I am so sorry guys for flooding your notifications if there was a single button to republish like that of unpublished one then both of us work would have been easier but it isn't sooo

here we are...

Hi welcome back readers let's do this again 🥲

Back again where I left
Once again on Serra's journey
Let's make it to the end this time

Hopefully...🤞

Chapter 4 ~ Red dress(II)

Once in the car I let it dawn on me that he came. He came to pick me without me actually calling him.

Don't get too ahead maybe Dhruv sent him for me.

Ha! Like Dhruv really would go to that length for me... by talking to Sahil. Never, not possible for both of them to have a civilized conversation. Can't even imagine.

Sahil drove not rashly like Dhruv, he kept a moderate slow pace taking his own time when I wanted this ride to end ASAP.

I stayed still like a cold fish, I won't look at him without having a notebook and paper with me because if I do I would turn into a sad poet bleeding about my tragic love for him. And just looking at him opens all the gates of my raging feelings and care for him

God knows where they were coming from?

"I am thinking of taking you somewhere else," he said broking the thick silence in that light husky voice.

Annnnnd like a fool I defied myself and glanced at him.

His wild eyes were on the road, the grip on the steering wheel hardened when he felt me watching him.

"Why? Worried other guys will steal me from you?" I asked sarcastically.

"They better not" he chuckled darkly, shaking his head.

I tensed studying his profile bet he would kill anyone who dares to lay eyes on me.

"What will you do?" I asked in a stern voice.

When I was slapping away my alter ego who was fawning at him like a fool.

He glanced at me, "why are you concerned? Is there anyone specific anyone as the reason for which you avoided me all this time?"

"Why I avoided you? Why shouldn't I avoid you Sahil? I am some kinda your little secret that you are afraid to show to others why are you like this only when we are alone?" I questioned him.

He showed me all his sides dangerous side, playful side, angry side, broken and everything .. whereas with others he didn't.... actually... now that I think about it he puts distance with people I haven't seen him have any communications any kinda genuine conversation with others.

Like with them he walks on a tightrope he spoke when required.

Unless it was me.

I reminded myself Soumya was also there

...... but that was a pretend one he isn't himself when he's with her.

I cupped my cheeks feeling them warm, now wasn't the time to feel special.

Okay, but he said he likes me. Your enemy likes you .oh we have all heard that story before...What is wrong with me. I fanned myself see that's what I told I can never think straight around him.

"You are hot?" He said eyeing me, my body taking me in my new dress.

My eyebrows shot up.

He added quickly flustered,"feel-ling hot?"

I bit my lower lip, shaking my head and then looked away focusing out the window. I whispered, "why did you come to pick me?"

"I didn't want you to come" he replied carefully.

It hurt

But I was used to it now

"It gets difficult to stay away from you, I can't always stay away from you not when you go around dressing like that even if you wore a sack you would have me sweating"

"I will never wear a sack" I told him strictly.

"That's a shame you would've looked cute"

I will not blush! I will NOT....he is just teasing me getting me riled up ... just do N-O-T blush.

I fanned my cheeks again.

"Is it really that hot in here?" He asked pretending to be confused.

I shot him a blank look saying this is not funny

"Why are you hiding it? You like when I compliment you you like when I-"

I warned him by giving a cold icy glare

He paid no heed to it, completed
" It is clear you like me too," he said way too frankly than he should.

I folded my arms, "it is clear I don't want to"

His jaw clenched, indicating I have upset him.

And this is what I was talking about.. this is where we were back again. Hurting each other and arguing.

There's just no way out of it.

I held my head, "this is why I don't want this to continue, Sahil today could be the last day of us seeing each other"

He stopped the car, suddenly then faced me crestfallen, "why you speak things like this?"

"Can you leave her then?" I shouldn't have brought that up but I couldn't help myself because damn it! I can be possessive too

"Yes," he said without missing a beat

I was speechless.

He took my silence that I didn't believe him, "my care and attachment for her is for a different reason"

"And you will give up on them?" I asked again the more I speak the more I became jealous nasty girl stealing someone else's boyfriend.

"For you, yes"

He had be stunned by his unwavering confession.

"Then why you didn't do that till now" I cross-examined him like a lawyer.

Like mother like daughter.

Because I can't just come to terms with it that he would free himself off Soumya's clutches when he hadn't done anything after all this time.. after so many years. It was hard to believe.

"Because if I did will you date me then?" he asked back rhetorically yet he appeared slightly hopeful.

I faced away with no answer. I can never answer that.

Feeling attraction towards my enemy and dating him were two different things.

"Exactly That's what I was talking about you won't ever dare to reciprocate my feelings," he said in a low voice lacking all confidence he focused back to driving.

I glared at him furiously, don't he say about not reciprocating I was already in love with him.
"Don't put it on me if you want to be free from your Soumya's stuck up situation you alone could do that you don't need me as a reason for it"

He flashed a crooked smile, "you want me to ruin my life more for no actual reason?"

I caught my breath shaking my head, "Sahil we can't date"

"Yeah, Because you are afraid to fall in love with the Devil," he said sarcastically.

