The loud slam of the door made Uttara blink back from her sleepy stature. She decided to check the time and frowned as the phone was nowhere within her reach. She sat up dazed and switched the side lamp on. Blinking and adjusting to the bright lights in the room, she groaned as her eyes protested to stay open.
She had returned early morning from the set, completing the shooting for her day. The rain destroying and disrupting the schedule had led the crew to pull back and kill time until the clouds pitied them and decided to give a free passage before the start of the next set of showers.
Her shoot which was supposed to end around midnight, ended at 5 o'clock in the morning seeing the protruding first rays of the morning sun and no longer the night scenes being shot.
They wrapped the day and she was permitted to leave seeing she had requested an off day.
By the time she had reached home, Vidyut was up and out for his run and she was welcomed to an empty house. Her fatigue pushed her to sleep without waiting to meet her husband who had been ignoring her presence like a plague for the past few days.
Credit goes to Farhan and her drunken self.
Not that Vidyut blamed her but he had stormed out of the house the moment she had uttered those words and slammed his fist in Farhan's face in the broad daylight.
Uttara had shrieked, horrified watching him breathing fire and slamming the man in the wall, threatening him to never show his face or stand in her vicinity ever again.
Instead of returning to the apartment with his bruised knuckles, he dashed off in his car leaving her waiting until midnight with him being a no-show. She did not see him the next day or the next to next.
Finding his laundry and upturned files told her that he had returned but she hadn't seen or talked to him.
It was like back to the initial months of their marriage when he kept to his hospital and avoided their apartment.
Until today.
The measured footsteps on the carpeted floor and soft breathing sounds in the dead apartment gave away his presence. Uttara cleared her daze and stepped out of bed, feeling a strain in her waist that she had received slipping on sets yesterday. She had pulled a muscle and it seemed to be burning now that she had gotten rest and her mind was less occupied.
Massaging the area with her finger pads, she tip-toed towards the washroom and switched on the hot water shower. Shredding her clothes, she stepped inside and moaned in relief as the water soothed her a little. The shower blocked any external sound and she scrubbed herself clean.
Today was the day for Gala and Rakshit's engagement.
She couldn't afford any setbacks or Dhwani would end up being burdened with any task if already not taken care of the lady herself.
She shaved and moisturized herself before she wrapped the towel around and stepped out. Half a mind to find him in their room. She stepped out and the lights switched on the very second, making her squeal at the suddenness.
She clutched onto her towel and spun to watch him looking surprised at her presence. She accused. "You scared me."
Vidyut stared at her a minute longer, his eyes never trailing down her face yet they spoke unsaid volumes that she wished to hear someday. Ignoring her words, he averted his eyes and laid his discarded jacket, bag, the pile of another file, and a foreign set of sleek velvet boxes which left her curious.
"What is that?" She mumbled and stepped near him to pick it up when he dodged her hands away.
"Get dressed." He commanded without sparing a look and picked the box to hide somewhere in his closet.
She stood pouting watching him collecting his clothes and entering the shower.
"He can be annoying sometimes."
Mumbling to herself, she dressed into a silk camisole and shorts which were to be changed again once her stylists arrived, but before that, she needed to know the time.
She set their bed and searched for her phone which lay hidden behind the pillow, discharged.
Plugging in the charger, she waited for it to be ready to power on. Tapping her foot, she pouted as not knowing the time was making her anxious. She looked around and frowned.
Why did they never have a clock in their room?
She wondered and decided to check the one in the living room. Hurrying, she started walking out when her eyes fell on his device.
She picked it up and double-tapped it on the screen. This doctor had disabled sensors and was using the device in an old-school way. Shaking her head, she used the power button on the side and the screen came to life, the small face icon not recognizing her face, leaving it locked.
The time was 2 PM. That means she had slept straight 5 hours yet her head repulsed at the thought of working.
Sighing, she dropped the phone and picked up his things to place them in the right places. She bent to pick up his jacket when a shiver shot to her waist and she scowled at the sting. She raised her top edges and stood infront of the mirror, watching the swollen area that seemed to be darkening with time.
"What is that?"
She dropped the fabric and spun to face him. She shook her head and stuttered "Nothing."
"You are lying. Again." His eyes squinted and he dropped the small hand towel, before walking towards her with long footsteps in his grey robe. Eyes dropping to her waist, he raised a brow. "Show me."
"It is nothing." She tried but stumped her lips shut seeing his fingers tugging her top and pulling her to stand in front of him.
