Some more pokes, pinches, pulls, and brushes later, Uttara stood against the wall, posing for the pictures. Her hair was set back, her makeup done to utter perfection, and the right amount of skin showing leaving a lot and so much less for imagination.
The rich grey velvet caressed her skin like a lover, soft sizzling, and unnerving.
She tipped her chin up, earning approving grunts from the photographer who kept clicking her. A shoulder dip and the mischievous smile resting on her face were enough of a tease.
Burying fingers in her soft waves, she averted her gaze from the camera and bent a little to give a peek of her chest, almost seducing.
"That's perfect" Her friend, the photographer, Akshay cheered. "One last time, Queen. You got this."
She laughed at the name and gave a light smile, showing off her back with confidence radiating her frame.
"And, we are done. You'll have enough pictures to set the media on flame." Her manager gushed excitedly.
"Thank you. All your efforts make me speechless with gratitude." She smiled at her team of designers, make-up artists, her manager, and crew who assisted her in pulling up this small shoot before she grazed the red carpet for the Annual film awards.
"You look gorgeous, Uttara." She grinned earning another compliment for the evening.
"Dhruv, can you check on Mr. Doctor? It is almost time." Akshay requested the designer who was supposed to make Vidyut's look match the standard of B-town. "You sure we cannot him to pose for a picture or two? Your man is a total snack."
"It depends on how you charm him." Uttara giggled shrugging. "My husband is unpredictable."
"A man after my heart." Akshay swooned making her laugh harder.
"He is ready, just a minute," Dhruv informed with a proud smile. "I swear girl, you hit a jackpot with that man. He is a natural."
She blushed at the comment, eyes waiting to see him walk out of the hotel room she rented for the night.
Vidyut didn't like strangers in their home and she wished to comply with his likes, renting a suit for them to get ready tonight and her photoshoot which they completed in the open area of the hotel.
Two shots with one arrow.
"You will get all things packed and deliver to our place, right?" She asked her manager who assured her again.
She was lucky to have Nitya in her team, the girl was highly efficient, though uptight and bossy but a darling to her.
"Now you focus on your award ceremony. Be confident and be the second last one to leave that after-party. We need you to be seen as a star for those producers and directors to know about your presence. We need to put you out there now that you are out of that scandal and married. I want them to see you as a bright name no matter what." Nitya instructed her, her words only for her ears. "You need projects and commercials to keep kicking. I do not want one scandal to tatter your career. This event is very important, Uttara. I want no mess."
"I understand." Her lips pressed in a fine line, and the insecurity which she had tried burying rose back.
"Do not let anything on your face if you see him there which you would. He is getting the award for best actor male for his last movie. But remember you are worth more than he thinks of you. Do not let him overshadow you. You are not weak and definitely not alone. You have a man equally powerful on your side."
She nodded and squeezed her hands in reassurance.
"See, there he is."
She looked up to find the man her heart yearned for, walking right toward her.
His eyes fixed on hers, not swooping down on her but yet making her flush in scrutiny.
"Damnation." She heard Akshay whistle "He should be illegal."
Vidyut frowned a little but didn't let anything on his face, he stopped in front of her and nodded.
"Mr. Chauhan..." Akshay gulped "Can we have a few pictures of you two together?"
Vidyut passed him a quick glance and cocked a brow at her in question.
She shrugged.
"Some other day." He politely declined the offer and forwarded his arm to her. "We should leave."
"Sure." She looped her arm in his and shot an apologetic smile at her friend who stood pouting.
She carried a big smile, walking with him towards the waiting car which took the duo to the award ceremony.
It was being conducted in the city stadium. The night looked less and more like a day with so many lights illuminating the entire place.
The crowd cheered, roared, and gushed at the celebrities walking down the red carpet. Each dressed in their finest, representing a label and showing off the design to the best of their capabilities.
She felt a shiver run down her, the nervousness clawing its way as she froze stepping out. The constant flashes blinded her and her smile dropped as the anxiety crawled its way.
"You have done this before." The whisper caressed her ears and she looked up at him, distracted.
A warm palm touched her bare back and she felt the warmth travel down her veins.
"Smile, Tara. You are not alone." His words made her grin almost instantly, eyes blinking at him as he looked down at her with reassurance. "Make us proud."