Too late for that

"You won't even talk to me after today" I mumbled.

"What are you gonna do today Serra?" He asked purposely emphasizing more on my name looking into my eyes there was only curiosity and agitation in his voice like he really wanted to know and it drove him insane when I didn't give a hint of it.

"Something, anything I don't know but it isn't gonna be nothing and I am sure you are not gonna love me for that," I told him spookily darkly as he does but it only make me sound weird and kiddish.

He was fighting a smile off his face. For my sake he acted seriously"Honestly speaking, I am a little bit frightened now" he gave a toothily smile when I looked deadpan.

Then, I stared at him viciously. I hate him. He was making fun of me.

I saw we've reached Soumya's house. I tried to open the door dismissing him angrily, he swiftly hauled me off the seat onto him. Surprised, I caught the lapels of his coat looking up at him through my lashes. With arms held around my waist putting me flush against his hard chest, he dared me to leave now.

His smell, him close to me that's all I needed to lose control or have control or no control ahhhh what was it?

I was mad at him?
Wasn't I?
We were arguing?
Weren't we?
Who am I? Where was I?
I tried to shake off the haze covering my mind but found myself wondering about one thing "when do you workout?" I blurted. I just love how I felt against him like the ultimate support I have been looking for. Strong and warm perfect cuddling material.

"Focus!" I scolded myself.

Slowly his lips curled up I watched with wide eyes when he pressed them against my ear as he answered, "at night you work your mind out, I work my body out" I shivered holding tightly the lapels to keep me and held me in place cause the fabric of his pants beneath my bare thighs did unexplainable things rendering me weak like any moment I would sway and fall back losing myself. I nodded in a daze my hands forgetting who the owner was mindlessly traveling down to his underneath shirt playing with the buttons.

He pulled back slightly to look down at me those eyes sparkling with secret things he was about to tell or do....it turned me into retarded mush, "I will ask again tonight" his thumb brushed my bottom lip he kissed there.
Caution and warnings! What useless things are those!... They sadly bid me goodbye when I demolished their importance.

I didn't want anything at that moment nothing could compare to that feeling I wanted to just sit there and kiss him all day, all night...

I lifted my hooded eyes not hearing what he said. "What?" I breath out staring at his face he was just breathtakingly beautiful, when he looks at me with that peacefulness. The ease the calmness in his expression was just so attractive because he was rarely ever. Clouds of grief and sorrow were diminished showing he was as calm as the sea. The enchanting soothing sight.

He laughed cursing, "damn it" running his hands through his slick inky hair he looked up exhaling out "Heaven help me.."

Devil praying to God now that was something to be engraved on stone.

I glided my red fingernail through the exposed column of his neck that appeared delectable. I was beginning to understand why Vampires feed from necks. Suddenly I was in my deadly curious state to figure out everything of him, memorized every portion of him. Throw on my spectacles tie my hair back and take notes on my intense studying him. I could see myself doing that, turning obsessed with him like I do with my favorite book. I would read it all over again and again until I memorized it by chapter by chapter page by page, line by line.

He grabbed my hand stopping it going further on with feeling him and watching his reaction.

He gulped nervously..?

I squinted my eyes reading his face

nope ....thirstily

"Don't start something when you don't dare to finish, Serra" he warned me.

Making a distance between ourselves which was impossible because I was basically on his lap. He tilted his head inclining away observing me expectedly, so much yearning,
"date me?" He asked again.

I drew my eyes away not able to meet them slowly coming back to senses.
I hate senses.

I dropped my hand that stayed up bereft cold with the distance between us. The circumstances of the past between us.

He clenched his jaw taking his arms off my body he said casually like nothing happened, "Go, Serra, I will meet you inside"

I bit my lip glancing at him it felt like he was done with me and it lost my spirit and any will to continue the rest of the day.

"Sahil. " I said softly not to leave on this note.

He turned his face away looking out the window before I could say anything else.

My eyes burned, this dismal really hurt shot straight to my heart.

This attachment I never wanted in the first place now what to do with it?
I was so badly torn between the two

I rigidly brushed my hair back he remained in the same position watching out with a distant look.

Physically there but mentally I had lost him again.

Reluctantly, I drew myself away from him and got out of the car. Stepping down I rubbed my arms taking in the white mansion house shining and prominent with lights.

"Serra"

I walked slowly looking down hiding my tears .

Great! Just awesome now I had to visit a restroom before making my entry. I can't really be that strong badass girl not taking anybody's shit. Making boys cry and not otherwise.

I rubbed my eyes and shot a dirty look to my wet hands I hate tears why did God create tears?? Why did he have to put extra volume in us girls?

"Serra!"Sahil called my name again snapping me out of Tears debate

My neck whipped back confused I thought he left to park his car, from the window he flashed my purse and Soumya's gift I forgot about them. Not only I was a crying baby but also a mindless idiot.

For a moment I grew hopeful when he called my name.

Hopeful for what??

For him to be the bad one and make decisions for me

"My mind went blank," I told him he stared straight ahead ignoring my explanation. It was like I wasn't even there. I made a face at him I had this weird childish urge to pull my lower eyelid down and stick my tongue out he wouldn't even get to know the way he was disregarding my existence.

