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21- Face To Face
Piya takes a shower and gets ready for the Bar-BQ party, while Abhay gets busy setting up the place, he sets booby traps around the house, then
jumps high on the house roof checking it for any loopholes, he blocks the old chimney moving as fast as he could, and then he checks the boundary wall and the cottage inside and outside
Then he locks the windows by fixing some extra wood rods on them. He doesn't rest until he was fully satisfied.
After half an hour she was ready and all set to go, she was wearing a knee length white sleeveless summer dress with red flowers prints, her curls were dried and well conditioned, she was about to wear her earrings when he knocks on the door, she asks him in, with a quick glance he checks her out! She looked fresh and he liked the way she was looking over all, especially with the red lipstick that she was wearing.
"Good! You are ready, I am going to take a shower" He says
"I am done" she says nervously and leaves the room. She still felt awkward a bit being with him alone.
Soon both were in the car heading for de Silva's residence. She looks at him fondly; he was wearing a red shirt with white trousers and was looking good as ever! She smiles when she recalls the chicken incident
"You know that we have to be back before its dark don't you?" he says without looking at her, she nodes
The old couple's house was very nicely made, it was located near the beach and had a beautiful garden with lots of flowers and palm trees
They warmly welcome them, and the old lady introduces them to her family, she blushes when she tells them that they have just got married and she looks awkwardly to Abhay who smiles when he sees her blushed face. As they walk towards the beach she notices young girls eyeing Abhay, how could she blame them she thought! He looked dashing with the red shirt!
Piya feels thrilled meeting the large family, she was so moved by the affection that the kids and the grand kids were showering the old couple with. The whole family along with friends and neighbors were having fun chit chatting and laughing while having a drink.
There was a large decorated shade set on the beach and there were 3 long covered tables with chairs underneath it, and a buffet for salads, sweets and some side dishes, a singer was singing holding a guitar accompanied by two other musicians who were on keyboard and drums.
The whole atmosphere looked heart warming and cheerful and the smell of the grills and sizzlers made Piya feel hungry!
Soon the lunch was served and she has something to eat
"Abhay you didn't eat anything, aren't you hungry?" she asks him
"Maybe later, I had a very large breakfast so I am barely hungry" he says, she looks at him doubtfully and remembers that she never saw him eat anything ever, even when they were in collage, how strange! She thought.
After the lunch everyone start to dance, Piya gives Abhay eager glances waiting for him to ask her for a dance, but in vein, as he looked distant and seemed like he was in a deep thought.
Abhay notices her glances, and senses how eagerly she was waiting to dance with him, as he too had an overwhelming urge to do just that; to take her in his arms and dance with her.
However he was troubled about this, he was bothered by the swimming lesson, the morning incident, when he took her in his arms reassuring her and by whatever had happened between them in the cottage and more!
Basically he was troubled by whatever happened between them ever since he came to Goa.
He was aware that the distance that he so hardly kept between them was becoming lesser each moment, and that they were coming closer and somehow bonding, and he was worried about how would he deal with all this and with her after this trip.
How can he make her stay away from him again? When he himself can't keep away from her now! He knows he would hurt her now even more then before and that was deeply upsetting him!
She looks fondly at the beautiful old couple while they were dancing, talking and looking lovingly at each other, although they have passed seventy, but they still looked good, you can easily tell the man was a dashing heartbreaker in his youth, as he still has a vivid look of a handsome old man and the woman although she doesn't look that pretty, but she had this kind and sweet features that make anyone love her.
However what made her heart filled with warmth and captivated her the most, was the way he was looking at his old wife, like she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
For a short moment her eyes trick her, and she imagines her own self as the old woman and Abhay as the old man with all the wrinkles and grey hair!
She pats her eye lids quickly several times, and then giggles covering her mouth, then she looks fondly at Abhay, he looked so cute as an old man! She thought
He looks at her coldly, she says with affection looking back at the old couple "it's so weird! they are married for half a century and they still look so much in love" her eyes dreamy, her chin resting on her hands
He looks at her then at the old couple and says "there is nothing strange in that, when two people are truly in love, their love grows with time, it never fades away"
She gets stunned! Is this is the same Abhay who said he doesn't believe in love?! And had twisted conceptions on love and relationships!
