||The Dusking Sky Ch.6 Part 2||*08/07*{PG.26} - Page 10

Note : I was supposed to update few days back but had to go out for the weekend so had to postponed it to today (sorry to a particular person lol who has been waiting patiently 😆)

So here is chapter 5. Again I would like to thank each and everyone of you taking their time out and reading my stuff. Some of your comments are extremely encouraging. Enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 5 ~ Demons of the past

Do you hear that?

No?

Listen closely, you will.

Let me help you--that's called silence.

Awkward. Painful. Silence.

I pretty much regretted my decision to sit in this damn Mercedes sedan, already. White Mercedes, if you are interested, at all.

It had been nearly fifteen minutes of driving without even exchange of a decent look, forget words. To make this situation even more unbearable than it already was, the air floating around us in this small space smelt torturously, of him. A subtle mixed scent of soap and cologne. The same cologne I had been avoiding since the first time, we met. I cannot stop my breath till we reach now, can I?

I sit paralyzed, keeping my gaze fixed on the passing roads ahead. What has happened to my life in two days? Chaotic, would be an understatement to describe these events. I am dropping food, eating food with random people. Then, entering their house and attacking them. Driving along, in the middle of the night with a random guy, I just met yesterday. The rational part of my brain had obviously shut down.

"I didn't mean to be so crude, earlier"

I blink, in confusion. It almost felt as if I had imagined his deep voice. But then, he continued making me believe those words were truly coming out of his mouth and not my imagination.

"It's just that, I had almost reached home when Arjun called and rest, you know..." I could see him rubbing a hand over his face from the corner of my eyes, as though he was trying to wipe away his annoyance.

He came, all the way to get me?

Oh, well.

I noticed, how his firm biceps flexed under the t-shirt that clung to his arms, as he rotates the steering wheel to take a turn. I even noticed, how perfectly those dark grey slacks fit him.

Stop being a freak Zoya!

I clear my already dry throat and sit straighter. "You do realize, that's not an apology."

His focus did not budge from the road.

"It wasn't meant to be an apology."

Jerk.

I give in and glance his way and to my annoyance find his lips twitching. I scoff and take too long to look away from those lips. I am truly mortified, with my juvenile behaviour.

We slow down as we approach a red signal. "So, besides tackling people into your car, an occasional bartender in a place you own and oh--fly a damn aircraft, what else do you specialize in?" I throw a sarcastic glare his way and watched him narrow his eyes, jaw clenched in order to control the smile that was erupting.

"Please, when did I tackle you?" His smile was slow and easy. I am about to reply, but he continues.

"And I do not own that restaurant, my brother does."

"Technically, it's still yours."

"Technicality doesn't really run in my family." I am a bit taken aback with his spat. For a moment when my gaze notices a spark of anger in his eyes before it turns into an indifferent look.

"I do enjoy the services at the restaurant, though" he flashes a grin my way. First, it didn't register then I realized, he was taunting my services. Ughhh!

I find it odd, how he hasn't responded to the flying comment I had made. But, I opt to stay out of it and refused to stir the question further. We began moving again when the light turned green.

The ride fell back into an inevitable silence as both of us went back to watching the road. I waited for him to say something but he seemed to be content with this silence. It wasn't until my phone jolted into a vibration that I realized my fingers were clutching my purse in a tight grip, the entire time. Nevertheless, I was relieved with this interruption. Internally, I pray for it to be Noor's call as I fumble in my purse to retrieve it. Disappointment hits me like a bucket of ice-cold water when my eyes found the number flashing on my phone screen. My face falls, while I press the decline button but before I can put it on silent, it begins blaring again. Ugh!

"Clearly he is not going to give up, take him out of his misery." I snapped my head towards him in surprise.

"Presumptuous, are we?"

He smiles gazing my way.

"It's the middle of the night, Zoya." He holds my gaze, for a moment then turns his focus back to driving.

"Not that it's any of your concern, but it was a spam call." I shoved my cell phone back, into my bag.

"Hmm, your face falls every time you get a spam call?"

He was supposed to be driving! When did he see my face?

"Stop smirking and please pay attention to the road more" I retort. To my surprise, he didn't have a smart-ass comeback. Instead, he obliged to drive. Smirk, decided to stay though.

