“But you can build it anywhere. Why in the world is that land so important to you?” Jiya asked, getting to the crux of the problem.
“Because that quaint villa is beautiful and in a perfect location. Grandmother would have loved it. I know she would have.”
“I don’t know, Raashi. It’s not making sense to me. But it’s your dream, and if it’s so important for you, I am going to go with you on this.”
“Thanks Jee,” Raashi said, smiling fondly at her sister.
A naughty grin bloomed on her sister’s face, before she asked, “Which brings me back to the most important question, why were Sameer and you kissing each other so passionately?”
“Oh! That was nothing,” Raashi said trying to make light of the kiss.
“Raashi Deewan, I know a scorcher when I see one and that kiss was like a hundred on the heat factor. So don’t you dare brush it off lightly.”
“Jee…Can you let it go please?”
Jiya gave her a pointed look. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head.
Raashi sighed. “Sameer and I have a history, we were attracted to each other some time back and...and...it didn’t work out or you can say we didn’t see eye to eye on certain things. In retrospect, I think it was for the better that it didn’t work out because we want different things in life and it wouldn’t have worked out in any case.”
“Hmm, that explains how he knew about me.” Jiya pouted and then said, “So, things didn’t work out between you two and yet you were kissing him like you couldn’t get enough of him, why?”
Raashi blushed to the roots of her hair. God help her from her smart and perceptive sister. She dropped her gaze for a second and composed herself before staring at her sister.
“That was a moment of utter insanity. One moment we were fighting, at each other’s throats and the next...well you saw the next. Nevertheless, it’s not going to happen again. I am going to make sure of it,” Raashi said convincing herself that there definitely wouldn’t be a repeat.
“So you don’t feel a thing for him? It was just, what did you say, ‘insanity’?”
“I don’t feel anything for him,” Raashi repeated forcefully.
“Then you wouldn’t mind in the least, if I made a play for him?” Jiya batted her eyelashes at her.
“Absolutely not. No way. You can’t be serious,” Raashi sputtered, her eyes widening in surprise.
“Why not? He’s gorgeous.”
“That he is, Jee, but he is older to you and you know nothing about him. Moreover, he is seeing someone else these days.”
“And kissing you on the side when he gets the chance. Hmm...I am not sure he’s the one for me then. I’m big on fidelity and trust. Never mind,” Jiya said shaking her head.
Raashi breathed a sigh of relief. Once Jiya made up her mind, it was very difficult to budge her sister from her stance. Moreimportantly, Raashi somehow couldn’t stand the thought of her own kid sister flirting with Sameer Sehgal.
“I guess he’s going to be back, right?” Jiya asked.
“You bet. I’ve a fight on my hands, Sameer Sehgal always plays to win and I am unwilling to lose to him,” Raashi replied.
“Just be sure that in this war of both your wills, you don’t end up losing more than the land,” Jiya deduced cleverly. She started to walk off and paused at the door, “HR has just sent some papers. You need to sign them ASAP.”
Raashi exhaled as her younger sister left her. She sat back on her chair and put her face in her hands. God! What had she been thinking? She had let Sameer Sehgal kiss her, again and worse, she’d kissed him back. She was so foolish. She dreaded to think where that kiss would have led if Jiya hadn’t walked in on them. Why couldn’t she resist him? In spite of all that had occurred between them she still couldn’t contain her body’s reaction to him.
She knew he wouldn’t leave her alone and she needed to be sure of what she was going to do when he called again. She had to get some answers out of him regarding the land and she had to clear her mind and school herself not to react to him. Well, for the first part she knew just the right person to talk to, but for the latter she had no one but herself to rely on. She had to ensure that there never was a repeat of what had just transpired in her office.
9
“Hello Raashi,” Janak Sehgal stood up from his desk and moved forward to greet Raashi as she walked into his office. He gave her a hug and kissed both her cheeks. “How are you, my darling girl?”
Raashi smiled at the old man who had been her backbone through several trials in her life.
“I’m fine. I’ve just been busy at work as usual.”