She faced the people who kept calling her name to look at them, she picked up her gown with her hands and climbed up the stairs. Vidyut walking beside her, his bored face was retired for the day as he carried a smirk, nothing evil yet mind-numbing.
"Thank you." She glanced at him and whispered.
He nodded and caressed her back asking, "What comes up next?"
"Some quick pictures. There will be questions, you can answer them if you wish to." She instructed "Expert advice, don't. Smile and pose."
"I would rather answer questions." He grumbled.
She giggled and they reached the area specifically meant for Media interaction. The sponsors' names are enamored on walls and backgrounds.
"We go in, in 3 counts." She gave him a heads-up.
He rolled his eyes, making her grin brightly.
"Uttara mam, look here."
"This is your first public appearance with your husband, how do you feel?"
"Your next movie is around, what is your next project?"
"Are you starting a family?"
"You hurried into marrying each other, was it the scandal?"
She glanced at Vidyut while ignoring the questions, the last one had his jaw slack.
"Smile." She whispered and looked at him, then back towards the media.
"Are you pregnant? Do we see a baby bump?"
"Is yours an arrange marriage?"
"When did you two start dating?"
"None of their business," Vidyut grumbled making her eat back her laughter. "How long?"
"20 seconds more." She shot him an apologetic look.
"Are you a doctor, Mr. Chauhan?"
"Look here, Mr. and Mrs. Chauhan. Are you too happy together?"
"Was this a love marriage? Have you two been hiding your relationship before?"
"Come on." She took his fingers and he quickly untangled them from her.
His arm clutched her at the waist, pulling her closer to him and he smiled, a dimpled smile she had never seen before.
"You look beautiful tonight, darling. Do you know that?" He whispered in her ears making her cheeks flush. His lips brushed against her cheeks. "Perfect."
"Vidyut." She gaped with wide eyes.
"Thank you all of you." He addressed the media and guided her to walk.
Her knees would have buckled if not for his firm hold on her waist.
"W-what was that?" She looked at him expectantly.
He shrugged. "What's next?"
"Vidyut..." She stopped him from walking, passing quick smiles to her fellow actors in the industry. "Why did you do that?"
"They were diving for gossip. That will keep them busy the entire night." He stated nonchalantly. "So, what's next?"
"You are cunning, aren't you?" She smirked.
"No, they are dumb."
She chuckled shaking her head. "Next part is going to be troublesome."
"I don't doubt that."
Much to his credit, Vidyut was able to make his way out of the labyrinth of games and sponsor promotions they were stopped at and had to deal with.
Uttara guided him and he sprinted out with grace that she envied.
Games like guessing the actions, or solve the picture puzzle, or song Pictionary was done rather quickly and easily as Dr. Vidyut Chauhan came out to be more into the details than her.
She had been in the industry for 12 years starting from being a child actor but Vidyut held much more cinema in him.
The host looked at him awed again as he answered another puzzle with a bored face that said he would do much better things than these. She giggled as they scored another point and the opposite team â A celebrity couple groaned playfully.
"What are you, Dr. Chauhan?" Geetansh, the host wondered in amazement.
Vidyut glanced at her urging her to answer which she gladly did.
"Ain't my husband the best?" She laughed. "We should let others get here, we will take leave and see you at backstage before my performance, Geetansh."
"Of cause, Star. I wouldn't miss your performance for the world." The host gushed. "And, Dr. Chauhan, I hope to see you in many others in the future."
Vidyut passed them a quick nod, shaking hands and they stepped away. "I am never coming back here."
"We will see." She winked.
"I swear, Tara."
The nickname from him brought a blush to her neck and cheeks. The warmth it brought her killed every ounce of nervousness she felt before.
"Thank you for coming with me." She said with a genuine smile. "This means a lot to me, Vidyut."
"I am holding my part." He shrugged.
"No, you are doing so much for me."
"This was the deal, Uttara." His words froze her smile. "I help you with your career and you help me. I'm holding my end of the bargain. Nothing else."
Her fingers glided down his arm with a dropping smile.
"Deal? I thought... We were past that." She whispered fearing a third sole in the deserted hallway listening to them.
"I did not think so."
â â â â â
Gathering her hair in her fingers, she combed through and tied them back in a loose bun, eyes glaring at the mess laying infront. Her dupatta was long discarded on the couch she sat against leaning.
