chapter 14

My readers, get ready to read a long chapter.

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Abhinay pov

Have you ever wondered that your mind is continuously nagging you to do something, to stop the situation slipping out of your hands but it's like your hands and legs are tied and you can't do a single thing to prevent the situation you so badly wanted to be out?

I am currently sitting on the chair of dining table with maa and the girl of my nightmare beside me, glaring her to the side of her face but as usual she was ignoring me. My heart was anxious, what if she blurted out something and I won't be able to do a thing to save myself. A scowl was probably etched on my face as I studied her entire form with intent who was busy digging into the food like she was just starved for days.

" Why didn't you come on time for dinner, child?" My maa asked her slightly sternly as Tara finished her food.

I dont know why but I could see the undescribable glint in her eyes as she continued to gaze at her, more like studying her entire form.

Tara wiped her mouth childishly with the back of her hands as she snapped her gaze towards my maa.

" I was sleeping." She said simply.

" That was not the right time to sleep. You should not sleep in evenings. Were you sick?" My maa asked her.

Like I said, my maa is very strict in every prespective of life. She won't hesitate to give free advice regarding health and life routines which I certainly don't follow. But ofcourse I can pretend, atleast when maa is here.

But fortunately for me,my maa don't know that, and I won't let her know too bacause she won't like a habit of someone, especially me, sleeping in evenings. One should sleep at night early and wake up early in the morning and should have atleast eight hours of sleep.

" Kind of. My body was aching." She said pouting, bring me out of my trance and to my horror she sneezed.

Instantly maa's face was etched with concern towards this girl.

Oh no god !!

" Why are you sneezing? Are you feeling cold?"

" Yes Aunty." tara said softly as she was looking at my mom with her innocent filled doe like eyes.

" What happened so suddenly?"

" Devil punished me." she said meekly.

My breath hitched as soon as I heard her words. Can't she just shut up or better, she can think before speaking..!? I sneered internally but kept my mouth shut, ofcourse not wanting to create any scene right now.

I studied her with intent. She seems so innocent, but who knows, like I said before, she could be trying to pull an act of innocence in front of me and now trying to trap me in a situation. That's why I don't trust her one bit.

I could feel my anger was rising towards this girl. But above all I could feel my anxious heart which was racing, thinking about the outcome of this conversation.

I looked at my maa, only to find she was already looking at her weirdly. Like tara had grown two horns over her head.

" Wh--" My maa started but I cut her off.

" Maa, I think you should get some rest." I said desperately with a smile and then glanced at Tara and continued," And Tara you should go to your room as well." I glared at her while plastering a sweet smile on my face, not wanting my mom to get suspicious that there is something wrong here.

" Huh !? Devil I am not going anywhere.!!" She snapped suddenly, making my eyes go wide at her audacity.

First, she called me devil and that too in front of maa!! And second, she raised her voice at me..!!

I pursed my lips and clenched my jaws glaring daggers at her. How dare she deny me..! NO ONE and I mean NO ONE CAN DENY MY ORDERS...!!"

" Well you are, I will see how can you not !" I snapped too, forgetting that I am still in my mom's presence.

" What's happening over here !!" My mom's voice boomed in the room and instantly I snapped my gaze towards her and tried to keep my anger at bay towards tara.

" Why do you keep referring my son devil? huh girl?" My maa asked rather firmly, much to my shock. Her voice instantly changed from soft to stern. How?

" Be-because he is a d-devil. He himself told me that." Tara slightly stuttered as she tried to pull her brave attitude in front of us, though her fear gave her away. I, for the first time could sense the fear radiating from her towards maa. Of course, fear would engulfed her after sensing maa's changed behaviour.

I pursed my lips in a thin line as I shooted daggers at her. If looks could kill, she would be long gone.

" I will not appreciate for you to call my son with indecent names, especially when you are living under my roof. Are you clear?" My maa stated, and for the first time I could see all the humor and concern was lost from her face. She was not in a joking mood like before when she first interacted with tara.

" Y-yess aunty" She replied with rather scared look as she glanced at my maa, then casting me the same look.

