Her Mysterious Lover

Falak’s POV

.

My jaw almost dropped when I recalled his words, again and again. ‘This is not his place but yours.’

What did he mean by ‘MY’ place? Did he mistakenly say ‘yours’ instead of ‘ours’ or something?

“Can you please come again?” I requested to confirm whether my ears were right or not?

“I said that this is your apartment, Ma’am.”

“What? I don’t have an apartment. I don’t even have a two-wheeler, so there is no chance I can have something….” I looked around. “… like this.”

I didn’t check the whole apartment but observed the size of the bedroom. I could tell that this apartment would be the biggest place I could have even seen in my small life except for the workplace, of course!

I observed each and every corner of the bedroom; everything looked new and modern, and not to forget of top brands. There were four large wardrobes and near about 40 inches big led TV. Also, the bed on which I was sitting was ridiculously big. Till this age, I had never seen so many expensive things in my life, and suddenly out of the blue, someone was telling me that I owned this place.

I looked back at Albert, who was smiling at my expression.

“Well, you have this apartment now, and I’m sure you can have everything; all you have to do is ASK.”, he said before continuing. “Sir has bought this place for you and has personally arranged everything as per your choice as per your taste. In case you don’t like anything, then you can make changes as per your choice…”

“Albert, I know that your Sir is rich or maybe a billionaire. But I can’t have this. HE knows and has seen my simple lifestyle, so I’m telling you that I come from that place where I hardly could manage to have two-time proper meals.”

“I know”

“You know? Did HE tell you?”

He shook his head. “No, he didn’t, but I have seen you growing in front of my eyes.” That piece of information almost knocked me out, but I waited for him to continue. “We used to live in the same locality. My father used to work as a driver for Sir’s father at that time. So, I know. I know how tough your beginning days were.”

Tears dwelled in my eyes, and I controlled myself from crying. “So, what I was saying before was that…that I appreciate that he thought so much for me, but this is too much. I can’t have this apartment out of the blue.” I immediately changed the topic, not wanting to talk about my past.

Albert started at me for a while before sighing. “Please talk about it with Sir. I did have mention that he has bought this to you, but not once did he mention about it to you, nor did he force you to stay here forever. So, why are we even discussing this?”

Yeah! He was right.

“I am sending Maria so that she can help you.”, He said before leaving from there.

So, basically, I had met four people from my past!

And thankfully, they were all good and didn’t want to hurt me in any way.

***

The same lady who had cleaned the room came later to help me in freshen up, and she also picked a nightdress for me, which was in the wardrobe.

I couldn’t help but wonder what was HE thinking before doing this?

He made sure to arrange all my necessary things which I could might require in any new place.

As if he knew that I would stay here or something.

I also sent a text to Ash about reaching the orphanage and then Father Gregory about staying at Ash’s place. I knew I lied to two important people in my life, and I apologized to the lord for that.

Maria also brought dinner to my room so that I wouldn’t have to walk to the dining hall or table. I ordered prayer to the Lord and thanked him for everything. After having dinner, I tied that black shit on my eyes but couldn’t tie my hand on my own.

It was not that I couldn’t help someone else in this. But I believe it was not required because I wouldn’t remove my blindfold, just like he respected my decision and didn’t force himself on me even though he clearly said that he wanted me. I would also do the same even though I wanted to know he was!

I respect his decision; if he didn’t want to reveal himself, then I wouldn’t force him to do so because I knew that by pushing and forcing something upon someone, you tend to push them further away.

With this positive thought, I started waiting for him.

****

‘Please don’t hit me! Please, I beg you!’ I cried but tried my best to protect myself from the next kick, but I failed miserably.

‘Aaahhhh!’ I screamed in pain. I tried to my eyes but I couldn’t as if someone had tied something to my eyes. I reached near my eye to touch what it was but a handheld my hand. I was about to scream again when I felt my mouth being shut by his palm.

“Ummm…mm”

“Senorita! It’s me.”, I heard the familiar voice. Fear started leaving my body as my mind started registering all the things after office hours till now. I might have slept while waiting for him. “I’m removing my hand. Please don’t scream. It’s me, okay?”, Saying this, he removed his hand.

The next thing I knew, I threw myself on him, and thankfully he held me in his arms.

“I got so scared.”, I whispered in a low tone.

“Don’t be. I’m here.”, He responded and kissed my hair, without my permission, obviously, but I was not at all complaining about this. “Do you get these nightmares often?”, He asked, caressing my hair softly.

“I…I..”

“Just answer in YES or NO.”

“Yes!”

“I will check the best psychiatrist in the city, and after that, you will be joining her counseling session!!”

“But…”

“I’m not asking, Seno! Neither I am taking NO as an answer.”, He shut me out before I could have said NO. Now, do I even stand a chance against his decision?

“Okay!”, We remained in the same position for a while until I asked. “Albert told me that you were taking a big risk by visiting me at this moment.”

“He told you that?”

“Hmm”

“Well, no matter how much I try to deny that fact, he was kind of right, though. Also, seeing you often is something I’m not allowed to.”, He sighed, and his voice seemed exhausted.

Instead of asking ‘Why?’ I changed my question by pulling myself away from him. “Are…are you okay?”