Her thumb and forefinger pressed a crease of the book cover, folding it to utter perfection as she flipped to the last page and closed the book to adjust, folding the last leaf and settling in under the weight to rest.
She had come to ignore his presence in the room, the small cabin she sat in often to work on accounts or check the files she carried back from the office.
"I have signed these applications, where to next?" He asked adjusting the bunch of papers, checking for any left out.
Killing the urge to not answer, she jested her chin towards the table.
"There is a bundle of Almanacs, keep the pages according to the names. They will be in alphabetical order." He nodded and she continued "You can keep them with each arranged box and make a complete kit. I am left with few to cover and I'll help you."
She glanced at the window, the rain had come to a stop along with thunder. The night had come to a standstill as the clock kept crawling.
It could be that the work seems to come to an end with an additional pair of hands.
They have been stuck in this cabin for 2 hours to be exact. The protest from her died at him poking his head in her business ended when he kept looking at her as if she was wasting her own time by convincing him to leave.
Something he didn't wish to do from the very start.
She had come to accept his help, it was only human to appreciate when you have a helping hand which you didn't beg for.
She was getting tired, irritated, and exhausted doing things all alone for a while.
Keeping the last of the covered books, she stood up sighing. Picking the bundle and placing it on the couch where other subject books sat in bundles.
The 8 toddlers start their school tomorrow, more like today in 5 hours and she was trying to make their first day uneventful, as much as possible.
"It is just their first day, they will not need any of these books or copies tomorrow that you are setting them this late at night. Why are you so keen to get this done today?" He asked watching her, her words meant more for an explanation of her actions.
She kept her mum, as she glanced around the room filled with bundles of everything they will be needed tomorrow, to be huddled in the pile of school bags.
"Have you been made fun of in school because you didn't have new books or clothes?" She looked above her shoulder at him questioning.
He shook his head furrowing his brows.
"You will not know how it feels to be mocked for being an inferior, being bullied for factors you didn't have any control over. Even if I try explaining to you, you will end up sympathizing but won't understand. You were privileged, Anirudh." She smiled a little turning towards him. "I am not taunting you for that, I am just trying to explain to you my motive behind making you work on all these."
"You are not." He said, "I am working here on my own will."
She shrugged, continuing "I just want to make these kids feel normal. As normal as they can."
"Were you..." He hesitated "... bullied in school?"
"It is all in the past." She discarded the conversation "Thank you for helping me. You should go and get some sleep. You have office tomorrow."
"You tried before but you couldn't get me to leave you back here. Why are you trying again?" He pointed, taking the bag and filling it with one of each book, two copies, and the Almanac with a pencil pouch. "7 more to go. Hurry up."
She groaned inaudibly in frustration and quickly filled the other 3 bags whole he got done with the rest.
"All done. Come on." He picked up his car keys and phone which he kept on her desk.
"I am not coming. I will be sending them off in the morning. I...I cannot keep going back and forth. I'll rest here. You should go." She lay down the words with hesitance and he caught on it almost immediately.
"Well, in that case, we are going to our apartment." He stated with finality. "I will bring you back in the morning."
"Your apartment." She corrected him in an inaudible whisper.
"Start walking, Dhwani." He stood opening the door and she begrudgingly gave up, collecting her shawl and bag, and adjusting it on her.
True to his words, he brought her back before the kids left for school. She sent them off with kisses and grins and a lot of encouraging words laced with warnings. They all gave her a toothy grin and left.
They were going back to the mansion. He had to leave for office and she, well, she didn't plan to go back to that place this soon.
"Your meeting was scheduled with the event planners today at noon. Be there." Was he able to read her thoughts?
"I... I will delegate the event to someone else. I... I must be in the orphanage, today." She made an excuse breaking the silence.
"Till when will you be avoiding work?" His question made her snap towards him.
"I am not avoiding." She defended herself glaring at him "I had planned for the meeting to be yesterday. You re-scheduled so you yourself can align someone else to handle the Gala."
"I see. If you have a mouth to speak. Couldn't you defend yourself yesterday?" He cocked a brow challengingly.
"I did not defend myself yesterday because it would have changed nothing." She smiled mirthlessly. "I was a mere employee who got humiliated by an important client. I deserved it for being an idiot."
"Dhwani, you didn't deserve to..."
