Hi,
Who is your favourite character in the story until now ?

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"Did we meet before?"
Sejal asked trying to whack her brain.

"Nice pick up line. Tiger."

"I would prefer tigress." Sejal said beaming.

"You got that wrong. My name is Tiger." Tiger said chuckling.

"I'll pretend that didn't happen. Anyways why are you here?"
Sejal said trying to hide her embarrassment. 

And simultaneously racking her brain where he had seen this 'Tiger' man. Maybe he was one of her previous patients. And yeah that pick up line was so stupid of her.
Like seriously 'Did we meet before?'

"One valid reason for why he can't be here?"
And that was the call of our devil turned Angel.
That voice itself was enough to make all the hair of Sejals neck stand.
Why the hell was he everywhere?
And why did he even kiss -

"Hey Aryan. Wassup?" Tiger got up and did a bro hug with Aryan.

Yeah. They shared a bro hug.

Grabbing her drink Sejal turned her heels down to escape Aryan. Not even understanding why she wanted to avoid him. Obviously because of that freaking forehead kiss. Almost stopping herself from falling on the flat floor she took her fifth step farther from Aryan the bipolar hoping he wouldn't notice her dismissal.

A kiss on the forehead was an emotional thing for Sejal. Something which reminds her mother. It is a way of comforting and sharing the pain and happiness between souls.

But Aryan was definitely nobody for her to share and care for. Because he was a complete real bastard.

He left her die of hypothermia.

He even saved your ass yesterday from embarrassment out of penniless life at the restaurant.

Gosh. Why did he have to do It?

"Muñeca?"

"Yeah."

Shit. Sejal cursed for replying.

"You are about to get into a fight what soundtrack runs in your mind?" Aryan asked as Sejal tried to concentrate on each syllable instead of spacing out again.

"Fight?"
Sejal asked unsure if she had heard him right.

"Yeah something like a blow of hits with hands or words between two people." Tiger said making Sejal rack her brains again of where he had met her.

"Okay firstly I know what a fight is and secondly a blow of words will rather be an argument."
Sejal replied taking an unknown step closer to where they were standing.

Sejal could now see the perfectly sculptured smirk on the beautiful face of Aryan.

"You are diverting the topic muñeca." Aryan said with a twitch on his lips.

"Why the hell will I Fight? And moreover in the peak of the moment why will I remember a sound track?"
Sejal replied annoyed.

"And they say it's difficult to hold a conversation with you. Look we almost talked for two minutes." Aryan said tapping his watch.

What?

"Nothing. Hope you are doing well in your life." With that Aryan lead the way as Tiger followed with a quick bye to Sejal which she couldn't reciprocate.

What the hell?

Why would a sane person ask such a strange question and then leave wishing a good luck for life. Sejal mentally patted herself for discovering the greatest fact that Aryan Shetty was pretty insane.

*              *             *              *             *
Life is a beauty with its own thrills and spills. We live, we love, we fall, we fail and what not but still we create bittersweet memories.

Memories are something which will haunt us until our heart functions because a photogenic sense always strives in our body to lock those memories.

They say let's make memories never realising that one day these memories will be the cause for plenty of pains. Lots of cries and waste of tissues.

Wiping a tear Sejal tried hard not to think of her ailing mother on the deathbed waiting for someone to talk to her or the God to take her away. How much ever she try but Sejal can never forget those days with her mom tirelessly waiting for her husband to come and meet her on the deathbed as he was busy settling a new world for himself.
Those silent cries and blood vomittings still flash in front of her eyes even after ten years.
In all this midst she could still see her mom smiling. The weakest but still a perfect smile.

'If I die don't cry for me cherish the fact that you had a super cool mummy who was so hot and sexy, never to forget who made the most handsome man in this world fall for her.'
Sejal played those words of her mom which immediately brought a sad smile on her face about how crazy her mom was.

Ting.
It was a text.
'On My Way' from Aryan.

"To where?" Sejal murmured to herself dwelling in confusion.

Swindling her head around in a complete three sixty turn in search of the source of the text failing miserably Sejal fixed her stethoscope properly.

Ting.
Another text.
'The soundtrack my brain will play'.

Grunting Sejal heaved an irritated breath. Son of a bitch.

"Swearing is not a good habit." Darshan said settling beside Sejal on the steps.

Wiping an almost invisible tear Sejal turned to look at Darshan who suddenly seemed to become the same Mr Unknown of the beginning like when he burst in the interview room.

Having an internal battle over whether she should ask him about yesterday's date with Katyusha or not she decided to ask.

"How do you know Katyusha?"

"Which Usha?" Darshan asked confused.

"Katyusha. With whom you were on a date yesterday." Sejal said with a sharp edge in her tone not liking the fact that Darshan was starting to lie again.

"Sorry you maybe mistaken but I don't know any Usha."

"Then I must say lying is also not a good habit." Sejal looked squarely in his eyes to check whether he was saying the truth or lying.

"Why would I even lie beautiful?"

"Who knows? And now you will even say you didnt see me yesterday while i was assault-  eating my food and you will even say that you didnt ignore me and my tantr-" Sejal stopped grasping for air.

"Whoa! Wait beautiful. I know we are not good but still don't you think if I ever go on a date I'll take your inputs?" Darshan asked trying to be logical but failing at great rates.

Sejal cocked her eyebrow in response.
Without replying Sejal searched for her handset which she thankfully found and searched for a picture of Katyusha.

"You don't know her?"

Darshan took a peek at the photo then a creek appeared on his forehead for a second then a smile spread on his lips.

"This Usha is pretty."

Slapping her own face Sejal glared at Darshan. That was enough for anybody to spill the beans but Darshan being Darshan never fails to understand threats.

