4. Unfiltered Gaze

DIYA

I was immediately scared when I saw the girls laughing. They were girls who wore skirts above their knees, resting on their hips and the buttons of their shirts were unbuttoned to an extent so that their cleavage would be visible. And their attire was accompanied by high heels, giving them a sexy kind of look.

While I, on the other hand, wore black trousers, a white t-shirt and plain black shoes. Since the dress was right, my curves and rolls were clearly visible making me look bad. And, I am damn sure they were laughing at me.

One of the girls walked towards me, while I tried to shift my gaze away from her.

"So, are you new here?" She asked me in a sultry voice.

"Ye...yes," I nervously replied.

My eyes were getting teary and I wanted to run away from the place. 

"So what kinda crap are you wearing? Wear good and classy clothes, like us," she winked, as she curled up her fingers on my long hair strands.

"Oh come on Shireen, look at her, she would look like a baby elephant in our outfits," the other girl laughed.

"But, baby elephants are cute," the girl, who stood in front of me, spoke.

All of them were looking at me, laughing at me and trying to bully me, while I couldn't fight. I felt like crying, and I couldn't control the tears anymore. I sobbed, trying to find my way to go from the place, but they weren't letting me go.

"Please, let me go," I cried in front of them, begging them to let me go.

"Oh, we're just having a short introduction with you, sweetheart. Why are you worried so much," Shireen held my arms tightly, literally forcing me to look at her while I cried.

"Please, let me go. Please, please," I begged.

This was a mistake. I shouldn't have come here, I shouldn't have agreed to work. Maa says the truth, I am meant to remain at home and do the household chores. How stupid was I who thought that I will study and graduate and grab a job when I can't face people?

"Shireen," 

A loud voice echoed in the room, compelling Shireen and the girls to go quiet and step back. It was Ahmed uncle's voice.

"What are you girls doing here?" He shouted at them.

"Sorry, sir... actually," Shireen tried to figure something to say while I prayed that she doesn't blame me.

"Shut up, and get back to your work," he scolded them.

"Yes sir," the girls replied in unison and walked away from there.

"Diya, are you alright?" Ahmed uncle walked towards me while I wiped my tears.

"Yeah, I am, it's just," I tried to say something, but I couldn't.

What should I even say?

Ahmed uncle looked at me, and maybe he understood that I was probably uncomfortable in this tight uniform. 

"I made a mistake in determining your size," he sighed in an upset tone.

"No, uncle, it's okay," I looked at him.

"Manage for today. I will arrange the correct size tomorrow," he told me and I obediently nodded.

RAJVEER

My room felt empty without her. I looked around the room, there was a picture of Leena and me hanging on the wall. It was our wedding picture.

I walked towards the picture. She looked happy in that picture, but she had no idea then what kind of life was waiting for her. I sometimes felt sorry for her, but was it my fault? Ten years of loveless marriage!

"I am sorry, Leena. I couldn't save you," I muttered as I caressed her picture and then took it out from the wall. Since she isn't in my life anymore, she has no right to be in my room as well. I tossed the picture away.

"Raj," my mother's surprise-filled voice hit my ears and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Yes, maa?" I looked at her.

"How can you throw away your wedding picture?" She questioned me.

"Well, she isn't in my life anymore, so why should her picture be in my room?" I scoffed. 

"She was your wife, she was the mother of your son," she spoke like she was giving me some life lesson.

"She was. She isn't here anymore. So, what's your point?" I shouted at her.

And the next moment, I regretted it. My mother loved her like a daughter, and I shouldn't show my distastefulness in front of my mother. 

She walked towards me and held my arms.

"Rajveer, son. She isn't here to bother you anymore, but she was an integral part of your life. She was your wife and I know whatever was there between you and her, she is no more. At least respect her death," she spoke in a soft voice.

"Maa, how can I respect her death when I didn't respect her life?" I argued.

I knew I was going to regret for my words, but I had to do it. 

"Why? She was with you for ten years. Didn't you love her?" She straight up asked me, even when she had an idea about the answer.

"No, Maa. I have never loved her. I never felt anything for her. Whether you like it or not, but this is the truth," I told her.

She left my arms and looked at me in disbelief. I couldn't look at her after my confession so I turned around and looked away.

"Fine. You're old enough, so do whatever you like. But don't you dare to forget, you have a son, Rajveer. Your son. And the boy has lost his mother right now, don't do anything that he loses his father as well," she warned me.

