By the time Zara was finished, she felt drained and just wanted to head back and sleep. She figured maybe she could just crawl back on four legs.
But well, she should just take a cab back to Selena's place then she suddenly heard the door click and found Aly entering.
'Hey, how are you?'
'Hey, i am good, just finished,' replied Zara.
' Can i see?' he said heading towards the canvas and Zara stopped him halfway.
'Nope, its not done yet.'
'Hey, just a peak?' he rebutted like a hurt child.
'No! its still not done,' she said.
She could be a little stubborn sometime and Aly knew that well and so gave up on the prospect.
'Wanna head out for some beer?' he asked.
'I am up for beer, but not for going out,' she said looking at him not exactly dressed for a night out.
'I just want to go back and get comfortable,' said Zara while she took her stuff and organised everything.
'Well, i guess I can join you at Selena's.'
'Oh wait i forgot , can you join me like an hour before heading back,' said Aly a little hesitantly.
Ofcourse he had not forgotten he came with the a purpose in mind and she knew where that purpose lied.
"And may i ask why?" said Zara as she knew he wanted to drag her in meeting some of his friends whom she did not like.
Well she didn't hate them and neither did they. There was zero animosity but well they just chilled with each other for the sake of socialising and drinking.
'Because i am the best and you love me and you are always there for me,' said Aly flashing his handsome, swoon worthy smile which initially even Zara could not resist.
'If we are meeting Maria and everyone else then you owe me big time. They drink like the Irish. And i am not dressed for a club and nor am i interested in going to one,' said Zara as she adjusted her appearance.
'You look great you know,'replied Aly who was wearing a very nice black shirt and black jeans with his brown hair nicely blow dried.
'Aly, you know how i feel about clubs,' said Zara a little irritated.
'Well, its a club and like always i have a separate reservation and no one will stop you from entering because i actually like what you are wearing, ' said Aly looking at her clothes as they both headed out of the studio.
They started walking toward the centre to a club called Opera and the evening air felt cool and pleasant on their faces.
'She called you know, she was worried about you and so was Aunt Ivana,' spoke Ally a little carefully.
'Yeah she visited me today, she even set me a hair appointment,' said Zara completely ignoring the mention of the first person. They kept quite for a minute looking forward at the the bustling city.
'Well, I had an early supper with the guy i was telling you about and he invited me for a formal dinner to a very classy Japanese Restaurant. Also, I finally hired a pet walker,' spoke Aly rather excitedly.
'That's great, i guess Sofia can get some rest now.'
After that Zara went quite as she was thinking over what to tell Aly. But then she finally said.
'You know the muscular guy, umm well Martin. He called me today and well he asked to meet up tomorrow.'
'We spoke briefly as i got busy with the paints.'
'I am not sure i should go and meet up. But then there is nothing wrong with meeting up and connecting. I mean he is in the same field as us and he messaged me on ringer as well,' said Zara quickly as she didn't know what Aly would say.
'Wait, you on ringer?' Said Aly rather surprisingly.
'I didn't know you were on it.'
'Well it's been very recent and I wanted to experience it . Everyone is on it. I thought I might just see if it works for me,' said Zara.
' I am not sure, if it's for you. You know it's mostly for getting laid or becoming friends after you are way past having sex and just chill as friends.'
'Like you and Maria,' said Zara teasingly.
'But i don't know about this Martin guy,' said he a little thoughtfully.
'Oh, well i thought since you know Leo and Ash, you might know him and give me some insight,' said Zara rather carefully as she did not want Aly to think she was interested in Leo.
Anyways she was asking about Martin.
'More the reason that you are not meant for ringer,' laughed Aly.
'You can be too trusting sometimes, but the maybe its good for sure.'
'I know Leo and Ash but i don't know him, so i can't say much,' he said again.
'Well they make a good pair,' admitted Zara looking ahead. Both were quite attractive.
'Who? Leo and Ash?'asked Aly.
'They aren't dating, they are good friends. Ash has been assisting him for a some time and they both are very professional. One of the reasons i know they have been working together for so long.'
'Anyways, Ash used to date Adam and they met each other through Leo in school who was the common friend,' said Aly acting a little awkward on speaking about the whole topic. Usually he had zero filter when he spoke to her about someone.
