After getting everything ready in the bathroom, Nandana comes out. She locates Aditya on the bed, sitting in the same position without any initiative to prepare himself for the bath. Nandana purses her lips and sighs in impatience.

“Why are you still sitting like a puppet? Take off your shirt and come. I got everything ready.”

Nandana mouths in a hurry while nearing Aditya. He looks at her with cocking head and replies in a bland tone,

“I think you just said that you will help me with everything. Everything means everything. I can’t move my hand. Do yourself whatever is required.”

Mischiefs glint in his eyes. Nandana slightly squints her eyes and without further wasting her words and time, touches the button of his shirt. Aditya doesn’t move his eyes from Nandana’s face. Nandana unbuttons his shirt and then carefully opens the sling. Aditya bites his lower lip to suppress the pain. Nandana scoots forward more to take off the shirt from Aditya’s body. Her cheek and nape come closer to Aditya’s face. His hot breath fans her skin. The proximity gives a titillating sensation to her body. However, she concentrates on the work. Taking off his shirt, she again stands straight. She doesn’t meet his eyes lest the uneasiness becomes evident to him. Aditya observes the redness of her cheeks and ears. He smirks and utters in a raspy voice,

“Desire in a man is hunger, in a woman, it is only an appetite. Not fair! Isn’t it?”

The taunt in his tone and the subtle meaning force Nandana to lift her face. Aditya is giving his infamous lopsided smile.

“Nowadays I am suffering from loss of appetite. Now, can we focus on our main purpose? I have other important things to do.”

Nandana’s blunt and stern words make Aditya halt for a nanosecond. This is her speciality. She always dares to challenge this devil. Aditya clenches his jaws and says,

“Then do the less important thing first. I am ready.”

He approaches the bathroom followed by Nandana.

“First, let me shave you. After that, we will take a shower.”

Nandana mumbles. Aditya arches his brow and asks amusedly,

“We will take a shower? Sure?”

Jest is palpable in his voice. Nandana immediately groks her mistake and rectifies,

“I mean you will. I will just help you. Don’t try to be over-smart.”

She grabs his wrist and makes him sit on a stool. Aditya murmurs,

“I never try because I am already smart.”

Nandana ignores his continuous sarcasm and takes some shaving foam in her palm. Then she lifts his face with her left hand and carefully smears the foam along his jawline. Aditya doesn’t move an inch but his curious eyes don’t leave her face. Nandana folds her lips and mindfully covers the beard with foam. Then she takes the safety razor and touches it on his cheek. Aditya mouths in an amused tone,

“You know, a razor in a woman’s hand looks so sexy as well as dangerous. Sexy because of the way they slide it on our skin and dangerous, well for some moments we are vulnerable to be slain by them. Dangerously sexy!”

He concludes with a soft giggle. Nandana slides the blade smoothly along his jawline while meeting his eyes with her penetrating ones.

“Women have many better weapons to slay the men than this safety razor, Mr motor mouth. Like poison, kitchen knife or even better love trap. And I am sure that time they look sexier. Now, shut your mouth and let me do my job. Otherwise, I will definitely try to cut your throat even with this innocent safety razor.”

Nandana hisses out and continues her work. Aditya doesn’t reply further but keeps on measuring her expression with perky eyes. Eventually, she finishes her job and wipes his face with a wet towel. Satisfaction is beaming in her eyes. Aditya also observes himself in the mirror and utters,

“Hot and handsome as usual. Thanks, Mrs barber.”

Nandana rolls her eyes in disbelief. Such a narcissist. She gestures for him to stand and Aditya stands under the shower like an obedient kid. Nandana hesitates for a moment and then touches the waistband of his lower.

“Let me remove this. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to…”

Aditya finishes her line,

“Bathe me properly. As I said, do whatever you want.”

Nandana holds her breath and removes his lower. Now, he is standing 95% naked only in his briefs. Aditya supports his left hand with his other one and gets ready. Nandana steps aside and turns on the shower tap. Warm water gushes out and falls on Aditya’s bare body, giving him a relaxing sensation. Nandana pours an ample amount of shower gel into her palm and rubs it on Aditya’s bare chest. Her hands are moving efficiently yet carefully on his skin. They are skimming on his abs, ribcages, thorax and nipples and eventually reach the shoulder area. In a flow, Nandana accidentally puts pressure on the area where he injured his muscles. A sharp unbearable pang hits Aditya. He instantly clutches her by her waist and digs his fingers into her flesh. A painful cry lets out of his mouth,

“Ahhhhh….”

Which gets mingled with Nandana’s hiss,

“Ahh…”

She flinches her body and presses it more to Aditya’s torso. Being imbalanced Aditya steps backwards and Nandana also comes into the water contact. The shower water drenches her fully, making her inner garments visible through the light pink fabric of her kurti. Aditya’s pain gets a bit subsided. But he still keeps on grabbing her by her waist. Nandana’s scared and worried eyes collide with his wide-open ones,

“Sorry…I…I…didn’t realise.”

She meeks out. Water is rolling down her cheeks and lips. Aditya doesn’t answer but trails up his hands along the sides of her body. His fingertips are still digging into her soft skin, giving her pain and pleasure both. Aditya roams his dark eyes on her cleavage and full bosoms. His pressure on her body becomes tighter. She gapes a little and Aditya leans forward to touch her cheek with his. He whispers against his ear,

“I lost, you won. It’s really impossible to stay away from you, Angel. I can die for you and even kill for you.”

The line suddenly clouds Nandana’s mind with that unpleasant touch and intimidating voice. With a jostle she frees herself and suddenly Aditya feels a bee sing on his left cheek. Nandana slaps him with full force and cries with abhorrence,

“Don’t touch me!”

.................................

“How can you be so sure?”

Aryan leans forward and asks with penetrating eyes. The person replies with confidence,

“Because both the cars have the same colour with almost the same number plates. Aditya Sir’s car number ends with 34 and yours 43. The target was you, Sir. The person mixed up two numbers and fixed the bomb in Aditya Sir’s car.”

“But what if he didn’t mistake and purposely placed it to kill Aditya? Bob, I want that bastard’s name. Even if it was for me. I want to know who dared to mess with Aryan Khurana.”

Aryan hisses out and Bob nods his head before leaving the room. Aryan comes to the glass wall and ignites a cigar. His eyes are stone-hard.

“Nobody knows that Aditya joined me. Neither he has any significant enemy in his business line who can try to kill him. Then who? Who dared to wake a sleeping lion? I have to find it out.”

He curves his lips in a bitter smile and again utters,

“Mrs Nandana Malhotra. Let’s see what can protect Aditya better. Your love or my friendship?”

...................................

A man is sitting in a partially lit room. It is the same room and the same person who was talking to the image imposed on the wall by a projector. He comes nearer and touches the whiskey glass to Nandana’s lips in the picture.

“Congratulations, Nandana. Your husband is safe. For the nonce. I am happy. Not because of him but because of you. I know it will be painful for you to lose him. That’s why I called you and told you about the accident. I wish this concern, worry and love would have been for me. Lucky Aditya! But how long? He has to lose you someday. To lose you to me. But the problem is, though I don’t want to see him dead at the same time I don’t want to see you with him either. What can I do? All are your mistakes. Neither we met nor I desired you so badly. Ha…ha…it is fun, Nandana. You know you have a secret crazy admirer but you can’t see him nor can recognize him. Secret love is more adventurous than open love. And I love secrets and adventure. And right now, I am feeling to be more adventurous, Nandana. Let’s hear your sweet scared voice once again. It’s fun to make you nervous…tch…tch…Sadist me!”

He concludes with a sly grin and taps Nandana’s number.