"Beautiful I didn't go on a date yesterday. And I really don't know this pretty Usha." Darshan spoke in a manner like the judge announcing the final verdict.

"Firstly she is Katyusha. Not Usha. And secondly I don't trust you anymore." Sejal got up and walked away not turning to any of his callings.

*              *             *              *              *

"Aryan you very well know sheis off limits for you." Shravan spoke with threat lacing his voice.

"No. You got that wrong. I was talking for my research. I want to team up with her." Aryan tried convincing Shravan.

"Listen Aryan you are like a son for me and you have been my family after Suhana but still you can't roam around screwing girls and especially Sejal."

Sighing Aryan calculated for a moment of how to convince.

"When Sejal came she already had a research back ground. And then I stationed her at the hospital she nailed her duties then for some stupid reason I changed her to institute and even Prof Aniruddha Kamachiya-"

"Seriously Aryan? You send her to the lions den? You knew if she goes wrong that man will make her life a living hell?" Shravan said astonished to his guts.

Aryan laughed thinking how wrong Shravan is because Sejal is not a naive girl who would get trapped in the drive of Prof Aniruddha.

"Forget that. And then I stationed her at the ER and she was spectacular. I was in search of somebody who would fit in for the research so I tested her."

Shravan followed up intently as Aryan concluded. Taking his time to assess the information Shravan sipped his drink eyeing the blazing sun.

They were at the outhouse of Shravan for lunch which had a perfect view for a peaceful outlet. It was after so long that they were having lunch together and look at the irony last time also they discussed a girl and today also they were discussing a girl.

Last time they had almost a fight on Shravan being related to Mahima which he cleared that it was for only business purpose. No strings attached.

She is a style icon. A public figure very much needed for promotions. That was Shravans explanation.

"I am so proud of her." Shravan said with an imperious hold.

Aryan smiled feverishly thinking of when was the last time his own somebody was proud of him. Thinking of his father only made him want to throw a fit.

"And Aryan stop blaming yourself for the death of Shreya." Shravan said with a ferocious glint.

Shreya. That was another forbidden topic for Aryan. Shreya is his sister who committed suicide ten years back. It's been ten years but still it always seem so afresh. The blood stains of the bathtub was photographed for all his life in his brain. He could never forgot that night with blood everywhere as he tried stopping the blood pouring  numerous dettol bottles. His own tears and screams for help until his voice was gone.

"Aryan."
The voice of Shravan and the hand on his shoulder pulled Aryan out of his reverie.

"I understand. Shreya Pali didn't die because of me." Aryan said trying to believe his own words.

Shravan nodded as Aryan got up to take a leave. Touching his father like mentors feet Aryan gave Shravan a sad smile and headed for the stairs still dwelling on the confusion of why did he blame himself for his sister's death in the first place?

Click.

Settling in his seat Aryan fired his BMW engine.

Ting.
Message from Muñeca.
Before even reading the message a happy smile automatically tugged his face. He was starting to like her. At first she was a test case for him but whatever little he got to know her in this span of time he started building a huge fondness for her.

Honestly he couldn't stop blaming himself after the hypothermia incident which was not intentional at all. How in earth can he possibly know that Sejal is rain sick?
Thanks to Darshan who reached there on time and nobody can ever doubt his abilities as he quickly found it was hypothermia. And after that Aryan had personally asked Dr Sarah to minutes Sejal as he didn't seemingly have the guts to face her.

Only if he would have stopped her car from being towed all this trouble could be eschewed.

And that Auction incident where she disappeared he was genuinely so worried that he left Sarah in search of Sejal. And for hells sake he could never forget of how coolly she showed the phone not even understanding that he was worried sick for her and at that moment a beast beyond angry.

A honk bought him out of the memories of Sejal as he suddenly tried concentrating on two very important things. One he tried reading the message Sejal had sent and two he tried shirking the mega watt smile plastered on his face

Muñeca-
'Why do people lie?'

Why do people lie?

Aryan tried understanding the reason behind the message. Was she upset? Or did somebody lie to her?

And suddenly he had a craving to meet her and make sure she is fine.

'She is off limits to you.'

Despite of the ringing alarm he wanted to meet her.

Me-
'How about coffee at 5.'

Aryan could hear his heart beating fiercely or to say nervously of what could be the reply and what if she refuses.

Muñeca-
'Are you asking me out for a date?'

Was he asking her out? No. Maybe.

Me-
'Whatever makes you happy.'

Muñeca-
'If you tell me about your old hottie. Then yes.'

Old Hottie?

It took a moment for Aryan to decipher what she was talking about then it hit him that she was talking about the photo of Mahima. That was also off limits but still he had to meet her.
Without thinking twice he replied.

Me-
'Deal sealed. I will pick you from the hospital then.'

A sudden excitement filled him about the meeting and without a prior warning a honk made him take a sharp turn almost killing the road divider. Aryan turned to look back and saw a truck leaving past him making him realize he was almost dead. Or to say almost survived.

Look at the irony.

But still the excitement doomed him as he called Voina to clear his schedule for the evening only to have a beautiful evening with Sejal.

And again that traitor smile tugged his face.

*              *              *              *              *

Hello everybody!
How are you guys doing?
Hope all is good with everyone.

What do you think about Shreya?

'Pali' is referred as big sister in Tulu the language used in Mangaluru.

And yeah the very important thing now that I gave you guys a surprise sneak peeking the thoughts of Aryan let me know how is that.

Isn't Aryan being so good?

Anyways I have another news.

'Señorita'
My new book is out so go find it which I am writing it along with my friend Sanju_007.

Love,
Sana Afreen.