The Arrangement
By: P.G. Van“Niha… I’m sorry.” His tone was sincere, and his words were clearly spoken, and the fact that he was there to apologize to her, surprised her. She looked at him and nodded, not sure what to say.
He stepped closer to her, his one hand on the window sill and his body only inches from her. “I crossed a line tonight. I was pissed that… well, I have no excuse for talking to you like that. I’m sorry.”
“You should be apologizing to Naani, not me.”
He smiled. “I did, and we’re cool. Are we cool?”
For an unknown reason, tears gathered in her eyes. “Mahen, don’t ever yell at Naani like that. Next time, I won’t walk away.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I… I don’t like…”
“Mahen, I lost my grandma recently, and I had been feeling like an orphan until I met Naani, and now, all I care about is her. I know she’s your Naani, but I’ll not allow you talk to her like that again, ever.”
“She’s your Naani, too,” he said, stretching out his hand. “Friends?”
She smiled, taking his hand in hers. “You don’t leave me much choice. I guess we have to be friends since I have to live in your house.”
“It’s yours, too, and… the shower is yours, too. You can use it anytime.”
“What?” She laughed.
“Yes, it’s yours anytime you want to use it.”
She let out a squeal of joy, and in her state of bliss, threw her arms around his neck. In her excitement, she pushed her feet off the window sill. He grunted as her weight shifted off the concrete platform and onto him. He took a few steps away from the window as he balanced her weight, and before he realized it, he fell onto her bed, and their bodies crashed, her body falling over him.
Niha felt those feelings rise again, and a flush swept over her neck, and something came to life in her lower stomach. His facial hair brushed over her skin, setting it on fire, making her body squirm. She looked at him, her eyes sweeping over his face before they stopped on his lips as she smelled his cologne, which was sharp and masculine.
When she continued to get lost in the floating moment, her eyes locked with his, sending a shiver up her spine. Mahen was even more good-looking up-close, hotter than any other man she had ever seen, and in her line of work, she had met the best of the best-looking male actors and models.
“Niha…” His voice was hoarse, and she moaned deep inside in response. “You’re so much heavier than you were a month back.
“What?” She rolled off him when his taunting words cracked through her haze.
“You’re a lot heavier than I remember.” He laughed, sitting up in her bed.
“From the time of the accident?” She twisted her nose to one side.
“Yeah… Naani feeding you too much food?” He ran his eyes over her making her feel self-conscious.
“Are you calling me fat?” She sat back, leaning her back on the headboard of the bed, hugging one of the pillows like she wanted to cover her curves.
He laughed, throwing his head back, making a zing pass through her, looking at his handsome face.
“What’s so funny, Mahen?” She glared at him.
“When I pulled you out of the car, I thought you were a child based on the weight, but now…” His voice trailed off, and a spark lit up his eyes.
“Now what?” she whispered.
“You’re beautiful… a beautiful, happy woman.”
She blushed, lowering her eyes, sucking her lower lip between her teeth. “Thank you.” She looked up again at him. “Thank you for giving me a new life.”
He nodded. “What were you running away from?”
“I… I…” she struggled to talk.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me,” he said and started to get up, but she reached out and held his wrist.
“I want to tell you… you’re the reason I’m alive and happy. It’s just…” Her voice trailed off not knowing where to start.
He smiled, patting her hand. “Maybe another time. You look tired.”
She nodded. “Good night.”
He got off the bed and walked to her bedroom door and turned to look at her. “Sleep tight. The shower is all yours after seven in the morning.”
