servant only, prepare for them? Don't they wear clothes washed by those maids only? They are so dependent on them yet, they'll be treating them like some useless thing.

Gladly, neither my in-laws nor my husband was like that.

•

10:35 a.m.

I was reading a book in his library to pass my time because I didn't have anything else to do. I was focused on it until there was a notification popping sound in my phone. Keeping down the book on the couch, I picked up my phone from the coffee table infront of me.

The screen lit up revealing an e-mail. Tapping on it, I opened the file attached and the moment I read the letter, my heart swelled in excitement as I jumped up from the couch.

I had finally secured the job of a lecturer in Mumbai University. It was really hard to get a job there but I got it. Holding the mobile in my hands I started moving my hips and arms in joy, dancing in my place.

"Finally I got it", I smiled at my phone screen. Then I quickly dialled my mother's number followed by my mother-in-law to tell them about this news. Both of them were super happy for me and they gave me their blessings. After that I called my bestfriend and started to talk for a long hour.

"Okay then, I'll hang up now. I have dozens of patients in line waiting for me", she spoke, exhaustion was clearly visible in her tone. Maybe I'll thank God that I didn't persue the job of a doctor.

"Okay bye. Just don't burden yourself", I replied with worry.

"I'm a doctor and they don't know how to get rid of burden. But anyways my husband is taking me for a long kaye night drive after our work", her voice immediately turned into an excited one making me chuckle. She was lucky.

"That's good then. Have fun both of you"

"Ask that bastard to take you out", her tone again switched to a grumpy one.

"Okay fine. Now I'll hand up you have work to do", I replied and hung up after she hummed in response.

Just as I kept down the phone, there was a knock on the door.

I opened it to find a maid standing there.

"Ma'am, sir has asked you take the black file kept inside his study table's drawer to his office", she spoke.

"Isn't there anyone else who can take it?", I asked confused because why'd he want me at his office.

"No ma'am. Sir said it was important so he has asked you to deliver it"

I nodded, "I'll do it. You can go."

As I dismissed her, I too walked out of the room after taking my phone and headed towards our room.

I walked inside the closet to wear a different set of kurta when something clicked my mind. I smirked at the thought.

He wants to ignore me right? Let's see how he does it now.

I wore a calf length beige dress. It was classy and beautiful, suitable enough for office. I paired it with beings pencil heels, some accessories and a small handbag. I kept my hair down after straightening it and just wore lipstick, eyeliner and mascara. I had no mood of wasting my time on make-up. After spraying some perfume, I walked out of the room towards his study room to take the file before I finally took my leave.

There was a driver waiting for me at the doorstep so I quickly sat inside and the driver drove away.

•

11:00 a.m.

"Ma'am we're here", spoke the driver, halting the car infront of a tall and wide skyscraper.

"Thank you", I thanked with a smile before I got out after a bodyguard opened the door. I squinted my eyes because of the shine the glass building had. The blue tinted glasses reflected the huge name written on it.

GOOGLE

I walked over to the main gate which opened automatically as I made my way towards the reception.

"Excuse me", I called out for the receptionist.

The lady looked up from the computer infront of her at me.

"Yes ma'am, how may I help you?", she asked politely with a smile.

"Actually I was here to meet Mr. Adhvik Raichand. May I know where's his cabin?", I asked slowly, trying to overcome the sudden nervousness.

"Ma'am do you have the appointment letter?"

"Uh— no I don't."

"Then ma'am I'm sorry but I can't let you meet him. You know people of high posts don't meet anyone without any appointment letter or meeting fixed", she explained politely with a smile.

"Actually, I'm his wife, Mrs. Geetanjali Raichand", I replied but honestly, it felt so foreign to call myself with his surname and the formality of Missus. Because all the time he's been calling me with my surname so I wasn't used to this surname.

She remained silent for a few seconds but there was a change in her expressions.

"How many women has he married? Or are you just another side chick claiming yourself as his wife?", she asked mockingly, looking at me with disgust.

I looked at her confused, "Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"

She rolled her eyes before speaking, "Last time there was a woman who considered her as his fiancee and now you're here calling yourself his wife. I know you all are just some random woman wanting the rich people's attention."

Her words hit me. Who called herself his fiancee? Was he cheating on me?

"Ms. kindly mind you language. You shouldn't talk to anyone like that without knowing anything about them. We call it professionalism, is it?", I replied sternly, trying to control my anger.

She scoffed, "Get out before I ask the guards to throw you out. There were many women coming to the office calling themself as his girlfriend or wife."

Many women?

I felt my heart clenching inside my chest. I didn't know what to believe and what to understand.

"Just wait a minute then", I replied before taking out my phone and dialled his number. I was equally hurt and furious. I never signed to get disrespected even at his office like that. He had already done that to me and the marriage and now I was going through the same thing here too.

"What happened?", came his cold voice from the other side.

"I'm at your office. Come to the reception", was all I spoke before hanging up and looked back at her.

"Ms. I'd like to inform you that you should never talk to someone like that. It's not your duty. Because not everyone is a side chick and whichever disrespecting word you call", I spoke to her who was staring at me nonchalantly.

After five minutes I saw him coming towards me from my periphery. I looked at him before starting to speak right away.

"We're married right?", my question seemed to catch him off guard. It was obvious because I started questioning just after he came to me.

He frowned, "Yes, why are you asking this so suddenly?"

"I'm your wife right?", I asked again ignoring his question.

"Yes you are", he replied looking at me with so much confusion.

I looked at the receptionist who was staring at me with her wife eyes. She must've been shocked.

"See, I've cleared your misconception. So from next time, better behave properly", I spoke, before taking my leave from there. I heard her bowing and apologising but I didn't care because I was hurt now, more than furious.

I stopped infront of his secretary, who stood behind him.

"Mr?"

"Ma'am it's Mahir, Mahir Rai", he replied with awkwardness. But I just started at him blankly.

"Show me your boss's cabin", I spoke to which he bowed, looking at his boss for once. Adhvik must've allowed him to show me so he started walking ahead, escorting me to his boss's cabin.

None of us spoke till we all were infront of his cabin door.

Senior Vice President, Mr. Adhvik Raichand

The golden nameplate read.

The door of the room opened revealing a few men sitting inside his cabin. They all were seated on the couch placed beside the door.

But all I did was calmly entered the room and let Adhvik get inside before Mahir closed the door.

"Is this beautiful lady free for a date?", I heard a male voice speaking.