"I hate you" I mumbled and took them from his held-out hand. He pulled the purse back when I tried to get it.

I frowned looking at him was he gonna not give them because he was mad at me?

He held them out again all the while keeping his eyes in front.

Puzzled, blinking in confusion I tried to get them again he withdrew them back.

I huffed, "what are you? Six?"

He didn't say anything just kept on acting like a bully.

This time when I tried to grab and yank too all the way out of his hand, he tugged my wrist and drew my head inside to press his lips against mine.

I gasped in surprise, an excellent marvelous supercalifragilisticexpialidocious(this is an actual word I didn't make it up ppl) surprise, like a ravishing bad boy he deepened the kiss not caring at all about me, that he took my breath and complains away.

Grudgingly, I grasped the back of his neck I responded with equal roughness and hunger. I pulled away after an eternity in shock dizzy from lack of air and not to forget the still in question closed car door? was not a comfortable material to press upon.

Sahil didn't leave the hold on me he would give me a whiplash the way my neck was angled inside the window of his car.

His lips were now stained with my red lipstick I don't know why it made me proud and I don't know why it itched me to take a pic of him and caption it mine property stay away

WOAHHHH I was possessed.

He didn't let me wipe it off rather appeared pretty serious with no loss of breath after making me experience as if I jumped off a cliff. "Serra I will ask again tonight," he reminded, dark and dangerous eyes sacring me to not say anything otherwise.

I slowly nodded my head, hypnotized brainless girl. He let go of his hand at the back of my head that was firmly holding me in.

I found myself stepping back when he gently guided me and gave me my belongings like a kid who lost her way. I hugged them to my chest still staring at him spellbound. He settled back with a big grin he waved his hand.

"Meet you tonight, Serra," he said smirked, licking his lips.

Just like that he left

I catch my breath wondering did he just eat my lipstick off. I pouted touching my lips.

•
•
•

So Serra on the big mission was back again. I fixed my whatever minimum make-up I had done and Sahil took it away with him. I blushed madly, uncontrollably.
I was so near jumping and giggling like a lovesick girl.

"Oh God," I cried resting my head against the shining marble washstand. "Why God? why me? Why are you torturing me like this?"

I took a moment to gather myself and pull back my straight expressionless face, had to actually conceal my blushed cheeks that were turning too red every time I think of him and me.

I walked out taking in the surrounding, the decoration was elegant sea-green ribbons and white balloons nothing too much and over the top. I stayed still sensing that elite people's atmosphere in which I feel uncomfortable. My father was one such elite member, the renowned entrepreneur, and the cold workaholic father.

I seemed to have taken that personality from him I guess.

My eyes landed on Faisal stood out in the crowd of formal black and white suits. He was sitting on the bar and that swagger of I don't give a damn about what other thinks attitude was pulled off well with pink coat pants.

I couldn't spot Dhruv anywhere.

Clueless, I didn't know what to do.

Where was Sahil? he left me as if we were attending different functions.

I tried to search for Soumya haven't also seen the birthday girl so far.

I made my way upstairs wanted to use the lift but there were some girls near it giving off mean girls vibes and eyeing me strangely. Not to mention but actually I also stood out, felt like the only one in a red dress. As if I was violating some unspoken dress code.

I navigated the house making my own theories of how Soumya's childhood went. I was passing the balcony side when I heard voices.. like they were arguing.

Move on.. Serra this doesn't concern you.

I gave a small glance through the ajar door found a tall well-built figure.

How wrong conscious voice could be sometimes..

Dhruv and a girl in a silver backless gown looking like a princess. Soumya .. I recognised. She was weeping.

Oh so surprising.

I shifted more to hear them properly.

"Soumya those tears won't work with me you can only fool one of among us," Dhruv said flatly. Looks like he didn't have any idea that today was Soumya's birthday not only was he making her cry but also ghastly dressed for a birthday party. He was in his usual black ripped jeans with shirt missing. I always wondered how can guys go around shirtless without any fear of getting mosquito or bee bites.

Focus I reminded myself

Looks like Sahil took it away also

"You don't understand Dhruv... I would give you whatever you want money?"

Dhruv didn't say anything I bet, he scoffed.

"Just name it anything I promise. What about that girl you like? You can have her I will try to do something of her"

"Not everyone is like you Soumya thinks their entire life revolves around a girl or boy" Dhruv mocked.

Always so cruel

Soumya sighed seeing nothing was working out she looked at him with a fragile expression oh I have see that before she walked to Dhruv carefully touching his shoulder, "I know you care about me. We used to be close Dhruv at one point"

Dhruv avoided her touch like he did when I offered him to sit on a dusty seat. "You are delusional, bringing something that you only used it to get against Sahil is not cool. I won't give you the pendrive or any proofs that would expose him. He deserves to rot just like you." He said and without any warning turned around headed straight for the door. I was still in the state of processing what I heard that when I tried to get away and rush off from there he threw the door on my face. I tripped back falling I was scooped up before I hit the ground. Dhruv scowled down at me with his arm around my waist.