Chapter 7 : what about his dream?

"Do you want me to drop you at your home?" Dhruv asked sounding awkward now.

"Nah.. anywhere aside from home" I mumbled. I removed my arm and looked at Dhruv suddenly remembering something,

"you have the PD?"

"Yes...?" Dhruv said cautiously.

Well you shouldn't have

Sahil's life itself is a punishment. It can't get any worse but you Dhruv your Karma is still pending.

Well, can I actually do this? With Dhruv?

"And?" Dhruv prompted when I didn't say anything

"Just like that, I asked just like that!" I said quickly trying to smile.

He narrowed his eyes," really?"

"Yeah..um.I mean uh -" I looked at the window avoiding his suspicious gaze and saw where we were going,
"Is that your house?" I asked spotting a pine house the only house...

"You aren't going to kill me?" I blurted when Dhruv took the right turn getting in that lane to the only house the pine house or something, the house was beautiful wooden and all brown but yeah just the only one in the overall desolated place.

"Is that even a question?"

"Wha--tt" I sputtered my hand fumbling on the seat for something to be used in defense. I found something and that was air...of course.

"Oh just look at you. Ms. Newton, there are far more easier ways to kill someone than driving and taking them to my home" he mocked.

"Sorry for my lack of experience in traveling with killers"

"There's a first time for everything"he glanced at me

I changed the subject immediately,
"So it's your home situated in the middle of nowhere?"

" kinda" he rolled his eyes

"You have kinda homes aside from homes... that must be tough for you" I just couldn't keep my mouth shut.

"Anyway, I like the view the outside view of it," I told him urgently when he shut off the engine and made a move to get out.

"I bet it's beautiful from inside too why don't we just go somewhere else since we know it's just-" He banged the door shut

"Beautiful" I completed.

Alright that would be a no

I followed him and he just went ahead no invitation I wasn't even expecting one or any hospitality but at least he shouldn't just leave me off at the threshold like slippers

He opened the door and strode in while I debated whether to go inside or stay out which was equally terrifying with not a soul or sign of souls in sight.

Somehow, I saw that coming

Dhruv living in this kinda place away from civilization away from people away from humans

Yep, I definitely knew about it.

I entered looking around like a character in a horror movie.

Everything was woody just like I expected but it wasn't a complete pine house there was concrete too.

"So no one lives here?"I said making a conversation the atmosphere grew awkward and scary... Theme of any horror or cold-blooded murder movie.

"No actually I lock my family members and go out," Dhruv said sarcastically.

It won't be a surprise if you did.

Dhruv dashed upstairs with no plans of inviting me in or at least telling me where was what? I need to change my clothes they were wet.

"Dhruv" I waved, you seemed to have forgotten my existence

"What? don't tell me you still don't know how a door works? close it and come inside"

I exhaled don't be angry don't let him get you, "I am wet," I said stiffly motioning my arms down to my body with are you blind look!?

He followed the movement, his lips tipped up, "good for you" he mumbled then sighed when I glared furiously I could feel the fire coming out of me, "Alright! C'mon up I will find you something"

I stomped to where he was going, "so only you stay here" what I wanted to ask was where do you hide your parents?

"Not unless you count my butler's ghost"

I stumbled grasping his shirt he inclined his head back with eyes glinting with mirth." why are you always messing with me?"

"It's always fun messing with Ms. Newton," he said turning in front and climbing the rest of the stairs

Oh what an honor

••

When he said he will find something for me it was him opening his closet and saying to me to pick something from his black and white collection.

I grumbled pulling out the white tee that was nearest to my size it reached to my knees don't ask me about his lowers they were out of the question.

I decided to dry my dress and then wear it back when I leave which should happen soon, I didn't mean to make my stay long not at all but yeah with Dhruv most of our time went by arguing. I told him to get me a hairdryer he brought a curler I said I need to dry my clothes not to curl them!

and here the argument follows

"I don't know what a goddamn  curler or air dryer is!"

"hairdryer Dhruv hairdryer you would have known if you take out time aside from your precious mocking!"

He said staring at my mouth and then at me  "you have got a saucy mouth"

I copied folding my arms, "you too"

I paused to process and felt my cheeks burn.

He noticed it he looked away scratching his neck.

what just happened?

"You seriously don't know what a hairdryer is?" I continued otherwise the air was turning back to awkward.

"I might know if I was a girl"

"Haw mean" I was offended

sexist much?

"boys also need a hairdryer, straightener! can you stop being such a sexist? Sexist over appliances? For God's sake, you have a curler Dhruv!"

His head snapped to me, "that's not mine Soumya left behind when she came last time"

"When she came?" I asked a little too curiously

"Sorry I forgot to mark that day of her visit," he told acting all cocky.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "I was just asking.. you know you don't have to always ugh! I am going out!" I shouted and headed for the door then turned making a beeline back to the seat I left, realizing what I was wearing and where the hell I was??

I sat back slumping.

"and I am back" I groaned.

He snorted shaking his head got back to cutting apples behind the kitchen counter, "why are you getting so worked up? We all knew each other from before. We used to hang out often"

"I am not getting worked up.." I denied it strongly.

"Sure," he said dryly, "drop it we have some more pressing matters to talk about like what happened at the party? Why did Sahil dump Soumya? oh, actually I know the answer to that question the bigger question here is how did you influence him?" He glanced slit eyed at me

I folded my arms not getting frightened by his speculation, "if you meant by me kissing him as 'influencing' him then yes I did"

He observed me intently, "what's next?"

"I want the PD"

"And what will you do with it?"

