SS Take My Breath Away, C5, pg 21, (NOTE pg 25) - Page 13

Originally posted by: tes_v1

^^Haha!

Well now, since the task is associated with me, I'll wait and be patient till it is done. :P

Originally posted by: arampras

super update... so gopi met rashi finally.

Originally posted by: swasthi

I have caught up with all your three updates - an interesting and different story line Tinks and well written too.

What an introduction to Ahem, then Jigar, then Rashi. Also, a bit of Gopi's home front too. So the scene is set for an interesting night.

Looking forward to the next update.

Thanks for changing the font size.

Originally posted by: Debalina_Paul

😛when r u going to update the next chapter of "shes is like the wind"?? m longing for the story.. plz do update soon and pm me.. and about ur current track.. its good too.. 😛

Chapter Four

Introducing the Buff Guy

Rashi was clearly popular, almost everyone at the barbecue seemed to know who she was, kisses and hugs were being generated upon her presence. Drinks were brought to us, while she introduced me as her new roommate, a few handshakes welcomed me onto the airfield while clashing a cheers with their beer bottles clanged against my own.

"Aw you poor girl, you must not have settled in properly" Rashi's most newest acquaintance expressed forth her sorrow presented with false kindness, she broke the news to me like I was in certain need for it, "why else would you look in such a state" she added, comforting my back for the disguised insult. Her comment didn't truly belong to insult - not technically, but I sure felt a little blue about it, but she was right, I hardly made an effort so it was my fault. Looks like I won't be receiving any pick-up lines tonight I sighed imaginably. "I mean your hair is an absolute mess," she alerted a random gaze around her before continuing in a whisper, "we don't want our handsome fellow Pilot's thinking we ladies don't take care of ourselves now do we?" she amused nudging my arm with her lanky elbow.

"Ha-ha" I joined in falsely, "of course not" I gritted through my blatant fake smile, although I could whole-heartedly admit I didn't look as tarted up as the rest of the girls present here tonight, but right now this Miss-snobby-full-of-herself was beginning to get on my bloody nerves, "but then I don't like to display myself as free public entertainment, you see - I refuse to look like the tired decoration hanging in there and begging for someone to notice me, just for the simple fact that I'm there" I differed fervently for my answer.

"Well then, excuse my kindness, which would've been more suited in a charitable cause - where it would've been awarded its rightful compliments, rather then an arrogant out-of-style unappreciative girl who's badly in need of advice and preferably, yet desperately the latest edition of the Tatler Magazine too" she defended in vain and walked away kissing her teeth on her departure.

"Hey what happened to Amy?" Rashi asked noticing her sudden leave, "I was under the impression you'd made a new friend there."

"Well no - not really, let's just say 'Amy's' so-called ways of socialising are very much upper-class according to her, but seemed like bullshit to me" I smirked back.

"Humph, forget her" she replied unexpectedly. I must admit I was quite surprised, but of course Rashi made aware that Amy was one of the fuss-pots around here, and there weren't too many people - well girls to be precise that were fond of her. She clearly made herself easy target amongst the guys, which is why she thought so highly of herself, "Amy seems to be living in Barbie world, so let's just leave her content with her plastic lifestyle and worry about Ken's dinner on her own" she said giving a light nod in disapproval of her outlook while cussing her. "Come let me introduce you to some of the guys now" she said, dragging me over to a large group of tall muscular boys, like she was on a mission.

_____

"Hey guys, any room at the inn?" she intruded freely making space for herself to fit in, as her spare hand blindly groped onto my own inviting me into this new circle.

The whole crowd turned around to greet her, hey Rashi! Hi Rashi! You're back early. When did you arrive? She was fired with questions from every one of them, while I stood there admiring the admirers she had, they all seemed so genuinely kind towards her, and she them. From what I had gathered most guys only hung around with girls that were preferably potential girlfriend material, a lot of care-free flirting went on, of course harmless, but it was easy to spot the eyes that sought mild forms of lust. "Paul, Adam, Joshua, Stuart, Clare, David, I would all like you to meet Gopi, she's the most recent addition to our room, and can you believe it guys she's also Indian!"

