Natalya sat on an ornate chair, sipping blood and thinking of the conversation the night before. "Don't hurt him," she had pleaded Disha. "My...son, he loves you."
She had seen the sorrow on Disha's face as she replied. "Rest assured, I will not lead Luke on. The first chance I get, I will steer clear. This will cause him the least amount of hurt. Goodbye."
She had told Luke that Disha had come to her yesterday, asking about him...a little white lie. And Disha's outright refusal had hurt him more than either of them had foreseen. And Luke did not know, but she knew something about Disha...something she wasn't sure Luke would understand.
Her new cellphone beeped. She jumped, not quite accustomed to the sound. "Yes?"
Alina's voice came, quiet and low. "Hi, Natalya.I'm trying my best. The clan's coming around to the idea of a truce quite quickly- I don't think they liked my mother very much. We'll be signing that treaty soon enough. And as for Luke..." She paused, then said, "Just...tell him to keep his chin up. Disha's birthday's next month."
"I understand, and I know," said Natalya. "Thank you, Alina. And I was going to tell you- I think this was a great idea.Getting this phone, I mean. That way we don't have to keep using the mind link."
Alina laughed softly. "I know. I told you. Look, I have to get back to work. See you later."
"I'm resigning." Alina, who was working in her cabin, heard Piya's words through the glass that separated her cabin from Siddharth's, her voice carrying a calm conviction. She turned her chair slightly. Piya had her back to her, but she could see Sid's face. It reflected shock. "Why?" she heard him say. "Oh, because I don't want to work for you anymore," Piya replied. Alina's brows furrowed as she watched his face go blank. "I see." His voice was calm. "And would that be?" "Because," said Piya, her voice rising, "I don't want to end up dead!" Sid looked surprised. "Why would you end up dead? Is it the workload?" "You think I'm a fool , don't you?" burst out Piya. "Poor , naive, Piya. Just feed her some hogwash about family and remorse, because she loves emotional drama. And then, when the time is right, kill her off!" Her voice had risen to almost a scream, and Alina muttered a quick spell so that it didn't reach any other ears.
"I haven't tried to kill you," said Sid, standing up. "You're obviously upset-" "Really?" said Piya. "Who was the one who gave Maithali the idea to drown me? Your clone, the one who gloated about it to Abhay?" Alina was stunned. She felt slightly sick.she had underestimated Sid...oh yes, she had grossly underestimated him. She watched him intently. Would he deny it? "Abhay told you?" said Sid. He smiled, a triumphant smile. "Remind me to send a thank you letter to him." Alina couldn't understand it. Why wasn't he denying it? "You're a monster," Piya spat. "And the worst part is, in spite of knowing everything; I still believed you had something good in you. I still gave you a chance. I trusted you!"
She turned away and slammed the door, and Alina heard the click of her shoes as she left the office for what would be the last time. And then Sid turned his head, and his gaze locked with hers for a moment, fathomless as ever. She turned away and went back to her work, but it niggled at the back of her head... Siddharth was a master manipulator. So he had told Maithali to drown Piya...but why had he done so? Why had he told Abhay about it? Why hadn't he told Piya it was a lie? If he wanted to use Piya as bait, then why hadn't he simply denied everything? She bit her lip, trying to think. Trying to put her jumbled thoughts in order, Alina got up from her seat to get coffee. Her eyes strayed to the glass. Sid had headphones plugged in his ears as he wrote something on a piece of paper.
"Say something," Abhay urged. "Piya, come on, talk to me." Piya started. They were passing a part of the town she wasn't familiar with. "Wh-where are we going?" she asked. Abhay shrugged. "Nowhere particularly. Just wanted to show you something." "I have to get home, Abhay," said Piya mechanically. "I have to study-" "I'll take you home," he cut in. "But first, you need to relax." He turned the car in a steep U. By now they had reached the outskirts of Dehradun. He slowed down after a while and parked the car on the side of the road. "What?"Piya began, but Abhay was already getting out, holding the door open for her. "Come," he said. She got out and looked around. The road was deserted, with a mountain on one side and forests on the others. His hand came to hold hers, and she stared up at him as he began leading her towards the woods.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked an unintentional note of panic in her voice. He stopped and looked at her, surprised. "Are you afraid? Do you want to go back?" "No, I'm fine," said Piya. "It's just- I was just reminded of- you know-" Comprehension flickered in his eyes, and he nodded. "If you want to go back-" "No," she said. "No. I'm with you."
