KriYansh Creative Writing Voting Round -CLOSED!

KriYansh Creative Writing Voting Round

Rules To be Followed

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  Category 1 : Entry numbers [ you have to vote for two entries ] Category 2 : Entry Numbers [You have to vote for two entries ]
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• Maximum votes qualifies the winner, so dont let your vote waste.

Entry List

Category 1


Entry 1 : Ishq Wala Love :

Entry 1 : Ishq Wala Love

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock

Only the sound of giant old grandfather's clock is audible here, except this everything is silent.

Arre, silent nahi hoga to kya violent hoga? Its college library na.

So what is the college rockstar, shree shree pujya Reyansh Singhaniya is doing here?

He is watching his girl, a voice said in his mind and he rested his face on both of his palm, observing his Girl more accurately.

Surkh wala, sauz wala, faiz wala love

Hota hain jo, love se zyada, waise wala love

Ishq wala love...

She was there...some 6 feets away from him, dressed in a white jacket and deep blue jeans, completely unknown to her boy friend's attention and existence here in this library. She was deeply engrossed in her book, occasionally chewing her lip, while her fingers constantly doing a kind of pen trick, which was a sign she is fully concentrating in her book.

Ah, how he wish he was there, in front of her, freeing that poor lip from her teeth and...STOP IT REY !!!!

He jerked back in his seat and straighten himself, looking here and there if anyone saw him. Nope, all brilliant students were too engrossed in their books to even look at him. It's a good thing actually...if they had seen HIM, THE REY, in library, they would have died in shock. He smirked thinking their reaction, and then hid himself back in that magazine of his, again back to observing his girl.

Hua jo dard bhi to humko aaj kuch zyada hua...ishq wala love

Ye kya hua ye kya khabar yehi pata hain zyada hua...ishq wala love

Agar ye usko bhi hua hain phir bhi mujhko zyada hua...ishq wala love

He hid himself more in the magazine as he saw she, Kriya, the girl who made him come here in library and made him imagine some wild things in this boring place not so minutes ago, closed the book and looked her around. God, please, don't let her find me, he mentally begged to god as he hide himself more in the magazine.

Kriya, on the other hand, closed the book and looked around. Her eyes stopped in a place and her brows frowned, making a cute kinda expression on her face.

Meri neend jaise pehli baar tooti hai
Aankhein band kar ke dekhi hai maine subah
Hui dhoop zyada leke teri roshni din chadha
Ishq wala love

"ulta magazine kaun padta hain?" she asked to herself and shrugged. None of her business.

She got up from her seat, now walking toward the farthest corner of the library. She needs another book to understand her subject more. She was looking at the books, deciding which one will be better, when...

"AAP !!!!" she nearly shouted but he placed his finger on her soft lips.

"SHHH !!!!"

They both drowned into each other's eyes, forgetting that it's a boring library, they can be caught anytime. Yes, love is crazy.

Jhanke badalon ki jaali ke peechhe se
Kare chandani ye mujhko ittala
Leke noor sara chand mera yahin pe hai chhupa chhupa hua
Ishq wala love

He removed the finger from her lips and smiled his famous (or infamous? As many girls practically got heart attack seeing his smirk!) smirk, his facial expression was somewhat like Oh-Yeah-I-Am-Here-Only-For-You.

"aap yahan?" she could not believe her eyes. He nodded.

"doubt hain kya? Chhoo ke dekhlo." He bend his face slightly towards her, telling her to touch him if she don't believe it. She just smiled back in response.

Jo aise hota
Jo milte tum ho jaate gum sath mere
Hote hote hoga samjhaye hum tham jaaye tum
O dil mere

"pichle ..." he looked in his watch, "35 minutes, 4 secs...and 23 micro seconds se tumhe notice kar raha hoon."

Her eyes widen as the words sink in...what? he is here from 35 minutes? And she didn't even realize.

"aur tum ho..." He bend down toward her slowly and she bend back, only to hit her back slightly with the book self, "ki book mein itna concentration de rahi ho. So not fair."

She blushed at the proximity and lowered her gaze. He smiled at her expression. God, she is SO CUTE !

Toota zyada zyada tara jab gira
Zara zyada zyada maangu dil tera
Kabhi zyada zyada maane na dil ye sarphira
Ishq wala love

"waise, kya book pad rahi thi?" he took out a book from the self and opened it, just flipping the pages, not bothering to see whats inside it. Kriya somewhat composed herself at the change of topic.

"mind reading." She answered. Rey's eyes snapped to her in surprise.

"kya? Mind reading?" he was surprised, "tum kabse out of syllabus wale books padne lagi, meri genius Baatcutter?" he smirked and frowned. She pouted little.

"main padti hoon, ok?"

"ohhh..." he nodded in mock understanding, "abhi tumhe bohot janna baki hain, I guess." His gaze was back to her, and this time, she could not look away. His eyes held him captive, both mentally and physically.

"to...batao, mere mind mein abhi kya chal raha hain?" he asked out of nowhere. She was surprised.

"jee?"

"mind reading wale books pad rahi ho na...so tell me whats going on in my mind?" he asked with a serious expression on his face.

"umm..." She was confused. She could not get whats going on in his head. (actually she was so dazed with his presence so near him that she didn't concentrate on his facial expression.)

Bada ye dil nadaan tha, par aaj kuch zyada hua
Ishq wala love
Jo khine ka tha dar tujhe pata nahi kyu zyada hua
Ishq wala love

"chalo, main bata deta hoon." His smirk was back, and this time, somewhat mischievous.

