•Suhana•

"You're kidding right?" I breathed out nervously with my palms covering half of my face.

"No, I don't think so," He said, staring straight into my soul with his deep eyes.

"Ahem, come on Vikram, why are you saying such harsh words like...revenge and all huh?

"Why don't we just forget that such an incident happened?" I hit him gently hoping for him to let this slide.

God where am I stuck?

'Why did I even kiss him?' I mentally hit myself.

"Don't you think it's unfair?" He asked apologetically with a puppy face.

Now what is this guy upto?

"Huh?"

"Would you react the same way if I had kissed you out of the blue and invaded your lips without your permission?" He asked innocently with a playful look in his eyes.

He is messing with me and my poor soul.

"Vikram stop! Stop putting it that way! It sounds so wrong and makes me feel...miserable"I buried my face in my palms.

I can't take this anymore, can someone please hit me with a truck right now? Even a bicycle would be fine. I can pretend to be hurt and divert this topic.

Should I just faint right now? He'll forget that topic by the time I wake up right?

"See you knew what you did was wrong and yet you decided to keep quiet. Isn't that...a bit mean from your side?"

At this point I'm ready to swirl my arms around my own neck and get a free ticket to heaven. 

" Well let's come to a conclusion then..." He dragged his words ready to push me from the 100th floor with his words, "one more kiss and let's call it even." I swear I saw a smirk play in the corner of his lips as he just said that.

I remained silent, fidgeting my top half mindedly," Is there any other way out of this? I mean I can--"

"No! One kiss is all it takes" He smirked.

Fallin' in love with me?

Crap Dua Lipa is invading my mind.

"Possibilities, I look like all you need" He said in a cocky tone, as I looked up at him.

"Did you just quote Dua Lipa?" I stared at him astounded. 

"I am pretty sure that your weird doctor mind would've have definitely thought about that song first"

What is he? My mind reader?

"Yeah yeah Dua Lipa is great right? And so is Italian cuisine, so why don't we go inside the restaurant and have some...." I decided to divert the topic as he interrupted me midway.

"Two things first. One, Stop diverting the topic. Two, don't try again, because you're bad at it."

Lord Almighty, forgive this woman right here, for committing the sin she shouldn't have.

"Now what do you want me to do?" I asked, frustrated that he's been on this topic since forever. 

"You owe me big time for whatever happened that time. So repay me back with one more kiss and let's call it even and for--" A heavy blow landed against his cheek before he could complete his sentence, as Vikram moved back without balance.

"You call yourself a gentleman?" I remained still glued to the pavement, as blood oozed from Vikram's corner of the mouth.

"Harshad?"

"What is he torturing you for? What do you owe him? How much? Just tell me!" Harshad screamed on top of his lungs as my shoulders tensed up.

"Harshad it's not what you think actually..." I moved forward as Vikram pushed me back.

"Stay out of this you scoundrel " I gasped, hiding my face under my palms, as a punch landed across Harshad's face.

"Vikram stop!" My voice fell into deaf ears as Harshad advanced with another punch.

"I won't, you rogue! You are planning to trap her? What is the hold you have over her? Who gives you permission to kiss her in the first place? What are you blackmailing for?" Harshad yelled as both of them were fighting in a public place.

"You are no one to get involved in this you rascal, stay out of our matters" Vikram pushed him back as Harshad tried to balance himself.

Every second was leading to a new misunderstanding and with every punch thrown, I couldn't even open my mouth to clarify the situation. 

I was dumbstruck. 

"I have every right to involve myself in Suhana's issues, when all you are planning to do is harass her, in the worst way possible" 

"Harass? She's my wife, you punk" Vikram gave a huge blow across Harshad's nose, as Harshad fell back shook, unable to balance himself.

"So you better stay out of our matters" Vikram pointed his finger at him, gritting his teeth.

Oh. My. God.

"What? Wife? So he has threatened you into this new drama? First engagement? Now marriage? Suhana, please tell me everything! Trust me I'll help you and--" Harshad took a step forward, as Vikram blocked him, standing between us.

