~*~MYSTICAL ATTRACTION-SS

Need crawled through his body and pounded out a rhythm in his mind. Music seethed roared, filling the large university hall, an edgy, compelling melody as dark and driven as he was. The notes were ripped from deep within his soul, moved through his fingers to the guitar cradled in his arms as he might cradle a woman. The music was one of the few things that reminded him he was alive.

He could feel the stares, although he never looked up. He heard the whispers of the women as they discussed him. BHARAT. University's total packaged hunk of year 2006, that every girl wanted to be with, making every guy jealous and wanted to be more like him. But no girl was lucky enough to catch his attention or even his friendship, as he always maintained a distance from ladies. Bharat had become a compulsory high level course during his studies in university and even after he was graduated.

The song ended, the crowed roared, stomping and clapping and yelling approval. Bharat glanced at the man waiting at the far corner of the hall. Vijay (VJ) seeming all frustrated one eyebrow up. What are we doing here? Bharat read the expression clearly, read his mind. What were they doing there? What had compelled him to come to university, pick up his guitar and play for the crowd as long as they want. It was Valentine's Day celebration and these gatherings never appealed him, yet Bharat had no choice. He needed to be in some familiar place, his university. He was waiting for something ' for someone.

Bharat's fingers were already picking up another rhythm. Dark. Moody. The melody took hold of him, demanding to be released. His voice stilled the crowd, beckoned, seduced, tempted. He called to her. Commanding her. His lover. His lifemate. His other half. He called to her to complete him. To give him the emotions that had faded from his soul, leaving him an empty shell of growing darkness. Same me. Come to me. The words took the breath from the listening crowd, brought tears to the eyes of the women.

They pushed closer to the mini stage, unaware that they did so. Unaware of the power of his voice, his eyes. He mesmerized them. Seduced them. Compelled them. He cast his spell, as a dangerous predator among the easy prey. Save me. Please save me. His voice washed over them, seeped into pores, soaked into brains so that they stared up at him completely enthralled. He kept his eyes closed, blocked out the sight of the crowd, losing himself in his song to her. His lifemate. The one woman who could save him. Where was she?

Bharat's senses had become supernaturally sharp to hear and feel things a normal human won't. It was sound of a heartbeat that made him lift his head. The heart was weak and irregular, beating too fast, laboring too hard. Bharat looked up and literally lost his ability to breath. There she was. Just like that. His lungs burned for air and his fingers lost their age-old rhythm. His heart began to match the strange rhythm of hers.

Bharat forced a breath into his body. First one, then a second. The band was staring at him uncertainly. His fingers began a melody he had never played before, one that was always there, locked in his heart. Dimly he was aware the band had taken its cue from him, following his lead, but he paid no attention to the others. He couldn't look away from her, watching as she paused while her friend spoke to several acquaintances and introduced her.

His black eyes moved over her possessively, marking her, claiming her. She was small, curvy, with lush dark hair and enormous eyes. He watched the way she moved, watched the sway of her hips. To Bharat, she was incredibly beautiful. Bharat had to blink several times to make sure she was and yes, she was human, not a Pari. He never imagined his other half to be her, a reflection of goddess. Then his mind spoke to him, you Bharat wouldn't have compromised for less either. She's the only one who can bring colors, smiles, and beauty back in your dull life.

She paused for a moment to stare up at him in shock, her wide gaze colliding with his for the briefest instant. Her perfect mouth formed a round O as she recognized him. She swung her toward her friend. The other woman laughed and hugged her led the way through the crowd to a booth, a little isolated from the crowd, to make this "pari" feel a little comfortable. He heard the soft murmur of her voice, and at once his world changed. Where before the whole hall was visible to him only is shades of gray, all he could see was all different shades of the rainbow coming and doing on her face.

Emotions were crowding in on him fast and hard, so many he couldn't sort them out. He could only sit very still with his fingers flashing over his beloved guitar. It always amazed him, and this time it felt almost alive, holding Bharat from doing anything so sudden and harsh. He realized that he was getting all jealous as he didn't like to see the men crowding around her booth, leaning over to talk to her.

