I clutched Kush's hand tightly, contemplating my stand.

"Hi, Sara. How are you?" he called out, his hand snaked around the girl's waist tightly. His lips curled into a smile and his shiny hair set into a defined turn. He looked like a rock star with his bronze leather jacket with a black T-shirt inside which quoted 'Bite me.' Sure. Send a vampire this way, please!

"Hi," I said dryly.

Kush looked at Sid with the same amount of intrigue. "Kushal Kumar Roy," Kush greeted Sid with a handshake, as he must have remembered him from the party.

"Siddharth Kashyap," he introduced, just then the girl squeezed his arm. "And yeah, she is Sonia..Eh..Ms. Sonia."

"Sonia Joshi," the girl finished the awkward introduction, irritated. "You don't even know my full name. I must have mentioned three times already!" She gave him an accused stare and then swiftly walked away muttering under her breath which sounded like 'Pig, Men, or dogs.'

Before I could stop myself, I laughed out loud. Oh yes, this was my chance, I knew it. "It's no wonder you don't have any girlfriend!" I cocked my head to the side. "Kush, let's dance." After giving him one last look, I gave my full attention to Kush. I was giving him my best of smiles with a little bit of caressing his shoulders while we danced.

Meanwhile, the handsome jerk found his new amusement and started swaying her to the beat. It was like he didn't need to look for himself. The girls automatically drew towards him like ants to sugar. But who would stay with him with that kind of attitude? Haa! He would never have something special. But again I shouldn't think about him. At least now our case was closed. I had given him back the insult which he threw at me.

"Sara!" Kush snapped his fingers in front of eyes, bringing back to the present.

"What?" I asked, scowling.

"What happened between that jerk and you? You look distracted," he asked giving me a spin and then pulling me back again. I never told him about Sid taking me on a date.

"Nothing really, I just don't like him," I pressed my lips together thoughtfully.

"That, I can see," he smiled, his mood seemed to have lifted. The smile stayed on the corner of his mouth. Before I could ask him about the reason of his secret smile, Tanya marched towards us with a grin plastered on her face.

"Guess what just happened?" she giggled, her eyes bursting with joy.

Before we could roll our eyes, a tall guy came from behind her with a goofy smile on his face. "Hey, I am Rishikesh Panda." He introduced himself, looking adoringly at Tanya.

We were more confused by then. "We were in the same school. And Rishi recognized my face." The excitement was quite evident. It had become a little squeaky with erratic hand gestures on her side. Well, it was obvious, because the guy was good looking, with tall frame and geeky glasses, way more handsome than her Ex-boyfriends put together.

"Hi Rishikesh, its nice meeting you," I smiled back.

"Call me Rishi!" he said.

"Yes. It's Rishi," Tanya squeaked again. I noted in my mind that I would have to take her class on 'how can we not appear like a teenager.'

"Which was the school?" Kush interjected, looking a little suspiciously at him.

"Delhi public School, for one year. I think we were in 6th grade," he replied, looking at Tanya for confirmation.

"Totally. We did have a lot of fun there, right?" she spoke, apparently smitten by him.

"We did," he beamed. I noticed the look exchanged between them. Did those things still happen in these modern times? Connections and stuff. Then my gaze automatically drew towards Sid, who was now walking in our direction. What did he want now?

"Hey man," Rishi gave a shoulder hug to Sid. It took few seconds to realize that they apparently knew each other.

"Hey Tanya, and guys, meet my friend, Siddharth," he grinned, his arm still draped around Sid. "Sid, she is Tanya my schoolmate and her friends, Sara and Kushal."

Tanya's earlier smile faded as quickly as it had come. She shook hands with Sid, throwing a glance in my direction, her excitement regaining. She gave me 'what-are-the-chances' smile and told Rishi about our date. Just then, Kushal's phone blinked. Hurriedly, he excused himself and went out from the back door of the club to take the call.

"It was a very pleasant evening," Sid said with a wicked smile.

"Until a teenage boy spilled water on my dress," I smirked and went cold.

"Yes. Ms. Anand has hardly any patience towards another human being. Imagine that!" he replied coldly as his eyes narrowed down.

"Oh. Hush...hush... you two. Let's forget about the past and enjoy our evening!" Tanya put hands between us in a slightly dramatic way. I tore my gaze away from Mr. Arrogant to Tanya. I hissed in her ear. "A word if you will."

After getting away from them, we went to the bar counter, my thinking going wild with the music. God, how could somebody irritate and annoy you at the same time? Never in my life had I come across such difficult personality!

"What Sara?" Apparently, Tanya was also giving me a glare.

"I will not be able to bear the company of that man!" I exclaimed, stating the most obvious thing, which my dear friend was finding difficult to fathom.

"For me?" she asked with a puppy dig look.

"Nope." I put my hands on my hips. I was not going to get emotionally blackmailed by her.

"I am asking you for a favour. Just remember the countless times, I drove you around." She had played her card right!

"Fine. Only this one time!"

"Okay. But I have one condition," she said earnestly. "You have to pretend to be nice in front of him. Normal. Okay. Or maybe not. Just be nice. Your normal is scary." She chortled as if pulled off a great joke.

Just as we were resumed our way to the two pleasant gentlemen, I remembered something. "What about Kush?" I stopped short.

