||CHAPTER 21||
《¤》

I don't know what had more beats per second; the music or my heart. But Vansh sure knew how to dance.

"So, what about my bad old self has got you hooked to me since the dusk?"

He chuckled lightly, which was weird because I heard it despite the loud music. "I think everyone is in shock seeing you all energetic and enthusiastic."

"Well, respecting the fact that I hate citric stuff, when life throws lemons at you-"

"You keep them in the fridge and then use it to make paneer. Yeah, I know, my eighth standard science textbook supported my mother's opinion."

I couldn't help but laugh, "Well, that's not what I was going to say, but that sounds delicious too."

He turned me around, my back now against his front. And boy, was that a fine feeling.

"Woah, you definitely do not have two left feet," I breathed out.

And the fact that Rita Ora's Body On Me started playing was not helping the whole situation at all.

"You keep on figuring me all wrong, Arvika," he said, his voice sizzling down my spine. What was with this sudden whirlwind inside my stomach?

"Well, I'm glad that I get to know you better then, you know, since people learn from their mistakes."

His hands were slowly sliding down my hips, and my brain was passing on its energy to my blood's pumping system.

"Do you want to know my next theory about you, Arvika?" He whispered, his hands sliding over my dress's belt loops, tightening his hold over me. His other hand kept running up and down my left thigh, making me momentarily close my eyes.

"Would my response affect your decision?"

"Nope," he sounded determined, "but our actions are clearly affecting your response."

He was such an arrogant observant specimen. Arrogant, and hot observant specimen.

"I don't think I'd like to agree with you," I move my hips to match the beat. "But let's move onto your thesis."

"Okay then," He sighed into my hair. "My theory about you says that this is something that you don't usually carry around."

I stopped, literally stopped grooving, when his hands wrapped around something, the this he referred to.

He had tensed up too, and I quickly wrapped my palm around his fist, trying to free my purchase of the day from his grasp.

"I'm a girl, if you haven't noticed. Lipsticks are something females usually carry around," I said, in a straight voice.

He turned me around, and I realised we were the only ones who were not swaying on the dance floor. I didn't dare look around, that was something that gave away most lies.

And that's why I committed the mistake of looking into his eyes, and trust me when I say they looked like rage personified.

"Mujhe nahi pata tha ki Mickey aajkal cosmetics ka bhi business karta hai," he said, shifting his gaze to the small cylindrical cover.

I gulped. "Kaun Mickey?"

The smirk that now grazed his features, was not something I liked. It was a nasty one.

"You sound really believable, Arvika," he said, in a low voice, bringing me closer, "but it's hard to believe you when I know the truth."

I didn't know my transactions were being public.

"Were you following me?" I ask, not even trying to hide my anxiety. He had caught me.

And he wasn't going to let me go.

Without replying, he dragged me out of the dance floor, to the place where the boys' had been lazying off.

"Vansh, stop!" I tried holding my ground, but there was a high chance of toppling down if I tried to stay put with him pulling me.

"Gana khatm hua nahi, aur dance ho gaya?" Ritwik asked as he saw us approaching. "Everything alright?"

I looked away when Vansh's gaze landed on me, "Yeah, everything's okay."

"I was asking Vickey, idiot," Ritwik joked.

"Well, actually," Vansh started, and I squeazed his hands hard, pleading him through my eyes to not spill anything.

"Actually what?" Arnav asked, a Breezer in his hands, and his eyes narrowed at the way I was holding his best friend's hands. "You will exchange your sweat if you don't leave your hands to themselves."

But I didn't leave his hands. I was in a very desperate condition. Vansh held my gaze for a moment before turning to them.

"Actually, Arvika isn't feeling very well, and mujhe bhi yaha ghutan si ho rahi hai. We are leaving for a walk outside, breathe some fresh air."

I breathed out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, andar suffocation mehsoos ho rahi hai. We'll be back soon."

"I don't think it's safe outside," Arnav said, taking a sip of his drink.

"Well, you also don't know that I can actually beat the shit out of anyone who tries something on me," I reply, less tensed.

"She would be with me bro, don't worry."

I didn't look back when Vansh dragged me out of the farmhouse.

¿¤?

I didn't have the guts to speak first, and I have no idea why. No one usually has that kind of effect on me, and Vansh Mehra surely shouldn't be having that effect. I felt like I was going to lose something if I didn't hold on to him.

"Are you going to explain yourself?" I was glad he broke the silence. We were standing against his BMW, the sedan that brought Ishita, Karan and him to the party.

"I don't understand why I feel like I need to," I said, biting my lip. "How did you even come to know?"

"Sanitary napkins don't smell like smoke-"

"I wasn't smoking with Mickey!"

"Well, you did go to meet him today! I saw you running after him when I had stopped you."

"How did you know the transaction was tonight?"