She shakes her head in disbelief "I don't believe it! Since when you believe in love Abhay? I thought you believe only in having fun with girls" she looks at him eagerly waiting for him to answer her
Realizing that he had just unconcealed his true perceptions of love, he starts to get edgy and quickly thinks what to say, to do some damage control
"I am not talking about me! I am just 18! Love needs maturity" he says
"There is no age limits to fall in love Abhay! And you know it, and I think this uncle and aunty were at your age too when they fell in love and got married, so your argument is irrelevant" she says with a challenge
"So what? We are not them neither we are from their generation" he says irritated.
Did he say we? She thought, then gulps and says "So basically you are saying that you still don't believe in love?!" she looks at him doubtfully and then continues
"but what you said contradicts this! You are contradicting your self Abhay"
He gets more irritated "and why do you care about what I believe in? This is my life, I don't believe in love because I never fell in love! And not going to any time soon! It's all a big waste of time period"
She feels hurt from what he had said and and she wanted to tell him that we don't choose when we fall in love, but instead she says "whatever Abhay" and she looks away then his phone rings he picks it up and glances at her and says" hi Tina" then he walks away along the beach to talk to her privately.
Piya watches him feeling a painful lump in her throat, his words echoing in her mind, never been in love! Are you sure Abhay? She thought irritated and then looks away to the dance floor.
Then she notices a tall dark and handsome boy was approaching towards her, looking at her, he had beautiful eyes and a matching beautiful smile on his face, somehow he looked like a hero from a movie!
She notices that the young girls were looking at him, he stops beside the old couple and the old lady screams with joy "my smart Italian, you came" the boy kisses her, hugging her and pulling her up swinging her in his arms, while she was laughing, then he hugs the old man too and then says "how could I miss my favorite girl and boy's anniversary" the old woman laughs "Shaytan"
He talks to them for few moments and then he walks towards her, Piya feels awkward.
He offers his hand and says "hi, I am James de Silva, those lovely young couple out there are my grandparent" he winks
She shakes hands with him smiling
"You are new here, never seen you around, otherwise I would have noticed you, as you are too pretty to be ignored" he says with his husky voice, his eyes playful
She smiles and nodes "thank you, I am just a visitor"
"I see! So miss visitor would you like to dance"
She glances at Abhay who was still busy talking on the phone with Tina, he turns his head and looks at them, she ignores his gaze and looks at James, puts her hands in his, smiles and says "sure"
He leads her to the dance floor
"So, what's your name pretty one?"
She was about to say Piya then she remembers what Abhay said so she says "I am Simran"
"Really! So Simran would you like me to be your Raj?" he chuckles, she giggles and looks at her own Raj; Abhay, who was looking at their direction now, but still, was on the phone, he looked pissed off and she liked that! Oh so you are feeling jealous now! Glad you are! Have a dose of your own medicine Abhay! She thought with a smile
"It's wonderful to belong to a large family isn't it?" says Piya
"Well sometimes it is and sometimes it's a pain in the butt" says James smiling
Then he continues "So what do you do? You are not a model are you? I could swear I have seen you in a magazine"
She shakes her head "No I am a scholarship student! Beside I am too short to be a model" she giggles
"Wow! A girl who can actually state her flaws, and above that on scholarship, wow very impressive, beauty with brain! So which university do you attend? And btw you are not that short" he winks
"Not short! Are your kidding me? My head barley reaches your chest, btw how tall are you?"
"6 feet, about your head reaching my chest its better this way, so you can rest it easily" he says winking
she gets nervous and he chuckles
"Stop it, you are embarrassing me now! and btw you are becoming very corny" she says
he laughs and swings her fast, she laughs "you have a very beautiful laughter" says James
"Stop flirting with her Jimmie, she is taken, she is married to a handsome boy no less then you" says his grandmother as she passes next to them dancing with her husband, while his grandpa laughs "that's my boy! He never seizes a moment to flirt with a pretty girl"
"Stop encouraging him! Your proud because he not only took your looks but also your nature" Says the old lady laughing
Piya giggles when she sees the sudden change on the boy's face
"Ouch! Some one kill me please! you are married at this age?! Who gets married at this age nowadays! Don't tell me you both are runaways, so where is the lucky guy?" he looks around
She looks at Abhay's direction and he looked gloomier now, he looked very angry as he has heard every single word!
