MR. RAISINGHANIA AND MS. SHAH- 3.

3.

Vansh’s POV:

I sat on the chair beside the bed where Aahan was sleeping. I stared at the rhythmic rise and fall of his small chest as thoughts about him plagued my mind.

He was conceived at one of the boring family functions when I had too much to drink and ended up in bed with Ragini, one of the family friends’ daughter. She had come whining about her pregnancy after three months. I almost doubted that the baby was mine but the DNA test confirmed it and I was compelled to marry Ragini as my family did not allow any children to be born out of wedlock. I was young and very much protective of my freedom thus the thought of marriage and the duties of a baby to top it all had made me repulsive. I was not ready to be a father at 21!

All the insecurity and defiance flew away as I held Aahan in my arms for the first time. He was so small and so fragile that I was scared to even touch him. He meant the world to me beside my father. I always wanted the best for him but the choice of his mother was one of my biggest mistakes.

I never wanted Ragini as a mother for my child. She never showed any emotions towards Aahan. She always cursed him whenever she would have some difficulties due to the pregnancy. She was bound in this marriage because of the money she was getting. She also enjoyed throwing tantrums at everyone while she was living with me. So when she demanded a divorce, I was more than happy to provide one. I gave her ten percent of my inherited property as alumni. I was not willing to part with Aahan and that came as an added advantage for her. Life was peaceful after her departure.

I then thought back to the time when I received a call from one of my men that Aahan was kidnapped and they were tracing his location. My heart had started beating wildly thinking about the different scenarios. My blood boiled as I thought about the reason behind this all. I was slightly relieved as Aahan was training in combat and he knew some basic moves but still he was an eight year old boy!

I had rushed to meet with my men who were already in a car, the location being tracked. I was informed that his tutor had called them and told them about the kidnapping. I made a mental note to make sure to meet his tutor in person and thank her for her benevolence. I would see to it that she has no problems in the future regarding any matter.

As we reached the location, we heard two distinct screams. My heart leapt into my throat as I recognized one as Aahan’s. Breaking through the door, I shot the arm of the person who was about to hit someone. The man fell to the ground with a loud scream unveiling the person behind him. I was shocked would be an understatement.

I saw Ms. Shah falling to the ground while clutching her stomach. From the corner of my eyes I could see one of my men carrying an unconscious Aahan out of the place and two others dealing with the now hostage four kidnappers.

I rushed to where Ms. Shah was lying on the floor. She was breathing heavily and her hand was still firmly plastered to her stomach. I checked her for any injury that might have drawn blood. After wrapping my handkerchief around her bleeding wrists, I scooped her in my arms and carried her to the car from where we headed to the hospital.

Once Aahan and Ms. Shah were attended to, I called my father and he came within twenty minutes. That was the time I discovered that Ms. Shah was Aahan’s tutor. She was the one that called my men using the emergency number which was given to her by Ben. She had hid the phone so we could track their location without the kidnappers having a clue about it.

We were informed that Aahan had a bruise on his forehead and the sudden shock had knocked him out. He was safe and out of danger. Ms. Shah, on the other hand, had many injuries. Her wrists were cut and they were bleeding. She also had a large bruise on her stomach where she had been kicked by the man I shot. She had other hand imprints on her cheek and arms. I just wondered that what would have happened to Aahan if she would have not intervened.

My train of thoughts was broken when the door of Aahan’s room opened and Angre, the leader of my men, walked in.

“Adarsh Sir has called you to meet him in the lobby.” He informed and I nodded. “Stay here. I don’t want Aahan to wake up in an empty room. Inform me as soon as he gains consciousness.” Angre nodded and I left the room to meet my father.

I spotted him near the room of Ms. Shah. As I approached him, I could not help but glance at her through the glass door. She was also unconscious and both her wrists were covered in bandages. My father had been with her since the time he had known about what she had done to save Aahan.