My darling Tanya was back to earth again, looking more muddled.

We both looked in the direction of the back door and saw Kush approaching. He seemed to think hard when he finally stood before us.

"I have to leave," he shouted, his eyes watery. "Disha wants to meet."

"Are you serious? How can you even consider?" I asked bewildered.

"Please, you guys. I have to listen to her side of the story. Don't stop me!" and he walked off hurriedly through the crowd. We stared at his back as he disappeared through the exit.

"Come on. He will be all right." Tanya murmured gently, turning to me.

I nodded and went to join the 'gentlemen.' We sat in the corner booth with red lighting and plush sofas. Before I could jump beside Tanya, Rishi quickly grabbed the seat beside her. Naturally, Sid and I communicated our disappointed with each other. I moved to the seat in front of Tanya, immediately fishing out my phone to pass my time. To my annoyance, she narrowed her eyes with a frown on her face, making me keep the cell phone back.

When Sid moved beside me, I couldn't help to get the electrified currents with his casual grazes along my arm. I cursed inside looking for anything that would distract me from him. The close vicinity was discomforting, not entirely!

As the conversation went on, Rishi and Tanya got their heads almost joined, whereas Sid and I were looking wary. Occasionally he would step on my feet under the table. I replied with a look that screamed irritation.

"Why are you so hostile towards men?" asked Sid, sipping his drink leisurely. His eyes danced with amusement as he continued to regard me over the rim of the glass. "Did someone piss you off? Or you have something against the men in general."

I counted my breaths at his stupid remark. "I am friendly to men in general. It's the cocky men that I hate with my heart, who are manner less, who think that they own the freaking world and give no respect to a lady."

"Oh, so you hate me?" he chuckled, leaning closer.

"Finally, you have figured that out! Thank the Lord for that," I mocked sarcastically tapping my foot under the table. His scent entered my nostrils. Definitely musk and sweat! How could it be so enticing?

"Do you want to know some interesting fact?" he whispered in my ear, still moving closer, invading my personal space. I held my breath and watched the two of our friends, being so ignorant of our conversation.

"I...Whatever!" I stammered tapping my feet furiously. His signature perfume finally filled my head, intoxicating me.

"They say that there is always a thin line between love and hate," he whispered almost touching his lips to my hair. I gave him a sharp look by turning my head with apparent bewilderment. And damn! Our nose touched, a feathery touch. God save me, please! It was so close that I could see my reflection in his grey eyes. I was unable to speak out my usual sarcastic reply. Instead, I breathed in his smell. Mint, maybe.

"So," he murmured, keeping still. "You might just love me."

I gulped nervously, as the blood was rushing through my veins. I was unable to comprehend the reason for that. Maybe it was the intimidation he was trying on me. Or probably a raw attraction mixed with pure anger fuelled what came next. "Love? Haaa. Bite me!" the respond was loud enough to attract our friends' attention. Thankfully by that time, I moved away from his arrogant face. After only a few seconds the duo was again back discussing something so damn important, with their heads back together.

"Really? Do you want me to bite you?" he muttered under his breath, leaning in. "I have a good set of skills in that area." The smirk rose on those thin lips.

I threw a deathly glare at him while he was happy with his intelligent response. "Why? Are you a vampire?" I mocked flipping my hair back.

"I wish I was," he whispered, eyeing my bare collar bone. With that, I drew my hair around my shoulders to hide from his gaze that was making my heart thump like a drum.

"Excuse me," I stood up abruptly, needing a cold water on my flustered face. "I will be back."

The duo nodded while Sid made a way for me to get out of the booth. Gladly I was in the washroom, all by myself and other strangers. I splashed water and studied my reflection. The girl in the mirror was flustered, looking wide-eyed and nervous. Why the bloody hell he had so much of effect on me? Stupid drinks! I am not going to drink again. That was a first.

"Sara, pull it together. You are a strong woman. Yes. He can't intimidate you. You can't allow him," I ordered the reflection sternly and walked out of there with confidence.

When I got back after long minutes, all three of them were standing. Tanya pulled me to the corner. "So listen, I was thinking. I mean... Can you go with Sid? He will drop you to the apartment." She finished with desperation written all over her face.

"Why? Where are you going?" I queried.

"Rishi and I are going for a quiet walk, maybe hit a marine drive," she told with all her innocence pulling together in her eyes.

"Oh. So are you ditching me?" I accused, feeling annoyed.

"No. Sid promised that he would drop you."

"Ok. Go. It's been a long time since you had a date." I sighed.

Blush rose to her cheeks, making her look cute. "Of course. It's not a date. It just is... you know... Old friends, catching up." She managed to croak.

"Whatever you say, sweetheart!" I laughed, bidding them goodbye. God, the woman, was certainly ready to have a new boyfriend. I smiled inwardly at her obvious attraction towards Rishi.

"Should we leave, Milady?" Sid spoke slowly, with the car keys in his hand.

I smiled fully, maybe too sarcastically before commenting, "I will rather walk home!"

He looked at me sternly before replying, "Suit yourself. I am out!" And just like that, he walked away again. I felt a little twinge of disappointment and then mentally slapped myself. I reminded myself that hailing a cab was better than to bear his company any longer.

VD3Enq^

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