"To marry you, to sit here in your car, to work in that office, to be called characterless after a few hours of marriage, to be ignored, and to have my dream for a family crushed even before I could have a say. There is so much I didn't deserve but I got it all without ever asking for it. Now if I deserve something or I don't doesn't matter." She looked at the road bitterly "Why don't you hurry up? You can get rid of me sooner."
His knuckles tightened around the steering.
"I am sorry for everything." He said breaking the silence. "I know these words will not heal the days you felt pain but I want to work on us. Tell me how to fix this."
"You want to fix what? We fix what is broken." She gestured between the two "Here between us, there is nothing to start with."
"Then I shall start."
â â â â
â
She tumbled inside the lift, a mess of bones as she leaned against the lift wall. Glancing at her blurry reflection, she grinned slurring any lyrics on her tongue. Her gown was a ruffled piece of cloth, makeup gone and hair pulled back in a messy bun, one she had secured with a hand tie.
She must be feeling with Alcohol, after all the amount she had consumed was not little. Throwing her heels somewhere in the corridor, she swayed her way towards the door.
"Oops. Where are the keys?" She giggled, a tear escaping from her eyes. Shushing herself, she tried the knob which was locked. Leaning her head against the door she sighed, as she banged on the door.
Waiting for someone to open, she drummed her nails and jerked inside as the door was suddenly yanked open.
A small scream left her.
Two arms caught her in a reflection to which she clutched her eyes tight in the wake of landing on the floor flat face.
"Are you drunk?" The voice accused her, she could feel the cold eyes piercing her soul.
She hummed in response, showing a slight gap between her index finger and thump "Only a little."
"Why?" He demanded an explanation with a single word, making goosebumps rise on her arms.
"Umm...Just like that?" She giggled, blinking to adjust to the bright lights.
"Damnation" He swore and stepped back holding her to stable her footing and she grimaced at the loss of contact. "Where are your shoes?"
"Somewhere" She pouted and pushed past him almost slipping if not for holding the furniture nearby. "Oh, it is out. My legs were aching."
Vidyut stared at her, glaring, and then left to retrieve her heels.
She flinched as he shut the door behind him, it would have broken out of its hinges yet the man wouldn't have cared.
He never cared.
Not even for her, she was living in an illusion.
He only was doing his part of the deal.
She was nothing to him.
"Why are you drunk out of your brain?" He yanked her, turning her to face him. "Do you realize what will happen tomorrow? Was one scandal not enough?"
"Nothing will happen." She grinned, waving her palm indicating her words. "I did not drink..." hiccup "...in front of the media. I drunk in his..." another hiccup "...car."
"Whose car?" He hissed with narrowed eyes, finger curling around her arm painfully.
"Farhan" She chimed wiggling out of his hold "It hurts, Mr. Chauhan."
"What?" His voice turned icy.
"It hurts" She whined. "Let my arm go."
"What did you call me?" He gritted, his black eyes turning into daggers.
"Oh," She grinned in realization "Mr. Chauhan. Are you not him?"
Her hand neared to feel his face but backed away. Her pout did not affect his anger as he curled his fingers in a bruising grip.
"Do not call me that, Uttara." He warned.
"Why? You are him. Dr. Vidyut Chauhan, No?" She asked with innocence, lips puckered in a thinking face. "Or am I dreaming? But you cannot be my dream, not when you end up as my nightmare."
A tear dropped down her face.
"You always hurt me. Why can't you be a little nice to me? Am I not good for you?" She demanded, "You left me there, all alone."
"I had an emergency." He hissed gritting. "I told you before leaving."
"But you said you did it for that deal. You... you consider me a burden, no? Am I a burden on you because you had to marry... me because of being involved in that scandal? Do you... hate me?" Uttara looked at him with a broken smile.
"You will not remember anything tomorrow morning." He shot her words down "Even if I answer, you will remember nothing. So better come on in and sleep."
"I don't want to." She wiggled out of his hold.
"I think you know...I should also be one of...your emergency. You might come running to me that day, no?" She asked curiously, eyes shining with an innocence that was kept hidden under the make-up.
"Shut up" He gritted, yanking her closer. "Stop being ridiculous. Never think of hurting yourself ever, Uttara."
"See, there it is." She giggled touching his cheek, cupping his face "Your fake care. I am an actor, then why do you act?"
"You will regret this tomorrow morning." He concluded and picked her up making her shriek. "Stay quiet or I will throw you down the balcony. Understand?"
