Radhika's pov

I sat on the bar staring at the drink. I didn't want to use alcohol as a coping mechanism for my dysfunctional family. Rishabh agreed. He sat beside me with a glass of whiskey. We didn't talk at all. I was embarassed and humiliated to even utter a single word about the evening.

I ordered a burger. I was hungry and tired. I didn't want to confuse my hunger with anger and take it out on Rishabh. This night has been enough adventurous as it is.

Just when I was about to order another burger, a very hot girl came and sat next to Rishabh. He shifted towards me but she happened to be more stubborn than he thought. He shifted so she can press her boobs on Rishabh's back. I could see how much it was making him uncomfortable and for some reason me too.

I stood up. Rishabh's eye landed on me. He raised his eyebrows as to know what I was upto. I squeezed myself between them and glares at her.

"He is my boyfriend sweetie. Just stay away okay?" I fake smiled her which made her roll her eyes. She tried to look at Rishabh for some response but I blocked her view. Finally she understood the message and left. I went back to my original seat and order another drink. 

"So, we've a thing now?" he asked turning towards me.

"We are not a thing or have any thing. Whatever"

"Boyfriend?"

"I saw you getting uncomfortable so I helped you. Moreover, after the night I've had, I need you beside me, not some random girl."

"You kind of blew my chances with her. Wait! You need me?" He asked with a hint of smile. I ignored

"Oh! Never mind. Let's go I am done" he helped me get up and kept a firm hand on my back so that I don't fall.

We drove from the bar and silence took over us. Rishabh was quiet and didn't ask any questions. " If you want you can talk to me" it wasn't some big statement but it held assurance.

I kept thinking whether I should or shouldn't tell him. Obviously it was my personal life but he has already seen too much of it.

"Well for the starters he isn't my biological father" I said looking straight.

Rishabh stopped the car and looked at me with a confused expression.

"My dad died, my real dad died before I was born. He was in the army. My mom never talked about it much. I think it hurt her too much. Anyway, she was a young single mother with practically no family or support. She met my father, you know, this one.. Rajesh" I trailed, he nodded so I continued "He fell in love with her. They became very close. He was stable and my mother wanted some stability. She needed it more than anything at that moment. They got married when I was around three years old. For the longest time, we were happy. We were a family. He was the father I always wanted. I never felt indifferent around him. He loved me until the very moment when my mother decided she didn't want any more kids. She didn't want to divide her attention and she didn't want me to feel that I wasn't enough. Maybe there was more to it, I never knew but yeah, she decided she didn't want kids with my father. He started resenting me, it started off as a comment here and there, I didn't mind but then his resentment turned into hatred. He couldn't even look at me without feeling that I was responsible for his unhappiness. With time, we just detached each other from our lives. I left home the first chance I got and he stopped caring about me a long time ago. If it weren't for my mother, we wouldn't even see each other. Whatever we do, it is for her sake. We both love her, that's one thing we've in common." I completed and found tears rolling down my cheeks.

He held my hand and looked at me. Those weren't the same eyes I saw when I first met him. They had warmth and softness in them as if they were trying to tell me that he cares. His gentle touch made my heart clench. It was simple gesture but it held so much value. It made me believe that even though he tries really hard for everyone to see what a cold person he is, deep down he has a heart that knows how to care. 

"Your mother never tried to leave your father?" he asked still holding my hand.

"She did but I didn't wanted her too. After my biological father died, my mom was a wreck and all alone. She didn't had any family. He loved her, he gave her a home, he gave her comfort, stability, a ground to stand on. She might not say it ever, but I know how much she wanted that. I'm grateful to him because of that which is why I don't want my mom to leave him. Like I said, we both love her immensely. " I replied.

What he did next was shocking to some other level. His hand came near my cheek and wiped my tear. I didn't know what I was more surprised from the fact that he did that or the fact that how right that felt. His touch was so soft as if he was scared that he might hurt me. As soon as his left my skin it felt cold and strange.

