Neev.

I reached the door and looked around. The party was in full swing.

I sighed.

Riya said I should find her if I want to see her.

I mean, how can she do it? It's a freaking masquerade and I am supposed to find her in these hundreds of masked guests!

I stepped inside. I am actually glad to wear a mask too, no, it's not a flashy one, it's a plain black one that covered both of my eyes and upper one-third of my nose too.

I don't want anyone's attention too much, I started to search for her in the ballroom.

The room was lit up in soft yellow dim lights from the electric candles, fresh cut flowers and ribbons were used everywhere to decorate the ballroom. It really had a nice feeling to it.

"Neev?"

I turned around.

"Nirosha," I said. She was wearing a dress that showed her curves, she was wearing a mask, but her face was recognizable.

"I am glad you are here"

"Did you talk to Rohan?" I asked her.

"I saw him..." she slurred slightly. "but I was...waiting for you," she said.

"We don't have anything more to talk abo-Nirosha!" I exclaimed as she pulled me with her.

"Neev" she looked up at me. "I know you are...angry at me, I know you are doing this to get revenge-"

"Are you drunk?" I asked her as I untangled myself from her and moved back.

"Neev-"

"I am looking for Riya, and you better tell Rohan everything today itself, Nirosha, or I am going to tell him everything myself," I said. before walking away.

Priya.

"Can I have this dance please" The person who introduced himself as Sachin asked me.

I was sitting in a corner, Riya and Sachin met as soon as we were inside and she introduced me to him.

"I would really love to, Sachin, but I have to decline," I said.

"She's not fully recovered from her accident, Sachin, she can't walk for a long time," Riya said.

"Ooh! I am sorry Priya" Sachin said. I shook my head, smiling.

"I am glad that I am recovering fast," I said.

"That's good to hear," Sachin said.

"You haven't met Neev yet?" Sachin turned to Riya. She shook her head.

"I told him to come and find me," she said, then looked at the clock. "It's time for Rohan to be here too, I will just try to find them," she said.

I am still nervous about this, but I know I can't back away now, I just hope Rohan is someone whom I can get along with, he's my date after all.

Riya moved away and Sachin take the nearest seat beside me, he turned to me.

"So Priya, I heard you two are very close, how come I am meeting you only now-" he stopped, now turning slightly away. "crap! I am so sorry Priya but I have to go now" he said suddenly.

"What happened?" I looked at him.

"There's someone I don't want to meet!" he said and I laughed.

"Okay! just hide from your stalker then," I said.

"I wish it really was a stalker, but she's more dangerous!" he murmured before slipping away.

I was left alone but I was actually enjoying the party, it's my first time I am facing so many people and not getting panicked like I usually get, it must be the mask covering my face or the costume I am wearing today, I really feel like a whole different person.

I felt a gaze on me and turned around to meet a guy looking at me.

My world literally stopped for a moment, my heart was going overdrive.

What's happening!?

I panicked, but I couldn't seem to move my eyes away, and he held my gaze, refusing to look away.

He was in a black sleek shirt that was looking good on him. He was still sitting on the barside, but I could see he's tall and well built.

I looked away quickly, feeling déjà vu. Even though he was wearing a mask that covered half of his face, I could say that he's handsome.

Get a grip on yourself! you were staring at him!

It felt so hot suddenly. I wanted to get away far. I take another peek and saw that he's fully covered by girls now.

He's someone very popular and successful...

I slowly slipped away from my chair. I think I need a drink, the party is playing some tricks on me, I am starting to feel new things!

Riya.

"Here you are, Rohan!" I said."I was looking for you," I said.

"Riya.." he nodded, not looking at me, but looking around.

"Are you looking for someone?" I asked him.

"No, I mean...it felt familiar but-"

"What are you talking about?" I asked him, now folding my hands across my chest.

"Nothing," he said, at last looking at me. "wow, look at you, you have turned to be a real princess!" he said smiling and I smiled back.

"I wanted to introduce you to Priya," I said.

"Yea! how can I forget my date," Rohan said and we both laughed.

Soon we were back at the place but Priya was nowhere to be seen.

"She was here!" I exclaimed. "Maybe she is with Sachin" I looked at Rohan, who was still looking around.

"And who are you searching for?" I asked bluntly now.

"Sorry Riya, I think I have to find someone now," he said.

"No problem, go ahead," I said.

I know Nirosha is going to talk to him about Naina today. I don't want to see him hurt but there's no way around it now.