He kept his head bent over his guitar, but his empty black eyes were fixed on his Pari, the only woman who mattered to him. He played to her, poured his heart out to her, allowed the beauty of his music to speak to her. He wanted that delicate pari to see the poet in him, not the tough, isolated, 'allergic to women' person. All the while he played, he listened to the conversation she having, listened for the sound of her voice.

"I can't believe it's really him, Teema. That's Bharat, "The Bharat Singh", the mystery everyone tried to solve and none succeeded. He's practically god among musicians. I knew he kept his distance and was quite person, but who knew he could play and sing so well? What is the world held him back from enjoy this beautiful world?" That was her voice, soft and feminine. She spoke in a reverent tone. Her fingers were tapping out a rhythm on the table, following his guitar riff.

Teema leaned across the booth to be heard over the noise. "I heard he finally accepted the invitation to come to our celebration, first time ever Aditi' and I know how much you are interested in him and his behavior, "(shaid tum sahi se dekh nai pa rahe, zaroor koi or waja ho gi, wo magroor insane keisay ho sakta hei ager wo maddad ko her waqat tiyar hota tha) you guys are not looking at the broader picture here, there has to be more to it, he can't be just a proud person if he was always available to lend a helping hand" miss defender. And that was the only reason I dragged you here, I wanted to give you a surprise and a chance to prove us all wrong.

That was her name. Aditi. Even her name fit the music in Bharat's mind. He unashamedly eaves-dropped to learn what he could. Bharat found it difficult to approach his lady knowing that she has good thoughts for him. She was listening to his music, her body responding naturally, but she wasn't staring at him in rapt adoration the way the other women in the hall were staring. The way he would have liked.

Teema leaned her chin on her hand. "He's looking this way. I swear, Aditi, I really think he's noticed us."

"He's gorgeous. I had no idea." Aditi had never been one to fall for men in the spotlight, whether actor, musician or athlete. It wasn't her style; she was too down-to-earth. But Bharat resembled a sculpture of a Greek god. He was tall and sinewy, giving the impression of great strength and power without bulky muscles. His hair was shining like a raven's wing with nicely spiked up. But it was his face that caught and held Aditi's attention. It could have been chiseled from marble. His was the face of a man capable of great sensuality, or great cruelty. She couldn't get the impression of danger out of her mind when she looked at him.

His mouth was beautiful, as was the shape of his jaw with its faint beard shadow ' she had always liked that on a man ' but it was his eyes that ensnared her. She made the mistake of looking directly at him. His eyes were beautiful, shaped like a cat's eye, dark and mysterious, empty, yet filled with a thousand secrets. She felt almost pulled into his gaze, captured for all time. She couldn't look away from him. Mesmerized. The word came to her out of nowhere. She was definitely mesmerized by him. His head was bent toward his guitar, but his gaze seemed fixed on her face. Teema with her striking looks garnished attention easily and was comfortable with it. Aditi could barely breathe with his gaze locked on her.

Her fingers curled into a tight fist, her long nails digging deeply into her palms. Her heart was doing a crazy somersault, and her breath seemed stolen right from her lungs. "I've never heard anyone play so beautifully." Her mouth was so dry she could barely get the words out.

"He can sit in my bedroom and play me to sleep every night." Teema fanaticized.

Color crept up Aditi's neck to sweep into her face at the idea of this man in her bedroom. Playing his guitar was not what she had in mind. The image that did come to her was shocking. She had never thought of anyone like that. Not even Karan (her parents had picked for her). Not only did it seem disloyal, but it was totally out of character for her. Suddenly she was very afraid. She wanted to run like a child and find a place to hide from his mesmerizing eyes and the strange effect he seemed to have on her.

"Aditi!" Teema said her name sharply, breaking the spell. "Are you all right? Do you need something, I mean water of something?"

"I'm fine, Teema" Aditi said, "I think my hero took my breath away for a minute there. He's potent. I wish he'd sing again." She forced herself to laugh.

"Oh yeah," Teema said dreamily, "he has a sexy voice."

"Be still, my heart," Aditi teased, clutching her heart dramatically. It made Teema laugh, wiping out her fake tears as if she was hurt for Aditi talking about her man. Bharat could hear every word of their conversation, dismissing them from his mind, but no hers. Aditi. The other woman had called her Aditi. Although happy to know he had managed to steal her breath, he was busy assessing the situation. He could read her fear easily enough, but he could not allow her to flee from him.