"One, everyone noticed how enthusiastic you were for this party, and two, I saw you going inside the room with Mickey."

"Well, that's great Byomkesh," I smiled sarcastically. "Now can I have what I bought?"

"Sure," he smiled back, before opening the lid and turning it upside down. Whatever had filled the inside, now was no more in it. He further proceeded to stamp on the powder, mixing it with the muddy water, before handing me the faux lipstick.

"What the hell, Vansh?"

"Right back at you Arvika, what the fucl<ing hell?!" He raised his voice. "Tum drugs kyu lene lagi?!"

"Obviously for reasons that I can't scream out to everyone!" I shouted, running both my hands through my hair.

"Well, drugs are not the right answer to your problems!"

I laughed. "Does it look like I have the right answer to anything? Anything?!" I was seriously going to hysterics if I didn't breathe properly. "Dude, everyone thinks I am some spoilt brat, and honestly? I admit I am, but I hate everything that's goibg on; the wedding, the company, Arnav! Mickey promised me that would have helped me feel better, and you just took the only chance-"

The rest of my words were drowned by water, quite literally. My face and portion of my neck was now drenched in water, and I blinked at Vansh who was standing with a bottle which was now empty and had materialised out of nowhere.

"Shh! What you need is not drugs," he said, coming forward and wrapping me in a hug so tight that I found it strange that I could finally breathe easily. "You need to inhale between every two sentences. Warna you will die out of being out of breath."

"I could have also died of hypothermia, you idiot," I said. "Tthanda paani kaun dalta hai muh ke upar jab koi baat kr rha ho?"

"Not really sorry," he released me, before motioning me to hop on the hood of his car.

After a few minutes, when my breathing had returned to normal, I laid back on the tinted back glass of the car. It was uncomfortable, but what was a life full of comforts?

"So, you have a lot going on in your life," he started.

"I used to feel like it's full of competition. And no matter what I did, it was always Arnav who came out as the winner," I couldn't hide the bitterness.

"Sibling rivalry isn't a very new concept."

I shook my head. "You don't understand, but I don't expect you to."

"Do you hate your brother?"

I thought for a while before replying. "I hate how he is always the one everyone chooses."

When he didn't reply, I continued. "I always knew ki Arnav is the good kid of our family. I had a hard time being a good girl kyuki... kyuki, nahi mujhe bhindi ki sabzi khana nahi pasand. Mujhe doodh se nafrat hai. Mujhe keechad me uchhalna pasand hai. Par Arnav golden child tha yaar, sabke nazron mein! Woh kabhi apne man ka nahi karta. And just because I was a bit stubborn, Arnav ke samne I was... nothing."

"Par... Arnav doesn't look like he was arrogant or enjoyed seeing your misery..?"

"That's what fueled my anger more! Somehow, he never thought of me as a nobody. Sometimes I felt like he pitied me. But sometimes, I wished my parents saw me like that too... Sometimes, I wish I didn't have to try too hard."

With his back against the window, beside me, he turned his head to face me while I kept on looking at thr stars. "What do you mean?"

My tear glands were churning, as I bit the inside of my cheeks. "Jab Mamma and Papa ka divorce hua, custody battle mere liye nahi ladi gayi. It was for Arnav! For some reason, it was always decided that I would go with Mamma," I bit my lips to refrain myself from crying. "They were fighting for him, Vansh! Why didn't they fight for me?! Kisine mujhe kyu nahi poocha ki mai kiske saath rehna chahti hu? Mujhe Mumbai nahi jaana tha, mujhe Daadi ke saath rehna tha! Why am I so damn unwanted?!"

I couldn't control anymore. "Kisine ek baar bhi meribtaraf mudke ye nahi poocha, ki Arvika, do you want to live with your mother? No! All because I am not the prized possession of this goddamn family! Kisiko meri parwah nahi thi!"

Years of frustation, confusion and anger was out in the open. My inferiority complex was out for everyone to judge me now.

I didn't stop the tears that raced out of my eyes. And neither did Vansh. All he did was just stay by my side, squeaze my hand and finally listen to my sob story.

So, for once, strangely, I felt accepted for being the way I am.

_____

Namoshtaii!

Does Arvika's sob story make any sense. Well, it sounded reasonable in my mind :P

All those people who wanted to know why she hates her brother, I hope you get me now.

I FINALLY GOT A TEN DAY HOLIDAYYYY but it doesnt matter cus my dad is gonna make me study anyway.

Anyways, I wanted to know if anyone knows how to make trailers, or is interested in making one for DJH. Also, if you want to make fanarts, pls DM me for the email id, and I will give you credits in the coming chapters! I wanna know what runs in your mind about the story, so if you are into making these picture edits, pls do so!

And #diljannachahega turned out pretty well, so thanks to all of you! Lets hope the the session 2 would be even better :D

Anyways, read, vote, comment and promote!!

~emcee.