The Devil's Sweetheart

Standing in front of the closed door, Daisy, Leah, and Katherine were banging the door for the nth time, but there was no wind from the other end. Since morning, Leena has locked up in her room after finishing her breakfast. It was already dinner time, yet she didn't turn up. Neither she is talking nor responding to their pleas which is frightening everyone.

"Did something happen after breakfast?" With a worried expression, Daisy inquired looking at her daughter.

"No idea mom. But I heard from Salsa that she ran away in the middle of their conversation." Leah replied. She tried to enquire about their exchanges, but Salsa was keeping mum to it without revealing anything.

"Let's go, mom. It's of no use calling her. She will come down once she is hungry." Everyone knew Leena cannot survive without food for even an hour. But to their surprise, that glutton locked herself without eating for the entire day.

"Poor child. She hasn't eaten anything other than drinking the banana smoothie." Daisy informed her husband after coming down from Leena's room.

"Let's wait for another hour. We will open with the spare key if she is not showing up." Mark suggested.

"That is the only option we have," Leah sighed.

....

Lying on the couch with her legs crossed, occasionally munching over the chocolates and cookies which Salsa has brought to her secretively, Leena was watching Tom and Jerry cartoon with interest not entertaining their pleas or threats even after her door was banged continuously. She has been watching the episode in a repetitive mode where Jerry was beaten to death by Tom which has matched with her current situation exactly.

"There there! Hit his leg. Thrash his back now. That's my Tom!" Leena slapped her thigh with boisterous mirth.

She imagined herself in Tom's character while Jerry obviously Devin judging by her current mood. Since morning, he did not even step into the room, happily chatting with his childhood sweetheart. Leena dared to admit, she was missing him, his teasing, his sallies.

She already convinced her angel to leave the washroom matter if he shows up and apologizes to her, but not anymore. She changed her mind. Looks like that idiot is not even bothered about her roommate.

Little did she knew, Devin was out of the station. He went to the office when Harley called over for urgent work. Devin was hell scared to enter the room, for he had teased her a lot in the morning and he knew it would yield no good for him if he would turn up in front of her. Had he knew his sweetheart has not eaten anything, he would have rushed leaving everything behind.

Leena's thoughts ended when the lock of the door was opened from the outside. Her face lit up suddenly thinking it must be him but her disappointment instantly died down hearing the footsteps. Hiding her chocolates under the blanket, Leena turned around to see the intruder who has broken into her space.

"Hey, Leena! I heard you did not have your lunch and dinner. Are you all right?" Walking towards her, Trent questioned with a smile.

"Ummm...Actually, I am not hungry, but how did you get the key?" Unlike before, Leena didn't show her arrogance when he has come to check on her. Even though she doesn't like men, she is not someone to get angry with every man for all petty things.

"I was concerned about you. So I asked Aunt Daisy if she had any spare keys. I hope you are not bothered by my sudden presence?" He asked.

"No." Pointing to the chair, she smiled and added. "You can sit over there."

"Thank you."

The door was unfastened before he could take his seat.

"Bro, can you come to my room? I am stuck with something." Gasping for breath, Austin uttered breathlessly as if he has come from a marathon race. Before going to the office, Devin clearly warned him not to allow anyone near Leena especially Trent. When he saw Trent moving into Leena's room, out of fear, he immediately rushed to stop him.

"What is this idiot doing here?" Leena muttered inwardly mocking at his disheveled shirt and hair.

"What is it? If anything, can we do it later?" Trent said. He doesn't understand if Austin is dumb or pretending to be one when he has been giving signs of wanting to talk with Leena alone. Yesterday when he arrived for the ten-day wedding tour, the linked room was first assigned to him. Since he wanted to enjoy the scenic beauty of the city, he requested the room according to his choice. But it did not hit his brain that Leena was already staying next to his room. He tried to reconsider, but there was already someone in the room when he approached to bargain. When he knew who it was, he stopped. He did not dare to provoke Wang Devin. It's just a room he has eluded to Devin, he will not let Leena slip from his hands.

"Please understand bro, It's quite urgent!" Austin begged, his voice almost crying. If Trent doesn't get up now, he will have to forget his honeymoon which he has been anticipating for a longer time. The devil has promised a modest walled Villa as his wedding gift under Wang properties but with conditions applied. He has to guard his sweetheart today and also for the ten days she would be living here in case he is out for some work. Devin has lured Austin with his dream house which he had set his eyes the moment he saw the blueprint of the construction. Although he doesn't lack money, he was happy that it is arriving as a free gift. So Austin gladly accepted the offer.

"She has been treated as if she is a princess from the hidden land." Disdainfully looking at the clueless monster, Austin muttered under his breath.

"Can you please come with me?" Austin pleaded Trent again.

"Alright." He sighed. "I will catch you later Leena." Trent reluctantly got up after bidding goodbye to Leena. He made a note to reprimand Austin once he is out of the room. Leah and Austin have soured his heights letting him imagine his relationship with Leena in all the possible ways, but even a single percent is not happening according to his fascination here.

"I still doubt you did not eat anything since morning." Austin poked her before he was dragged away by Trent. He knew her food habits. Even if nothing is accessible to her, she will live her life if there is a little grass somewhere. She can even eat that like a cow.

"Do you want to get beaten again?" Leena yelled at the goofy Austin. Slowly she took out her chocolates and cookies which she has hidden under the blanket. Eating them, she started watching Tom and Jerry's show again.

Laughing and giggling to the punching sounds of Tom and the cries of Jerry whenever she was thrashed, Leena was enjoying the show until the door was locked open. The footsteps she heard were crisp and clear this time. She knew it. It is him. Her eyes twinkled like stars with the thought. At once Leena closed her eyes to inhale the whiff of the familiar woody cinnamon musk.. Even if the place is fully crowded, she can discern him with her eyes closed.