"I was thinking about the utilities of a book." He started. She was (trying) to concentrate on his words.

"kitne kaam ati hain ye books...ye humein kitni knowledge deti hain." He was beating around the bush till now, but now, he could not hold back any longer.

He slowly leaned on her, and she was surprised with his changing behavior every seconds. He hold the book in his left hand, positioning it in a way that both of them were hidden behind it.

"now look, this book is even hiding us." He said in whisper.

"but why we are hiding?" she asked softly. He smirked again.

"because...kissing is not allowed in library."

With that, he leaned more toward her and placed his lips firmly on her lips. He felt her hand encircling his waist, and his other hand softly hold her face, cupping it.

Surkh wala, sauz wala, Faiz wala love
Hote hai jo love se jyada waise wala love
Ishq wala love

They started to kiss in library (OH MY GOD !!!!!), forgetting what will be the consequences if someone find out the genius of college and the rockstar of the college, who were in secret relationship, are snogging each other like this, not to forget if this reach to their parents. But time had stopped for them, and they were not really caring about anything right now. Their full concentration was on their lips, how his lips were softly working on hers, kissing nibbling with utmost gentleness.

The grip on his waist tighten and he broke the kiss. Both filled their lungs with air, and he opened his eyes, only to find her flushed face and closed eyes, breathing heavily against his chest.

"but nobody had said kissing behind books in library is not allowed." He completed his earlier words and she opened her eyes, looking at him in shock one moment, and the next, blushing furiously.

"laters, Baatcutter. Hopefully tab muhe tumhe aise chup chup ke kiss nahi karna padega." He said in mock sad tone and winked as she looked at him again, her face little sad that he is going now. He smiled widely, again leaning on her, giving a soft peck on her lips.

"bye...and, oops, I forget so say!" he rubbed his neck, as if trying very hard to remember something. She frowned.

"what?"

"I Love You." He answered and smiled again...and she literally died seeing his smile. He is a born charmer...always manages to lighten up her mood and make her blush!

And he was hers...only hers.

She shook her head and watched him going away from her, as stealthily as he can manage. She shook her head at his childish antics and turned.

Time to go back to her book world !

Surkh wala, sauz wala, Faiz wala love
Hota hai jo love se jyada waise wala love
Ishq wala love

Entry 2 : The (Funny) Business of love

His hand presses down harder on her mouth and her eyes widen. He subtly shakes his head and she struggled to take a deep breath. His cologne overwhelms her senses and she is beginning to get heady.

She thinks she might finally be somewhere close to understanding his appeal.

--

It all started, as these things often do, with a kiss.

A kiss that throws the entire social dynamics of an otherwise very organised, very well defined St. Louis High. The geeks fear the jocks, the cheer squad dictate the trends the debate club blindly follow and the rebels fits in by going against the tide, as expected. As for the anti-socials, they were free to do what they did best and just keep to themselves. It was sickeningly predictable and she would have laughed at the stereotypes if she wasn't soo disgusted by it all.

When she had gotten up that morning and crossed out another day from her countdown until graduation and escape from this tormenting fishbowl - she had no idea just how drastically everything was about to change.

--

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

At least that is what he kept telling himself. Besides it wasn't the first time he would talk to her or anything. They'd been in school together since KG, there had been plenty of times they had interacted. There was nothing strange about this, nothing weird or out of ordinary. And this was part of her job profile after all. This is how she earned some extra bucks at school. Granted he had never been a fan of her trade nor had ever needed to utilize her skills himself before, but he had heard from reliable sources that she was good, darn good at what she did.

But it wasn't everyday that Reyaansh Singhania lost his prom date to a stammering brainiac. And he had to act fast, act now before he lost all his respect too. After spending all these years as the school's reigning heartthrob, he wasn't about to spend the last few weeks as it's laughing stock.

And if that meant, enlisting the help of the school's official heartbreaker, so be it.

--

She looked at him in disbelief. He had got to be kidding her. In all her time behind these gates, she had worked hard to build a name for herself, a reputation that defied the norms. She had painstakingly ensured that no one messed with it. There was a reason they called her the Ice Queen. But in this moment, she felt a rush of anger take over her body. She was afraid she was going to start yelling like a banshee and blow that very reputation to shreds.

If she didn't end up killing him first.

--

He acts on impulse. And two seconds later they find themselves closed in the janitor's closet. She rips her hand out of his grip as if his touch burns. He blisters. It's like he's got rabies or something. Pushing his own sentiments aside, he raises his hands apologetically even as she turns around to look for the light switch. The sudden burst blinds him and he moves with a start and promptly bangs into her. The next ten minutes are spent between rubbing his throbbing head, fighting the urge to covers his ears and trying to get a word in as she gets head first into her tirade. Gradually, as the minutes pass, her volume increases and finally, left with no choice, he pulls her to him and pushes his hand against her mouth. He hopes to quieten her but yelps back in surprise instead when she bites him. Hard.

And that is when he looses it and words come cascading out of his mouth like a waterfall with no rhyme, reason, filters, pauses or breaks.

Once he's finished, the silence feels heavy and deafening. She looks at him shocked while he looks down and rubs the back of his neck consciously. And then the silence is broken with peals of laughter. He looks up surprised at the sound.

