Read Online A Perfect Mismatch by Leena Varghese - Free Book Online
Authors: Leena Varghese
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paying her a compliment! But he continued huskily, “But you need practice. The tie is perfectly done though. Thank you.” Armaan brushed the knuckles of his hand on her cheek. The look of challenge was mutual, he noted with satisfaction and stepped back from her to turn away. He wore his jacket with a flourish and ran a hand through his hair.
Zara realized she was trembling from head to toe after that close encounter though she was loath to reveal her true feelings.
“Shall we go then?” Armaan asked mockingly, offering her his arm.
“Of course,” said Zara, through teeth gritted tight and sailed ahead of him ignoring his proffered arm.
Life settled into a rhythm once the excitement of the wedding seeped away from the household. Zara adjusted quickly to the routine of being Armaan’s invisible wife and Vini’s loving daughter-in-law, quite efficiently. To her relief Aparna was civil though stiffly formal. The children were most easy to get along with. Absolutely impish, the two of them became a comfort to her.
Zara was also surprised to note that Armaan was very fond of them. His unabashed affection for the little ones was in complete contrast with his usual callous attitude.Sometimes she would covertly watch him playing football in the garden or gamboling on the grass to the utter delight of the children who tumbled over him in abandon.
Zara began to love the comfort of having a family although they had not been a part of her life a few weeks ago. Work was still a sanctuary for her as Zara resumed going to office as soon as her leave was over.
Armaan broached the subject with Vini about moving out to his apartment rather tentatively. Vini was aghast, promptly giving a stringent lecture to her ‘heartless’ son on the joys of living with a large family. He could only seethe, waiting until Vini was in a better frame of health. After all it had been only a few weeks since her near fatal illness.
Armaan decided to bide his time. The setback was swallowed stoically by Zara who was beginning to feel a conflicting range of emotions concerning the issue. She was beginning to love being a part of a family too much.
She returned home with a splitting headache one evening and walked straight to her room after excusing herself from the dinner table. She saw Armaan look up from his meal. Vini was concerned and sent up some hot soup and medication. Zara was touched, realizing with a pang, that it had been a very long time since someone had cared for her.
After a bath, she swallowed the painkiller and settled down with her laptop on the couch. Within minutes her head dipped and she dozed with her laptop still on.
When Armaan entered the room, he stopped short at the sight of Zara sleeping on the sofa. He tried to ignoreher as usual. It was impossible! Well almost, he decided firmly. She was the last person he needed to befriend. He showered and changed before slipping into bed.
He was about to switch off the light when he saw Zara turn on the sofa, her position now precarious. If she turns once more, she might slip off. Well, good for her! That would teach her not to mess with him, he thought grumpily. He had not forgotten the challenge in her eyes when she had tightened the tie around his neck like a noose. It had enraged him, challenged him to strike back … aroused him enough to crush her beneath him and make love … He shook his head at the thoughts that were leading him in the direction he had been trying to avoid. Every time their eyes met, every time Zara was in the same room she was able to arouse such paradoxical emotions in him that he had to question the feasibility of this marriage.
She slept so peacefully that he could not resist the urge to study her more closely. It was only curiosity, he told himself, as he padded softly to stand in front of her. He noted the idle way her silken hair drifted about her face. The silk baby blue pajamas were ludicrously loose, floating about her with sleeves that were
Zara realized she was trembling from head to toe after that close encounter though she was loath to reveal her true feelings.
“Shall we go then?” Armaan asked mockingly, offering her his arm.
“Of course,” said Zara, through teeth gritted tight and sailed ahead of him ignoring his proffered arm.
Life settled into a rhythm once the excitement of the wedding seeped away from the household. Zara adjusted quickly to the routine of being Armaan’s invisible wife and Vini’s loving daughter-in-law, quite efficiently. To her relief Aparna was civil though stiffly formal. The children were most easy to get along with. Absolutely impish, the two of them became a comfort to her.
Zara was also surprised to note that Armaan was very fond of them. His unabashed affection for the little ones was in complete contrast with his usual callous attitude.Sometimes she would covertly watch him playing football in the garden or gamboling on the grass to the utter delight of the children who tumbled over him in abandon.
Zara began to love the comfort of having a family although they had not been a part of her life a few weeks ago. Work was still a sanctuary for her as Zara resumed going to office as soon as her leave was over.
Armaan broached the subject with Vini about moving out to his apartment rather tentatively. Vini was aghast, promptly giving a stringent lecture to her ‘heartless’ son on the joys of living with a large family. He could only seethe, waiting until Vini was in a better frame of health. After all it had been only a few weeks since her near fatal illness.
Armaan decided to bide his time. The setback was swallowed stoically by Zara who was beginning to feel a conflicting range of emotions concerning the issue. She was beginning to love being a part of a family too much.
She returned home with a splitting headache one evening and walked straight to her room after excusing herself from the dinner table. She saw Armaan look up from his meal. Vini was concerned and sent up some hot soup and medication. Zara was touched, realizing with a pang, that it had been a very long time since someone had cared for her.
After a bath, she swallowed the painkiller and settled down with her laptop on the couch. Within minutes her head dipped and she dozed with her laptop still on.
When Armaan entered the room, he stopped short at the sight of Zara sleeping on the sofa. He tried to ignoreher as usual. It was impossible! Well almost, he decided firmly. She was the last person he needed to befriend. He showered and changed before slipping into bed.
He was about to switch off the light when he saw Zara turn on the sofa, her position now precarious. If she turns once more, she might slip off. Well, good for her! That would teach her not to mess with him, he thought grumpily. He had not forgotten the challenge in her eyes when she had tightened the tie around his neck like a noose. It had enraged him, challenged him to strike back … aroused him enough to crush her beneath him and make love … He shook his head at the thoughts that were leading him in the direction he had been trying to avoid. Every time their eyes met, every time Zara was in the same room she was able to arouse such paradoxical emotions in him that he had to question the feasibility of this marriage.
She slept so peacefully that he could not resist the urge to study her more closely. It was only curiosity, he told himself, as he padded softly to stand in front of her. He noted the idle way her silken hair drifted about her face. The silk baby blue pajamas were ludicrously loose, floating about her with sleeves that were
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