ShootOut to @foundmymate and her book Bane Or Boon (Djinn Chronicles) Do read it :)

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***********

I wanted to do and have many things in my life but I wasn't allowed to, in the house.

I wanted my own television.

I wanted a pet cat.

I wanted to travel.

I wanted to learn to drive a car.

One of the things that I craved was going to a sleepover to a friend's place.

But because of being in a conservative family, I wasn't allowed to.

But I would have never imagined that my first sleepover would be at a certain Vikram Joshi's place.

Actually he was 'Letting' me spend the night at his place as he did not want to tarnish 'his' image and 'his business' image by letting me sleep on road.

His words not mine.

So you might get how happy I am to oblige.

As I walked up the stairs to the house behind Vikram, I realised it was a huge house.

He opened the gigantic door and I was awed.

It was beautiful.

The whole room was filled with antiques and lush sofas. It was color co-ordinated. Everything was either white or red.

There was a different warmth in this house and I doubt it was from Vikram.

I glanced at him. He was standing with his one hand in his pocket and with another he was typing something on his cellphone. He looked perfect. And me? I was wearing my blue teddy bear pyjamas and my wet hair looked like an untangled wiry mess.

Speaking of wet hair...

"Acchooooo"

My sneezing echoed through the gigantic room.

He looked up from his phone towards me and scrunched up his nose.

I was waiting for him to say something rude. Instead, I heard a soft voice.

"Bless You"

I looked towards the source of voice.

It was an elderly woman, she was beautiful no doubt. She was Vikram's mother anyone could see that, the facial structure matched. She was wearing a pink nightgown. I was happy to see that atleast someone appreciated color in this house.

"My name is Rajini, I am Vicky's mom"

Vicky?

It didn't suit him.

"I am Lila," I said going towards her and placing my hand in hers.

"I know, you look like Aditi."

I saw a tear escape from her eye and her arms wrapped me in a hug.

My heart soared. She might be the only person alive who knows my mother better than anyone else.

"How come you are here so late at night dear? Hope everything is alright," she asked, concern clearly etched on her face.

I told her everything. Except what was in the contract.

She and Vikram both looked thoughtful.

"Acchooo"

I sneezed again.

"Oh my, you must have caught cold" She said feeling my forehead and neck to see if I have fever.

"Don't worry mom, Ms. Lila has a habit of sneezing on people she just met" Vikram said sneering at me.

His mom glared at him, glad someone shared my feelings.

"Come on, Vicky take her to your room. Turn on the heater before she gets more sick," she said.

"No way! Why my room?"

Yes, Dear Vikram's Mom, why do you want me to spend the night with your son? I am glad that I didn't think my thoughts aloud as they were still looking at each other.

"Because rest of the rooms are yet to be cleaned. All the dust might make her sick" She reasoned.

"Then why not your room?" He whined like a little boy.

I don't know why but it did hurt me a little that he did not want me around.

"Because I have cats in my room, Minu and Daisy. She will sneeze a lot more if she sleeps there. Vikram for one night she can sleep in your room"

"Ok" he surrendered.

With a quick wave and a goodnight she went into her room.

*******

We entered his room and it was bigger than I thought. From my room it, appeared small.

I quickly went into his balcony and looked at my room.

The light was turned off but the door was open.

My entire room was visible from here, my bed, my wardrobe and even my bathroom door.

I sighed as I won't be able to sleep in my super comfortable bed.

I turned around and crashed into a hard wall.

I about to fall back when the wall's arms grabbed me by my waist.

Wait, Wall's arm?

I opened my eyes to see it was Vikram.

It was a moment as you see in every movie.

And I...

"aacckkkkcchhooooo...." There goes the sprinklers again!

Trust me to ruin a perfect moment.

He scrunched his face again.

If I would have got a hundred bucks for everytime he looked at me in disgust I would have earned a thousand bucks easily.

His released his tough hold on my hands and turned around to walk away.

"Wait, we need to talk." I have to tell him about the contract.

He turned around and waited patiently for me to talk.

"I know you are here to take back your business" I said

He eyebrow shot upwards, challenging me, I guess.

"And I know you want to know what is in that contract"

He nodded. Jeez say something. A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. He was definitely enjoying making me nervous.

"Well today when I broke into my Ajji's room, me and Deepti, my cousin we took pictures of the contract"

He looked surprised.

He eagerly asked,"And what did you find?"

"I have to be married for a year only then will I be able to sell my part of the business."

I looked at his face, I didn't know what to expect. His face was neutral, expressions unreadable.

After few moments he uttered,

"Get married soon then and give me back my damn business from your money sucking family"

With this he left the room, leaving me standing there contemplating his words.