S H I V A A Y
age :: 23
five years in the past

He was looking forward to retire to bed early today when his eyes strayed to the figure sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

Teal dress——his eyebrows arched. Trivedi?

What is she doing out here?

"Alright there, Trivedi?" He asked as he walked down the stairs, she was sitting at the bottom most one.

He stopped a few steps up.

She didn't turn. But he knew she heard him, he saw the small jerk of her hand when he spoke up.

"Yes." She spoke without turning to look at him. She remained seated on the spot--he wondered what could have happened that she was sitting there when everyone was in the hallway enjoying their night.

He quirked an eyebrow, he didn't expect an honest answer, and then she turned to look at him before averting her gaze.

He blinked, this was the first time he wasn't faced with anything witty from her side. She may even not have paid attention to what he had said.

He stepped down the rest before taking a seat beside her.

He noticed the continuous tapping of her foot and her fingers scratching onto her other. Her eyes were glassy and her bottom lip looked swollen, possibly of her biting into it——he winced.

"What's the matter?" He asked.

Annika turned to look at him, a frown visible on her features.

"Since when did you start being nice to the people?" She asked with an arched eyebrow.

"I am not that of a jerk to ignore someone who is on the verge of having a breakdown." He spoke looking ahead, the dull music from the hall reaching their ears as they sat on the stairs in silence.

"Must you be so forward?" She asked with a sigh.

"Take it or leave it." He spoke turning to look at her pointedly.

She sighed, "I guess I will take it." She spoke and she turned back to stare ahead. Had she turned around she would have noticed the gentle smile on his face as he observed her under the faint moonlight that filtered in the corridor through the gaps.

The lingering smile on his lips faltered, as he stared back at the news, his eyes scanning the fine print of the papers.

She did it, and the paper was crumpled into his hands.

~^~

Shivaay placed the hand on the wall, stopping her from moving away. She looked up her doe eyes shining with fresh tears. He frowned.

"Back off Oberoi." She spoke through gritted teeth. He looked at her tearful face carefully before turning towards the doorway she came running through, his eyebrows arched.

"What's wrong?" He asked. She looked at him with a look of distrust. "Why do you care?" She snapped, he looked around and shrugged.

"I don't." he backed away a step. Another lie.

His life has transpired into a mess of beautiful lies ever since he has met her.

She was a tempest to a seeker like him.

"Figured." She muttered to herself. She looked up at him, he was looking at her curiously, the ceruleans have taken the shades of enchanting azure as he stared back into her eyes.

He stepped back to let her pass, he looked at her retreating back with a sigh.

She was way out of his league.

She didn't notice the longing in his gaze, and he died by the betrayed expression that reflected in her eyes.

He turned to look at her.

"Why did you do it?" He asked her simply.

~^~

"Since we are being civil to each other" her voice made him look up from the presentation file that he had been analysing.

"Why do you hate me so much?"

The words took him by surprise.

There was nothing but genuine curiosity in her eyes. Shivaay turned to look at her, and for the first time ever since she had known him she could read his eyes.

He looked troubled.

"I don't hate you." He spoke averting her gaze.

"Your actions and words say otherwise." She spoke.

"It was reciprocated, wasn't it?" He asked as he placed the laptop aside.

"That's not the answer I am looking for." She spoke her eyes boring into his.

"Then what could it be?" He asked, his eyes gazing into hers.

"Something that you have been hiding?" She shrugged.

He looked at her, his lips parting slightly before he looked away without any other word.

"Won't you say something?" She asked as she turned to look at him.

"I already said what you wanted to know, is there anything more that you'd like me to add?" He asked as he turned to look at tilting his head to the side.

"Yes." Her tone was defiant as she turned to look at him. Her eyes dropping to his lips for a moment. His lips parted in shock.

In the twelve years of knowing each other they were finally letting out what they have kept hidden from the other.

"What?" He asked, as he got up from his chair and walked over to her, where she stood.

"The truth."

"I was telling the truth." He admitted softly, his hands hovering right over her cheek. But he didn't dare to cross the boundaries that they had set for themselves.

"I don't hate you, Annika." He spoke, his voice deep and earnest. "In fact, the opposite is true." Her eyes widened.

"Had it not been our families, our stature, these complications" he spoke trailing off in the middle of the sentence.

"Love was the most beautiful and tragic emotion that I have ever experienced. And still do." He spoke, his breath mixing with her own as he leaned forward.

"You are the best thing that happened to me." He spoke, she could see the traces of tears in those eyes, the only time she had seen them was that night.

"I broke that day, Annika." He spoke and his hands dropped to his sides. "Into pieces."

"I could never be privileged enough to love you." He admitted, "Hate came the easy way."

She felt his shoulder brushing as he stormed out of the room.

And she was left alone. Again.

She looked at him, this time she was on the other side and he was on hers.

He shook his head, clearing the memories. They meant nothing, even if they did, all they brought them was pain.

~^~

"Don't make it more hard than it already is, Trivedi." Shivaay spoke through gritted teeth.

Annika just casually sipped on her boba. She tipped the cup, the straw pointed towards him and grinned.

"If I were to ask for help" her expression turned to one of the glee as she watched his expression darken, "I would be kinder with my words." She spoke.

Shivaay rolled his eyes and turned to look at her with a charming smile.

"Miss. Trivedi, will you help me with this or not?" He asked impatiently.

She turned back to her laptop without saying anything.

He sighed, running his hands through his hair. Just this once.

"Well, Miss Trivedi, would you be kind enough to help me out of this mess, that I might add——you have conjured?" He asked sweetly.

"That's more like it. Wasn't so hard, was it?" She asked.

He glared at her.

"Ignoring the last few, why not? It would be my absolute pleasure to assist you, Mr. Oberoi."

Shivaay's eyes narrowed at the girl as she breezed past him.

She turned back suppressing her smile.

"Well, I suggest we get to work, before I change my mind." She spoke as she leaned at the doorway.

Shivaay closed his eyes for a moment, before plastering a fake smile on his lips—he turned to face her.

"Lead the way." He said, how am I going to get out of this mess?

Pretty Lies
© 22 May 2024
eloquent24

So, this is the book that I have given so many sneak peaks about. I thought I'd wait but then again, what else did I expect?