"Do I know you?" she whispered breathlessly.
When her eyes met his, her heart started to beat much faster and her palms began to feel sweaty.
Aarti tried to bring herself back to her senses. You're drunk Aarti, she thought to herself. You don't know what you're doing. If you were sober, you wouldn't feel like this.
But then she looked into his eyes once again and forgot who she was. It was like she lost her identity, but not in the way that she lost it last time. This was a good feeling.
"I don't think you know me," he said in response.
No, she felt like she knew him somehow - she didn't buy it.
"Come with me," she said hurriedly, reaching for his arm. "Come with me... I need to see your face. I think I know you."
She ignored his confused look and pulled him under a light. Aarti looked at him carefully, scrutinizing each of his features with suspicion. He was handsome, very handsome. He looked Indian, with short black hair and the dark brown eyes she could lose herself in. He was wearing a white dress shirt and black dress pants. His face was slightly stubbly.
"Are you okay?" he asked her sounding concerned.
She shook her head absent mindedly, still lost in his eyes. She didn't even understand what he was saying. Then she realized that she probably looked like an idiot for dragging him off the dance floor.
"I - I'm sorry. I just thought I knew you," she said, feeling like a fool. It wasn't like he reminded her of anyone she knew, so why did she even think that she knew who he was?
"Maybe it's because I'm just a tad bit tipsy," she giggled. "Did you drink too?"
The guy raised his eyebrow. "Tipsy, really? That's it?" he asked, the corners of his lips stretching upwards to form a smile. "I drank water. Does that count?"
Aarti's mouth dropped open. "No way! I don't believe you. Everyone who comes here drinks beforehand. It's just not fun if you don't. I mean how do you have the courage to dance?"
"Well, I can show you," he laughed, holding out his hand. "Would you like to dance with me beautiful lady?"
Aarti grinned while her stomach continued to perform somersaults.
"Yes," she breathed out, taking his hand without even giving it a second thought.
As soon as she held his warm hand, she realized that she wanted her hand to stay there. She didn't know what this guy had in him that made her want to go closer to him, as close as she could get, but whatever it was, it had caught her off guard. It made her want to erase any space between them. This was more than a simple attraction.
He led her to the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her while she held on to his shoulders. Then they started to move, and they were so close. The dance floor was very crowded and there was hardly any space to move.
Her face was inches away from his. She felt like the scent of his cologne was overpowering her senses, taking her away from reality. She was already feeling dizzy as it was from taking all the hard shots, but this feeling was strange, yet it was familiar. She wanted to go closer to him, but at the same time, she didn't want to drive him away. She didn't want him to think she was crossing her limits.
She didn't want to ever lose him.
But she didn't know why. She had no connection to him, then why was she afraid of what he thought about her, why did she want to go as close as possible to him? Why was she scared that he'd break her heart? She just met him. He was a stranger. Why did all of this matter to her?
Aarti rested her chin on his shoulder and grazed his ear with her lip gently.
"Why didn't you drink?" she whispered curiously. "Are you driving?"
She felt his grip on her waist tighten causing Aarti's heart to pound much harder in her chest.
"I don't drink," he replied. "I never have."
Aarti's eyes widened. She was glad that he couldn't see her face right now, because she was in complete shock. She probably looked like such an idiot.
"I'm sorry," she said, trying to turn around the whole situation she put herself in. "You don't need to talk to me. I know I'm not the kind of girl you'd want to be talking to. I will -"
"Hold on there beautiful," he interrupted, his tone somewhat amused, "Just because you drink doesn't mean that you're not someone I want to talk to. I don't think you're a bad person just because you drink. In fact, I think you're very... cute."
Aarti felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment. She didn't remember what it felt like to be complimented by a guy.
"No I'm not," she replied, a hint of sorrow in her voice. "You don't need to say that. My ex left me for someone cuter. Much more beautiful."
"Your ex is stupid then," the guy replied. "Only a fool would leave a diamond for a rock."