"She's fine with me...so get lost" I tensed up as Harshad moved forward with his fist clenched as I moved forward and stepped in between both of them.

"Harshad, I am so sorry! I'll explain everything tomorrow. Trust me you don't have to worry about a single thing! I'll text you okay?" I paced away from him, while dragging Vikram along with me.

"Why would you text him? I don't like all this and--" Vikram started whining as I interrupted him.

"Shut up idiot" I murmured to him as I pulled him with me.

"Suhana but--" Harshad stood there still as he watched me pace forward towards Vikram's car and push the nightmare guy inside the driver's seat.

I quickly paced to the other side and sat down in the front seat and waved a bye to Harshad and assured to call him, with my gestures.

• • •

"See, I respect your boundaries, in fact I don't even dare to invade your choices but..."Vikram said with a serious face.

"But...you better don't text Harshad tomorrow. You don't have to explain anything to him, I mean listen..."

"Stop sulking and shut your mouth" I was controlling the urge to punch him, as I squeezed the tube and ointment oozed out.

Vikram remained silent, sulking on the park bench next to me.

"Look at me" I said slowly as I screwed the tube shut.

With the ointment in my fingers, I moved them forward towards his face and applied it gently on the bruise on his cheekbone.

"I don't want ointment but can you not call or text Harshad and wait do you think he was following us? Maybe he.."

Harshad's house was nearby the Italian restaurant so its no doubt he had spotted us there.

"Shhh" I glared at him, as he shut his mouth immediately.

I was gritting my teeth trying my level best to suppress my urge from hitting him for putting up a show in a public place.

"Are you angry?" He asked in a gentle tone as I remained silent and squeezed the tube and took some more of the ointment for his other bruises.

Yeah bruises.

Screwing the ointment shut, I wondered what I should do next, as he placed his hand on top of mine.

"Answer me. Are you...angry? With me?" He asked politely as I could feel myself calming down.

"No" I lied as my mind was somewhere else.

The corner of his lower lip lip had a cut, with blood dried up, and I don't know what I should be doing?

Apply ointment? Or ignore that bruise?

Hesitantly, I took my hand forward trying to act cool and applied the ointment cream on his lips, gently.

It's just an act of humanity and lips are just skin right?

"I'm sorry" He said hesitatingly as I didn't reply while tending to his wounds. 

"Talk to me" He held my wrist stopping me from tending his wounds while he brought forward his other hand and lifted my chin using his index finger until I could meet him in the eyes.

"You're definitely fighting the urge to slap me... or worse, kill me right now" He announced as he looked straight into my eyes.

Who gives him permission to invade my mind?

"Don't tend to my wounds, leave, I'm fine" He sounded impatient and upset, as he stood up from the park bench.

As we left from the Jackie chan stunt shoot, I mean after the fight with Harshad, we drove a few streets away from the scene and somehow landed in this park and still have no idea how we landed here.

Thanks to the first aid kit which I always carry, for this guy won't die from bruises.

"Sit down" I said quietly as he turned quickly back at me.

"Then...you better talk to me like you always do. Bring that Chatterbox version of yours out of the box"

Well, my mind works faster than lightning.

And this is the moment I've been waiting for.

"I'll talk to you...only if you cancel out the You-owe-me-a-kiss argument" I leaned back on the bench as he was standing in front of me.

Well my mom always says, 'Make hay while the sun shines'

"Fine! Let's call it even! You don't owe me anything. So...please talk to me now"

What a waste!

Why did he agree so easily? Making me feel bad.

But he was cute when he said that. Like 1% cute.

"Okay then...I'll talk with you"I murmured under my breath looking down, pursing my lips hard trying to not smile.

"What did you say?" He sat down on the bench and bent beside me.

And suddenly he was so close to my face as I could feel his breath against my left ear.

"I said okay" I panicked and looked up immediately as I unknowingly squeezed my hands along with the ointment.

This person loves to embarrass herself. Will this be written in my grave?

"Do you have a tissue?" Vikram reacted almost quickly as I remained still, regretting life decisions. 