Kria Ghai, the Ice Queen, professional breakup artist of St. Louis High and heartbreaker extraordinaire was shaking in front of him. Holding on to her stomach as she struggled to breathe between bouts of laughter. When she looks up at him with a grin splitting her face and tears streaming down her eyes, he feels his breath catch and his heart skip a beat.

--

She agrees to his plan once she calms down with a simple Yes, meet me in the library right after chemistry lab on Thursday, 5th Aisle on the left from the stairs'. Then she turns around and leaves him alone to figure out if he feels relieved or unnerved by what just happened.

--

He spends the rest of the day observing her. The first time she notices it, she arches an eyebrow at him and he smirks back. After that she recedes into her shell and goes back to pretending like he doesn't exist. He continues to watch her unperturbed and if she notices, she doesn't let on. But he's keen enough to notices the sudden tension in her back and the subtle way she starts tapping her fingers on her desk after three periods.

--

When he spends most of the night tossing and turning in bed, more shaken by her actions and reactions than the supposed betrayal and kick to his reputation - he realises he has a bigger problem on his hand. One very different from the one he had stumbled upon after school hours yesterday.

It had to be a very bad joke. The heartthrob couldn't possibly be attracted to the heartbreaker. But he couldn't get her out of his head. And he'd never been one to back down from a challenge nor deny himself what he desired. It's what made him THE Reyaansh Singhania. He knew she had a reputation that almost envied his. That she was just as headstrong, stubborn, determined. But it was also clear he had found his match in Kria Ghai.

Come tomorrow, she wouldn't know what hit her. After all, they didn't call him the most lethal charmer around for nothing!

--

He was everywhere. And she had no idea why. Wherever she turned, wherever she went, he'd just BE there. It was like she couldn't escape him. Emotions warred inside her. If she called him out on it, it would mean admitting that she noticed him, that he affected her. If she didn't, she was sure she would break into two if he so much as touched her. That was how taut she had been for two days now.

She jumped back with a start as he snuck up behind her. She turned around to finally let him have it just in time to see him put on the lab coat he had picked up. Even though she couldn't see it, she knew he was smirking. 40 minutes more, she promised herself. And then she would meet him in library and put an end to this charade. All the preparations had been done. She'd made sure the right ears heard the news and the right eyes would be there to see the drama unfold.

--

It is only when he pushes her against the shelf with his body while holding both her hands in his that she realises this whole plan might not be one of the wisest she came up with after all.

It had seemed easy enough when he had suggested it. It would be the most lucrative breakup in St. Louis's history. And it would restore his reputation. A win-win situation for both of them. All she had to do was let the whole school think even the heartbreaker couldn't resist him. And that's it.

Only now, as he placed one of her hands on his waist and picked up a book effectively hiding them from the eyes they knew were peeping at them from across the aisle, she wasn't sure it was as clear-cut as that after all.

When she opened her mouth to protest at his proximity, to ask him to move back, she suddenly finds his palm on her lips yet again. This was fast turning into a habit.

--

She should have known it would happen like this. Of course it would, best laid plans and all that. Maybe, there had always been some truth to all the hype around the school's heartthrob but she had been too sure, too blind, to ever give it a thought.

Rey pulls her closer then breaking her out of her reverie. He tilts his head at her in question and she shakes hers as she smiles up at her prom date. Perhaps, high school wasn't so bad after all.

--

It all ends, as these things often tend to, with a kiss. A true love's kiss, she corrects in her head and smirks.

Entry 3 : Old School Romance

Gum hai kisi ke pyaar mein, dil subah sham, par tumhe likhe nahin paaoon, main uska naam, haaye raam!' Kriya Ghai sang along to the radio tunes as she applied the quickly melting butter to her freshly toasted bread.

Ghai! Chal yaar, we'll be late!' Reyaansh Singhania hollered outside the doorway as he shuffled from one foot to another impatiently.

How is it that you two are always in a rush to get to school? Reyaansh beta, come eat something?' Smriti Ghai, Kriya's mother sighed when she heard her daughter's best friend of 10 years yell.

Nahin aunty, some other time. We're getting late as it is, and KRIYA!' He changed his sentence halfway as he began yelling once more.

Smriti could only shake her head and retire to her room, newspaper in hand. She smiled to herself as her daughter moved about like a hurricane in the kitchen. She could picture Kriya's each movement in her mind's eye, to a T! Kriya had shoved the last bit of toast down her throat and had washed it with a glass of orange juice, her hair flying around as she raced to make it to school on time.

Rey! I said I'm sorry!' Kriya said for the millionth time, jogging alongside her childhood friend, not paying attention to where she was going. She gave an exasperated sigh and continued her rambling since she knew that it was something of a routine by now. She would be late for school, he would yell at her, and then she'd try apologising with no signs of relenting on his part. She'd then proceed to talk about something completely idiotic and he'd eventually have to give in and start laughing along with her.

Do you even know how hard I laughed at that stupid movie? Well, to be honest it wasn't stupid! I can't believe Rishi Kapoor was such a charmer back in his days! I mean, I can see where Ranbir gets it from. But I'm digressing. I mean, they didn't even show the kiss in that movie. There were two flowers brought right in front of the actors' faces and shaken around so that you'd know they were kissing. I mean, I'm telling you Rey, I was rolling on the floor laughing. Who does that?!'

He finally groaned and rolled his eyes at her topic of the day. Old Bollywood movies. And she gave no signs of talking about anything else. Once she started on her favourite subject, it was hard to get her to talk about something completely different.