"I will see you then," Rohan said.

I was standing there, watching him, when I felt someone taking my hand.

I squealed as I faced another person in a white suit, his face was masked by a beautiful white mask that has a silver design on the side.

"Dance with me," he said.

His voice was firm and good, he was tall and well built, towering over me.

"Oh no, I was looking for-hey!" I exclaimed as he pulled me to the dance floor.

"Who...who are you?" I said as I tried to guess who it is, he smiled.

"We haven't met before, Riya," he said and I stilled, now shocked.

"How do you know me!? do I know you? are you from colleg-"

"Relax, I am not your enemy, I am a friend," he said as he twirled me.

"I don't know you" I stated.

"Then let's wait until midnight, you will know me after removing the mask"

"Um...I have to go now" I said quickly, now feeling a bit creepy.

He chuckled. "I am not some psycho stalker, so don't worry, I am one of your friends, may be much closer than the Aldricks"

I stilled now. There's something strange about him, I could feel it.

"Who are you? how did you recognise me even with the mask?" I asked again, now moving away from his hands and stopping the dance midway.

"I am your friend, Riya," he said.

"I don't go around making friends with strangers," I said sternly.

I walked back. I am starting to feel weird, I don't want to be a victim of another prank from people here, yes, I am still wary of them.

I was still searching for Neev when I heard her voice.

"Riya?"

"Amy?" I looked around. "Oh, it's really you!?" I asked surprised.

She was in a black and white costume, her makeup dark and smokey, instead of a mask, she has painted parts of her face in glittering silver.

"Yea, it's not my kind of a party, but I needed to find someone," she said.

It seems like everyone is trying to find someone.

"Did you meet Neev?" I asked.

"Yea, he was looking for you, over there," she said and I smiled.

"Thank you," I said.

"Okay, I have to find that moron now, Sachin, I will see you aro-"

"How do you know him?" I asked surprised.

"Are you going to keep on asking this stupid questions Riya? how could I not know him? he's a Dixit and he's Neev's best friend, unfortunately, we cross path from time to time" she said, not at all in a friendly way.

"You are angry at him!" I stated.

"No" she shook her head. "I just want to return a favour, I will see you Riya," she said before walking away.

The music was still playing and I saw him then, he was talking with someone.

"Neev!" I said happily, now moving towards him, but stopped dead in my track when I saw it.

Nirosha leaned up and kissed him full on the lips, she was holding herself to him and clutching his shirt tightly.

I stilled, My world trembled and my heart squeezed painfully.

I touched my heart.

I have to get out of here!

Tears sprang to my eyes and I turned around, I was starting to hyperventilate now.

"Riya!"

I heard his voice but I was already running away, I don't want him to see me like this.

Yes, we are going to get engaged, but it's just a fake engagement, we are not together, I can't appear in front of him like this!

It was too difficult with my mask and I stopped when I was so sure he's no longer following me.

"You look like you need a drink, here" someone offered me a drink and I took it without any hesitation.

I don't want to think about it, I want to forget about it.

Rohan.

I was still searching through the crowd.

It's not her, Rohan, you know it.

But that gaze...

She just happened to catch your eyes, it was not Naina-

"Whoa!"

I crashed to someone, the glass in her hand tipped to my shirt and she lost her balance.

"I am sorry-" I stopped dead, now looking deep into her eyes, she was still in my hands, I was still supporting her to prevent the fall.

She looked as shocked as me, her eyes were moving in between my eyes.

I was still watching her as she tried to move. "let go" she said, I could barely hear her over the loud music, but I could still read her lips.

I slowly straightened her.

My heart was beating frantically inside me.

Now I know, why I was searching for her, she had that familiar feeling around her, she was so much like Naina, her height, her built and all but at the same time, she looked very different.

"Who...who are you?" I said as she takes her hands from me and takes a step back slowly.

She started to turn around.

"Dance with me" I blurted out, taking her hand again, surprising myself.

Get a grip on yourself Rohan! It's not Naina!

Naina has the same eyes, but they are full of love whenever she looked at me, not confused or unsure like this.

Naina has brown wavy hair, not curly black one.

Naina-

"Rohan!" I heard someone else, but I was too busy to turn around.

"It's been so long man! I thought you said you can't attend the party?" Someone turned me around and our eye contact was broken.

"Santhosh" I nodded, he was my college mate, I turned back to her again and saw that she has disappeared again.

Where the hell did she go? again?

That's not Naina!