James turns his head "oh him! I have noticed him glaring us but I thought maybe he was just another guy feeling envious because I ended up dancing with the most beautiful girl in the party" he chuckles then says with a skeptical voice "you two aren't married for real are you?"
She chuckles "What makes you say that?" she says
"Because I know for sure if I was your husband, I wouldn't let you out of my sight let alone out of my arms, and I certainly wouldn't let any other man be near you" he says mischievously
She blushes, sighs and whispers "you are one possessive guy aren't you? God help the girl you marry! But you are right! We are not married but please don't tell that to anyone"
"uh! Suspense is increasing! So Simran, if that's your real name! What's the real deal? Oh let me guess! You two are boyfriend, girlfriend, who eloped to spend some quality time together away from your conservative family, who don't let you be with him!" he smiles
She blushes, "No no, we are not! We are just friends" she says nervously
James laughs "you are blushing again sweetie! Btw how old are you?"
"17" she says
"Marwa diya na! I am flirting with a minor!" he chuckles
"I am more mature then you" she protests giggling
"you sure are!" he smiles
"So how old are you?" she asks him, he says 19
She looks at him, it's strange how this stranger made her feel that she is so special! How she felt comfortable, feeling that she can confide in him!
"Come on now, you can tell me! You don't strike me as a girl who elopes with a guy behind her family's back, so tell me what brings you around here alone with a boy? who btw is now coming towards our direction with a look of 'I want to kill you!" he chuckles again
Piya looks nervously at Abhay, who was walking towards them now, paving his way through the dancing crowd
He stops near them, she bites her lips nervously as James let go of her
"I think we have to get moving now" says Abhay with a tensed voice
James looks at Abhay smiling and offers him his hand "hi I am James and you are?"
"Raj" Says Abhay glaring him with a challenge in his eyes and they shake hands
"Nice to meet you Raj" James looks at Piya rolling his eyes, both trying to stop them selves from laughing!
"She is all yours" he says and then he walks away smilingly
Abhay grabs her arm with force; she can sense that he was very angry, but it felt good! She was sure now he was jealous!
"What do you think you were doing?" he whispers in anger
"What did I do?" says she impatiently
"We will talk later, come on now" he says squinting his eyes in anger, she shrugs her arm away from his grip
"I don't want to go now, it's still too early, beside you said we will go back before dark", she protests.
"No! We will go now" he demands getting more furious
"But I want to stay! I want to dance some more" she protests again, tilting her chin up, looking at him with challenge
"Fine!" he snaps angrily and to her surprise he puts his arm around her, his hand placed on lower back and he pulls her forcefully, jerking her and crashing her against his strong chest, she gasps.
He was very angry, she could sense that, and he embraces her tightly, so tightly that made her breathless, her heart beats get faster as he swings her, she felt she couldn't breath! he was gazing her with intensity and she looks at him with dreamy eyes, taken back by his anger and by the passion that she senses in his eyes
"Abhay!" she says with a quivering broken voice "I can't breath!" she was panting now.
He sighs deeply and loosens his grip, embracing her more gently
She sighs inhaling deeply!And then he dances with her, his arms around her very
gentle now, he swings her, both seemed so lost! Gazing deeply into each others eyes, dancing closely, her heart bounding so fast and she could feel his heart beats too,
Then he pulls her closer again and she rests her head on his chest feeling so secure, he leans his head over hers as he moves her, her closeness, warmth and her scent excites him and she was lost in the warmth of his touch and embrace, she inhales deeply, closing her eyes, his scent stir her emotions.
It felt good, so good that they didn't notice how some people were looking at them in admiration, including the old couple, Mrs. de Silva sighs"Uh! young love" while James gets captivated by their sight and he smilingly takes some snaps of them with his digital camera
Soon the band stop singing and everyone clap bringing them back to reality.
Abhay backs off gently looks around him and then says "can we go now!" She nods, feeling disappointed to get away from him.
They thank their hosts and bid them goodbyes, the old woman hugs Piya and tells her she reminds her of her own self! As she too was about her age maybe older a bit when she met her husband and instantly fell in love with him although they got married after one year.
She looks nervously at Abhay, but it seems he wasn't bothered about what the woman said.
