"Place the curtain over that direction." I pointed at the worker decorating the engagement venue. Rubbing softly towards the piece of white cloth wrapped around my forehead.

"Aachal, why don't you take some minutes of rest?" The concerned friend was roaming around me with a look of alarm. She hadn't left my side after I had gain consciousness. My frequent assurance had went useless. Maybe because she knew me better than the world surrounding us. She knew I wasn't fine! She knew my assuring smile was fake, meaningless.

"We don't have time to rest." I shook it away. Spying at the venue. Craving for perfection. Maybe not my life but my profession could be perfect. "The event is going to start within few hours. And not to forget it is the first function of the most awaited wedding." I was busy blabbering not making an eye contact with her.

"Stop it!" She grabbed my elbow, forcing me to stare into her orbs. "Calm a little... allow yourself to breath... rest... cry..." her words getting softer after each word. "There is nothing wrong to be vulnerable. Broken apart... lost! It's all fine! And I don't need to voice those words to you." She expressed pleading me to forgive myself. "It wasn't your fault!" She voiced those words at last. Understanding the inner dilemma, I was facing.

I stared at her a minute longer. My mind blank but soon a tear started descending my cheek. "It's difficult!" I expressed, the inner sadness. "To see the world moving on. I am forced to breath but the people important to me are pulled away. As if my love, my pain means nothing. It's getting difficult to keep believing in good. To act positive when life feels like a chores. Nothing to hold dear to. Because my love would pull breath out of them." I shook my head, tears kept rolling down. "I am scared not for myself but for the people around me. It feels dangerous as if I am having some sort of bad vibes that can harm others. Burn them!" Those words were rolling down without my brain processing it. Deep down it felt real but I was never superstitious. But rather shouting at my blabbers Diya stared at me a minute longer.

"I would suggest you give your brain some rest." Diya shook her head at the end. "We had come to a new place! You love travelling places, why don't you treat it as a vacation? Enjoy your stay! Roam places, meet new hobbies. And about the work I will handle it. As you said, I had handle it for a year."

"That's not happening! I am in no mood of vacation and..."

"Deep underneath you crave to disappear. Maybe not in a physical sense but in mental. Aachal, your brain need rest, peace to work. Burdening it with work isn't going to turn up any help but allowing it with some less intense moments will." She blinked at me. "And I had said it before and will repeat it once again... allow yourself to live." She was requesting me, a realisation taking place in my heart that maybe I had forgotten to live. I was just surviving.

___

I wasn't going to take Diya advice if I wasn't messing the work up. I couldn't concentrate! The flashes of Mayur would rewind in my brain. Accepting my defeat! I had walked out of the resort, planning to have a walk around the streets of Kerala. Slowly the street lights were brightening the darkening path. Maybe I was getting used to darkness.

The resort was built in a deserted area. Not a sound of soul other than rusting of leaves due to the heavy wind blowing around me. Not a sign of human! That was a reason Mr Oberio had chosen the resort from the list given to him. Anaya wasn't much pleased as she was aspiring the wedding function to go viral. And I won't be surprise if some pictures would be leaked to media. I couldn't make myself to trust the woman. It was beyond me how was Mr Oberio going to trust her with his child?

Through I consider him cruel, lack of manners and kindness but he cares for his daughter. His actions had indicated it to me. I wasn't provided with an opportunity to question about the attacker but it seemed rest of the staff members and even the bride was unaware of the circumstance. But still the biggest fear was the culprit roaming freely and he could harm Riddhi. The culprit! Who was he? And why was he after the innocent soul? And why was he wearing that jacket? The familiarity it held! Was its co-incidence or planned?

My brain cell needed some time of rest but the alone time was further putting me into the cycle of overthinking. I shook my head in annoyance as I was going to turn towards the resort when a conversation happening around got into my ears.

