Raksha,

Finally Friday evening and I was excited, I had been waiting for this since last week. I have plans to spend weekend with Adi. Though, I had other options too. Jordan had asked me out for a dance night, but I politely declined. I wanted revive my friendship with Adi. He has always been an amazing friend. We have been friends since kids, when my brothers would tease he would take my side. Adi had the patience like  mountain and that made people like him instantly. Veer always praised him and credited him for being an awesome friend and support. 

I recalled the derby day, I don't know why but I felt annoyed when Jade hugged and pecked Adi's cheek. She was all over him. Her eyes spoke her love for him. When everyone else cheered, Adi sat calm. I was aware it was his horse Ivory too participated, his confidence on his pet was so evident and Ivory didn't let him down.  Jade happily hugged  congratulating him. My palms crushed the lobby pass in my hand. Then something happened, I watched as Adi asked the tall man to leave and Jade kept herself hidden from his eyes. May be this was the reason all had praises for him. Jade thanked him walking away and Jordan followed his sister. Though, I could have left on my own, still I requested him to drop me. He obliged but refused to step in. And I was adamant on having a word with him. I wanted and craved his attention. As expected he consoled me like a baby before leaving, inviting me over the weekend. I checked my appearance once before moving down  the stairs. 

***

I could hear liveliness of the house right from the porch. I  stepped in the hall and found three friends chatted over the dinner table. Am I interrupting? I thought , he has invited me over the weekend and I invited myself over Friday night. I am so stupid, but somehow I felt alone in that castle like house. 'No, you actually are a spoiled brat. Who missed being pampered.' Chided my mind. I came here with lot of excitement and now I feel like an idiot standing at the door of dinning hall. In that moment I decided to leave, " Princess, what a surprise . Please join us" Anjali walked to me greeting me with a smile. I felt embarssed walking in uninvited. "Please take her luggage to her room." Anjali ordered the staff and walked me to the dine in table with her arm wrapped around mine. I lifted my eyes to look at Adi, he had his eyes  fixed on me a faint smile stretched over lips. James started coughing and Anjali patted his back offering him a glass of water. "Your throat is still bad, it has been more than a week. Why don't you see a doctor. " I suggested and his coughing increased. Strangely Adi coughed too. James quickly excused himself and Anjali followed.  I was being served dinner and Adi gestured me to have with his eyes. He was about to say something and just then Anika entered , she came running to me with open arms,  " you missed me friend" she asked and I missed.  I missed hugging  her. She made a serious face, " okay, we can have match tomorrow. Me and Adi  one team and You and James other team. " I agreed pulling her in my lap. She still had a deep cut on her forehead. I caressed it and now felt ashamed of being angry when Adi left abruptly, I looked at him apologetically and he smiled mouthing it's okay. 

After I finished , Anjali dragged Anika away leaving us alone. I followed Adi out in the lawn. He turned around smiling at me encouraging me to join him. " I am sorry,  I came uninvited." I started the conversation. He chuckled, " you don't need an invitation Raksha. We are friends remember."

I felt amazing and calmed. " so are your prepared for the match tomorrow " I chirped

He chuckled throwing his head back, I gulped staring the strech of his strong  macular neck. He replied breaking my thoughts, " I am, are you? Anika is too good for her age."

''I used to be too, until those restriction started building up.'' My voice suddenly dimmed. He stopped and stood opposite to me, ''Raksha, what happened then was to keep you safe. Had your grandmother not taken those steps, Brijesh would have taken you somewhere far, out of all our reach. We would have lost you.''

We! He said we. ''It would have bothered you too?'' I asked expectantly, and my heart started thudding mad waiting for him to respond. He stared at my face, took a step forward coming close to me. I didn't step back, ''Are you not aware that your pain bothers me? It had been for years Raksha.''

''Adi, I have always respected you as my friend. But my heart is scared to love. I loved Pawan with all my heart, I trusted him then. I fought for him , with my own family.He painted everything beautifully to my eyes and then I got to know I was just a pawn, to extract revenge on my family. What broke me most was involvement of the man I loved as a brother for years. Adi, it used to infuriate me when my family presented you as my future partner. I felt being pushed again. I am sorry for being rude to you then. '' 

He kept his eyes on my face and took a step closer, ''Its all forgotten and gone. Now, princess go and sleep. You have a match to play in the morning.''

''Watch out Prince, you might just lose tomorrow.''

''Anika is going to kill me if I lose this game. You have no idea how competitive that little girl is. '' I laughed watching his tormented expression. I hugged him pecking his cheek lightly. '' I will win tomorrow at any cost.'' He nodded patting my cheek. I walked back and then stopped, ''Will James be fine by morning, he seemed really sick.''

