Hi guys

So, this is a random shot I wrote for SA9reader's contest „Du Coeur"

I will put an external link to the book, so you can go check out the other stories. There are amazing concepts!

Thank you for reading!

Here you go:

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He was so angry. So, so angry. How dare she? How could she touch her? He had to control himself so hard to not hurt Riya with his vice grip on her arm. Through gritted teeth he was able to ask what proof she had to accuse Ananya. He didn't know what came over him but when he saw how Riya slapped her, he was stunned at his own reaction.

His heart began to pound in his chest, and he could feel the blood pulsing through his veins, and anger building up in his stomach. Yes, it would have also bothered him if it had been a different person, but somehow seeing the utter shock and slight hurt in Ananya's eyes made his mind go blank. Without thinking for a second, he marched towards them and was able to stop Riya from jumping at Ananya for the second time.

And what happened after that will probably be something he'd have to think about for a very long time. He didn't recognize himself anymore.

After that incident, Dayawanti made her entrance and all the focus was shifted towards her. But the unsettling feeling in his heart lead him to follow Ananya into a room she was heading towards with quick strides.

He really didn't have control over his own body in that moment. She realized she was being followed and turned around. He didn't know why, but somehow, he just went closer, and ended up crowding her space. He just recognized in the back of his mind how this wasn't the usual reaction from her as well. She was just staring up at him, being confused and her eyes widened. There was no 'one hand distance' attitude, no anger in her eyes, not even annoyance. No words were spoken.

He was still able to see the red mark on her cheek, an evidence that made his heart ache so much for some reason. As if he was remote controlled, his hand moved up to her face and slowly pushed her hair behind her shoulder. She only winced a little, but didn't move away, which only reaffirmed his doing. He softly brushed his knuckles over the heated skin and watched her eyes, which somehow turned so sad all of a sudden. She was just a girl with the weights of the world on her shoulders.

Gone was the fierce girl he encountered in the jungle, at the jewelry shop and in his apartment a few days ago. His heart was beating up to his throat, he felt so helpless. He wanted to take away the sadness and pain if possible. But he didn't know how to. He also didn't know why he felt the urge to. Nevertheless, again, without a conscious decision, he put his other hand on her neck as well and slowly leant down.

He felt her breath shudder when he ever so softly brushed his lips against her cheek as if he was trying to replace the act of violence with something meaningful and kind. There was nothing romantic about it. The sole purpose of his action was to reduce her pain, if not his own as well.

The moment was brief, she wondered if it really happened. Coming out of his almost trance like state, he slowly let go of her and took a step back from her to get some distance between them. She still looked at him a little confused, so he only mumbled a soft 'sorry' and left the room.

'Why did he do that? Why did he look so hurt? And most importantly, why was he able to unravel me, so easily? Why did I let him see the real me? Why did it feel like Avni was threatening to come out of me?', she asked herself. Without an intention her fingers moved up to her face, caressing the skin that was still prickling but not from the slap – no, from his lips and stubble that abolished all her anger and frustration in an instant.

No one in her life, besides her mum and Neelamaa had ever handled her so gently. She was trying to comprehend how this guy was able to console her and make her feel safe and sound so easily and at the same time being the reason of her struggle in those past few days as well.

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Later, at some point in Neil's condo, he was slowly getting ready for bed, his mind occupied by the happenings of the day.

'Why was I so affected? Why did it bother me so much? And why did I feel the need to console her? Why was she a different person all of a sudden?' Those questions were buzzing around in his head.

Sleep took over their bodies while thinking of a reasonable explanation for their actions... finding the only solace in the fact that both couldn't deny that their shared moment was genuine.

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Thank you again SA9reader for the oppurtunity! And also thank you for the votes in the contest book! I really appreciate it!

Please let me know what your thoughts are 😋!

See you soon!