~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grey

For I was yours,
And you were mine,
To love me whole,
To love me right,
For fates have played
there moves ahead,
But its your eyes that hold me tight,
For I have lost my heart that day.
You made me still,
You made me warm,
You made me transfixed in your spell,
My heartbeat stopped the moment when,
You stared at me with your grey orbs.

By: Trishala. A.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*****

I opened my eyes at the sound of announcement, finally my flight landed. As the passengers started to get up and leave, I sat there silently watching them.

I didn't knew that I was the last one to leave the flight as I was busy observing the people around me, some were with their families, kids crying as their mothers tried to calm them. And some were busy to get back home, everyone had some purpose or the other and here I'm clueless about my life, questioning myself what I'm basically going to do about it.

The flight attendant gave me a polite smile, as I left....reclaiming my bags; from the baggage counter I tapped my feet while they were checking my passport. After doing the needful, I went straight to the waiting lounge as I couldn't find out the person I was looking for.

I plumped myself on the plush cushioned chairs as I called my broker Henry, he was the one who found out a small room kitchen apartment rental, because it was really difficult for me to find out a plausible living shed with my budget that I could freaking afford.

So whatever came in my way, I accepted it with opened arms.

I dialled in his number from my contact list leaning over the cool surface of the glassed table, it rang for a few minutes and then he cut- it off.

Huh! Strange, he never really does that....

I continued calling him again, but in the end I got the same results, a strange shiver ran down my spine, as I got nervous and anxious, the worry of being totally alone in an unknown country ran through my mind, without any contacts and knowing out my way, was eating me alive.

I decided to wait some more, a thought of doing something recreational ran through my mind, I was bored of waiting....Every now and then I glanced up at people around me, no one seems to be familiar as that short haired, middle aged broker Henry, it was the basic look that I could recall from all those Skype calls I made with him.

But then suddenly a girl came in front of me with a huge bag in her hands, I can very well say from the looks of it that she was an artist, as I couldn't miss the huge canvass stuck in her arms and not to mention her huge suitcase which was telling the story itself. She also arrived at the airport just like me.

She gave me a polite smile as she firmly stared at me in the eye, okay this is getting weird.....normally I get awkward when I face eye contacting people but from her features I could make out that she is a fellow Indian, but in my case this is bad,what if she really knows me?.

Damn! Did media leaked my images on the internet, I should have been alert.....indeed there were some reporters back when I left the Millenrai Ville.

"Hey excuse me, if you don't mind.... can I sit with you, all the chairs are occupied" She asked me nervously, phew this was news.... at least she doesn't know me.

Well, what can I say? I was bored and god has sent this angel herself in front of me, so why not have some fun.

I grinned as I offered her the chair beside me, on which I had kept my sling bag.

"Yeah sure! Why not, by the way are you an artist?"

I asked her to strike up a conversation, it was all very well planed act, that I remembered from my 'People's Friendly 101' session forced to attend under the pressure of my so called Jyaya. As much as I hate it, they made me learn how to strike up a conversation in a friendly manner, it's funny and weird I know but no one can do anything, because my so called Jyaya was convinced that I'm socially awkward, but now I guess they weren't totally a waste.

As I saw the girl in front of me look all of a sudden excited, her eyes sparkled, like literally she looked really happy.

"Oh! Yes, how do you know?, I mean I do like painting and sketching" I snickered at her reaction, she was sure short a bubbly kind of person.

"Well I guessed that from your canvass" I smiled at her.

"Oh isn't that oblivious, off course my huge canvass told you the story, by the way I'm Aditi Ray"

She held out her hand firmly towards me

But I paused.....

Shit.....

What I'm supposed to do! I mean she most certainly held out her hand towards me, should I held out my legs for it? or maybe a fin......as the saying goes a paw for a paw, a fin for a fin.....but she doesn't have a fin, That would be stupid right ? but I have seen people doing different kind of handshakes, there is this cool handshake in which you fist bump each other but her fingers are all straight, certainly she doesn't intends to do a fist bump, then there is this promise shake in which you spit on your hands but wait.... what I'm supposed to promise here? And won't it be gross.

Am I thinking too much.....

I never thought about this before.....but she certainly told me her name...