The next moment, I heard her footsteps fading away, meaning that she left her room.

"Shit, Ved. My boy," I spat as I turned around to rush into his room but the ringing of my phone interrupted me.

I looked at the number, it was an unknown number. I picked up the call.

"Hello,"

"Hello, Dear Rajveer Raichand. How are you feeling while mourning your dead wife?"

I knew that voice, I goddamn knew that voice. And that voice filled my heart with rage.

"You killed her?" I asked him, while deep inside, my body was trembling with rage.

"Even if I say that I killed her. Will you be able to do anything? I know one thing, Rajveer Raichand doesn't kill people."

His tone angered me more. He had the guts to mock me, and my no killing policy. How can he do that?

"You will pay for this," I growled.

"Oh, Rajveer Raichand is threatening me. God! I got scared, hahaha," I could hear his hysterical laugh after which I could sense my nostrils burning due to rage.

I immediately smashed my phone on the floor. His words and tone made me feel uncontrollable anger and all I felt was like smashing his head onto the wall. How dare he mock my guts? Doesn't he know who am I?

"No, my head would burst if I stay here," I told myself to calm down. And then, I took my car keys and walked out of the house.

DIYA

I was carrying the empty plates towards the sink. The tray was heavy but I managed to carry it nicely. It's 11:00 pm, just one more hour and I will be able to go home.

God! I am so sleepy.

"You're doing good," Ahmed uncle cheered me when I gave the dishes to the guy who was washing them. I turned towards uncle and smiled.

"Thank you, uncle," I answered with a smile.

"You're welcome. But you do need some improvements," he informed me while I looked at him confusingly.

"What kind of improvements?" I asked him.

"You need confidence, kid. You look like you're too weak," he told me.

I nodded at his words and walked away from there. He is right, I need confidence so that I can answer people.

As I walked towards picking up the plates from a table. I could feel someone's gaze was fixated on me. I tried to steal a glance and then I caught the guy who was looking at me. He looked drunk and his gaze scared me. It felt like his eyes were filled with lust.

I immediately picked up the plates and rushed from there.

The moment I entered the lobby, I could hear footsteps approaching me.

"Hello, miss. Hello," the voice was slurry and I anticipated him to be that drunk guy.

I fastened my pace, but before I could go far, he took a run and stood in front of me.

"Ahh," I cried out.

"Hello, beautiful. You know, I love chubby girls. They're so sexy," he spoke in a slurry voice as he checked me out. His eyes were full of lust.

I panicked. My heart started beating rapidly as I wanted to run away from there. Streams of tears pooled down my eyes.

"Let me go," I cried out.

"Oh, no-no. How can I let go of you, darling? Tell me, how much for a night?"

And the next moment, he held my arms to pull me closer to him.

"Aah," I cried out as he tried to misbehave with me.

"Let me go," I cried once again and before anything could happen, I witnessed a punch landing on his face, pushing him away from me.

I got scared, but then I looked at the man who punched him. It was Rajveer Raichand. The moment, I laid my eyes on him again, I couldn't shift my gaze. I kept on looking at him. It was like something was happening to me, something like he was attracting me. I kept on looking at him while he punched that man again.

"Learn to behave with women," he shouted as he punched that guy again. That drunk guy, after receiving two-three punches, ran away from there. He then turned towards me.

"Hey, kid. Are you okay?" He asked me.

I nodded, as my gaze was still fixed on him. I couldn't move my eyes away from my protector. I don't know what was happening to me.

"Enough work done. Go and change, I will drop you home," he ordered me.

I nodded and walked away from there while he stood there, trying to shrug the creases on his kurta.

I changed my clothes and went to the parking lot. Ahmed uncle told me that Rajveer Raichand is waiting for me there. As I reached the entrance, he was already waiting for me in his jeep. I immediately hopped in and tied the seatbelt.

I told him my address as he ignited the jeep and drove away. Throughout the journey, I kept on gazing at him, without even moving my eyes away from him. I know, staring at him like that wasn't right, but I didn't care about right it wrong at that moment. 

It was my unfiltered gaze that was fixated on him.

After a drive of one hour, he pressed the brakes of the car right in front of my house. I immediately got off the jeep and smiled at him.

"Thank you," I muttered. 

He nodded and the next moment, he ignited his jeep and went from there.

I turned around, and the next moment, fear crept inside me. Maa was standing in front of the house, holding a stick in her hand and angrily glaring at me.