Looking for love in the wrong places

Pratha got out of the shower and jumped almost as she bumped into Veer, "Oh my- you scared me." she touched her chest taking a step back, "You could have knocked."

"You know I never knock." He shrugged going inside, standing in front of the mirror, "You know what I was thinking Pratha, we should do a road trip since it's Friday." He touched the light stubble on his face, watching the way she fidgeted slightly, "Tomorrow?"

"Tonight." He turned with a grin on his face, leaning back against the counter, "Or why not right now?"

"N-no Veer uh I have some commitments." She stuttered on her words as she approached the counter reaching for the moisturizer on the side, "Commitments? Are they important?"

"I wouldn't say no if they weren't, babe." She put out a smile, and he frowned, "Nothing that can't be handled right?" he hooked his arm around her waist pulling her in front of him, "I mean it's me." he caressed the side of her face, rolling a loose strand of her wet hair between his fingers, she shook her head, "Nice try but I am busy Veer, we can shift it to tomorrow?"

"Of course, we can." He pursed his lips, she got on her toes and pecked him quickly pulling away, "You know Pratha, you seem like you're hiding something." His words made her swallow thickly, and she bit her lip, "Veer it's all in your head."

"It's never in my head." He smirked, "So what is it sweetie, tell me."

"What are you talking about? Veer I am not lying I have some commitments." She huffed. He nodded, "Did I say you're lying? But you know Prathna, these 'commitments' never mattered before, you'd give up anything to spend an hour with me and now that-"

She interrupted, "Hold on."

"What?"

"You're getting mad at me again?" she asked a brow raised, "I am not getting mad." He stated clearly. She shook her head walking back to him, "Yes you are, Veer I am doing everything I do for you because you have set these appointments, I don't want to let you down, because it matters to you so it matters to me, and all you're mad about is that I am not a lap dog for a day."

He frowned, "Watch the tone, Pratha."

"Why? Kavya gets away with it., why is that everyone steps on me all the time." She moved back, touching her forehead, "I am not hiding anything Veer."

"Then why are you so scared? You're upset and scared and something is killing you but you won't tell me." he spat. "Do you not trust me, Pratha, do you not trust that I'll understand."

"It's a lot to understand Veer, I just want to deal with it my way." She looked into his eyes, and it was hard to tear away her gaze from him, she wanted to tell him but the thought of word spreading scared her, he moved towards her and pulled her into his arms, and she rested her head against his shoulder and let out a sigh of relief from his warm embrace, his thumb moved in little circles perfectly massaging a stress spot on her temple, his other hand gently resting against her back. She pulled apart from the crook of his neck to look at his face, he swallowed thickly looking into her brown eyes, "I don't know what's going on Pratha, but I know this much that I don't want to lose you again."

She mouthed a "No" and slowly brushed her lips against his, smiling when he urgently kissed her back, his hands ran down to her hips, putting her weight on his body, moving slightly back against the counter as he processed her lips, his tongue battling hers, occasionally pulling away and sucking on her lower lip. She pulled away, planting kisses on his jaw line and his neck, her left hand tracing down his abs, down to the zipper on his jeans, when she stroked him over his jeans he threw his head back, "You're such a bad girl," she chuckled sucking on the skin under his ear, he clutched the back of her hair making her look at him, she hissed at the pull from his hold, "Ouch."

His lips landed on her again swallowing her moans as he pushed away from the counter into the shower glass wall, his lips were all over her wet skin, her jawline, her collarbone, her shoulders, she threw her head against the glass wall when he ripped the towel from her body planting kisses on her heaving chest, his free hand traced down to her under her thighs lifting her off the ground, her legs coiled around his body, he licked the soft mounds on her chest, sucking on her nipples, she dug her nails into his shoulders feeling like she'd drown into oblivion, her entire body was on fire and if he didn't help she'd blow up in flames, she pleaded, "Please Veer." His soft hair, strong body, his firm hands – everything about him was so perfect., when he came face to face with her, his forehead resting against hers, "Pratha." he said her name in his velvety voice, no one said that name as he did, he made it sound so rich, so beautiful. She swallowed thickly looking into his eyes, cursing herself for being so out of breath, for her heartbeat being so loud. "Pratha I trust you, you know everything about me, about every murder, every scam I did, and how screwed up I am, you know what I'll do if you break my trust right?" This was the moment she was far more screwed up than him, because the warns, the fights – the continuous threats, kept her excited, the way he spoke to her just pushed all buttons inside her, and she nodded. "I know." He smirked, "Then you better not Pratha. I can save you from everything but not from myself, get that." He ran the back of his hand along her soft cheek, she bit her lip as he gazed down her body, his hand ran between them, unzipping himself, she let out a low moan feeling how hard he was, he guided himself inside her body getting a gasp out of her, she clutched him tighter "Oooh god." She threw her head back against the glass wall as he drove into her harder and harder with each thrust, she pushed her hips forward moving with him, his hand cupped the side of her face as he brushed his lips along the side of her neck up to her ear, he pressed a kiss under her ear, "I love you now, see how perfect we are." She moaned, "You-you're perfect, don't ever stop."