Blast! Now she wants mine too..

I mean that's the mandatory process, if someone tells you your name you should do the same or else it's considered rude. But then what name should I tell her, definitely not a Millenrai.

I stared at her hand for a good two minutes, but I guess Aditi felt it too awkward, but before she could retrieve her hand back, my brain started working and I guess, I held out my hand grabbing hers, giving it a strong jerk.

"Kiara....it's Kiara Gyon"

Tell.....about being awkward.....

"Well, that was really a strong handshake, isn't it" Aditi smiled at me, as I couldn't stopped myself sweating in front of her, I was already under two feet of my grave hiding due to embarrassment caused by me.

"So are you a tourist? Or something" she said continuing the conversation, but this is bad, if she asks more questions it will include more lies but I couldn't help it.

"No, I'm here for my studies...." I continued, it's a progress as it's not totally a lie.

"A student well that's interesting...."

Before she could ask me more questions I asked her back.

"So you also live here? Or are you a student like me"

"Oh, yes I'm also a student, actually I live here with my brother, I'm an Indian but my family is based in London, so back from my vacations now, as the school is starting from day after tomorrow..." she was rambling out her story as I patiently listen to it, I noticed for a person I just met, she indeed talks much, but suddenly her phone ranged and she picked it up

"Hello, Mom!....yes yes I reached at the airport...what Eddy is not coming to pick me?!....ok I'll take a cab....Yeah, will take care..... Love you!" she looked at me apologetically, after attending the call, yeah she most certainly going to leave me alone.

"I guess its Goodbye Kiara, I hope I'll see you someday?" She smiled at me picking up her bag.

"You never know Aditi, it's a huge city we may never cross paths again"I gave her my best smile

"It's a small world Kiara, you never know" she grinned at me not before waving me goodbye and disappearing out of the airport.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was exactly two hours and forty fives minutes since Aditi left and here I'm still waiting on the airport, banging my head on the coffee table as my patience level was drastically tearing apart,I was utterly bored of sitting ideally on the chair.

A bing sound made me go all jumpy as I realised I got a text message. Opening my screen lock, I found a text from Henry.

Finally!!

*

From: Henry

I'm really, really sorry Kiara I know your flight landed, like three hours ago and you must be wondering why I'm still not there, but I got an emergency situation here, I hope you forgive me. I'm sending you the address of your apartment, hope you reach there safely.

A/08, Lincoln Hall,

35 Street,

Machlyne Docks.

*

I let out a sigh of breathe; as I typed quickly a Take care message back to Henry, he was a sweet man though.

Grabbing the cold metal handle of my suit case and putting my backpack behind me I slopped my way towards the exit.

*

It's been another half an hour and still I haven't reached my apartment yet, the reason-there is no taxi available here, it's been 7.00 pm in the evening, but I feel it's already midnight because the streets were deserted with more or less of little population left.

I snuffled in my jacket beside me as a cold wind past by, I was not used to cold climates, back there in Mumbai we always had a humid atmosphere.

Walking by the footpath across a brightly lighted coffee shop and a flower shop opposite the lane, I stared at the dim doors of the shops. I was minding my own business walking on my way, using Google Maps to find out my apartment, as I saw that Machlyne Dock is about two streets away.

Well at least technology never betrays me!

But I guess that was the worst thing I had ever done, walking alone in the streets in an unknown lane in a total different country without knowing my way out.

That was really brave of me.

Immediately I stopped dead in my tracks, there was a scream across the lane, I narrowed my pupils towards the commotion coming from the flower shop,

I saw a Silhouette of a Man emerging out from the flower shop, perhaps running towards my direction,

It was really dark, for some uncertain reason even the street light couldn't limelight the features of the Man...But I guess my luck was totally ruined, I was so much lost in my own thoughts that I failed to notice the dead end of the pavement as my feet stuck and I tumbled forward, but the actual cheery on the top of the cake movement was when that Man running across me, crashed straight into my way making me fly away like a bug aside on the road.

I gave a 'oomph' sound as I fell hard on the cold ground, my suitcase falling out of my hand and to make the situation even more worse, I fell on my sprained hand, so the pain was excruciating, I was so lost in grieving at my own misfortune that I didn't noticed that the certain someone standing in front of me watching me carefully.