Not wanting my maa to indulge with this stupid girl, I tried to stir the conversation again.

" Like I said maa, this girl here is stubborn type and it's not good for her to be awake at late night. And also she is ill. I don't want her health to deteriote." I flashed my fake concerns to my mother, wanting to get out of here, but not before dragging this girl towards the upstairs with me.

" No !! I am not stubborn. You are stubborn mr alien." She retorted, but in a quiet voice, while glaring at me, making my eyes narrowed at her for her another audacity.

Looks like she is growing some wings here. I have to show her place.

I opened my mouth to speak but was instantly cut off.

" TARA !!" My maa's voice boomed as anger was swirling in her eyes. And tara, well she looked scared.

" Like I said, you will not utter any word of disrespect here. You will not call my son with any indecent names..!! I will not repeat myself again." maa stated angrily and then turned towards me.

" And Abhi!! I want to talk to her so you better don't raise your voice, and especially on girls." Maa's voice cut through once again as she said in a stern voice, making me internally groan.

Tara's eyes got wide as she observed my maa scolding me too, just like her.

Arghh !! please mom !! Atleast don't scold me like that and specially in front of this crazy girl.

My mom don't know that

I don't give two fucks whether my victim is he or she. I just kill them in a snap of my finger not bothering about their gender for once. Heck!! I could kill her just right here, right now. But just because I am struggling to hold my sanity, I am not going to kill her, especially in front of my maa. I thought and looked away.

" Then why are you not able to kill her?" My inner voice taunted but I ignored it, because I know the answer.

'She is not proven guilty and Abhinay won't ever kill any innocent.' I retorted to my inner voice.

I calmed myself as I took deep breath, it would be better for me to be calm instead of acting on impulse.

" Tara, first of all tell me why you got cold ?" My maa asked the dreaded question which I knew she would ask. But what I was anxious about was the reply from this gullible girl sitting beside me.

" I got wet because of rain." She said simply as she hold the glass full of water in one go and gulped it down.

" What were you doing in rain?" My maa again enquired and I groaned internally.

If only this conversation could get stop !!

No matter how hard I was trying to keep my heart calm but my anxiousness was getting the better of me and I want nothing more than to drag this girl and restrain her.

" H-he ti-tied me to the p-pole." She replied in her meek voice but the words which escaped from her mouth made me dreaded. But what surprised me was the tears that pricked her eyes instantly as she said those words, much to my horror.

How could she change her expressions almost instantly. Just a few moments before she was acting all fierce here, and now..!! Arghh!!

Resisting to pull my gun from the waistband of my pant and pull the trigger at her head, I tried to defend myself from maa who was now glaring me with the eyes, demanding an explanation from me.

" Like I said maa, she is one of the stubborn girl you could have ever met. I just wanted to teach her a small lesson, that's all." I replied as calmly as I could, but internally I was a mess as I was fearing my maa's reaction, not wanting to make a bad image of my persona.

" Why do you think she is stubborn? What she did? " My maa again enquired and now I was starting to get agitated with her. I mean this girl here is my prisoner, but is she getting a treatment of any prisoner? No!! Infact she is sitting here, on my chair eating with us, not to forget with her stupid brain and mouth which could blurt out anything anytime and it does nothing but to make my heartbeat skyrocketed any moment.

Just few days more, a single evidence against her of being a spy and I would not waste a single second to blow off her stupid brain.

I internally chuckled, but soon snapped out of my trance as soon as I heard my maa clearing her throat to grab my attention.

What to say? what to say? what to say?

" Maa, she does not follow a healthy routine like us. She don't wake up early and don't do exercise. I only want to teach her to be an obedient girl. Everyone living here must be atleast follow the rules of this house. I was just ensuring for her to follow rules of living in this house. That's all." I blabbered whatever was coming in my mind.

When I looked at Tara she was looking at me weirdly now, like this time I had grown two horns over my head.

What the hell was I saying? And two horns? really?

