"Dhruv, Dhruv my lovely son see this, how is it?, "My mother barged into my room holding a sparkling golden gown.

I was solving the SHM numericals when she all of a sudden appeared with a gown and it was 5 am in the morning. My eyes were instantly awake and blinded by a glowing gown.

"Mom it's just too much of a bright sight for early mornings"

"Todays kids are so into monotonous colors that little sparkles make them blind"

"Little!?The person who wears them will look like a disco ball"

"I will wear it, are you trying to insult your mother"my mother said with a strict glare.

"What?"Why..? I mean?"
I covered my shock, "well it's your choice then go for it" gave her thumbs up.

"You are also going to go for it" my mother said.

I raised my brow, "Last time I checked, I don't wear gowns they don't flatter my figure"

Mom continued ignoring my comment, "Get downstairs we'll be going to your cousin's engagement tonight, check out the basket she sent to us it arrived this morning. You can pick something for your girlfriend perhaps you can bring her too,"

"I don't have a girlfriend mom"

"Boyfriend?" Mom frowned

"I am straight" I reminded her, annoyed now cuz yesterday even Silver joked about it and it was getting kinda redundant and frustrating.

"Good good, anyways there will be so many beautiful girls tonight and what was her name your distant aunt's daughter yeah Lavanya or Tanya? Anyways very nice girl you will be meeting her after such a long time pick for her something she will be so happy, come now don't make me yell for you again"

"I don't even remember her"

Begrudgingly, I got down and saw Rose and my Aunt hovering around a big basket with more sparkling gowns in it, Rose wore two pearl necklaces and pink dupatta over her head, still trying to reach for more with her little hands.

I tugged the dupatta playfully.

She cried, punching on my calf with her little fists.

Grinning, I glanced in the box.

"I would need sunglasses for this" I cursed.

My aunt chuckled, "found something that your girlfriend would like?"

"I don't- nevermind" I shook my head, no point of arguing.

There was so much girly stuff in there, I personally don't know why I stood there when I don't even have a girlfriend.

"Is the theme of the ceremony to look like house lights?""

"Make fun of it how much you want but you are coming too" Mom threatened dropping the gown back into the basket.

I could think of a person who would love these things very much.

Thinking of Silver, I grabbed the silver ribbon with a rhinestone border.

"Hmm.good choice" Aunt remarked with an amused smile.

I flushed, "this is stupid" I shoved the ribbon in my jeans pocket and scurried upstairs, "I am leaving for school, don't wait for me if I don't come back"

"Oh child..you will " My mother warned me.

√√√

During the break, I was sat in cafeteria knowing very well Silver would show up there and I was looking forward to it....?

Her company was turning tolerable that could be the only reason behind it, I guess.

"Why you ordered Salad? You on dieting dude?" Lucas asked me curiously as he settled down at our table.

"Hit the gym Lucas, your belly is gonna look like a second person soon,"I diverted.

"Nah man I am fit as a fiddle" Lucas said doing a push up to prove his point with the tables edge and falling behind slipping, almost broke his jaw in the process, he got a hold on himself standing straight with a forced smile jerking his neck back acting fine,"you saw that F-I-T"

"Leave the country" I advised, the girls at the nearby table were laughing loudly witnessing his failed show.

He sat back quietly,"Yugoslavia, it is then"

Silver approached sauntering to our spot,
"Hello Lucas, Hey Dhruv"

"We met in the morning" I reminded her of our brief meeting in the morning assembly.

Lucas waved without looking up from digging his food.

"So are we counting are meetings now?" she asked flirtatiously.

I rolled my eyes.

"Hmm someone is a bit too excited about my company" She continued her teasing picking a strawberry from the fruit salad taking a bite while looking into my eyes.

I watched the movement, her leaning over the table to get to the salad grey eyes glinting with beguilement as she bit into the strawberry, little droplets of the juice dripping down her lower lip.

I looked up at heavens, sighing out loudly

What a witch

I threw a napkin her way,"you eat like a kid" avoided looking at her mouth.

"And you pout like a kid, Goddd it's so fun to tease you, just look at you getting so ruffled" she laughed,"come I want to show you something" she grabbed my arm tugging me.

"What? No" I refused, not trusting her or me with her alone

"Jeez I won't bite you unless..." she tilted her head teasing again, I shot her a warning look,

"What?" She copied it then chuckled,
"I promise you will love it come see it,"

There were eyes on us they had always been since we were quite talked about people and considering the previous encounters between Silver and I, I would have shrugged her off or disregarded like before so it was priceless reaction from people when I got up and let her dragged me to what she wanted to show holding my arm.

"This better be good" I added with exasperation.

"Oh it's your type thing " She told me excitedly.

We climbed the stairs and hurried down the corridor that had a huge glass window at the end.

She pointed at it, "Look, picture taking view"

It was drizzling in the morning and now the bright sunrays fell forming a distinct rainbow between the clouds.

