...

THAT NEW YEAR'S night, as I entered my cabin, I spotted her, a beautiful someone frozen in time, checking out the painting. Those weren't just artworks; they each had a story.

And one of them was a woman with the cherry, which was a piece from my ex during a crazy breakup.

See, the breakup wasn't the usual heartbreak story; during the outburst, the passion had fizzled out, and we ended up having breakup sex.

The reason for the breakup was that she wanted more from me, but my work had me tied down. We argued, she left, and I kept the painting not for its artistic value but as a memento of our wild time together.

"Miss...Sahej." The words felt weird, like they didn't belong to me. I couldn't quite put my finger on why it felt so odd, but something was intriguing about her being there.

She was wearing a party dress, and a matching ivory tie was lying beside her heels.

I saw her failed attempt at tying her hair; in between, I saw glimpses of her bare back.

For a sec, I wanted to touch her skin to see if it could warm my hand.

But she turned around, and it was like the world had hit pause. Everything around me mellowed out, and there was this low hum in my ears.

I had enough air left to declare someone guilty of looking at her in that way.

She was the most beautiful girl I witnessed.

For the first time, I felt this weird electricity buzzing through me. It hit me right in the heart, playing games with it and slowing down time.

Her voice brought me back to reality, like the air had found its usual flow again, and I was being pushed from the cliff. It was like a star coming back to its origin after a wild journey.

Her gaze held the power that met mine.

So there she stood, and I was dying to know why she chose to stay.

I moved for her to take a seat, and as it turned out, she came to hand me a card. But after a while, she zoned out, eyes fixed on something outside, lost in thought.

Well, I didn't give much thought to her equation with her dad, because I could see she had tears in her eyes, which she was hiding and controlling. I see that it was a sensitive subject for her.

I raised my voice to get her attention back, but she seemed encrossed in painting.

And standing beside someone in silence, having a talk on painting, feeling calm? Can all this turn someone on?

Uhhh, yes, it can.

But before I think of something else, after a bit of quiet, she finally decided to talk while we were taking a walk outside in the garden.

For a weird reason, I wanted 12 pm to happen right there and then so the next day it could always go in my history...of ADYANTHAYA...that I spent it with someone special for a reason that I haven't yet figured out.

✦ ✦ ✦

Ｔｗｏ Ｗｅｅｋｓ

And it feels like a year since I last went on a date. I never thought I'd actually go this hard just to make someone feel comfortable. I even served a whole rooftop section of my hotel so we wouldn't be disturbed. I even went the extra mile to low-key spy on her favorite orders.

Since she's a frequent go-to at the Gitanjali Hotel with her friends, I just asked the chefs what the 'owner's daughter' usually likes to eat.

Well, it wasn't even that deep for me. Her dad and my adoptive father are basically besties, so that connection is definitely helping me secure my position and get closer to her.

It was our first date, and I didn't want to take any risks because I didn't want this date to be our last.

Definitely not...

I have to say that when she walked in, my eyes were like they were stuck on the most beautiful human being I've ever seen.

Such a pure and innocent work of art. I couldn't help but be completely mesmerized by her. It's too fast for me to get mesmerized by a woman, but it wasn't in my hands.

Just losing for a while is not a losing game, Tapish.

I want to tell her something about how lovely she looks. It's almost as if she hasn't put much effort in. She appears ineffective about this date. She's the kind of beauty that challenges beauty standards.

This is something new to me. What is it about her that makes me feel so out of control? And focused. When I'm attracted to someone, I notice every damn thing about them. That's really rare for me, and it occurs without my knowledge.

It's like there's something in my heart that's itching to come out, but I'm hesitant to let it.

Instead, I let those black roses do the talking for me. They were mine first, and I brought them for someone special. True, if I may speak, I'm not even sure why I chose them, but they just seem to express what I'm feeling perfectly.

And the desire grew stronger as the rim of her glass brushed her lip, but much more so when the juice touched her lips. Oh, my! It's getting damn tricky. If a person like me sits down with someone like Sahej, sharing a glass of red wine, and she's drinking cranberry juice, then yeah, it's a...complex matter for me.

A very complex matter!

But I signed up for it.

If I am the North Pole's enigma, she is the South Pole's mystery.

She's mysterious.

Just like me, but in a different way.

She comes from a place where I was born, but she is far from its center.

Even though I'm feeling a bit out of breath... I'm sitting straight, but something about the way she devours the juice reminds me to be in control.

The crimson liquid on her lips is impossible to ignore. It's a small moment, but it definitely stuck with me.

Like something didn't kill me just so I could see her.

And in between, I get a single text that's very urgent. Quickly sorting them out.

Let's not forget that as soon as she sits, she starts firing questions at me like bullets.

She cuts to the chase.

Her eyes are silently screaming at me, and I can't help but smile when she imitates me while acting as if she doesn't know my name.

