*Viraj*

"Maa" I call out when I reach nana's house and she comes rushing outside.

Oh my beautiful beautiful mom. I missed her so much!

I hug her tightly and lift her off the floor blinking back tears. It's been almost four months since I last saw her. She is the one who always comes to visit me in Mumbai.

"Lamba hota ja raha hai tu" she says when I break the hug and wipes a lone tear, smiling. She looks at me from head to toe and sighs.

"I missed you" I say and hug her again.

"Hume bhi toh mauka do" Nani says but before she can hug me, I'm engulfed in a big hug from my nana as he pats my back.

"Yorker ball ki practice zara aur kar. Hamesha out ho jaata hai vo ball pe". That's the first thing he says to me but I just smile and nod, touching his feet. That's just the way he is. I love him.

"Arre chup baitho aap. Aate hi mere bachhe ko pareshaan kar rahe ho" Nani's petite figure comes from behind and I hug her too. She's so small and fragile that I hug her lightly, worried not to break her or something.

I look at the house and smile. It's always been like this. There's a farm behind this place where various vegetables and fruits are grown. It's a little far from Goa on the sea border of Maharashtra. The houses are very far from each other and to go to the market, we have to travel for an hour. Typical nana ji ka gaav type, just how it should be. Ussi me toh maza hai.

"Kitna patla ho gaya hai tu Veer" Nani says running her little hand through my hair.

Nani ko mai hamesha patla hi lagta hu.

"Patla? Pet dekho kaise bahar aa raha hai" maa says punching me lightly in my stomach and I frown looking at it.

Sach me? Vo mujhe khila khila ke mota kar di hai kya? The last time we interacted properly was when we went shopping. Uske baad I've successfully avoided her.

Avoid kar ke bahot bada teer hi maar liya ho jaise maine. Uske baare me sochta rehta hu uska kya?

Nani starts stuffing my mouth with dhoklas and various other items that she made for me and that woman back in Goa leaves my mind for a while.

For a while.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Kuch batana chahte ho?" Ma asks when she comes into my room. I press my lips together and keep the laptop aside.

"Kya matlab?" I ask feigning innocence and start making the bed to sleep.

"Do din hue tujhe aaye hue. Kuch hai jo tu mujhe nahi bata raha" she says. "Aslesha ki kuch baat hai?" She asks when I don't respond.

"Aapko kaise pata?" I ask.

"Rudra aur pari ki shaadi hai. Vo toh hogi hi" she says.

"Vo meri personal chef bhi hai. She's staying in our new house" I say running a hand through my hair.

"Kya? Kaise? Kab?" My mom asks putting her hand on her mouth in shock and I huff.

I tell her everything as she patiently listens to me without saying or reacting anything.

"She behaves as if she didn't cheat on me. Behes karti rehti hai muh uthaa ke. Hamesha ki tarah. There's no regret on her face. At all. And that just makes me so mad. How can a girl be so shameless" I say getting angrier by the second.

"Maybe she didn't" ma says.

"What?

"Maybe she didn't cheat on you".

"I saw Neel and her kissing. That is cheating" I say sharply.

Meri mom ho ke bhi side uski le rahi hai. Why can't anybody dislike her ugh!

"You saw that they were about to kiss. You didn't see them kissing" she says calmly.

I am lost for words. "How can you say that? I heard her saying that she didn't want to be in a relationship with me" I say.

But abhi uska world cup hai. Vo jab aa jaayega tab I'll break up with him. Jab itne din vo nahi tha tab tum the mere liye and mujhe pata hi nahi chala kab tumse itna pyaar ho gaya. Viraj ki toh mai aisi hi girlfriend thi. Pyaar vagera sochi bhi nahi thi mai.

I remember her words clearly.

"Veer, remember when you misunderstood her thinking ke usne tumhari complain ki hai, and we had to shift to Mumbai, when all the while it was not her. I don't want you to repeat the same mistake again. She didn't complain when you chopped off her hair. She left her stage fear behind for you. She saved your life when you met those mawalis. I saw nothing but love in her eyes for you. If she really has cheated on you, I'll hate that girl with a passion. But I don't know, I never felt ke Aslesha waisa kuch karegi. I still feel it".