He looked down at her, an unreadable expression in his eyes. Then his grip over her fingers tightened, and both of them walked on in silence. He stopped finally, at a clearing. Piya saw a small pond, with water lilies floating on the surface. It looked strangely familiar... "Do you remember this place?" he said quietly. Her eyebrows furrowed. "I...I feel like I've been here." "Yes, you have," he said. Piya moved ahead as if in a trance, kneeling down and touching the flowers. "Abhay?" she asked, looking back at him. "Is this where-" "Where we came with your sprained ankle, yes," he said, coming to sit down near her. "Where I couldn't think of anything other than you, in spite of having gone to Pandher Palace after more than a century." Almost automatically, Piya leaned against him, and his arm came around her shoulder. "Go on, sleep for a while," he said. "I'll wake you up later."
"Thanks," she murmured, curling up against him. "Oh, by the way, I hope you don't mind that I threw away your sleeping tablets," said Abhay conversationally. "You are not going to use them again." Her head shot up. "WHAT?"she said, aghast. "But I need them- I have trouble sleeping-" "No, you don't," he said firmly. "You're quite capable of sleeping on your own. Close your eyes." "But-" she started to protest. "Close your eyes," he repeated. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She concentrated on how it felt to be enclosed in his arms, a warmth spreading through her like molten wax. She felt him kiss the top of her head. "I'll be right here when you wake up. I'm not going anywhere." "Thanks," she mumbled, her hand fisting against the coat he was wearing.
Sid turned the key in the ignition,starting the car. The radio started to play. "-and coming up is the song requested by Ritu! Send your requests on our facebook page, and keep listening to RadioCity." He reached for the knob, to switch it off. He didn't feel in the mood for music now- but then stopped as he recognized the song. It reminded him of so many things, all at once...
Oh,you can't hear me cry
See my dreams all die
From where you're standing
On your own.
It's so quiet here
And I feel so cold
This house no longer
Feels like home.
He was standing in the stables, with Piyali, as she shouted out the words to him. "I hate you!" Abhayendra, as he came home, with a smile on his boyish face. "She accepted, brother. Maithali. She accepted. She loves me too. Isn't that the best thing you've ever heard?" He was standing in the forest, facing Abhayendra, hatred burning in his chest. "I don't think so, Piyali.I changed my mind, I'm not surrendering the woman I love to my younger brother."
Oh,when you told me you'd leave
I felt like I couldn't breath
My aching body fell to the floor
They were facing in each other, the fire raging behind them, and inside them. He saw Abhayendra's abnormally blue eyes flash in rage and hatred. "Don't ever call me that," he had snarled. "This is what you've done! Just because you were jealous that she chose me, you took her life? You know what? No one would ever choose some one like you, a backstabber, a traitor! You never cared for anyone beyond yourself! That's why Piyali left you too- she knew whose side she was on. You're a coward and a traitor!" He heard Piyali's voice, hoarse and pleading, as he advanced. "Don't kill me... Please..."
Then I called you at home
You said that you weren't alone
I should've known better
Now it hurts much more.
"Who, Piyali?" he had said. "I don't have a brother."
You caused my heart to bleed and
You still owe me a reason
and I can't figure out why...
Why I'm alone and freezing
While you're in the bed that she's in
Maithali had told him she loved him. Only yesterday, she had told him she loved him, she would always love him...
Another voice battled for dominance in his head. "It's very easy for you isn't it? To treat women like your toys? To have s** with another vampire and seduce a werewolf the same night? Or is this your perverse idea of having some fun?"
I'm just left alone to cry.
"He was my older brother. And you and Maithali you used him. You got him killed." Alina's voice full of anger.
"Of course he doesn't,"he had told Maithali."He has never loved her...or indeed, anyone..."
"You?" Abhay had hissed. "You- you gave her the idea to- to kill Piya?" Sid had shrugged. "Of course. You're easy to manipulate. And of course, I like manipulating..."