But her name is seared into my head with the knife's scorching, sharp edges. And one more thing: if she acted, then it's good, but if she forgot my name, then I will make sure she remembers it for the rest of her life. No, it's not a threat.

I tried to be gentle with her, but her questions about Monty were bothering me. The fact that she doesn't know him makes it better that she doesn't get to know him.

Her father and I will handle the rest.

I realized there was tension between us. I'd been feeling it, but for the first time, I am seeing it in her eyes. I hope she is not a woman who gets intimidated by men. If that's the case, then. I need to know. But it is too soon to be discussed. But I want to give myself the benefit of the doubt that she doesn't.

The date showed me lots of things.

She knows how to fire back and possesses strength.

That's interesting, because I perceive her as someone who talks less.

She made it clear she isn't interested.

See, I never really thought about this whole date thing. The idea of ​​a date doesn't even cross my mind. Her father was very worried about that club night- she being held at gunpoint- and he told me that his daughter is very stubborn, and for some reason, they don't get along. But his concern plants a seed of something that I would like to keep hidden.

*

I decide to be honest, which is a rare trait for me. I usually keep things under wraps, but not this time. My honesty lies in the intricacies of my work, a mystery I choose to keep.

One of the mysteries is that it wasn't until the last six months that I discovered Mr. Luthra has a daughter named Sahej who lives in London, a fact shrouded in secrecy. Up until just two weeks back, I only caught glimpses of Sahej in a picture adorning the walls of his home.

Beyond that, she remained out of my sight, simply because of the reawakening. It wasn't until I stumbled upon one of her paintings at an auction that I learned she was an artist. The pieces were mysterious and infused with a dark undertone, yet there was hope. When I asked about the artist behind the captivating paintings, her father revealed her identity.

Then he told me for the first time that he has a daughter from his first wife, Gitanjali. I do feel bad because she was six years old when she last saw her mom.

Her mother died of an illness, hallucinations, depression, and other mental problems.

I feel really bad for her mother.

I don't know much about it, but I do know Sahej has less memory of her mother. But she resembles her so much. I, too, was perplexed at first.

My reasons for dating her are simple, as I told her. I want to date someone now... It's time for me to move on from my ex. Well, I already did. But dating again wasn't on my list, and it's been a little over a year. No, sex is not the reason. I definitely want to start afresh, as her dad's asking me for a favor, and my attraction just happened like a coincidence.

The idea of ​​her not wanting me gnaws at me. I need a solid reason to deal with the impending rejection. So, I make one last attempt, and at the same time, she has the right to know.

"You are... you are beautiful," I confess, laying everything bare and sharing things I hadn't even considered saying.

When I tell her this, her eyes transform into this intense shade of deep brown, overpowering the ambient lights around us.

I'm really paying attention to what she's saying. In fact, I find myself lost in thought, realizing that her voice has a certain texture that evokes a comforting warmth.

Then she mentioned that my expressions always exude a business vibe, and I felt quite disappointed. But, you know, I might not be into that yet.

It's strange because whenever I attend any party, the spotlight is always on me.

But in the spotlight, phenomena are different in my world.

It's as if some big name were present at any party; everyone's eyes are on me.

Well, on that one night, for some reason, my gaze was searching for her. That moment was short. Just a matter of seconds, but it was the first time a girl occupied my thoughts at a party. That's when I decided to take my first step into that event, thinking Sahej must be there.

Well, there were a lot of firsts for me that night, but let's skip that; we can delve into it later.

Only let me add a little; I saw her looking at my picture.

When the subject of her paintings came up during our date, the first thing that came to mind was, "Didn't she take note of my compliment?" Meeting her in person perplexes me. How could she think her paintings were undervalued?

Then she shares her point of view.

I must admit, I'm a bit harsh with my words. But her belief is no less harsh.

That people only buy her paintings because of her last name, Luthra, strikes me as unnecessarily harsh.

She's putting too much pressure on herself.

It's possible that she must have heard a few things or gossip and internalized them, but it's also entirely plausible that people genuinely appreciate her art for what it is. In a place where the value of art is often overlooked, having a famous name linked to the artwork can definitely boost how people see the value of those paintings.

After all, I'm pleased to see that she continues to pour her efforts into her work.

Well, as I was saying, I find myself caught between conflicting thoughts.

Our date ended, and I felt like I wanted to spend more time with her. After knowing her, I feel like I want to know her more.

This night has become so special for me. It made me feel relaxed, and yet she challenged me and my thoughts.

I overheard her friend's conversation when they called her. "If she becomes someone's canvas?" or something like that, and a need arose in me. So I named her Lienzo.

My ideas, on the other hand, are not entirely innocent. And no, it doesn't scream "lovemaking."

. . . . ╰──╮𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪╭──╯ . . . .

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XOXO💚streetlight389 ❤️‍🩹