He asked me to just talk with him, and that made me so excited that I applied an entire tube of ointment on both my palms?

I can't even justify that statement to myself.

I jumped out of my trance as Vikram pulled my hands towards him, as he pulled out his tie from his pant pocket.

That was the tie he was wearing last night.

"That's your tie!" My mouth dropped as he started to wipe the ointment off from my palm with his tie.

"That doesn't matter," He said calmly as he kept wiping, holding my left hand gently between both his hands.

I bit my lips as I looked away so that he doesn't notice blood gushing into my face.

"Vikram?" We both lifted our heads, synchronized as a man in his late 20's stood 5 feet away from us.

After wiping out the cream off my palms, Vikram stood there glaring at the guy standing in front of us, with a muddled look on his face.

"Fahid?" I stood up from the chair, standing next to Vikram as he blurted out a name I have no idea about. 

"Yeah it's been a long time" They both shook hands as I glanced at Vikram.

"Your...girlfriend?" I was standing there awkwardly next to them as the tall guy turned his gaze at me.

Not that tall when he stands next to Vikram though.

"Uh...No" Vikram replied as I mentally wanted to hide somewhere.

What if the Fahid guy asks who I am and this nightmare guy says that I'm a stranger?

Embarrassing to just think about it.

"Ohh...great then" The guy dragged his words as he gazed at me from top to bottom.

Somehow I don't have a good feeling about it.

"Can't believe we met each other here," Fahid said.

I turned towards Vikram, as he pulled me closer to him.

"This is Suhana, my..."

"...his friend!" I interrupted Vikram as he turned his face immediately, glaring at me.

I won't give him an opportunity to call me a stranger or a caretaker from his mouth.

• • •

Okay let me summarize, he is Fahid and is Vikram's friend's brother? Okay...and he is a police officer?

"This is my visiting card and funny thing..." I stared at the visiting card Fahid handed over to me, as he continued speaking. 

A shiny card with embellishment on his name at top right corner.

"...so me and Vikram had discussed earlier and were actually planning to meet this weekend...but fate had other plans to lead our ways here today" Fahid ran over his gelled hair which was slicked back.

But why?

Meet for what? Because they're friends? But I haven't heard Vikram mention him even once?

Wait, Vikram has friends? 

No no this must be business related I guess.

After the encounter we three moved to the nearby Cafe and settled down to have a chat.

But the atmosphere was stiff, making me conscious about his presence. 

"So as we discussed earlier, you're filing a complaint on him right?"Fahid put forth his question.

I snapped my head at Vikram instantly as he avoided my gaze.

"Yeah" Vikram answered suppressed as I could feel the conversation heading to a place I don't want to.

"Vikram, what is this about?" I asked sternly yet in a light voice, composing myself together.

Something's not right.

Complaint on whom? For what? Is something bothering Vikram?

Is he in trouble?

"Vikram! What's wrong?" I asked nervously upto the point where I could feel my hands shaking.

"Vivaan...we should file a complaint on him Suhana and...you know why" His tone was completely different from how he was talking to me earlier in the park.

Stiff. Rigid. Determined. 

"What? No" I said sternly, at the verge of panicking. 

"So what is the procedure to file the complaint and..."Vikram ignored me as I interrupted him.

"Vikram, are you listening to me? I said I don't want to file a complaint on him" I grit my teeth as I expressed what I had to.

Tension built in between the three of us, as I was getting impatient with every second passing by.

Not getting a single reply from either of them, I stood up hurriedly from the chair and left the table. 

I pushed the cafe door open as I walked outside as I could feel his presence behind, following me.

"Suhana wait" I stopped on my trails as I turned back watching Vikram standing in front of me, fidgeting.

What is he tensed about?

"I didn't want you to know about the complaint, in this way" He said politely as I bit my lips anxiously. 

"So you were planning to do this behind my back? Is that all that we are? You can't can't share and discuss this with me before proceeding with it? Or ask for my opinion atleast as a friend?"

"Suhana, please, for once let me do this" Vikram said calmly trying to make this situation all okay.