And then I realised that the Man who crashed with me was still there because of my cries.

I looked up at him from my teary eyes, the pain that was caused gave me my own share of water logs.

And looking up at the person....I was shocked, awestruck and frozen....two piercing grey eyes were staring back at me, he was quite tall and intimidating, but from the looks of him one can say that he was around my age, but I couldn't see his face, he was wearing a half mask on his face conceiving his identity, wearing a simple black hooded jacket and ragged jeans there he was staring at me intensely.

I can very well say that he got some muscles out there, from the way his jacket hugged his torso, he's certainly bulky out there.

His hair's were poking out of his hoodie, they were dark and alluring mahogany locks.

But the thing which actually caught my attention rather than his alluring eyes, were the bunch of daffodils neatly wrapped in a paper forming quite an elegant bouquet.

It was really amusing to see such an intense looking boy holding a bouquet of daffodils and that too running with it.

As if noticing my cries he flinched, his eyes softened and he bended down at my eye level.

He held out his hand to inspect my injury, but for some reason I was bending away from his touch, finally grasping my hand he inspected it, as there was some nasty looking blue coloured wound was formed on my skin.

But as soon as he touched my hand, I relaxed, I thought I could trust him, it is really strange I never trusted strangers in my life, I have always learned in harsh way, that the world is full of cruel people, always ready to make you their next prey, but somewhere deep inside me told me that this boy standing in front of me, will make me forget all my worries.

His hands were surprisingly warm enough then I thought, as he trailed his long fingers around my wound.

"Damn.... It looks really bruised.....you need some first aid out here", his voice was deep and alluring but there was something peculiar about it, as I can feel some uncertain vibes from him.

Is it just me that I feel my heart going into certain frenzy whenever he touched my skin?

Then again I don't know this guy, so most certainly I'm not in love with him, stupid I know but I'm always open for options. And because of my bluntness I shocked him after that.

"Hey! You know I felt my heart beat going under frenzy, when you touched my skin, did you feel that?"

he froze, he took his hands off me, I smirked internally, I was acting naive most certainly no girl will ever try to say that even if she felt that, but what options do I have here

He most certainly doesn't looks like having any plans to leave me alone, besides I felt some bad vibes off him. I have seen these kind of vibes before, yes certainly how can I forget them.......it's the same kind of vibes that I held back in SC Louis of being a total 'bad news'

Even Rocky had that kind of vibes for being the bad boy.

So acting all crazy about this heart beat thing will most certainly make this guy believe that I'm crazy and will leave me on his own.

But only if I knew....

At first I thought he will just leave me abruptly, but he just stood there, still like a statue!

After some time something flickered in his grey eyes, I'm not sure but I certainly saw a pinch of amusement written over it.

But I didn't expected him to laugh at me, it was a vivid laugh, melodic to one's ear but for some unknown reason it gave me strange shivers, I was acting crazy he should be weird off me.

"Aren't you an amazing little girl sweetie, heart beats and all I see.......well I also felt them... surprised?"

Tell about being awkward.

Instead of running away from me, here he is standing laughing at me and teasing me and to my horror he did this weird air scratching gesture.

Is he a psycho on run?

Lost in my thoughts I didn't noticed him to come near me and before I could say anything his warm hands buckled around my knees and my back, as he carried me up in his arms, and trust me it was not at all amazing,

I know ignoring the part where I could feel his hands on the small of my back and the way I was held by his muscled chest.....it was not at all fun..... Trust me cause I felt like I was standing on the tip of Burj Khalifa any minute any second with a small drop, I can fall down to my doom.....as he held me high...

I wondered is it possible for someone to be so tall, but honestly it's not his fault I'm shorter than most of the girl's and me being Indian didn't helped my case.

All this time he held me up in his arms carefully holding me and his precious daffodils resting on my lap, but when I looked up at his face, I found him staring at me intensely with those calculating orbs.

That's when I realised how stupid I'm behaving, how could I go along with some stranger whom I just met, even though he mentioned that he will take me to the hospital but I couldn't trust some stranger even though if he's hot

Wait a minute! Did I just say that....

I mean I haven't seen his face yet and I'm thinking that he's hot!!! Oh please Kiara come back to your senses.