And then suddenly Sid braked the car to a sudden halt, to avoid hitting someone. "Are you insane?" he said to Alina. "Do you have a death wish?"
"Did you try to kill Piya?" she retorted. Her voice and face were both completely blank. "Did you goad Maithali to kill her?" He shrugged. "She wanted to bite Piya, and kill her off, so I suggested she use a less messy route. What does it matter you? Or are you her bodyguard in waiting?"
You caused my heart to bleed and
You still owe me a reason
and I can't figure out why...
There was a short pause. They could both hear the song.
You caused my heart to bleed and
You still owe me a reason
and I can't figure out why...
"No," Alina's breathing was ragged. "No. You can't still be with her. Not after how she used you. Piya gave you a chance-she actually trusted you, Sid! She trusted you!"
"I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself," he said coldly. "What I do and why I do it is my business alone."
"Go to hell," she spat at him. For a second, her mask slipped and he saw the anguish in her eyes. Then she melted into thin air, in front of him, leaving him all alone.
Oh,you can't hear me cry
See my dreams all die
From where you're standing
On your own
. It's so quiet here
And I feel so cold
This house no longer
Feels like home.
Piya awoke to the touch of lips on her forehead, her cheek , her neck. She smelt Abhay's essence before she opened her eyes. "Hi," said Abhay, his mouth worrying the base of her throat. "I think it's time we left." "Abhay, but is it-" she broke off and gasped as his finger touched the taut peak of her breast through the thin material of the shirt, which did absolutely nothing to conceal how she felt. His eyes came to hers, dark and sensual."What are you doing?" she murmured. He was hovering on top of her on the floor of the forest, and her hands were gripping fistfuls of his coat. "Waking you up," he replied, leaning forward to kiss her very briefly. "I trust my plan worked?" She smiled, all drowsiness gone. "Yes, it works. I like this method." "Great." He moved to get off her, but she pulled him back. "Oh, no, buddy. You don't get to do this again."
She pulled him back to her, so that he almost fell on top of her. His mouth met hers, one hand moving to cradle her head. The kiss started out soft and slow, but soon grew heated. Piya was in a haze, the slightly blurry parts of her dream now taking on the technicolour version as his lips almost fought with hers, neither wanting to cede the upper hand. He wrenched his lips from her at last, as she gasped for breath. "Piya, you are insane," he told her. "I know," she replied, before rolling over so that she was now on top. Abhay's hand came to her waist, the other on top of her head, undoing the many pins in her hair even as she leaned forward to kiss him. His grip on her waist tightened as her mouth sought his ; she had the power to fog up his brain completely, so what was supposed to be a little teasing had escalated into much more. When they broke apart for air, Piya gasped, "You undid my hair!" "I know," he replied. "I like it this way. No doubt, the earlier one gave me greater access to your neck, but it doesn't beat being able to touch your hair." Piya looked down at him, her eyes half closed. There was a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach. She undid the buttons on his shirt; and in a moment of madness, she flicked her tongue across the centre of his chest. He hissed. "Piya," he whispered urgently. "Piya, don't start something you can't fini-"
He broke off, uttering a low curse as she kissed a nipple. Her hands ran over his chest,unbuttoning his shirt,revelling in the hard planes of his torso. "Damn you," he mumbled, rolling her over, his fingers tangled in her hair. His mouth covered her, kissing her fiercely, driving everything else from her head, so it was slightly surprising when she realized he had somehow got her shirt undone. He released her mouth, dragging his lips over her throat. He bit down gently on her shoulder bone and she cried out, but not in pain. Her nails were digging into his back as she kissed his jawline. He touched her breast through the lace of her undergarment, watching her irises dilate with desire. "Abhay, please," she whimpered, hating how needy she sounded. His hand slipped to her back, undoing the clasp, exposing her completely to his gaze. she squirmed under him, wanting him to touch her. "I need you," he rasped, his voice hoarse. "You have me," she replied, wishing he would stop staring. The ache intensified. In answer, he bent down and kissed the hollow between her cups, his thumb rotating over her right nipple. She cried out when his thumb was replaced by his lips and tongue, pulling his head closer. She couldn't think of anything, couldn't remember her own name. He switched to the other nipple, pleasuring her almost desperately.