I look away and close my eyes. Am I really missing something here? No. She cheated on me. Maine khud apne aankho se dekha. Kaano se sunaa vo jo bhi boli thi.

Everything you hear or see is not always true.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Aise lag raha hai abhi aaya tha aur ab ja bhi Raha hai" Nani says.

"Ruk ja na aur kuch din" maa says.

"I can't miss Rudra's party tonight mom. Vo meri jaan le lega. Mai already usse bahot disappoint kiya hu, aur nahi karna mujhe. And there are so many more people I need to apologise today" I say and she nods understandingly.

"Tu bhi shadi kar le ab" Nani says. My face turns horrified, as ma laughs.

"Shadi baad me. Tu pehle vo yorker balls pe concentrate kar" Nana says and maa and nani both roll their eyes together. I nod, suppressing my smile and touch his feet. I hug Nani and mom and then leave.

Raat ko party hai. I'm so excited. Rudra has booked a resort and it's just gonna be guys. Bachelor's party. Mai apne sab purane dosto se milunga. Joel, Sid, Tej. I missed those assholes so much. I hope they forgive me. Neel is not gonna come. Rudra said that he'll just be here for the wedding. I didn't bother to ask him why. I don't care.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

"Bhai I'm so sorry" I say and hug Joel and Sid. Tej scoffs and looks away.

"Sorry? Sorry? Sorry se thik hota hai kya sab? Kitna dhunda tujhe. Pagal ho gaye hum. Mai tujhe maaf nahi karne wala" he says folding his arms.

"What if mai tujhe tere favorite restaurant ke ek saal ka voucher du?" I say and he eyes me sideways.

Sid and Joel start snickering. "Ek saal?" He asks.

"Ha. Everything in half the price" I say .

"Bass bass bass. Ab rulayega kya?" He says and hugs me tightly. I grin widely. Tej ko khana dene se sab solve hota hai.

The party is in full swing. The whole staff is only ladies here. Rudra ne galaa faad ke manaa kiya tha to not invite dancers but fir kya faayda. Bachelor's party hai mere bhai ki. Thoda toh kaminapan chahiye. So all the guys are happy of my decision except Rudra.

Bhola saala.

The whole night goes into drinking and dhating. Ek ke baad ek sab ludakne lagte hai. Rudra has passed out with his feet on Joel's face. Sid is hugging a beer bottle to his chest and sleeping. Tej is sleeping in the kitchen near the fridge. Of course. I see some other guys from our school and college and some others whom I don't recognise.

Now that everyone is drunk and smashed, I'm glad that nobody is flashing their cameras on my face and following me everywhere.

I sit on the couch as my eyes feel heavy. Some idiot spilled a drink on my pant. Uski maa... ne kuch sikhaya nahi kya usse.

I take my phone out and squint at the light. Password kya hai mere phone ka? Kuch toh tha. I shake the guy beside me.

"Ayee iska password kya hai?" I ask him. "Huh" he says pushing my hand away.

"Password password" I say again.

"Chup na bey pagal" he says and I nod.

I type chupnabeypagal.

Incorrect password. I glare at his sleeping form. Galat password batata hai haramkhor.

Then my phone suddenly unlocks. Arre finger touch hai mera phone toh. I laugh out loud and the two guys still drinking in a corner look at me weirdly.

"Finger touch tha" I tell them and they continue drinking.

I open my phone and automatically I call her.

Batata hu usse aaj.

The phone rings and after a while she picks up.

"Hello Viraj are you ok?" she asks.

Are you ok? Kitni fake hai ye ladki. Pretending to care. I hate her.

"I hate you. You know that right?" I say and get up and start walking outside. This room is getting suffocating.

"I hate you" I say again. There's a pause. Rakh di kya phone? "I know" she replies.

"It's full moon today" I say looking up at the sky.

I wave at the watchman who has fallen asleep on his chair.

When I'm looking up and walking, a car speeds past me and I stumble back and fall. "Abeyy pagal plane chala raha hai kya?" I scream.

"Viraj tum kaha ho?" She asks and I hear her shuffling.