Kriya. I know you love Bollywood movies. And I know you love old Hindi songs, but can we please talk about something else?'

REY! You don't get it! There's something totally charming about olden Bollywood romance. Can you imagine? Flowers! RIGHT in front of their faces as they kissed!' Kriya doubled up with laughter as memories from the previous night came back to her. She slowed her steps as they reached their classroom, finally glancing at the notice pinned on the board. Kriya squealed and tackled Rey as he struggled to read what it said.

Chalo, let's go to the library, class has been cancelled!!' She started on her little impromptu victory dance right in the middle of the corridor, much to the amusement of her fellow students.

He followed her with a shrug and couldn't help but wonder what Smriti aunty used to have for lunch and dinner every day when she was pregnant with Kriya. I mean, did she simply survive on Red Bull? Or was Kriya dunked in a bucket of the drink instead of water one day? I mean, the possibilities were endless to why his best friend was so hyper and chipper, so early in the morning when he barely had his eyes open.

Upon entering the library, he immediately knew where he'd find her and made his way towards the section of the library that housed the philosophical books that no one ever went to borrow because no one was interested in that subject apart from his very own whacked out best friend.

Kriya, what are you even doing? Haven't you read that book already?'

She seemed to pay him no attention, and upon getting closer, he could hear her humming another olden classic. Jab koi baat, bigad jaaye, jab koi muskil pad jaaye, tum dena saath mera, o hum-nawa'.

Rey couldn't help but smile to himself. In all his 18 years, he'd never seen anyone who was so hyper and energetic and when asked for, so calm and at peace. He'd heard her mumble and hum countless Hindi songs and millions of dialogues that he'd never even dreamt of listening to.

She suddenly whirled around, unaware of his presence behind her and collided with his chest, her book almost dropping in the process. He caught it with surprising reflexes, and held it up to her face. He didn't know why, but of late, he'd been staring at her often, when he thought she wasn't looking. He'd be left completely awestruck and defenceless when he saw her throw the briefest of smiles his way. He didn't know what it was, whether it was simply attraction or something much more, but at that moment, with her big brown eyes staring back at him, he didn't want anything but to close the distance between them and kiss her.

And so he did, he walked forward, and she automatically took a few steps back, her confused gaze never leaving his sight, as one of his hands still held her book at face level.

Toh kya keh rahi thi tum subah mein? What were you saying?' He asked, his voice completely gentle, devoid of any humour.

A very bewildered Kriya could only manage a huh?' in response to his very breathless question. She looked back and forth between him and the book he held, trying to figure out what in the world was going on.

Weren't you saying something about how there were flowers placed in front of the actors' faces so that the audience couldn't see them kissing?' He smiled, his eyes dancing with mischief.

You were listening to that?' She ignored his question completely and was stunned by how he actually paid attention to what she was saying. For her, it was only a way to get him to talk to her again. She had no idea he had heard every word she'd uttered.

I listen to every word of yours. But there is a slight problem in the situation' He whispered, extremely close to her face now, waiting for some sort of positive reaction from her.

What?' Kriya's befuddled gaze began to clear slightly as an inkling of his intentions began to grow within her.

There aren't any flowers.' With that, he held up her open book to their faces, covering them from anyone who passed by; and slowly closed the gap between them.

His lips lightly brushed against hers as their eyes drifted shut. For both of them, it was nothing short of pure amazement, and wonder. Rey pulled away just as quickly as he'd leaned in and opened his eyes, seeking hers, as if gauging her response.

She couldn't stop her heavily racing heart and slowly peeked open an eyelid. She saw him smile widely and before she could even begin to process anything about what had transpired between them, he'd gently reached out and taken her hand in his.

Slowly, without removing his gaze from hers, he placed the book into her hands and while backing away from her slowly smiling, he whispered loud enough for her to hear with a wink, how's that for old school Bollywood romance?'

----

and the end. :/

Entry 4 : Unwanted Charms

"Aap yahaan baithe kya kar rahe hai?" She hissed at him, slamming her bag on the table.

"Sssh!" He hissed back, insanely delighted at watching her pout with anger.

"What Sssh??" She almost screamed, but he pulled her down next to him.

"SSSHH! It's a Library, Kiri..!" He whisper-screamed, and made her sit next to him.

He still was half-mad at her, but then, he didn't want to lash out at her, so he had just walked away. It had been almost a year that they were dating. And even though he wanted, no, he needed to go public about this relationship, she wouldn't let him. He wanted the whole college, nay, the whole world to know... And she?? Well, she was a different nut-case altogether.

And then, when incidents like the one that initiated the fight today happened, what else could he do but regret the fact that she was so UTTERLY stubborn.

"Aap ko nahi lagta ki aap bhaag rahe hai?" She hissed quietly now.

He turned his face away from her, smiling to himself. Of course, he knew she would just want to continue the fight. He was bored of it by now.

"Lagta nahi hai... Mujhe pata hai..." He slowly turned his face and blew the words on her lips, making her eyes go wide, "...Ki Mai Bhaag Raha Hu.."

The proximity of him made her forget everything for a while, and she just breathed in that eucalyptus-woody scent of his. The intoxication that enveloped her being just near him really paralleled nothing else. She closed her eyes to savor it, and in a few seconds, realized that this was what they were fighting about.

"This..." She jerked back, distancing herself, "...is what I am pissed at."