I stepped forward to greet all individually, shaking hands and receiving small pecks on either cheek as a welcome. "Nice to meet you all" I offered politely in return.

"So have you met your other roommates?" the guy by the name of David was first to ask. I gave him a knowing look with my eyes that spoke volumes, and told all, "I see you've met them after all, but do not worry too much, you have Rashi to look after you, she runs those boys pretty smoothly" he winked. I stretched a gutted smile over my face in humour pitying myself, I couldn't believe everyone knew what they were about.

"Do you know them pretty well?" I asked, to keep the conversation going.

"I think you'll find that everyone knows them pretty well" he informed, "but don't mind my saying guys, Ahem is one helluva a Pilot, you should see him in action someday - man he can kick ass." The sound of yeahs and definitely, followed from the whole group. So he was an extremely talented drunkard selfish arrogant fool I reevaluated.

"Rashi! You're back" a voice I could tell sent shivers up Rashi's spine, although she was extremely good at not revealing it.

"Jigar! Hi - how are you doing?" she squealed in return.

"I'm alright, but you're back-"

"Early, I know" she finished for him nodding in agreement. "Things got a little boring in the house, so I thought why not just head back early, and besides I couldn't let you spoilt lot have all the fun alone" she said throwing a backward smack on his chest, and then snuggled up to him sideways, as he continued sipping his beer.

"Hey guys, how are you all liking our new roommate, she's great isn't she?" he threw in to my surprise.

"She's great alright Jigar" said Clare, "but can we hope that she'll last with you terrible lot this time?"

"Of course she will, we're all fond of her already, and she us, ain't you Gopi?"

"Yep, too right, I'm thrilled" I tried my best to sound excited, "but I'm sure glad Rashi came back early though" she was like a saviour to me, but something told me to keep that information discreet, or else Jigar wouldn't be too fond of me.

"What am I missing?" a newer voice barged in, but not one that I particularly minded, he sipped on his beer as he shot his head up to indulge a huge gulp, "seems like all the fun is here, everywhere else seems to be dead" he chuckled in a piss-taking insult to the rest of the crowds. But I was of course not complaining, that had sounded like a huge compliment to me, as I was part of this 'fun' crowd, I stood tall and proud while I checked him out. He was definitely buff, I could sizzle my finger over those biceps that were at the mercy of my eyes and hear it steam like a iron rod! Which is when I was reminded by myself that that so-called Amy girl's advice wasn't so bad after all, he would never notice me in this hideous state, I tried to camouflage into the background so I could quickly set my imprisoned tangles free and totally style out a 'L'oreal because I'm worth it' move, so I could at the very least plant an image that deserved the reputation of a good-looking-chick in the hot guy's mind. I think I discovered the art of desperation within two minutes, however degrading that may have sounded to my ears I found that I couldn't care less, I was totally ready to become a beginner and refer to the bible of mastering infatuation. Love started from infatuation too, so it didn't make me a complete sinner - I knew these were all articles my mind tried to provide as a respective alibi but I totally had hearts popping out of my eyes just like they did in cartoons, I even doubted my pupils to dilate into heart shapes while I stared at him profoundly, and if I didn't look away any minute soon I would be posed under the threat of having my character classed as a female pervert!

"Gopi!" Rashi's voice called out after fighting a long blurry battle with my messed up pervertified thoughts and brought me back to earth, only to realise my dream hair manoeuvre was a pathetic infringement of my recently gone wild imagination. "Where are you lost?" she said waving her hand frantically in front of me, like I was blinded for a few seconds.

"Erm nowhere" I exclaimed with red hot cheeks giving away my whole embarrassing two-minute crush, "just thinking about something" I finished off in a mumble, hoping no one really paid any attention to me right now.