I glanced at my maa, but she was having a blank face as she first observed me and then tara. To tara, ofcourse my reason would appear false if she have any brain to use, but for maa, it was a valid reason.

Like I said, she is strict in every perspective. I had known her from my childhood and she would not waste a single second to scold the person if he or she is not following her views and a heathy routine she believes everyone should follow. She demands respect from each and everyone of us too.

" Tara! Since when you are living here?" my maa asked to her rather sternly.

" umm... three- four days. I don't know exactly."

" What's your age?" my maa asked.

" Umm twenty- two." Tara replied looking down at her lap, though I could see the confusion swirling in her big doe eyes.

" From where you came?"

" Huh?"

" Kaha se aai ho tum?" maa repeated her question firmly without any expression on her pretty face.

" Orphanage."

" Didn't they teach you, you should wake up early?" My maa stated in a stern voice.

My brows furrowed as now I can sense the utter irrelevance of this conversation.

I looked at tara, only to find, she was looking at maa with the expression like a child would have when he or she gets caught stealing some cookies or chocolates. I could observe the tears which were welling up in her eyes.

But what confused me was why my maa who was scolding her like that and too at the irrelevent topic. And what's with this enquiry?

Tara looked down. And for once I was surprised that she was not backtalking. Like she knows whatever my maa telling her was right.

" I- I'm s-sorry." She said meekly as she tried to hold her tears, not looking at my maa, instead her eyes were trained over her lap. Her voice giving away the obvious fear she was feeling.

" Go to your room this instant. And get some sleep. I expect you to follow what I had said.'' My maa said sternly.

As soon as the words fall from my maa's mouth, she quickly stood up from the chair and scurried off to the room.

I huffed. Atleast it was not that bad.

Maa looked towards me. Her eyes were having many questions that were demanding me to answer.

I gulped.

" What is this girl doing in our house if she is from the orphanage? " maa asked sternly.

" Uhh- the owner of the orphanage send her here as a maid. That girl, Tara wanted to feel independent and henceforth owner had herself send her here for doing the household chores." Words of lies flowed smoothly from my mouth as I maintained a blank face while looking at my mom.

" Then what's with her calling you devil? Last time she called me name as well, I ignored her and laughed off, thinking she is just immature. But what appears to me is that she is quite a beautiful, young, mature lady. Don't you keep your maids on leash?" She stated angrily.

If only maa, if only you know how much not only my house's maid, but my men fears me. If only...

I internally smirked, liking the gullibility of my mom. But soon guilt filled me as I thought about the day when she would come to know about my dark secrets.

'' Where are you lost son?" I snapped from my thoughts as I directed my attention towards maa.

" Nothing maa. Tara, she - well she is new and not accustomed to the rules here. Don't worry she would get habituated eventually." if only she manages to survive that long before my temper looses.

" Whatever son!! I just want you to find yourself a suitable bride as soon as possible." Oh no mom. Please don't start again !!

" I want grandchildren and the heir of this empire. I want you to settle down, not whoring around with those gold diggers. Find a bride within two weeks or as soon as possible or I have already made some plans for you if you don't follow my command." She stated firmly as I again observed the familiar glint in her eyes. But her face was as expressionless as ever.

What ?? Plans?? Ye kab hua??

I was shocked as her words sank in me. What is she planning for me if I don't want to get marry?

" Choose a girl of your choice. I don't have any problem in that. But what I need is a girl with manners, sanskari honi chahiye meri bahu, not any kind of slut in the name of daughter-in-law." She stated again with a blank face, whereas, I was ready to protest against this stubborness of my mom.

" I don't want to marry anyone maa. I don't want anyone. I don't need anyone." I refrained myself to shout as I firmly said with my much possible restrained compusure. I was just preparing myself to scurry off from here and from this stupid topic.

" Yeah! But you always need a whore to satisfy your needs !?" Maa snapped atlast, making my eyes widen as I heard the words coming from her and saw the face which was contorted in disgust.

Blood drained from my face as I looked at her with wide shocked eyes.

