Invisible String

Chapter 14: Vikram

Word count: 2349

Aditya Pov

There is nothing more I would’ve loved than announcing my relationship with Naina to the world, to able to hold her and call her mine in front of the entire press. She has no idea how happy it would make me to see the both of us make the cover pages of magazines and articles, but instead of saying all of this, I say..

“No, I don’t really think that’s a good idea. We could think of something else.” I removed my hand from hers but made the mistake of looking at her, because if my own words didn’t break my heart before, looking at her face did.

Her face fell, hurt and confusion clearly visible on her face. Yeah, I wanted to slap myself for making her feel that way but I did it for a reason. I can’t announce my relationship with her to the public because of one son of a bitch, the bane of my existence, Vikram Singh. He is one of the most dangerous mafia bosses in the city and mine and Kabir’s sworn enemy. He has done several things in the past to harm us, nothing too intense, but this time it was different. He was really pissed at us because a month ago, we sabotaged one of his drug operations in which he was going to supply it to the teenagers of our city, and when across that information, we knew we had to do something. I still remember what he said that day,  “You better watch your back because someday when you won’t be looking, everything you hold dear will be destroyed. You know I stay true to my words.” So here I was, breaking the heart of the woman I would do anything for.

“What? Why not?” She asked with furrowed eyebrows, clearly confused with the switch in my behaviour.

I sighed and tried to find an excuse to just keep her at bay, for now at least. “Naina, it’s just that.. let’s not rush into things you know. Trust me, we will announce our relationship but give it some time,” I hesitated slightly before saying what I was about to say, “I’m not ready, yet.”

I regretted those words the minute they left my lips, but it was too late. If I hadn’t hurt her deeply before, I definitely did now. She didn’t utter a single word and just looked away. I just wanted to bring her into my arms and profusely apologise for everything I said today, but I couldn’t. Instead, I just sat there, looking away from her.

There was a pregnant silence between us before she spoke up again, her voice colder than before.

“You may think I’m a bitch for a saying this, but I don’t care, I’m not buying that bullshit. I’ve heard that one too many times to believe it. Now, if you’re done with your lame ass excuses, I have to go. I’m already running late for work.” She started the car and looked straight ahead, not letting her face show any emotions except for one but I could tell she was mad, no no not even mad, she was livid. Not gonna lie, it was scary.

“Wait, sweetheart just listen to me—“
“Get out,” she spit out and paused, then looked me dead in the eyes, “and don’t fucking call me sweetheart.”
Yeah, I royally fucked up.

I was about to protest when my phone rang, it was Kabir, and I know what this phone call was about. Begrudgingly, I got out of her car, but she didn’t even bother to look at me. I picked up the call and watched as she drove away. ‘How was I gonna fix this mess?’ I thought to myself.

“Hey, meet me at my place in 15 minutes. He’s back at the racetracks.” Kabir spoke up from the other side of the phone. Not in the mood to talk much, I briskly replied, ‘Yeah, coming’, and cut the call.

Sighing, I got into my car, troubled by my own thoughts and drove to Kabir’s house.

Vikram's suspicious presence at numerous racing events this weekend had raised red flags. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was up to something big.