Part 17 | What are We?

Night update! Sorry for typos if any.

Happy reading !

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KARTIK

It has been two days since our heated encounter at the pool. Things were slightly awkward but nothing worse. She never talked about the kiss and so did I.

That night was so beautiful that I find myself craving to hold her in my arms every day. The very moment my lips met her tender ones, I sensed it was the first kiss of my innocent wife. She stood froze for the first few minutes, after which she responded trying to copy my actions.

I am not a playboy billionaire but obviously that wasn't my first kiss.

But With her, it was different. The thrill that rushed through my veins when she kissed me back was something I have never felt with any other women.

It made me feel alive like no other!

Being her first gave me immense felicity. I desired to share her every first and make them memorable for her.

To sum up our travel across in the past couple of days, we started by heading to Geneva.

Despite being the second most populous city in the country, Geneva is amongst the popular Switzerland destinations that people love visiting.

Apart from offering gorgeous panoramic views this city had so much to see and do, the Geneva water fountain, St Pierre Cathedral, reformation wall and much more

that we didn't ever come across a dull moment.

A walk along the Geneva Lake Shore Path day before yesterday was blissful. We witnessed close up views of some of the largest and most luxurious estates with beautifully manicured gardens and designer boat houses.

What followed the next day was The exhibition of Queen at Montreux. The Studio Experience was held at the Montreux Mountain Studios, where the famous rock band 'Queen' created large portions of their most acclaimed albums.

There is plenty of Queen memorabilia, such as signatures, photographs and the original handwritten copies of lyrics. The exhibition's centrepiece is the original sound studio, where Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury recorded his last songs.

Naira couldn't control her excitement yesterday when we visited the Chillon Castle, Located on a rock on the banks of Lake Geneva.

The water castle, a classic piece of Romanesque architecture is the most visited historic building in Switzerland. Inside the castle are recreations of the interiors of some of the main rooms including the grand bedroom, hall, and cave stores, four great halls, three courtyards, and a series of bedrooms.

Tomorrow we will be heading back home not that I complain but I sure am not excited to go back to my unenthused routines caught between board meetings, interviews, galas and social gatherings.

Why this had to end? It's so perfect here.... With her.

For sure this trip turned out way more good than my expectations.

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" I have got this. Yea book my tickets! " I sighed after the phone call.

" Thought it would help. " she passed me a cup of coffee.

One sip of her coffee was enough to ease my stress.

" You have perfect time sense. " She giggled and leaned on the table, looking at me with her chin supported on her hands.

" Work! I need to go to Italy. It's important. " I gave answer to her unasked question.

" how long ? "

" Five days. I will leave tomorrow directly from here, you have to fly back home alone. I am sorry Naira but I " she cut me off quickly.

" Will you be okay, I mean won't you feel tired with all these continuous travel?" I couldn't help but smile at how her first thought was about me rather than her.

She doesn't say but how she held my hands in death grip during take off and landing was enough for me to understand that she isn't a person acclimated to flight journey. Later I came to know she never went on a solo trip her entire life, mainly because Dhruv is super protective of her.

" I'll be okay, I am used to it. I am worried about you. " She smiled.

" You don't have to, I can manage. It's just a flight. Chill! " She showed me a thumbs up.

I smiled with a nod. If this wasn't important, I would never let her go alone. Anyways I will inform Arjun to pick her up from airport.

" Get ready, let's enjoy the last evening of the trip. " I pecked her cheeks and walked away to make a call.

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Mühlesteg Bridge is a pedestrian bridge, nestled elegantly over the beautiful Limmat River in the old town area of Zurich. With the view over Central Square, the Bridge is a splendid spot to spend some time enjoying the amazing view of Zurich.

It was also one of the most romantic attractions in Zurich. Couples can lock their love at the edge of the bridge with a symbolic padlock and wish for eternal love.

" Shall we also do that? " Naira asked pointing at a couple who just finishing haning a heart shaped lock on the bridge and threw the key into the river.

" You can if you want to. I don't believe in these things. Does hanging a lock here really locks two people forever in love together! Impractical." She pouted.

" You don't do research on such things Kartik, you just enjoy them. " Saying she ran to a nearby shop. She came out and grinned at me showing the padlock and a key.

" Silly girl! " I shook my head and clicked a picture of her.

" Are you done? I am hungry! " It's been 10 minutes and she was still fighting with the lock.

I walked up to the bridge and placed my hands above hers. Twisting the key in a different direction the lock was successfully hung on the grill.

" Happy!? " She giggled and threw the key in the water.

" Let's go. " We made our way to my favourite riverside restaurant I had booked for us.

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NAIRA

" Kartik? " A distant feminine voice caught our attention as we were about to leave the restaurant after a fulfilling dinner.

" Sarah ? " His grip on my arms loosened.

I followed his line of sight to see a young women with a sculpted figure dressed in vibrant colours walk up to us with a delightful smile on her face.

Her waist was tapered and she had a fair ivory complexion.

