Page 56 of ARIDHI: His Never-Ending Desire

As we emerged from the washroom, Aridhi's legs trembled beneath her, and I instinctively reached out to sweep her into my arms.

But she stubbornly refused me, opting to walk instead, despite her obvious unsteadiness.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her determination and courage.

"Baby," I began, but she silenced me with a withering glare, "Don't you dare say anything."

She warned, her voice deadpan, yet her eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement.

I held up my hands in a mock surrender with a grin on my face.

Taking the coat in my hands, which was hanging on my arm, I draped it over her shoulders, the soft fabric enveloping her like a warm hug.

She shot me a look, her blue eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and adoration.

It was a contradictory expression, one that I found utterly captivating.

Sometimes, I marveled at her ability to convey such conflicting emotions.

Her eyes would sparkle with anger, yet soften with affection, leaving me entranced.

They are cute, I mean.

It was a look that made me want to spend a lifetime provoking her, just to see that adorable blend of irritation and love.

If I can see her like this every day, I am ready to be the cause of it.

My eyes shifted down to her neck, and a slight frown passed on my face.

She made extra efforts to cover all of the hickeys I gave, with her make-up. Though, purple bruises for the same are still there.

?

As we stood before her, Bhabhi's piercing gaze darted between Aridhi and me, her tone laced with a hint of suspicion.

"Where were you two?" She asked, her voice firm but tinged with a subtle curiosity.

Bhaiya's presence loomed behind her, his silent scrutiny adding to the weight of her inquiry.

Meanwhile, Dhruv and Nandini stood at the gate. His arm was wrapped around Nandini's waist.

They were lost in their own little world, their laughter and whispers joined the surroundings.

On the other end, Vinayak Bhaiya stood nearby, his phone held out to Rishika, who giggled at whatever he was showing her.

Aridhi's nervous response was barely above a whisper as she replied, "We just went for a walk." But Bhabhi's narrowed eyes betrayed her skepticism.

Her gaze lingered on Aridhi, particularly on her neck, and I could sense her unspoken understanding of the situation.

A teasing glint danced in her eyes, eliciting an awkward chuckle from Aridhi.

I stood beside Aridhi like a statue, my eyes scanning the surroundings for that insufferable individual.

My anger simmered just below the surface, but I had restrained myself for Aridhi's sake. Now, however, my ire threatened to boil over.

How dare that bastard lay a hand on my woman?

And that girl, what was her name? Oh, yes, Nayantara.

She was laughing and chatting with her friends, oblivious to the turmoil she had stirred.

Bhabhi's voice cut through my thoughts, her tone practical, "It's getting late. Let's leave."

As she signaled to her husband to bring the car around, I intervened, my voice low, "Bhabhi, take Rishika with you."

"I thought she wanted to join you and Aridhi." Bhabhi's eyebrows arched in surprise, but I shook my head.

"Take her with you." It wasn't that I had any issue with Rishika riding with us, but I wanted to spare Aridhi any discomfort.

She is already tired and will like to rest.

And Rishika, sensing the atmosphere of us, might feel awkward.

With Vinayak Bhaiya joining Bhaiya's car, I know Rishika would be more at ease with them.

?

As I opened the car door for Aridhi, the stormy night sky seemed to roar against my ears.

The wind carried the promise of rain, and I couldn't help but feel an unusual sensation in my heart.

Aridhi's soft lips grazed my cheek, leaving a trail of warmth that spread through my veins like wildfire.

That earned her my attention back.

I smiled to myself as she sat inside the seat, and I closed the door behind her.

I remember the "legacy" she had started, a sweet tradition where she would kiss me every time I opened the car door for her.

As I slid into the driver's seat, Aridhi's gaze met mine, her eyes sparkling like diamonds in the dim light.

Even the diamonds are dull compared to her ocean blue eyes.

My coat, which was draped over her shoulders back there, now covered her front.

It framed her delicate features, and suddenly I felt a surge of possessiveness, seeing her like this.

"Tired?" I asked, my voice low and gentle, as I started the car. Aridhi nodded, her eyes never leaving mine.

Just then, the first droplets of rain began to fall, patterning the windshield with a soothing melody.

I felt Aridhi shiver, and I instinctively reached out to reassure her, knowing well about her phobia.

My hand rested on her thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze, "I'm here, don't panic." I whispered, locking eyes with her.

As the wipers swept away the raindrops, Aridhi's gaze drifted to the windshield. "Rain,"

A soft smile played on her lips, and she whispered, "I think I'm not scared of it anymore."

Her eyes sparkled with a newfound confidence, and unknowingly I felt a pang of pride.

"Are you sure, baby?" I asked, my voice laced with teasing skepticism, to spare the atmosphere with any tension.

