11. Problematic Issues

DIYA

"Sir," I called Rajveer the moment I saw him walking towards his jeep's driver seat.

He stopped and turned towards me and then, without wasting any moment, I rushed towards him and hugged him tightly. 

I wanted to thank him, not just for the phone, but for everything he has been doing for me. And for that, no matter how long a hug would last, it's the only thing that I could give him ever in my life.

I kept on hugging him, but I had no expectations from him. But to my surprise, slowly he raised his arms and wrapped them around me. He hugged me back.

That moment felt like the most precious moment of my entire life. I smiled like a kid and then buried my face in his chest, while I felt the warmth of his hug.

"Diya," his husky voice hit my ears.

"Yes?" I looked at him without breaking the hug.

He had a blissful smile carved on his lips and it made me feel so precious.

"What happened?" He asked me.

"Nothing. It's just, thank you. For being here with me and for doing everything you're doing," I tell him with a smile on my face.

"I'm doing nothing," he replied.

"You think so," I giggled and broke the hug.

"Oh really?" He asked as I walked away from him towards the jeep.

"Yeah," I responded.

But before I could get into the jeep, he held my wrist and pulled me towards him.

"Raj...." I mumbled, but before I could complete the sentence, I bumped into his chest.

I looked at him, and that look made my heart skip a beat. 

"What did you say?" He asked, looking intensely into my eyes.

"No... Nothing," I replied, stammering.

"Tell me, what did you say? You took my name if I am not wrong," he asked me.

"I... I am sorry sir," I immediately apologised, looking down.

"Hey, hey, hey. Look at me," he spoke, lifting my chin, making me look at him. 

And that was the moment, my gaze peered at him yet again. 

"Speak, what you said," his voice was deep and husky.

The way he demanded, it made me weak on my knees.

"Raj..." I muttered, nervous yet excited.

I was looking at him, when he smiled, cupping my cheeks. I sensed my feet trembling and my heart beating fast as he slowly brought his face closer to me.

I closed my eyes, immersing myself in those sensations and the next moment, I felt his lips brushing mine.

"Diya, where are you lost?"

His words hit my ears as I opened my eyes. I was caged in his arms while he kept on looking at me.

I blinked several times because I got confused about what did happen?

"Did you call me Raj?"

He asked, and that's when I realised that the kiss didn't happen, I was dreaming about it. I looked down and nodded slightly. He left me immediately and took a few steps back.

"Go and sit inside the jeep," he spoke and I looked at him for a second. His expressions were firm and that's when I realised that maybe I have crossed the line.

I couldn't face him anymore and got into the jeep immediately. He as well got into the driver's seat and turned on the ignition.

"Do you consider me as your friend?" He asked as he drove.

I looked at him, completely surprised while he was focused on driving. 

"Maybe yes. I mean, whatever you have done for me. Like caring about me, helping me, and everything else no matter how little is it. No one has done that for me ever, and I haven't experienced such. So maybe yes, I can consider you as my friend," I replied all at once and then bit my tongue hard.

Shit! How can I say these to him? If I keep blabbering like this, the day is not far when I will confess that I do have a crush on him and maybe I have started falling for him. What am I doing? He is my boss, and I am his son's nanny. I should have maintained my distance and not step out of the boundaries. What the heck I am doing? I have to control my feelings and these new adult hormones or else, I will be in a mess.

"You can call me Raj if you consider me as your friend," he spoke and I looked at him in disbelief. 

Did he really say that?

RAJVEER

The moment I hugged Diya back, I felt something different. Like it's something that my heart craves for.

Why things are becoming so different and so soon? It's just a month, and although I hate to admit the fact, but this girl has become the most important person in my life and I can't stay away from the truth.

The little things she does, like her unfiltered gaze, sudden personal questions filled with innocence, the little gestures of affection, when she asks have I eaten or not, am I okay or not and every little thing. This makes me feel special and I have no idea why or how. 

And in the end, her face, her innocent and beautiful face, which makes me forget every worry in my life. 

This feels like I can look at her face my entire life.

I was driving, when she told me that she considers me her friend that's why she took my name, Raj. Well, hearing my name from a girl twenty-two years younger than me should feel awkward, but it didn't. If felt good and to be honest, I consider her as my friend as well. This girl is indeed something different.