He groaned feeling her muscles clench him, his lips sucked harder at the skin of her collarbone "Fuck! You feel so good, baby." All of a sudden pulling her from the wall and in a second she lay against the cold counter, a chill ran halfway down her spine till she felt a loss of that sensation as it was pale in comparison to his forceful thrusts, a mountain of pressure built inside the base of her stomach which was only growing bigger, coiling tighter and tighter with every one of his thrust, she pulled at his hair to hold onto some support, "Mmmoh god-ah I am gonna come." She barely got those words out between her moans, she could no longer take this as her body flew to her blissful release, she let her body loose, and his thrusts slowed down for an instant before he with one last forceful thrust decided he had forever to take her this way and he let himself release inside her. She sighed feeling his head rest between her breasts, he pulled out still staying on top of her, the tips of his fingers brushing against her wrists. "Ouch, my back." She chuckled, her hand tracing up the sharp blades of his back to run through his hair, "Did you pass out?" she raised a brow. He looked up at her, "You can't wear me out with one round Miss Gujral." He picked her off the counter in his arms, and she circled her arms around his neck as he took her to bed and placed her on the bed, he pulled the covers on her, got into bed with her, his hand stroking her hair slowly, she smiled, "You're late for work." She held his hand and planted a small kiss on his palm. He huffed, "Mmm well it was fucking worth it." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, when he pulled away she gave him a sweet peck on the lips, "I want to make you breakfast but I am a little s-sore." She felt her cheeks redden at the way he caressed them. "It's okay babe, I'll eat something at the site." He got out of bed and a minute later she heard the bathroom door close. She sat up clutching her hair- he was on to something.

PRESENT

Ritwik was following Pratha into the thick woods. She was still dragging her foot and couldn't walk properly. When she stopped to drink some water he huffed, "Really? Where is this place Pratha- we've been hiking for an hour now."

"Look Ritwik the last time I came here, it was dark and after midnight, so excuse me but I am trying my best." She too said in a snarky tone, "It's not every day I hide a fricking murder."

"Okay don't get so snappish." He rolled his eyes, "Get going already."

"Okay-okay." She said thrusting the bottle back into her backpack pouch and starting to drag her foot forward again. After half an hour they reached a little clear between the thick trees, "I think it's that spot."

"You sure?"

"I think"

"Be sure."

Pratha looked around the place, the same thick trees around a creepy clear in front of the view of the town.

(Flashback)

"Did you bring it?" she asked leaning down to the window of the black car, Rudra nodded and got ahead opening the car door, "Get in."

She sat inside with an eye roll, "Where is it?"

"What's the rush, Pratha, the second part of the deal is still left." He smirked. Pratha threw a brown leather bag at him, "Here's the money."

"Right – there's just one deal left then." He said after a cruel laugh, she shook her head in detest and asked, "Where is it?"

"It's in the back." He grinned, "You want it, you get it- you know what you have to do."

"I know, I am ready." She clutched the hem of her dress in nervousness as he started the car and drove it on a completely deserted road, Pratha just turned away from him staring out the window, tears were poking at her eyes, begging to come out but she didn't want anyone to see them, she wiped her eyes with her palm as the car stopped near an old house, "It's my Uncle's place. Come on enough drama for today."

She bit her lower lip to hold back her broken voice, "You don't care about Anmol, right?"

"I do but what she doesn't know won't hurt her right? You won't tell and I am not stupid enough to." He shrugged carelessly, getting out of the car, Pratha shook her head and got out of the car after him, "I don't know what you'll get from this."

"It's okay sleeping with committed guys isn't new to you." He said unlocking the door to his house, she snarled, "What do you know about us- his marriage is dead, he loves me!" she shouted suddenly feeling defensive of her relationship, "She might be his wife but I am the one he loves, he comes to me when he wants comfort."