"Diamonds are rocks," Aarti retorted bitterly.
"Diamond's are precious, valuable, rare. Simple rocks can be found anywhere. Diamonds are hard to find, they shine the most out of all the rocks."
Aarti held onto this guy more tightly, not willing to let him go. She buried her face in the crevice of his neck.
"I'm sorry, I'm just annoying you with my sad stories right now. I won't say anything. If you want me to leave, you can tell me. I will leave," she whispered.
Why was it that this stranger's words made her feel slightly better about herself, but at the same time, what he said was still hard to believe? Was that even possible? Feeling better about receiving a compliment that you didn't believe in?
"Hey, don't say that," he told her, sounding like he meant it. "I'm having fun with you. I'd hate for you to leave."
Aarti smiled, feeling the urge to go even closer to him. She looked into his eyes again - oh those eyes, why did she want to lose herself when she looked into those eyes?
"Your eyes make me feel like a completely different person," she confessed. "I don't know why but your eyes attract me to you. You're so attractive."
Aarti didn't know what she was saying anymore. She was saying the first thing that came to her mind. He made her feel more intoxicated than the alcohol did.
"I - I don't know why, I'm sorry if I'm creeping you out," she said, giggling awkwardly, "I just feel like I should be honest."
She saw his eyes twinkle. He moved his hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. This small gesture made her shiver with excitement.
"You're not creeping me out," he replied softly. "I still find you cute."
"Then you probably get told that a lot," she whispered. "Your eyes probably make a lot of girls lost."
"Lost?" he asked, chuckling. "I don't know about lost, but I've been told that my eyes are nice, yes. Yours are beautiful too - very beautiful."
"Really?" she asked, closing any distance between their bodies. Their faces were only a few inches apart.
She could feel his heart beating against her chest and she felt herself blush again when she realized that it was beating just as hard as hers was.
"Really," he whispered.
They stared at each other for a few moments, neither of them daring to make the next move.
"C - can you kiss me?" Aarti requested, somewhat desperately, longing to feel this guy's touch. "Please."
She didn't know why she felt herself getting pulled towards the man in front of her because she was not normally like this, but what she did know was that he was amazing. He made her feel good about herself, and whether her request was right or wrong, she really wanted him to kiss her right now.
"You sure?" he asked her, gently touching her cheek with his hand and looking into her eyes for a sign of hesitation.
"Yes," she breathed out, her chest starting to heave. She was already feeling breathless and he hadn't even kissed her yet.
Then he leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers ever so softly. She closed her eyes, her insides feeling like they were about to burst. Aarti slid one hand into his hair and rested one on his shoulder while he gently rubbed small circles on her back.
She felt like he was going to move away at one point during their kiss, but she held his head more firmly against her lips and moved her lips against his even harder. She didn't want to let go of him - not now. She couldn't let him walk away. Not like this.
Finally, when they absolutely had to take a breath, they pulled away simultaneously, their noses brushing on the way back.
"Wow," he said in awe.
Aarti blushed. "You're acting like you've never kissed a girl," she teased.
"I haven't," he told her, smirking.
"I don't believe you!" she replied, shocked. "You kiss really well for never having kissed a girl!"
"Nah, I'm kidding. I have kissed girls. But this was intense. Just... not anything I was expecting. I didn't know anyone could kiss like that."
"Stop it, you're actually making me blush," she giggled, feeling heat rise to her cheeks again.
"We could continue this somewhere else if you want," he said coolly, winking at her.
"If you want," she giggled. "One second. Let me text my friends."
She quickly typed a text to Mansi saying that she would be back later. Mansi sent a quick text in return telling her to be safe.
The man then extended his hand for Aarti to take and she took it without thinking about what her actions might lead to, or rather, without caring.
"What's your name?" she asked him.
"Arjun Malhotra," he replied, "And yours?"
"Aarti Dubey."
Bigg Boss 19