Zara caught on to his expression and said ,'What happened?'
"No it's nothing, well thats all there is to it reall ... ahm...it's nothing really,' replied Ally and abruptly changed the topic asking her about her paintings and if she is planning on travelling somewhere this summer or if she would like to go for karaokee.
Zara felt that Aly wanted to say something but he stopped and she was curious to know if it had something to do with her or something she didn't remember or somehow if it is related to her. She finally figured if it was related to her past, a past she dose not remember and if she was part of the missing puzzle of her own life. But then she thought maybe she was being a narcissist.
Although, she was a little pleased to know that Leo wasn't dating Ash, but then she thought that it doesn't mean he wasn't dating someone else.
They finally reached Opera and found their table which was away from the dance floor and the crowd. Maria and the others were already seated and standing near their table. Maria came running towards them and said 'Hey.'
And then she went past her and ran towards Aly like a child who was expecting to be airlifted by her arms and swung in circles. But off course that did not happen. What Aly and Zara saw were her boobs jiggle when she ran as if she was in Baywatch in her deep cut gown. But she did look quite sexy thought Zara.
Zara met the others, Maria's weird twin friends, Eva and Sia who initially had the impression that she was some vegetarian Indian settled in Europe and fasted a lot propagating about Varanasi(a place she had never been to ) and asked her a lot about religion. Not that there was anything wrong with being a vegetarian or fasted. Its just India was a huge country with people from all walks of life and being a peninsular a lot of the population loved meat and ate a lot of fish and crabs. Now crabs where her favourite.
They totally rubbed her the wrong way so Zara always avoided talking to them and kept her replies as short as she could. But they never caught on to that and always kept asking her stupid things about India.
Zara met some other friends of Aly, every one was catching up and Zara wasn't sure if they would leave in an hour. She tied her hair in a bun as indoor smoking was allowed in Croatia and she did not want her hair to smell like cigarettes. The whole place was starting to look a little hazy with the amount smoke that was accumulating. She was sitting beside Aly when Maria sat next to her. Zara looked over towards her knowing she did not come over to her for a decent exchange of words.
'Zara, I see you are still attached to Aly's hip.'
'No wonder he does not meet me or you do not allow him to, unless you are watching him.'
'Sometimes i wonder if you are his friends, lover or maybe even a baby sitter.'
Zara wasn't surprised at her indolence, and so Zara just smiled.
'You know what is between me and Aly,'said Zara.
'I also know you cannot digest it that he is not interested in you and you want to take out on someone. And so you like to say such things to make something weird about our relation.'
'But let me tell you, our relation is so weird that your jealousy does not manner, what you think and feel does not matter.'
'It super weird, Aly and I together, she said giving Mia a very devious smile. Zara knew she sounded like a crazy person to say that she she just said it to drive Mia over the edge. And it seemed Mia did get weirded out by her.
"YOU, YOU...AMM, don't know anything about Aly and me. He is my buddy , you don't know anything Zara,' said Maria, a little taken aback as Zara never responded to her like this before.
'I don't want to know anything.'
The smoke was getting to her head and Zara was feeling a little annoyed. She just took a shot of Rakija which she had declined to have before as it was always stronger than a tequila. And then Aly turned her way and smiled as he said,
'You are finally drinking, now you need to have a shot with me as well.'
They all had a couple of shots of Traverista the strongest of Rakijas and Zara knew she shouldn't drink more as she hand not eaten much and they were all ordering more Rakija shots. She started feeling the effects for Rakija especially after she had two shots of vilajmoksa, the pear one. A death sentence in itself.
Zara decided to excuse herself and went to the washroom and found herself standing in a long que. She did not know how much time had passed. She looked back lazily and asked a group of people what time it was as she had forgotten her phone in her bag on the table. She heard a guy say its almost twelve, she just nodded and went in.
She headed out of the washroom room when a girl came hurriedly towards her to enter the washroom and almost knocked her over.
Zara had almost fallen when she felt some one hold her, but she was feeling very tired to look up and so said thank you and headed back.