His eyes gleamed with mirth, and she almost felt as if his pride was overflowing at his upcoming win this time too.

She steeled herself... No. She wouldn't let him win this time.

"If you remember love... I was pissed too." He breathed again, trying to get near her. He flashed his crooked award winning smile to her, wanting this to end quickly.

"Aap kab aisa karna band karenge?" She asked him, and without waiting for an answer, got up from the table, and headed towards the bookshelves nearby.

"Kaisa karna?" She sensed him nearing her and breathing this into her ears.

"Aapko pata hai kaisa karna." She replied, taking a random book out of the shelf.

He sighed. What did she want? Wasn't he restraining enough nowadays? And what was his fault in all this?

He stepped back a little, and watched her carefully open the book in her hands. She seemed to be deep in thought, and he bit back a chuckle.

"Tumhe pata hai ki meri koi galti nahi thi Kiri..." He replied.

She jerked her head in his direction, blame clear in her eyes.

"Do NOT Kiri me!" She spat venom, "Nobody asked you to dazzle those girls. Why did you then?"

He sighed longer this time, and his left hand raked his hair back, as if trying to not be angered by the accusation.

"Kiri... You know that I did NOT do it on purpose." He spoke, trying to be as calm as he could, "It is not my fault if they have me as their Prince Charming."

"Such sly words, Reyaansh..." She had a finger pointed at him now, "Only uttered by a sly charmer."

That was it.

"I am a Charmer?" He asked.

For some unknown reason, his voice had gotten raspy. She knew he wasn't doing this purposefully, but she also knew she was a goner now. Whenever she pissed him enough to blow his lid like that, she saw a different, very sultry Reyaansh that made her insides hum with danger.

"Y-Yes..." She said, unsure of why she was stammering looking into those smoldering Hazel Green eyes now. She took subconscious steps back, afraid of something she didn't want to understand.

"Kria... Mai ek baar bolunga sirf... Thik Hai?" He asked, cornering her into the book shelf with every step that he took.

She gulped, unable to find any sense or semblance in her actions anymore.

He smiled, watching her pupils dilate. His anger vanished as soon as he saw the effect he had on him. The crooked smile in place, he held her hands with his. He took the book from her hand, wanting her to hold on to him now.

"YOU are the only girl I want to charm." He breathed, and held the book up so that the it was acting as a shield between them and the world.

She felt light-headed, as if she was floating. What was he saying now?

"If only you'd let me show it..." He cooed to her, urging again for them to go public.

"Uhh Hmmm..." She breathed, and nodded, unable to form normal English words.

He gave a heart stopping grin, his glistening teeth showing hunger.

She realized what she had just agreed to, and before she could change her mind, he leaned in to claim her lips.

His lips moved leisurely on hers, caressing her soft petals like they were the most precious pearls to him. She moaned ever so slightly in between the kiss and that gave him the entrance he was hoping to gain. His tongue leaped inside, heating up the kiss, and his body stuck to hers in need.

Before she could lose it completely, he lowered the book from his hands, exposing the world to them, and moved backwards, with a toothy grin.

She was puzzled, as to why he had stopped when he had.

And that's when she started to hear the gasps of people around her, and blushed beautifully.

Category 2 : Painful Love





:: Entries ::



Entry 7 : Affairs Of Honor

Lavender. She hated the color, positively abhorred it. But the designer said it brings out her eyes and highlights the golden bronze of her skin. Usually, she was one to get her way in all matters. But this was not the time to throw a fit. She would trust the professional in this one and won't go with her gut. It was not a run of the mill event after all. This was once in a lifetime thing. Everything needed to be just perfect. In any case, the dress was not that bad after all. It accentuated her curves pretty well which normally seemed non-existent. There was a commotion outside the room as someone seemed to be having an argument. What now? Kria got her answer as Neha entered the room in a flurry of sky blue and glitters "It's a disaster. The lilies are not here yet." Neha was on the verge of a panic attack and Kria could not afford to have one of the bridesmaids fainting on her. "It's alright, Neha. We will make do with the white orchids." she smiled reassuringly in an attempt to pacify the stressed girl. "Oh fine, i will be at the hall." Neha said visibly relieved. It was obvious the hassle of the situation had gotten to her.

Kria started as the Backstreet boys made a cacophonous racket in her room. It was her phone. Everyone she knew was at the wedding. Who was calling her now? The display revealed the smiling face of the man who always made her heart skip. She picked up the phone to be greeted by his voice. A husky, manly voice that turned her insides into mush. "Meet me at the bridge, will you?" the voice said. She knew him enough to recognize the urgency in his voice. There were at least thousands of jobs that needed her attention. Also, a two hour long torture session with the makeup artist was pending. But she found herself yielding, like always.

She trudged across the dreary landscape as fast as her feet could carry her. The sky was painted with a palette of grey, stormy blues and blacks. It was a good thing they had decided on an indoor ceremony. A band of street actors was enacting a play near the bridge. "Romeo and Juliet", it said on the banners hung above.

She finally reached the bridge, nostalgia haunting her senses. They used to sit together on the railings, weaving stories on the lives of those who passed by. And now here they were themselves a part of those stories they weaved. And then she saw him, standing there, an impressive figure in a desolate site. Clad in a tailored tuxedo that emphasized his broad shoulders and presented a sharp contrast to his rugged features, he was gazing at the river that flowed beneath the bridge. Her heartbeat quickened and then developed a steady staccato that she had come to associate with him. He had once told her the sight of flowing water calmed him. That the gurgling clarity of water flowing let him abandon his worries. Judging by his stiff back and rigid demeanor, the water did not seem to be helping him much today.