I just couldn't understand what I was feeling. It felt strange and unfamiliar. I wanted his hand on my cheek again. It was strangly good and I didn't want it to get over. I remembered I wasn't drunk but I felt I was out of my body. It couldn't have been the effect of alcohol since I didn't drink that much, I was drunk of this newfound feeling instead.

"Can we go back to hotel and eat something? If you remember correctly, you ate, I didn't. I'm starving" His voice cut through my thoughts. I stared at him and it just felt different. It wasn't the Rishabh that I met the first time. He was some another person who kind, sensitive, emotional. Someone I was starting to like and appreciate. I just nodded as I didn't trust my voice.  

We simply drove to the nearest fast-food chain that we spotted. The air was more relaxed now. It wasn't emotional and hot anymore. We're eating when he suddenly asked. I felt comfortable around him. I liked that.

"You never thought of marriage?" He asked

"Don't you wanna know if I have a boyfriend first?" I raised my eyebrows

"I know you don't have one."

"How so?"

"Oh, come on! I'm a lawyer by profession. I could tell when you are deflecting. I'm well aware you don't have a boyfriend. So back to my question, you think about marriage?"

"I think I used to but then I stopped, I guess. I just assumed it wasn't something for me. I have had bad experience in the past and after that, marriage seems a far off thought."

"What happened? I hope you don't mind me asking" he was nervous. I could tell

"Oh no. My mom really tried alot but my father would insult every guy that ever wanted me. After a while I just started focussing on my career too much that it didn't matter anymore. Although my mom believes that I should marry someone who can make my father realize what he is doing and I haven't met anyone like that"

"Okay"

" What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Girlfriend? Or something? You're old enough to be married aren't you?" I smriked

He opened his mouth to say something but the didn't. He just simply shrugged dodging the question and I decided not to push any further. I'm a lawyer too, I know when someone is avoiding the question.

Rishabh's pov

As we were driving back I realized it is too late to drive back hotel so I decided to stay here and leave tomorrow. Meanwhile Radhika was all out. She was snoring lightly beside me. I caried her into the hotel. I decided to take a single room as leaving her alone in this state didn't seem right.

"How can I help you sir?" Receptionist asked

"I need a room" I replied

"Name?" He asked

"Mr. and Mrs. Jaisingh"

"He will escort you to your room" He said and pointed towards a guy. I moved forward with him when I remembered something.

"If she asks you tomorrow, why we were in the same room, could you tell her it was her idea?" I requested as I didn't want to take any blame. He looked at me. I could tell how criminal those words sounded.

"But si-"

"She is my wife, she is suffering from memory loss. She doesn't remember much actually. She's recovering from a terrible accident. It is just that she strained too much and fainted I'm just trying to help her regain her memory. Please help me." I put money on the counter. If one thing I understand, it's the power of money. He nodded and let the matter go. I can understand the rising crime rates.

As I settled her on the bed and covered her with the covers. I made my way towards the couch. My thoughts kept drifting to the question she asked earlier.

After two years someone asked me about marriage, or anything resembling my love life and that brought back many bad memories. I have never let anyone close enough in the past years to ask me that. I never cared for it. Those memories are just haunting reminder of the mistakes I made in the past.

I never have the urge to discuss anything about my past. I've buried it deep inside my heart but when Radhika's hopeful eyes looked up at me wanting an answer, it felt as if I almost wanted to tell her all. I genuinely wanted to share details of my life with her. It was such a weird emotion, it terrified me.

I used think of her the optimistic hopeful kind who doesn't understand pain. I was especially hard on her because of it but today I realised how wrong I was. She knows what it feels to have your heartache by somebody who you expect the world. She understands pain and sorrow of abandonment. I wanted to tell her because I knew she might be the only person on this planet who could understand my pain but I couldn't. I couldn't take that leap and spill my miseries. I couldn't commit completely. I just couldn't do it.