CHAPTER 3

Nandani's POV

I was getting ready to go to the cruise party which Meher had organized for me. I did not want to attend that party but Meher had called me 50 times since morning to ensure that I was coming. Not only that he sent a dress and accessories for me. I applied light makeup and matched my outfit with white heels. I curled up my hairs and left it open

I looked at myself in the mirror and saw Meher standing at the door. I turned behind.

"Meher, how am I looking?"

He was staring at me, without blinking his eyes. Am I looking that ugly?

"Meyer. I am asking you something," I told irritably but to no avail. He is having a serious issue with his ears. I went near him and snapped my fingers and finally, he came out of his trance.

"Yes, tell me," he said smiling.

"What yes, tell me? Where the hell was you lost?", I asked angrily.

"In you", he mumbled.

"What?", I asked confusingly.

"Umm, I---I want to say something"

"Ya tell me", I replied grabbing my phone from the bed.

"Nandani-----I----I---love----", he stammered and I looked at him with my eyes wide open. Is he about to propose to me?

"Meher?"

"Nandani---I love--", he was about to say but his phone started to ring.

"It's Radhika", he said and answered the call.

"What the fuck----Meher where the hell are you? I am calling for the past 30 minutes?", Radhika shouted at her and poor Meher the phone fell from his hand.

I could not stop myself from laughing and Meher smiled looking at me.

"Radhika, we will be there in 30 minutes", he replied and hung up the phone.

"Should we leave?", he asked offering his arms like a gentleman. I nodded and held his arms and went downstairs. Mrs. Baker was waiting for me at the door and when she saw me, she hugged me tightly.

"Happy Birthday baby"

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Baker. How was your vacation?", I asked hugging her back.

"It was pretty good. I returned in the afternoon", She replied.

"Then why did you join your work from today? You better take a leave for a week, you might be tired", I replied.

"You care so much for your servants", She replied with tears in her eyes and her words made me angry.

"Servant? Dare if you call yourself a servant again. You are a part of my family," I replied wiping off her tears.

She put her hand in her pocket and removed a box that was wrapped with gift paper.

"Is this for me?", I inquired and she nodded. I unwrapped the gift paper and opened the box and found a pendant. It was a beautiful heart-shaped pendant.

"Aww thank you so much, Mrs. Baker, for this amazing gift", I replied hugging her.

"I am glad you liked it, this is so cheap in front of the accessories which you wear", Mrs. Baker replied.

"Mrs. Baker, do you want me to be angry with you and not talk to you ever?", I asked angrily and she replied a no.

"So, better stop telling all these foolish things. It's one of the most precious gifts for me", I replied kissing her cheeks.

"You are going somewhere?", she inquired.

"Yes. Meher has organized a birthday party for me. I will return home tomorrow morning," I replied.

"Hmmm, birthday party!", Mrs. Baker teased.

"Mrs. Baker, we are just friends", I replied.

"Yes Yes, you both go, you are getting late, isn't it Meher?" She asked smiling and Meher blushed.

"Meher, why are you blushing like a girl?", I asked him.

"No...no...where...where....am I blushing? Come we will leave. Bye Mrs. Baker", Meher said.

"Bye, All the best," Mrs. Baker replied, winking and Meher thanked her.

"What is going on?", I asked looking at both of them.

"Nothing", they replied showing their 32 teeth.

"Shall we leave?", I asked and Meher nodded. We went to the parking area. Meher opened the door of the car for me and I sat inside. He sat on the driving seat and we drove off to the dock where the cruise was waiting for us. We boarded the cruise and the cruise left from the dock.

Radhika came and hugged me tightly.

"Happy Birthday Babe. You look beautiful"

"Thank you, even you are looking gorgeous", I replied smiling.

"Happy Birthday Nandani", Pranay told looking at me intensely but I ignored him and started meeting my friends.

Radhika played some loud music and everyone started to dance. Pranay held Radhika's waist tightly and took her to the dance floor and started to dance with her. Looking at their closeness, tears welled up in my eyes. I was about to leave from there but Meher held my hand and I looked at him.

"Nandani I want to say something", He said softly.

"Yes?"

"Nandani, I...I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Meher, what are you saying?", I asked.

"Nandani, Trust me I love you, just gimme a chance please?" He requested holding my hand.

"Meher I have always considered you only a friend, not more than that", I replied.

"Why Nandani? You could give Pranay a chance so why can't you give a chance to me? Why don't you understand that I love you, damn it?", he yelled furiously and I jumped in fear. Everyone started looking at us and tears welled up in my eyes.

"Nandani, I...I...am sorry...", Meher tried to speak but I pushed away from his hands and ran from there. I bumped into a waiter and the champagne which he was carrying spilled over on my dress. I ran to the restroom and locked the door.

I heard some noises from the verandah. I followed those voices and what I saw next, shocked me to my core. A man shot a waiter and he was lying dead on the floor. I screamed in fear which gained the attention of that killer. I was about to flee from there when I heard that man saying to a girl, "Mukti, catch her, don't let her go"

A girl ran after me. She caught my arm and pinned me to the wall. She kept her hand on my mouth so I couldn't yell. Suddenly, another group of five people came with rifles in their hand and their face was covered with a mask.

They shot the killer on his arm and his gun fell on the floor. Despite the killer getting wounded badly, he did some martial art stunt and beat the shit out of that man who shot him. I was impressed.

Wait, Nandani, stop getting fascinated. You need to be afraid of him.

One of the men with golden eyes told, "Cabir, our ship has come. Let's leave."

"What about this girl?", The killer asked staring at me.

"Let's take her along, we will decide later what to do with her", the golden-eyed replied.

The killer came towards me and hit me on my head with the back of his gun and everything blackened out in front of my eyes. Darkness engulfed me.