"Show me nicely or I'll check it myself." His threat made her remember his ignorance for the past few days.
"Why not ignore me again?" She stated, crossing her arms, and glaring at him. "You have succeeded for the past few days. I'm sure you can ignore me again."
"Don't be a handful, Uttara." He stated and pulled her closer yanking her camisole.
"Hey," She squealed and stabilized holding his wrists. "You cannot manhandle me."
Her accusatory glare met his deadpanned eye roll.
"I told you to show me nicely." He shrugged and held the fabric between her fingers. "Will you or I should help myself?"
"I won't, neither will you." She wiggled away from him. "Go ignore me and live your life."
"You are upset because I punched him?" He asked, getting offended as the small frown turned into a scowl.
"Of course not." She bit back hurriedly. "I don't care enough about him."
"Then?"
"You are impossible!" Uttara stared at the man with disbelief and huffed. Pushing him away, she turned and stomped her way out of the room.
"What? Uttara." He called behind faintly but she was too mad at his oblivion.
"Stupid doctor. Should I spell out that I am upset because he was ignoring me? Why did I even try? God, I wish I could smack him hard..." Her rant to a standstill as the doorbell rang and she gritted curses at him again. Snatching the door open, she passed a tight smile to the stylists and made way for her.
"We shall start?" The lovely lady she had worked with so often asked.
"There are still 3 hours." Uttara tried stalling but heard him walking out. She glanced behind and watched him walking in his tracksuit pants and a black vest that was too tight on him. She frowned watching him casually nodding towards them and entering the kitchen.
A loud intake of breath hit her ears and she snapped towards the source. This woman was staring at the space and her eyes refused to avert from the kitchen doorframe as they woke in something like female appreciation for her man.
Uttar cleared her throat rather snappily.
The stylist flushed at her squinted eyes or was it because of him?
"I will be helping him as well?"
Uttara raised a daring brow ready to throw her out. "No. Only me."
"Oh" Her smile dropped but she nonetheless nodded. "I hold experience with males too. I have worked for big names in the industry, you know Hrithik..."
"My husband is self-sufficient." Uttara gritted showing a fake smile. "Only help he requires is from me."
She was not so lovely lady anymore.
"Why don't you wait for me in the guest bedroom? I will join you in a few minutes."
Or never.
"Sure!" The stylist passed her a bashful smile and stepped inside the room as per Uttara's instructions.
The door was closed and she charged towards the kitchen where the infuriating man stood sipping on a glass of water with all the time in the world. He watched her from above the brim and raised his brow as she stomped infront of him.
"What are you trying to do?" She demanded standing with her arms crossed.
He shrugged in response. "It is you doing it."
"And, what is that?"
"You were accusing me and walked away from me, and now glaring at me like I am the one hiding a secret from you." He eyes her waist and back at her face, her jaw drops.
"You are letting other women ogle at you while parade wearing nothing." She shoved his shoulder.
He scoffed "Watch again. I am not naked."
She flushed but managed to glare at him. "She was checking you out."
"Not my problem." He shrugged.
"You...you are so annoying." She declared throwing her hands up and the fabric jumped along with it.
His hands were quick to hold it back from hiding the purple bruise on her ribs that had his eyes drop to the temperature of Antarctica while his cold fingertips brushed against her skin and she jumped at the feel.
His eyes met her and she felt the fear creeping in. "You are hurt."
"It was a little..." She trailed off when for the second time she was pulled against him. His fingers caressed the place, poking it when she clenched her eyes as a wince escaped past her.
His moments froze and she hesitantly opened her eyes.
"Vidyut"
"Don't." He gritted and averted his eyes from her face, staring into spaces as the coldness seeped out and his jaw clenched.
"I slipped on the sets and landed on my sides yesterday. The doctor was there and he gave me some painkillers." She admitted, "It only looks bad but I swear it didn't hurt."
"Yesterday?" He hissed and glared at her "You didn't consider telling me and you kept lying."
"I am sorry. You weren't home and you were ignoring me so I thought..."
"I was trying to clear my schedule. I had preponed my surgeries from next week to this so that I can have a free schedule." He pinched his nose bridge. "Why in the world will I be ignoring you?"
"I thought you were upset because of Farhan. At least look at me, please." She bit her wobbling lips, having him angry at her was always the last thing she had wanted.
He exhaled and watched her pouting like a child. "Come with me."
Pulling her towards the cabinets he made her stand against it.
"Sit."
