"Keep the ones that heard you when you never said a word." 

- UNKNOWN

^^^

Kiara opened the door of her room and got inside. Harshad followed her inside, his eyes fixed on Kiara, who was avoiding eye contact.

"So, what was it?" Harshad inquired as Kiara stared at Harshad in a horror.

"What?" She sounded appalled.

"Do you expect me to behave like I hadn't noticed a thing?" Harshad raised his brow in question. Kiara avoided his gaze; she couldn't share the matter with him. "The way you were shivering in his presence and the way he was staring at you. I wanted to punch him and knock the breath out of him. Ridiculous human, can't even take notice of his age."

Harshad scowled making Kiara astonished. It was the first time that someone had mentioned it to her. Someone had noticed the inner devil behind the innocent face. Kiara was amazed, she stared at Harshad with a questioning gaze.

"What?" Harshad scowled, "don't you dare give me a lecture on my tone or my language. I wouldn't have given a fuck about his age only that I needed a confirmation that I wasn't imaginary things." He strolled his hand towards those messy, black hairs in frustration. "Are you fucking going to open your mouth?"

Kiara stared at him for a minute longer and soon the frown converted into tears. She averted her gaze from him. "You might be getting late for your work." She whispered making Harshad groan.

"Oh! So, we are going to avoid the conversation. Very much, great!" Harshad was losing patience with Kiara. Those flashes of Ranbir's intense orbs on Kiara were triggering him. "Fine! I don't give a fuck," he groaned. Pushing the door open of her room and walked away without sparing a glance at devasted Kiara.

"Idiot! Stupid, annoying human." Kiara grumbled, shutting the door behind him. She locked it in fear that Ranbir might rush in. "At times when I ask him to stop annoying me, he never listens to my comment. But today he had to listen to me." She scowled pushing herself towards the washroom, she needed to cry her heart out.

___

"Are you even aware what an annoying mess is your friend?" Harshad was complaining to Avni making her giggle.

"Are you by any chance talking about Kiara?"

"See, you're aware how frustrating she is at times."

"There isn't anything like that!" Avni defended Kiara. "You make her annoyed to such a degree that she gets frustrated with you. What had you committed this time?"

"Can you for once support me?"

"No! Never, I am with Kiara for life." She giggled at the end. "But what is the matter? You hardly call me to complain about her."

"I want you to spend a night along with her." Harshad expressed his concern.

"But why?" Avni sounded suspicious, "you sound worried. Is there something serious?"

"I don't know... I felt she needed company. I hope you won't mind..." Harshad was going to continue but Avni interrupted him.

"Absolutely not, I know her very well. She has a hard time asking for help. I will be beside her," Avni assured Harshad and soon they ended the call after talking about less-serious matters.

____

"Avni called me a few minutes back, she will be joining us for the dinner," Kiara mentioned walking into the kitchen. "Do you need any help?" She inquired as she was getting suffocated behind the walls. Those flashes were making it difficult for her to breathe.

"Yes, cut some of those veggies." Kajal pointed out finding Kiara was getting out of the shell she had built around her for days.

As Kaira got engrossed in her work, Kajal found an opportunity to have the conversation with her daughter that was troubling her for the past few hours. "Who was that guy?" Kajal inquired sounding concerned.

Kiara sighed; she was aware that it was going to come soon after Harshad behavior in front of her mother. "A friend," Kiara came out with a clear-cut answer. "I know you found his nature overfriendly, but he is like that, mom." Kiara was justifying Harshad's action. "I hadn't appreciated his presence on our first meet so I don't expect it from you as well." She put it in the best way possible.

"Oh!" Kajal took a deep breath of relief. It was easy to convince Kajal than it was to Rajeev. Kiara was glad that Rajeev wasn't present at the moment but she had also anticipated that Kajal will inform him.

Soon, silence prevailed around them as they had a small-cut conversation that involved Kajal instructing Kiara about the preparation of the dinner. Minutes passed by and they heard the doorbell ringing.

"Go and see who it is?" Kajal instructed and Kiara walked out, anticipating either it would be Avni or Rajeev.

The minute she walked out of the kitchen, she found Ranbir at the entrance opening the door for the visitor. The devil-smirk on his face was making Kiara uncomfortable. "What a beautiful lady we have over here." His comment was further crumbling Kiara's soul.