"You sound like a dumb whore, who doesn't know she's the mistress." He leaned against the door, "Look at yourself you stupid bitch- no one knows about this relationship, he is married, she has his name, his property, his house, and maybe his kids one day, he's screwing you because you're hot and a generation younger than him, he easily lured you into whatever he wanted and if you call that bull crap love, then any man on the planet can 'love' you."

She didn't know she was crying till a tear ran down her eye, she shook her head, "You wanted to take me right? Well go ahead, just shut the fuck up."

"Oh that I will." His voice changed as he approached her, he held her chin turning her head up to him, and her eyes were squeezed shut, he pushed her back to a couch and she fell on it, he almost sliced her royal blue top in half and she had to bite her tongue from screaming for help as his lips started planting hungry kisses along her shoulders and her collarbone, he pulled away from her, "You have darn Hickes, you are a whore, a very dumb one." He cursed.

The door to the house was knocked at loudly and he rolled off her, "Who the hell shows up here? This place has been closed for years."

She pursed her lips together and Rudra got up and went to open the door, her eyes widened when Rudra opened the door and she could guess from silhouette who it was, she just knew him too well, "Veer." She put her hands over her black bralette, he had seen her naked more than clothed but right now she didn't feel okay with being exposed.

"Hey, sorry for the interruption." He said in a fake cheery voice to Rudra, "Actually that's my girlfriend you're attempting to screw." His tone turned dark in a second as he clutched Rudra's throat, "And that makes me want to kill you."

"Let me go!" Rudra choked. Pratha was looking around almost blankly, he was going to kill her this time, Veer gripped his throat tighter and raised him two feet from the ground, throwing him against the wall, Rudra fell coughing and Veer growled picking up the plant pot from the front of the house and threw it against his head, Pratha screamed when she saw a river of dark red blood pouring down Rudra's head as he fisted his hands in pain trying to get up, "You- this will, I'll end you." His finger pointed at Pratha, "Her."

"I wouldn't be saying that if I were you." Veer spat kicking him in the stomach as he gripped Rudra's neck and pushed him to hit hard against the wall, Rudra choked on his words- final words before falling against the blood-stained wall, Veer got up wiping his hands on a napkin from his coat and then threw it aside, when he turned to Pratha, she was standing shocked, one of her hand cupping her mouth, the other over her chest. He walked to her and gripped her arm, shaking her, "He's dead if that's what you're thinking." Her wide brown eyes turned to him, 'V-Veer."

"I asked you for one thing-"

She shook her head and ran towards Rudra, her hands shivering as they ran over his jeans pockets. Veer frowned as she pulled out the car keys and headed outside rushing. Veer went after her as she climbed in the backseat of Rudra's car, picked out a black zipper bag, and reached into the front seat pulling the brown leather bag, when she got out of the car, Veer was standing right behind her, she gasped, thrusting both the bags into his hand, "Put it in your car, hurry up."

"What the fuck is going on Pratha?"

She shrieked, "Shut up! Shut up – just do what I say please." She ran inside and fisted her hands seeing Rudra's body. She pulled it away from the wall and got cleaning supplies from the kitchen, cleaning the wall from the stain and Veer stood at the door arm crossed, "Get a fucking bag Veer, we have to make sure no one knows we did this."

Her voice was trembling, her body quivering and her heart racing, she picked up her torn blouse and wore it, tying the two ends together, they both put the body in a sack and she cleared the carpet of any signs of a fight, they put the body in the back of Veer's car, she sat in the front with him and when he started the car, she started breaking into sobs, which eventually got louder, "Once we get this over with, I will put you in your place." He seethed.

She ignored his threat and picked up the zipper bag Rudra brought, she opened it and dug through it, "N-no It's not here."

"What?"

"The tape." She looked at him with bloodshot eyes, "He didn't bring it, motherfucker!" she shouted.

Veer looked over at the pictures in her lap and frowned, "Why the fuck didn't you tell me about this?"

"He would have leaked it damn it." She shouted, "It was just going to be this one time but he lied because he would have brought the fucking tape."

"Tape?"

"Kavya hired Ratan Bagchi to spy on you, to collect material for the divorce, there's a freaking sex tape." She shivered from the thought, "Rudra said he'll give me the proof in exchange for money and sex."

"But he didn't bring the damn tape it means he planned on blackmailing you, for once you could have used your fucking head and told me, and I could have handled it better." He scolded.

"I did whatever I did for you, Veer." She screamed, "So that you don't lose everything." She broke into sobs.