"If - you - say - so" Rashi enhanced as she uttered the words slowly, and leaving no stone unturned in making me feel foolish. She nodded her head like she shook off the bizarre conversation that just took place, "allow me to introduce to you to the 'hot guy' - Nikhil" she winked right behind him as she showed him off to me like she were selling him in a store as the priciest asset. He immediately put forth his hand to shake with mine, and I looked down blankly, ready for round two of playing joker for the night. "Yeah - Gopi, that's where you're supposed to shake his hand" she nodded like I was actually thick. I should just dig up my grave now and bury myself in it. My stomach groaned from the loss of sudden appetite.

"I'm sorry, I, er, just am so tired since I've arrived that I feel pretty aloof right now" I said, trying to make myself look to a degree normal again, and putting my hand forward to finally complete his gesture. His touch was so warm, that I wanted to melt even in this heatwave, so strong and firm, I wish he'd never let go. "Hi Nikhil-" I waited for him to add his surname onto my unfinished addressing of his name.

"Oh Nikhil, Nikhil Khanna - like Rashi said, I'm the hot guy" he replied with a wink followed by a genuine smile, so genuine that I don't think he even noticed my peculiar behaviour in the last few minutes, "and you are?"

"Er Gopi, Shah" I tried to flirt with a shy smile, tilting my head to one side.

"Hey stop flirting already!" Jigar intruded, barging in between our interaction freely swinging an arm over my shoulder like we were best buddies. I really wished I had thrown my six-inch red heel at him when I had had the chance.

"I wasn't flirting!" I made known at once, even though it was a lie.

"Really?" Nikhil asked in confusion, which clearly confused the hell out of me, "cause I clearly was." And that was the part where I gave it away like a Nobel prize, shining in its glory, I smiled and blushed instantly like mad, and when I tried to speak, no words would make a sound. Nikhil chuckled back seeing my state, "you look cute while you're blushing you know" he pointed out, "I'll see you around" raising his bottle up to point at me he turned to leave, "and hey Gopi - don't leave without meeting me, otherwise my eyes will be deprived from the pretty sight of those deep brown eyes all night" he winked again. I bit onto my bottom lip subtly trying to control my fluttering heart.

"Oh come on Gopi, already" Jigar broke through again, wiping the last trace of my blush off my heated face, I turned to roll my eyes at him to show I couldn't be bothered to answer.

"I think I might like him, so I have to make it clear that I'm available that's all" I defended wide-eyed.

"Oh my god, seriously Gopi, that little act or whatever it was back there was not showing him that you're available!" he shouted like he gave me a decent piece of advice.

"Yeah then what did it show him, mastermind?" I teased as I came to a sudden stop and crossed my arms over to show him that he was wasting my time.

"It showed him you're an easy target for gods sakes, guys don't flex like that Gopi, guys go for the easy prey or the hard, there's no in-between" he stressed as he demonstrated with his hands by showing an empty gap between his palms, "and you're the 'easy' prey."

"No I'm not" I sulked to face reality like a child, throwing a half-hearted smile at him for telling me how I looked back there.

"Don't worry like you said, I'm a mastermind, I'll show you how to wrap any guy right round your finger, so don't go pulling that face to show me you'll lose heart so quickly" he said in an assured tone, and continued to cheer me up as we walked along, as better friends I would like to say.

"Any guy?" I asked in a joke, with raised eyebrows.

"Any guy" he answered affirmatively sure of himself, "even me" he joked back.

"Hmm, it's tempting, but I'll have to think about it - like someone told me a few memorable minutes ago, that I shouldn't go making myself so easily available like a vulnerable prey."

"Wow I'm a good teacher" he complimented himself.

"You mean I'm a good learner" I ordered back in hope of a correction, but none delivered.

______

"Jigar! My man!" said the man who could never go unnoticed, and came right up to us, well ignoring me and high-fiving his back-scratcher Jigar, "sorry it took me so long, I was busy" he reasoned, without waiting to be asked 'why'? He gave me a stingy glance and I returned it with equal grace, "what happened to you Jigar, did you fall short of good company" he remarked being the rude git he was.

"Actually this company is a rescued party" he presented him with a different reason altogether.

"Excuse me!" I gasped in offence, "you're so two-faced" I accused Jigar.

