Waking up with the constant beeping of alarm clock is not a morning one would like. Glancing at the clock, I noticed that it's already 4:45 AM.

Grunting, I left my bed, although it was continuously calling me back for another 2 hours. But I am sure that if I won't be ready by 5:45 AM, then Dhruv will drag me from the bed in my PJs.

Reaching the bathroom, which wasted another 5 minutes of mine due to my stumblings, I took my brush.

While brushing, I heard a knock on my door and soon heard it open.

"Kyra, I hope you are up. Otherwise, I won't mind taking you in your night suit." I heard someone saying, and by the voice I could tell it was Dhruv.

"Kyra? Are you in there?" Dhruv called out outside the bathroom door.

"Yes. Don't worry. I am already up and getting ready." I wanted to reply, but due to the toothpaste, it came out as.

"Yaaa, Daaa woooo a m awedy ap annn geddin raiyy."

"What did you just say? Are you drunk early in the morning? If yes, then Kyra, you are so dead today." Dhruv raised his voice at the last part.

Where does his imagination come from?

"Why the hell are you not replying? I swear to God that if you don't open this door in the next two seconds, then I am coming in." Dhruv said.

"Mmhmm." I replied because I was still busy brushing my teeth.

According to his words, he did come inside after 2 seconds. Man!

Looking around, his eyes fell on me, and that's when he noticed that I was brushing my teeths so I couldn't reply properly.

"You know you could've just spit it out and answered me." He said after some moments.

I shook my head at his statement and continued brushing.

"Whatever. Now that you're up, get ready fast. There isn't much time left anyways and meet me downstairs." Dhruv said in a dismissive manner.

I nodded, my head still continuing to brush.

I am sure this is the first time I've brushed my teeth for so long.

He chuckled and muttered, "I don't know when she'll grow up."

He didn't know that I heard him, so spitting the foam out of my mouth, I shouted, "I heard that."

"Good for you." I heard his reply following with him exiting my room with a bang at the door.

Finished with the task, I headed towards the shower. A good 20 minutes later, I was out of the bathroom in my closet.

Looking through it, I found a red crop top and decided upon it for the day. Pairing with my light blue denim jeans, my outfit was completed. My hair was left open naturally, and I did a bit of routine makeup on my face just to hide my dark circles.

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Reaching downstairs, the first thing that I noticed was Dhruv pacing around in the living room. Glancing at the time, I saw that it was just 5:50 AM. I still had 10 minutes to spare, and here he is worrying for no reason.

I patted him on his shoulder, trying to gain his attention, but he was busy muttering. "She has no responsibility at all. I already told her to come downstairs early, but see, she still isn't here. I wonder how will Ahaan cope up with her after their marriage."

I knew his complaints won't stop and was in no mood to hear about my carelessness, so I came up with an idea.

"Oh my god, Sarah! You're here finally. I have been waiting for you for so long." I shouted, looking in a random direction.

Hearing her name, Dhruv's head snapped towards my direction, and he moved his gaze all over the living room whilst twirling around.

He looked so confused as he couldn't see Sarah while scratching his neck. I tried to move around, and I couldn't control my laughter any further.

Letting everything, I burst out laughing while clutching onto my stomach. I kept on laughing while Dhruv was continuously asking about Sarah's whereabouts. It was so funny watching Dhruv Malhotra like this. It's probably once in a while chance.

And it was then he stood in front of me with eyebrows raised and arms crossed. I knew one thing.

I am in trouble.

He started walking towards me at a deadly pace, and in return, I started chanting mantras in my head for me not to die today.

He was glaring at me, and I had only one chance to save my life. So I ran.

I ran away from Dhruv, and he appeared shocked for a moment, but started running in my direction in order to catch me.

I looked back and noticed that we had an ample amount of gap between the two of us. Laughing at him again and sticking my tongue out made him more determined. Soon, the gap decreased between both of us, but I still continued running in every direction. I ran in between the sofas because of which he even increased his speed as I noticed there wasn't much gap left.

Going in another direction while simultaneously looking back at Dhruv, I didn't notice that there was a wall in my way, which caused me to lose my balance with the impact of falling.

A wall?

In between the living room?

I certainly don't remember this.

With my eyes squinted shut, I was waiting for me to fall on the ground, but it never happened.

Out of curiosity, I tried to peek with one eye and noticed someone's arms on my waist. Looking intently, I noticed that it was a man's. But how did Dhruv be able to catch me this early?

He was still at a distance from me.

My suspicions were broken by someone's hooting.

The person who was holding me dropped me in an instant that caused me to fall with a 'thud'.

"Ouch." I muttered, rubbing my butt. It pained a lot.