"Hey! It's alright!, I can manage myself, I'll call a taxi, no need to worry, you can put me down" I said him politely, but I guess he didn't liked it as his hands tightened around my frame and his grey eyes turned a shade darker!

Panic started building inside me what if he's a Kidnapper, a serial Killer or worst......a rapist.

He didn't replied to my request and started walking us towards a black Van, and then panic mode started, I tried to wiggle out of his arms, but the more I tried the more tighter his hold became, I tried to poke him on his chest but nope.....no reaction, it's like every time I tried he glared at me to be silent and continued walking ahead.

But when he spoke, it made my world go upside down for a second.

"Haven't your parents taught you princess, never to trust some stranger, you never know I can be a rapist or worse a psycho murderer" he said that in a monotone.

I was cold, almost pale, frozen for a minute but somehow I felt he wouldn't do that, call me stupid but somehow I felt that I could trust him.

We were nearing the car, and then I tried my best, I even screamed a bloody murder.

"You f**** shit, you bastard, let me go!! I don't want to go with you.... let me go!! Help somebody help" I started screaming for help as I was already in a lot of pain with my sprained hand and the situation was not helping much.

I tried to hit him with my good hand aimed on his jaw as soon as I hit it.....we stopped.....Hah! Take that pretty boy! .....can't handle a punch on face,

I tried to free myself while looking at him but the thing which gave me chills up to my spine was his laugh, he was snickering at me.

I started walking away from him, but my back hit the car.....Shit! I'm stuck!

I was scared the way he was laughing maniacally at me,

"You need to punch me a little harder princess, but I'm quite impressed it was strong enough....but it doesn't work with me" By the time he caged me in his arms, pulling me forwards as I could feel his warm breaths on my neck.... making me shiver....

But I kept fighting and pushing him away from me, screaming a freaking warrior cry,

"Shh....Shhh....no need to scream, I was joking.....trust me for once, little one.....let me help you....you are in pain" Immediately his sarcastic voice softened with concern and at that minute I almost agreed.

But life held's a lot of surprises, as I saw a shoe with the speed of two kilometres per hour hitting the grey eyed boy in front of me right on his head!

BAM!!!

A freaking women's shoe! .....immediately the grey eyed stranger released me, as he caressed his bruised head.....and then came a huge booming female voice......

"You creepy looking thief!!!! What the hell are you doing with her!!!! Go away from her!!!! You mother....f**"

before she can continue with her excellent vocabulary, the girl threw another shoe along with her Gucci handbag along his way as he skilfully dodged them and ran away zooming out in his car not before taking away his bouquet of daffodils.....I mean seriously nowadays boy's and there flowers!

Apparently I had gone back to my total blank mode......confused was the word that fitted in my situation best, everything happened so fast in less than a minute...because it's not like every day when you cross path with some beautiful grey eyed stranger....

Lost in my thoughts I forgot about the girl in front of me, I saw her nearing towards me and as soon as I saw her face in the dimmed street light, a gasp escaped my mouth, she was non-other than 'Aditi Ray' herself and not to forget she had a peel of banana hanging off her shoulder and was smelling weirdly as she came near me, for a second I thought that maybe I have mistaken, but she really was Aditi Ray.

"Aditi....is that you?" I whispered nervously unsure what to do about the situation, but as soon as I asked her she stumbled on her feet's and removed her one shoe jiggling in front of me and to my horror a half eaten pizza slice tumbled out of her shoe!

Was this girl bathing with a dust bin!

"Don't look at me like that Kiara, I know I look like a shit right now, but can't help it.......it was all his fault that bloody thief, by the way did he tried to hurt you....thank god I came at the right moment, he could have abducted you, are you sure you are alright" She huffed at me as I mentally murmured that he wasn't going to abduct me, in fact he was going to help me.

But whom am I kidding, he was a stranger and definitely his way of helping that is carrying me up like a game ball and threatening me to come along with him, on pretext of helping definitely fit in my case.

"No I'm fine, thanks for saving me I guess....But you know he was really weird....he had a bouquet of daffodils in his hands, I don't know why-" and before I could continue further, Aditi screamed a bloody murder by cursing the grey eyed stranger as flower thief and god knows what elude names....