In desperation, to shove my lingering annoyance after the unexpected phone call, I yanked my hair tie and freed my hair from the torturous tight ponytail. This would allow some needed blood circulation to my skull. As soon as my chestnut brown hair fell over my shoulder like a vale, I relaxed into my seat. I could smell the jasmine almond conditioner from my hair dominate the cologne that filled this small space. It diverted my attention, for the time being, causing me to relax further.

I shift sideways peeping out of the window at the moving street lights then, leisurely glanced up. Clouds were assembling slowly to form a darker shade of grey compared to the usual night sky. There were sparks of lightning in dark sky I noticed, but no sound of thunder. It was going to pour soon. That was the beauty of Mumbai rains, it was unpredictable. Further unpredictably, compulsion takes over my right-hand fingers, which began to twist around my left ring finger. Absent-minded I toyed with an invisible ring, out of habit. The habit, I was trying to get rid of for a while now. Abruptly, understanding the actions of my fingers, I stop and place them under my thighs. Old habits die hard, after all, I cringed.

There was a wicked headache coming my way, I could already feel it at the back of my skull. The hours of exhaustion and lack of sleep comes crashing down on me like heavy bricks. Every other sound had dulled around me and all my focus surrounded by those flashes in the sky as I stifle a yawn and press my cheek to the cool passenger-side window. I felt my eyelids getting heavier by the second. I force them to stay open but they seem to have a mind of their own. So just for a minute, I put them out of misery and slip them a little rest.

Just a minute ...

** **

Cold breeze. That's the first thing my mind registered, followed by some kind of muddy, earthy smell. I could hear splashes but unsure of where. Dazed, I tried to understand why was I being shaken so cruelly. I was floating.

As reality slowly invades, my ears disclose to a faint sound that seemed familiar.

"Zoya, wake up." I hear the soft voice again.

Flicking my eyes open unwillingly, I squint them immediately, due to the burn from lingering sleep. My face, which was resting on the car window was now beneath a gentle softness that felt like skin. I feel another shake, against my cheek. Still disoriented, I try to open my eyes back and find dark amusing eyes hovering over me. Dark gorgeous eyes.

"Aditya?" My voice is heavier than usual, from sleep.

"Zoya," he repeats after me.

Right then it hits me. My face was against his palm which makes me jolt awake. He was leaning into my side of the open car door.

"Finally" he sighs. "I have been trying for past five minutes."

A tad disoriented, I try to rub my shoulders which are stiff by now. We have pulled up in some kind of parking, I think. "What is that sound?" I murmur.

"It's raining. Do you need help getting out?" He bows down to my level making it super difficult for my already groggy head to concentrate. I go with a shake of my head, as a declination.

I step out of the car slowly holding on to the top part of the open door. The place begins to unveil my cloudy mind that now filled with mortified memories, from this morning.

As I drag myself behind Aditya, cold breeze stifles a shiver through me. I observed, splatters of water hitting the fiber roof on top of us. When did it start pouring down? How long was I asleep?

Tugging on to the sleeves of my kurta, I clutch my arms together and shift from one foot to the other impatiently while we wait for the arrival of the elevator.

"Cold?" His soothing voice rolls across me.

"Freezing", I shiver a bit.

He whisks us into the elevator as soon as it arrives. He does so, by brushing his hand ever so lightly over my lower back. I wasn't cold anymore.

I sense him standing behind me, waiting for the door to close. My head felt like it was carrying a ton of books on its head. Groaning, I rest it lightly on the aluminum wall of the elevator. Briefly closing my eyes, I mumble, "sorry I should have stayed awake while you drove."

I don't remember if he replied because it felt as if I had dozed off again. The ding sound of arrival makes me jerk awake causing me to stumble forward a bit. Within a beat, I felt Aditya's grip on my elbow, stabling my stance. I am prompt, awakened by his simple touch. Tentatively, I stepped outside and commenced walking without waiting for him to join me.

It didn't take him that long to join me from behind, I felt his breath close to my ear before his words bore in. "You can sleep like that over and over again." At first, I didn't understand what he was talking about due to his closeness. But then it dawns on me that he was talking about me, sleeping in his car. I swallowed and peeked a view over my shoulder.

I found him scratching his beard carelessly, with a lazy curve growing on his lips. What was so funny?