Adi laughed uncontrollably , he tried controlling and they broke into fits of laughter as I watched dumb found, ''Raksha , you are too naive for your own good. Go sleep, you need it for tomorrow.'' Shrugging my shoulders I just left. He kept laughing and I could hear hi till I walked upto the stairs. He has surely lost it.

***

Morning I was being woken by an excited Anika. She sat in my room pestering me till I was ready. I chose a three fourth and a black t-shirt. I used to be a good player back then and growing up with brothers had some of its own advantages, I had learned to be bit athletic.  I came down and moved to the lawn area, ''Hope you are feeling better James?'' and he coughed again.  controlling he replied, ''Much better, ready to rock.'' I nodded.

My eyes went to the marble bench where Anjali sat holding two different coloured pom-pom. ''Why two?'' I asked James

''four players, 2 teams and a single audience. She is supporting all of us.'' I nodded. The gardener was the referee, he blew the whistle marking the beginning  of the match. Adi was true, Anika was too good for her age. The girl took advantage of her height and made easy passes between our legs. It took me and James by surprise. She moved like a flash of lightning scoring a goal on us. She stylishly gave Adi a hifi as he twirled her around. ''We are making it easy. the girl needs some competition. '' James whispered and I nodded. Adi took the kick and I tried snatching ball from him. Damn, he is just to focused, hence I decided to use the trump card. I lightly brushed my arm against his , he froze. Giggling I passed the ball to James who scored a goal for us. Adi watched dumb found.  Anjali cheered for us swinging her pom-pom and Anika went mad with rage. ''You are my Mommy, sit.'' She then prowled to Adi, gesturing him to bend down. He did, she pointed her two fingers to her eyes and then his, ''Focus Adi, focus.''

We rolled over watching Adi nodding like a child. She scolded him nicely and we began the second half of the game. This time we paid attention whenever the girl tried to dodge us, but I didn't notice that even Adi was ready. He came in the direction of our goal post in full swing, I tried to implement my trick again, but this time he cleverly moved passed me slapping my but lightly. It was mine time to freeze. I watched as he kicked hard and James couldn't stop him from scoring the lead. They won and celebrated, James lifted Anika up on his shoulders walking in. I stood opposite to him with my crossed over my chest, ''What was that?''

He stared at my bust once moving to my eyes, ''First, stop crossing your arms that tightly across your chest. It distracts. Second, you very well knew your effect on me and this is why pulled that trick. What wrong if I pulled a little one on you.''

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came. His words about me crossing my arms over my chest kept ringing in my mind making me blush and stammer. ''You are impossible Adi.'' Stomping I ran inside. I am too flustered to talk anything. Running back to my room, I locked the door leaning on to it for few minutes. What just happened? Why did the run like that? shaking my head I laughed. Moving to the mirror, I pressed my heated cheeks. He calls me naive for not understanding things , then what should I call him for being affected that easily. Throwing my sweaty clothes off, I took  a nice warm bath and walked back into the room humming my favourite number. Somehow I love the room Adi made for me in his mansion. Its so me. I feel a sense of belonging here. Shunning my robe, I quickly got dressed moving out of my room. I questioned the staff about Adi's room and he guided me to it. Without thinking I barged in to scream at the top of my voice. That made others too run in the same direction. ''Adi are you trying to scare the girl?'' James asked a towel clad Adi, who stay stoic with his piercing eyes on me.

''It should me screaming not you. You barged into my room like a robber...''

''What did she rob Adi, your virtue? '' James asked playfully

''Mommy what is virtue?'' Anjali's eyes widen and she quickly ran off distracting her daughter. I stood there with my head hung low, I was dying to laugh aloud after what James asked. But I dare not, Adi will find some other way to pull my leg. ''Raksha, you can't just rob him of something so important, and Adi scream next time you are in danger. Its my job to protect you.'' With that James ran off, and Adi walked closer, ''What now? scream again I am still in towel.''

''Sorry, It just happened.'' I tried sounding serious and then broke into fits of giggles. He shook his head walking in and I followed. He moved behind the huge curtain and I crashed on his bed. My eyes moved in the direction of the curtain behind me, I could see the outline of his strong tall, muscular form as he threw the towel off. he got into trousers and then rubbed his wet hairs with his fingers. My breath hitched, no wonder he is being considered one of the most eligible bachelor back home. He then pulled a shirt up and then  he turned, I quickly  turned my eyes away, ''No need to turn now, I know you have been watching.''

''because you are displaying. Who leaves a free show.'' He raised a brow at my reply and then playfully stroked my cheek. ''Wanna come for a ride, on a bike?''

''What about your security?''

''That can be handled. Lets go.'' I was glad I accepted it. It was the best ride ever. It reminded me of my first ride , i was 16 then and strangely that too was with Adi.

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