"That stupid thief! He stole my daffodils, I wanted those flowers so terribly but he stole it away, and the saddest thing is that, when I tried to chase him, I crashed into a garbage bin at the sidewalk and the rest is the history"

"A flower thief" I mumbled myself getting amused with it, for all he stole flowers from her nothing else....but still he was a thief right...

I tried to get up with my hand, using them as a support but I immediately regretted it, a string of pain tingled on my bruised wound forgetting about it, I winced in pain immediately Aditi came by my side as she saw my bruised hand.

"That sick monster gave you this! I hope he dies in pain, look at your hand Kiara it's already bruised, we should certainly go to a doctor"

"I know, it actually hurts badly...." I hissed in pain as I moved my hand.

We visited a nearby doctor and got my hand bandaged, luckily doctor said it was not a major wound and told me to look after my hand for next two weeks. Aditi paid my bills because if I even tried to pay for the treatment, it would have caused a nifty hole on my savings, the normal treatments here are quite expensive.

So now I'm forever in debt to her, not that I'm never returning it back.

"So let's tuck you home shall we, we don't want any more accidents and encounters with thief's, hey you didn't told me where you live" she asked me, grabbing my suitcase as we walked down the parking lot where she parked her expensive looking car.

Aditi basically belonged to a very wealthy and educated family both her parents were doctors that's explains her car, but the thing which was amusing me the most was that, even though her family belonged to a long history of doctors, she decided to study arts as her field. I also came to know that she is really passionate about her field; she even showed me a few pieces of her artwork clicked in her cellphone and let me tell you, I was downright impressed by her.

"Do you stay with your parents?" she asked me as we started driving on the main road.

"No actually it's my first time here, and besides I'm orphan." I smiled at her as I could feel the tension building inside the car.

"Oh! I'm sorry....you know it's actually getting awkward here, we can change the topic if you don't want-"

"No it's alright there's nothing to hide and it was already long time back, they......they died in a car crash when I was five and since then I live in an orphanage and was under foster care for last three years....and now I'm here because I got a scholarship"

"Hey scholarship that's pretty cool! Which school have you joined?"

"Elite High, what about you"

"Oh my god! How lucky! I go to that same school, that's amazing, so you are one of those lucky scholarship students's huh"

"Yup I'm" I nodded at her, somehow knowing someone from my new school made me a little less nervous.

"So what are you major subjects, like mine is arts and besides Elite High provides a lot of courses of your own choice to pick"

"Umm, I have taken Computers, Mathematics along with business studies.." I told her nervously because these combinations of subjects were quite different.

"Oh, I see we got some smart ass girl out here, honestly me and maths never walked hand in hand but you know that's quite an interesting combination, as I said it's up to you what subjects you wish to choose"

After sharing some more talks we reached my designated address.

"...Okay here we go.... look out, I guess we reached your address"

We parked in front of an old looking apartment, but from the looks one can say that it was really an old apartment building, but it doesn't matter in my case, it was cheap and for sale.

" Hey Kiara are you sure this is the address, I mean I don't want to be rude, but this building looks like it's going to fall apart any minute, and besides its quite far away from our school are you sure you'll be alright.....I won't mind of you staying at my place"

"Nope it's alright, thanks for the offer Aditi I'll manage and I'm glad that you paid my hospital bills, will pay you back soon"

"Oh come on! Aren't you a sweet little girl don't embarrass me now, we are friends" she came forward and hugged me tightly to my surprise.

"Here take my number if you need anything just call me and if it hurts much take the painkillers, okay so now I guess it's a goodbye......looking forward to see you at the school"

"Yup goodbye" we wished each other goodbye as I walked ahead to my old looking apartment building as she zoomed away in her car.

But there was this certain grin plastered on my face when I thought about Aditi, I guess I just made a new friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Surprise! Surprise....... update to all my readers out there!!!!!

Next update goals 20 plus votes*

You met this grey eyed hot stranger;) and Aditi Ray, my very own two new characters!!!!

Jolt down your reactions......

Meanwhile Kiara is busy dreaming about someone with grey eyes....;)

Kiara: Why the hell he eye rolled at me like that!

*

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