Mine, To Hold And Behold

Chapter 18

"What did you do?" I asked Pari. Getting sued in India is not a small thing at all. There are some millions of cases pending in Indian penal court. Getting the final judgement would take years as a matter of fact. And until she is declared to be free of guilt, she won't be able to practice or leave the country. And the media and press would make her life a living hell if they sniff the news. What did she get herself into?

Pari didn't answer my question. She remained silent and kept drinking the mango drink.

"Ugh" her friend Dr. Alice foreman spoke up, "She is been blamed that she counciled a seventeen year old to have a s****l encounter with an escort", she sighed.

" You what? ", I asked, no, I actually screamed.

"I didn't ask him to go hire an escort. I never said that" she defended herself quickly.

"But you did imply", her other friend Anita added.

"No I didn't" Pari said stubbornly, "all I said was that he should come out of his insecurities and that there are a lot of willing woman, who find him attractive", she shrugged as if this situation was nothing. I highly doubt she understood the gravity of this situation. I shook my head, and saw my dad and even Mr. Sharma doing it.

"Babe!", Anita chuckled, I frowned at the endearment she used towards Pari, "You gave an example of an escort"

"Like you said, 'example'" Pari stood up, knocking the table in front of her with her knees. I bet it hurt like hell, but she wasn't showing it. "If I said to someone, 'you can become a superstar like Tom Cruise', does that mean that I implied to him, to go and occupy Tom's house?", she yelled balling her fists.

"Your example doesn't make any sense" my dad quipped

"Or any difference. You are going to court and that's the bottom line" Mr. Sharma said with a resigned look.

" why are you all so up against me?" She cried out loud.

"Shut up!" I yelled. I traveled in the flight for god knows how many hours and I am stinking in the same travel clothes. I didn't even have the luxury of a nice shower and I am damn hungry. But all these people here are shouting and yelling at each othet. After spending one year away from my country and people, this is the least kind of welcome I expected.

"You!" I pointed to the lawyer dressed in significant black and white. "Speak"

" Sir" he squirmed in his seat, "the plaintiffs are accusing Ms. Sharma for his sons irrational behaviour"

"Just because they are accusing me doesn't make them right and me wrong" Pari yelled. I caught her arm and pulled her down nrxt to me. She scurried away and scowled at the advocate.

"Yes ma'am but the kid, whom you councilled has blamed it all on you. He said that it was your suggestion to seek an escort" he said and Pari openly scowled at him.

" That ungrateful brat" Pari spat in fury. She stood up immediately again knocking her knees on the table, "let me handle this" she said and walked up to the door. I caught up to her ans pulled her back from opening the door. "Let me handle this" I said.

" You!" I pointed the lawyer again. He squirmed under my stare. Obviously he is lacking confidence that a lawyer should possess in first place. I don't understand why my dad has kept all tgese worthless people around. This place is going to need some changes. "Can you do anything about this? " I asked.

" I'm afraid no sir" he said.

" Thought so" I muttered under my breathe. "You all can go home. I will figure this out myself" I dismissed everyone.

****

I haven't let Pari go yet. I needed her with me after all this time. I walked into the seventeenth floor where my new cabin is, with Pari in tow.

It was three o clock in the afternoon so the staff are very few in number because most of them head to cafeteria to jave their tea break. I entered my cabin and breathed a sigh of relief to have some privacy finally. "Wow", I heard Pari sigh looking through the huge floor to ceiling window behind my chair.

" Like what you see?" I asked smirking. She turned to me with an impressed look.

" its kust like the one I saw in your suite in New York" she said.

"Yeah! I loved the view back there. I love it more, right now" she nodded absent mindedly and turned to stare out of the window.

Pari standing here right in front of my favourite spot in the entire cabin, was the best view I ever had. Though I know that she is oblivious to it. She thinks I love it because of the view, but she doesn't know that, her being in this picture makes it the best for me.

I walked up to her and circled my arms around her waist and laid my chin on her shoulders. I sighed in content when she drew in a huge breathe. I nuzzled my head on her shoulder and her pulse quickened as I kissed her shoulder. I smirked happily knowing that I still posed that effect on her. God! I missed her.

"Raghu " she said in that low warning tone. " We are in the middle of a crisis" she turned around to face me.

" I will have to make a few calls and it will be fine " I said pulling her closer to me.

" Then make those calls" she said as I kissed her ear,

" Later" I said dismissively and continued to snuggle.

"Stop" she said pushing my chest. I could see the desire in her eyes. She was controlling herself, I could tell. I sighed.

" Once im done with this issue, we are leaving to your place" I said stubbornly.

She took a step back and looked away. No not again. I pulled her arms backwards and sat on the chair, pulling her onto my lap. "Don't over think everything. I love you and I won't do anything that will disrespect you" I said kissing her cheeks and cradling her body against my chest.

She should know that by now, that I not only love her but respect her. I don't like it when she recoils from me like that.

" I know" she sighed and relaxed her body against mine. "I trust you" she said and my heart filled with pride and possessiveness. She trusted me. I wont lose her trust . She is mine.

