CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Dedicated to waleelee152

***

DAY 2
6:58pm

I am not pure hearted nor was I some sort of simple, clueless girl. I am vindictive and mean and crazy, and I probably have no right calling my cousin Raihana evil; I had after all dated Jabir, my ex boyfriend, simply because he was her crush and I wanted to cause her pain for all the times she'd made my life miserable but one thing I was not is anybody's whore. Yes, I never slept with Irrfan.

There were however some intense make out sessions and some swoon - worthy kissing, I won't deny that.

After all he was a boy and I, a girl, alone and in love. Or maybe it was simply Stockholm syndrome, right now, I don't know, however, I used to be sure it was love and I couldn't help but wonder what had changed.

Maybe it was because of the hideous look Aman was sporting my way or the way he'd carelessly admitted to killing Irrfan, I don't know, which was probably his way of hurting me though reason why eludes me, I just don't know anymore but I couldn't help but think something was amiss, something very important, like-

"What the hell do you mean by you pulled the trigger? You weren't even there." I hissed, pissed. He doesn't get to toy with me, easily.

"Are you sure? That I wasn't there?" He taunted with his voice laced with venom.

I glared at him,"And what does that mean?" He doesn't get to disappear for hours and then come back and start acting like a mean asshole. He did me wrong. I should be angry.

He gave me an evil smirk. "That's not the way the game works, sweetheart. Answer correctly and then you get to ask me anything."

I bit my lip, trying not to do anything irrational or irresponsible. "Fine!" I deadpanned between gritted teeth. "You have obviously met my mom and since I have never had sex," I glared at him, "-with anybody," I could swear I saw relief flash through his eyes, but I could also be wrong too since he has that his impregnable look up again moments later which made me question if I hadn't imagined it. "The lie is your meeting my dad."

He chuckled. "Good girl!"

For some odd reason, I found I liked him calling me that however, I glowered at him, giving him one of my ferocious gaze which he shrugged off nonchalantly.

"What do you want to know?"

"What do you mean by you pulled the trigger?"

"What do you know about Irrfan?" He retorted staring curiously at me

"He was the leader of a gang of robbers who kidnapped me."

"Who do you think sent him, them?"

I frowned not liking the train of the questions. He was supposed to be answering my question not asking me any. Especially not Irrfan related questions. They were private. "My uncle, not that it's any of your business. "

"No wifey, actually it was my business-." I stared strangely at him, "Because I was the one who sent them to kidnap you."

"You?" He nodded,"-why?" What the hell is he saying?

"That's another question." He smirked proudly, "Does this mean you want to play the game again?"

I bit my lips to keep my flaring anger at bay,"You didn't even answer my question."

"What do you know about Irrfan? I sent him to kidnap you. How is that not answering your question?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I'll play again."

"That's good, wifey. I like the spirit."

I ignored him. He was obviously screwing with me but I don't care anymore, I just want answers and if playing a stupid game with him would give me some, then so be it.

"The first time we met was, 1. When I gave you lift four days ago. 2. When you asked me to marry you or 3. On a blustery afternoon in the woods not far from your home when you were fifteen."

Wait? What? How did he know about that day? He couldn't be, no, absolutely not, he couldn't be-. I stared motionless at him,-the boy I had met the day my dad had died.

That would be one hell of a coincidence.

However if he isn't the boy how did he know about the meeting? I stared warily at him. The man was insufferable and an enigma and oozing danger with his forehead lined with more secrets than mystery and yet for some reason, I still wanted to believe him, trust him. Perhaps that's why I decided to take a chance and gamble.

"The first time we met was-," I shut my eyes not wanting to see his expression if I failed, "- in the woods?" It was supposed to be the answer but it came off as a question. However he didn't seem to notice but maybe he simply didn't care.

He chuckled. "I guess that makes me right—there's nothing wrong with your memory."

I glowered at him. I can't believe he just called me clueless.

He laughed holding his hands up as if in surrender. "Just making sure."

I gave him a yeah-right look and he smiled brightly revealing those his sets of tantalizing dimples which had my heart banging furiously against its cage wanting out. I frowned suddenly not feeling amused.

"Your question is-?" He let the word hang looking expectantly at me to fill the gap.

And without hesitation, I asked. "Who are you? "

He laughed. "Are you sure that's your question?"

No, I wasn't sure, but still, I wanted to know. However, I changed my mind and asked instead, "Why did you have me kidnapped?"

"Because you have something of mine."

Something of his? "And what is that if I may ask?"

He smirked. "Not so fast, sweetie. Game, remember?"

I bit my lip. "Fine. Your turn. "

"When was the time I fell in love with you for the first-,"

I looked shockingly at him and our eyes met, "-time?" Our eyes locked and held.

"One -," he held up a finger, his eyes still trained on mine. "On the night we shared together. I looked away, angry, realising suddenly how this was another of his absurd truths. I hissed softly, awash suddenly with an aching tiredness; physically and mentally.

"-You were on your side of the bed, " he'd, however, went on not minding my indifference, "-and I was on my side of the bed and between us was a wall of pillows and a blanket as thick as the air suddenly gracing my lungs; making me breathless and hyperventilating at the same time. I couldn't sleep but you did, soundly, and when you had finally turned towards me and your hands fall on the pillows and gave me the briefest of touch and you'd smiled, no doubt having a nice dream, my heart had stopped and had resumed seconds later, only this time, it slammed with a vengeance; it wanted you to calm it down. And as if in sync with my heart, your hands had moved again only this time it snaked its way to my heart and laid rest my wanton heart. I had never slept as much as I did that day, or felt happier. "

I looked at him with my tired eyes swimming with many questions but he simply smiled and turned away. However in his silence, I could feel him happily reliving this picture of us he'd painted and I could feel that I wasn't completely indifferent either. I liked that we had shared something intangible like that.

"Two -," he continued moments later and I shut my eyes, adjusting my body so I could relax comfortably against the bark of the tree. Something tells me I would be needing the support soon.

"-In the woods. I had done something terrible and ran away from home having learnt a devastating truth about the people I loved when I had met a girl who was one with nature. Her black mass of hair lay lose, tangling, as it flew unchecked with the wind and when your hand had tucked away some strands of hair hiding your face, I staggered from the sight of you. My eighteen-year old heart felt suddenly not strong enough to hold on. It began to jerk erratically and I was having a tough time making it stop. But a simple "who are you?" from you calmed down the storm, for in those seconds your voice hit my ears, I knew my heart had found a home. "

I smiled reluctantly. I remembered that day too. "I, uhm, had ran away from home, " he'd announced and smiled. I had smiled too. I remember thinking that he had a nice smile.

"Three -The day I had gave you a lift. I knew I was walking into a trap going to the company that day but I didn't care because the moment our eyes had met that morning and then you'd laughed heartily; after letting the rain in, I knew that was the place I wanted to be."

What? A trap? He knew someone was waiting for him with a gun and he still followed me in? Why would he do something foolish? Who is he anyway? The boy I had met that day had an unusual hazel eyes not amber, I know because I kept on thinking of hazelnuts. The colour had been a recent fascination of mine; greenish - grayish brown.

I study him, reflecting on these past couple of days we've spent together coupled with the memories of us he so clearly remembered and my mind flashes to the rainy day. And that was when something had clicked in my head and suddenly everything made sense

"You knew who I was when you splashed the rain water." It wasn't a question.

"Bingo, " he said, his voice laced with a mischievous tilt."I kept wondering when you were going to piece that puzzle together. "