The red, yellow, green bands appeared like spilled buckets of those colors, so prominent and magical

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"Silver said standing near me watching the scenery with big awe eyes, enchanted and mesmerized like a kid.

I had this flashback of her childhood self two pigtailed and bangs on her forehead big toothy smile, admiring the clouds with huge wonderstruck eyes.

"Yeah"
I pulled out my mobile and captured her eyes pic. Those grey orbs even reflected the speck of rainbow colors in them.

"Show me you always taking pics of me but never showing," Silver turned her head when she saw the mobile raised she saw me taking her pic, she tried to take it from me I held it up holding it away from her. She jumped to get it released a frustrated chuckle, "This is crazy this celebrity treatment and everyone taking pics of me is getting quite annoying"

"You should be used to it by now since how out of this world you are, " I said, sarcastically.

"Indeed I am but are you flirting with me Dhruv" She stepped back with her hands folded behind her back, head angled up gazing at me.

My eyes slowly moved down her figure taking her all, in her curves her flirty smile, I felt my blood thumping.

Workout, I needed a workout. Back to Boxing classes.

Some pent up energy was messing my thoughts.

I put my arm down distracted Silver took it as an opportunity and came at me tugging the mobile out of my hand.

She prowled away with her hand on her hip and a smug look while going through my mobile.

I didn't bother to take it back because we both knew it would be too damn easy to take it from her.

I folded my arms over the chest leaning against the wall, "there might be stuff you don't like"

"Like what?""She glanced at me, "are there nudes of your ex girlfriends? I bet they still send you"

"Tons" I answered.

"What seriously?From whom that Serra?"she inquired a little too nicely.

"Why do you keep mentioning her?"" I asked with the edge in my voice.

"Last time I checked, you happened to be quite besotted with her" she said, observing me as if to see through me.

"Drop it, we are not having this again," I messed up my hair, not liking where the conversation was heading.

I moved and held my hand to her to give the mobile back, NOW

"Why do you keep dodging it then?""She scoffed, not giving it back, looking through it, bothered.

All the playfulness went away.

"Okay I have a separate folder in your gallery titled 'random' Seriously Dhruv?You can't even put my own name is that hard?"She, I guess was looking through all the pics I clicked of her.

I took a step towards her waiting for her reaction.

She appeared stunned facing up at me"oh wow, these are-"

I snatched my mobile back and shoved it inside the back pocket of my jeans.

"You have a talent" she sounded impressed and proud?

"Duh" I muttered

My hand felt something in my pocket, I pulled out the ribbon confused.

That Silver ribbon from the morning.

"What is this?"" She asked to see it too.

I didn't know what to say why I actually put it there, I shoved it to her,
"Just keep it maybe you can use it to keep your mouth shut"

"I won't take this attitude I said before I will say again Dhruv, if you are going to give me anything give it properly don't throw them at me" She said giving it back to me and bristled away with of course angry expression.

I was perplexed.

What is that now?

Well, Great, I was pissed too.

I crumbled the ribbon watching her leave.

If she was expecting a gift box and note with flowers, song and what not she can keep dreaming about it.

√√√

It was P.ED class and everyone was on the ground. We were playing dodgeball, I shot the ball at the second team with a high speed eliminating one of the girls that was next to Silver, she shrieked skimming away.

From their team a guy was up to make a shot, Silver intervened giving those little smiles and taking the ball from him and then aimed it my way with full speed, her hair flew back.

"Damnn, that's some wrist movement there," Neel low whistled

I parried it just by taking a step aside. Silver gave out a frustrated huff shaking her head.

I only found it a bit amusing.

••
My team won the game obviously, the team was celebrating loudly making fun of the other team over the little win. Neel, Lucas and some other guys, we rested at the bleachers drinking water and they talked shit about girls.

"Silver is hot would kill to grab those long legs" said one of the guys.

"Nah Ojasvi is just drop dead gorgeous, I mean look at her ass man " said another as they compared them guffawing

I leaned back against the bleachers throwing the water bottle their way.

"What the fuck dude? " The guy said shuffling away getting wet from my leftover water in it, others frowned too.

"Oops I thought that was Trash can" I said

They glared at me, I glared back and they shifted away. Wise decision

Cowards.

I scoffed. My head turned again to where Silver was present with her girl group. We were in our PT. Uniform and her pink skirt was way too short.

Can't blame the guys for ogling.

Usually, she would come bugging me but since our morning chit chat she was still pissed off. It wasn't even such a big deal. Fuck it.

I looked away clenching my jaw when she was giggling at the same boys who were talking shit about her. I won't go tailing around her apologizing for something so trifle.

"Trouble in Paradise?"Lucas commented.

"Nah, everything is good" I said spreading my one leg out trying to get comfortable on the step, taking in some vitamin D.

"Oh oh who's coming here" Neel sang as a tall girl ambled to where we were gathered.

Short skirt and tight top she moved with a sway of her hips gathering every guys' attention.