His tongue flicked against her belly button, making her whimper. Her hand went to the button of his jeans, and something in Abhay's mind registered. Her covered her hand with his, moving it away. "No," he whispered, his own breathing uneven. "We can't. I can't-I won't take you like this-
"I don't care," she said, shaking slightly. "I do," he replied. "We mustn't, Piya, trust me-this is difficult for me too-" He broke off as he felt a drop of liquid on the back of his neck. Piya groaned. "Bloody rain. Horrible timing!"
He cursed, moving off her in a fraction of a second, pulling himself together. He buttoned up his shirt and looked at Piya, who was sitting up and struggling with the clasp. "Let me," he offered. She turned around, and he hooked her brassiere back, ignoring the kick of desire he felt. He helped her on with the shirt. Only droplets were falling, yet Abhay knew it was going to be pouring within minutes. And so he did the thing he felt would take them least time. Picking up a rather surprised Piya in his arms, he raced through the forest, hoping she didn't suffer from motion sickness. Piya clutched on to him tightly, feeling a few drops of rain fall on her face and clothes, her eyes closed tightly as she savoured the wind in her ears. It had only been seconds before he came to a stop. "Are you all right?" he asked. "You're not sick, are you?"
She beamed. "I loved it. I love you." His mouth touched her cheek. "I love you," he echoed. "But now you need to get inside before I get you all wet again."
She smirked slightly as she got in. "Haven't you already?"
Abhay ran his hand through his hair, trying to gain a sense of normalcy as he got into the car.
Alina wrapped her arms around herself. She had been wearing a sweater,but she felt dreadfully cold; she knew she was shivering. The rain was falling, and pedestrians were now dwindling,but Alina didn't care. And it was only when she banged into someone that she realized that her vision was clouded because she was crying. She swiped her cheeks with a hand, willing herself not to break out into sobs. Sid was never going to be with her, she might as well accept it and move on. But before that, she needed to ask him one question. One question, about an action years ago... She wiped away fresh tears with her arm, feeling the scratch of the wet sweater in her eyes. Her dark blue swearer had a lining of purple in her sleeve...she looked down at it, hating the colour, hating him. And then, she did the one thing she was best at- she pushed her emotions away, concentrating on the task at hand. Dishu would be worried if she reached home crying. Darkness was falling,wrapping itself around her. If there was anything she needed to be strong for...
"Excuse me," said a voice to her left. She looked up, to see a young man walking beside her, his features strangely familiar...and the she smelt his scent. "Luke?" she said in surprise. He smiled. "You recognized me?" She smiled back- and somehow, it didn't seem quite so forced. "Of course," she replied."How could I not?" He peered at her in concern. "You've been crying?" She cursed mentally. "What? No, of course not. Something went in my eyes, that's all." "Oh, right, I see," said Luke. "I apologize if I insulted you." "No, that's okay," said Alina. "Are you going to meet Disha?" He turned away, staring straight ahead. "I would love to," he said almost wistfully. "But Disha doesn't like talking to people she doesn't know." His tone was laced with bitterness. Alina looked up at him sympathetically. "You're not the first she's blown off," she said. "But she isn't a bad person, trust me. She's a good person who's seen bad things." "She's seen bad things?" said Luke. "Like what?" Alina sighed. "It's not my secret to tell." "But you could tell me something about her, couldn't you?" said Luke. "I just want to understand her." Alina smiled. "You're determined...let's see. Disha loves to read, especially crime fiction. Her birthday's on the 18th, and she likes talking to intelligent people. She doesn't do well with compliments, so you;ll have to be careful with them, or she'll call it flattery. And don't say anything you don't mean. She's good at seeing through people." "Okay," said Luke. "Thanks. Anything else?" Alina rolled her eyes. "That's more than enough. If you like her enough, you'll work with that. Good luck." They had reached her house. "Um-all right," said Luke. "I guess I should leave now." "Yeah, you should," said Alina. "See you." She raised her hand to open the latch, smiling, when a voice from the shadows spoke. "What the hell was that?" it only took a second for Alina to put her mask on for battle. She turned around, crossing her arms. "Whoever it was is none of your business, Mr.Siddharth Malik,"she snapped. "You were smiling at him!" he accused her. "Don't you know he's a vampire?" Alina rolled her eyes. "I didn't know smiling at vampires was a crime punishable by law," she said sarcastically. "Yeah, he is a vampire. So? Your problem being-?" He took two strides towards her, gripping her arms. She snarled at him. "Let go of me!" "Tell me," he said, giving her a little shake. "Tell me why it matters if I'm with Maithali. Tell me my presence doesn't affect you. Tell me you don't care."