"What do you mean for once? I would never ever do this Vikram" I took a step forward enraged.

"Never ever? What even? Stop defending that jerk Vivaan, Suhana!" He lost all his calmness and patience in a split second, throwing me off guard.

"Stop it Vikram! This isn't about Vivaan! It's about my best friend, Aisha! I would never do something to put her down!" 

"What?" Vikram threw his hands up in the air wondering and probably mocking every emotion and word I'm experiencing right now.

"The moment Vivaan is thrown into a prison...you think everything will be fine? His company will be down into ashes and then..." I started explaining as he interrupted me in an instance. 

"For God's sake he shot you, scared the shit outta me and you're freaking worried about his company? Wow, I'm Impressed" Vikram took a step backwards, sighing heavily with a mocking round of applause. 

"Vikram please listen to me first...once his company is down...what about my friend?You want me to send her to the streets for her brother's fault?
Her entire family will be dragged to the streets" I was ready to throw my hands at him and do everything needed to make him understand what I was feeling. 

"That's all? Is that all you worry about?" Vikram walked forward as he held both my shoulders, endearingly. 

"Fine! I'll make sure Aisha or her family isn't affected by this complaint we are filing even for a second! But Vivaan deserves to be in a prison! Try to understand this he..."

"Vikram..." I looked up at him.

I could feel my eyes well up, as he nodded his head in response, asking me to continue. 

"But I don't want this" I uttered shakingly.

Unfortunately I couldn't imagine myself doing something like that.

Maybe I'm at fault. Maybe I should be filing a complaint on him, but...how can I do something when my heart says don't do this to your friend?

"Can't you do this one thing for me? Please" Vikram uttered as I could feel my cheeks heat up suddenly as my mouth parted, in confusion.

I don't want to do this. But Vikram wants it.

Should I just ignore what I'm feeling and do it just because he wants to?

"Vikram..." A lone tear rolled down as Vikram withdrew his hands from my shoulders.

Cold air divided us into two, while we stood opposite to each other with completely different opinions. 

"You won't do it." He concluded, taking a step back, as my shoulders fell down without the warmth it needed.

"Fine! Cool! I won't force you.
Who am I even to force you, right?" He said mockingly as breathed out betrayed.

"Vikram please listen to me, you will then understand why...." I took a step forward for every step he took backward.

"Nevermind! I'll take care of this in my own way!" He spat his words in the worst tone possible as I stood still rooted to the ground scared of what he's up to.

"Don't forget that the bullet you took was for me!
You know I can still file a complaint for attempt murder right?" He said mockingly while I remained still, motionless.

"...Not only would I file just a mere complaint on him... but I also won't bat an eye to file a lawsuit on him" He said sternly, gritting his teeth, scaring me.

"Vikram no no no! Please dont" I walked behind him as I walked forward and put his hand in the road as a taxi stopped in front of us.

Without listening to a single word and my pleads he opened the door to the taxi and asked to get in.

"Vikram, why can you just listen to me?" I stood between him and the taxi.

"Well be honest Suhana...aren't you refusing to file a complaint for other reasons?" He asked, dejected.

"What reason?" I asked, confused.

"That your love for your crush is so undeniable that you can afford to do anything to put him in danger?" He uttered, desolated.

Is this what he is thinking it to be?

"What? No no Vikram, it's not what you think. I am not--"

"Enough Suhana, I don't want to hear you defending him again in front of me--" Vikram pushed lightly to enter the back seat as he closed the door shut.

He walked forward and gave the address to the taxi driver as my pleads fell into deaf ears.

"Vikram!" I pulled the window down 

"Nevermind, it was my fault to assume that for once that you would be on my side" He uttered, as the taxi took off.

All I could see was Vikram, watching me trying to explain as he was standing like a statue with no expression on his face.

And that was enough for me to lose a week's sleep.

••••

Fidgeting my top, I rang the doorbell again and after another few seconds the door opened wide as he was standing in front of me confused.

"Get in," Fahid said, as I removed my slippers and walked inside his house, and sat down on the couch as he asked me.

I'm doing this for the best, I assured myself.