“Yea! Just a little tired.”

“Albert said that you bought this apartment for me?”

“He told you even that?”

“Umm.. hmm!”

“He told you, right. I have bought this place for you.”

“But why? It’s not like we are dating.”

“Then we can date.”, He pointed, shutting my mouth, which I had opened to speak.

“Even if we date, then also I’m not going to take this apartment from you.”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

“No! No! I…I do like it even without looking at all corners of this apartment, but I don’t want to have anything that I couldn’t afford. And the thing which I can’t afford, I can’t take it from you.”

“Then consider it as your birthday present.”

“No”

“I’m not here to argue with you.”, He said, leaving no room for discussion on this topic. Even I didn’t want to argue with him.

“Can I ask something from you?”

“Sure, you can, but it will depend on me whether I want to answer it or not!”

“Okay!” I nodded. “What should I call you? I don’t know your name or anything about you!”

“Then you can name me as per your choice. I’d be happy to get a name from you.”

I thought for a while, and a smile appeared on my lips, thinking of a suitable name for the person who was no less than a lord’s gift in my life. “Attam”

“Adam? What does that mean?”

“God’s gift.”, I responded. “Do you like it?”

“This name is beautiful, but I don’t think I deserve this name.”

“Did you say that I can keep any name as per my choice?” I asked.

“Well, what can I say on that, now!”, He muttered. “Next question, please.”

“Albert had mentioned it, and even you even that coming here at this moment was RISKY for you. And I can feel that you’re hiding your identity for the same reason. So, I wanted to know what kind of work you do? Are you in Mafia or the Mafia leader?”

He remained quiet for a while, and I felt shaking a little.

‘What is happening?’ I thought and soon got the answer to the question when he started laughing loudly.

“Oh My God!”, He said, between his laughter. I wished to see his beautiful face when he was laughing like this, but I knew I would end up ruining everything if I removed my blindfold. But then he was laughing, and he was laughing really hard, and it was really pissing me off.

“Stop laughing. There’s nothing so funny here.”, I scolded.

“Mafia?” he said between fits of laughter. “You think I’m in Mafia or maybe their leader?” He continued laughing until he realized that I had crossed my arms around my chest and didn’t think it was the least bit funny at all. He eventually stopped and sucked in a deep breath, then took my hand in his. “I’m not in Mafia. Seno. I might have a temper and might behave like a heartless person, but I have nothing to do with the Mafia thing. I promise. I don’t know why you would think that, but I swear.”

“Then, at night, how did those people with guns break into my house? And not to forget they killed two people mercilessly without even flinching like a professional?”

“That’s because my ancestors had a connection with them, but trust me, I have need picked a gun in my life nor took anyone’s life.”

I sighed in relief, knowing that piece of relief. “You said that you love me and want me. Does it include marriage as well?”

“No.”

“So, let me place all your words into the final conversation. You love me and want me but can’t marry me. You don’t want anyone to know about me or your coming over here or you meeting me. You don’t want to disclose your identity to me, but you want to give me all the luxuries of life, including this. What are these for? To make me your mistress?”

He groaned in frustration before speaking. “Stop speaking.”

“Why? It’s the truth, isn’t it? Years ago, the person whom I used to call Dad wanted to sell me to the brothel. Now the person whom I assumed to love me wanted to make me his mistress.” I bit my inner cheek to stop myself my crying on my face.

“When I said STOP SPEAKING, I wasn’t referring to you; stop speaking rude things to me, but I was referring to you insulting yourself by saying THAT word.”, he hissed in anger. “You don’t have to say disrespectful and insulting things to yourself just to hold your own ground. If you do that, it shows how shaky your own position is.”

I could tell that he was angry, well, more than angry, and I was too scared to apologize for the words which had already escaped my mouth. We both stayed quiet. I started wondering how we ever got to this point?

“It’s getting late. You should sleep, and this time you can remove your blindfold.”, I heard him saying. “Because I’m leaving.”

“Is it important?” I asked, trying my best that I was not desperate.

“What is important?”

“To leave at this hour?”

He sighed before speaking, “Say it clearly, Senorita, without beating around the bush.”

“Please stay here. With me.”

“Okay then, let’s sleep together.”, He said and climbed onto the bed.

“Sleep together?” I asked in surprise. Well, I didn’t see that coming.

“Obviously. You don’t want me to play LUDO with you at this hour, do you?”, He said in a sarcastic way.

“I…I…

“Sshhh! I’m tired, and unlike you, I will have to go to the office. So, just sleep.”, He said, pushing me on the bed and then pulling me in his arms. I couldn’t think how scared I was for a while. I clutched the bedsheet tightly in fear.

Breathe IN, Breathe OUT.

He wouldn’t misbehave with me. He wouldn’t. I kept chanting in my mind.

After a moment, I finally felt relaxed a little. I was about to say ‘Good night’ to HIM when I heard a light snoring sound beside me.

HE had already slept.

It meant I could see his face by opening my blindfold, right?

I stirred a little when he spoke. “Do you want me to leave?”

“No. Please sleep peacefully.”, I muttered, kicking my curiosity out of my mind.

.

#TBC