Soon they parked the car outside the company's storage house, he dialed a number on his phone and about five minutes later the window to the car got knocked at, Veer lowered the window of the driver's seat and Baljeet leaned down to the open slit, "Where is he?"

Veer gestured towards the backseat, "Make sure it's gone and I sent you an address, clean up that place, there is a black Mercedes parked outside it, make sure it's gone."

Baljeet nodded then peeked at Pratha for a moment, Veer huffed, "Don't worry about it."

The man opened the back seat dragging the heavy sack out and closed the door after it, Veer let his head fall against his steering wheel.

Throughout the way to her apartment, every moment from the night played in her head, Rudra was dead, they were going to be exposed anyway, and as soon as the scandal unfolds the murder will too. She stumbled inside her apartment, it had finally started raining after that hell storm, she shuddered from the thunder sounds, Rudra's face kept flashing in front of her eyes, she opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water, gulping down its contents.

"Gosh." His voice interrupted her blood-stained thoughts, he was sitting on the couch, head in hands, he looked up, "You need to call up his father, we need to get that tape."

She shook her head, "You do whatever you want, I am done."

"What do you mean you're done?" he frowned, "Stop getting on my nerves."

"I am getting on your nerves? you just killed him right in front of me." she shouted, he got up gritting his teeth, "Stop shouting."

"You're so fucking selfish Veer, so selfish- there could be a way." She fisted her hands, "He's dead Veer."

"A way? Like as in you sleeping with him?" He seethed, "I was never going to let that happen, Pratha, what the fuck is wrong with you!"

"Don't act like you did it for me."

"I did do it for you." He walked to her holding both her arms harshly, "I love you remember? I can't let him take advantage of you, hurt you, I knew you were doing it for me, so I don't lose everything I have, did you forget how much you mean to me, how much I love you above everything I have, I would give it up in a heartbeat for you, you were saving everything but the thing I want most and that's you."

Silence fell between them, the only sounds were from the rain outside, and her low sobs, she shook her head tearing herself away from him, "He's dead."

"And the problem is solved." He held her arm turning her to him, he cupped the side of her face, tucking her hair behind her ear, "Everything is okay now."

"It's not, Ratan has that tape, he'll expose us, he'll realize the images are gone and Rudra's disappearance – they'll trail it to us." she shivered. He huffed, "Baby calm down, you'll call Ratan, and we'll take care of it, either he gets money from us or, whatever we'll get it."

"Till when Veer? We'll keep hiding and hiding- for what? This relationship? Which has no future, face it Veer, we're piling dead bodies for what?" she pushed him away from her, "It's not worth it Veer."

"Pratha look-"

"No-no I don't want you to tell me more lies, Rudra was a son of a bitch, but he was right about one thing Veer, we keep calling this bull crap-love. I am scared and you know what, I don't trust you right now." she took a step back, tears rolling down her cheeks, "You murdered him and I helped you hide it-just because I love you, I've never been this immoral, this wrecked, this disgusting."

"Pratha you need to calm down." He told her in a low voice, she shook her head, "I don't want to calm down, I want to be mad at you so I can push you away from myself because it hurts otherwise, just go away! I don't want to be this person who is reckless enough to give her body to someone to save you, I don't want to cover up for your crimes, I don't want this, please go away from me." she cried loudly, His eyes made her head cloudy, but she looked away from his pleading eyes elsewhere, "Don't do this, you know what I feel right? You know damn well that I can't live without you."

"I am sorry Veer, but I have to be selfish." She pursed her lips, "You can find yourself someone else but I refuse to be your worthless mistress now."

"It's so easy for you to say that." He bit his lip, "You never trusted me, did you?"

"Go." She said loudly, "Please."

"Fine but get this, you'll regret this." He said bitterly, she nodded, "I already do, but I need this."

He turned to go and she had to stop herself from running after him as the door shut after him.

Three days before her last encounter with him she was forced to go to the company for signing up for a seasonal campaign, it was Monday and all she prayed was that she doesn't run into him, it'll just ruin all the minor progress she had made mentally, she had to stop herself every night from calling him, or texting him. The idea of them not together killed her, to think no one knew about it like everything wasn't even real and just a fragment of her imagination, she had started to get delusional and crazy to a point.

What was he doing? Where was he? Did he miss her like she missed him? Pratha could bet everything that if he called her or showed up she wouldn't be able to refuse him, everything they had was a lie, but she loved this lie so much, it was so much better than what the truth had to offer.

Her phone rang while she was in the car on her way to the company, "Hello."

"It's Ratan Bagchi."

