"Isn't it getting too much risky, Ms. Ananya?" Arjun asked turning to her.
"Risky?"
"Imagine there is no one. Only you, me, and the silence. What if I do anything to you? Even if you scream for help still it's impossible to reach anyone. Simply just two of us?" Arjun whispered in his husky tone moving a little close to her.
"No chance. If your words are valued then last time you told me that I'm not suitable for you, not of your standard, don't wanna see my face, you don't need girls, girls run behind you blah blah blah..."
Arjun rolled his eyes in amusement.
"Aren't you talking too much Miss? Don't be so daring. Things can change anytime. The only change is constant."
"Finished? Now can you please start the car? I'm getting bored of your super boring talks."
Arjun started driving with his lips curled up admiringly.
"I don't wanna go home. What if I opened up to Dadi about today? No, I can't let that happen. I won't let that man come near her. He doesn't deserve to meet her. He doesn't."
Arjun heard Ananya mumbling something on her own, venturing into her world. He got stern projecting his attention to her with the hope of learning what she was saying.
From her facial expression, he could say she was sad, missing something.
"What you don't wanna say, Dadi?" Arjun spoke up.
"Me?"
"Is there anyone else except us?"
"No. Yeah, you are asking me. But what were you asking?"
"What's the matter that you don't want Dadi to know?"
"Me?"
Arjun felt like hitting his head on the steering wheel.
"Nothing. You drive na? You question too much. Don't behave like a question bank." She blurted irritatingly.
Arjun again concentrated on the road. His conscience was telling him that there is something behind the curtain which he couldn't see but he very well knew if he forces her things will get worse.
The car entered passing the main gate. Once Arjun stopped the car Ananya jumped out of the car. She started running through the small pathway in the garden.
"Ananya, don't run. You will fall."
"Don't act like Dadi, man!"
Arjun followed her. In between walking behind her with long strides, his eyes got stuck on her feet which were bleeding.
"Ananya stop!" He screamed.
He pulled her towards him.
"What?"
"Why is your leg bleeding?"
"Ouu that? It's nothing. The lady constable was dragging me, and while fighting with her my leg gets slipped and I fell." She said casually.
"Now let me go. God, you don't even let that innocent lady."
"Come with up." He took her inside.
"Sit here." Making her sit he went upstairs for a first-aid box. Once he returned his eyes widened open seeing the condition of his beloved house. Things in the hall were scattered. The cover of the sofa was not in its place. All the cushions were crawling on the floor. He got a call from his dad that's why he became late and within that time Ananya had changed the view of the hall totally. A vase was broken. The fridge was opened.
You should thank God that it's you otherwise that person must have kissing the mud by now.
But where the hell is she?
He made her way through the scattered thing to outside. He noticed her with a wine bottle in her hand and not to end here she is going to put the wine in a flower pot.
Shit! Ananya. He hurried toward her to stop her and snatched the bottle.
"What the hell do you think you were doing?"
"Arjunn, see how dull this plant is looking so I was giving it an energy drink so that it can be as energetic as mine," she replied childishly. "Now give it back to me." She tried to snatch it from him but due to his tall figure, it was getting difficult for her to reach. She finally gave up and demanded to make a pouty face.
This woman won't stop until she gets it.
Arjun found a water bottle nearby so he brought it.
"Take this. This is the best energy drink for it."
"Ok." She took the bottle joyfully.
"Done?"
"Yup."
Arjun took her up and carried her in bridal style inside while she snaked her arms around his neck.
"Stealing is a bad thing, Ms Ananya. Don't you know?"
"I haven't stolen the wine bottle. You are my friend na? So what's yours is mine, right?" Instead of giving her an answer he kept on finding new meaning in her words. His steps got slow down. With each passing moment, Ananya's innocent talks and her sweet childish demands were making him more mesmerizingly fall for her. If she would be in her senses she must have listened to the drumming of his heart. Her each childish talk was dragging him towards her close, more deeply.
Arjun put her on the sofa. He sat down on the floor beside her. Slowly he slid up the gown below the knee. He thought Ananya will panic once he starts doing first-aid. But to his surprise neither she protested nor she screamed. Just winced a little, and tried to move back but Arjun gripped it gently with one hand. As he looked up his eyes met with her who was sitting leaning sideways on the sofa looking at him amusingly like she was watching a romantic movie.