** **

I half expected to walk into, what I walked into. There was no pounding music, exaggerated dance moves of the drunk, or even slight hint of smoke everywhere. The only signs of a wild night I found when I entered, were the few bottles of beer or I think wine rolling on the floor and few people scattered around slumbering. Anyway, I scan the area again and sigh in relief when I don't find a drunk Noor, dancing on any of the tables. Makes me feel a little better momentarily. Then, I find a frantic Arjun rushing towards me as soon as he spots me near the door.

"What took you people so long." He was almost shouting. I am about to respond but he cuts me off.

"Anyway, Noor's locked herself in the bathroom." He shoves a hand through his hair in frustration.

"II think she is still high, but she won't let me in so there is no way of knowing" he still continues.

High? Did he just say high?

"I tried to s-stop her from having those spiked brownies but she started hitting me" he continues some more.

"Why won't she just open the freaking door?" He is back to shouting.

I wince in pain as my head pounds and look desperately towards Aditya for help who, by the way, is immensely enjoying his brother's miserable rant.

To my relief, he finally moves towards Arjun and shakes him a little with both his arms. "Calm down Arjun, she's just high. She does not have the plague." He emphasizes each word at a slow pace as if he was talking to a child. Arjun gives him an equally frustrated, death glare. I would too. Who jokes in these situations?

"Hold on, I thought she was drunk. What brownies are you talking about?" I already had a hunch about where this was going.

"There were weed brownies which my friends bought and she thought they were her brownies so she stuffed herself." He said is so fast, I almost missed some words in between.

Flares of anger ignited through my brain. "Weed? WEED? Did you drug my friend? How OLD are you?" I swing my head back and forth between the brothers.

"Err...It's just some pot, not drugs. Aditya clearly had the worst timings.

"I am this close to calling you something you don't want me to" I hiss, glaring at him who is getting least, bothered by it.

"I didn't do it on purpose." Arjun interrupts our stare contest. "She was fine one minute then she was pissed at me then she shoving those brownies down her throat."

"Clearly you are too stoned to formulate normal sentences. So please, tell me where she is, so I can collect her from this drug dealing place. "Arjun winced at my words but did not comment on it, rightfully so. "Upstairs, first room on the right" he points. Before I depart, I found Aditya mouth 'drug deal' and practically laugh. I pull my chin up stubbornly and walk away.

** **

I knock for the second time on the bathroom door of the room Arjun had mentioned and finally get a nasty response, "I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE."

Crap, pissed and intoxicated, not a great combination.

"Noor? It's me" I try, with my most soothing voice. Please god, let it work.

"Zo?" Aha! Her voice softened immediately.

"Yeah! Common, open up. Let's get out of this place." I stand there several seconds almost given up. When I finally hear a click of the lock.

I gently, pushed down the handle of the door to enter. I jumped with surprise when my shoes felt a splash and realized the bathroom was kind of wet including Noor, who sat in the corner with her back resting on the wall. She looked utterly wasted. Poor girl gave me a helpless stare with dark smudges of mascara running down, her face. I searched around for a dry towel on one of the shelves. Once found one, I wet it slightly. With the towel in my hand, I moved towards her and scrunched down on the wet floor opposite to her. She continued to stare with her dilated eyes as I blobbed her face lightly with the wet towel. "Are you okay? Why are you drenched?" I whispered.

"I was feeling hot," she whispers back and lunges forward to hug me. "It's okay Noor," I soothe her back continuously. I am going to kill that little guy, slow painful death.

She continues to mumble in between sobbing, "I..I am s..such an idiot. I saw that girl dancing w...with that idiott..tt."

"Then SHE said, he didn't waa..ant me here."

"I wanted ca..a.ke and ever..r.y th..hing was s..spinning."

She? Who was she talking about? I was so lost right now with all these jumbled information. I break off from the hug and hold her at arm's length. "Who are you talking about, Noor?" I ask, confused.

But instead of replying she continued to wipe off tears with the back of her hand. Despite this being a horrible mess, she looked so adorable. I started with dabbing her face again.

"Ar..re you di..i.s.a"

"Disappointed," I finished for her and her eyes welled up again.

Smiling, I get the last bit of her mascara. "Sweetheart, you are not going to remember this but it will take a lot more than a wasted night for me to be disappointed." I cup her face in the most enduring way possible. And finally, get a hiccupped smile from her.