"I thought you won't come. Is it not bad luck to see the groom before marriage?" he said in a quiet voice without turning his back. He had sensed her presence but that was not what made her raise her eyebrows. Since when did he start believing in superstitions?

"I do not think the bad luck theory applies to us, Reyansh." she replied with a wry twist of her lips. He sighed seemingly at war with himself about something. "You won't ditch me at the altar, will you?" the slight quiver in his voice caught her off guard. He was tensed and anxious and out of habit, her arms stretched, to reach out to him. To make an attempt to sooth his worries. "No, not now" a part of her berated herself and she withdrew them. "I will be there, till the end." she managed to utter in a hoarse voice. Yes, she will be there alright. With him till the end...even if it symbolized her end. His shoulders relaxed visibly as he finally turned around to pin her with his hazel-eyed gaze. He fully took in her dolled up form and his lips formed a lopsided grin. "Lavender looks horrible on you." he said in an amused tone. She had been expecting the jibe at her dress. "This is how it's supposed to be. The maid in honor is not supposed to look beautiful. The day should belong to your bride, Rey." Kria said in a steady tone. Her heart twisted in anguish as she said the obvious out loud. She had been pretending till now. Fooling herself to think that all of this was for her. But no, this day belonged to someone else. Specifically, the bride of the man she loved .

Rey's face developed a somber expression as Kria made a vain attempt to mask the pain in her heart. Yet he saw the light in her eyes dim. He had waited for her, his heart not willing to give up on her. But he had hardened himself over the years. His heart was torn, constantly bleeding. And so he had gradually learned to ignore the pain. To subdue the voice of that part that caused him constant strife. She had been too late and he had moved on. She came back to find the heart she believed to be hers, bound. Bound in honor in the form of an engagement ring. She had kept her heart under dense wraps not willing for him to compromise his honor.

"I think you should leave. They would be searching for you at the venue." She whispered turning her back on him to avoid his intense gaze. His eyes said a story. They conveyed an emotion she was unwilling to decipher. Afraid she will lose herself in the process forever. Rey willed Kria to look at him once. He knew he had been cruel when he asked her to be the maid of honor at his wedding, aware she would not refuse. It was a callous and punishing move on his part. But she needed to do this. Her heart belonged to him. For her to completely move on, to erase all traces of his cursed existence from her life, he needed to crush it ruthlessly. His heart asked him to elope with her. That there was still time left. But he could not do that to her or to the woman he had promised himself to. He could live with the shame of ruining a life but he could not blight her purity with the guilt.

It seemed an eternity after, yet might have been just a second; she heard his footsteps leaving the bridge as he made his way back to the venue. Her knees buckled as collapsed on the stairs leading her here. His presence was fading when she finally allowed herself to look back at him. He was a tiny figure at the end of the bridge, growing tinier by the second. It was heart wrenchingly symbolic. They were at two ends of a bridge. A bridge that she had created and now was unable to cross. Her eyes strained to hold on to his figure, unwilling to let go of him yet. A sob, a single sob tore its way out of her throat and then she swallowed the rest of it. No, she will not breakdown. Not now when he was on his way to a new life. A new beginning. What kind of a goodbye would that be?

She looked up to see the band of actors enacting the final scene of their play. Romeo had died. Coward, Kria thought. This is what they call an immortal love story? A tragic love story? Where was the tragedy? Both the lovers found peace and stayed together. They had the comfort of knowing that their love is mutual. Life is the greatest tragedy of love. Finding the strength to move on, the paramount sacrifice. Love is painful. Especially when the villain of your life story, who shredded your being to pieces is the supreme king of your heart.

Her phone rang and she picked it up hesitantly. "Where are you Kria? How am I supposed to manage a wedding without my maid of honor?" a good natured voice said over the phone. Kria smiled through her tears. Rey's fiance was a kind soul. "You might want to practice your catching skills. I am planning to throw the bouquet towards you. That way you will get married next." the voice said excitedly. Comic affairs of fate. Only if this bride knew Kria was the one who had thrown her bouquet to her in the first place.

Entry 8 : Edge Of Desire

The storm brewing inside her quietens to a dull throb and she finds herself finally surrendering. Letting the darkness consume her. It is after all in the shadows that she always finds him.

--

He struggles to control his breathing. His skin threatens to melt off - so fierce is the fight inside him. His blood is roaring and his heart drums in his chest, threatening to burst out. How he wishes it did. Lord knows he's tried to rip it out himself enough times. He's sure he's still got scratch marks from the last time he tried. That is also one of the reasons he always keeps his nails short and shirt on - but no knows that.

It wasn't always like that. Of course it wasn't. It never is. Nothing ever is nor remains the way it starts.

--

He'd been looking for work. Anything to get by. It had taken him only five days of sleeping on an empty stomach in the City of Dreams to finally admit that passion may keep the heart pumping but it didn't keep hunger at bay.

It takes him another four to realise qualifications got you through the door, but you needed to know the right names to stay.

It only takes him fifteen minutes and a heated argument with a high society brat at 2am to realise that just like dreams, the city too is highly unpredictable and just as surreal.

--

It takes everything in his power to not storm out of the Ghai Mansion.