As they walk out side
"Hey wait up Guys" says James
They both turn around, he hands a CD to Piya
"here, I took some shots of you two and loaded them in the CD"
Piya smiles "that's very sweet of you, thank you" she looks at Abhay and her smile fades away as she sees him becoming agitated
And he snaps angrily "what did you do that for?"
James gets stunned by his anger "well photography is my hobby and you two looked good together, don't worry I have deleted them from my cam, you have my word" he says smiling
Abhay gets taken back! The boy is really clever! Cause this was exactly what bothered him!
He sighs and thanks him, then walks away to the car, Piya follows him
"Hey Raj ka Simran wait, here this is my number" he hands her a note
"Call me whenever you are in Mumbai and need a friend, I study there in the university it's my third year in engineering, and if you decide to call! Then you can tell me your real name and where you are from" he winks, she gives him a big smile "sure, thank you, bye now and take care"
"You too! Hey I have a better idea, get rid of that loser and elope with me! Btw I am a keeper just like my grandpa!" he says humoring her
"Stop it! he is not a loser" she hits his arm giggling, and then thinks he is my hero!
He watches her leaving with a smile, it's strange but in those short moments he felt very comfortable with her like somehow there is a connection between them! And strangely Piya felt the same way!
As she gets inside the car she looks at Abhay, he looked too tensed as he drives away!
His fists were holding tight on the steering wheel! His eyes narrowed, his mouth twitched in anger
Gosh! Now what! She thought
"What's wrong?" she says
"What's wrong!! You were flirting with a total stranger in a place where everyone thinks we are married! Do you want to spoil everything I have planned! Why did you tell him we are not married?!" he snaps angrily, how did he hear what we were saying, he was far away! She thought looking at him puzzled and snaps "I wasn't flirting Ok! I was just dancing with someone who actually was interested in dancing with me! And not leaving me and talking on the phone with some bimbo! Beside why do you care about what I do?"
He sighs and says rudely "Is this what was bothering you? That I didn't dance with you! You should have said so! But if you haven't noticed we are not here in a picnic! There is a psycho killer on the loose that we have to deal with" he says angrily
"but you said we are safe here, you said this all will get solved by tomorrow"
he closes his eyes for a moment "yes I did! But that doesn't mean that we be off our guard, and party, dancing and flirting with random people"
"The random guy happens to be a sweet guy and a truly gentleman, who unlike you actually made me feel good! Beside haven't you been dirty dancing with random bimbos! So what's your problem? And why are you overreacting like this? What did I do? Hell! I just danced with some nice guy and had a little fun! And why do you care, If I hadn't known any better Abhay I would have said you are jealous!" she snaps angrily
"What! Jealous! You are out of your mind! Why should I be jealous!" he snaps angrily
"Come on admit it Abhay, you were, otherwise why do you care what I do! Come on tell me"
"I am not jealous, do you understand! And I don't care period! My only concern is your safety, and btw this attitude doesn't suit you one bit"
"What attitude! Gosh Abhay! Why do you have to be such a jerk, and make me feel like I did a big sin! I was just having fun dancing, at least unlike you, I am not sleeping around" she says furiously, tears rolling down her cheeks, she wipes them with anger, looking away out side the window.
He sighs, what are you doing Abhay? You are aggravating the whole situation! Have a grip on your emotions dude! Why are you complicating things like this! You have hurt her and now she suspects you were jealous!
"I am sorry Piya I shouldn't have snapped at you like this but I am just worried"
She looks at him and sighs, how could she be angry at him when he did so much for her, he left everything and followed her to Goa just to keep her out of danger! And now he is here in this place in that old house trying to keep her safe! there are no agendas in his selfless act
She smiles sadly "it's ok Abhay, and i am sorry too I know you have done allot for me, you are here because of me instead of being somewhere else having fun, you have endangered your own life just to save me, I should be very grateful I am in your debt Abhay and always be, I shouldn't have snapped at you" she says with a quivering Voice, tears rolling down her cheek
He looks at her and feels a painful lump down his throat yet again he turned her laugher into tears, damn you Abhay , he curses him self
He looks at her silently and helplessly and goes into a deep thought, There is no other place I want to be Piya but with you. You think my being here with you as a great favor and you are thanking me for it, but what you don't realize that you being with me, and feeling that I am worthy of your love and affection, is such a greater debt that you can't imagine and you trusting me so blindly is a greater gift Piya, you stir in me so many emotions that I never knew they existed, I have never felt this much alive even when I was a human! I have never been so happy in my life! Even in these bad circumstances, you always manage to make me smile, Piya It's me the one that should be thanking you!
