"I've never been here at night" Khyati walked ahead of him. "Well, you shouldn't because it's a hookup spot at night. A good girl like you shouldn't be here" he chuckled. "Oh and how many girls have you been here at night with?" She scoffed and walked ahead.

His strong veiny arms went around her waist and lifted her off the ground and set her on a different trail. "That way leads you straight into the lake. And I've never been here with a girl other than you" he smiled. She turned around and walked closer to him. He looked at her with hope until she sniffed him. He face-palmed himself internally. Why does he even hope for her to ever make a move?

"You've been smoking again." She grimaced. "I didn't. My friend did" he lied seamlessly. "Which friend?" She looked him in the eye. "Akash!" He heard a familiar voice call out and he immediately covered her existence by merely holding her behind his back.

"It's good to see you here. Who's that?" The man ran upto them. "None of your business" he warded of coldly. "It is my business now that you've been slacking off in the business. I heard you were follo-" the man shut up as Akash placed a strong arm over the other guy's shoulder and held it. "You're not taking over it. And stop investing so much time into me. I'm not into you. " He cut the guy off.

"Fine. Who's the girl? I like her figure. Wanna swap?" He asked after pushing Akash's hand off and stretching his shoulder slightly. A girl with highlighted hair stepped in. "Hi handsome" she giggled shamelessly. "Out of my way" he warded. "Don't be such a dick. It's a pretty one" the guy continued peeking at Khyati who was clutching onto his t-shirt tightly. "Get lost before I decide to get rid of you" he scowled. The two glanced at Akash and backed away.

He turned around and asked, "Are you fine?"as he zipped up the jacket completely. "Who were they? Don't tell me it's people from the office because I've seen your dad's associates and they act nothing like this" she was trying to act as calm as possible. "Khyati. There is always a dark side to business and this was some of it. This is the guy I stepped over to get the trading rights. This is how it works." He explained with a sigh.

"I'll trust in you. I don't know anything about business so I'll go with what you said. Just know that if you're doing something wrong, tell me. Maybe we can fix it. And I'm friends with Alesha and Meera. You know how dark they can be. So, I can take in a lot." She reminded instead. "I know. I'd say you should be vary of them. At least a bit. Remember the last time Alesha tried to explain sex and everything to you. You guys are lucky I was the one that caught you and not your mom" he reminded.

"You should be thankful that she blocked my mom with a chat while you doused your bloody cancer stick" Khyati snapped back. "It's a cigarette. I don't do it often. You know that!" He tried to reason it out but, if there's one thing she couldn't stand it was smoking.

"Will you cry?" He switched to another topic. "Why would I cry?" She asked. " When I go. I feel like you'll cry" he elaborated softly. "Why would I?" She looked away.

"You surely will" he smiled. "Bo-" a man stood short of words when he noticed a girl by his side. "Why are you here?" Akash looked annoyed. "Bo?" Khyati questioned. Akash glared at the man. "Bro. I was calling him bro. It's been so long bro is what I was going to say" the man was quick to his feet.

"You guys are friends?" Khyati asked as the man looked harmless. "I'm Dhruv" he held out his hand. "I'm Khyati" she shook his hand. "Oh. I know. You're his friend right? Best friend if I'm not wrong" he added. "We did not ask for your presence" Akash looked more annoyed than ever. "I asked for yours but, you never came" he shot back. " You guys talk. Meera's calling. I'll talk to her" Khyati was about to walk away.

"You're friends with Meera? The one that's your neighbour?" The man's eyes lit up. " Yeah, why?" She asked. "I know her" That's what he said but, his eyes and blush gave him away. "Okay cool. You guys talk I'll be right back"  Khyati walked off. "Hey can I join you. It's no fun talking to that rock-headed person" Dhruv jogged up to her. "Watch your words" Akash snarled but, nothing could break down this happy man.

"You are hard-headed both literally and metaphorically. " Dhruv rolled his eyes. He then turned to Khyati and whispered in her ear, "I'll tell you a huge secret about him if you let me hear Meera's voice" "But, what if you are some sort of creep?" She asked. "He is" Akash guffawed. "Go look in the mirror" Dhruv scoffed at him.

" I'll just listen to her voice when she says hello and I'll go. Okay?" He offered instead. "Hey stop whispering. I don't like this one bit. " Akash looked uneasy. "Deal"

And a bit later when the man left, the one who looked shook was Khyati. "You're not even having your choco lava cake. What's wrong?" He sighed putting his napkin down. " If.... I mean if. You ever liked a girl. Would you straight away confess or lurk in the dark and threaten all your love rivals?" She asked. " He called me a stalker. Didn't he?" Akash scowled. "He didn't actually. He just said you were smoking near my house. And I clearly recall that I smelt it even in my room and then all over to Meera's house" she explained.

"And why would you put the love thingy in the situation?" He asked through gritted teeth. " That was supposed to be a cover up. So that you don't figure out what I was trying to ask" she gulped. "And you thought I was stalking you?" She nodded. " I wasn't stalking you but, I did plan on giving you a jumpscare. And that was when I saw your room was empty. Then I texted you. So I don't know if anybody was there before me. Was there anybody before me?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Obviously not."

"Stalker" she whispered. "I'd rather not" he smiled. Maybe it was time to begin the plan.

"There's a hotel nearby. It's terrace has a nice view." He smiled innocently. "Sure"

When she said sure, Khyati did surely not imagine herself hanging upside down in the middle of nowhere.