She went up the stairs toward the table and saw that everyone were either too drunk or were just drinking. She didn't see Aly, she took her phone out of her bag and went by the railing from where she could see the dance floor and the exit on the opposite direction. As she dialled Aly's number she raised her head towards the bar in between the clouds of smoke she saw someone or maybe she thought she saw someone standing and looking directly at her.
A tall dark figure outlined by the flashing lights and then the figure disappeared.
Finally Aly answered,'Hey Zara, i got worried that you left without telling me.'
'I am at the bar getting some drinks.'
'Sorry, i needed to use the restroom and can you get me a bottle of water please,' replied Zara, more like she shouted as the music was too loud and the tempo felt getting higher with the amount of alcohol everyone had already had.
'Yeah, i know Leo told me that he met you at the washroom,' said Aly and for some reason Zara froze as she looked up again toward the bar area and saw Leo amidst the crowd walking over towards her with a water bottle and a glass of drink in his hand. He looked straight at her as if he didn't want her to move from her place till he reached her. She realised the guy who helped her from falling was Leo.
She saw that Ash and Martin were also with him. On seeing her, Martin came hurriedly towards her and lifted her up which threw Zara off as she wasn't expecting. But then she realised he was quite drunk and so she pushed him lightly and passed him to speak with Ash and Leo. Her face was a bit heated but she gulped down her shyness.
Looking at them together she did not feel irritable as she knew they weren't dating but they way Leo was looking at her and then Martin certain made her a little conscious. She felt like her legs had turned jelly and she needed another shot of rakija.
'I want to dance with you Zara ,' said Martin pulling her arm when Aly intervened and said
'She is dancing with me, tonight,' and made Zara stand near him while Ash spoke to her.
'Hi, we meet again. How are you ?'
'I am well, that's a nice dress you are wearing,' commented Zara as Ash was wearing a black dress which highlighted her figure. She truly is very beautiful thought Zara. But then Selena is the nicest person i know. Stupid why would you make such an unhealthy comparison she internally scolded herself.
'Thanks, but i must say i like your look, its very chick and comfortable at the same time,' said Ash.
'Thanks,' said Zara as she looked up to see Leo who was gazing at her while handing out the water bottle. She took it from him and drank some water.
He looked hot even in his plain black collared work shirt which he had rolled up and she could see his arms quite strong with veins travelling upward and disappearing into the fabric. Maybe he worked out in the morning. She blushed thinking him exercising without his shirt and looked away pretending she was looking at the dance floor. The word nude potrait popped up in her mind. She badly wanted to erase it.
Suddenly Martin came near her again and said 'You look so sexy Zara, i wanna dance with you.'
'Lets go to the dance floor,' he was obviously getting more and more drunk and she herself felt tipsy so she tried to brush him away as calmly as possible.
'I don't dance, but thanks.'
And that's when she looked at Leo who had a devilish smile on his face. She wanted to ask him why he was smiling at her and that's when Ash finally came and took Martin away.
'Hey everyone i want to dance, let's hit the dance floor,' and with that she dragged Martin and Aly away with her.
Zara did not move and neither did Leo. It felt he wanted to stand alone with her. Usually she would have left or gone back but her head was a buzz and she realised that she wanted to stay with him and observe him as he was having his drink. She was about to say something and that's when they were interrupted by Maria who stood next to Leo and placed her hand over his chest.
'Oooooh , I am Maria and you Mr should dance with me.'
Zara decided to turn away as Maria had seized his hand and had started to pull him away towards the stairs when she heard him call her name out.
'Zara.'
She stopped and turned to look at him while Maria stood there as well but was being completely ignored.
'Yes, Leo ,' said Zara looking directly at him with a bit of steel in her eyes. He suddenly freed his hand from Maria's clasp who lost her balance and had to hold the railing to stop herslef from falling. He drew closer to Zara.
'HEY, WAIT,' shouted Maria. But they both ignored her.
Leo leaned in further to her face as he was quite tall and she could smell him, a little sweaty to be sure. He looked into her eyes and said, 'Can I kiss you?'
Zara just looked at him and said , 'You can ,' and that's when she felt his lips on her while Maria's voice and everything faded into the background.