"Hey chill, I'm just telling the truth here" he said holding up his hands up in defence. "Ask him" he pointed to Ahem, who watched on with a smirk. "Hey Ahem guess who she was chatting up - Nikhil" he said and stopped like he waited for an introduction by him. I hovered my glare over to him, tapping my foot repetitively in sheer annoyance.

"What!" he laughed, "Nikhil, Nikhil?" he repeated twice, and continued to laugh at my expense. He was just waiting for me to speak, the truth was he wanted to wind me up, although I was beginning to get irritated by him but I won't let him have the satisfaction of knowing, ever. I tried to narrow my glare even more, but I could feel my poor eye muscles strain. "You have gotta be kidding me."

"Absolutely not" Jigar said back who also looked like he hadn't understood Ahem's joke.

"What's going on here?" Rashi bumped into us deliberately, "hey Ahem, it's about time, I was wondering where you've been all night, hope it wasn't another damsel in distress that miraculously became feeble under your presence" she said in a puppy-like voice, hugging him like a long-lost brother, which was weird I gotta say, but nice to see him hugging a lady with a different type of response, however that did not for one second mean I changed my views about him.

"Of course it was, what can I say, my natural charm is so promising that women seem to go weak at their knees, and I don't think the rest is PG-rated, so I better stop there" he teased, I rolled my eyes once again, yep he sure was the same arrogant flirtatious prick. "Anyways so back to Nikhil and you hey" he said rubbing his hands together before burying them into his jean pockets. He scrunched his nose, and I gave him a pathetic look back with furrowed eyebrows ready for his sarcasm. "I don't understand" he finally said, to be honest neither did I. What was he talking about!

"Exactly neither do I, but she made her choice, and I'll help her step into the light" Jigar fitted in brightly like he was my saviour.

"No you don't get it, I mean I don't understand why Nikhil would waste his time with her" he said signalling his head in a nod over to me.

That did it! I was beyond mega mad, he was trying to say that I wasn't good enough for Nikhil and that I was ugly! Who needed his lame analysis anyways! "Who the hell do you think you are?!" I screamed.

"Er Ahem'" Jigar said, but nobody heard him.

"You got that wrong" he replied casually.

"What!" was he for real.

"Hee-ey what are you trying to say about her Ahem" Rashi jumped in, but our face off didn't allow anyone to intervene between us two.

"You heard me, I said you got that wrong - your question. You're asking me like I'm in doubt of who I am, when I know, so the question you asked was wrong" he shrugged.

"I don't give a shit about all that! What makes you think you have the right to tell me that I'm not suitable for another guy?" I continued to stand my ground and pointing my finger to look offencive.

"My good looks of course" he said raising his eyebrows in aide of showing that it was of course as easy as that to give him the right for judging whether I was eligible material to flirt with.

"You're so full of yourself - you know that!"

"Only in your eyes, and that don't mean a thing in the real world" he care-freely smiled being the jerk that he was.

"You think you're so good looking don't you! Well not every girl is casted under your spell you know; remember every fairy tale curse has to break one day, Mr-so-called-Prince-Charming!"

"Another correction, I don't 'think' I'm good looking, that's just way too much of an understatement, I 'know' I'm good looking, I mean come-on I'm a heartthrob" he said putting his lousy shirt collars up to make himself feel extra sexy just in case he wasn't feeling it already, "and the other thing about every girl under my spell crap, well lemme tell you Gopi or whatever your bloody name is, if I want, I can have any girl in this airfield right here right now, if any one of them even caught me looking at them, they would consider themselves to be so lucky that the minute they get home, they'll be dreaming about me for the next twenty-four hours and yeah that includes daylight hours too" and if that wasn't enough already he finished with a cherry on top "and that so-Mrs-irritating-know-it-all comes with a lifetime guarantee."

"Fine then. Know this Mr-egoistic-good-looking-arrogant-piece-of-trash according to you you can have any girl in this airfield right'."

"Easily-" he butted in looking around enjoying the view trying to show the dullness of the argument.

