Married To A Stranger

Sreesha Pov:

It belongs to you!

What does that mean?

‘Shut up Sreesha! He’s just being polite with you because you’re Karthik’s wife. As for the Necklace, he might order it a long time ago for Karthik’s future wife, which is fortunately you. Don’t think too much and spoil your mood’ I chided myself.

He seems to be nice person thou, with all the calmness and all. But Tej mentioned that he was called ruthless in the business world. Maybe all the businessmen are same? Maybe not. Nihal is definitely not a cold one and Ved, well he just took over his dad’s business recently, he doesn’t act cold too.

But sadly, my husband is not one of them. I heard the way he communicates with his employee; it was too rude. Once I heard him talking to Ron and Sean who became my good friends in the 3 months of time, I literally flinched at the tone he used on them. I couldn’t help the shiver that ran through my spine, it’s like I heard my father’s voice instead of Karthik’s.

He never used that kind of tone on me, hopefully, would never use in the future. That tone is only for his employees not for family and friends, he explained it himself. He even told me the way his employees reacted when he smiled at them. I laughed like there is no tomorrow when he said they called Nihal to check on him just because he smiled and returned their wishes. He even said his PA Lekha literally ran out of his cabin when it happened.

“Penny for your thoughts ma’am” Karthik’s voice pulled me out of the stream of thoughts. He’s there leaning on the bedside wall smirking.

Why does he have to smirk all the time? Not that I’m complaining though, it looks hot on him. But can’t he give a break to that?

“I love it when you voice your thoughts out,” he said widening his smirk.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

I think I voiced my thoughts aloud again. I should really work on it from tomorrow, maybe mom can help me.

I just want to wipe that smirk on his face.

“Wipe it off with your lips,” he said chuckling. I pouted. I don’t want him to listen to my each and every thought. It always happens when he’s around but never once with family.

Family!

I have a big family now. A mom, dad, brothers, sisters and an Uncle too. Never thought I would be loved by someone other than Tej and my three evil friends.

Sure, I’d a boyfriend who said he loved me and left me without a proper goodbye. I thought I loved him and wanted to marry him at that time because then I was craving for love. So, I gave him what he wanted, my virginity. Never thought he will leave me after that night, yet he did. The next morning, he left me with a note. Just a note saying it’s not working out between us and I need a break from everything.

A freaking note!

A note?

Note!

What if it is him who is stalking me?

A shiver ran through my spine. No, it can’t be him. I don’t want him to ruin my life again. It took me years to get over him.

I hate him.

He ruined my life.

A lone tear slipped down my cheek without my knowledge.

“Sreesha” A voice calling me, again and again, shaking me. I shouldn’t think about him. He won’t come after me, would he?

“Sreesha” A violent shook got me out of the thoughts which are messing with my brain.

“Sree, look at me, what happened? Did anything happen when I was not around? Did uncle say anything? Sree, why are you crying?” Karthik said in a panic-stricken voice.

“K-k-Karthik w-wha-what if i-its h-him?” I stuttered.

“Him? Who? Sree, first take deep breaths okay?” He said stroking my cheek while wiping my tears away, I nodded. I took a few deep breaths trying to calm myself down. When he was sure I’m calm, he started talking.

“Now tell me, what happened? You were fine a few minutes ago. What is it Sree? You can tell me anything, you know, that right?” He cajoled me in a soothing voice.

“Are you ready to talk now?” He whispered in my ear. I don’t know how I ended up in his lap and my head against his heartbeat. It is my place. I’ll never give up this place to anyone. What if he wants to leave me thinking I’m some burden? He wouldn’t, right? He’s not like him.

But what if he got enough of me and leave me to live my life myself?

Alone?

“Sree” I hummed playing with his shirt buttons “Are you ready to talk?” I shook my head negatively. I wanted some assurance. But he’ll think I’m also a nagging wife like other women. I closed my eyes irritated by myself.

He sighed and took my face between his big palms and started placing kisses all over my face not even leaving a place, except lips. Like he was marking me. I felt his breath fanning over my lips, I opened my eyes and glanced at his face he was looking at me with a lot of emotions. His eyes flickered to my lips and then my eyes with hesitation.

This time I was the one who closed the gap between us. I was the one who initiated the kiss. I don’t care if he thinks I’m desperate. I want it. I’ve to make sure he would never leave me. All these three months we never crossed the line, or he never crossed the line thinking I was not ready. Now I’m more than ready and I should let him know about that. He pulled away making me groan.

“Sree, we need to stop right now,” he said with his husky voice.

“You don’t want me?” I said with a hurt-filled tone and tried to get away from him, but he holds my waist tightly stopping me.

“What? No! It is not like that. You don’t have any idea how much I have to control myself when I’m around you” he said stroking my cheek.

“Then why?” My voice cracked.

“I don’t want it to happen like this Sree. Our special moments should be cherished for the rest of our lives. Not because you’re stressed. I can’t take advantage when you’re not thinking straight. I know you’re stressed with all the things going on. But trust me, I want you more than you think, and it is becoming too hard nowadays” he said nuzzling his face in the crook of my neck hugging tightly making it impossible for me to breath. His breath was tickling on my soft spot making my breath stop.

God! Why does he have this effect on me, when I’ve nothing on him?

He sighed against my skin.

Is he trying to kill me right now?

Idiot!

“I like it when you call me that” he mumbled against my skin. I sighed. What can I do? I said it aloud again. I want to hit my head on the nearest wall.

“No, I don’t like it”

huh?

“I love it!” He added.

He pulled away after… after umm? I didn’t know the exact time. Minutes? Hours? Who cares when it felt this good? Sure, it was a torture but a pure sweet torture.

From when I became this sappy?

Damn! This guy is not a good influence on me.

“Stop spacing out again and tell me why you’re crying a while ago all of a sudden,” he said sternly. I almost forgot about it. I cleared my throat.

“K-Karthi umm you’ll n-never l-leave me, right?” I stuttered playing with my fingers. He sighed and intervened his right-hand fingers with mine while placing his left on my waist holding it securely.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you can’t get rid of me in this life?… may be in the coming lives too?” He said in a slightly irritated voice.

“I know. But do you still want me with all this baggage and insecurities?” I asked him nervously.

What if he says No?

“Sree, I like everything about you, I don’t care about the baggage you mentioned. Everyone has to fight their own demons at one stage of our life. As for your insecurities, I’ll try to reduce them as much as possible” he explained patiently.

“Is this the reason you cried?” He added.

“No. Umm I think I know who is this stalker” I mumbled, he looked stunned.

“W-who?” He stuttered.

“I think it is Manoj” I mumbled.

“Manoj?”

“My ex,” I said looking down. He didn’t utter a word for a while. I know it’s hard for him to digest the fact that I loved someone and even slept with him.

Maybe he is feeling disgusted with me. He was just trying to make this work between us. Who wants a wife someone like me?

”Why do you think it was him?” He asked after a while there is some change in his voice.

“He left a note and disappeared,” I said and started explaining everything. I don’t want to hide anything from him. I want to tell him what really happened. So I did. The next question he asked me to make me stilled at my place.

“Do you still love him?” His voice was emotionless.

Do I still love him?