"What?" she gasped as his palms settled on her waist and he picked her up like a doll. "Vidyut."
"Shush. You have done enough for today." He silenced her with a deadpanned stare. "If you move again, the consequences will be hard."
"I am not afraid of you." She rolled her eyes.
"We will see." He hummed and strolled backward holding her eyes. "Move and I will leave you begging to me."
"Why will I beg?" She frowned wondering as he went out of earshot. The cold tiles numbed her ass and she tried moving to gain some warmth, yelping as the shift landed her on a colder surface she jumped down at once and clicked her tongue in irritation as her palm rubbed the numb muscles.
"Can you ever listen to me?" The grumble made her jump back and spin.
She swallowed to hydrate her throat watching him stand with a spray in hand and eyes squinted. "It was..."
"You asked for this."
In two steps, his mouth was latched on hers.
Eyes wide and arms flailing as she was again picked up and settled on the cold marble. A gasp escaped her lips and he got the entrance to her mouth.
It was slow yet a rapture of fireworks in the sky. His lips moved against her and she fell out of breath.
Not because her mouth was occupied but because her brain seemed to stop sending signals for the basics. It was rather focusing on the man who had held her in his arms like a blanket in the frosty nights. His lips stained her soul, moving in precise yet messy movements that left her wanting. With the flick of his tongue, her eyes rolled up to watch thousands of stars bursting into her veins and the galaxy evolving into another.
Her quivering arms latched onto his head, fearing he would move away and her dream would end. She may not have moved against his but her rasping chest moved and brushed against his, making him tighten his hold on hers.
They were breathless, panting, yet wanting more.
Her tawny brown eyes held his foggy greys that seemed to lighten in softness and warmth. The cold surface no longer affected her. She looked at him unable to catch her breath yet the flushed cheeks participated in the exhale.
This time she closed the distance between them, feeling his heart beat against her pulse as his wrist pressed against her nape, angling her head to him. Lips brushing against his like a paintbrush against the canvas, painting it. Tainting it.
"I had to have you, Tara." He admitted like a criminal, breathing into her breath parting from her lips. "I couldn't stop this or myself..."
"I am not begging yet." She cut him off, biting her Chesire grin back as he chuckled, his torso vibrating against hers as the spasms of pleasure shot down her core. "You said..."
"You only have to ask." He grinned against hers, capturing her mouth in his again.
There was hardly any fight, he dominated her body, mind, and soul. Mouth was no exception.
She willingly submitted to his illustrations, letting his finger curl below her chin as he tipped it to stare into her eyes, making her watch him kiss her to breathlessness. His other palm glided down her nape and past her waist, resting and squeezing her hips.
A moan escaped her lips and she felt his lips averting from her lips to her jaw. Teasing her with little ministrations of his fingers on her short's elastic, a finger brushing past her hem and she shivered at the proximity, his lips sucked and nibbled her neck.
"Vidyut. Please..." She whined pulling him back and he smiled.
"You are begging." He mumbled against her and dropped a few quick kisses on her lips, letting her close her eyes and cherish the sweet torture. He parted unwillingly and she licked her lips feeling her skin burning from the rushing blood and goosebumps protesting against the soft silk while her lungs fought to bounce back to normality. "Never, and I mean never hide anything from me. Understood?"
She nodded rasping against his chest. He gently sprayed on her wound, making her shiver at the cold substance.
"Words, darling." His fingers massaged her spine, walking up and down the length of it.
"Yes." She muttered and looked up, her fingers latched into his and she placed a soft kiss against his calloused fingers. Tracing the rugged lines on his palms, she placed them against her cheeks and leaned into his touch. "I am sorry."
He hummed pinching her cheek and making her scowl.
"It hurts."
"It should." He piped with amusement.
"Sadist." She scoffed and ducked under his cage and jumped down. "I am getting late. Unlike you, I will need time to look pretty."
"You are pretty." His comment made her halt, cheeks flaming.
"You should...eat something, yes, eat and rest." Excuse stumbled out of her lips and she hurried out of the place and entered their room, closing the door behind her and leaning against it.
Calming her breath, she glanced in the wall-sized mirror at the front wall.
"What gets into this man so suddenly? It is so hard to keep up with him." Shaking her head at the popping images of that kiss, she hurried into the connected washroom and splashed cold water on her face to calm her flushed cheeks.
Soon after she sat facing the mirror in the guest bedroom, getting into a bathrobe before she dived headfirst into one of the beautiful pieces of cloth that her designer sent to her yesterday morning.