" Maa-"

" I am not going to accept any bastard for a son as my heir. I want you to settle down before I decide to take this matter in my hands." She shouted at me with much restrained fury in her eyes. But here I was agitated and annoyed. If anyone was in her place, I would have blown off her head. But no! here is my mother. As a mother, she have all the rights to scream and shout at me.

I huffed.

" I would see maa. It's late now. We should go to sleep." I said.

" Two weeks son. Keep that in mind.. Two weeks.!!" She again reminded me before standing up from the chair and walked off from the dining room.

What the hell!!

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I was feeling agitated, frustrated and angry. I want to kill someone, anyone !!

My mood is utterly off from the conversation I had with my mom in the dining room. Why was she so adamant on marrying me off ? And what plan was she having for me??

" Boss ! I have completed the work you gave me." Viraj and Vinay appeared out of no where with Viraj carrying a bundles of files in his hand. I looked at my wrist watch only to see it was ten o' clock.

" Good" I said blankly and started to walk off towards my room.

" Boss ! what about Tara? Is she fine?" Vinay said rather with concern making my one eyebrow raised at him.

" Why do you care?" I asked blankly, even though the anger in me was rising by simple at the mention of that girl's name.

" It's because she was sick as you punished her few hours ago unneccessarily." He retorted in a duh voice whereas Viraj just shaked his head at him.

" She is fine." I said with no emotions.

" You should go check her boss. Meanwhile Vinay.. Come we have to sort the Raichand's project." Viraj intervened as he glanced at me then at Vinay.

Vinay huffed.

" Tara is our responsibility. We should go check--" I cut him off.

" There's no need Vinay. Raichand's project is more important to me than Tara and I would suggest you both, get out of here and start working on the project. I want the file at sharp eight tomorrow morning with all the necessory details. No delay. Get that !!" I said sternly while restraining myself to burst out on them.

Without anymore argument with me they both went towards the study room.

You should go check on Tara. My inner voice said.

I again looked at my watch to see it was 10:15 pm. I don't know I should go or not. She could be sleeping right now.

But my inner voice continuously nagging me to go check on her.

I huffed and turned to walk towards the room which was currently her prison.

Once I reached the room, I was about to open it fully but a soft voice of someone sobbing stopped me from entering inside.

I instantly recognised the voice. It was Tara's voice.

Why is she not sleeping? And more importantly, why is she sobbing? I frowned.

I got confused as the feeling of me being frustrated earlier was evaporated in the air and a slight concern towards this sobbing girl grew. Has she hurt herself?

I was thinking of the possibilities but came out of my trance when I heard her.

" Maa - baba, why do you both left me? Was I a bad girl? H-had I hurt you? why do you left me on that orphanage. Dayan was very bad. She always beats me. She won't even let me eat. You already knows that, don't you? She accused me then. I ran off. But now! I don't know what kind of people they are with w-whom I am living. Everyone sc-scolds me. Everytime and everyday. H-He , t-that devil, he said he w-would k-kill me. W-when I was in that o-orphanage, that dayan too said that I s-should die. W-why everyone hates me??" And she cried.

I felt bad for her. The need to open the door and enter inside, and took her in my embrace just to comfort her, grew. I don't know but I felt like my heart was crumbled as I heard what she said.

But soon I brushed off that thought. It could be nothing more than a pity for her that my heart must have felt.

Since when I feel emotions? And to top of it ... Sympathy?? Arghhhh

Anger raised in me. I will not let this girl affect me in any way. Just few more days, If I found any evidences against her, I would kill her and that's final !!

With that I walked off into my room and after changing clothes, I laid down on my comfy bed, ready for the sleep to engulf me.

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3529 words.

Again sorry for the late update. I thought to update it on monday but some of my readers were so eager.

I personally like to thanks some of my readers,

Fatmasweet

enigmatic_soul

deepgill1234560

Thanks a lot for showing so much eagerness for my story. I really love you guys. I hope this update do not get you bore as it is a long chapter just as a compensation for not updating early.

Once again thanku so much to everyone, to all my readers who vote for this story.

Please vote and comment. I would really really appreciate.

Thanku

Sana