I saw him staring at her and then at me. His gaze darted to and fro for three times and then it came to a standstill on me. I raised my eyebrows, silently asking what was making the wheels of his mind churn. He sat down on one of the uncomfortable chairs stationed along the walls of the hospital at regular intervals. He pointed to the one next to him. “Sit.” He said and I obliged. I shifted to make myself comfortable in the cramped steel seat.

“Antonio called again.” His statement was met with a sigh from me. Mr. Maestri has been calling and bugging my father for making their strictly professional partnership personal by marrying his only, might I add annoying, daughter to me. I was repulsed by the very idea of being in her companionship for five minutes!

I studied the demeanor of my father. He looked tensed which was not the normal case whenever we talked about this topic. There was something he was not telling me. My mind instantly thought of the possibility that my father caved in to the consistent persuasion of his business partner. “Did you agree?” A look of complete horror passed on his face in answer to my question.

“Heavens! No.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “But I did tell him something else so we could stop this drama once and for all.” I urged him to continue though my gut feelings told me that the revelation was not going to be good.

“I told him that you were already in love with someone else.” I was stunned for a minute.

Love and Me?

This sounded so weird in one sentence. I loved my family but the last woman I had loved was my mother. I found no one like her or even close to her mark for me to experience the feeling called love. “Why?”

“Why? Vansh are you serious? You are asking me this question? Do you really want to marry Mansi?” I shook my head violently. I could not picture my life with her. She was just so stubborn and her voice was like needles to my ears. Even Aahan ‘greatly disliked’ her!

“What are we going to do? The Maestries would want to see the love of my life at the next dinner which is on Friday! Do you realize that we only have a week to miraculously originate this girl from thin air?” I asked exasperated. My father sighed and then lowered his voice.

“I do have an idea.” He said and I sat straight in high alert. His ideas were often thought through thoroughly and finding a loop hole in them was next to impossible.

“Ms. Shah.”

“No.”

Before he could explain any further I recoiled back and stared at him bewildered. How could he think that this was possible? She would never agree. Hell even I would never agree. I admit that Ms. Shah was attractive and intelligent but I had just viewed her as a partner for the project. We were on basic talking terms and that was also because she was not like the other girls who were practically throwing themselves at my feet.

“Listen to me first. She is perfect. She is intelligent and smart. It is obvious that she has a good presence of mind. Aahan is completely smitten by her. He has never stopped talking about his ‘Miss’ ever since he has met her. She loves Aahan and it is quite evident in the way she protected him. She is beautiful and I am sure she will make a great companion. What is the problem?”

“The problem is that she is passionate about whatever she does. I have seen her work on the project we are doing. She gives in her all to the task at hand. We cannot use her. And the main problem is that she would not agree. She is not a gold-digger. She would never trade her life for some amount of money!”

I exclaimed and father tensed even further. This had me furrowing my eyebrows. He was not telling me something important. “What is it?” I asked out of exasperation. I waited for him to tell me as I saw his struggle to answer.

“It’s not only Aahan we need to be careful about. Now even Ms. Shah is our responsibility.” My confusion deepened further. He sighed and rested his hands on his knees and buried his face in his hands. “They have seen you with her, Vansh. They have seen her with Aahan. Now even her life is at stake. We need to keep her safe. If she is left alone, they will take her and then…”

“NO!”

My voice boomed in the corridor gaining everyone’s attention. I would not allow this to happen. They are barbaric people. Only god knows what they would do to her! I banged my fist in the wall and paced near the door of the room where Ms. Shah was admitted. I kept staring at her as I moved. I could not permit this. I would not allow them to take her and do what they did to my mother. No I would keep her safe. She saved my Aahan’s life and now it was my turn to return her favor.

“I will do it. I will keep her safe. I will not let them take her like they took mother.” I stated and saw my father’s eyes harden and then gloss over as though memories were attacking him. He stood up and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Correct decision.”

Loud breaths caught my attention. I turned my head towards the door and saw Ms. Shah gaining consciousness. It was time for some bombs to be dropped.

**********

Hello Everyone,

Hope you all liked Vansh’s POV!