"No need to thank me Piya! Have you forgotten, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been alive today, so we are even, and I am sorry if I upset you" He says with a sad smile, she smiles back, her heart melts, she cant see him feeling down like this and some how she felt he looked tired
she wipes her face "you look tired, did you get any rest since last night?"
"I am fine" he says but the reality was he didn't sleep well ever since he came to Goa! although being what he was he can tolerate sleepless nights more then a normal human but nevertheless vampires still need to get some rest, although they are very alert while sleeping as they can sense minimum moves or sounds.
"you should get some rest when we get to the cottage" she says
He looks at her touched by her concern, and thought; I can't rest Piya till I make sure that you are safe and get rid of that psycho monster
He brushes his hair with his hand and smiles "I will try don't worry"
When they get to the cottage Abhay looks around the house checking it out.
The sun was still out, he asks Piya to open the glove box of the car and take out a jewelry box
She wanted to hand it out to him but he says it was for her she gets taken back and they enter the house Abhay locks the door
"Abhay no need for this" she says nervously giving him back the box
"Piya it's nothing! Please wear it when the sun goes down, it is for luck, it will protect you"
"Abhay do you believe in these things? I mean stones working as protection charms"
"I didn't before, but now I do"
Piya opens the box it had a moonstone pendant, and it was beautiful and looked expensive
She sighs and looks at Abhay, who crashes on the sofa and closes his eyes she looks at him fondly
Abhay somehow knew that the old vampire was a night creature only, because of his ugliness and hideous looks he chooses to attack his victims at night time so no one will see him, as in the day light he will sure be very noticeable! he was a coward and only attacks at nights, moreover he saw his eyes and he knew he can't see clearly in the day light
Soon it becomes dark Abhay asks Piya to wear the pendant she tries to lock the chain but couldn't, she comes closer to Abhay moving her hair away from her neck "Abhay can you lock the chain please"
he backs off and says "try to bring to reverse the chain and then lock it"
She looks at him puzzled why wouldn't he help her!. What she didn't know was the fact that the vampires could not touch a moonstone neither can they come near anyone who wears a moonstone! And if they do It will cause them an unbearable pain that would be Like an extreme torture and might make them collapse for some time depending on the period of time they are exposed to it!
After few tries she finally succeeds.
She looks at the beautiful pendant and then to the full moon outside the window and she says smilingly "people say if you give your lover a moonstone necklace in the full moon, then you will always have passion with each other"
He smiles sarcastically, passion! I can't even come close to you, he thought then says "this isn't a necklace it's a pendant!"
She gets nervous and bites her lips "I am not talking about you I was just saying what people say"
"Well people are fools!" he retaliates then draws the curtains!
Then he says "Listen Piya! I know I have told you that he wont track us but maybe I was wrong and he does attack, then when the time comes and I tell you to hide, then you have to hide inside the bedroom closet ok"
"What! I can't hide inside that thick wooden closet Abhay, it will be very dark and I am afraid of dark and closed spaces"
"You have to Piya please! Ok wait" he looks for a torch or a lighter in the house luckily he finds a small torch he checks it and it was working
"Here, when you feel afraid just put it on"
"But Abhay how could he track us, we are far away"
He sighs "we never know! we just have to be ready ok" she nodes "Abhay I am scared"
"don't be I promise nothing will happen to you" he holds her hands reassuring her
They stay together inside the bed room Piya becomes sleepy a bit "you can sleep if you want" says Abhay
She shakes her head sitting on the bed while he was looking outside the window from behind the curtains he was scared, she can sense it, and he was scared for her safety and not his own,
Hours tick by and she was about to sleep, her eyes fixed on Abhay who was lying on the little sofa, his eyes closed, when suddenly he opens his eyes and whispers "he is here!"