"Mai abhi ghar ja raha hu" I say. I see a bike and scream "Taxi taxiii". It doesn't stop. What the hell!

"Tum bhul gaye kya ke tum indian team ke bahot hi famous player ho? Raat ko raste pe akele ghumna sahi nahi hai. What the hell are you thinking? Go back to the resort!" She scolds me.

"Stop shouting at me. You are not my mom" I shout.

"I'm not shouting" she says softly.

"You are!" I shout.

I hear the starting of engine and frown. Ye aawaz kaha se aa rahi hai?

"Viraj aas paas kahi bench dikh raha hai" she asks.

"Vo watchman chacha hai na mujhse autograph maange the. Vo waha soye hai aur unke baju wali chair khaali hai" I tell her and wave at the watchman again. He doesn't wave back. So rude.

"Ha kya? Meri unn chacha se baat karaao na" she says.

"Kyu?"

"Vo vo.. meri watch unke paas reh gayi hai".

"Achhaaaaa" I says and stumble towards him.

I shake him and he startles awake.

"Viraj sir"

I give him the phone and he frowns and starts speaking on it. I sit on his chair and close my eyes. I'm gone.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

*Aslesha*

This guy is impossible.

Almost chaar bajj gaye hai aur mai uss idiot ko ghar le jaane ja rahi hu. Am I crazy? Or maybe it's just love.

I reach near the resort and stop my scooter near the gate. I see the watchman who is sleeping on his chair. He is alone. Shit!

"Uncle!" I shake him.

"Ha" he stands up in shock with eyes wide open.

"Viraj kaha hai?" I ask.

"Yahi pe soye the sir" he says looking at the chair beside him.

"Aur aap bhi soye the! Agar usse kuch ho gaya na toh mai aapko ye job se nikaal dungi" I shout at him and stomp away.

I start walking on the road and look around. Kaha gaya? Call bhi nahi lag raha..

"BOOO!"

I scream and fall down. Viraj starts laughing hysterically. He starts laughing so hard that he topples over and he is on the ground too, clutching his stomach and laughing.

He is wearing a black shirt and faded jeans. He looks gorgeous. But that's not the point here.

I glare at him. "This is not funny".

"It is!" He laughs more and screams in a high pitched voice, imitating me.

"Shut up and get on my scooter" I say and start pulling him towards the bike.

He scared the shit out of me. Kuch ho jaata toh isse. Koi kidnap kar leta toh. I shake my head.

And this shitty tactic of his to scare me like that. Always. Always!

"Ghar jaana hai" he whines.

I sit on my scooter and start it. "Ha mai tumhe ghar chhod rahi hu. Baitho" I say and he gets on the bike facing backwards.

This asshole is so fucking wasted.

"Handle kaha hai?" He asks in shock. I slap my head. Agar isne meri neend nahi bigaadi hoti toh I'd be laughing my ass off.

"Viraj seedha baitho" I shout at him.

"Ohhhh" he says and gets down and sits properly and I start the bike.

He snakes his arms around me and holds my waist. I stiffen and gulp. He puts his hands on my stomach and slides them back towards my waist, leaving a trail of fire on my skin through the thin fabric of my night shirt.

"Kya kar rahe ho tum?" I ask in a clipped tone, worried not to lose my balance and fall off.

"You've become so thin. Tumhari ramar.. makar.. kamar! Tumhari kamar mere pure ek haath me aa sakti hai" he says and puts his arm around me again.

"Stay still" I say.

Of course he doesn't listen. He leans ahead and puts his hand above mine on the handle and slides it up till my shoulder, leaving a tingling feeling in its wake.

The scooter shakes a little as I lose my balance but I quickly regain it.

"Stop touching me like that" I say.

"Hmm" he says and rests his head on my shoulder and rubs his nose on it, inhaling sharply. I bite my lower lip and concentrate on the road. The rest of the ride is silent.

I reach my house and nudge him awake. "Aa gaye ghar" I whisper.

He doesn't move. "Viraj".

"Ummh"

"Bed pe so jaao andar. Please neeche utro" I say and after a moment he stumbles down.

"This is my house?" He asks squinting his eyes.

