~ Laal Ishq ~
- Chapter 9 -
A/N: Before you all read this update, just letting you know that there is a huge shock in this update. You'll probably all hate me for it but it's necessary for the story to move on! So be prepared! Enjoy the read! :)
The party had started off as a seemingly normal party. Everyone was in groups, talking and holding various drinks. "Antara, come let's dance," Riya says, taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor. We start dancing when Raj comes behind Riya. "Would you mind dancing with me?" he asks. "Sure, why not?" she replies.
As she carries on with dancing, I walk to the bar to get a drink. "It looks nice." I turn and fine Raghu behind me. "What?" I ask. "The decorations. They look nice," he says. "I just bought them. It's not as if I was the one to set up the hall," I reply.
"Hmm well I've got to go attend to some guests," he says and leaves. I turn back to the counter and pick up my mocktail. I drank it and headed back to Riya, who had finally finished dancing with Raj.
"Antara, you should dance with Raghu! Look at him standing there. It's his birthday," she says. "Me? No way. Why should I go ask him? It's not as if I'm his best friend or anything like that," I tell her. "Well if you won't go, then I will," she says.
"Wait, I think he's coming here," I say. "May I have this dance?" he asks. My hand raises up midway when I realize that he hadn't been asking me. He was asking Riya. "Of course," she says and goes with him.
What? He wanted to dance with Riya? Forget about it Antara.
I sit down on the chair and look away from Riya and Raghu.
***
"Antara, I think Raghu wants to dance with you," she says. "The entire time we were dancing, he kept looking towards you, as if he was expecting some sort of reaction from you."
"So what? It's not like it makes any difference to me," I say. I turn to leave when a hand pulls me back. "Dance with me," Raghu whispers in my ear as he pulls himself to me. Seeing as I didn't have a choice since he wasn't about to let go any time soon, I went along with him to the dance floor.
"What was that?" I ask him as I rest my hand on his shoulder. "I needed to talk to you," he tells me. "And according to you, this is the best way."
He looks around and finally nods. "Yeah." "Well what do you want to tell me?" I ask. "Your, your ankle. Is it fine now?" he asks. "Yeah, I'm fine," I tell him. "Okay," he says. That's what he wanted to ask me about? My ankle?
"Raghu, what happened?" I ask, wondering what had happened. "No. Nothing," he says. "Are you sure?" I ask. "Yeah," he says. We continue to sway to the music, our bodies close together.
Once the song comes to an end, I turn to leave but feel a tug on my wrist. I turn back and Raghu lets go of my hand. "Raghu," I say. "Actually, I wanted to tell you something," he says, taking a step closer. "Raghu, we're in the middle of a party. Everyone can see us," I tell him.
He takes my hand and leads me out. I look around to see if anyone noticed us but everyone was busy in their own conversations that no one even saw us leave.
"What happened?" I ask as he brings me out to the back of the building. "What did you want to tell me?" He takes a step closer like last time. I take one back. He holds my arm to stop me from going any further. He moves his hand behind my head and unties the mask.
He slowly takes the mask off, my full face revealed. He gently traces the side of my face and leans in to plant a small, soft kiss on my cheek. He moves away but is still close enough for me to feel his breath on my face.
"You... You wanted... To tell me something," I stammer. "I wanted to say," he says, leaning closer and kissing my cheek other cheek this time.
"You wanted to say what?" I ask, my voice quiet. "You're looking absolutely gorgeous tonight," he says. "You know, the second you walked in through the door. I was blown away. Antara you know, ever since, ever since you've come into my life... Everything's changed. It's changed."
He takes a step back. "Raghu," is all I say. I didn't know what else to say. "And you know what Miss. Antara Kaul, I hate you for that. I hate you. Get that straight. Stay away from me. I was perfectly fine without you in my life and I don't need you. Or rather, I don't want you in my life. Just go away!" he screams and turns, his back facing me.
Tears brim my eyes as my mind repeats what he said. Did he really mean what he said?
I was so confused about him, about my feelings. What was happening? Why did I care if he thought about me like that? He was nothing for me, not even a friend, right? But then why, why did his words hurt me so much? Why?
That was the only question that was running through my mind. I stand there, just thinking about it until Raghu tells me to leave once again.
I slowly walk backwards. My feet stumble and I am about to fall. I feel his hand on my arm and he straightens me. I shake his hand off of my arm.
"You hate me, right? Then why are you touching me? Why do you come so close to me? Why did you stop me from falling? If you hated me, then you should have just let me fall," I cry out. The tears don't stay in my eyes anymore, instead, they roll down my cheeks.
"I don't want to talk to you. Just go," he says, repeating his earlier statement. "Not until you answer me Raghu. Not until you answer me," I say.
"I don't have anything to tell you, now will you please leave me alone," he says. I knew I wasn't going to get any answers from him, so why even bother?
I run back to my car, wiping the streaming tears away. Sometimes, I really did wonder if destiny had anything special in store for me. But destiny was weird too. It played some of the most stupidest tricks on me. 
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
