*****
"Priyanka?"
Her heart thumped so hard in her chest. She did not believe it. The familiar voice called again and this time, she turned in his direction.
This was not a dream and she was not sleeping on her bed.
Priyanka shut her eyes and inhaled deeply before exhaling through her mouth. The heat in her chest traveled up to her head as she stared at him "Doctor Karan?"
Her brow furrowed in confusion. He walked to where she was standing. Priyanka looked behind and noticed the strange expression on Atharva's face.
She was going to scold Karan but seeing Atharva's facial expression, she changed her mind. The scolding and nagging will come later when they are alone.
"Forgive me" He held her hand. "I had an emergency at home."
No response. She was still thinking about how to respond to his sudden appearance, he bowed.
He was been more romantic than usual.
"Will you forgive me?" Karan brought his lips closed to her knuckles. She shivered at it. Her heart thumped faster as he planted a kiss on them. The soft lips that grace her hands tickled, sending vibration over all her body.
Priyanka closed her eyes and imagine how they would taste if she get to kiss his lips. Those pink sexy lips that sent chills down her spine could visit her neck too.
The more she thought about it, make she fell in love with him.
"Y-yes...I have forgiven you" She said, not sure if it was the right sentence that came out of her mouth.
Karan beamed her a smile and asked "is he your friend?"
She watched Atharva hide his face from them. Why the sudden change? A few minutes ago, he was so bold that he wanted to drag her away.
"No, he is a regular customer" Priyanka blurted regretting the words as soon as they came out of her mouth. Karan might misinterpret her by thinking she was a prostitute.
When she thought she had won, it bounced back to her "I mean he comes to the tavern regularly."
His brows pinched between his forehead as he nodded. He was looking at the other man to see his face "you don't have to explain yourself. Shall we?
"Yes."
Priyanka felt like a real queen for the first time in her life. He opened the door and bowed "After you, Your imperial highness."
She grinned, as she walked elegantly to the car. A smile appeared on his face as he opened the door.
Atharva drove away immediately. She sighed, looking at the side mirror. The security lights from the dancing house helped make her face visible. The makeup was still intact.
"You should have told me to bring a mirror along" Karan sat beside her. He did not smile which means he was mocking her.
Priyanka gritted her teeth. What was wrong with him?
A few seconds ago, he played the role of a gentleman that won her heart, and now, he was behaving like the stranger, she met at the entrance of the slums.
"There is no need. You can wine up" She said, relaxing back to the seat. Both windows went up and the car started. "Where are we going?"
"To your house" He answered with his eyes fixed on the road.
She felt like scratching his face with her nails. Who wanted to go out with him anyway? She was no longer in interested spending the evening with him.
"As you please. I feel like going home"
"Fine" Karan reversed the car, towards the streets that led to her house.
Priyanka was surprised. He was doing it. She wanted to close her eyes and let him do as he wished but her heart could not allow it "I was joking and you took it serious?"
He sighed, stopping the car "what do you want?"
She wanted him....forever...
*****
Karan knew he was stupid for coming to pick her up. He was supposed to be lying down on the bed, resting but no!
He couldn't bear to disappoint his brother. It seemed like Koran cared a lot about Priyanka. If this was true then, he won't stop them from being together.
"How do you want to be to react?" She shouted at him suddenly. Her face closed to his, he did not turn because they could meet, if not careful.
Karan started the car and use the route to the center of the city. He was going to show her what she had been missing. There was more to life than shouting at people on the road.
"I don't know but you told me to take you back home and I'm doing it." He glanced at her and she rolled her eyes. It was clear, that she hated him but it was not his fault. He was born without a heart. There was no need to love. All that love do is hunt those who try to fall for it and he won't try it.
"You should try to understand ladies" Priyanka laughed, bitterly. "When they said no, it means yes, and their yes means ..."
"I get it no" he nodded. "What complicated humans you all are?"
"At least we are better than the cheaters and Heartbreakers" she screamed in his ears.
Karan took a deep breath and smiled. She was trying to test his patience but he won't let his dark side overcome him. She was a woman, not just that...his brother's woman.
"Do you think women don't do the same to men?" His left palm slapped the steering wheel. She was scared now and he wished he did not do that. But how could he have control of that?
Priyanka flustered. His action frightened her. Her hands were on her thighs as she squeezed them in fright. "You shouldn't do that. We might have an accident."
"Then it is fine. Lately, I have been having a lot of accidents. It's like almost every evening, especially when I see you."
"What?" Her eyes widened. "Have you gone crazy?"
**