Mr. Ghai's condescending words, Mrs. Ghai's disapproving stare and that brat's challenging stance grate on his nerves. He was better than this - better than them. People so blinded by money and power they couldn't differentiate between people and pawns.

When he walks out half an hour later, his head's held high. But even as he clutches his fingers around his appointment letter as the new head of security he can't fight off the feeling that his hunger finally won over his pride.

--

She leans into his shoulder and he bristles. He tells himself he feels that way because he can read people better than her.

He knows guys like Romeo very well, knows they're bad news, knows he's just using her for who she is. But he doesn't warn her.

When she lifts her head up from his shoulder and looks him square in the eye from across the hall, he realises he's isn't as stoic as he thought. When her lips curl up in a taunting smile, he knows she'd called him out on his bluff.

He isn't sure how he feels about that.

--

The fairy lights are twinkling and the night is alive with the sounds of clinking glasses, fake laughter and shallow conversations.

The party is in full swing as he comes to a halt behind the marble pillars and surveys the crowd once again. He looks on with disinterest at women wearing precious gems that shined brighter than their eyes. At least two of them had tried to feel him up as he had made his way across the lawn. The men on the other hand volleyed between discussing mergers, mistresses and malts. He feels suffocated and wonders how they thrive in an environment like this - how she survives.

His senses are tingling and he can't fight the feeling that something is about to go very very wrong. Shaking his head consciously - no time for stupid thoughts, he made his way towards the back. It was time for another round anyway.

--

She bangs into him the minute he turns the corner. For a second, he's caught off guard and his hands immediately hold onto the body thrust into him. He looks down to see her tear stained eyes staring up at him, shocked. She didn't expect to see him here and he didn't expect to ever see her like this - with mascara running down her face, her hair unruly, and - he notices as he sweeps a gaze down her frame to make sure she is okay - bruises on her arm in the shape of a hand.

He looks up alarmed just in time to see Romeo break into a run. He moves her aside. Adrenaline rushing through her body, every instinct screaming inside him to run, to fight, to not loose sight. He's gearing up to go, even makes it past her and to the curb before she is pulling his hand. If he wasn't so wired already, he would have jumped with a start.

Instead he's about to brush her off even as she comes running into him, wrapping her arms around him. And just like that, he feels the fight, the anger, the tension draining out of him. He turns and engulfs her into his arms.

--

He wakes up with a jerk, sweat pouring down his body, his breathing out of control like he has been running a marathon. Her phantom taste still lingers in his mouth and his lips burn with the memory of her tongue, ache with the pull of her teeth.

He sits absolutely still in the middle of the bed, shrouded in darkness. Thankful for the shadows. It allows him to deny what he desired in the dark, what he couldn't imagine even looking at in the morning.

They said some women were like wild horses, not meant to be tamed, or tied down. He knew they were right because of her. The only one he couldn't have.

The one he couldn't even admit wanting.

--

She orders him to accompany her to Simmi's house party. Tells him she needs his guarding' with a sneer. He feels a hot flush of anger run through his body. He curtly tells her he's in charge of overseeing the changing of the night guards.

She shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly and walks away.

He gets a strong feeling he was being baited and though he had refused, he couldn't stop feeling like he'd lost anyway.

--

Kria Ghai always got what she wanted. As he made his way through the overcrowded, dark hall; Reyaansh Singhania had to give her that. No matter how bitter it made him feel.

He wasn't stupid. He knows exactly why he was offered this job and it wasn't on his merit. It was because he had dared to question Miss Kria Ghai, daughter of steel tycoon Yashwardhan Ghai.

She'd gotten him hired to teach him a lesson. And he had acknowledged her challenge and taken it head-on. He knew she would turn each day into a battle for survival, make him regret even laying eyes on her much less actually daring to defeat her while he was at it. He'd come prepared when he'd accepted.

However, he had never expected the thrill of anticipating to turn into a thrum of excitement, for trepidation to turn into temptation, for loathing to turn into longing. And he had definitely not been prepared for his own heart to turn against him.

While he'd hated Kria Ghai, she'd wanted to turn his life into a living hell. It was almost poetic ironic how she had managed just that by not only getting under his skin but making herself at home there.

--

He doesn't have to look too long and hard for her. She's wearing florescent pink and black. Soft and harsh - a contradiction just like her . She's covered from head to toe and he's grateful for that. He would have questioned his curious reaction had he not suddenly felt an unexpected wave of anger on seeing her dancing on the countertop.

She had known he would come all along. He realises this the instant he sees the victorious smile beaming on her face, the minute she spots him standing near the door. She bends down, pulls the guy nearest to her by the collar and gulps down his drink in one go.

Then, she continues to dance - clearly drunk, clearly overcompensating, clearly putting on a show - just for him. But he doesn't stop her. Because that is exactly what she wants. For him to reach out, to give in. To admit what he wants to ignore. It's a game they're both playing to win.

When she's had too much, tried too long, when she's about to come crashing down - he is there to catch her, like always.

--

He lifts her up in his arms and walks out of the house.

He ignores her car and continues on. The night is dark and deserted and he allows himself the luxury of holding her close. He could easily deny it in the morning tomorrow. She's fainted as it is.

This point wouldn't count anyway.

--

On his way to the mansion with her safe in his arms, he crosses a red road sign screaming STOP'. He sees it's for the universe's command that it is. Ignoring it, he continues on.

He doesn't think his wild heart is willing to listen tonight.

--

Entry 9 : Beyond This World

If I say yes...