The voice made Pratha swallow thick, did he know? , "Mr. Bagchi, how are you? I haven't seen you in so long." She tried to normalize her tone, "How's Rudra?"

"He's not in the city that's all I know, kids today right?" he joked.

"Uh Yes, can I help you with something?" she asked politely.

"Yes, and it would be better if we don't talk about this over the phone, how about you come to town for a while, it's about the company you work with, The Oberoi company." He explained in a severe voice, "I was given some work and what I found is- very scandalous material, I can clear your name Pratha if you know what I mean."

"Ah yes- I understand." She said in a low voice.

Three days before her last encounter with him she was forced to go to the company for signing up for a seasonal campaign, it was Monday and all she prayed was that she doesn't run into him, it'll just ruin all the minor progress she had made mentally, she had to stop herself every night from calling him, or texting him. The idea of them not together killed her, to think no one knew about it like everything wasn't even real and just a fragment of her imagination, she had started to get delusional and crazy to a point.

What was he doing? Where was he? Did he miss her like she missed him? Pratha could bet everything that if he called her or showed up she wouldn't be able to refuse him, everything they had was a lie, but she loved this lie so much, it was so much better than what the truth had to offer.

Her phone rang while she was in the car on her way to the company, "Hello."

"It's Ratan Bagchi."

The voice made Pratha swallow thick, did he know? , "Mr. Bagchi, how are you? I haven't seen you in so long." She tried to normalize her tone, "How's Rudra?"

"He's not in the city that's all I know, kids today right?" he joked.

"Uh Yes, can I help you with something?" she asked politely.

"Yes, and it would be better if we don't talk about this over the phone, how about you come to town for a while, it's about the company you work with, The Oberoi company." He explained in a severe voice, "I was given some work and what I found is- very scandalous material, I can clear your name Pratha if you know what I mean."

"Ah yes- I understand." She said in a low voice.

"Good, I've been given work related to a similar company by an Italian company named 'Omicidio', four years ago they registered some reports against Oberoi for being powered by the Mafia, knowing the infamous 'Parihar' personally. Several ammunition and drug deals, you know the drill sweetheart, I hope you do."

"V-Veer doesn't discuss business with me, he and I are no longer together." She said in a whisper to avoid the driver.

"Pratha the price for your freedom is proof against Oberoi, I would have sent that video of both of you to his wife but that will give me nothing more than a few thousand dollars. Omicidio is offering me fifteen million dollars already." He sighed, "Think sweetie." He hung up on her, Pratha clutched her phone tightly, "Shit! Shit! Shit!"

With a beating heart, she dialed his number which he didn't pick up, she'll have to tell this to Veer, if she didn't that tape would destroy her and if she did what Ratan wanted, Veer would find out anyway- that meant death.

When she got to the company, she wasted no time and went into Mahek's office, "I need to talk to Mr. Oberoi right this instant."

"Why is there a problem in your contract?" she asked getting up from her blue seat.

"No, it's really important and I can't tell you about this so don't ask me." she said in a rushed tone, Mahek frowned, "I would but he didn't show up."

"What? You've got to be kidding me. He's not picking up his phone, he's not here, where is he?" she asked annoyed.

"I don't know Pratha, I don't ask the boss anything." She said in a snarky tone, "Now will you please let me work and leave."

"Sure." She spat and turned around to leave.

She went back to her apartment calling him over and over, where was he? Was he okay? Every word from her conversation with him boomed in her ears. Whether she stayed away from him or not, somehow she always deviated towards him, the thought of Ratan exposing him was killing her like the other day when Rudra had threatened her, she felt like she was responsible for this, he was being conspired against and she knew no one cared to save him, everyone was ready to pounce on that money, no one loved him more than her, he had saved her again and again, he understood her body and her mind, he wouldn't leave her this way if the situation was reversed, how could they expect her to leak his information, they all thought she was some whore, they didn't know how bad she loved him, to which levels she was loyal towards him, they could call her a mistress, but she believed she loved him, more than Kavya could if she did, more than any other human could love him. Why did she want to be in Kavya's place, he didn't love her, and he was finding a reason to leave her, so why did she want to be in Kavya's place, just so she could show the world she had him? But why? What had this universe given her? Sympathy eyes at her Parent's funeral, looked down upon her every chance it got, thought she was incompetent, not worthy of anything, he trusted her, made her someone this world knew, took pictures with her, took autographs from her, ask for life advice- asked for motivational advice.

She redialed his number, "Pick up! Pick up already."

