DEV
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'But you know what Dev!!! I know that was a mess but duuuude that was hot!!!' Archit spoke up and I just turned around and shot him a look!!! And Rony simply rubbed my shoulders and Archit signalled to zip his lips.

I could hear someone yelling outside my room and I could hear my sister's voice and I went outside to see Heli and Dhruv trying to hold an angry Tanmay by his shoulders. He was fuming and the minute he saw he was enraged like a mad bull and in one go he lunged at me grabbing my collars...

'You!!! You bastard!!! I swear I will rip you apart! Once you destroyed my sister yet another time I see you even a inch closer to Ishu I swear I will tear your insides, rip you apart and fucking feed you to the vultures!!! I mean it!!! I don't want you anywhere around my sister! Mind you!!!' he said with his red burning eyes shooting in my eyes and that's when my eyes fell on Ishaani who was observing all this from a certain distance.

Dhruv made him loosen his grip on my collars and made him step away when I still couldn't stop looking at Ishaani who's engaging eyes didn't leave mine. There was something in those eyes I couldn't stop looking there.

Just when Tanmay was about to leave I spoke up...
'And what if I don't????' and in one go he turned around and smashed a punch inu eye while Heli covered her mouth with her palms and Dhruv pulled him back...

'Tanmay...noooo! Stop!!!'

'Tell him to stop this Dhruv! I swear if I ever knew he was the D.K who broke my sister's heart I don't care even if he was Heli's brother I would have made sure his existence would have been destroyed! He is the cause of all our miseries!' he yelled and my anger spurted up

'I did not want to marry Ishaani. I was clear from day one. I even told this to her but she wanted to give this a chance. If she was an idiot what should I do???'
I screamed so loud that she could listen. I wanted her to...I was tired of all the blame game happening from Ahaana's end. Yes I said a no to her. Yes I rejected her but so what??? We were Poles Apart and we didn't simply match!!!

'Doesnt give you the right to accept the proposal and then insult her so badly in a party calling her names and terming her to be a clingy woman when all she wanted to do was put in true efforts to make it work. You could have said a simple 'No' but you chose to insult her, pull her morale down and make her feel miserable such that my sister slipped into depression!!!' Tanmay said at once and I was shocked. My eyes fell on Ishaani who tore her gaze away from mine and looked elsewhere.

She went into depression???

'Tablets, therapies, medications...she went through hell and back! You could say a No but who gave you the rights to put down her confidence and make her feel unwanted. You may not like her but there are many who think she is one wonderful lady. You were sulking in your past. Your ex girlfriend ditched you doesn't mean my sister did something wrong to you. I was waiting to break your jaw since that day and I'm glad I found you here!' saying he raised his hand to punch me again but this time I held his hand and punched him back. He turned around and pinned me down and was about to punch me in my gut when he stopped at a loud voice...

'Bhai!!!! Stop!!! No please!!!' and Tanmay stopped. It was her. He got up and let me go and looked at her and walked away from there.

'Im.....I am sorry on behalf of my brother. Please enjoy yourselves!' saying she walked away from there but I couldn't help but look at her. Her one last gaze before leaving had too many questions there. It had pain and honestly made feel terrible

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'You must apologise!!!' Rony said and I shot him a look.

'Really Rony??? You know I didn't want to marry her and she knew it .. what can I do if she was a despo!!!' I said blowing against the cloth and keeping it on my eye and he rolled his eyes saying...

'But you actually took her down real bad Dev!!! That night ..that party...you were too much!' he said and Archit said...

'Agreed! And even then she went back and announced the breakup was mutual, she left the country, never reached you out, didn't attend a single family function just because she would face you! I mean come on ..she didn't even attend Ahaana's business launch. You really have to atleast you know... Talk and sort things out.' Archit said and I sat thinking quietly.

Rony side hugged me saying 'Come on Dev...we all know there is a huge guilt barrier inside you which still overpowers you when you meet anyone closer to her. I mean look...think about it positively...you meet her...talk to her...sort things like a mature individual and then you know you both will be like...your own ways...you never know you both can be friends like before!!!'

I looked at Rony and rolled my eyes again saying...
'You know!!! Ishaani and I were never 'friends'!!! She was the good girl... the angel types and I....was ...am and forever will be the Devil!!!' I said giving them a faraway look while Rony smiled saying...

'True! But atleast at some point you both can maybe break the ice and maybe the awkwardness between you both might vanish! You must atleast talk!!! I mean come on...look at her... she's grown into one tough and strong woman. Ishaani Sharma the famous designer at Tan-Anisha's...She is a big name in Canada! She's made it on her own...and man she's looking gorgeous!' to which I smiled saying

'Well that she always was! Perfect curves...perfectly dressed...the prim and proper types...she was the epitome of beauty!!!' I said and Rony coughed while Archit giggled.

'Whattttt??? I always found her beautiful! But she was always the innocent beauty! Someone whom I couldn't mess with!'

