BEWITCHED HEART

Anisha D’Souza

INDIA, Delhi.

A chilly night, dark street and silent roads.

"Yeah the fight is just finished, the guy named Liger won the match as expected. What a punches and timing man. You can’t believe, it’s his first match. What a piece of hotty he is, I must say one fine art. But I am disappointed, why they didn’t unveil his face to public.”, Anisha spoke as she just waltzed out of an underground ware house where the boxing match was held.

"What ? You didn’t see his face." a male voice came through mobile from other side.

"No, he was wearing a black mask like those Marvel super heroes." she said making sad face as she remembered the brown eyed man once again.

She crossed the threading fence and sat on a bench near the parking lot.

"Girl you sound so whipped for this mysterious fighter." her friend laughter filled her ears making her blush.

"Can you blame me? He is just perfect from every angle man. But his eyes, they are so captivating and at the same time calm like you can say the silence before storm." Anisha said with a deep sigh.

"Girl we will talk about this later, first get out of the place. It’s dangerous Ann, how many times I told you to don’t go for late night illegal fights. They hold them in city outskirts and out of transport services. I am scared of your safety right now. If your dad found out about your sneaking, you will be grounded you for months. Do you have any idea about it?"

"Chill Justin ! It’s a daily soap for me. Anyways he doesn’t have time for me to check up on me what I am doing or where?. Iiiii aaaaah…Who are you? Leave me.”, Anisha shrieked horribly and her mobile slipped out of her hand.

"Hello Ann ..hello..oh god.", her friend panicked voice went muffle as a tall man suddenly came into appear out of nowhere and smashed her mobile on the granite road.

Before Anisha could shout for help or do anything, the man pressed her against the bench by his weight and covered her mouth with his dirty hand.

Dread swam through her black widened eyes as she watched the man eyeing her lustfully.

She tried to kick his leg but failed as he slapped her across her face. Tears blurred her vision instantly when she felt warm blood drizzling from the corner of her mouth. He tied her mouth with a cloth and dragged her to his truck which was parking a little far from the actual place.

Her muffled painful cries didn’t melt him, instead it only angered him more. One last time she tried to run away from him when he tried to push her into the truck. He became furious and slapped her once again harder than before.

She saw blackness covering her eyes abruptly and her body went numb. She was thrown inside by him like some thrash bag and she could barely hear anything. He was going to shut the shutter down with a psychopath laugh on his face. That moment she gave up all hopes to save her life from this animal cage.

Her weak body felt the moment of truck as he pulled it forward. Tears continuously slipped out of her eyes helplessly and her heart ached while silently praying god in a least hope for any miracle to happen.

Her eyes shut down momentarily and body went cold curling against the cold metal. Before she succumb into darkness completely, a loud bang sound resonated through the truck walls.

She found herself forcing her eyes to open difficulty when the truck came into halt. Following it, the shutter slid above immediately flashing a good amount of light inside.

She blinked her eyes at the sudden brightness and squeezed shut. Her hands struggling against at her back to get rid of the rope.

"P-les….s--ave me.”, her lips pleaded unknowingly when a six feet form came into visible, who was holding his mobile up to see her. He just stood there calmly for a minute studying her condition and then disappeared out of her sight. She winced as she sensed the light fading away from her way.

After a few minutes of silence, she heard dreadful screams and gut wrenching wails filling the area.

"Don’t kill me, please I have family.”, she heard the man pleading who tried to abduct her few minutes ago.

A thin light of hope bloomed in her heart realizing someone’s there to help her. She could hear the very man begging for his life who was going to destroy her life mercilessly.

After a series of shouts and following by curses the atmosphere completely fell in dead silence. Her body startled when she saw a man getting inside the truck, she couldn’t able to see his face or anything. She herself hardly could sense anything about her what’s happening around.

She was scooped securely into a warm embrace and was carrying outside somewhere. His earthy body scent filled her nostrils surprisingly calming down her dreary senses. She felt safe.

"Ann oh god.", she heard Justin shout from a far.

She was placed on something soft and her body ached in pain. She slightly opened her eyes to see the man who saved her.

Her eyes Immediately met with a pair of dark brown eyes, that’s the only thing she was able to seen before shutting her eyes once again slipping into darkness ardently.

PRESENT

MUMBAI

Since then, the incident haunted her every night, she would desperately wait to see his face. But all she could see was a set of brown eyes and nothing else.

"Oh Jesus ! Did you just sleep again after turning off the alarm, then what is the use to keep it when you clearly do not have the intentions to get up on time.”, a lady voice rang in the background intimidatedly.

ANISHA rolled on the white sheets making a noise of annoyance and lifted her head from the pink fluffy pillows lazily to answer Mariam who was standing before her bed with her hands resting on her hips.

Mariam is the butler of this house since years back. The only woman Anisha respect in this world because she hasn't left her alone unlike her dear family. She was always stood by her side and take care of her like her own child. Yet Mariam never crossed her line beyond the butler because Anisha doesn’t like people who flows over emotions upon her. She wants to stay away from all these fake feelings and bonds whatever they call. She is carefree, unbothered and rich spoilt brat like what people around her see in such a light and Anisha never give a damn to what people call her or think about her. Because they are correct she is just like this and happy with her way. She isn’t going to change herself for anyone.

"I am what I am, I will or can do whatever fuck I want."~ her life moto.

“Jesus !!!”, she whined in her morning voice before replying to Mariam.