Aridhi's ears flushed a delicate pink, and she looked away, tracing her fingers on the side window.

"It doesn't panic me at all after that day." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, "Which day?" I asked, my eyes darting between the road and her profile.

Aridhi's neck snapped towards me, her eyes narrowing in mock anger.

"Seriously, you don't remember?" She hit my shoulder, her tone playful, "How can you forget that day?"

I chuckled, my fingers caressing her thigh, "Which day, darling?" I teased, knowing full well which day she was referring to.

But I couldn't resist the joy of watching her rile up.

Aridhi's face scrunched up in an adorable pout, "The day you confessed your feelings to me in the rain, you jerk."

She looked away, her voice tinged with a playful huh.

I grinned, feeling my heart swell with love for this little ball of fire.

I leaned over, my lips brushing against her ear, "How could I ever forget that day, my love?" I whispered, my voice sending shivers down her spine.

As I sat upright, my eyes fixed intently on the road ahead, a flush of crimson spread across Aridhi's neck, like a whispered secret.

The traffic seemed to thicken, a serpentine mass of steel and headlights, as the rainy night sky cast its somber spell.

I gripped the steering wheel, keeping it steady and escaping the traffic.

Bhaiya's car and Dhruv's car had already vanished into the distance, their taillights flickering like fireflies in the darkness.

"You're free to jump into my lap if you feel even an ounce of panic." I assured her, my voice was low but audible.

Aridhi nodded beside me, her attention drifting to her phone, her thumbs dancing across the screen.

I furrowed my brow, a spark of playful jealousy igniting within me.

"Is your phone more interesting than me, baby?" I asked, my tone was light, but my eyes never left the road.

Aridhi's gaze drifted to me, her eyes sparkling with mirth, "I'm just updating my profile picture," She giggled, "I clicked so many photos there."

"Send me all." I demanded, my fingers itching to claim her photos as my own.

I am going to put them as my screen's wallpaper and maybe will frame them to decorate my room, which is going to be hers soon.

Aridhi's eyes sparkled with amusement, "What will you do with my photos? I mean, we didn't click any pictures together."

A hesitant chuckle escaped her lips, "And the pictures we clicked together must be available to the photographer."

I shifted gears, the car responding with a smooth purr.

In a fleeting moment, I pressed my lips against hers, the taste of her red lipstick exploding on my tongue like a burst of strawberries.

She kissed back instinctively, her head tilting to grant me deeper access, her moan a sweet serenade.

The vibration of the sensor shattered the spell, and I glanced at the screen beside the steering wheel.

Aridhi blushed, her eyes fixed on the photo of our kiss presenting on the car's screen.

"You didn't remove this sensor?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her lower lip caught between her teeth.

And it only ignited the beast inside me as the urge to pull her in my lap and kiss her until those lips are nothing but swollen and used got over me.

But controlling that damn beast, for now, I smiled, my eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Why would I? It's good." I pressed a few buttons on the screen, sending the photo to her phone, "Now you have a picture of us together."

As I reached for the steering wheel, my gaze locked onto the road ahead.

"Don't forget to give me that photographer's number." A thread of possessiveness wove its way through my tone.

I didn't trust anyone when it came to Aridhi. I needed to ensure the photographer was loyal.

He shouldn't dare compromise anyone's photos, and especially her photos.

Aridhi's cheeks flushed pink as she checked her phone, her smile a radiant beacon in the darkness.

But my attention was snatched away by the cars ahead, their headlights flickering in front of me.

I pressed the brake, but it didn't respond. A jolt of panic shot through me, my heart racing like a runaway train.

What. The. Hell.

I pressed the brake again, applying more pressure, but the car continued to move, its momentum unchecked.

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead as a wave of déjà vu washed over me.

This had happened before - five years ago. The same city, the same roads, the same setting, the same weather.

But this time, the only difference is that I wasn't alone.

Aridhi was with me, her life depending on my ability to control this careening vehicle.

I glanced at her, my heart twisting with fear.

She was smiling, oblivious to the danger, her eyes fixed on the photos on her phone.

A surge of adrenaline fueled my determination as her presence gave me strength.

I wouldn't let history repeat itself. I wouldn't risk her life.

She is the reason I exist. If she is alive, I am too.

That accident, five years ago, taught me many things. She lost her grandfather in that and now she can't lose herself.

I'm glad that I had installed the emergency brakes in every car of mine after that accident.

But I knew I couldn't use them on a moving road. The pressure and compression required would be too great, too unpredictable.

I needed to find another way, a way to stop this car without putting Aridhi's life at risk.

The roads blurred together, a kaleidoscope of lights and shadows, as my mind racing with calculations, and with possibilities.

