Till now, Raashi hadn’t really understood the depth of his passion for his dream. She had always thought this was just another project for him. She had also considered that he wanted this land back only because Janak had given it to her. But now she saw how committed he was to turning his dream to reality. His love for this project was more than evident and at that moment Raashi made up her mind to go along with his plans. Out of nowhere came a strong urge within her to give him his dream too. To let him build it exactly the way he had imagined it.
Seeing the land with the plans in his hand was overwhelming. Sameer had been talking non-stop for an hour now and so he finally paused. He had even spoken about minor details, things that he had not even discussed with his team yet. And Raashi had the power to turn it all into dust. If she still didn’t agree to his proposal, this entire project would be over.
He walked back towards her. “We should be heading back. I have a meeting in a few hours and it will take us a while to return.”
Raashi looked at her watch and was surprised that it was past twelve in the afternoon. They had been here for more thantwo hours. Time had just flown by. Back in the car, the silence stretched between them.
Sameer gave Raashi a sideways glance. She’d been quiet for far too long. What was she thinking? Raashi had to know by now how much this project and this land meant to him. But more than that she had to know how much she meant to him. He had bared his soul to her today and she’d listened to everything in silence, speaking very little. If she rejected the project even after that then that would mean the end of everything. There would be no hope for anything, not for his dream and not for them.
“Sameer,” she began, “I’ve made up my mind.”
His heart stuttered in anticipation of her next words.
“We’ll do it, together. But there is one thing. Two things actually.”
Wow! It was going to happen. All of it. She understood him, she knew how much this all meant to him.
“Raashi, you won’t regret this. I promise. It’s going to be so successful. I can see it happening. I...”
“Hang on, Sameer. I said there are two things.”
“What? Anything. Anything to make this happen.”
“First, I don’t want money for the land. Just build me the restaurant, that’s enough for me.”
Surprised, Sameer said, “But...”
“No, Sameer. The land was yours to start with and I refuse to take money from you. I just want the restaurant, that’s it. So don’t give me a hard time on this.”
“Okay, I can accept that. What’s the other thing?”
“I want you to give me your word on something,” Raashi said softly.
Sameer narrowed his eyes. What was she talking about?
“What do you want?”
“I want your word that you will stay away from me and that you won’t touch me or even kiss me ever.”
Her heart pained even as she said this. But there was no choice; she had to protect herself from him. She wasn’t going to let him hurt her again. She knew she was extremely vulnerable to him and once she let him in, he would take over her life completely. She wasn’t going to allow him to do that. Once was more than enough. She would be stupid to make the same mistake twice.
Sameer couldn’t believe what he had heard. For a second, he felt completely lost. She knew he wanted her but she had found a way to keep him away from her. He smiled. Hmm, that’s what she thought at least.
“Coward!” he said.
“Call it whatever you want. These are my terms. The choice is yours now.”
“In that case, I accept.”
“So you give me your word that you won’t...”
“Yes Raashi, you have my word, I will not touch you until you beg me to do so. But if you make the first move, then all deals are off,” he said cheekily.
“That will never happen,” Raashi countered.
“Never say never, sweetheart.” His lips curved into his typical slow seductive smile.
Her pulse fluttered. Raashi knew then and there that this would be hard. His next words confirmed her fear.
