10

IDHIKA

The atmosphere in my house suddenly turned strange from a warm- living setting. My heart was pounding hard like it would explode, I was not able to utter a single word as my mind was completely empty.

My fist clenched hard to my sides as the fear gripped me tightly like I was not able to escape this labyrinth. All of a sudden, I remembered his words again. In that phone call, he was gentle and calm and I just came to my sense that he was actually being manipulative.

“Idhika are you telling the truth?” My mom asked but without anger, almost gentle

My mind shifted to the door when I heard my doorbell rang, distracting my sudden overthinking. My feet slowly approached the door and my fingers brushed through the lock and in a rush opened it.

“Are you Ms. Idhika Bhattacharya?” The person in blue uniform and holding a big present with some rose bouquet.

I blinked in a shock.

What was happening exactly?

“Yes. I'm Idhika Bhattacharya.” I already regretted saying

The person gently smiled

“Oh good to see you ma'am. Someone sent this present for you and the fresh red rose bouquet.”

And now I was crashing out. I felt so stupid about this. The guy just greeted goodbye warmly and left. And my body was stuck in the same position near the door.

Well, another present and those fresh red flowers.

Was he trying to impress me or manipulate me?

How did he come to know that my favourite flowers are roses?

“IDHIKA!!!” A sharp voice spoke, my mom

She was absolutely losing her mind over this. But how did I tell her that a man dressed in a neat business suit was trying to manipulate me!

“Dibhaiiii! What is this? Am I going crazy? Absolutely. Tell who the guy is!!” Hriday menacely spoke, his eyes were glinting with mischief

“What?” I tried to sound normal

“Well these presents.”

Then a message popped on my phone screen, it was Vedant. Without any hesitation I clicked on it.

“So how are you enjoying my present sweetheart? Perhaps you will like those..i have specially picked it for you. I am going to send you more gifts unless you come to meet me.”

Anger boiled my nerves and I was feeling like throwing something at him. It wasn't a joke at all. My hands were shaking in rage but I couldn't do anything.

I had to act normally in front of my family. But how to convince myself that I was not going to get manipulated? But this damn man was irritating me more than maths.

Another message pinged up in my phone

“And yet, you can't tell them the truth. And stop getting angry sweetheart.”

Well how did he come to know that? Was he stalking me?

“Idhika!! Where are you lost?” My mom scolded

“Umm. I get it now…I know who sent those to me.”

“Who?” My brother asked, raising his one eyebrow

“Preity…. because she promised me that she would give me a birthday gift so she is giving me now as she got her money from her rich dad.”

My parents were shocked because they were curious why someone could give to me as they thought the world was a cruel place.

My mother scoffed.

“What rubbish is this?”

“She has enough money maa. She can gift anyone, can't she?” I lied

“I don't believe.” My brother's voice interrupted

“Well! Then don't. No one asked about your opinion. You're just a youngest child.” I retorted back

“What's in this? What gifts did your dear friend send you?” My father asked politely

“Umm…I ..can check.” I hurriedly opened the first box of present.

A black bodycon.

Well with a slit? Oh god I was done with him.

And a rose kabuki perfume.

I felt so utterly disgusted about the situation. I didn't know how to calm myself. This time breathing exercise also would not work. It was not good definitely .

My parents were shocked to see this and my brother was gawking at the gifts like he got some serious issues with that.

Then slowly I opened the ribbon of the another present that the man just gave me. I panicked when I lifted the box up. My gaze was fixed to the saree that was neatly folded and it looked majestic.

What the heck.

And then my gaze shifted to the note on the bouquet of roses. A neat handwriting flashed before my eyes. It was so calculating that I could feel Vedant’s presence but was physically absent.

“To my sweetheart,

You're wise enough to choose your decision, aren't you?”

No names. No more words. But a threat.

I crumbled the note with my fist immediately after reading. No one told me this before. And he shamelessly unsettled my mind with his stupid actions.

Ridiculous and absurd.

Vedant.

“Enough maa! I am going to my room to study.” I took the presents in my hand and put the bouquet on the top of it.

“Idhika! Listen…are you telling me the truth or do you have any boyfriend?” My mom asked calmly

“WHAT?”