I know, but I want to see her face, her mask is covering almost the whole of her face!

Riya.

I don't know what's happening to me, I feel like flying around.

I tried to focus, but everything seemed to be swirling around me.

I get up from my place and started to walk, but it was more difficult than I thought, it takes so much effort to take a step.

I...I should wash my face, I am feeling sleepy...restroom...I need to find the rest roo-

"Hey! watch where you are going!" I heard the angry shouts as I bumped into people, but nothing was making sense anymore.

"Riya!" I was stopped by someone, I couldn't even recognise him. "Are you drunk!?"

I stared at him, but all I could make out was the white colour.

"I...don't...st.ranger...friends-"

"Okay, I get it, you don't want to make friends with strangers, but just sit here, I will bring you something" he commanded.

But I tried to remove my hands and lost my balance. "Res...room"

"Just wait here, don't move!" he ordered me again.

Priya.

I moved away and outside the ballroom. my heart was still in a frenzy.

God! what's happening? why is he searching for me?

I could see him still looking around and I moved to the balcony, covering from him.

Why am I feeling this? have we met before?

Oh my God! what if he's someone dangerous?

Nonsense Priya! your face is almost fully covered! There's no chance anyone can recognise you!

What terrified me most was my response to him. it was so foreign and out of my control.

I put my hand against my heart.

Why is it racing too much? he doesn't seem like a guy I would know, his aura is totally different, unbearable for me.

And that cologne! It's alluring, I never thought any cologne can have this effect on me!

It's a good thing I moved away, or I would have made a complete fool of myself!

I was still leaning to the wall.

I should go now, I had enough fun for one night!

I opened my phone, but it started to ring.

"Uncle" I attended.

"Priya! where the hell are you? how can you just write a note and disappear like that!" he sounded pissed off.

I was a bit surprised at his voice, it was the first time he is this angry.

"I...I tried to call you, but you were busy, don't worry uncle, I am with Riya, nothing will-"

"That girl! you are forbidden to hang out with her! come out, I am almost there, come out now!"

"What's wrong? how did you know where to find m-"

"Priya! your auntie and I were worried sick! It's dangerous for you to go out, I am nearly there now, get out of that place now"

"I...I am sorry, I will be...ther-" but he had already disconnected the call.

What's wrong? why is he responding like this? And how the hell did he know how to find me?

They are so worried about me, I should go now.

I started to call Riya, but it was not connecting, so I texted her, telling her I am leaving with my uncle.

I will call you once I reach home.

I slowly walked out of the balcony, but I was stopped by him. I was startled to see him in front of me all of a sudden.

"Who are you?" he looked serious this time, taking a step towards me as I take one step back automatically.

His eyes were too intense and his presence really powerful.

All of my senses were suddenly alert, his cologne started to invade me again and I tried hard to focus.

"I have to go," I said. slowly, now trying to look confident.

I sidestepped him and tried to move away, but I felt him pulling me back against him, my back hit his frame and I stopped, gasping in surprise.

"Dance with me" it was not a request, but an order.

"I...I can't...walk" I said. slowly, my voice was slightly muffled by my mask. "I can't move...without support," I said. again, trying to raise my voice slightly so that he can hear me over the music.

He turned me to him in a swift moment, I was facing him suddenly, he was so close and the look in his eyes was too intense.

My heart started to beat wildly again.

"Hey!" I exclaimed as he pulled me to him, his arms wound around my waist, he moved me so that I was leaning to him.

"I will support you," he said.

"Excuse me, mister" I tried to move back, but he was already starting to move with me slowly, our bodies were flush with each other and heat flooded me.

"Do you know me?" he demanded, looking into my eyes.

"I...I have never seen you before!" I said as I tried to push him, I placed my hands on his chest and I was surprised at the feel of muscles underneath, so strong and powerful.

"That's right, you smell different," he said slowly. "your eyes are same, yet different, your hair is different, your sound too, everything is different, then why am I feeling this?" he looked deep into my eyes.

What's going on? who is he?

I trembled inside his hands, it was unbearable for me.

"I can't wait till midnight!" he stated and one of his hands started to raise up.

"What are you doing?" I started to push him off as he started to untie my mask.

"Leave me!"

"I...I am sorry, I am really sorry, but I need to see your face" he pulled me to him and I stilled. I was literally glued to him as he worked on my mask.

And I felt it coming loose.

I don't know what I have been expecting but I thought my heart would burst out. He slowly started to remove it, his eyes never leaving mine.

-------------------------