Misha didn't look at him. She couldn't even speak.
''I have done everything I could to get rid of the feeling. But it just won't go. At first I thought it'd go away if I left Dehradun. But I know that was insane. When I saw you with Shaurya, I..I realized that it won't go away. It's going with me.''
''Sorry.'' Misha answered coldly. ''But it's not very flattering to have someone tell you that they love you against their will, against any reason, and even-''
''Against their character.'' Raj concluded. ''I know.''
They kept walking.
''After all, we're soulmates. I can't be absolutely wrong for you.''
Misha thought about that, and the fact that he sounded almost humble, he had never sounded like that before. ''Raj, I don't know. I mean, we're wrong for each other. We're basically incompatible. And you are what you are. And I don't even believe in love. I mean, it's all so weird.''
''Well.'' Raj closed his eyes. ''I think I could change your mind about that.''
''About what?''
''About being incompatible. I think we'd sort of be compatible if-''
''If?''
Silence. ''If you could bring yourself to kiss me.''
More silence. ''Would you kiss a three hundred pound gorilla?''
Raj blinked. ''Oh, thank you.''
''I didn't mean you looked like one.''
''Okay, do I smell like one?''
''I mean, you're that much stronger than me. Would you kiss a female gorilla that could knock you out with one punch?''
''Well, you're not exactly in that position, are you?''
''Am I not? It looks to me that I'd have to become a vampire just to deal with you on an equal level.''
''Here.'' Raj reached out a hand.
''You want to give me your stick?''
''It's not a stick, it's a way of dealing with me on an equal level.''
He showed her the end of the stick, and Misha realized that it was sharp. She took it, it was hard and heavy.
''One good push would do it.'' He said. ''First in the throat, and then in the heart. You could eliminate the problem of me from your life.''
Misha took the stick and held it at his throat. He took a step back. She backed him up against the tree, holding the stick to his throat like a sword.
''I actually meant it if you were really serious.'' Raj said, but he didn't make a move to defend himself. ''You don't even need a spear like that. A pencil in the right place will do.''
Misha narrowed her eyes at him and let the stick drop. ''You really have changed.''
''I have changed so much in the last few days that I don't even recognize myself in the mirror anymore.''
''And you didn't kill Ruhi.''
''You're just figuring that out?''
''No, but I've always wondered.''
She kissed him before he had the chance to reply.
Now she realized what the electric feeling were for. All the sensations she'd felt only grew stronger. They weren't unpleasant anymore. They were unpleasant only if you fight it.
Misha pulled away.
After a moment of silence, Raj smiled. ''Did you like it?''
She blinked and looked at him. ''I want you to turn me into a vampire.''
--
Next morning, instead of going to college, Pia headed for the airport. It was frightening but exciting to fly to a new city all by herself. All the time she was in the air, she was thinking. She looked at the black rose ring on her finger.
What if she couldn't find him?
She was scared. What if she did find him, and he didn't want her anymore? She'd already told him that she hated him and ordered him to stay away from her forever.
She shook her head. She wouldn't think about all of that. She'll track him down first of all. After that, what happens, happens.
Once she reached Mumbai, she stood in the airport, wondering what she should do next.
She collapsed down on the bench. She had wandered around for an hour or so, asking people if they knew anyone who knew Abhay. They just looked at her as if she was crazy, and told her that there might be a thousand of Abhays in the city.
Her legs hurt, and her heart was pounding. Why did she come here? She should have put an ad on the newspaper, 'Desperately seeking Abhay Raichand.' This wasn't going to work.
Even as she was thinking it, something about a boy caught her eye.
He wasn't Abhay. He wasn't anything like Abhay, except the way he moved. It was the grace she'd seen in Abhay and Maya, an easy control of motion like a predator. And he was eerily good looking, too.
He's one of them.
Without stopping to think, she jumped up and started to follow him.
It wasn't easy. He walked fast and she had to try and keep dodging tourists. He was headed off to a alley.
She was now following the only figure on a deserted street. Any minute now, he'd realise she was following him. What could she do? She couldn't just turn tails and run.
The boy seemed to be leading her into worse and worse areas. There were no streetlights here. Just darkness.
He took a sharp left turn, going in another alley. Pia ran up to him and found herself facing an alley with a ending. It was extremely dark. She took another few steps forward.
There was no one there. She sighed and turned around to face him. She stood very still as he walked towards her. ''So, you following me or something?''
He seemed amused. He had sharp features and his hair was a mess. He was not taller than Pia, but his body seemed well built and stronger.
''I'm sorry.'' She said, trying really hard to make her voice sound steady. ''I wanted to ask you about someone.''
''You found him, baby.'' He said and looked around, making sure no one was around. Before Pia could say another word, he grabbed her and pinned her to the wall.
--
No precaps this time..oh yeah I am evil. :P
Book Talk
Anupamaa
Vasudha
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