To this, I heard Dhruv laughing uncontrollably while pointing in my direction.

"Stop laughing, you pig. Help me." I hissed at him.

He shook his head, making me huff.

Someone's hand reached out to me in my peripheral vision for help. I looked up and saw it was Ahaan.

He was wearing a white t-shirt with light washed denim jeans and sneakers. His arm was stretched out for me, and I noticed how his muscles were peeking out of his t-shirt.

I was kind of shocked seeing him as I concluded he was the one I had crashed with. At least he saved me from falling. Phew!

Wait, he dropped me just after that.

Remembering this, I glared at him. He looked confused for a second but continued gesturing me to take his help.

I needed to get up anyways so I placed my hand on his palm, and he pulled me from the ground.

"Are you okay?" He asked me, snapping out of my thoughts.

"Hmm? You bet." I replied sarcastically.

"Excuse me? I was the one who held you from falling." He replied, scrunching his eyebrows as he noticed my expression.

"And dropped after a second of that." I completed the sentence for him.

"Kyra I-" He was about to say something, but Dhruv decided it was the best time for him to butt in.

"Oh my God, Ahaan. It was so good of you to drop her. I swear I haven't seen anything this funny in my entire life." He even patted Ahaan for this.

"Stop it, Dhruv. It's not even that funny." I hissed at him while glaring at Ahaan.

"Hey guys!" I recognized this voice as Sarah's.

All three of us turned in the direction where she stood completely ready with a smile plastered on her face.

"Hey!" I chirped happily, forgetting about the incident that happened a few moments ago.

We both hugged each other and started rambling about what all we are going to do on this trip.

"Stop it!" Someone shouted.

We glanced in the direction and noticed it was Dhruv and Ahaan, who looked irritated.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"We are already getting late, and you both can gossip in the car. We have to leave now." Ahaan stated somewhat calmly.

What happened to the short temper?

"Okay then. Let's get going." Sarah cheered.

In my vision, I saw Dhruv looking at her so intently, and Sarah took glances at him every now and then. I had some weird feeling about it but shrugged it off. They had always been like this.

Taking our bags that consisted of a few pairs of clothes and other necessities, we made our way outside the mansion.

"So what are the seating plans?" Ahaan asked as the four of us stood in the driveway.

"We will have to take 2 cars. I have a meeting day after somewhere near Shimla, so I will have to stay there for a couple of days more than you guys." Dhruv added.

"Alright then. We'll take two cars." Sarah replied.

"Yeah, that's okay with me." Ahaan replied.

"Yeah. Me too." Dhruv said.

"So now that it's settled, Kyra, you'll be going in Ahaan's car." Dhruv said further.

I was about to protest, but Dhruv beat me.

"Don't even try to say no. Dad has specially made this plan just for both of you to 'talk'. So you have no say in this. It'll help you only to get to know about him more and will clear a lot of your doubts. Enjoy the privacy as long as you're getting it." Dhruv tried to make me understand.

"Okay." I muttered defeatedly.

Going towards Sarah, I started dragging her by the elbow towarss Ahaan's car.

"Ouch. Slow down woman. And where are you taking me?" She huffed, rubbing her elbow after stopping in between.

"To Ahaan's car so that we can get going. " I replied, giving her a really look.

"What is it now, Kyra?" Dhruv shouted from the other end.

"I was taking her to the car so that we could finally leave." I replied plainly.

"Oh, and you think that I'll be following you people in my car alone?" He asked, tapping his fingers on his chin as if he was thinking.

"Well, you said that you had some work there?" I asked, shrugging.

"That's the day after tomorrow. For now, I'll be accompanying you all to the trip. Also, with Sarah in my car." He replied with emphasis on 'my'.

Firstly, I had to go on this bloody trip with Ahaan. That too in the same car. Okay? I would have somewhat managed. But now alone? Just the two of us? He can practically do anything to me.

Maybe he'll kill me with a knife and bury my bloody body underground. Or push me off a cliff?

How am I going to fight this hulk of a man alone? If Sarah had tagged along us, we both could manage him somehow. And now it's just me.

"Kyra!" Someone shouted.

"Huh?" I blinked a few times trying to figure out what was happening.

"You zoned out. Again." Ahaan replied.

"Ohh." I nodded in understanding.

"Come sit over, Kyra. We are getting late. Dhruv and Sarah have already started their journey." Ahaan said.

No other option is left now.

Wait! I can just act like I am sick and don't want to travel. Such a nice idea.

"Don't even think of it." Ahaan's voice broke the chain of my plans, and instantly, he scooped me in his arms bridal style, causing me to squeal.