Piya sits in a jolt and she was about to scream, he quickly moves towards her shaking his head and covering her mouth and whispers "I am here"
she nodes her eyes widened with horror, he quickly moves and grabs her and pushes her gently inside the cupboard and locks the door hiding away the key and turning the lights off of the house, he didn't want to take any chances for Piya to see them and he wasn't bothered as it's easy for vampires to see in the dark
He hears the old vampire growling as he steps on one of the booby traps and then he was inside the house as he breaks the door with one punch
And soon he was near the room door
"Come out, come out where ever you are? Don't you want to play boy" Says the monster in his terrifying voice "omg! omg!" whispers Piya inside the closet she turns the torch on and closes her eyes praying silently for Abhay's and her safety!
"Wanna play old man you got it" he roars as he steps outside the room, the ugly vampire looked very pissed off as he tries to attack Abhay he moves fast and throws him a punch he flies from the power if his punch and hits the wall, he growls "why are you fighting with me boy that too for a human, now I won't spare you! Prepare to die for her"
"Gladly! but not in your life time stinky! Damn you sure stink grandpa, haven't you heard of a new invention called soap!"
He says with sarcasm, he hiss and growls with anger
And attacks Abhay
They fight, he hits him, his mouth bleeds and then he hits him back, every time they collate, a window or a light get smashed, furniture get broken and the walls get cracked
They keep on fighting and this goes on till the man beats Abhay so hard that he flies and hits the wall and then he hits the ground motionless, the Old vampire laughs in victory " did you really think boy that you will beat me, but I will deal with you later, first I have to get my little trophy"
And he heads fast to the bed room.
Piya has heard everything and she gets panicked thinking about Abhay getting hurt the old mans words sending a chill through her spine.
"Abhay" she screams, trying to open the closet door.
Then she hears the old man roaring as he approaches her hideout, she backs off standing now clinging to the cupboards wall!
The monster breaks down the door with one pull! And the heavy thick wooden door flies like it weighs nothing at all crashing on the wall of the room.
"Did you really think this worthless moonstone will stop me from touching her! I have lived long enough and endured more painful things, practice makes everything easier" growls the monster
Piya looks at him shocked and slowly she raises the torch and it's light up his face, she gasps in fear, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped!
She looks at him with fear, shuddering in terror! She was Shocked by his horrifying looks, and his invincible strength, and she knew he was up to no good; he was a monstrous creature, a psychotic killer!
The old vampire was very dark skinned, with curly hair, and had this deep eyes that looked far apart and were large, his pupils were dark and the white of his eyes were blood red. His nose was like a crow's nose but bigger, however what scared her most was his thick mouth that was bloody and his fangs that were sticking out very sharp and long!
Piya goes into a state of shock she becomes motionless and in total silence, reeking cold sweat, and staring at terrifying monster, as he says leaning towards her "come sweetheart let me embrace you, I will be very gentle"
"Not while I am alive! And certainly not on my watch!" growls Abhay with anger as he attacks him from back inserting a huge needle on the back of his neck.
He hits Abhay and he flies away hitting the wall!
Her gaze shifts to Abhay as he hit the wall but she couldn't see him as the lights were off and her torch was focused on the monster's face, she was standing still, shocked, like she was paralyzed.
The monster pulls the needle out "really! You think this worthless needle will stop me"
Abhay stands up breathing heavily and comes closer; he was hurt but not that deep "No! But a needle full with pure bat blood will! Goodbye grandpa! see you in hell" he smirks
"No" growls the monster as he start to feel dizzy and then he falls on his face motionless
Abhay was still standing and Piya's torch casts light on his face, she looks at him and she sees him like she has never seen him before, Abhay's eyes pupils were pitch black glowing like cats eyes, and he was smirking, and because he was hurt, his teeth were bloody and he had long sharp fangs! She stares at him motionless
He quickly turns his head so she can't see his face, but it was too late, as she already has witnessed his transformation. Then her eyes lids get shut and she passes out.
She was about to hit the ground and fall over the monster.
Abhay rushes towards her quickly and grabs her, without any second thoughts and not taking in his consideration that she was still wearing a moonstone, as he was the least bothered about it's consequences on his own well being, as to him Piya what mattered the most.
He screams in tremendous pain and howls like an injured animal, as he gets hold of the pendant snapping the gold chain off of her neck throwing it away! And he collapses on his knees while she was still in his arms and then he passes out too!
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