She wasn't those types whom I wanted to bed! She was those intellectual types. The novel reading, going for a walk, spending time with family types! Somehow I couldn't have the guts to flirt around with her. I didn't...want to break her heart but unfortunately I had to...

I knew I was too harsh to her that night but then it was more of the alcohol who did the talking for me. Ofcourse when I sobered down I wanted to talk to her but she had left by then. And then...I didn't have the balls to face her. Post that the hatred I received from my family, her family wasn't something which made me gather guts to face her.

'I know your huge male ego won't let you accept your mistakes but as your bestie we have to tell you where you were right and wrong! We mostly supported you with all your wrongs! You broke a lot of hearts Dev but with Ishaani you broke trust! She trusted you since her childhood! We all knew you were her childhood crush and somehow we all thought you wouldn't break her trust you that night you making fun of her shattered that little girl from within! If you ask us...you must face her. I mean come on she was a college girl then today she's a grown up woman! I am sure she'll understand you better today!'

And I sat thinking over Rony's words!

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'Coming!!!' I heard a voice from the room and the door opened. I was shocked on seeing a random girl in her room.

I checked the room number. It was C1!

'Ummm Ishaani Sharma???' I asked and the girl who was standing there with a questionable expression said ..

'Ummm yes!!! Hi...Im Pragathi! Ishaani's friend...Well...Ishu isn't here!!! She's at the practice session.' she said and I raised my eyebrows

'Prac...tice session???'

'Ohhh ummm Heli and her friends were planning an act for Mr and Mrs Kapoor for their anniversary function over the weekend and Ishu being a trained contemporary dancer promised to choreograph it...so ummm you know!!!' she said and an instant smile covered my face.

I still couldn't forget the first time when I met her she was choreographing Ahaana's mehndi function and the first time I met her after years when she was doing Punjabi Giddhas. The minute her eyes met mine...like a little deer caught under the lights she had run away. She was always the shy kind. Specially when I was around.

'Ummmm Excuse me Mr??? You had anything to convey to her?' her friend asked and I smiled saying...

'I rather meet her myself!' and she smiled back. Just when I was about to leave she asked...

'Ummm oh by the way your name?'

I smiled saying 'Dev!!!' and suddenly the smile on her face disappeared.

'You mean Mr and Mrs Kapoor's elder son D.K?' and I nodded. She took a step closer and shot me a look and said...

'She is finally over you! Stay away from her!'

'I want to talk to her' I said honestly

'Why? So you insult her again? It had really shook her from within!' she said and I nodded saying 'I am sorry...but I really wanted to apologise. Nothing more' and she smiled saying 'I am glad! It's more mature to you know end things up before new things begin in her life!' she said and I raised an eyebrow

'New things?'

'Yup!!! Ishu would soon settle down!' she said and I felt something shuffling within me.

She actually moved on??? Wooow!!!

'Ohhh nice!!! Great!' I exclaimed and she smiled...

'Ummm let me go and meet her. ' and she nodded.

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I walked inside the huge banquet hall where music was heard at its loudest and I could hear Heli and her friends giggling and watching the stage and that's when my eyes fell on the girl in a white salwar kameez... She kept moving like a goddess. Her face still hidden under dark lights but her seductive body kept moving like she owned it all. Every curve from her heavy busts to her perfect waist churned and moved so beautifully...Her hair kissing her buttocks and her hands holding a certain posture made me feel hot suddenly...hee every move making my heart skip multiple beats but it's when she turned around and my eyes fell on her face I was left spellbound. It was her!

Ishaani!!!

She had turned from a silent librarian to a sexy siren and I was left asking for more!!!

But then suddenly I heard Heli screaming and that's when I noticed the chandelier above Ishaani's head about to crash into her. I ran into her and pushed her in one go as my body fell above her soft ones which had hit the ground. Her beautiful angelic orbs met mine and I was left speechless. The chandelier broke into pieces...the little lamps within the chandelier fell on the long curtains on the stage causing fire break out and she screamed in fear. Within seconds fire spread around.

'Ishaani...get up...we must leave' I said while trying to help her get up but she had sprained her leg. She was unable to stand. Heli and her friends kept screaming for help and the cruise safety team was already there to help us out but we were caught in intense fire. I simply pulled out my jacket and covered Ishaani in it. Scooping her in my arms I ran through the fire. I had minor injuries but we were safe.

But the minute we were out and I began looking at my minor burns I saw a limping Ishaani run into me and crying...

'What the hell??? Who asked you to carry me like that...you could have covered yourself with the blazer, damn look at what you have done...does it hurt baby ..shit ..look at this one...' she was talking hysterically and crying non stop. I had never seen her like that. She was scared...upset and angry.

'Is there a fucking doctor here... please check upon him' she cried pushing away everyone who came to comfort her. Her hands cupped my face and kept looking at me carefully to observe if I was hurt. She kept touching my face and chest and kept yelling for a doctor. It's only when the doctor started giving me a first aid is when her cries stopped.

She cared so much??? Even after so many years???

Why???