*Karthik Pov*

"How much longer should we wait? I don't think Preetha takes this long like Chitra and I think even Rashmi gets ready quite soon." Rohan complained looking at his watch.

"Chitra got ready way before me. She said she will come along with others." Kalyan said, taking out his phone and called her.

"When will you return my phone?" I asked, looking at Rohan and he acted like he didn't hear me at all.

"Why are you still not here?" Kalyan asked and frowned when he heard her reply.

"Okay! Try to come soon." Saying that he hung up.

"What's the matter?" I asked him to which he stared at me smiling.

"They are getting Rashmi ready it seems. That's why they are late." He replied and I frowned hearing his words.

We waited for some more time and finally Rohan gestured towards the elevator when he saw them first as he was facing towards that side. I stood up and turned around along with Kalyan only to stumble back seeing three of them.

"This definitely fails our plan." Rohan complained to Kalyan and I just ignored them.

"We are just going to a club." Kalyan pointed to three of them.

"We got ready in a simple manner, but after looking at the dress Karthik chose, we decided to glam her up a little more complimenting the dress and we did the same for ourselves when she shined more than us." Chitra said shrugging.

"Nice choice by the way." Preetha complimented me and I cleared my throat feeling embarrassed.

"Lucky me!" Rashmi commented while walking towards me and took hold of my hand.

"Let's go! Weren't you guys complaining that we made you wait for so long?" Chitra asked, holding Kalyan's hand and we all walked out of the hotel.

As the club is very near, we all decided to walk there instead of taking any transportation. She didn't leave my hand and it kind of felt nice with the cool breeze and all.

"By the way, what was your plan which got failed, Rohan?" I asked when we reached near the club.

"Well, we thought to enjoy ourselves leaving them to enjoy on their own thinking Rashmi will help them or something, but now I think the others have to control everyone around her." He replied gesturing Rashmi.

"Control? You mean to say if someone wants to flirt with us, she would have stopped them?" Preetha asked looking at him.

"That too because no one would have approached me to flirt?" Rashmi asked raising her eyebrow.

"It's not like that." Kalyan tried to explain.

"Wait! You guys want to enjoy yourself by leaving us?" Chitra asked, shaking her head in disbelief.

"It was his plan." Kalyan said, pointing Rohan and got blamed for the same.

"Well, go ahead. We will enjoy by ourselves too." She added the moment we all walked inside the club.

She dragged Rashmi along with her while Preetha walked along with her. I glanced at Rohan and Kalyan who are still blaming each other.

"They already left long back. Will you guys continue this?" I asked, looking at them and they cursed each other before searching for them but we already lost the sight of them.

"Let's give them time to cool down." Kalyan said looking at us.

"Rashmi is not angry at me." I pointed out.

"Why did you ask me that question before them?" Rohan asked angrily.

"No one forced you to reply to him." Kalyan said looking at Rohan.

"I think we are blocking the people who are walking inside. Let's move from here first." Saying that I pulled them away from the entrance and walked a little towards the other end.

"Let's go to the dance floor." Rohan said looking at us.

"I think you need to see this before going." I commented, looking down at the dance floor where I can see Chitra and Preetha are dancing and there are guys around them too.

"Where is Rashmi?" Kalyan asked, but I am already searching for her.

"We both are going before they take this far to teach us a lesson." Saying that they both walked off towards the stairs to reach the dance floor.

"They are able to find them?" I glanced to my side to see Rashmi standing beside me.

"Where were you?" I asked, looking at her.

"I was trying to find you and finally reached here." She replied, smiling and glanced at the dance floor before laughing.

"Are they really going to fight right now in the presence of all those people?" she asked, still laughing and I turned towards the direction she is looking at.

Rohan is trying to pull Preetha away while Kalyan is trying to talk with Chitra. And both girls are completely ignoring them.

"Why are you not dancing with them?" I asked, still looking at them.

"They both are just angry and I know they will fight and solve the matter. I didn't want to be in the way and I should be with my boyfriend, right." She replied and I immediately glanced at her but she looks quite serious.

"Damn! They will not resolve this issue that easily." She mumbled and I turned to see even the guys are dancing with other girls.

"Let's hope they will resolve before coming out of this place." I said, smiling and I felt a tap on my shoulder on the opposite side of where she is standing.

"Are you playing with me?" I asked, looking at her, but she shook her head in negative.

"Someone else is here." She replied and turned to the other side to see a girl smiling at me.

"Do you want to dance?" she asked, smiling and I opened my mouth to reject, but felt Rashmi pulling me back a little holding my shirt.

"Sorry! He is already taken." She said smiling sweetly and the other girl walked away sighing.

"What was that?" I asked her laughing.

"What? You want to go along with her? Shall I call her back?" she asked, raising her eyebrow.

"No! But your reaction was unexpected." I replied, smiling and she shrugged, but we both laughed together this time.

"I guess to protect my boyfriend, I need to dance with him. I will try to bear this burden. Will you dance with me?" she moved her hand forward presenting me.

"Yes! To protect myself, I will, definitely." Saying that I took her hand and we both walked towards the dance floor but the spot where not many are there.

