SEVEN YEARS LATER
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon with some cooling summer showers pouring down outside the window while Rafael spent a good amount of time in his study. He was lagging behind quite a bit because he spent all day at the water park yesterday and left work early even on Friday afternoon to attend his daughter's ballet performance.
He got up from his seat and stretched before stepping out to see what Ruhi and his little Snookums were up to. Even though he wanted to finish all the piled up stuff, he had gone two hours without seeing them and it felt like too much on a Sunday. He walked down to the kitchen to see what all the excitement was about.
Ruhi was watching something very seriously on her daughter's pink laptop while the little girl was busy whisking butter and molten chocolate. She got chocolate mousse on both her chubby cheeks while Ruhi got a good amount on her nose.
"Papa! You were not supposed to come out until w
Dear Readers, Thank you for going with me on this long journey of telling Rafael and Ruhi's story for close to 200,000 words. Your constant support and encouragement are what made this book possible. I hope you loved it ❤️ Thank you ❤️❤️
Greece Rafael strode into his secluded beachfront villa after a day packed with meetings. This was his fourteenth time in Greece, and yet its impossibly blue waters and rugged islands never failed to leave him breathless. This time, he had brought Alisha, his stunning girlfriend, to the sleepy island of Chios. Here, time seemed to slow, the air thick with the scent of olive groves and sun-warmed fig trees. Alisha lay sprawled on the plush king-sized bed, waiting for him. Her heavy breasts were straining against the soft, crimson lingerie. When she saw his eyes roam on her barely covered sexy body, she leaned in towards him, giving him a clear view of her perfect, inviting duo. She ran her hands down her front and looked at him with those bewitching eyes. He was bone-tired from meetings and needed a massage, but she had ignited a fire within him that could only be quenched when he sucked on those breasts until they were sore to the touch of his tongue. He removed his jacket and pu
A few days earlier in a small college town in Florida The fiery red Mini Cooper roared to a stop, a vibrant contrast to the beige monotony of Lisa's suburban street. Ruhi hopped out to show off her car to her friend and grab breakfast from their favorite restaurant. Her day was busy and full of plans. She had to head out to Atlanta soon after breakfast to meet her long-distance boyfriend, Dhruv, for the winter break. "Ta-da!" She exclaimed, gesturing to the car. Isn't she a beauty? 300 horsepower, fully loaded, all-wheel drive." Lisa emerged from her house, a statuesque redhead with emerald eyes that widened at the sight of the car. "Wow, Ruhi, that's amazing! Totally suits your fiery personality." Ruhi grinned. "Right? I only went in for a test drive, but then they had this one in this incredible metallic red. I couldn't resist." Her gaze lingered on the car. "Two days later, and I'm still head over heels. Ready to roll?" "Yep, gimme a second. I'll give some dry treats to Romeo
Dhruvkept Ruhibusy on the call when she stopped forbreaks and to fill up gas in the car. Usually, when flying to meet him, she couldn't get out of the airport fast enough to run tohim. But as she drove to the parking lot of his condo,she gave in to the temptation of looking Rafael up before walking to themain door. It was chilly in Atlanta at 55F. She went back into the car and spelled Rafael'slong name in the search bar. Her heart jumped out of her chest when she saw his picture. The same hazelbrown eyes, shrewd and sparkling with the sort of gaze that can make people forget to breathe and a lot more. Memories of her trip to his dad's summer home thirteen years ago flooded her. She was twelve, and he was sixteen. Rafael's dad owned a place in Coonoor, a beautiful Indian town high up in the mountains called the Nilgiris or the Blue Mountains. Ruhi's family visited Coonoor when her dad wanted to complete a