But he had gone too far.
A second later, Sid was on his knees, doubled over in pain. His entire body ached as through knives of steel had been plunged into it. Through the haze of pain, he looked up at Alina, who was glowing oddly. Her eyes were hard as they stared down at him. "Yes, it affects me. Yes, I care. And I feel like this... exactly like this."
She closed her eyes and the pain ceased. He stared up at her. She looked down at him, her mouth twisted. "No, I'm not sorry either. You deserve it." Sid got to his feet slowly, his eyes fixed on her. Alina turned away, lifted the latched, and walked down the pathway. Siddharth watched her ring the bell, watched the door open, and Alina go in.
Piya had been very quiet all through the ride."Hey," said Abhay at last. "Are you all right?" She started and turned to him. "What? Oh...no, I'm fine." He looked concerned. "Piya, about what happened today... I'm sorry if I hurt you-" "You didn't hurt me, stop apologizing," Piya interrupted. "I- I was thinking about it, actually. I know both of us-lost it today- but I don't regret it. And...thanks for stopping." "I love you," he said quietly. "I- we both know that it's going to happen- I just don't think now is the right time." "You're right," she answered. "Our exams are coming up. I M going to have to concentrate...God, I won't be able to study at all tonight-" "Yes, you will," he said firmly. "I know you will." She sighed. "You got grass stains on my shirt," she complained. "Couldn't you have been a little more careful?" Abhay snorted. "How you can go from worrying about exams to your clothes is beyond me. Well, I'm very sorry. I'll make sure I'm careful next time." Next time...her cheeks heated at the words. She couldn't speak another word till they reached her house. Abhay braked the car to a halt. "Hang on," he said, taking an umbrella. He got out, opening it against the downpour, then held the door open for her. As he walked her back to the house, he said, "You never told me how you got your memories back." She swallowed. "I-uh- I'm not quite sure. I- I was unconscious. When I woke up, I remembered everything..." She looked down, forcing back the memory of having Abhay look at her with hatred and contempt. They had almost reached the door, "So- is that when you met my mother?" "I- yes," she said. "She-she healed me, and then-" "What?" said Abhay. "You were injured?" "I-I fell on the road," she said, stammering slightly. Abhay said nothing. He accompanied her inside silently. "Oh, Abhay," said Madhu, hurrying up to them. "Do sit down for a while. How are your parents?" "Quite well, thank you," said Abhay politely, "But I really have to get going, sorry Mrs Dobriyal, but my mother starts worrying, especially in such weather, because landslides can happen anytime-" "As well she should," agreed Madhu. "Drive carefully, dear." He nodded. As he turned to go, he looked at Piya. "Are you sure you're telling me everything?" She looked up at him, unable to speak. He smiled humourlessly. "You're still shutting me out, aren't you?" She opened her mouth to say something, but he shook his head. "It's all right. I'll wait till you're ready." He tweaked her nose lightly and left, leaving her feeling worse than ever before. She went up to her room, debating with herself again. Would it be so bad to take the risk? Unbidden, the image of Abhay's face flashed before her, twisted in fury and anger. Sighing he, pulled out her books and tried her best to focus on them...
Over the next few days, Piya tried to see if Abhay was upset. However, if he was, he did a very good job of hiding it. At times, she hoped he would just ask her, but Abhay didn't ask her again. He acted as though the conversation had not happened at all. It worries her terribly, the fact that she might be hurting him, but she didn't ever want to see that hatred on his face, directed at her. Sometimes, she would look up to see him studying her, looking worried. She'd asked him, but he studiously maintained that he was simply thinking about Siddharth. And she was sure he still came to visit her in her bedroom every single night, when she was sleeping. He never stayed till sunrise, but she could feel his imprint on the bed, in her soul. Twice, she had faked being asleep, and she had felt him slide in next to her, pulling her close to him. Which was why she hadn't dared buy those tablets again. Not that she had really needed them anyway,because Abhay being with her was the best antidepressant anyway. Her exams came and went by almost in a haze; and though she knew she had prepared well, the weight of her secrets pressed down upon her. And the fact that she knew that Abhay was worrying about her didn't help. She had only noticed the frown on his face once or twice, but he had covered it up remarkably well. But sometimes, when he kissed her, she could sense his desperation, as though he would break through every single one of her defenses and strip her soul bare...and those were the days she loved him and hated herself, the most.