Her pencil thin eyebrows eased down gently to her velvety eyelashes and enticing sea blue eyes. Her puffy heart shaped lips was painted in bold red shade. She had coils of leaf brown hair swayed with every click of her pencil heels.

" What a pleasant surprise Kartik! " saying she hugged him, cheek to cheek.

Oh! I see they are on first name basis.

" Same here. " He reciprocated the hug.

They exchanged a few words that followed for 5 minutes while I just stood beside them feeling extremely awkward.

" Who's this? " She asked looking at me.

" Sorry I forgot to introduce. "

Finally he remembers I exist. Nice!

" This is Naira Ob... " My eyes widened.

" Basu... Naira Basu, his friend. Nice to meet you. " He glanced at me before he faked a smile at me , " yea friend!" He stressed on his words.

" That's lovely. I am Sarah Grace. " She said politely with a smile as we shook our hands.

" She is a model-actress. Daughter of one of our investors and dad's best friend. " He smiled at her.

Just then his phone buzzed and he excused himself " I need to take this one. "

" No worries Kartik. Carry on until then we will have a small introduction between us." Her words were laced with syrup sugarness. He nodded and left us alone.

" So Ms. Basu " she turned her attention towards me once Kartik disappeared beyond my vision.

" You guys are just friends? " She narrowed her eyes at me.

" Y-yea... What's so suspicious in that? " she smiled.

" Well nothing. It's just that, I know Kartik for years. He doesn't have many friends, for he doesn't really trust people. " She lazily sat on the couch before me with her silky shaved legs crossed.

" People in his life is either for profit or pleasure!"

" Excuse me miss! " I snapped back in fury. Her words irked me. " Kartik is not that kind of a person!" She smirked.

" Darling, the reality is hard but it is what it is. He's a businessman afterall.... Kneaded out of the same dough, just like the others! " She whispered in my ears, before taking slow steps circling me.

" A billionaire leaving behind the multi billion business without his supervision, for what? To enjoy a vacation with just a friend, sounds skeptical to me. " She paused to bore into my eyes.

" Well it doesn't sound skeptical to me. I guess we have had enough introduction Ms. Grace ! " I grabbed my clutch and turned to walk away.

" you aren't just a friend right? " I stopped on my tracks.

" Let me guess, there's only two possibilities. Either you are someone special to him..... " She stood before me scanning me up and down.

" but as I said I know him too good. Kartik doesn't do relationships. Even if he did, he would have acknowledged you as his girlfriend before the media right? Even in his recent interview last month he denied the gossips of being in a relationship. "

Don't listen to her rubbish Naira! just walk away.

I should have listened to my conscience. I should have walked away. I regret not doing that.

" Either you should be the special one to him, which you aren't or Yet an other women in the list to warm his bed! " my palm made contact with her right cheek that it actually pained.

Serves her right!

" NAIRAA! " I heard him shout with a shocked expression on his face. A fake cry erupted in the room as he ran to pick her up from the floor.

At that point I didn't care what he would think of me, if he was angry at me for raising hand at her. I left the spot without any word of explanation.

" Nairaa.... wait! " I ran without looking back.

Never in my life I have felt so disgusted. My tears streamed freely down my cheeks. I kept running aimlessly till my feet ached.

For the first time, I feel like agreeing to marry you was an immature decision Mr. Oberoi !

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" Will you care to explain me why the heck you left, actually no, ran away from the restaurant just like that? " his voice boomed across the rooftop, crashing the silence of the night.

" I was searching for you like a maniac, freaking out with zero clues about your whereabouts! " the next instant my arms were harshly pulled, making me face him.

I saw something I have never seen before in those eyes.

Fear.

What would he fear about?

But that quickly vanished upon hearing my cold reply, " Why would you do that? "

" what? Have you lost your mind! Your question makes no sense. " he gritted his teeth.

" It does Mr. Oberoi! Why would you, a billionaire who gets everything in a snap, freak out and walk up - down to search for an average girl who has nothing to offer you at all? " I snapped back, a cold facade masking my emotions.

" What are you say- "

" Tell me, What purpose do I serve you? There must be some intention behind right. You wouldn't just let a random girl enter your life with no reason. "

" Naira" he warned me.

" What's between us? Wait why didn't you introduce me as your friend at the restaurant?" I was blinded by anger now.

" for godsake, You aren't my friend. Friends don't kiss! " He said agitated.

I laughed mockingly, my tears threatening to fall at any moment

" Yea right ofcourse! So what were you thinking when you kissed me that night. Did you consider me as one of your sl- " he cut me off, closing my mouth pinning me to the wall.

" Shut up! Shut your mouth or I will do it in my way. " Pin drop silence filled around us that I could hear his angry breath.

" Hear it straight and clear Ms. Naira Basu! you aren't my friend and definitely not the other! Stop talking shit about yourself. " He wipped the lone tear that slipped my eyes.

" Then what's between us? " My voice cracked.

" I don't know what's between us and I don't care! whatever this is, it's beautiful and real. All that I know is you are important to me and I don't want to lose you. " With that his lips met mine for a passionate kiss, temporarily removing all my worries and doubts.

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