"I'm not finished" I warned, "well the truth is you can't brag that joy, because part of those 'any girls right here, right now' includes me, and I'll definitely be the one thing you can't have, because unlike those girls I don't die to dream about you, in fact the day I do, I know that I'll have encountered my my first nightmare. So your totally wrong there Ahem or whatever your bloody name is," I said back adopting the same attitude as his.

His attention was on me now, but I couldn't make nothing from his face, I tried to guard my speech with hooded eyes, but he was so tall that it was proving to be a difficult task while in action, "do you honestly think that would bother me?"

"Well I don't know" I almost stammered holding up my guard, "but I'll always have the satisfaction of knowing that it might."

He came a step closer, and instinctively I took a step back, "if I kissed you right now, you would fall right into my arms and lose yourself to such an extent that when you woke up in the morning you wouldn't have a clue to where you were the night before, and 'then' you'll be forced to swallow all your words I can promise you," his voice suddenly grew a notch deeper, and I could feel a knot stuck in my throat, the closeness I shared with him was starting to make me nervous but I had to be brave to not let my guard down; words were caught in line behind the knot that stood firm in my throat, it was so big that I was sure it was protruding by now. His breath hit me like I was under attack from a volcanic eruption, "I would never" I vaguely whispered, and at first I thought he didn't hear me, but then he answered before he moved away.

"Believe me you would."

I gulped as soon as he moved away and taking in a deep breath on the sly.

"What the hell was that!!!" Rashi shouted, "talk about too close Ahem, what was you planning on giving her a heart attack?" she asked trying to keep up pace with his gigantic footsteps that looked more like the Hulk leap.

"Are you alright?" Jigar asked me with hesitation but still amused about something. "Don't worry about Ahem, you hurt his ego I think" he mouthed so he couldn't hear even though he was walking away.

"I have no idea what his problem is, but he's getting on my damn nerves!" I struck back determined to show I wasn't at the least bit affected by him. "He totally ruined my mood."

"I'm sure two minutes in front of Nikhil would change that" he teasingly remarked.

"Oh god not you too" I groaned out loud, "am I really so ugly?" I cried pretendedly hopeless by it.

"No - of course not. To be honest I don't think many girls around here would be seen without make-up you know, so that's a plus point to you" was his answer to make me feel better.

I looked at him with a tired stare.

"From my side" he fitted in to justify his response. "Which means no I don't think you're ugly, and speaking truthfully I don't think Ahem does either, but since you lot got off on such a bad foot he'll never admit it."

"Well he's not the one I wanna impress, so it looks like we're even" I said.

"I mean realistically for Nikhil to even interact with you in a flirtatious manner while you look so'.." His voice trailed off and he looked to me like he was ready to say something offencive about me, and I returned him with a wary look that told him to go on, with precaution, however. "While you look so'' bland."

"Oh thanks!" I chuckled feeling offended enough, and weaved my arm through his as we plodded along to grab some hot barbecue to end the matter there. Jigar was proving to be quite a darling I must admit, I was finding his company pretty okay actually, well that was once I got to know him of course. All of a sudden I found myself feeling quite glad of the new friends I'd made all except one, but one can't have all joys at once I guess.

"You have got to try the foot-long hot dogs man, they're wicked" said Ahem stuffing his face already, squirting tons of mustard onto it. I pretended that I didn't see him there as I helped myself to some hot food, boy was I starving.

"Send them over'.." Said Jigar as he plated up two giant hot dogs for himself, and as if that wasn't enough he was making room for a burger. I looked at him amazed, and wondered where all that food would go, "I'm hungry" was his answer for absolute justice to his packed out plate.

"I didn't say anything" I egged on.

"Yeah but your look says enough, so don't gimme that innocent tone like you weren't even thinking it" he said back.

"Forget her, it's not like she's your Mum or anything" Ahem butted in as usual.

"Don't you have a gob to stuff?" I attacked as soon as he'd decided to mock me again.

"As a matter of fact I do, and I'll prefer it if you didn't eye up my food" he remarked back. Aarrrggghhh! I wanted to scream out loud, how did he always have answers to everything within seconds, and this time it was him, who started it.