December 31st AM | Sausalito, California "Ahh! This tiny town is like magic..." Ruhi jumpedin excitement as they got off the ferry from San Francisco to Sausalito. "Look at how the homes are clinging to the steep hillside! The skyline, the waterfront, wow!" She turned around in a full circle in awe. "I'm in love with California!!" She hugged Dhruv. "Correction: Northern California," Dhruv said, "I hate LA and anything SoCal." Ruhi had no idea what he meant. She visited a few places in the US but lived only in one place all four years. She did her MBA and stayed in the same town for work. "Thank you for getting a job here. Now I'm convinced I should also applyfor something and move." "Ask your soon-to-be fake husband to hire you in one of his companies. Your current boss will throw you out for missing work for so many days anyway." Ruhi suddenly got nervous when Dhruv brought u
"Ruhi! Hold on, what's the matter with you?" Dhruv caught Ruhi by the elbow just as she got into the elevator to go down the building."Nothing, we had plans to leave after dinner.""Yeah, but that was because we didn't expect him to ask us to stay back. Getting into that place for NYE needs reservations made months ahead. And the table we sat at, with the bay views and complimentary champagne, they charge over a hundred dollars to reserve that.""So what, Dhruv? I'm not interested in the bay views or champagne. I want to get out of here." She stepped out of the elevator and exited through the main door."Why are you yelling at me? And why are you so bothered by what that asshole said?""I think we should break up.""What? Ruhi, you didn't sip a drop of alcohol and are still talking nonsense.""I'm being serious. I can't do this anymore.""Is it because I stared at Alisha? I'm really sorry, Ruhi. It was only for a second, and i
Rafael stepped out of his car and so did five armedbodyguards from the two black cars that were following him."Ruhi, enough with your tantrums! I haven't complained even one bit about this morning." He followed her as she click-clacked her heels extra hard against the concrete floor when she heard the word 'tantrum'. She spun around when he caught up to her."I wish you complained. Instead of saying one or two classic jerk lines and be done with it, you are acting passive aggressive ever since the phone call. Is it my fault if you can't use those big eyes of yours with extra-long eyelashes to find me at the mall entrance? I was starving and was about to eat lunch when you called, but you talk like only your time is precious. I got time off from work after one year of slogging and guess how I'm spending it?""Don't blame me for your problems since you were born, Ruhi. We could have reached the lawyer's office by now if you didn't enjoy listening to yoursel
"Miss Ruhi Bakul, I believe this is a forced marriage on top of being a secret contract one?" Eddy Emhoff smirked at Ruhi."Yes??" She raised her eyebrow at him. Rafael's lawyer friend appeared pretty sarcastic and mean to her."Why would it matter if the wedding happens in San Francisco or Siberia? It's fake.""It's still a wedding, and my first one. I even know the color of the saree I want to wear. In my mind, I have planned it many, many years ago. Also, there is this sacred banyan tree in my hometown thatevery newly married couple visits for blessings. I have to take my husband there too, fake or real. I made a promise.""You made a promise to the tree?" Eddy mocked her and looked at Rafael with a 'She's a nutcase' expression."Yes, I did. Don't make fun of the tree."Rafael couldn't believe his ears. He took the paperweight from the loosely stacked contract papers,aimed it at her head, and did a mock throwwhen she was
Rafael tapped Eddy's office door with a key card when Emma got up from her desk and rushed to him."Oh, Mr. Carvalho. You didn't have to do it." She fidgeted with her fingers nervously and looked at the signed and stapledbunch of papers."I want you to make two copies of these and have them sentover to me." He handed her the contract."One copy for me too." Ruhi chimed in."Ignore her. She won't be getting a copy.""Why n--" She swallowed the lump in her throat when Rafael glared at her the way his dad typically does—the kind of look that turns legsto jelly.He gave Emma the key card back and grabbed Ruhi by thearm. He pulled her roughly out toward the elevator. Ruhi was shocked at his sudden change of demeanor."Rafael?!" She protested against his steely grip."Stop saying my name. And stop talking." He pushed the elevator button to reach the lobby."So you were just playing nice until---"