Free A Perfect Mismatch by Leena Varghese Page B

gathered her closer in his embrace in sheer relief and a mixture of nameless emotions he couldn’t recognize or acknowledge. He had been terrified that Zara was lying somewhere injured or worse. He didn’t want to think of the agony he had felt when he found that she had left the hotel. Unable to stand the undercurrent of tension between them, he had gone to meet an old artist friend from his college days. When he returned, Zara was gone. After waiting for half an hour with only the message left at the hotel reception, he had grown worried. When she didn’t answerhis calls he had turned the hotel and its staff upside down, grilling them about her whereabouts. Searching for her in the pouring rain under a darkening sky, he was beginning to lose his mind when he saw her huddled in the cold rain near the car. The apprehension that he had felt for the past few hours exploded without warning.
    “You imbecile! What the hell were you thinking? You just drove off without knowing the terrain!” He gripped her shoulders, looking down at her with blazing eyes.
    Zara had forgotten everything at being held in that tight clasp. She had been on the verge of tears. Oh to be safe in his arms! But then how could anything be that good. Any words of gratitude that had risen to her lips simply burnt to cinders in the flames of temper. All she had wanted was a little comfort but it was useless to expect anything from Armaan.
    “What was I supposed to do? Should I wait for you, like an obedient wife while you disappeared without a trace for hours? I am not answerable to you!” she threw back huffily.
    Armaan held up his hands in exasperation. It had been such a relief to see her a few minutes ago, safe and unharmed. He couldn’t resist gathering her close to him when he saw her look unsure and afraid. And she was yelling at him when it was all her fault!
    Angry at his own foolishness, he let go of her immediately, aware that he had revealed too much of his emotions. “You have the entire hotel staff searching for you right now! Couldn’t you call and tell me that you had plans?”
    “I informed the front desk receptionist! How would I know that the car would break down in this rain? There was no signal on the phone,” Zara was shrieking now. She rued the day she decided to marry this arrogant man.
    “What do you mean the car’s broken down?” Opening the door, he peered inside the gloomy darkness. He tried the ignition key several times but the engine was not even gurgling anymore. He slammed the door shut and glowered at her. “I am not surprised that it has broken down! Half an hour with you and anything would break down!”
    “Shut up!” She took a step in the swirling water and lost her balance. He was quick to steady her.
    “No, you shut up and listen.” Armaan struggled to keep his voice calm. “We will have to walk back. We’d be lucky if we find our way out in this rain. I didn’t get a vehicle because I took a walk around the hotel area. I didn’t think you would have come this far. When I couldn’t find you in the vicinity of the hotel, I took a lift from a passerby. We asked some people on the way and the man dropped me about a kilometer from here. I have been walking all the way from the last sign board!”
    “Alright what do we do now?” she asked a little sheepishly.
    “We walk until we find the road back to the hotel.” He flicked back the wet hair plastered on his head and began walking while trying to call the hotel. There was no signal.
    Zara was late in reacting, almost falling into the muddy waters as she tried to keep up with his swift strides. Very soon, she was falling behind and could only make out hisoutline in the dark. She wiped the water from her eyes and plodded on, stumbling once or twice. One moment he was there and then, he was gone.
    “Armaan!” she yelled in fright trying to wade through the water.
    He appeared out of nowhere and scared her again. “Why can’t you move faster?” He