"Yes of course. Abhi andhera hai na toh sahi se dikh nahi raha" I say and open the door with my keys.

"How do you have my keys" he asks folding his hands.

"Abhi tumne hi toh diye mujhe darwaza kholne" I lie.

"Achhaaaaa?"

"Ha chalo andar" I say and he comes in.

I take him inside my bedroom. Mai sofa pe so jaaungi aaj.

"Tum yaha so jaao" I tell him and he looks around. Thank God the lights are off. I hope there is no bra or anything lying anywhere.

"Ye mera room hai? Maine pink bedsheet daale hai?" He asks.

"Viraj just go to sleep" I say.

It's past 4 and I'm really feeling super tired now.

"OK" he pouts and starts climbing on the bed.

"Viraj!" I pull him back and he falls back on me as I support his weight and make him stand properly. He's so bloody heavy.

"Please apne shoes nikaalo pehle" I tell him and he nods as his eyes start drooping.

He starts kicking his feet here and there. "Arree" he whines stomping his feet and I smile. He's really adorable when he's drunk.

"Mai utaarti hu" I say and start removing his shoes. He is staring at me the whole time. I know it.

When I look up, he doesn't move his eyes away. I am transfixed by his electric blue eyes but after a moment I look away.

"Go to sleep" I say and get up.

Everything happens so fast that I don't have time to register it, one moment I'm standing and the next, I'm under him on my bed as he hovers above me.

"Kya kar rahe ho?" I ask in shock. This is wrong. So wrong. He is engaged for god's sake!

"Are you with Neel?" he asks directly.

"No" the reply comes instantly. I exactly know what he's talking about and I don't want to lie to him anymore. At least not about my relationship.

He looks all over my face and I stay completely still. I'm scared to touch him or get any more close to him.

"Why did you cheat on me?" he asks and I feel a lump in my throat.

"You're drunk" I say trying to get away.

"Why did you cheat on me?" He asks again but this time he says each word sharply, making goosebumps rise on my skin.

"I di-"

"Leave it" he says as his jaw hardens and he clenches his teeth. "I don't care" he says and he leans down as his lips brush my cheek. "I don't even care" he whispers in my ear and I clutch his shirt tightly trying to.. Push him away? Pull him closer? I seriously don't know.

His lips start moving downwards along the line of my jaw and he dips his head and kisses my neck.

Jesus Christ!

I tremble when his warm lips make contact with my skin and bite my lip so that I don't make sound.

"You're still so fucking beautiful" he whispers as his hand slides under my shirt and his large hands start making delicious patterns on my skin.

"Viraj" I moan and he grips my waist tightly. So tightly that it's almost painful.

"But I still hate you" he says as he grabs my hair in a fist and pulls me towards his face. Our lips almost touch but he stops when his eyes land on something.

"Ye kya hai?" He asks as he traces the scar on my temple which is there because of the brain tumor surgery I had.

And just like that the moment is broken and I come back to planet earth. What the hell was I doing?

I push him away and he frowns. "It's nothing" I say and close the top button of my shirt which had somehow popped open.

"Ye pehle nahi tha" he says.

"Thodi si kharoch aa gayi thi kuch din pehle" I say.

"Those were clearly stitches" he glares at me.

I put my hands on his shoulders and push him back on the bed and run my hand through his hair. His face softens and he lets out a long breath.

"You're drunk and you wouldn't be like this if you were sober. Also, you probably won't even remember any of this tomorrow. Just close your eyes now" I say and he looks at me for a long long time and then finally closes his eyes.

I keep running my hand through his hair, he liked when I did that, I remember. When his breathing becomes calm and even, I leave the room.

What would happen if he hadn't seen the scar. We were almost about to kiss. Shit! This guy's drives me insane and I lose all control over my body when it comes to his touch.

The only question that keeps bugging me is whether he is really engaged. Is he? I'm going to find out soon.

~•~•~•~•~•~•

You guys are so impatient. I love and hate the fact that you can't wait for updates. But I love it more I guess because that way I know you're enjoying the story. It got a little hot in there towards the end ooff ;) I hope you guys liked this chapter. Please comment, vote and share. Have a happy weekend. Ily :)