** **

After about fifteen more minutes of sobbing and cleaning up, we finally emerged from the bathroom. I had to mostly drag--Noor across as she rested most of her weight on me. The moment we entered the living room, I first saw Arjun leap up from the couch then, Aditya leisurely got up behind him and disappeared into a room around the corner. During which Arjun, had already reached us. Huh, no goodbye then.

I made Noor sit in the nearest chair I found while still standing close to her in case she falls.

"Are you okay?" he placed his hand on Noor's shoulder lightly. She lightly brushes his hand off and just nods her head to his question. I wanted to do a lot more to him but today wasn't the right day.

"Uh...thank you for calling me here. Could you call us a cab?" I tried to be as polite as I could.

Arjun scrunches his brows in confusion.

"What do you mean leaving? Don't be silly, it's late. Stay over." Before I could even react I feel Noor's nails painfully digging into my arm.

"Nonono. No need for that. We will be much more comfortable if we left." I could still feel her nails digging.

"Zoya I--"

"Please, Arjun" I say looking impatient. To my relief, Aditya makes his way back to us with a jacket in his hand. He locks his gaze on me for longer than necessary.

"Come, I will drive you both home" he finally declares, rubbing the back of his neck. As much as I wanted to decline the offer, I cannot, since it already was almost two in the morning and it would be a horrible idea to travel with an intoxicated girl at this time. I felt terrible that I was dragging him into this whole drama.

"Thank you" I nod.

"I am coming along then" Arjun infuses.

"Arjun," Aditya tries but fails when Arjun impatiently says "I can't let you drive by yourself, back.

I am wondering how come Noor hasn't reacted to all this when I find her head calmly resting on my arm. She was asleep. Even though I didn't have the heart to since she was so peaceful, I reluctantly go to shake her. However, my arms are stopped mid-way. Arjun holds up his index finger against his lips signaling me to not disturb her. Then, to my surprise, he effortlessly lifts her up in his arms. If I wasn't so pissed with him, I would have found this whole thing quite endearing.

Arjun carried Noor while I followed him to the door except, I am drawn behind before that. Aditya places, what looks like a black sports jacket, in my hands. "You should put this on." He doesn't give me a chance to deny as he begins to move forward.

"I am going to go start the car "Aditya muttered, to no one in particular and walked out of the door before Arjun and me.

** **

Yet again, I am settled behind Captain Hooda's Mercedes with a napping Noor, by my side. In addition, it felt weird being wrapped up in Aditya's jacket and his very obvious scent. I wasn't going to admit but it wasn't that bad.

The rain was beating harder than before. The roads I was watching seemed to blur out from where I sat, dazed. The windshield wiper sloshed the flowing water from one side to the other. I listen rather, relish the raindrops crashing down on the bonnet of the car.

Arjun, sat in the front seat, carefully studying the google map holding our address.

Resting my head back, I concisely close my eyes to take a break from the storm outside that reflected her mind, right now. Sleep had long vanished.

A few minutes later, I hear Arjun's voice. Assuming it's for me, I begin to open my eyes. "Aditya, this is the fifth time, she is calling.'

I shut my eyes back.

"So, ask her to stop." I hear Aditya's tone filled with irritation.

"It's just one family dinner."

"She just needs a reason to party and spend dad's money."

"Oh! For god's sake, it's for your birthday! Your birthday dinner."

There is sudden silence in the car. By now you must have guessed my super uncomfortable situation. Guilty, to some level because it felt like I was intruding on their private family matter. Let's be honest though if you were stuck in a situation like this--would you spring up and say hey I am fully awake listening to your family drama' or would continue pretending to save yourself from the embarrassment. Good choice. I continued to sleep.

I had almost believed they were done when Aditya's voice comes across.

"She knows how much I hate celebrating, my birthday. It's all on purpose." Who was he talking about since then?

"Or maybe she wants you to forget. Why do you always find everything negative around you?"

From the first time since I have met Arjun, this is the first time I find him a little sensible.

"Because life is f**ked up."

I flinch. Who was this Aditya? He sounded like a different person.

"Adi..."

"Fine! Tell them, I will come. Let's celebrate, my god damn birthday" he grumbled.

There was silence except for the pattering raindrops. Something inside me moved. An odd sensation. I wanted to talk to him, know what was bothering him. Soon, my thoughts are halted when I hear Arjun call out my name. I should have pretended to be a little disoriented at least. Instead, I wake up instantly taking both of them by surprise. Shit!