"What now your food is more sexy then you are?!"

"Well at least now I know you do think I'm sexy" he winked proudly.

What! How on earth did he sum that up! "Er no! That isn't what I said!"

"But the absent words in your comment certainly meant that" he said casually scoffing another gigantic bite "I'm not stupid you know, I can read between the lines."

"Whatever" I shook my head in aide to his petty conversation, "I think I'm fed up of talking about you since the whole time I've been here" I said leaving with my plate. My face was red hot and flustered to say the least, but I was determined to not let him ruin my mood, things were finally starting to look toward the brighter side of life, I couldn't let one deliberate black cloud steal my sunlight from me.

My sizzling hot burger totally did the trick for me, it was perfect. I got away for a while and wandered alone, slipping my sandals off once I'd finished my meal, carrying them in my hands and letting the damp effect of the grass sooth through me, I reminisced the times before visiting the airfield and wondered what took me so long to get here. An overwhelmed gush of freedom surrounded me; a strange sort of satisfaction breathed through me, emotions that made me feel complete, and allowing me to feel content in every aspect of my life. I know that this was just the beginning, but how wonderful this beginning had proved to be was a fact I could not escape, the more I tried to remain calm, it had become all the more difficult to ignore this arrival of pleasantness.

When the mind gives you all the signs to show you it's happy, the whole world around you suddenly looks so beautiful, no defects or flaws can be acknowledged - only the good things can be seen, even the people around you suddenly begin to display reasons valid enough to make them likable, well that excludes Ahem Modi of course, but he was the only exception in my life right now, but I could easily overlook him for the time being. I glanced back at the crowds mingling with each other; I smiled as I perched myself onto a wooden bench where I could be easily missed, and sat with my back toward the crowds and faced the moon that responded to my smile. The warm air comforted my body, and the leaves of the huge trees that acted as scenery blessed me with a tranquil breeze that relaxed my nerves. Being utterly clueless to however much I'd spent there, I could hear the voices of gatherings growing dim, but I didn't feel alarmed, a safety guarded me during the night regardless of the lone company. I wanted to spend as much time as I could here, since the nights I spent here this was the only that felt as calm as I hoped the whole Summer to be, I crossed my arms and slouched back more cosily and bought my knees to my chest above the bench and held them close, while I let my head rest back against the cool wood for a while, peacefully closing my eyes.

_____

"Are you sleeping?" Nikhil's husky voice paced through my thoughts swiftly. I thought I was just wanting to hear his voice, but soon I realised that I was actually hearing his voice! I shot up to look behind me seeing him standing there glistening under the moonlight like an art of perfection.

"Erm no" I said back, "I was just erm, chilling out and getting a little 'me' time I guess."

"Does that mean I'm disturbing you?" He enquired sincerely.

"No!" I alarmed, "I mean not at all, how could you possibly disturb me, I'm not doing anything" I replied cringing at my ways of interacting around him.

"I guess you're not" he said taking small steps towards me, he must've gone through a number of beers as he was holding a bottle of Carlsberg now. I shifted quickly straightening up my appearance. "You feeling a little blue or something?"

"Nah" I answered casually, "I just felt like adoring the atmosphere I was enticed with for the first time since I've arrived" I paused for a while, "I feel grateful to Rashi for forcing me out actually, at first I didn't wanna come but she wouldn't take no for an answer and now I'm real glad she didn't." He let loose a chuckle and sat beside me on the bench keeping a formal distance between us. I liked that he did that, it gave me a feeling of comfort around him even though we were alone, I turned slightly to face him and brought my legs back up in attempt to behave more neutrally in front of him. To be honest I was quite amazed that he'd noticed I was missing.

"Me too" he said.

"You are?" I responded with uncertainty, "why" I over-stretched this word to ask him what had been so significant about our meeting. I knew that I instantly went gaga over him, but Jigar's saying was true to an extent, why would he notice me after our introduction, especially when I looked so plain and unattractive.

"Yeah" he nodded frantically, "but why are you speaking like that's so hard to believe?"