I drove my jeep and dropped her home and during the entire journey, she was looking at me. Well, on the first day, her gaze felt uncomfortable, but now, it feels good and I don't know why.

As she walked towards her home, I turned my jeep and drove towards my home. I was driving and thinking about the girl, that's when something hit in my mind.

What's happening to me? I am finding solace in a girl? I am getting lost in her and I am becoming a different version of me when I am with her? Is this right? Or am I doing this all wrong?

Shit! I am doing this all wrong. She is merely eighteen and she has her entire life in front of her. Our worlds are entirely different and apart and I am somehow pulling her in my world? I am finding my happiness in her innocence? I can't do this. She can't be my angel when I will be her demon. No matter what happens, I will have to step back.

I was immersed in my thoughts when my phone rang. I immediately picked up the phone.

"Hello, Raichand. Where are you?"

"Just busy in my personal life," I replied him.

"Raichand, it's been a month now. Look we are sorry, that you lost your wife but now enough of mourning. Buckle up and get back to your reign or else the west would control our east region as well," he shouted.

"Am I the boss or you are?" I snapped.

"You," he responded.

"Then why the heck are you shouting?" I retorted.

"Because the east region is slowly going towards chaos. We need you Rajveer," he replied.

"Fine. I am coming," I responded as I took a U-turn and continued driving.

After half an hour, I reached my destination. One of the abandoned docks of Howrah. I entered the warehouse and everyone was already waiting for me.

I got in and took my seat and looked at them.

"What's the stat?" I asked my men.

"Two of the drug deals have been snatched by the west region. And they are eyeing on the massive third one which gives us the profit of eighty-crores," one of them replied me.

"Cool. Kidnap the dealer's family. Make sure they are unharmed and when he signs the deal with us. Release them," I ordered.

"Okay," he nodded.

"Anything else?" I asked.

And then, one after one raised issues that have arisen in our business and I am ordering them how to deal with it. Well, to be honest, it's tough for my people to deal with the issues because I have strictly ordered them to not resort to violence.

"There is one more issue," one of my guys stood in front of me and spoke with a trembling voice.

"Speak," I ordered him.

"He wants to start the brothels and business related to it once again."

His words made me angry. I have clearly declared that none should do business of women and children. Then how the hell did that man want to start a brothel once more?

"Yeah! People are dying of covid already, and now, that guy wants more people to die by Aids," I rolled my eyes.

"Actually! He is planning of kidnapping young virgin girls and make them sit on brothels," he responded and I looked at him in sheer anger.

DIYA

I was cooking dinner for everyone before leaving for my work that's when Maa entered the kitchen. She looked at whatever I was cooking then her eyes fell on the only thing I didn't want her to see, my phone.

"What the hell is this?" She shouted picking up my phone.

I immediately snatched my phone from her and put it in my pocket. 

"None of your business," I responded to her. 

Well, if she does something, then I would officially admit that I hate my mother. And she proved me right.

She yanked my hairs as I cried out due to pain. 

"Tell me you witch. Where did you get that phone from?" She shouted, pulling my hairs more fiercely.

"I... I won't... Won't tell," I shouted in pain, trying to free my hairs from her grip.

"You won't? You won't? Let me see how you won't?" She shouted as she pushed me and slapped me hard.

"Aah!" I cried out as her slap bruised my lips.

She then pulled my ears to make me stand and looked at me.

"Speak. From where you got the phone, or I will make sure that I burn that phone on the gas burner," she shouted.

Her threat immediately scared me. No matter how much pain was I in. There was no way that I am going to lose my phone. I need it, it's a necessity for me.

"Rajveer Raichand. My boss, he gave it to me," I tell her, crying.

"So? He gifted you a phone? Are you sleeping with him? Tell me! Are you sleeping with that old man?" She shouted and her words made me believe one thing.

This woman might have given birth to me, but she is not my mother. Not anymore. A woman who can assassinate her daughter's character has no right to be called a mother.

"Give me that phone. And now, you aren't stepping out of this house anymore," she shouted in her distasteful tone.

"I won't listen to you," I responded, looking at her, "not this time."