"Um...we are here." Arjun mumbles.

Noor is still asleep like a log so Arjun again volunteers to carry her up. Despite my suggestion to wake her up, he doesn't listen to me.

After I help him take her out of the car, I wait for Aditya to come out but he continues to stay inside. Handing over our house keys to Arjun, I ask him to escort Noor upstairs while I help Aditya, park his car. The heavy rain had diminished off to a calm drizzle now.

I lift my knuckles and knock, on his side of the water strained window. He obviously, doesn't open right away. I tap my foot impatiently waiting for him, to do so. After what felt like an eternity, he rolled the window down. I was about to make a sarcastic remark except, I don't. I am greeted with a cold, blank look.

"Aren't you going to come up?" I ask him.

"No, I'll wait for him here," he says in a flat tone and turns his head the other way. Gone, is the carefree guy I have been having back and forth lashes with. It is replaced by an indifferent attitude. Yet, something vulnerable in his eyes told he didn't want to left alone at the moment. Words coming from that mouth weren't matching with those big eyes of his.

"Let me make it up to you with a cup of tea for all that you have done for us this evening." I hesitate a little because he doesn't regard me.

"Please?" I try again.

He rolls the window back up. Pissed, I am about to bang the window down when I hear the ignition of the car die down. Aditya walks out of the car surprising me to a complete halt. He gives a well, let's go then' signal with his arm stretched out.

I didn't think this through.

** **

Arjun wanted to be beside Noor while she slept for some time. I wasn't too happy about it but I let it go since I had to make some tea for our guest.

I struggle around the kitchen, searching for the right vessels. Where did she keep the teapot usually? This was usually Noor's department. Clumsily, I drop things around in the kitchen. I am not this clumsy usually. But today, was a special occasion as our special guest lounged on the barstool of our, breakfast bar. Every time I glance up, I assume he would be amused or even laughing at me. He doesn't. It was getting creepier that he didn't have any comment about my kitchen duties. Instead, he was quiet.

I open my famous cupboard of tea collection at the corner, which finally gets his attention.

"That's some collection" murmurs, Aditya.

I beam at the jars and jars of tea, placed inside. "My mother sends a bunch, every time she visits a new country," I say trying to remove the jasmine tea jar she had sent from Vietnam.

My smile freezes on turning around. Aditya stared at me wide-eyed. I could see his fingers beginning to tremble.

I abandoned the tea jar and rushed to fetch him a bottle of water. It took an endless moment to reach him but as soon as I did he snatched the bottle from me, in desperation.

Aditya was having a panic attack.

I could deduce one, from miles away from months of practice. His breathing was ragged on another level. Before he could even drink the water, he drops it due to his shaky hands. The sound of clashing stirs his agitation further. He began rubbing his chest frantically from breathlessness.

My throat burned, watching him go through this. For someone who used to be a regular victim of this unforsaken state, I want to take the pain away. Without wasting a minute, I grabbed his arm with both my hands and started dragging him.

"Wha--" his breath was heaving.

Drizzling drops of rain showered on us when we reached my balcony.

"Hey, look at me," I said softly turning his head towards me. His frightened eyes looked but not really looked at me. He was searching for something.

I took his palms and placed it around my neck. They were still shaking when I did so.

"Concentrate on my pulse, count them" I encouraged him.

"Take deep breaths"

"It's just an illusion, you are fine"

Placing my palms flat against his chest, I felt his staggering pulse slowly calm down. Aditya locked his eyes shut. He inhaled a lung full of air and exhaled it out painfully. The shake in this hands was slowly subsiding.

"You're almost there" I whispered, to which he gently opens his eyes. I stand paralyzed in my spot. Intense yet anxious eyes stay locked on mine, captivating me. Aditya's hands which were gently holding my neck now slides slowly into my hair. Drops of water have damped our hair and face carelessly. He grazes those drops of water that have landed on my lips with his thumb. It was my turn to develop a racing pulse. He brushes his nose across my jawline into my hair. I could hear him smell my hair. My breath hitched...

I don't even remember when his other hand had landed around my waist and was tugging me forward. I was pressed up against him. My palm which was still against his chest bunched his t-shirt into a grip. When he refocused on my face, I closed my eyes in anticipation of his next action.

***