"Abhishek can't you just wait for me? I'm stuck here." Sehra shouted at the boy who was making his way to the gate of Ishan's place.

"What?" He replied, turning around, his usual aggravated expression plastered on his face.

"My dress got stuck in the seat of your damned car." She said, her patience waning each passing second.

"And what am I supposed to do?" Abhishek raised an eyebrow, leaning against his car as he looked at the Verma girl who was struggling to get her dress out.

"Help me?"

Abhishek closed the distance between them with purposeful strides, coming so close that it ceased to matter.
   
"Don't you dare hurt my expensive car." He blabbered, though the girl in front of him was paying no heed to his words, all her attention on getting her dress out without ripping it.

"Oh look who's there." Krisha exclaimed as she walked towards the chaotic duo, Shubman walking right behind her.

"What happened?" He asked, as his eyes fell on Sehra and Abhishek.

"She probably can't get out of his expensive car." Krisha joked, highlighting the word.

"Let me help." Shubman insisted, taking a few steps closer to the car, and the girl.

"No need to. I'll see what's wrong with my expensive car." Shubman would have to lie to pretend he didn't notice Abhishek's envious glare, which made him awkwardly shrug and retreat.

"Let me see." Abhishek said. This time, his voice was calmer, steadier than before. He moved toward the co-passenger seat, his steps deliberate. Leaning in, his left hand reached for the corner of the seat where Sehra's dress was caught, while his right hand braced on the backrest, effectively shielding her from the curious eyes of the two friends standing nearby.

The faint aroma of his cologne enveloped her, stirring something unbidden inside her-a flicker of curiosity, confusion, maybe even intrigue. They were supposed to be enemies, weren't they? Yet here he was, mere inches away, and for the first time, she could see every detail of his face-the sharp angles of his jaw, the subtle crease in his brow as he attempted to get her dress out or the way his lashes casted shadows across his cheeks.

Her heart quickened, a foreign and unwelcome response. She hated that she noticed these things about him, hated even more the way her breath caught as the space between them dwindled. But what she hated the most was that the thoughts were about him.

But just as quickly as the thought emerged, she squashed it, clinging to the animosity that defined them. The soft tug of fabric signaled her dress was free. As if jolted back to reality, Sehra tore her gaze away, heat rising to her cheeks. She turned abruptly, looking anywhere but at him, unwilling to let him catch her staring.

"There you go. You can get off now." Abhishek exclaimed, his eyes wandering straight to meet hers, as he quickly tore his gaze away.

"If you don't move, how will I?"

"Oh yea, right." He fumbled, quickly getting away, managing to bump his head. As Sehra got off, Abhishek stood right beside her, locking his car.

"Welcome Miss.Verma. Everyone is waiting for you both." Krisha wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they started walking towards the main entrance.

"Hi Seh." Shubman waved at her, catching her off guard.

"Hey" she waved back, making an enchanting smile gaze his lips.

As they all headed inside, standing on the front door waiting for someone to open it, Sehra suddenly froze as she felt someone's presence behind her. She felt his hot breath graze her neck as he whispered in her ear.

"I'm never letting you in my car ever again, you little nuisance."

As if that wasn't totally a lie.

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