"Ahaan! Stop that. Put me down." I raised my voice, but it didn't affect him, to least.

Placing me down on the passenger seat of his car, he walked over to the driver's.

I sat there pouting.

Poke.

Poke.

Poke.

"What?" I exclaimed, swatting his hand away.

"Your pout. It won't do anything now. They are already gone, and we are way behind." He replied.

I pouted even more at this.

"Kyra, why don't you just sit back and enjoy yourself. Trust me, you'll enjoy this trip which you don't expect at all." He said.

I nodded in understanding.

"Okay, I guess?" It came out more of a question rather than an answer.

He shook his head defeatedly. What? It's not my problem that I have no interest in this trip and spending my time with him.

Suddenly, he leaned forward in my direction. I could feel his minty breath on my face. Is he going to kiss me? As I thought that our lips were just about to touch for an amazing kiss, he reached over for the seatbelt behind my seat and covered me with it by buckling it.

Just bury yourself somewhere, Kyra.

He ignited the engine of his car, and soon, we were on the roads of Delhi, roaring the car to its life.

It had been 30 minutes since we started our journey, and till now, nothing serious had happened. We didn't talk much, just a few syllables here and there. I don't even have an idea where we are going.

"Ahaan." I said.

"Yes?" He said, glancing in my direction and turning back to the road the next moment.

"Is it going to be this boring ahead as well?" I couldn't help but to ask.

"That's because I thought you were already mad and will get more angry if I try to have a conversation with you. So, I chose to be quiet the whole way rather than spoiling your mood even more." He replied calmly.

"You want to talk?" He asks, sounding surprised.

"Uh-yes?" I replied.

"Great! Then let's play 20 questions." He said.

"Okay. I'll go first." I declared.

"Why do you want to get married to me? I mean, there are so many girls that are dying to get together with you, and here you are interested in marrying me?" I asked.

"Because I promised you years back that it'll be us who are going to marry in future. And sooner or later, I had to fulfill it, so I thought now was the best time to take the proposal further. " He replied, but I wasn't satisfied with his answer.

"So my turn. Do you love someone?" He asked.

"No." I replied, without any second thoughts.

"Wow." He appeared genuinely shocked for a moment.

"Next question. Do you love someone?" I asked.

"Yes." He replied the next instant without any hesitation.

What am I supposed to interpret by this?

"Next one. Are you happy?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked back.

"It's just a simple question, Kyra. Are you happy?" He replied.

"Yeah. I guess." I mumbled.

He glanced at me once and then continued driving.

"My turn. What are your intentions with me?" I asked.

I had to know why he was doing all this. If in this game of 20 questions, he answers, then good for me. Otherwise, sooner or later, his intentions would be out. I just want to be aware of how bad they are.

"That's simple. I'm marrying you in what 25 days. Then enjoying married life with you by going on trips like we had planned and not forgetting our honeymoon. And maybe children when you are ready." He replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Did he just say honeymoon?

And children?

That too with him. Never in my life.

"You have quite a lot of dreams, Kapoor." I commented.

"Only which includes you soon to be Mrs. Kapoor." He retorted back.

"Your turn." I said, changing the topic.

"Yeah. So are you looking forward to getting married to me?" He asked, sounding hesitant.

The questions were getting personal and the one's which I didn't want.

"I don't know." I replied honestly.

"Should I consider this as a positive sign or a negative one?" He asked, smiling.

"That's for me to know and you to find out." I replied, smiling back sarcastically.

"Still feisty as before. I like it." He smiled.

"So my turn now. How are you going to murder me? By the way, I meant like with a gun, a knife, or maybe even choking me?" I asked.

He started laughing.

And boy, it was such a good sight. I could tell he was laughing genuinely, not his usual cocky one. His eyes were twinkling, and I kept looking at him, smiling myself. I don't know why this question came out of my mouth.

After what seemed like he had settled, he looked at me in amusement.

"What?" I asked, still dumbfounded.

"You haven't changed at all," He said after sobering up.

"Uhh-I thanks?" I said as I took that as a compliment.

He shook his head, still smiling.

I looked at the front and noticed we were stuck in traffic as we were still in the outskirts of Delhi.

He looked at me, and I noticed his eyes had this weird emotion in them. I could tell he wanted to say something, but I was refraining from it.

Leaning forward in my direction, he grazed his thumb over my cheek softly and at the corner of my mouth.

He was about to move his face ahead in my direction, but a honk startled both of us.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

What did just happen?

I can not let go of my guard again. It'll cause more damage only. To me and probably my family.

He continued with the driving while paying glances at me between every now and then.

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Ummm, so is this how the road trip is gonna go? What might happen ahead?

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