The notion of Avni before Ranbir made her act confident. Kiara had considered Avni as her small sister and she hadn't ever allowed any harm to reach her. She rushed towards the entrance with newfound confidence. She couldn't allow him to touch Avni. She would protect her from any monster like Ranbir.

"Avni," Kiara rushed towards the door. Avni was frowning at the stranger but soon a smile covered her face on glancing at Kiara.

Kiara stood between Ranbir and Avni as if shielding Avni from Ranbir's orbs. "You are early..." Kiara grabbed Avni's wrist and pulled her inside wanting to rush from Ranbir's presence.

"Aren't you going to introduce your friend?" Ranbir sounded curious making Kiara burn in rage. She could feel the reason behind his curiosity. Avni as her nature pressed a smile at the stranger, to act kindly. Though she wasn't liking his vibes.

Kiara wasn't going to turn and face him. She was fuming in anger, the thought of Ranbir's those creepy eyes on Avni's was making her pull those orbs out of his socket. She had faced it alone in her life. She had lost trust in humans due to a monster like him. Kiara couldn't allow Anvi ever to face even a hint of it.

Without paying any heed to his words, Kiara dragged Avni to the kitchen. Avni was stunned by Kiara's action, she had never behaved so rudely with people. Avni was staring at Kiara in confusion but Kajal's greeting made her shove the thought away. Soon, Avni and Kajal got engrossed in the new recipe Kajal had discovered. Kiara was lost in her thoughts; she found in difficult to stay under the same roof with the monster and now she had another person to protect him from.

___

Everyone grabbed their respective seats at the dining table. Kiara could feel intense orbs directed in her direction yet she kept her head low. Kiara was aware she would lose her patience if she raised her head. Either she would burst into anger or shiver in fear and she couldn't consider any of the options.

"Kiara has some amazing friends." Ranbir broke the silence on the table. Kiara shivered, slowly grabbing Avni's hand under the table. It wasn't to gain support but to assure Avni that she was standing by her. Avni frowned at Kiara's actions. What was wrong with her? She was extra quiet, which she never was among her parents. Avni thought maybe it was due to the presence of her relative but the way she pushed her away from Ranbir was making her suspicious.

"Do her friends have frequent visits?" Ranbir asked with a certain curiosity. "I had often imagined Kiara as a timid, reserved girl but she had started to socialize."

"She is still the same, my innocent princess," Rajeev commented, glancing at Kiara with pride.

"But her exchange with friends doesn't seem so especially, Harshad." Ranbir's that comment was enough to grab Kiara's attention. She widened her eyes at Ranbir, he had a smirk playing on his lips.

"Harshad?" Rajeev sounded stunned. "I didn't hear anyone with that name." Rajeev was staring at Kiara for an answer.

"Harshad is an ex-colleague; we went to the same office," Kiara informed, hesitating with the suspiciousness growing inside Rajeev.

"Had he come here?" Avni whispered and Kiara gave a slight nod.

"He dropped me," Avni nodded in realization.

"Don't worry, uncle. He isn't a bad guy though Dhruv won't approve of it but never mind." Avni chuckled attempting to lighten the tense environment but others stared at her in disbelief. Avni had a pout, "and Harshad was telling me my sense of humor had improved." She grumbled to herself making the rest smile and giggle.

"You don't even have to try, Avni. You're adorable as you are." Kajal complimented making Avni blush. Kiara had a smile as well but the minute she discovered Ranbir's eyes on Avni she felt a need to drag Avni away from him as early as possible.

___

"Kiara, you could have at least allowed me to have the dessert." Avni groaned as she was sitting on Kiara's bed with a scowl. "I tasted your dessert six months back and I was longing for it for so long."

"I will prepare for you, tomorrow." Kiara cut her rant short making her grin like a child. "Now, just go home." She ordered.

"Why? Hadn't I informed you we were having a girl's night out?" Avni was keenly observing Kiara's desperate face.

"Try to understand, Avni. It's better if you leave this house. We can have a girl's night out tomorrow in your place?" She suggested trying to fake a smile.

"Are you by any chance hiding something, Kiara?" Avni inquired getting concerned about her.

Kiara had a poker face, "hide? No!" She shook her head vigorously. "Not at all!" She was rushing words out of her tongue making Avni more suspicious.