"Maybe - because it is" my eyes bulged in effort to convince him.

"Actually it's not, I am glad to have met you - so if you don't mind, I would prefer if you cleared all doubts" he ordered huskily.

"Well so am I. But it's just something someone said, so I've been wondering" I replied pestering him further. He didn't mind it though, I could see the smile that was shining in between his words, and we carried on for some time with nonsense small talk, knowing we were both wasting time for nothing, but it was funny the while it lasted.

"Ahem told you that I wouldn't be interested in you?!" He said laughing in mockery.

"What's so funny!"

"That idiot man, I can't believe you would believe him, he's just saying it to get on your nerves trust me, but the only reason he's probably saying it to you is because he knows that I always go for girls that wear skimpy clothes, and just cause you're wearing 'decent' clothes he probably thinks that I'm teasing you or something" he said killing the whole seriousness of the conversation.

"So in other words he's right. My choice in clothing would deter you from me" I clarified.

"Well actually no, because you're probably the first girl that kept my attention on her face" he simplified, lowering his head to make eye contact with me, but my eyes couldn't meet his following his reply, and suddenly I could feel that fluttery feeling rushing into me again. "I dunno why but you seem different to every other girl I've met."

"I can't say I agree there, but I will thank you that you said that" I said gratified by his comment, "so when you say girls - how many are we talking?" I cheered on.

"Oh come on, you can't ask me something like that!"

"Really, cause I think I just did!" I teased.

He threw his head back and ran his hands over his face, "oh god - women" he remarked. He got up and offered me his hand to help me up, "come on I'll walk you to your room" I accepted his invitation grabbing my shoes, and holding onto his hand. I knew he'd decided to tell me, but it looked like he was searching for the right moment, I kept the silence stern until he spoke as I walked along with him with grins plastered over both our faces. "You really wanna know that!" He said again, sounding shocked, I only nodded in a yes. "I told you you was different, what girl wants to talk about her boyfriend's previous girlfriends!"

"Er you got that wrong" I corrected right away!

"Yeah I know, but you know what I mean right" he justified looking flustered, "but there's nothing completely wrong with that sentence either, I mean there's a possibility that you might be a future girlfriend by the time I'm finished" he cleverly replied.

"Very clever, but that depends on how long your story is."

"Yeah - well I certainly know how to cut a long story short" he said taking a step closer to me. I didn't move away, I knew he wanted to see if I was affected by his closeness. Had it been a while back then I most probably would have, but after our evening spent together I got used to the idea of taming myself, well at least at the fore. "Shall I just skip to the end?"

"How about we hear the beginning first" I offered moving him away from the chest, and slyly abusing this opportunity to caress his carved body! He separated himself from me as he caught my hand and held onto it, there was a silence that exchanged between our eyes that gave consent to each other.

"Do you mind?" he said lifting our clasped hands slightly in reference. I nodded with a 'no' as we covered the rest of the walk home.

He spoke of many girls, but I gave myself the reason that he was too good looking to have been spared by so many women, I wouldn't be amazed if he was desired by the angels themselves, he was that hot! From his long list of romances, I could tell the harmless relationships he'd been in, but the only details he left out were the ones at the end of every date. And we all aware that the devil is always in the details! However for now I just wanted to enjoy the company of this hot hunk that belonged only to me for this night, everything else would have to come later, I didn't wanna ruin the memories I'd created with the first guy I'd fallen for on the airfield, regardless if anything came from this relationship or not.

We remained silent in the lift due to a few others being present with us, but inside I had a gut feeling if we'd been alone Nikhil was in the mood of kissing me, and I for one probably wouldn't have refused his lips. He headed out onto the same floor as me, "it's okay, you don't have to walk me right outside my door" I said sounding polite.

"No I don't but I don't have a choice" he said pretending to look gutted. I jerked my brows to his response. "You see I stay in the room diagonally opposite yours" he finally let me breathe with relief.

"What! Oh my God I didn't know that, that's great new!" I expressed forth my joy unexpectedly, even to myself.