"How could you act so foolish? Why didn't you inform me before acting?" A feminine voice was shouting on something rather someone. I moved an inch closer, the curiosity sparkling inside me. I could feel the familiarity but it was difficult to pin point the person. "You know how clever he is! Now he will be on guard. Might had tighten the security around."

"That won't be done!" Her companion argued back. "None know about the child existence. He will be fool if he tightened the security. It will raise assumption and he can't risk it. When he is so near... so near to his..." Before the masculine voice could complete the statement, I felt a touch on my shoulder.

Taken aback with a sudden contact I jumped away, glancing at the soul. "Oh!" Shocked by my reaction. "I apologise, I wasn't intending to scare you." Around the dim light surrounding us his apologised feature came to view. Those set of brown orbs staring at me with mischief radiating from it.

"It's fine..." I glanced at the direction the voices were coming from but it had disappeared into the thin air. They got aware of our presence.

"Is there something interesting in the rows of trees." Tanmay inquired in a playful manner seeing my attention drifting from him. "Or are you smartly providing me hint that you aren't interested in me and like a fool I am not noticing it?"

"It isn't like that..." I justified in rush only to find him smirking at me. He was teasing!

"If that's the case, prove me by accompanying me to the resort." He suggested, directing the way. I obeyed him, hesitating, and glancing at the direction the mysterious conversation was taking place. After few steps of silence, Tanmay spoked again. "Is it your hobby to walk in darkness around those dangerous trees?" The look of mischief wasn't brushing off from his face.

"Trees aren't dangerous!" My remark made a flash of emotion cover his face. Something serious but he soon brushed it off.

"Then who are?" Getting back into his playful nature.

"Humans! They are more scary than beautiful nature surrounding us." I muttered wondering into meaningless thoughts, that conversation flashing in my mind constantly.

"Seems like you had been betrayed by someone dear..." He glanced at me curious though his tone was casual not depicting his curiosity.

"Yes... In the most painful way possible." I wasn't aware why was I having such deep introspective conversation with a stranger but I felt comfortable sharing with him. Though I knew I couldn't trust him.

"Hmm... seems like the conversation is driving deep. It's better to give it a full stop." He grinned, "and your destination is here." He voiced out pointing at the huge building before me.

"Yeah," I hadn't realised that we were back.

"Have a beautiful evening, miss Aachal." He greeted and before I could respond the same, he was walking into that darkness.

"Where are you going?" I couldn't stop myself from raising my confusion. If he was going to walk back? Why even he walked the way along with me?

"You had reached your destination. I had a long distance to travel." Came his mysterious respond. His aura defined mystery and for that reason I couldn't make myself to trust him. Tanmay Chopra! Seemed a mystery on its own!

___

I wanted to help Diya as she was managing entire function alone but as she mentioned I wasn't in a state to attend the glamorous function. Hundreds of guest shattered around the venue. Rounds of laughter, talks accompanied with music spreading in the air.

The comfortable bed was much pleasing but seemed like the person on the door was against my peace. The person was bursting my ears with numerous knocks. Groaning in displeasure I pushed my heavy legs towards the door. Rubbing my eyes in a lazy fashion. I twisted the knob, unlocking the door.

"You!" I groaned at the visitor. He was shooting daggers at me.

"Haven't I demanded a warm venue! Haven't I made it clear that I fucking needed a warm interior. For God sake! Don't you have a little sense to understand my words." His eyes were sparkling fire. He was snorting at my figure as if he had expected it from me. "Where is your companion? I had certain trust on her. She seemed reliable, maybe you had brushed her brain." He kept on blabbering infuriating me with his words.

"Stop assuming things!" I countered back. "I was helping her a way out."

"By suggesting engagement in the open air. Are you even aware about the Celsius? It's Kerala! In month of December, the coldest part of year. Do understand how deadly it would be for a patient who is allergic to cold?" He was voicing venom, his deadly orbs fixed on me.