He can help me stop Vikram from filing the case.

"Didn't expect you would be here...this soon" He scoffed, confusing me with his weird tone.

"Actually Fahid I'm so sorry to barge in the middle of the night, but it's kind of urgent. Can you please help me so that Vikram doesn't file a case on--"

"Come on we both know what kind of help you're expecting at this hour" He walked towards me with a smirk on his face.

"Excuse me?" I sprang up from the couch immediately sensing danger.

Stupid, stupid, stupid me!

"You're not Vikram's friend, you and I know that very well. You are his little time pass, aren't you?"

I tried to run as he pulled my right hand almost immediately from the wrong angle, as pain spread along my muscles and nerves.

"Stop it!" I yelled with disgust and pain starting from my collarbone to my right arm.

I could feel all the pain erupt inside me once again as I tried everything to not involve my emotions.

"So...how does it feel to be Vikram's side chick" With every second passing he proved that his words were nastier than sewage and septic tank.

With all the force I had inside of me, I pushed him back as he fell on the door and ran away from the entrance, calculating that it wouldn't take seconds for him to catch me before I opened the main door.

Running as far as I could, I entered the first room found in the hallway, and locked it from inside.

Crap crap crap.

My phone, bag, everything is in the living room.

There was not a single window for me to escape and worse thing is it doesn't have a bathroom here as well.

What am I going to do?

"Open the door you bitch!" He yelled, banging the door.

What if he gets in? I shuddered under the very thought of it.

Calm down and think, I assured myself.

Think Suhana! Think!

Scanning my eyes across the room, I couldn't find anything useful as my heartbeat was thumping faster in fear, as I curled up in the corner of the room.

As I was convincing myself to get up and fight this situation with no fear, my eyes landed on the landline phone in the corner of the room.

Instantly crawling up to the corner, I picked up the phone and dialed the only number that was on my mind.

With every second passing, the call kept ringing, and moments passed with no one attending the call.

The phone kept ringing as the call ended saying that the person I was calling was busy.

Dammit Vikram, pick up the call.

I dialed his number again, as the bangs on the door started to get more intense while I was on the verge of losing my mind.

Vikram please please pick up!

And once again the line wasn't connected, and I started to panic.

Should I call mom or dad?

99423...then...ughh what are the rest of the numbers?

Tears started rolling from my eyes unknowingly as the only number that was in my mind was Vikram's. 

With shaking hands, I nervously dialed his number again when the door opened swiftly as the piece of shit was standing next to the door.

"This is my house sweetheart, you think I don't have the room keys?" I could no longer control my tears nor the shaking of my whole body in nervousness

And exactly at the moment when I shouldn't have felt weak, I started to lose my energy.

"So where shall we start?" His hands started groping me as I tried to push him away.

But it's a shame to say that I didn't have any strength in me.

His hands moved along my waist holding them against my will while his other hand was moving towards my chest.

Every girl has a moment where she has practically visualized such a thing happening to her. But we girls don't stop with that, we always think of ways to get out of these situations if it happens to us somehow.

Similarly, I had imagined various ways to get out of situations like this in my mind.

But right now, none of the solutions I had thought of had come to mind. 

I was blank, drained and standing there as if I was a weakling.

But here's the thing, I'm not one.
I'm not a weakling.

Trying to concentrate more, I analyzed our position as I bent my right leg in 45 degrees, and hit him straight on his crotch.

I hit him constantly at exactly where it hurt.

As he curled up on the floor holding his crotch, I moved out of the room and locked him from outside with the same keys he had used to enter.

I ran out of the entrance door as fast as I could.

My legs wouldn't stop running even though I had reached the main road and had crossed several streets.

My heart rate wouldn't come back to normal. I couldn't stop myself from panicking. My mind wouldn't work properly.

My legs moved robotically to the only place I could think of.

I have to go to him. Because right now, I need him the most.

• • •

No one can ever call us a weakling, because we girls aren't one.

Pro tip- Never feel ashamed to hit where it hurts if you find yourself caught up in such situations like Suhana.

Much love and positivity ♡