Now, she was sitting in her room, apparently going through a list of companies she could apply for a job. Mr Raichand had made her a generous offer, she knew, but she wasn't sure she wanted to work under him. She bit her lip, thinking...not about her job, but about a certain someone else. "I wish you'd stop doing that," said a voice near her. She jumped up, startled. "Hi- I didn't see you here." "Why are you worrying all the time? Relax. The results aren't even out till next week," he told her.
"Easy for you to say," she grumbled. "You'll probably top all the lists. Anyway, I don't even know if I'll get the kind of a job I want. I don't want to sit at a desk all day long, hating my bosses." He came to sit next to her on the bed. "You miss your job, don't you?" She looked at him warily, but there was no antagonism in his voice. "Yes," she answered. "Don't get me wrong, but...I liked my job with Sid. And see how well that ended out," she added as an afterthought, biting her lip again. "And your father did offer me a job , but I'm not sure...he might have, um, higher standards-" "I told you to stop doing that," said Abhay, sounding annoyed. "What?" she asked, confused. "Biting your lip," he answered. "It's bloody distracting." She went pink. "Oh," she said. "Distracting, how?" He smiled slowly, reaching over to rub the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. "You know very well how. " "Uh...no?" He raised an eyebrows. "Don't lie. You know exactly how much it affects me when you do that." She smiled primly. "Good to know."
"I won't be able to come tonight," he said regretfully. "Hunting." "What-oh." Understanding flooded her, along with another thought."But...does that mean you haven't had anything for...three weeks?"
"What? Oh- no," he clarified. "We-uh, we have bottled blood at home, so we don't have to hunt everyday- I can't believe I'm discussing this with you. Why aren't you freaking out?" he demanded. But Piya was thinking of something else. "How does blood taste to you? I mean- to me, it always tastes salty, but it must taste different to you, right?" he looked extremely uncomfortable. "Piya, I really don't want to talk about this right now..." "Oh, right, of course," she said. "You must be hungry, right?" He shook his head. "Thirsty. But no, that's not why. I don't want you mixed up in all this. You are very unusual, you know?" She shook her head, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. "No. but I'll miss you."
An hour later, she was still sitting alone on the same spot, still thinking about Abhay. It had begun to physically ache her. Didn't he deserve the truth? Didn't she trust him?
She was roused from her thoughts, when the air in front of her shimmered, and Alina appeared. She looked up gloomily at her. "Why so glum?" said Alina. "Haven't you just been talking to Abhay?" "Yes, I-" Piya had started to reply, then something struck her. "Wait. How do you know?" Alina smiled, in that enigmatic way of hers. Yet Piya noticed a tiredness about her eyes and bearing. "Are you all right?" "Yeah, of course I am," answered Alina at once. "Why?" Piya shook her head. "Nothing. You look tired." She noticed the flash of surprise in Alina's eyes. "Yeah, well, after you left, I had to take over a few things," said Alina. "What about you? You look worried."
Piya closed her eyes for a few seconds. Then she said, "You were right. Yeah, I said it." Alina's eyebrows rose, but she made no comment. "I- I mean," Piya continued, "It's- it's frightening as hell, but he deserves to know the truth. And the thing is, he knows I'm hiding something. But all these days, he hasn't pried. I know he's worried about it, but he hasn't forced me to tell him, or- or read my mind, or something-" Alina was still silent. "And Alina- I don't want him worrying anymore about me. He already worries enough as it is, and- I need to take this risk- what if he figures it out on his own, like he did with the memory? I-I have to tell him. But how? I don't know. Say something, will you?" Alina had started to smile. "Good one," she said, no one in particular. Then turning to Piya, she said, "Of course, Piya. That's what I've been trying to tell you all along. As for how...i think I can help you with that." Piya looked up. "Like what?"