We both took a few minutes to get adapted to the tune and dancing. After some time, we both got completely involved enjoying it.

"Ouch!" she suddenly said, moving towards me and looked back, but nodded when the person who bumped into her apologized.

She didn't move back and we saw more people coming which made this clear place packed too. We stopped for a few minutes to look for others, but when we didn't find them, we just continued to dance.

"I think I will stop for some time." I said feeling tired.

"Sure! I want to continue though. I really like this song." She said smiling and stepped back to allow me to go.

"Excuse me? Want to dance?" a guy asked her when I was passing her to leave.

"She is taken." Saying that I took her hand and walked away from all the people dancing dragging her along with me.

"Is this a retort for what I did earlier?" she asked the moment I stopped smiling.

Was that the reason for my reaction? I asked myself while she ordered two mocktails for both of us. I stared at her for a few seconds and looked away when she turned to look at me.

"I heard you liked this last time when you guys went to a club. Do you want anything else other than this?" she asked and I shook my head in negative.

"You never came with us to any clubs. Is this your first time?" I asked, clearing my throat.

"No! Mehrin and I went once, but we didn't tell her parents. It was different from this though." She replied, smiling and we both finished our drinks.

"In what way?" I asked her frowning because except for more people, I don't feel much different.

"Shall I show you?" she asked, smirking and I know she is planning something devious.

"Sure!" I replied even though I have an idea that I will regret this.

She took my hand and moved back to the dance floor before placing her hands on my shoulders and moved them to encircle my neck.

"See? No one has observed even if I do this. But that day I saw many people observing the couples too keenly." She explained, smiling and I stared at her face in silence.

She was about to remove her hands, but I placed my hands on her waist which made her pause. She looked at me in shock while I acted like I am looking around.

"You are right! No one cares." I commented and waited for her reaction, but she just calmly started dancing with small moves along the song and didn't remove her hands too.

"Nice one, Karthik. But this is my idea first. So, you are no where near to win this bet." She whispered, leaning forward to reach my ear.

Bet? When did I forget about that? I thought, frowning, but didn't correct her too. Her words seem to be a better explanation for my behavior rather than my own unexplained thoughts.

"So, all this is a part of bet for you?" I asked, whispering back before she can move away.

"Of course! Only five days are left." She replied shrugging.

"The day is still not over." I pointed out smiling and she moved back with the same expression too.

She is enjoying the music and everything normally like before, but I don't feel normal at all. I just took this step thinking my thoughts will get clear if I feel normal after this but seems like my step turned worse for me.

"Now, I am tired." She said after some time and looked around.

"They all are sitting there." I said, pointing the corner place where the tables are there.

"Let's go!" she said, moving back and I removed my hands immediately along with her.

"Everything is fine now?" I asked them when we both reached there and sat in the empty space.

"Yup! And we all saw that close dance too." Chitra teased both of us and others looked at us curiously too.

"Well, I danced only with him." Rashmi took a dig at them making me chuckle.

"You know that we can't win with her in these kind of words." I said kind of feeling proud that I need not say anything to their teasing.

"I have a cute boyfriend." Rashmi said, pinching my cheeks.

"Wait! Is she drunk?" Preetha asked, looking at her.

"How can she be? She just drank one mocktail as far as I know." I replied, frowning, but I observed her more and realized she seemed to be kind of drunk.

"Wait! We both took the wine glasses and passed them to her when we started dancing as she said she is leaving, remember?" Chitra asked Preetha.

"Damn! Did she drink three glasses? She doesn't have the alcohol tolerance at all." Kalyan commented while Rashmi moved to put her head on my shoulder.

"I have a very good boyfriend. And this club is amazing." She said hugging me while I tried to remove her hands awkwardly.

"We all spent more time in these silly fights, but I think these both enjoyed all the time." Rohan commented shaking his head.

I want to say that Rashmi enjoyed the most as I was lost in my confusions and other things with her words and actions. Even now, I am feeling confused because the reason for this awkwardness is not because of her present actions but because of the presence of others.

"I think it is best if we both leave." I said, moving a little and stood up.

"First, make her drink a little water. Otherwise, it will be a problem for her to walk properly and it will trouble you." Preetha advised and I sat down again to make her drink water while others again left to the dance floor.

"They are really jealous of you right now because you enjoyed today." I commented when she finished the first glass.

"I enjoyed it because of you." She said smiling sweetly and I coughed, looking away to take one more glass.

"I never came to a club with my boyfriend before." She added frowning.

"Of course you wouldn't have. I am your first boyfriend remember." I mumbled, shaking my head.

Wait! What am I even saying? I sat with her for a little more time and she finally sobered up a little. She looked around frowning and then glanced at me before sitting upright.

"We are still here? When will we leave?" she asked, looking at me.

"Let the others come. It's late and I think it will be better to leave together." I replied and she nodded smiling before looking at everyone around us.

"Don't look at them. You said you didn't like others looking at the couples when you went to a club last time. Then why are you doing the same?" I asked and she frowned at me.

"Then what should I look at?" she asked looking at me.