"Isn't it the infamous bad boy?" she said, shooting those coy looks my way, I had seen them before, "sweaty with all these running you see, don't mind me darlin, I am Ojasvi by the way" she said while sitting down, on the bleacher, very close to me and began wiping her neck and chest fidgeting with her top that had a big neckline.

Lucas and Neel shared a look.

Neel gave a cheeky grin saying under his breath,"you are one lucky bastard"

I shrugged, observing the new company with interest. It's been ages since I came to this town and I haven't had a hookup. Maybe I should turn back to my old habits as it is my head had all been over the place, pretty much occupied by a mean airheaded girl. Definitely a distraction was what I needed at the moment.

"Like what ya see?" Ojasvi asked with hooded eyes, twirling a piece of hair.

"I am not complaining" I said noticing how her antics were similar to what Silver does but can't say if it was enticing enough

"I know some places I could show you around" Ojasvi said leaning towards me with her hand casually getting placed on my leg on acquiring my attention.

I felt this familiar surge of excitement, a quick route to pleasure and diversion from unnecessary emotions.

Before I could pay heed to them, A shadow fell over me the vanilla fragrance and that unexplainable pull. I slowly dragged my eyes from her to the front.

Silver with folded arms glowering down at me

That super livid expression made my lips turned up into a grin.

She narrowed her eyes at me. She stepped towards where my feet were placed, I was practically resting against the bleachers.

Without even sparing a glance at Ojasvi sat beside me she bent hovering over me.

I tried to keep a straight face but when she pulled me by the collar of my shirt to her and kissed me straight to my mouth, taken aback I kissed back overcoming the surprise I pulled her head to me my hand buried in her hair. Could never back off from kissing her.

She nibbled on my mouth her tongue trespassing in my mouth with all mission to prove something. I let her have her way tilting her head up by pulling her hair down lightly she gasped against my mouth that sound, I felt it race down weakening my knees when I half layed .

I pulled away before we gave a full show to where it was heading, Silver hands travelling down my chest skimming on the shirt with her fingernails. Her breathing ragged, she still looked at me angrily digging her nails to my chest . I just felt more attracted and wanted to kiss her hard again, to make her unleashed her anger in better ways.

"Heya"Silver greeted putting a friendly smile at Ojasvi who I forgot was still sitting there, she winked at me when I glanced.

"Hi" Ojasvi said but her eyes were still on me

Well, she didn't mind the little show

Silver noticed that too she sat wiggling between us, I shifted making room for her with amusement.

"I hope I am not interrupting something here" Silver said, without giving Ojasvi the chance to speak she turned to me flipping her pony at her and blocking Ojasvi completely,"I need to talk to you for a moment "

"Talk" I said, rubbing my lips with the thumb saw there was lipstick mark.

"Alone" She implied gritting her teeth. She opened her purse in a brisk manner and took out a wipe and held my face then started wiping my lips.

"You got your schedule free from ignoring me" I asked. She paused dabbing my lips,"I wasn't ignoring "

I raised my brow

She resumed dabbing at the corner of my mouth,"well it was your fault you deserved it"

"You are overreacting over little things" I scoffed

She stopped then gave me a pointed look with hurt flashed in her eyes.

She looked away discarding the wipe,"It might be small for you but for me it runs right back at home. My father....he....did things for me that way he provided and sees to my needs as a responsibility, an obligation....he had to do although there's no care no meaning behind anything he does for me"

She sighed,
"It felt like he just threw them in my face getting it done, a task completed. I try not to look into it more but things lose meaning when they are not done genuinely. "

I placed my hand on hers kept on the stair without thinking, it was this side of her,this vulnerable one that drew me the most towards her. It scared me how I disposed of all my guards whenever I saw her this way.

"It's just getting so difficult at home and ugh Shaurya, today I have to go give him the tour of the city with my dear step sister; the punishment for real. I wish I get kidnapped or ill or-

"You can come with me" I suggested, hearing her ex's name boiled my blood.

"To where? A motorcycle race again?"

I picked her hand and tied the Silver ribbon on her wrist that she gave me back,"Tonight, my mother is forcefully making me attend my cousins engagement. Would for real require someone to scare off the girls bugging around me. You seemed to have some skills in that field " I pointed at the empty space now on her other side

"Will you come?"

My gaze on the ribbon as I tied it perfectly with a bow on her wrist. I dropped it before I acted foolish and kissed it .

Silver was rendered speechless she watched me with scepticism as if I was joking.

I felt embarrassed. I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "I am not forcing you Silver....nevermind forget what I said"

I was ready to get up and scurry off sooner she stopped me,"No, of course I will come jeez let me have my moment.. well you will pick me up right?"

"No" I said, flatly. Her house was a drama house. I would rather lose an arm than go there.

"What? I have to sneak out then"

"Yes be there sharp at 7 or I will leave without you"

"I will be meeting your family Damnn .... this is big! Are we getting to the family stage now .oh my god What will I wear? what should I wear!!! Indian attire Lehenga maybe? what do you say?what are you wearing maybe we will complement each other "

"Are you even listening to what I am saying?" I groaned, was this a bad idea?