"You have to give it to me to find out" I held my hand out with a big friendly smile.

He continued watching me with a poker face, "I don't trust you Ms. Newton we started on a very wrong foot valid for you not trusting me too. I think it's about time we should get to know each other better and also, maybe...look out for each other?"

I watched him skeptically"what do you mean?"

"You want us to be held accountable let's do this"

"What?"

Why

Why now

"I am ready to be present up in court I am ready to admit the truth"

"Why?" I got up staring at him in disbelief, "do you regret it?" I whispered I couldn't comprehend or think straight why was he saying that suddenly now.

He messed his hair then opened his mouth and closed it finding no words to explain it. Felt like he too was taken back by his sudden readiness

I walked slowly towards him this time asking clearly, "do you regret it Dhruv?"
He tried to get away by moving out I scrambled halting him from getting away, "Dhruv" I called looking at him with hope.

I don't know why I thought Regretting is better.

But, It felt better, it means he cares it means they care about Aarav not when he was alive but now, at least they did think over their actions and how they affected Aarav, they regret it they wished to undo it .

It was better.

Better than hating on him or

"Honestly, I don't care," Dhruv said finally.

I flinched, and stepped back immediately like he slapped me, "you don't care?" I repeated

"I don't care about him, the boy" he mumbled

"Aarav" I corrected suddenly filled with loathing again.

He eyed me cautiously, "yes Aarav I don't know him better- "

"You didn't try to," I cut him off gritting my teeth

He nodded stiffly, "yes I didn't because I couldn't care less I was stoned most of my high school life I don't remember much about him or what caused me to do so I don't care for someone that I don't remember-

"Oh God" I held my head leaning against the counter in shock.

You guys are still the same.

Heartless.

"Look" he moved towards me urgently,
"I am ready to rectify"

"It doesn't matter, what's the point of that when you don't care or couldn't care less about your actions?"

He didn't say anything for a moment then replied,
" I do care I do care about something Serra"

I felt his gaze on me.

I sighed getting away, "I want to be alone"

•••

I went upstairs and dried my dress with the iron then wore it. Back to the red dress, it was still a bit soggy anyway I started searching for the PD immediately. This happened to be Dhruv's room if we counted one box with all his necessary supplies stuffed in. I mean the guy was a hardcore hermit. I opened the empty shelves and huffed. I tried the second one yep hello there nothing then decided to go through the box found nothing special ugh I threw them back in something scuttle out I picked it.

It was a red case of something I stared at it then shoved in my jacket's pocket  on seeing the time on my wristwatch to analyze it later. It was late!

Anxiously, I looked around for my clutch then I remembered I didn't bring it in. I left it in the car. I needed to make a call to my mum she would be worried also have to check if Sahil

- 

no I have to only see my mother's calls nothing else frantically I was bursting out of the room when I bumped into Dhruv coming in I tripped back he grabbed me by my waist.

Okay, this needs to stop.

Why can't I walk like a normal human being!?

Why do I need to keep on bumping and falling like some dumb penguin

I cleared my throat he dropped his arm shuffling back coughing,

well talk about awkwardness.

I don't have time for it.
I carefully moved out from the side of his tall profile.

"Where are you going?" He asked turning around and putting his arm on the wall above my head making me stumbled back against the door frame.

"Somewhere, anywhere away from here," I said looking up at him expectedly for him to move off he was blocking my way.

My space.

"No, you can't" he declared.

"Excuse me?"I held my chin up holding my ground which he was occupying more. I just hope he had no plans of keeping me hostage or something.
" what do you want?"

"I mean I- I want to" he tried to avoid my eyes rubbing the nape of his neck stepping back hesitantly, "show you something"

"Well, I refuse," I said simply then duck from the small way and move out from the door area, he covered that distance in one step I jumped surprised, "what are you doing???"

"You need to see it!" He pressed on

"I don't want to!" I argued.

"But I want to!" He continued demanding his weird wish.

Ten minutes later

"I don't want to see anything"

"It won't take much time"

"Read my lips I don't want to"

"Ms. Newton you are being unnecessarily childish"

"I am being childish?" I pointed at myself in shock

"Glad now we are seeing things clearly I believe you won't mind if we head down to what I want to show you"

I wanted to tear my hair in frustration,
"Look Dhruv this is unreasonable I DON'T want to see anything I DON'T want to go anywhere with you"

"Why?" he frowned, not getting used to a No.

"Because that's what I want that's my basic right!" I cried.

God help me

"Okay you can go" he moved out.

I raised my arms to Heaven.

Thank you, thank you, God

"After seeing what I want to show you"

I glared at him with every cell in my body he folded his arm with a look-
see I gave you a choice. I slumped back resigned, "alright you win you win gum you brute dirty stupid gum you roadside gum that has infuriatingly stuck on the sole of my shoe I hate you and I hate you!"

"This way Ms. Newton" he walked ahead self pleased.

I stomped after him wishing I had Bruce Lee moves I would have given him a kick with my foot at the back of his head.

••

"What is it Dhruv? is it a time machine? A flying bike? A baby dinosaur? A unicorn? A UFO? A portal to another dimension?A way to candy land? Maybe Neverland! Or it's the Mickey mouse clubhouse?-

He turned his head with a shut up already glare.

"Or your trapped nice twin?"I said, zipping my mouth.

He opened the woodsy door and went in. It was pitch black 

Oh my god was I naive enough by walking right into my grave?

I gulped and took a step that moment lights were turned on soft yellow lights around the ceiling illuminating the wall that was like a half-circle I walked in eyes landing front on the wall the whole wall covered with photos. Like all over it.

To be continued...