"Allergic to cold?" I paused a second with confusion. "Wasn't the location chosen by you both? Don't you dare point the blame on us. You were well aware that it would be month of December in the hill station. You were much aware about the consequence. And who even asked you to invite so many guest? Who even invites five hundred guest in an engagement function?" I was blabbering my heart out when he took a step forward grabbing my attention. His eyes blazing fire, my breath hitched on the realisation.

I step aback but me pulling a distance among us motivated him to take another step forward. "What are you doing...?" I expressed my horror on finding him entering further into my room. His each step was compelling my heart to burst from the ribcage. "Stop trying to intimidate me!" I attempted to yell but it came as a small whisper, it might hadn't reach his ear if he wasn't in such a proximity. "It won't make me a faulty! I..."

He placed a finger on my lip. His eyes darkening in rage. "Not a word!" He warned, that piercing orbs digging into my soul. "I had mentioned it quiet directly that event will take place behind walls, haven't I?" His raised his brow. "Haven't I confirm the same on various occasion?" He was demanding answers but I kept my lip sealed. Not wanting to accept my fault! Not wanting to accept Diya wasn't able to speculate the number of guest that could accumulate the hall. "Are you... fucking going to answer me?" He was fuming in exasperation. I glared at him tilted my head a little to bite the finger on my lip.

"What the heck are you doing?" Soon he grabbed me tightly by my elbow, cornering me to the nearest wall. His huge figure towering over me. Causing the building confidence to fade away. "Rather than apologising for your deeds, you are fucking trying to bite my finger." His face furthering leaning towards mine. The mint, smoking smell reaching my nostril. He smoked! I could feel it from his warm breath fanning on my skin.

Maintaining my posture, I countered back. "What do you suppose me to do? When you were demanding answers sealing my lip with your finger." He was going to offer another insult but shut his mouth in surprise.

"Seriously? Sealing your lip with my finger?" I could feel the trace of mischief radiating back to his spirit. The hold on my elbow soften, so did the look in his cold orbs. His hands strolling down my waist while other reaching to my cheek. I made an urge to pull his hands of me but he grabbed my hands in his. "You are pretty much aware, right?" His voice getting huskier with each passing second. His face leaning so our nose could touch each other. My heart accelerating to the wildest speed. I could scream, jerk his hand around my wrist as it wasn't that tight but I felt as if I was pulled into his charm. I couldn't move an inch away from him and that was disgusting me.

"There are quite numerous way to seal ones lip." His words came out extra softly, making it sound more... I wasn't even allowing my mind to think in that direction. His set of black orbs slowly moving from my red lips to my orbs, a sudden glint covering his orbs.

"Aachal! I was..." I heard Diya's voice and I was startled to react, my eyes glancing at the direction she entered. Her hands were filled with numerous paper but her eyes were fixed on us. Her eyes getting wider as her brain was registering the information. "I... That... I... Ugh!" The heat was reaching her cheek indicating that she was embarrassed, her eyes slowly lowering in shyness. Her that particular reaction made me reconsider our position.

I was at the far corner of the room with him towering me. Wait! He hadn't moved an inch even after Diya had entered the room. I jerked my hand away from his grip. My hands on his chest pushing him away from me. "Move..." muttering under my breath not having the courage to shout at him after the thoughts revolving in Diya's mind.

"Diya... It isn't like..." I wanted to clarify her but she seemed lost in her embarrassment.

"I will take a leave..." without allowing me to answer she rushed out of the room.

"Diya!" I yelled after her like an insane.

"Slow down kitten!" He murmured into my ears, "you don't want the entire staff to have the same misconception." He was smirking at me. Overjoyed with my anxious self, I was going to shout on him. "Don't forget, I won't mind sealing your lip once again but by another method." He winked at me, making me to shoot him daggers.

He walked away from me on the verge of leaving the room. I sighed in relief but heard his voice a minute later. "Don't make it late for the event," he muttered those words out without glancing at me back and closing the door after him. I leaned on the wall. My shivering hand reaching to my thumping heart. What was he even? And why I was letting him to affect me in such a manner?