"It's done. Let's go I will show you a room."
He took her upstairs to a room.
"Sleep here. I'm going." She just nodded silently and started checking out the surrounding like a child with enthusiasm.
"Hope you spare this room from your physical torture." He said under his breath.
Coming back downstairs he swam for a long time in the pool. He needed this one. Her closeness and her addictive fragrance were already turning him drunk without drinking. Swimming was needed to control his stormy thoughts. Only he knows how he controlled himself all the time.
After he was done he dressed up in a white casual shirt and white pajama. He made his way to her room to check her up. He knocked but got no response. He opened the door slowly in an attempt to peep inside but found none.
Where is she? He opened the door wide and entered and saw her standing on the balcony facing the sea. From one side of the house, one can enjoy the sea view. He knew Ananya loves the sea. He walked toward her to stand beside her.
"Still aw.." his words got jammed in his throat noticing little teardrops were glowing like pearls in the dark with a half-moon caressing its beauty.
"Hey," he touched her cheeks. Her attention caught him. She looked at him with her glossy inebriated eyes.
"I know something is bothering you. But I can't figure it out. Please tell me." He said soothingly. His words felt like a balm to her wounds.
"Which one should I say?" She asked innocently.
Arjun couldn't come up with a reply. There was a deep pain knitted in her question.
Hesitation was coming on his way. He was confused if he should ask about the party incident. But on the other side, his brain was telling him that maybe there was nothing, she must have told that out of a drunken state.
"Do you know Dibakar's uncle?"
"Di.. that man... He is nothing to me. No one." She said looking into his eyes.
"But..."
"You look handsome in a white shirt and wet hair." Ananya interrupted him with a smile.
"What?" He looked at her carefully as she changed the matter so casually.
"Yeah, I know you are a little arrogant but caring also."
"Really?" He asked raising his one eyebrow.
"Hmm. You are caring, responsible, and ambitious. Whoever will be your love she or he will be so lucky."
"He?"
She nodded her head up and down and turned to go. But Arjun pulled her towards his chest, keeping his right hand gently on her waist.
"Don't you wanna be that lucky one?" He whispered in his husky voice near her ears and then looked into her eyes to see her reaction. He knew he is getting daring but it was getting impossible for him to control.
"No. It should be Shriya. How close you are to her family. You are good friends and love each other."
"Shriya, from where the hell she came between us? Look carefully there is no one. Only you and me." He said looking deep into her eyes.
She said nothing. The heat was rising from the closeness between them despite the cool breeze coming from the sea. Desires and passion were hoovering their thoughts.
"Anu" and with this the barricade broke open from Ananya who was never been so close to any boy or man.
"Arjun" his name only came out from her angelic voice.
The next moment his lips touched her soft ones to taste her for the first time pushing away all the hesitation. Ananya didn't stop him rather she let his tongue in. The kiss was gentle but demanding. He pulled her close, she clutched his shirt. Their tongue was moving in rhythm, passionately.
But soon realization hit him. What is he doing? Ananya was not in her proper sense. He broke the kiss. Ananya fell over his chest. He took her in his arms and led them inside. He lay down her on the soft bed and covered her with the quilt. He touched his lips on her forward. One last time he took a glance at sleeping Ananya and came out of the room.
He got back to the hall. Seeing the condition of the hall he smiled inwardly. He couldn't believe that he is the same Arjun who doesn't even let anyone enter this house, today he didn't feel a bit angry when a girl not only just entered but scattered things about his favorite place. He sat down on the sofa and closed his eyes. His eyes were still reminiscing the best moment he had just a moment ago. He kissed her, the love of his life.
He knew though Ananya was drunk it was not a one-sided kiss. She also wanted him. When he heard his name from her voice it was enough for him to know that she wanted this. And don't people in a drunken state remain the most honest? A smile crept on his lips.
But soon his facial expression turned serious. He still couldn't have the answer he want to ask her.
No, I have to talk to you Ananya. I have to know what's bothering you so much. If you don't tell me I will know myself.