The rain above us added the stress to an already existing tensed atmosphere.

And then, like a lifeline thrown into the turbulent night, I spotted a narrow alleyway, dark and deserted.

Without hesitation, I swerved the car into the alley, the tires screeching in protest.

Aridhi's eyes snapped towards me, her face pale, her voice trembling, "Why are you taking this way?"

I didn't answer, my focus fixed on the alleyway, in the hope of salvation it offered, "Just trust me."

The car hurtled forward, its speed unchecked, but I was determined to wrest control back, to save Aridhi, to save us both.

I'm in no mood to joke right now and it would be an understatement if I say I'm not scared.

I'm damn scared, very much scared.

Because it didn't matter to me if I was alone. But it surely does matter when Aridhi is there, sitting beside me.

Aridhi's eyes remained fixed on me, her gaze piercing through the darkness, as I gripped the steering wheel with a vice-like intensity.

The alleyway was a tunnel of darkness, the only sound that surrounded us was that of rough road beneath the car's tires.

I yanked the gears into place, my fingers flying across the screen to activate some buttons.

With a shift motion, I pulled the emergency brakes.

The car's tires screeched, the sound echoing off the alley's walls as the vehicle shuddered to a halt.

The air was thick with dust and dirt, the particles swirling around us like a malevolent entity.

The pressure was crushing, the car's movements threatened to make me lose control over it as it drifted due to the puddles of mud.

My heart was a jackhammer in my chest, my senses on high alert as I fought to bring the car to a stop.

Aridhi's gasp was audible, her fear of a palpable thing that hung in the air between us.

A tall tree loomed ahead, its branches felt like skeletal fingers reaching out to snare us in its embrace.

For an eternal moment, time hung suspended.

The only sound was the creaking of the car's metal and the pounding of my heart.

Then, with a final, bone-jarring shudder, the car came to a stop, mere inches from the tree's trunk, earning a relief from me.

The silence was removed by the heavy breathing of the two of us.

I turned to Aridhi, my eyes locking onto hers, "Are you okay?" I demanded, my voice low and urgent.

Aridhi's sigh and an urgent nod made me relax in my seat.

My huffs filled the car as I looked around, the surroundings of the alley almost creepy.

"Ruvit," Aridhi's soft voice was a balm to my frazzled nerves, calming the storm that raged within me.

She whispered while her eyes were locked onto mine as confusion settled on her face.

I hummed a response, my gaze drifting to hers, finding solace in the depths of her eyes.

"What happened?" She asked, her voice laced with concern, her eyes scanning my face as if searching for injuries.

I sighed, the tension in my body easing slightly, "The brakes weren't working." I replied, the words tumbling out in a frustrated rush.

Aridhi's hands moved swiftly, taking out a handkerchief from her purse.

She pressed it against my forehead, wiping away the sweat that beaded on my skin.

Her touch was a gentle breeze, giving a soothing feeling inside my nerves.

"But it was so sudden without any indication beforehand. And the car was absolutely fine earlier." She said, her eyes narrowing in thought.

Her fingers brushed against mine as she put the handkerchief back in her purse.

I shrugged, feeling a twinge of irritation, "I have no idea."

Aridhi's expression turned reassuring, a soft smile spreading across her lips.

"You managed to stop the car, and that's the good part." She said, her voice filled with pride.

I nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her.

"Because of the emergency brakes I installed in it." I explained, my mind racing back to the accident that had prompted me to take such precautions.

Aridhi's eyes sparkled with understanding, "I'll assume that you did it because of that accident."

I nodded, feeling a pang of nostalgia wash over me, "Yeah. It felt nostalgic just now, you know everything was so similar."

I admitted, my head beginning to ache as if the memories were swirling around me like a maelstrom.

Supporting my head with my hand, a growl escaped my lips.

Aridhi's fingers intertwined with mine, her touch acting like an anchor.

"Ruvit, are you okay?" She asked, her voice tinged with worry.

I shook my head, trying to clear all the images in my brain.

"Just a headache." I gritted out, biting my lower lip as the pain threatened to overwhelm me.

Aridhi's hand brushed against my arm, her touch warm and comforting, but it was a fleeting solace.

My head was filled with pain.

The world around me spun with dizzying speed, leaving me disoriented and off putting.

I felt like I was drowning in a sea of agony, unable to escape the crushing weight of my own skull.

Aridhi's eyes filled with concern, it was the only anchor that kept me tethered to reality.

I saw her rummaging through her purse, her movements a blur as I struggled to focus.

The pain was a living, breathing entity, writhing inside my head like a serpent and poison.

I couldn't think, couldn't reason, couldn't even cry out.