The thought crossed his mind for what seemed like the millionth time. And just like each time before, he couldn't let himself finish the thought. He couldn't guess for how long he had stood there. Maybe it had been an hour. Maybe it had been four. The sky should've been an indication of how much time had passed, but he hadn't been paying attention to it when he had arrived at the beach. A few people had been lazing around earlier, but now he was alone.

He had come here looking for answers. But every time he had tried to find an answer, he was faced with the same thought and then he would jump back to the start, trying to find another way, a different answer. It was exhausting. Now as he stood at the water's edge watching the waves roll in and break at the shore he mused over how similar that one thought was to the waves. Back and forth, relentless.

If I say yes...

He had made a decision roughly a year back. "To move on". "To live his life". "To pick up the pieces of his life and start over". Whatever. He had done it, hadn't he? He had begun to smile again without feeling guilty about it. Sometimes he would even laugh. He had begun hanging out with his friends. He had started to work again. He had stopped shutting out his best friends and family. He had done it all for her. Because he could not let people think that he was ruined because of her. She had been the best thing to happen to him. No part of her could ever destroy him, not even her death. Letting people think that would have been disrespect to her. And so he did what he needed to do to make them believe that he was okay. He lived. Even though on some days he dint really want to. Like today.

As he watched the waves, he wondered what it would feel like to lie down with his eyes closed and let the waves wash over him. To pull him with them and take him to her. He closed his eyes.

"Reyaansh"

It was her. He opened his eyes. She had come. Of course she had, she always did when he needed her. He turned around. She was sitting on the swing a few feet away, smiling her sweet smile. The wind was playing with her hair, a few strands fluttering around her face. She was wearing the light pink floral print dress that was her favorite. No wait, that was wrong. Her favorite was the light blue one, wasn't it? It frustrated him that he couldn't remember.

"Does it matter, Rey? I love them both."

Yes, but which one was her favorite? He looked at her but she couldn't help him.

What else had he forgotten? Panic started to rise within him as he began to recall their conversations, the little details. She loved wind chimes, chocolates and flowers. Her favorite flowers were white lilies. Her favorite book was "Gone with the Wind" and the one she liked the least was "Romeo and Juliet". She liked chick flicks. Her favorite dress was... Hadn't she screamt at him for dropping chocolate syrup over her light blue dress? She had stayed mad until he had got it back from the laundry, clean and perfectly the way it had been before. But pink was her favorite color.

"That's right, Rey. See, you do still remember. Pink was my favorite color."

She smiled sadly then.

"Was."

Past tense. Why did she always stress on that?

"Because no matter how many times I say it, you just don't listen."

She was here with him now, wasn't she?

"For how long?"

If I say yes...

No. It doesn't have to be that way.

"It must be that way Rey. It won't be fair to her otherwise."

In that case, the answer is no.

"But why? She likes you. She makes you smile. And more importantly, you like her. You like Anya."

He turned around and looked at the waves once more. He couldn't face her. He didn't want to. Initially, Anya had just been a good friend. He didn't realize when he had begun liking her, caring for her a little too much.

"You shouldn't feel guilty. You know this is why I want."

But is it really? Wasn't she even slightly jealous? Sometimes he would feel jealous for her when he was with Anya. And then he would back away from Anya. Anya had learnt to deal with his mood swings. She understood him so well.

"And that's why you can't let her go."

But now Anya wanted him to put his feelings into words. She wanted him to admit that he did really like her. She was asking for too much.

"Is she really? She's just asking for you to show her that you really do care about her. Doesn't she deserve to know if there actually is a future for you both? "

Is there?

He could imagine it. A future for them both. It wasn't the same life that he had imagined with Kria, because Anya was distinctly different from Kria. But he could imagine it. He sighed and turned back.

Yes. Yes, there is a future.

"Do you want that future?"

Did he? Wasn't he grateful for having Anya? Didn't she bring some semblance of normality back into his life?

Yes.

"Then what is stopping you from saying yes?"

If I say yes...

No.

He pushed always he thought. But as always, she was quick to grasp it.

"Reyaansh." She was just a little bit stern now.

If I say yes...I will have to let go of you.

She smiled sadly again. He hated to see that smile.

"You have to some day, don't you?"

Yes. No.

"Yes Reyaansh. That's your answer. To all your questions."

Yes, he wanted a life with Anya. Yes, he wanted to fall in love with her. Yes, at some point he would have to let go of Kria.

I'm not ready.

"It's been two years. You promised."

He felt angry. She should be proud of how far he had come. How could she expect him to just let her go? Why did Anya expect that? Why did his friends expect that?

"They love you. She loves you. I love you."

And I love you. Always have, always will.

That should've made her happy but deep sadness entered her eyes. Because she knew what he meant. And she knew how much it would hurt him. He had really cared for Anya after all.

But I don't want to give your place in my life to anybody else. Not to Anya, not to anyone. I can't.

"You'll miss her. It'll hurt."

You're here for me. I don't need anybody else.

"Reyaansh." The stern tone again.

Come walk with me.

She was beside him and they walked along the shore.

"Reyaansh. You know I'm not real."

No she wasn't. He knew he was relying just on her memories to give him comfort. And even they were beginning to fade away. They were leaving him, just the way she had. But he wouldn't let go of her.

"For how long Reyaansh?"

They had promised each other an eternity. He, at least, would stay true to his promise.

For this world. And for the next.