chapter 12

Chapter 12Reluctant friendsSaying their goodbyes to a jovial looking granny and Akash, Namita and Rabia, they headed to the aiport to board their flight to Maldives.  Once on the plane, Ved quickly dozed off, so Ishiqa picked up a magazine and started to leaf through it. She read about Maldives -   the sunny islands with golden beaches and the enticing sea, the islands, the lagoons in assorted shades of blue and turquoise and so much more. She stared in wonder at the beautiful photographs printed in the magazine; the place was a haven for romantics – what were they doing going to do in a place like this? She and Ved – much as she would have liked it - were not a couple. Right now, in fact, she was ready to kill him! She turned and gazed at him; in sleep, his features were relaxed and he looked like an innocent child. She wondered why he behaved in such a domineering and, sometimes, cruel manner with her. Why single her out? How she wished she could just lay her head on his shoulder and drift away to dreamland. Despite her anger, there was a longing to know him as a friend. She drifted off into a deep sleep, her head involuntarily rested on his shoulder. She woke up only when she felt a hand shaking her shoulder. “Get up, Ishiqa, we are about to land.” She opened her eyes dreamily, then with a start, realising she was leaning against him. She straightened and muttered, “Oh I am sorry.” “It is quite okay. No damage done to my T-shirt, so just relax,” he teased her. She smiled despite herself.The plane landed smoothly. The heat outside hit them as they got out. The hotel welcomed them in traditional Maldives style, and they were ushered to their suite, which consisted of a bedroom, a living room and a sun deck overlooking the ocean. Ishiqa put her belongings on the chair beside the bed. Ved came up behind her, and her every sense was alert and waiting. She stood there nervously.  He stopped very close to her. She waited apprehensively for his hands to caress her intimately; on the one hand she dreaded it but deep down she feared she would succumb and simply crumple in his arms. His breathing sounded heavy and her pulse raced. But just as suddenly, he stepped back and said, “You can use the bathroom first.” She turned away, her disappointment reminding her of just how much she longed for his caresses. She exploded angrily, “What are you getting at! What do you think I am?” He looked at her nonplussed, “Would you care to explain?” “How can we stay in this room together?” she demanded. He smiled slyly. “You knew it right from the start and you never bothered to tell me!” she accused. “Listen, stop acting the innocent. We won the prize as a couple, so it was something that you could have worked out yourself. Anyways, what difference does it make?” He turned away.She threw her hands up indignantly, “You ask me what difference it makes? All you guys have a one track mind and all you think of is… is..” Her voice trailed away as he turned to her, his one eyebrow raised, challenging her to finish her sentence. “Yes, darling Ishiqa, all we think of is sex. So what are we waiting for?” His voice was soft and menacing. Ved advanced slowly, and she moved back, captivated by the raw anger and desire in his eyes. She bumped into the wall and had to stop. But he walked forward still, with the same measured steps. He reached her and placed his hands on both sides of her, his face close to hers. “You say that once more and you will have only yourself to blame for the consequences.”  She panicked, but was unsure what she felt more – a craving for him to make good his threat, or fear. “Leave me alone, please,” she pleaded, her voice breaking, her knees weak.He gripped her shoulders tight and said through clenched teeth, “I don’t need to come to Maldives to take what I need. If I had wanted to, nothing could have stopped me back there in India. Do you get that? And,” he said, a sudden shift in his mood evident as he smiled knowingly, “I don’t think I would have had to fight very hard to get what I wanted.”She blushed a deep red as the meaning was more than evident. And that he was right mortified her.  “Don’t dream!” she spat back defiantly. “I am not like other women, wanting to decorate your bed.”He gave that gorgeous smile of his and had the satisfaction of hearing her breath quickening as he moved closer. “Do you want us to test that theory of yours?” His eyes on her lips, he moved forward. Her lips parted eagerly of their own volition. But in the nick of the time, she jerked her head away. His lips caught a spot just under her ear, a very vulnerable spot – she discovered, making her moan as electric waves of ecstasy ran through her body. He chuckled and moved back, leaving her limp and humiliated. His words were like a bucket of chilled water on her face, as he said in a silken voice, “There! Is that proof enough, Ishiqa darling? Just a look, and you will be on your knees, begging for more.” “I hate you!” she screamed, tears streaming down.He laughed. “So you keep saying.” He became serious. “Look, let us cease fire only for these four days. I have no intentions of touching you against your will.” She wiped her face. “I want us to enjoy this trip as friends. Can we?” He put out his hand in a conciliatory gesture.She looked into his eyes with hatred. But he seemed to mean it. She grudgingly accepted his hand and then said tentatively, “But, you cannot sleep in here.” “Okay, my friend, I will sleep on the sofa if that is fine with you. After all, you do need your beauty sleep.” And he bowed and went off into the living room.Â