"What are you both hiding from me? First, Harshad asked me to spend a night with you and now you're asking me to walk off. When in the first place I had informed you about my plans."

"I hadn't given it thought before," Kiara massaged her forehead in tension.

"What you hadn't thought before?" Avni questioned but Kiara's orbs widen in annoyance a minute later.

"You said Harshad called you? He asked you to come here?" Avni gave a slight-cautions nod. Kiara was fuming in rage, "whenever I am in trouble he is the reason." She grumbled and soon started dialing a number.

"Kiara! Don't you dare tell him that I told you about it!" Avni warned her, standing up to grab the phone from her but Kiara dozed her hand away.

"He even asked you to hide it from me. How could he?" She groaned, putting the cell near her ear.

"What! No! Who said that!" Avni yelled in justification. "I felt from his tone that he wanted to keep it a secret. He didn't want you to know it."

Kiara's brow knitted in confusion as she observed Avni suspiciously. "You're sure right you are not letting his flirting skills affect you?"

Avni widen her orbs in horror, "what are you even saying, Kiara? He is like a brother to me. I adore him a lot but I can't even glance at him in that manner. I know he is already committed for life."

"No! He isn't committed as he hates commitment." Kiara cleared her facts making Avni roll her eyes at Kiara. "Where on the earth is he?" Kiara grumbled on finding Harshad not receiving his phone.

"Maybe hanging with his girlfriend." Avni winked having a teasing smile but Kiara ignored it, a small seed of insecurity growing in her heart. Was he with his girlfriend?

Her cell rang a minute later, "hello sweetheart!" And like ice cream in the hot summer season, she melted with just those words. "Are you missing me?" She could feel a smirk playing on his lip and that brow raised up in a teasing manner. "Because you haven't left my mind for a second."

"By any means have you called the wrong number?" Kiara had to display that she was least affected by his teasing.

He chuckled that deep, huskier one. Kiara turned her face from Avni to hide the blush covering her spirit. What was he doing to her? "Oh! My! I called you?" He acted like sounding shocked. "I wanted to call, Diana."

"Diana?" Kiara asked getting curious.

"Yes, Diana. She is so beautiful. A new employee, you should meet her once. She is amazing..."

"Stop troubling her champ!" Kiara heard a faint voice from the background.

"Stop it! Dad," Harshad groaned back at the interrupter.

"So, call her why waste your precious time on me." Kiara voiced out keeping her curiosity about the interrupter at her side.

"Wait a minute," Harshad halted her. "Why had you called me?"

"I am not in a mood. You hadn't received my call before..." Kiara was showing tantrums making Avni raise her eyes in surprise. Kiara wasn't known to show tantrums!

"I was busy," Kiara had a smile on listening to his whining request.

"Busy?"

"Hmm..." she heard his breathing getting uneven as if he was walking. "I was playing chess with dad. So, we have a contract among us that one hour of the day is devoted to each other." Kiara smiled listening to a part of his routine. They never had a conversation about their families, dreams, and things necessary. They shared a weird bond, when they both were together they would just forget about the world in general. "Now, am I going to be informed of the reason behind this call?"

"Why have you asked Avni to accompany me for a night?"

"Because you wouldn't have allowed me to accompany you."

"What?" Kiara shouted and Avni again glanced at her before returning back to the phone.

"Would you have allowed?" Harshad was back to his mischievous self.

"Harshad I am not in the mood to joke."

"That's the problem! My child is going to lack the sense of humor." He sounded worried and that was only infuriating Kiara.

"You know what?" Kiara groaned in frustration, "just leave it! Calling you was a bad idea!"

"Wait," Harshad chuckled. "I send her because I was concerned about you. Maybe you won't agree but you needed company and I had anticipated that she wouldn't share it with you but never mind. She will take care of you, the problem is solved."

"It's not that simple!" Kiara groaned, "you won't understand it but stop trying to help me Harshad." Kiara was sounding defeated, "leave me on my own..." she muttered, and a drop of tear escaped from the corner of her eyes.

"I can't leave you alone, Kiara." Harshad argued back, "I simply can't..." he paused for a minute. "Why can't you share what is bothering you..." before Harshad could complete the statement Kiara ended the call. She wasn't going to share the truth.