Radhika's Crush Pt. 01

Radhika Mukherjee entered her room at the Regency Hotel, stashed her airport shoes and walked casually to the mirror. She admired herself with a quick pose and checked out her airport bun once more and smiled to herself. She had caught 5 men noticing her hair bun including the cab driver. But they were so timid and intimidated by her that they didn't dare utter a bad word. She loved that about herself. She loved to see them fumble.

She undid her bun and let her hair down. She had to start getting ready, if she wants to make it to the lunch at Safia's place. She quickly opened her neatly packed suitcase and took out a saari. She decided she was going to dress to kill. It was a while since she was invited to a wedding and ever since getting engaged to Rishu, this was the first wedding. So this could be very well her last wedding invitation while she was single. Well technically anyway.

She put her hair up again and jumped into the shower. As the water started flowing off her body, her mind wandered away.

Thank God Rishu is arriving tomorrow. She will checkout the scene before he gets here. She know all the types of men Rishu would be jealous with. It's so fun teasing him! Oh my god, this wedding is going to be so much fun! Mrinalini, Srijeeta, Sakshi all together again! They will bully Rishu so much! It will be so fun to watch. Was she really getting married to Rishu so she could just toy with him? Well, it's not a bad reason! Rishu loves me with open hair. Maybe today I'll keep my hair open and share a picture to Rishu. It will make him so jealous! I wish I meet a guy and ask him to play with my hair.

She jumped off the shower and slid after putting on make up and wearing her saari casually, She stood in front of the mirror again and admired her.

She looked stunning and since this was informal, she put on her nerd glasses just to tick all the boxes. She was a diva and she loved it!

***

As she entered the big palace where Safia's wedding venue, it was filled with people. It was like all the Royals were there. Rishu would feel so out of place here! She spotted Safia and went in like a bullet and hugged her.

"Safia baby, you are looking so damn gorgeous, girl!"

"Likewise, likewise, I see the hair is down. Hunting mood are you?"

Radhika ran her fingers through her hair and nodded mockingly.

"Good for you, girl! When is Rishu arriving?"

"Tomorrow! Lol"

"Haha, that gives you a day. Look around."

That's exactly what she planned to do. She wanted to see the fish in the sea before making a move. Who would Rishu feel the most jealous with.

She also wanted to be at a distance. Too much crowd clouded her mind's eye. She wandered off through a door and another corridor. The crowd started to thin a bit and then she found a Royal swimming pool which looked like it was used by a Mughal emperor. She instantly felt a rush in her head. She really loved the place. She took out a cigarette from her purse and started looking for her lighter.

"Need a light?"

She looked up. There stood a gorgeous 36 year-old man. At 6 foot 2, he had the right amount of beard that made him look handsome. And most importantly, he looked like he belonged to the place. If there was a film about a Mughal Emperor this would be him. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

"Yes, actually." she said after what seemed like she had been staring at him quite a while. If lighting a cigarette is what it takes to be close to him, she would take it, sure.

"Looking for peace and quiet?" he said.

"Yeah. It's a little stuffy inside. But I had to make it to my best friend's wedding."

"Oh, I am yet to know a lot about Safia as her cousin. clearly"

Radhika found herself turning toward the handsome man. There was something about him that Radhika had never experienced before. The electricity was stupendous! She felt like she was 17 again and discovering her fantasies with older men. Safia never said anything about her cousin ever. This is new.

"Well, actually, step-cousin. Her mother remarried to my uncle. I guess that makes it step-cousin. But Safia always told me that I'm her cousin soo."

"Oh that's cool! It's been a while since I caught up with her actually."

She ran her fingers through her hair and took a puff of smoke. She really felt comfortable sitting here. There was something about him. Maybe this is what they call soulmate.

"You really have gorgeous hair by the way."

Now Radhika blushed before she could control. Her face split into a smile and she couldn't help but giggle a bit. Usually, she was not a girl who could be surprised by many men but with this "step-cousin" she felt giggly and like a friend without any agenda. Maybe that was why she was falling for him.

"Imtiyaz here, by the way" and a hand stretched out.

"Radhika."

"Oh, I may have heard about you!" he said.

"Oh really? What have you heard?"

"Well, something like a shehzadi"

She blushed again. "Shehzadi" was the nickname Safia called her in college days.

"Yes, and also that you are getting married in a few months"

Uh oh. There goes her weekend.

"I'm surprised you found your match!"

"I'm sorry?"

"Well, you are clearly a mythical creature. There won't be many men in this generation who can handle a Goddess. so I am surprised you are getting married."

That was a bold opening line! She didn't know if it was a compliment or he was making fun of her.

She smiled and flipped her hair.

Imtiyaz's eyes followed through her gorgeous long hair and he knew that she was a wild woman. The kind of woman you don't try to tame. Instantly, he felt his insides churn and lust take over. Adrenaline rushed through his nostrils. That is such a nice smell. The fairmonts of a soulmate. For a minute, he didn't want anything more than to do something cruel to her fiance and make him suffer as a punishment for having such gorgeous woman.

TO BE CONTINUED...