“Because I got used to getting up after listening to your sweet discourses everyday.”, she said while stretching her body to remove the sleepiness from her muscles.

How could someone defy all odds and actually look so stunningly magnificent. Apparently she looked so beautiful and her beauty needed appreciation.

Her lotus like big eyes with long eyelashes and perfect eyebrows.

Her straight nose and dimple cheeks.

Her rosy full lips, sharp jaws.

She has silky black hairs which flowed down to her mid hips, some curly hairs framed her beautiful round face.

Her swan neck with a special spot. There was a thick mole on her collar bone ornamenting the whole upper body of hers. It can allure anyone eyes upon her in millisecond.

Mariam didn’t say anything just bent down and poured coffee in a cup for her silently. She gave her and waited for her to finish.

“You know.. the taste of bed coffee is something else.”, She moaned as savored the bitter taste of coffee on her tongue.

Anisha noticed Mariam zoning out, she took a sip of coffee and sild off the bed. She curled around the bed while adjusting her satin night wear with her free hand. She stood in front of her sipping her coffee.

“Do you want to say something?”, She asked breaking Mariam trance.

“You asked me yesterday a person is needed for your protection. I have a boy in my eyes, he is very sweet and decent. He needs money and I have known him from a very long time, he lives near my house. If you want, I will call him today.”,she asked her in expectantly.

"Does he know English ? What’s the age of the person?”, Anisha asked skeptically.

"May be 25 and yes he speaks English.”, Mariam replied.

"How does he look like? You know he should match my standard."

“The boy is very handsome and about his nature.. you know your’s those modest friends who are seen more in the parties than in college wasting throughout the day? He is a way better and best in comparing with them."

Anisha raised her eyebrows at her amusingly,"You are calling my friends shit?"

"I said modest friends.”, she shrugged her shoulders casually.

“Okay! Call your handsome and gentlemen boy, I also want to see what is so special about him."

Mariam face lit up hearing her words and looked so happy.

"You fresh up and have breakfast until I will call him.”, She said excitedly, It wondered Anisha like why she was so happy for a stranger. She is like this, Anisha doesn’t understand why she always ready to help others? She shook her head in confusion and proceeded to her bathroom for daily routine.

Anisha dressed up in a blue jeans and crape peach blouse and came downstairs for breakfast. She looked so beautiful and elegant in her own way.

“Ma’am the person has come about whom Mariam told us.”, her manager James informed politely. James in his thirties and has a beautiful family. He was appointed by Anisha’s father but he is more loyal to her than her father.

Anisha was listening him while having her breakfast. When he completed telling about his basic details, she looked up at him and wiped her hands off to napkin.

"Do background check on him, see if there is any criminal or illegal records on his name. I don't want a serial killer in disguise..you know.", she chuckled.

"Okay ma’am I will submit his complete details in an hour.”

"Inform Mariam and tell him to wait for me in my study room.", she said in her usual authoritative voice and dismissed him.

After fifteen minutes

Anisha’s study room

The clicking sound of five inch heels against the polished marbles grabbed attention of a tall person who was waiting impatiently in that richy silent room from one hour.

He stood up immediately from his chair as he watched the woman entering.

A heavy amount of floral fragrance touched his nostrils instantly invading his active senses following the beautiful woman inside. Soon the sweet aroma spread across the whole room alerting her presence.

His eyes automatically captured her aesthetic beauty for a second and quickly averted when he found her walking straight to him gracefully.

Anisha walked past him and sat on her study chair crossing her legs as her one hand reached up to sliding the goggles up to her head and another one motioned in that person direction saying him to take the seat before her. Her eyes observed him as he sat down before her.

He was tall above six ft – height check

He has a perfect masculine body beneath the tight white shirt which he was wearing – muscles check

He has toned clean skin with defined features – handsomeness check

She was taking her time to notice his every small detail in while he was sitting calmly there in straight posture with his eyes fixing on the floor.

"Mariam is right, you don’t look too bad yourself.”, she spoke recklessly chewing down the bubble gum under her teeth.

His dark brown eyes shot up to meet her, Anisha stilled unknowingly gazing into his deep eyes.

She has seen quite a few good looking men before, but it's rare that her eyes get intrigued enough so that it's tough for her to look away.

She found his eyes familiar, awfully familiar but pushed the thought away.

"Thank you.”, his voice was soft and clear.

She abruptly looked away while mentally slapping her brain for finding him so handsome.

"Not just thank you Mr…?? ", she raised her eyebrow at him.

"Michael… Michael Abel.", he said placing his right hand on his heart as his body bent forward a little in a bowing manner. Anisha smirked and satisfied with his behaviour. But her brain caught his name and repeated again.

That was hot – Michael – she thought

"Yeah whatever ..you should call me ma’am or madam… understand?", she said loudly.

"Understood ma’am.”, he replied sweetly.

"I think you know why are you here for? ", she said eyeing his toned chest secretly that's peeking through his shirt.

"Yes ma’am.", he said politely nodding his head.

“I will be with you all the time until work hours,

I will carry you after the parties,

I will handle the media,

Simply in one sentence I will accompany you wherever you go and stay by your side all the time.", he completed looking directly in her eyes.

She could see his honesty and confidence in his deep brown eyes.

Impressive – she thought

"Now come on show me what are you capable of.”, she spoke suddenly catching him off guard.

He didn’t understand what she just said yet stood up confusingly.