“If you have then we can talk.” my father suggested

“Well no need to talk cause I don't have any. And Preity gifted me. If you want any queries ask her.” I was nervous at the last line

I couldn't decide what to do. I was already gone. My head was hurting so badly that I couldn't able to think straight. I stromed to my room and tossed those presents and the bouquet on the bed.

I looked at the bouquet and I quickly picked it up. It was exactly dark red roses wrapped in white gift paper with red ribbons.

My fingers brushed through the soft petals of the roses. I smelled them as if they could make me calm. I didn't know it yet that why Vedant chose me out of other girls.

Then I counted the roses one by one through my forefinger. It was exactly twenty-four. I had no idea that what it suggested. Why twenty-four?

Then I searched for my phone. Where it was? Shit.

I left it in the downstairs already. I quickly raised through the stairs only to see my phone was ringing. Panic surged me. What if it was Vedant? I quickly paced to the table.

“What happened? Why are so panicking?” My mom raised her eyebrow.

“Ah..umm a call.” I stuttered nervously

“Perhaps it's your secret boyfriend that's why.” My brother glared at me

“NO! SHUT YOUR MOUTH.” I yelled at him

Stupid younger brother. Always nagging. And it was irritating more than anything.

I rushed to my room's door and locked it as if I could only be safe here. I was clearly hating the situation like I was stuck in the same place and I couldn't escape the circumstance.

Again my phone ringed and without thinking I picked it up.

“What is your problem man!! Are you mad?” I yelled at the phone

“Calm down sweetheart.” He spoke in a very emotionaless manner like he didn't care what I call him

“You're being ridiculous.” I shouted

“And you're being angry. Perhaps hyper.”

“What are you calling me hyper? What do you want?” I asked him like he just offended me

“Meet me.”

I laughed bitterly. Oh.

“Well! I don't meet strangers.”

“Well! Perhaps strangers don't get your heart raced? And maybe your heart is screaming for me.”

What. Was. This. Man.

“I don't want to meet you Mr. Oshobho.” I said to him like it was my final answer

“I don't care what you call me but as I told you to be my fake girlfriend and you have to do it.”

“Well I don't want.” I yelled at him

“Perhaps you know the consequences?” He simply stated

My chest tightened at this sudden sentence. No. He couldn't do that.

“I won't come. I have no mood.”

“Well I think you should get your mood checked and come to meet me otherwise…I will send you presents after presents. Do you want it?” His voice was cold

“What? No away!”

“Well go and check your present at the outside of the door. You will run for it, sweetheart.”

And in the next moment I was not standing but running to the main door of my house.

I couldn't let my parents or my annoying brother see it. Well it was very much embarassing and lying constantly feel like I was betraying them.

I hurried to the door and opened it. A present box. I picked it up and running back to my room so no one could see it especially my mom. No away.

When I reached to my room, I quickly shut the door and slowly opened the ribbons of the present and finally after removing the gift paper, I lifted the lid of the box.

It was Birkin bag. A white in colour.

My jaw dropped to the floor and I thought it would just stayed in the floor…..well not so funny.

Hermes bags? It costed around ten lakhs or more.

But this bag costed sixty eight lakhs. And there was a beautiful yet stunning design on the bag. Like it was something cherry. And a red ribbon was wrapped around the handle. And my name was written at the top of the bag near the cherry symbol.

This very manipulative guy had this much of money? I couldn't believe it. My eyes were stunned.

Then I looked at my saree which was on my bed and picked it up to look the price. Well it was one lakh rupees.

What the hell. I'm crashing out seriously.

Then I looked at the price of bodycon. It was also fifty thousands rupees. And that perfume costed forty five thousands.

So total he spent around seventy two lakhs…on me!

What the actual fuck??

I couldn't take it so I called him. It ringed and then his calm soothe voice spoke.

“Told you, you will run for it, isn't you?”

“You have spent nearly seventy two lakhs for me in a day!! May I know why? You're being ridiculous and pointless!” I blunted

“I don't mind spending my money on worthy things, especially on you cause those precious things deserve to get treated well.”