The Tough One
1423 Words
Raj
A cute little frown line showed up on Mia's impeccable forehead. She looked flabbergasted. He almost chuckled at her expressions.
For the first time that evening, he saw the shield of cool indifference break.
So the high and mighty does have emotions but they are reserved only for the people she holds close! He felt a pang of jealousy, thinking that he wasn’t the one to invoke feelings on that cool face.
He quickly brushed the feeling aside and started chatting with Nita.
She had been his girlfriend for a few months while in college and they had spent some steamy moments together in the past. There had been nothing between them since she moved on and got married. It was an amicable break, and they continued to be on friendly terms.
Everyone took their places at the table. Alcohol and food were served and conversations began to flow.
Throughout the evening, Raj's eyes sought Mia. It was amazing to watch her. She was easygoing and friendly. Who would have thought it possible with her cool demeanour?
***
Mia
What a beautiful evening!
The company, the food and the warm night were so good. She needed to use the bathroom after her glass of Cabernet was over.
She would have asked Jenny to accompany her but seeing how Jenny was involved in a deep conversation with Dane, Mia excused and let herself out.
She headed to the bar counter which was opposite their hut and asked the bartender for directions to the toilet. After relieving herself, she redid her eyes and lips, checked her dress in the mirror and left.
As she stepped out into the dark corridor, she almost stumbled into a huge drunk man. She hurriedly apologised and scooted off from there quickly to where her group was. The man followed her, but she ignored him and carried on with the evening.
After a few minutes, the man peeped into their hut and asked if he could talk to her.
Her heart raced as he pointed at her. The stench from his drinks brought goosebumps to her skin, but she remained calm. “Sorry, I am busy. What is it about ?” She asked with cool composure.
The guy looked at her lust in his droopy eyes and then glanced at the rest of the group. Seeing a big gang, he backed off. But she saw him lurking around their area after that.
When the evening ended, Dane and Raj went off to take care of the charges while the rest of the group hugged, said goodbyes and dispersed.
Except for that creepy drunk guy, Mia had wholeheartedly enjoyed the evening.
She and Jenny were hanging around the garden in front of their hut, waiting for Raj and Dane.
She felt the hair at the back of her neck rise, as if someone was watching them. She always trusted her gut. She had been through hell in the past for not trusting her instincts and she had promised herself she would never make that mistake again. She discreetly shoved her hand into her handbag and took her perfume bottle out, ready in her right hand.
Jenny was still talking to her animatedly when suddenly her expression changed to that of horror. Eyebrows raised up and mouth agape she stared at Mia.
Mia felt a huge hand creep over her waist and the other hand brought something sharp to her neck.
Is this really happening? Did someone just hold a knife to my neck?
She quickly ducked, turned around and sprayed the perfume into the eyes of the creep. The knife fell on the floor with a clang and the man bent forward, rubbing his stinging eyes, forgetting about the knife.
She kicked between his legs, with all her might and the man buckled over in pain.
Meanwhile, Dane and Raj arrived, fuming over the guy writhing in pain.
The Dhaba manager quickly intervened before the two men could grab the b*stard. He arranged for his people to take the man aside while he requested the 4 guests leave, apologizing profusely for their experience.
While heading out, Raj softly asked Mia, “ do you mind accompanying me in my car? I will drop you off. I think the new couple wants some lone time for themselves.”
Mia looked at Jenny and couldn’t help but notice the chemistry between her and Dane.
She reluctantly agreed to Raj’s suggestion and waited for him to get his car while Jenny mouthed a quick “see you later” and drove off with Dane.
While she waited, thinking about what she had gotten herself into, a sinful red Jaguar XK stood in front of her. She raised her eyebrows when Raj came out of the car to open the passenger’s door for her.
Her heart skipped a beat seeing the handsome man going all chivalrous at her. It's all a sham! It's all a sham! She continued to recite in her head to keep her thoughts in control.
She settled into the car and they drove off. The opulence of the car amazed her. With beautiful black interiors and a sexy red exterior, the sports car was a dream. She relaxed into the seat and, resting her head on the backrest, allowed herself to enjoy the attraction she felt for the man driving the car.
***
Raj
Unbelievable!!! What a feisty little woman.
He had seen how that disgusting man had tailed her when she was back from the washroom. But she had managed it beautifully with her cool charm.
And when they were returning after paying for the evening, it was as if in slow motion he saw the same man creeping up behind her with a knife, while Jenny and Mia were lost in a conversation.
He wanted to run to them quickly and beat the man to a pulp but before he could respond, Mia manoeuvred into spraying something in the man’s eye and hit him in the balls! He had let out a whistle.. seeing the scene unfold.
He would be seeing the scene in his memories for years to come and here she was resting like a princess in his car, totally at peace.
What an interesting specimen, and he burst out laughing.
Mia opened her eyes and looked at him questioningly.
Raj, still laughing with tears of laughter glistening in his eyes, “you just killed the man’s entire next generation babe!”
Babe? Did he just call me babe?
“Excuse me? Thanks, but I am not your babe!” She scowled
“That’s alright. It doesn’t mean anything. I just like using endearments. Since you are Jenny’s friend, I consider you a friend too!” He laughed while his mind added a friend and a lot more!
He didn’t speak that aloud though and chided himself for his naughty thoughts.
“We didn’t really get a chance to talk. Since you will be seeing a lot more of me now, I think you must know… “
Of course, it didn’t mean anything! Men like to speak what they never mean… Wait a minute! Why will I see more of him? It’s Jenny who has hooked up! I don’t want him lurking around our flat, she thought gingerly while he drawled.
“I am working at Gandhi Charitable Hospital in Shirur, a town just outside of Pune. We have an Ayurveda college close by and get interns from there too. We also have an AYUSH, the traditional medicine department attached to the hospital. I don’t know much about your field though. I was a year senior to Dane. I loved teaching and he loved learning, so we became very good friends and we share our interest in sports. Now tell me about you,” all the while he was driving smoothly, totally at ease with the conversation.
Mia was surprised. Why would he think she wanted to talk to him about herself? She just nodded and, for the sake of politeness, added that she was an intern at Daund rural hospital and would be completing her internship by November.
Raj knew when his chatter was unwelcome. He would have kept quiet if this was someone else, but the woman seemed to stir something in him. Not only physical but something more… he wasn’t able to understand it. But sure as hell, he wasn’t going to stop.
How he would love to break that cool exterior and see what lay inside his tough woman!
***
- Writer