Alina sat down on a chair, crossing her legs. "Hmm...did you know I'm planning a party for Dishu's birthday?" "So?" said Piya. "So, you can come with Abhay, of course!" said Alina enthusiastically. Piya struggled to understand the significance of this. "So..." "Oh, gosh," said Alina, with the air of the very patient. "Look. You come with Abhay to the party. Midway through, I'll help you change into Piyali. You go out into the garden, and I'll send Abhay after you. See, the good thing is, I'll be there too, invisible, so that if anything goes wrong, I can take over. Well? What else do you need?"
Piya was looking down. "Are you sure- he won't hate me?" Alina replied seriously, "I will do everything in my power to make sure that he won't, Piya. The rest is in your hands." "Yes," Piya mumbled. "Yes, I know. I can't do this anymore- he needs to know." "Brave girl," said Alina , smiling. "Well, I'll be going now-" "Wait!" said PIya. "You haven't told me about the date of this party-" "Oh,yeah," said Alina. "It's tomorrow. Be there by 7, yeah?" Piya forced a smile. "Yeah." "Cool!" Alina melted into thin air. Piya looked at the table on her bedside. No pills. She didn't get any sleep that night.
Abhay wiped the blood off his mouth and chin as he prepared to leave. His brow was furrowed, as it always was these days when he wasn't with her, and she was vulnerable to attack. Piya was worrying him these days. She was happy, he knew, yet something was troubling her. She had gotten paler the last few days. Innumerable times he'd caught her staring at him, her mouth parted, and then ...she would look away. As though there was something she really wanted to tell him, but thought better of it every time. He knew better than to pester her about it. He knew from experience that it wasn't wise to probe Piya about details- because it would upset her. But something was bugging her...and it nagged at him. If only he knew what it was! He growled in frustration. If she didn't tell him soon, his patience, already stretching thin, would run out. "My,my,my." Said a soft voice. Abhay's head shot to his right. Alina Khurana was sititing on a rock, smiling.
"I'm really not in the mood , Alina," he said wearily. "Yes, I can see that," said Alina, going from teasing to serious in the blink of an eye. "Gosh, if I were with someone like Piya, I'd be tempted to give her a good whacking. She needs it." Abhay scowled at her. "You don't know anything about her. I'd like to see what you'd do in her shoes." "Oh, and you know everything about her, is it?" she challenged. "Do you?" "I know enough about her to know what she needs," snapped Abhay. "So if you're done giving me relationship advice-" "Nope, not yet," said Alina, standing up. "What I really wanted to tell you was that ...well, Piya is hiding something big from you..." "I know that, all right?" Abhay interrupted. "Yes," said Alina. "Masterstroke, by the way, not forcing her to tell you about it. She's been driving herself insane because of it, and she's finally decided she's going to tell you about it. " Abhay went still. Then he turned to her. "You- know?" Alina shrugged. "I suppose so, yes. But the point is, just remember that she loves you, she always has, and she's terrified of losing you." "She's not going to-" Abhay began, but Alina held up a hand. "I'm just telling you what what she told me. Just be careful. Oh, and the two of you are invited for Dishu's birthday party tomorrow." "Wait-" Abhay started to say, but she was already dissolving into thin air.
Piya stared at the mirror, studying her reflection. She was wearing a dark red cocktail dress cinched at the waist with a black belt. Her wavy tresses were left open, and dark make up had helped to drastically reduce the tiredness from her face, and no one looking at her, would be able to notice the marks of exhaustion. Slipping on strappy silver sandals, she walked down the stairs. "You look beautiful," Madhu gushed as she saw Piya. "Doesn't she, Arnab?" Her father smiled at her. "Just like a Princess." "Uh- Mom, Dad, I might be a little late," said Piya. "You know how these parties are. Alina will drop me home." "Yes, but don't be too late," said Arnab. "The streets aren't safe at night. Make sure Abhay comes with you."
Piya forced a smile. "Of course, Dad." Stepping out, she took a deep breath- and came face to face with Abhay, who was waiting for her by the car.
PS. Well, I'm not sure. I'm a bit of a prude. Should it have been 8+ instead?đ
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
2