"Just look at me like this." I replied, shrugging and she laughed hearing my words.

"Will you do the same?" she asked, raising her eyebrow.

"I am already doing that." I pointed out and she stared back at me after that as I was already staring at her.

She immediately looked away when we heard some coughing and turned to see our friends walking towards us with a few confused looks accompanied by teasing ones but they didn't say anything.

"You are sober now?" Preetha asked, looking at Rashmi.

"I was drunk?" she asked back making all of us laugh.

"Do you want to enjoy more or can we leave? There are too many people and we don't feel like dancing anymore." Rohan commented.

"It will be the same problem for me. So, let's just go." She said, standing up and I followed her.

"Your legs must be paining right now." I commented and she nodded, holding my hand in support before walking along with our friends and I had to let her drag me.

We all calmly walked towards our hotel and everyone decided to have dinner in our own room feeling tired. Rashmi just decided to go to sleep without dinner as she is still a little dizzy.

I ordered curd rice not feeling sleepy and enjoyed it while watching the television but made sure she is not disturbed. I thought I am surprised by her yesterday, but today was even more surprising. How will tomorrow be?

****

"What?" I asked Rohan again to make sure I am hearing right.

"Preetha and Chitra made both of us promise for this and that's how our problem got resolved." He explained.

"Did you wake up Rashmi?" Kalyan asked, taking out his mobile and I suddenly felt a slight irritation.

"I already did. You need not call her." Everyone looked at me a little surprised by my reaction.

"You are missing your phone that much?" Rohan asked, frowning and I just shrugged, not wishing to lie to them, but I don't want to tell the truth which is kind of embarrassing.

Actually, what Rohan said must be truth and other thing is just false and nothing else. I took a deep breath and then remembered the schedule they changed because of yesterday.

"Good morning!" Rashmi said cheerfully walking towards us.

"She is five minutes earlier than yesterday. In this way, by the end of the trip, she may come here along with Karthik." Chitra said looking at her watch.

"When my boyfriend don't have any problem, what problem do you have?" she asked sitting beside me.

"We are going to spend the whole day at the beach, right? You must be happy about the water sports we can have today, Kalyan." She added looking at him and I pushed her plate towards her which she ignored when she sat down.

"Plan changed!" Kalyan started, but I cut him off by placing a bite of french toast in her mouth.

"It seems that to make yesterday's matter settle, both Preetha and Chitra asked for a spa treatment and that too complete package. And then a romantic dinner in the evening." I explained to which she frowned at all of us.

"Six of us in a romantic dinner?" she asked shaking her head.

"No! After that spa, the couple will spend the separately from the group. The plans will not mix at all and each couple will be on their own." Rohan replied while we all tried to control our laughs hearing her question.

"Are you fine with it?" I asked her when she looked unhappy.

"Well, I am fine with one thing, but not the other." She replied leaning back.

"This was the deal, Rashmi." Rohan pointed out and she frowned at him with a confused look while I drank my coffee thinking how to escape from this before they force her.

"I am totally fine with the romantic dinner." Her words made me choke on the sip I took and I immediately placed a tissue near my mouth before I can spill it.

"Then what are you not fine with?" Preetha asked, looking as confused as everyone.

"Spa! Seems like your boyfriends will be paying for it as a punishment, but I don't want to make Karthik do it because he didn't do anything wrong and I am not angry at him too" she pointed out.

At this moment, I don't know whether to laugh at her words or worry at her thinking. She is worrying about that? And everyone seems to thinking my way too.

"And before you guys ask me to spend, I don't want to do that. I am completely broke." She immediately added.

"Then what do you want to do alone? Because even we are going to get a spa treatment." Kalyan asked frowning at her.

"I will stay in my room or go out. I will be here completely ready by the time Karthik asks me to. It will be fine, right?" she asked, looking at us.

"We will pay for you." Preetha offered.

"No! I am not interested in them. I already have best treatments from Mehrin's place." She said, shaking her head and immediately slapped her forehead.

"Why do we hear new things right now? Why didn't we ever have them? Why didn't Mehrin never offered them to us?" Chitra asked, looking at her.

"Actually, her grandma has control over it and it is only for family members, but somehow I got tagged along. Mehrin has no control at all. So, don't think bad about her." Rashmi asked, looking at Preetha and Chitra.

"Fine, fine! Now, we will definitely not pay for you." Chitra waved her off and she just chuckled.

"So, you guys enjoy while I will go back to my room to have a small nap. My head is still aching a little." Saying that she stood up, but stopped looking at me.

"What?" I asked, looking at her.

"At what time?" she asked back.

"Uhmm... six?" I replied kind of not sure myself.

"Okay!" with that she walked off and we all stood up as we already finished our breakfast.

"Karthik! Were you feeling bad about not having your phone or were you jealous of Kalyan?" Rohan asked the moment Kalyan and others walked out while we stayed back to sign in the complimentary breakfast list.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, laughing and followed the others.

Jealous? No way, right? Why would I even feel that? I asked myself continuously and spent the whole day until evening about that and also about the plan for romantic dinner. I think I will go crazy by the time this trip ends.