Chapter 3

*Amrin Pov* 

“Are you married?” I asked him breaking the silence after looking around the elevator we both got inside. 

“Is it not too behind time to know about it?” he asked back making me stare at his face. 

“It is not behind time to back off also, right?” I threw my own question. 

“No!” he simply replied when the elevator stopped, and the doors opened. 

“No for what?” I asked, not wanting to step outside until I know about his marital status. If he is married, then I can escape from this elevator itself. 

“For both!” he replied forwarding his hand, and I took it little hesitatingly. 

He didn’t leave my hand and continued to walk until we reach the double doors. With some key card, he opened it and pulled me inside normally. 

“This is good.” I mumbled glancing around and walked near to the glass door through where a balcony is there but cannot be seen from the entrance. 

I glanced back to see his face and waited to hear what he actually meant in his cabin. And I really want to know what am I getting myself into. 

“I know! You will live here from now on, and I will come here most of the time, except for sometimes when I go to parent's house. Give me your account number to put some money in it for every month for your expenses.” He continued to talk while I stared at him with my breathing literally stopping. 

“Stop!” I said, raising my voice a little, and he stopped staring at me with a frown. 

“Why should I stay here? Why would you put money in my account?” I asked leaving his hand. 

“Didn’t you understand what I said in my cabin?” he asked with irritation and I wish I can disappear right now. 

“Yes! I mean kind of. You will be my lover or something, and my life would be nice with new experiences. That’s why I accepted this.” I replied frowning. 

“And what I said will make your life good.” He said gesturing at the flat. 

"But if I stay here, then how can I go for work?” I asked him frowning. 

“Why do you need to work? Didn’t you tell me that if you don’t get this job, then you will be on the streets?” he asked frowning more. 

“Yes! I think I will have to live here as my roommate is leaving and also the room we took in rent. But I can’t accept your money.” I replied frowning back. 

“You will not do any jobs and will stay here or go out for shopping. I need you to be with me if I have to go to any functions or parties as my date.” He slowly explained. 

“That’s all I have to do?” I asked him little expectantly, hoping it is that’s all. 

“No! And I hope you know what am I talking about, or I can explain it in words.” He replied raising his eyebrow. 

“Ok, ok! No need to say anything, but I need to go home right now.” I said, stepping near to the door already feeling that all this is a huge mistake. 

“Fine! I will ask my driver to drop you, and he will be near your place tomorrow morning. If you want to come, then get inside the car, or else he will leave by nine from there, and we can forget each other.” He said opening the door and gestured at me inside the elevator. 

I glanced at his face to see that he is irritated where as I too want to be irritated with myself. What was I doing accepting to any of his words? Just because it was difficult doesn’t mean that I take hold of anything, which will give an easy path. 

“I am sorry for the time you got wasted because of me.” I slowly whispered and walked away. 

“What is happening?” I asked Janani entering the room. 

“Thank god! You are here otherwise I would have left without meeting you.” She replied hugging me. 

“What happened?” I asked her frowning. 

“My fiancé and his family are in this city to give away the cards. They want me to return with them today itself.” she replied brushing her tears away. 

“It’s ok! Maybe they can’t wait for their daughter anymore.” I suggested rubbing her back. 

“Yeah right! They are now even deciding when I should leave the place. I am being so silly how can I cry on your shoulder when I can see you have so many problems right now.” she said moving away. 

“I do not have problems. I got the job right.” I lied crossing my fingers behind my back not wanting her to get concerned for me at this time. 

“That’s great! I am relieved that you will be fine otherwise I would have taken you with me.” she said smiling and then started packing while I helped her. 

“You know, probably what you are feeling is not what they want you to feel. Take some time to clearly think about their actions before giving any reaction.” I suggested when I glanced out to see happiness over her future In-law’s face. 

“I have no idea! I just became this slight negative person whenever someone wants to control me. I will think about your words, but you should be careful and try to have some supportive and strong shield over you soon. The outside world is not so good.” she said before leaving the room. 