He didn't know if it was her pout or the visible fear in her eyes that had her shut up immediately, she snuggled in his chest, snaking her arms around his shoulder to support.
"You won't drop me?" She whispered.
"No" He stated, glaring at her while he carried her towards their room "I will throw you down."
Her eyes were wide as saucers as she clamped her mouth shut, shaking and begging him to not act on his words.
"Good, keep shut and you will be alive."
He placed her on the bathroom floor and pushed her to lean against the basin slab.
"I will get you a change of clothes. Can you manage?" He knew she cannot, her reflexes were getting lazy and her eyes drooped. "Don't slip."
She tilted her head with puckered lips, playing with her nails and drumming them on the marble.
"Change into this" He placed her pajama top and bottoms, one she wore regularly.
"Haw! You cannot...watch me change." She gasped "Turn around."
He rolled his eyes and did as she said, only to sigh as she made messy movements. A few bottles tumbled and he killed the urge to turn around.
"Are you done?"
She moaned painfully in reply. He spun on his heels immediately and watched her.
She was frustrated and wrestling with her dress zip as the tired sigh left her lips and he cursed it. Her shoulders had dropped down and her bust was loose as she tried to unzip the rest of the dress.
"You pervert" She snapped finding him watching her. "Turn around."
"Shut up." He scowled and yanked her closer to him. "I will close my eyes, stop struggling."
"You want to see...me naked." She accused him and glared, as much as her drunk eyes allowed.
"So, can you do anything to stop me?" He challenged, irked.
She whimpered dramatically.
"Now, shut up, and let me remove this thing from you." She let out a noise in protest but hugged him tightly.
"Don't watch, promise?" She mumbled to his chest.
"I promise." He whispered against her hair and true to his words, closed his eyes shut as his fingers found the stuck zip. "Breath in."
She followed, still sticking to his front. Her molds pressed to his front, separated by her gown and his t-shirt yet he could feel them.
He sighed heavily and undid the zip. The gown came undone, only saved by her palms which clutched it to her front.
"Can you change now?" He asked and felt her shaking her head.
"I am tired."
"Expected." He commented and took the top back from her hold, "Step back a little and drop this down. I am not watching."
"Okay" Her voice was a toneless whisper, he feared she could drop any second with fatigue and alcohol.
She followed his words yet he kept a secured hold on her arm and fiddled around until he was able to push her head to the top, guiding her arms and settling the top on her.
He could feel the material pooled near their feet, a cloth on which a good dime was wasted.
"Wear the bottoms, can you?"
She nodded pouting and held his shoulder in support as she wore it and slumped on him the moment she was done, catching him off guard.
"Don't sleep. Not yet" He patted her chin and she protested whining. "Remove make-up, wash your face, brush your teeth, and then you are free to sleep."
"Bossy Dr. Chauhan" She grumbled in protest and he almost smiled at her whining. He hated being called words but her grumbling was a breath of fresh air, not that she had him raging mad before but right now, she acted like a kid.
Knowing that she will not be making any efforts herself, he held her by the waist and hoisted her up the basin counter.
Searching for cotton and the make-up removal serum she had often used while she talked all about her day to him while he worked. He dipped it into the ball and gently started with her eyes.
She sat pouting and grumbling, yawning every now and then as he cleaned her layers of makeup and watched her natural skin peeking out. She dangled her legs in anticipation. The moment he placed her back on the floor, her eyes brightened as she was ready to dash towards the bed, sloppily but still.
"Take this." He passed her the toothbrush, eyes daring her to refuse.
Exhaling dramatically, she brushed her teeth and narrowed her eyes promising repercussions to him.
He rolled his eyes and dipped her head so she could spit the foam.
She splashed water and washed her face, stumbling a little and he held her waist to stable her.
"Done?"
She nodded with a cheeky grin and he pulled her towards the bed, laying her down on her side, adjusting the comforter he closed the lights.
"Vidyut" She held his wrist, his eyes adjusting to the dim night lights.
"Yes," He hummed.
"You are not my favorite person anymore." She confided.
"Was I before?" He cross-questioned, watching her yawn. Her eyes were ready to shut.
"Yes," She bobbed sleepily "Till today."
"It is enough for me, Tara."
Thoughts?
This story will not be more than 30-35 chapters.