CHAPTER 1: Part 3 (PARTY CRASHING)
~ ISHIKA (POV) ~
Okay, I admit it. This is quite nice. I was being difficult for nothing.
The music was good, the food looked incredible, but I still had that weird, sinking feeling in my stomach that something bad was going to happen.
The birthday girl had already cut the cake, but I hadn't seen "Hukum" anywhere. Now that I was here, I was actually curious. What is the deal with him? I don't know anything about him. Because of the restrictions growing up, I never really looked for him or even cared.
I was scanning the crowd when my eyes landed on a figure near the entrance. My blood ran cold.
"What the hell? What is he doing here?" I blurted out, my voice trembling.
"What happened?" Saanvi asked, her voice laced with concern.
I pointed in the direction of the intrusion, my jaw clenched tight.
"Lucky yaha? Isse kisne invite kiya? (Lucky is here? Who invited him?)" Mehak asked, her voice full of sudden fury.
"Are you afraid?" Saanvi inquired softly.
"What? No! Why would I be scared of him?" I scoffed, though my hands were shaking. "Just because he stalked me in ninth grade? We're grown-ups now... I'm going to get a drink."
"Bring me one too," Mehak said, trying to act casual but watching me closely.
I nodded and walked toward the bar, needing to put distance between myself and the past.
>>>>>>>
"Excuse me."
I froze. The voice came from right behind me. Balancing two drinks in my hands, I slowly turned around.
"Yes, what is it?" I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the churning in my stomach.
It was him. Lucky. Standing there with a smirk that made my skin crawl. I don't like this at all. He always had a screw loose.
"Ishika, how have you been? I never anticipated seeing you here," he said, stepping into my personal space.
"Me neither. I'm good," I replied, nodding briefly. "Excuse me."
I turned to leave, hoping to disappear into the crowd.
"I need your help. Can you help me, please?"
He stopped me by grabbing my elbow. His grip was unexpectedly strong, painful even. I glanced around nervously, searching for a guard, a friend, anyone.
"Only this once. I'll never ask you for anything else ever again," he pleaded, his eyes holding a desperate, manic intensity.
"What is it?" I asked, pulling my arm back slightly.
"My sister is trapped in the bathroom. She needs help," he said, his voice filled with urgency.
"Oh... is that so?" I replied, my voice laced with skepticism. "Sure. Where is the bathroom?"
"Come with me, I'll show you."
He seemed eager. Too eager. Reluctantly, I followed him, my senses on high alert.
We turned into a quiet hallway. As we walked further away from the music, I realized there was no bathroom here. And certainly no sister. My heart pounded against my ribs. I needed to leave. Now.
"Oh no, I forgot..." I started to turn back.
Before I could finish, he shoved me against the wall.
My soul nearly left my body. He was inches from my face, trapping me with his arms.
"Don't try to leave me. We are finally together," he whispered, his voice low and menacing.
My eyes widened in shock. He was clearly losing his mind. I had to think fast. Screaming might not work here; the music was too loud outside. I had to outsmart him.
Okay, Ishika. Academy Award performance time.
"I really did forget my medicine... in my purse on the white couch in the ballroom," I stammered, making my voice tremble. "I'm sick and..."
My voice trailed off as his finger brushed my lips to silence me. My heart hammered in my ears. Please buy it. Please buy it.
"Don't be scared, my love. I'll bring you whatever you want. I can do anything for you," he whispered, his breath warm and repulsive against my skin.
I forced a sigh, trying to muster a look of affection.
"You will do that for me?" I whispered, leaning my head on his shoulder. I even added a little cough for special effects.
He kissed the crown of my head. I suppressed a shudder.
"Wait for me here," he said.
He pulled away and disappeared down the hallway to fetch the imaginary purse.
The second he turned the corner, the realization sank in. Run.
I hitched up my dress and bolted out of the hallway, almost tripping over my heels. I didn't stop until I reached the top of the grand staircase. I paused to catch my breath, my heart racing.
Then, I heard a voice. A voice that was all too familiar.
I peeked over the railing and froze.
Bhai Sa.
What is he doing here?
~ AUTHOR (POV) ~
Mehak was frantically searching the crowd for Ishika when she was abruptly bumped into by someone. Hard.
Furious, she snapped at the stranger, " Dekh kar nahi chal sakte? (Can't you see and walk?)"
She looked up. He had a distractingly cute face, which only annoyed her more.
" Main toh dekh kar hi chal raha tha, aap hi... (I was looking, but you were the one who...)" he tried to defend himself, but he couldn't finish his sentence.
"How dare you call me blind?" Mehak fumed, crossing her arms.
" Main... Maine kab? (I... When did I?)" The boy looked bewildered.
.
.
.
Saanvi, who was witnessing the whole scene from a few feet away with a drink in her hand, shook her head.
'Ye toh gaya. Main kya karu ab? Let's drink.' (This poor guy is gone. What should I do now? Let's drink.)
>>>>>>>
"Hey handsome."
Saanvi was a little tipsy when she spotted a tall, handsome stranger standing near the bar.
"Hello beautiful," he replied, a charming smile playing on his lips. He looked a little tipsy as well.
"Are you alone tonight?" Saanvi asked. She wasn't bold because of the drink; she was bold by nature. The alcohol just helped.
"How can I feel alone when such a beautiful lady is talking to me?" he replied smoothly.
"Smooth," she giggled, leaning closer.
"Kiss me," she asked him.
Being the gentleman that he was, he could not refuse a maiden in distress.
.
.
.
Aanika was dancing the waltz with Kartik. Her head rested on his shoulder, and he stared down at her lovingly, ignoring the chaos of the party around them.
"Promise me you'll never scare me like that ever again," she whispered, looking up at him with eyes full of worry.
"Never," he vowed.
And they continued dancing, lost in their own world.