A slow beep got her attention and she turned to see him standing on her threshold, his hair ruffled a little, an unusual stubble on his face, his eyes weary right now, "Why are you calling me?" He asked in a slow voice, she could see the apartment key clutched in one hand, his phone in the other, she sighed in relief, "Oh God." She almost ran up the distance and jumped forward, letting her arms go around him and holding him tightly against herself, "You're okay, I am so sorry, so sorry baby." She pulled away slightly to look at his face, "I am so sorry." She pressed her lips against his, but he didn't kiss her back, she pulled away, letting him come inside, and closed the door behind him, "There's a problem."

"Ratan." He grinned.

"Yes, you have to do what you do Veer- he doesn't want to hand the sex tape to your wife, he wants me to give him proof against you, he's working for a company called Omicidio." She pressed her lips together, "You know I'd never want to do that, we need the tape." She said in a somewhat shy tone.

He raised his eyebrows at her, "So you want me to kill him?"

"I said do what you do." She looked away,

"No, say it, ask me." he cocked his head to a side, 'Let's see if you still want to pretend to be perfect."

"Fine go and kill him." She seethed, "Happy?"

He shrugged, "Wasn't it you who was so disgusted by me and my ways? And look at you now." he shook his head, "Tsk-tsk, did I not expect this? No! but did I expect this to happen this soon? No. What is the reason, Pratha? Is Ratan scarier than Rudra?"

She nodded, "No Veer, the reason is that I love you and no matter how fucked up everything is, that is not going to change, I've given up, if you can't change if this life can't, then I am the one who has to change- I love you – you love me despite me being a complete failure, if you can put up with someone as confused as me, then I sure as hell can stay with you till the end despite you being who you are."

His eyes traveled over her face, her innocent doe eyes, her worried face, he bit the inside of his cheek looking away, "Pack a bag, we should get on the road to Mussoorie."

She sighed in relief, "Okay give me five minutes."

"Take ten." He said as he walked to the kitchen counter, turned the tap on, and flashed the water on his face.

"Here." Pratha handed him the enveloped tape. He held it from her hand and threw it over the wrapped body. She held the umbrella over him as he covered the area with mud, thick mud till the surface was solid almost. He got up on his feet tapping the area with his foot, "Seems about okay."

"What if the rain washed it away." She asked chewing on her lower lip.

"Relax, I dug him a good six feet under, it won't resurface unless the world is drowning." He huffed and then turned to her, "You'll get sick." Her body was completely drenched in rain as she was not under the umbrella, she nodded, "At least this is over."

"Yes, let's get back now, it's a long road."

"We can stay at my home, Swarna won't be there." She offered in a soft voice, something was off about him and it irked her. He shook his head, "we should get back before someone notices us." He didn't wait for her to speak and went back into the thick woods.

(Flashback over)

"This is it." She looked at Ritwik, "I am sure, he's buried right where we are standing."

"Shovel." He instructed, she handed him the tool and moved back, "Pratha, damn I forgot the camera in my bag, we need exact pictures of the scene, go get it from the car."

"What? Back? Are you crazy?"

"It's fifteen minutes down." He shrugged, she narrowed her eyes at him, "Weren't you the one who said it took us hours hiking up here."

"Well take me to jail." He spat, "Go fuck off and get the camera already, or do you want to dig this body up?"

She groaned and turned back, walking fast into the woods, not noticing the smirk that spread across Ritwik's lips as he picked up his phone from his pocket, "She's all yours Anmol, make sure she doesn't come back, at least not alive."

"Don't worry."

PAST

"The event is postponed, Pratha." Venkat told her in a disappointing tone, "We are packing up for today, the media is not showing up for the conference."

Pratha stood up from her seat in the vanity, "But why? Venkat I've prepared all the answers well and I can't postpone, I have a magazine launch tomorrow."

"Well tell that to India, they just love pregnant women." He shrugged, "Kavya Oberoi is pregnant so everyone tucked their tails and ran her way for the day, that would be any last breaking news coming from her." He rolled his eyes, "Ruined my schedule." Pratha felt like she was numb for a second, nothing, she could feel nothing- a hole was spreading inside her, getting wider and wider by every passing second, she touched her aching heart, "Huh."

"You should remove makeup and go relax for the day. "Venkat stormed out of the room muttering something rotten about Kavya. She swallowed thickly as tears started forming in her eyes, she fell back on her seat, trying to suck them up, "Poooja, please remove my makeup." She wanted to get home as soon as possible, break something, him or herself, something.