It was a lace bodice with a sweetheart neckline and thigh-high slit that wrapped around her like a second skin. Pairing it with nude strap heels and a diamond teardrop pendant that rested a little above the swell of their breast, she smiled in appreciation at her beach waves and bold eyes.
"You did a great job." She appreciated the stylist and hinted her to leave with her payment to be cleared by her manager.
Adding long dangling diamond earrings, she checked the black box resting on the side table, and a pair of silver bracelets resting on the velvet cushion.
Taking a calming breath, she checked the time and strode out towards their bedroom. Knocking softly, she waited for 2 seconds before entering the space.
"You didn't have to knock." He commented, standing infront of the mirror and setting his hair with his eyes sweeping on her. "Tara..."
She hummed busily staring at the black turtleneck that he wore. The fabric stretched on his shoulders and clinched to his arms with the tight-fitting dress slacks of the same shade that hugged his ass.
A gold Rolex on his wrist that she had never witnessed him wearing before, the packaging box lying on the bed explained its existence.
He was bluntly the sexiest man she had ever witnessed. He was silent like the serenity, the feeling of peace when you stand near the beach, letting the cold breeze caress you and play with your hair until a great wave crashes against the sand taking anything or everything with it.
His words were arrows that could pierce your heart but they were also the magical healer that wiped out any traces of its existence. She had grown to witness his sides. One that was reserved, no words but his actions spoke volumes then the other was when he was willing to let you in. He would show you his care, but again command you to control the ways he wanted the situation to unfold.
Then, the last one was the rational man who kept his feelings intact, no emotion would be out of line, and would hardly let his vulnerability control his decisions. Something she had only a glimpse of when they were caught up in that scandal that fateful night.
She did not fall in love with his face or his head or his work or status. It was that night when she realized how he was ready to sacrifice himself to protect a stranger. He let the media ruin his name but not once he threw her under the bus.
He was vulnerable that night. Suffering a pain that he never shared with her as he stalled his sorrows staring into spaces with the people partying in the background.
A party he had accidentally landed at.
A party that entangled their fate, lives, and breaths.
"Take a picture."
With a snap of his fingers, her daze broke in two.
"Huh?"
"Take a picture, Tara." He stepped back with his shoulders shrugging and a playful lopsided smirk resting on his lips. "It lasts longer."
"You agreeing for pictures?" She asked in surprise.
"Tough days demand tough decisions." He piped, grinning making her giggle at his attempt at jokes.
"You are in a good mood today, Dr. Chauhan." She bemused shaking her head and leaned against the wall facing him as he sprayed a cologne on him.
"Is it a crime?" He asked and frowned "Don't call me that."
"Nope. Okay, Vidyut." She popped and glanced at his right wrist.
He hummed.
"I...I have something for you." She hesitated forwarding her palm towards him, opening it she showed a bracelet to him similar to that of what she was wearing. "I modeled for this brand and umm...they gave me a set of couple bracelets. I thought you might like one."
He stared at her and then at her palm, picking the thin silver strings that formed a negligible knot in the middle and ended with a lock at the ends. "I can't wear this in the hospitals."
"Only for today?" She asked hesitantly.
He gazed at her gift thoughtfully and agreed with a nod. "I think I can."
She smiled brightly at him and his lips twitched watching her happily tying the band around his wrists and clicking a snap of their wrists. "Can I post this?"
"If you wish to." He gave in.
The smile never left her lips the entire time they rode towards the venue. The media interaction did not bother her as it was no different than the everyday ruckus she was habitual to face. Being a part of the entertainment industry sometimes gives you benefits like these.
They posed for the images, she smiled and waved at them while he nodded at their addresses. Unlike his last encounter where he subdued his glares toward them.
Stepping inside the venue, Uttara gasped at the beauty of the place. Her eyes were wide and glinting with appreciation as she looked around at the illuminated place that was decorated immaculately.
"This is so beautiful." She awed turning towards him who nodded in agreement.
"It is." He said glancing at her.
"Bhabhi is perfect." Uttara chimed happily and her eyes started searching for the referred person. She faintly heard him humming and felt him leaning closer to her, whispering.
"So are you."
A light-hearted chapter before we dive into drama head first.
And...THEY KISSED!
Are you too in love with this version of Vidyut or is it just me???
Dress inspirations:
UTTARA RAI CHAUHAN
DR. VIDYUT CHAUHAN