"Yeah it is" he joined nodding to acclaim the same with a smile.

I walked past my room just to bid him for the night, "I really enjoyed myself tonight - thanks" I said lightly letting my eyes wander randomly to escape his.

"So did I" he replied moving closer to me, but this time his hand rubbed round my waist as he moved even closer. His pupils stared directly into mine, I didn't try to move away instead I waited for him to kiss me, I found my eyes hovering to his lips that were closing the gap between us, while his stare didn't flinch a single bit. His lips barely brushed against my bottom lip when his room door had been flung open by a tall slim, blond girl. We rushed apart from the intrusion, feeling embarrassed I stammered to say something - anything, but figured it wasn't needed.

"Nikhil!" The girl exclaimed supposedly aghast by seeing us like that, by this time I tried to discover who she was from the manner she uttered his name. I looked to smile at her, but she screwed me like I was on a mission to stealing her boyfriend or something from her! Which is when I was made to believe that the nonsense shadowing through my crowded thoughts didn't seem so unbelievable. I looked to Nikhil for an introduction, but he looked as surprised as I was.

"Rabiqa - what are you doing here?"

"I told you we needed to talk, so here I am waiting since an hour for you to come back from the barbecue that finished like well over two hours ago!" She inclined her pitch, getting ready to start shouting.

"Listen Rabiqa you better just calm down alright" he said trying to control the situation while I stood there like a wandering soul wide-eyed. "Gopi you go to your room, you don't need to see all this" he said protectively pointing to my door to guide me away.

"Why doesn't she need to see all this!" she managed to shout this time. "She needs to know who I am, before she comes barging into my life and smacking her sloppy kisses all over my man!" She continued to attack.

She was his girlfriend! I didn't remember him mentioning any girl by the name of Rabiqa on our walk back, I felt like I was stunned in that very same second. "Your man!" I shouted back and looked to Nikhil.

"No, that's not true!" he intervened, "me and Rabiqa are on the verge of breaking up" he said.

Break-up, break-up sounded better for me to think further.

"Listen I dunno what you're playing at, but you better stop this, when I told you to sort things out between us you turned a cold shoulder, and now all of a sudden 'I'm your man' again!" he shouted in frustration pointing fingers at her, but she remain put.

My apartment door opened behind me, and Rashi rushed to my side shaking my arm asking me what happened. Ahem got hold of Nikhil to calm him down, he looked like he was gonna blow any second soon, "you" Ahem pointed to me, "inside - now." Although I didn't respond to him, Rashi hauled me into our apartment, literally dragging me by the arm. Nikhil released himself from Ahem's clutches and rushed to me, "Gopi don't worry, I'll sort this out okay" he nodded and waited for me to interact, but I couldn't, I left him unanswered.

I could hear the rumbling and shouting going on outside as I sat with my head in my hands on the sofa. "I don't understand, everything was just beginning to look so perfect, and now this" I stressed.

"Gopi, please don't worry hun, it's just that Nikhil and Rabiqa have been going out since time now, and they only broke up like three weeks ago, just before the Summer break." She said comforting my back.

"It's not that, I wish he'd told me that he was in a relationship" I said tiredly.

"Why would he need to tell you that?"

I flinched at the sound of Ahem's questionable voice that held too much authority then be needed. "Because'" I answered annoyed.

"Because what?!" he pushed, slouching onto the sofa near me throwing his feet onto the glass table and returning to his magazine he'd been reading from beforehand it seemed.

"We were getting on so well" I said hopelessly.

"So everyone gets on well" he remarked sarcastically, "it doesn't mean you've gotta tell them your life history." Jigar who had apparently been knocked out asleep was awoken by our loud conferencing and decided to join us to find out what all the fuss had been about, "what's happened" he yawned, "is everything okay?" Everyone ignored him and continued to look to me for answers.

I sighed in bother, "we were just about to kiss."

"What!" Ahem and Rashi both said in conjunction.

"Kiss who?" said Jigar several minutes later looking confused.

I have finish half of it , so far so good. When I finish I wiil let you know what I think.. thanks