All I could do was endure, my body rigid with tension as I waited for the agony to subside, when I think it's almost impossible.

Aridhi's movements were frantic as she took the water bottle, which was kept in the backseat.

"Here, I have painkillers." Her voice was a soft whisper and it felt like a gentle breeze in the midst of the storm whirling in my mind.

But even as she offered me the pill and the water bottle, I couldn't muster the strength to take them.

My head was a battleground, with pain and nausea waging war against my fragile senses, which were about to implode.

A sudden rush of adrenaline hit me like a tidal wave, and I clutched my head with both hands, as if I could physically hold the pain at bay.

A sharp, stabbing sensation shot through my nerves, making my vision blur and my head ache.

Aridhi's face was a blur, but her voice was a steady heartbeat in my ear, "Ruvit, please, take the pill. It will help."

But I couldn't respond, I couldn't even nod. All I could do was feel something which I had never done.

I wanted to scream only if it could erase my pain but I know better, my words stuck in my throat.

The only thing I could focus on is the visions and the moments my brain is displaying.

As I stepped out from one of the most luxurious buildings in Delhi, the cool air carried the whispers of congratulations and admiration.

The building where the most prestigious business event was held. It takes place after every five years to acknowledge the young talents.

And just like that, I had been crowned the Business King this year, a testament to my tireless efforts and unrelenting passion.

A title which serves as the evidence of my extraordinary skills and talent in this field.

My company, ARIRA, named after the two women who had left an indelible mark on my life, had finally achieved global recognition.

As the founder of a multinational company, I got this title and a money price of 25 crores.

The half of this bonus would find its way to donation and charitable trusts.

Though, I don't do these works for humanity or kindness alone, it's also a prayer to the Kanhaji to bring Aridhi, my love, and me together.

Not just in this life, but in every life that was to come.

I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation as the most awaited moment finally arrived.

Tonight, I would finally buy my dream car, a promise I had made to myself a year ago.

Today is the best day to spend my first paycheck.

Sliding into my father's car, I told the driver to drop me off at the car showroom.

?

I spent the next few minutes browsing through the sleek, high performance vehicles on display.

The people congratulated me for becoming the Business King, and I could sense all the attention on me from now on.

After an hour, finally, I settled on the Bugatti Chiron, its sleek design and powerful engine leaving me in awe.

I went for a unique nameplate, which was kinda similar to the birthday date of the woman of my life.

As I sat inside my new car, the scent of fresh leather and metal enveloped me, transporting me to a world of pure joy.

I pulled out a keychain from my pocket, a token of our friendship from Aridhi as we passed out from class 12th.

Tieing it to the rearview mirror, the memories came flooding back, and I couldn't help but smile, feeling like the luckiest person alive.

I have been preserving it like a precious treasure.

?

After setting the payment, I drifted off in my car.

I hit the road on an average speed, but as soon as the night air grew thick with rain, traffic began to crawl.

So, I slowed down, my senses on high alert, but a sudden jolt of anxiety shot through me.

The speed remained unchanged and I gulped, my heart racing, as I realized that the brakes had failed.

The fuck is wrong with it.

I had checked the car thoroughly before buying it.

How could this have happened?

Panic began to set in, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles white with tension, as I struggled to regain control of the car.

The rain lashed down around me, the droplets on the windshield blurring my vision.

The rain-soaked roads stretched out before me like a treacherous abyss, and I felt like I was careening out of control into its depths.

The windshield wipers creaked and groaned, struggling to keep pace with the deluge of rain that threatened to blind me.

My mind was a jumble of panic and fear, my thoughts racing with the terrible possibilities that lurked around every bend.

I was just driving to god knows where, my senses dulled by the relentless drumbeat of the rain.

The darkness seemed to press in around me, making it impossible to see more than a few feet in front of me.

And then, without warning, the flashlights from the car in front of me snapped on, casting an eerie glow over the chaos.

I blinked, my eyes adjusting slowly to the sudden burst of light.

That was when I saw it, the car in front of me, its brake lights glowing like embers in the darkness.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized, with a jolt of terror, that I was driving in the wrong lane.

The knowledge hit me like a sledgehammer, leaving me breathless and disoriented.

But it was too late. The crash was inevitable.

Time seemed to slow down as I watched, helpless and horrified, as the cars collided.

The sound was like thunder, a deafening crash that shook the very foundations of my car.

My head hit the steering wheel with a sickening crunch, and I felt a wave of cold liquid flood my mouth.

The world around me dissolved into chaos, a kaleidoscope of sound and color that threatened to consume me whole.

I was trapped in a living nightmare, unable to escape the horrors that surrounded me.

And as the darkness closed in, I couldn't help but wonder, was this the end?