"I am scared that.... that you will leave me again" she whispered. I pulled away to look into her eyes.

" You just said that you trusted me. Now tell me truthfully, do you really trust me?" I asked satring at those big black eyes. She gulped. "I'm scared" she whispered.

"Do you?" I asked holding her face in my palms. She nodded and replied 'yes', I smiled genuinely and pressed my lips against hers in a gentle reassuring kiss.

****

" Why are we at your place? I thought you aaid you wanted to go to my house", she asked sitting in the bed in my room.

"First of all, I need a shower. Second of all, all my clothes, I mean my old clothes are here and I need a few of them. So we are packing",

" Packing? Why? Aren't you staying here?" She asked.

" Nope. I'm moving in with Dad" I said avoiding her eyes. " oh" that's all she said. But I could hear her smile and sense her happiness radiating. Pari always wanted me to make peace with my dad. She blamed herself for getting in betweeen us and she wanted to call a truce among us, so I knew she would be ecstatic hearing that I am moving in with my only family.

"Its time you made that decision" she said. I still didn't look at her. I walked into the closet and pulled out a suitcase. I picked a navy blue t shirt and black jeans and laid them out beside Pari. I picked a towel and walked into the bathroom. Before going in, I yelled for Pari, "pack the clothes you think are good enough. I will be right back" I closed the door and stripped to my boxers and walked into the shower. The warm water washed my body. The reason I am moving in with my dad is not only because I miss him but also because I have decided to propose to pop the question and hopefully marry Pari. I want dad and Mr.Sharma to come and live with us. Whatever the circumstances are, we four are a family. Always were and always will be. I just hope everything goes according to the plan.

When I came out of the shower wrapped in a towel, Pari has neatly packed my suitcase with the clothes she approved and the rest of the clothes in a cardboard box. she left both of them open so that I could approve. I smiled at her thoughtfulness. Though I give her full leverage, she never misuses it. She always consideres my opinions, likes and dislikes. I love her for that.

I closed the suitcase and locked it. And pushed the box with unwanted clothes into a corner in the closet. I walked out of the closet and pulled a clean boxer shorts and jeans on and decided to go shirtless.

Delicious aroma of cheese made me walk into the kitchen. My eyes closed on thier own accord. I inhaled deeply and gave a contented sigh. My stomach rumbled with hunger and I patted it. When I opened my eyes, I caught Pari staring at me with a hungry look. Definitely not hungry for food.

"Like what you see?" I smirked. She looked at my face for a second and shifted het gaze back to the stove,

" I have seen better" she muttered.

"Really?" I questioned moving closer to her and crossed my arms. "Better?" I asked accusingly, narrowing my eyes. The one year I spent in Cairo gave me plenty of sleepless nights and spare time to exercise. I know that I was in better shape than before. So Pari's choice of words didn't effect me much. She looked at me with nervousness from the corner of her eyes. She didn't answer. She turned to the other side and opened the fridge and pulled out a can of soda.

"Your friends maintained your place well" she said thrusting the can into my hands. "the kitchen was fully stocked when I came in" she murmured still not looking at me.

I sighed. Placing the can on the counter, I turned Pari around and pulled her against my chest. "You can look at me. Its not a sin to look. Pari, not only you are mine but I am yours too. You own me. You don't need to hesitate around me" I said meaning each and every word. I didn't want her to stay on alert all th time that something bad might happen. I wanted her to relax. And I was glad when she relaxed under my touch and cirled her arms around me, hugging me.

"Promise me, we won't have to live apart" she whispered.

" I promise"

"Promise me, neither of us have to leave again" her vulnerable voice tugged my heart.

"I promise" I whispered back. She pulled away and looked at me with teared eyes.

" do I have to go to jail?" She whispered her question. Fear evident in her eyes. The anger, the frustration that she displayed in the office was just a cover. She was scared to death, I could tell. I would walk to hell and back before letting anything happen to her. I vowed myself to protect her and I intend to keep that promise.

"Babe!" I cupped her cheeks and wiped a stray tear. "I have done a lot worse things. So when I have never been to jail then neither will you" I said in the most convincing voice I could muster. She nodded her head and laid it on my chest. "as pathetic as it sounds, I can't live without you" she sobbed. I circled my arms around her and hugged her tightly.

" Please don't leave me" she said snuggling closer.

Never. I wanted to voice out my thoughts but I couldn't. I love her. Beyond words could explain. She is mine and I am never letting her go.

So, Raghu is probably going to pop the big question. What do you think? Will it be a easy ride? If you think so, then think again. ;)

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR READING IT SO FAR. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LIKES.

AND I HAVE ADDED 'Thalaiva Ajith' I mean 'superstar Ajith' as Mr. Sharma, Pari's dad. Hope you like it.

DO CHECK OUT MY OTHER BOOK, 'The BFF Tag'.

PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT.

GOOD NIGHT GUYS. I DON'T FEEL LIKE RANTING MUCH TONIGHT. IM SLEEPY.