I glanced at the empty room and started thinking how stupid was I to even accept to be someone’s lover when I had only one boyfriend, until now, which was for a very little time. I must be so tired with everything, and the blow regarding my bad work made me accept to his words. 

In the evening, I heard a knock and opened the door to see the owner Uncle along with few boys. I felt terrified with the looks and held the door tightly in my hands. 

“Yes?” I asked him frowning. 

“They are here to look after the room as it will be empty after a few days.” Uncle said smiling. 

“But there are still a few days right?” I asked him frowning. 

“Yes! But it will be hard for us even if a day is missed with the place being empty.” He replied and asked the boys to enter the room, and I moved completely away from the door. 

When all of them entered I felt uncomfortable, and I do not know why. I rushed outside the room and stood there away from all of them hugging myself. 

“They liked the room but wish to think about it. There are few other people who wish to check it today. A few are from large distance so it will be little late.” Uncle said after they left. 

“But Uncle, I am a single girl. It will not be good for some unknown people to enter here at late night.” I said hoping he will accept my words. 

“I need to think about my livelihood too right. I accepted when you both gave a late rent, but now I am need of money, so I am trying to get some people to accept the place as soon as I can.” He said shaking his head. 

“Money?” I mumbled to myself. 

“Yes! If you fear for safety, then why are you living in this house alone. Don’t you know it is not good for any girl to live alone anywhere? This is the safest place so be happy to get some place to stay with no problems until now.” He said walking away while I just stood there in shock. 

I called Janani with fear glancing at the clock, and she lifted the second ring saying, “Are you fine? Is something wrong?” 

“Did you guys reached?” I asked her hiding the fear in my voice. 

“Yes! They don’t seem to be that bad actually after listening to your words.” she replied making me smile for her words. 

“Ok! Take care and I am going to sleep.” I said, staring at the clock. 

“You take care of yourself and call me whenever you want to.” she said and I hung up. 

At nine, I heard a knock, and I pulled out the blanket from the bed and covered myself with it before opening the door to see the uncle and some other guys. 

When they stepped inside, I rushed outside and walked to the terrace before sitting on the floor. I covered myself with the blanket and closed my eyes to sleep trying to soothe my fears, which can be my foolishness. 

I woke up to the sounds of horns and saw that it is morning. I stood up and walked nearly to the end to see a black car in which I returned yesterday waiting for me. 

With each step I took, I started thinking what I should do and felt Janani’s and uncle’s words along with the few books I got from a few people yesterday inside my head and then his proposal whose name I even forgot. 

I saw that I just have ten minutes before the car leaves and rushed to pack everything inside the bag and got outside to give them to the driver. Then I walked back near to the uncle’s house and knocked on it. 

“I am leaving now itself.” I said, giving him the key. 

Before he could walk away, I added, “Just imagine how your daughter would have felt if she were in my place yesterday.” 

I sat in the back seat and let him drive the car. I got outside to see only watchman and few people are near to the office, but the driver took the car into the garage. 

When I started to step outside, the driver stopped me saying, “Sir asked me to get you inside the private elevator.” 

I glanced inside the garage to see a lone elevator and got inside it along with the driver. When we reached the floor where the penthouse was there, driver left after I thanked him. 

I stepped inside the already opened doors and saw him sitting on the balcony with his back to me. 

I cleared my throat, making him say, “Are you sure about this today or will you leave again?” 

“What is your name, Sir?” I asked the first thing I want to know adding the gesture, I would have added if he was my boss. 

“You don’t know my name?” he asked, and I can see that he is shocked from his tone. 

“I may have forgotten. What is it?” I asked him again. 

“I am Prince of Ivaan, and you don’t know my name?” he asked, turning around to stare at me. 

“Prince? What Prince?” I asked him in shock with wide eyes, and he stared back at me with wide eyes.