For a good ten minutes Priyasha tried to ignore the presence of her fear, but failing miserably because of her restlessness, she began fidgeting leaning on the passenger seat. Other cars and motorcycles ran past their car one after another. The wind whipped across her hair. She was at a loss, unsure of how to start questioning him. Then it dawned on her. The dread she had been trying to avoid, which she had wished profoundly to ignore altogether, it had been following her around all this time, ready to squeeze air out of her lungs.

Abhiraj on the other hand, had the radio turned on. Radio Mirchi was playing some beautiful songs sung by Anupam Roy. She even heard him crooning along the beats. She noticed his fingers drumming on the steering. It made his staid demeanor much more animated than she thought was possible.

However, when she kept quiet longer than necessary, he understood her silence.

Both remained quiet running thoughts inside, trying to prolong the wait for the upcoming confrontation. Eventually Abhiraj cleared his throat in an attempt to start the expected talk when Priyasha asked, "The Girl was in the fair, wasn't she?" She paused and glanced at him. "You came here to execute the plan for her abduction? Didn't you?" Abhiraj's jaws clenched as he increased the speed of the car. Priyasha clasped the seatbelt watching the road ahead. "I saw you talking to Aslam, and if I'm not wrong, he's too involved in this conspiracy."

Abhiraj clenched his hand around the steering, his knuckles went bloodless in a blink before he pulled over the car at one side then banged on the steering turning toward her. "For heaven's sake Priyasha, will we ever have a decent talk?"

She kept quiet for she didn't know how to answer that. But she realized their conversation this time might leave her broken if not anything else.

"I know truths are always hard to take in, and you're doing that for quite a long time, but that doesn't permit you to blame me every time for every misconduct setting grounds around. Why do you always interpret the worst relating me?"

"I thought you know the reason." She noticed the weather was becoming overcast just like her spoiled mood. She turned her eyes toward the road watching more cars whiz by.

Abhiraj sighed audibly.

Not working, Mr. Kidnapper!

"Correct me, if that wasn't what I figured it was!"

He shook his head, then reached forward, opened the drawer in front, grabbed a chewing gum stick, tore off the wrapper and popped into his mouth.

She noticed him running hands through his hair. Perhaps trying to put his explanations in precise words. After a few seconds, his shoulders sank down. "Abduction is not the right word applicable here. We need her but aren't intentional to hurt her in any way."

"Then why are you risking her life?" She had this constant fear that what-if, what-if the girl would go through the same battle as hers? What-if the same hurt would drown another vulnerable person? A recognizable feeling of being helpless crept up her spine. The more she was spending time with Abhiraj, the more it was driving her nuts.

"This is strictly business. The person who's helping with the dispute of Permabell, seems to have a personal-professional interest on this girl. I don't really know." Abhiraj shrugged slightly. "Currently he's out of town. So, he asked us to look for her whereabouts. That's all."

"I'm not deaf or blind, Abhiraj. Tell me one thing. Don't you have any sense of guilt in giving up an innocent to a criminal?"

"How can you say he's a criminal?"

"For, whatever he's engaged in, it is clearly giving out his nature," she snapped.

"I can't help it. To me, the lives of thousands always have the higher importance than a single person."

All it took was a second to trigger her eyes to fill with tears. She blinked simultaneously for a few times until her vision adjusted somehow. She felt disgusted by the horrible world which often enjoys blurring the truth. She asked in an undertone, "What do Aslam and Jai have to do with this?"

"I can't tell much about Aslam. He never takes sides. He works solely for his own benefits. And Jai, he's ...well, he's closer than just an assistant."

She took a deep breath. At that moment, no other problems seemed to matter than the fact she was actually becoming a part of a conspiracy without her really trying. Perhaps, it was because she was already a part of a totally messed up fairytale. Perhaps, because she knew how life could fuck up big time!

"Why were you yelling at Aslam?"

Abhiraj again turned on the engine and the car roared to life. "I didn't like what he offered. His suggestion of taking her away along with him tonight was not what I had in mind."

"So... did he?"

"Did he what?"

"Did he succeed?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because, I didn't want that."

She glanced at him. She pondered for several moments on what to make out of him, but couldn't find anything that's satiable. It surprised her that how difficultly contradictory most of his actions or words were.

After several minutes of gaping at him she asked, "So, you let the girl go?"

"No."

"Then, where is she now?"

He fell silent after that.

The busy street Abhiraj took would take almost an hour to reach home. Priyasha couldn't make a head or tail out of the serial events involving him. It was surprising that she was still staying with him and not trying searching for a different apartment. The agency which she'd talked with previously, might help her with a new apartment this weekend. Until Neha could do anything for her in Hyderabad, she must survive here for a few more days. For that, she'd have to contact the agency again, and that too, soon.

Some secrets are shareable. However, it depends on the degree of the secret. Secrets either come out to ruin someone's reputation or to hurt someone's expectation. Secrets reveal themselves to destroy relationships. But what about the secrets that we hide from ourselves? Those secrets tear us apart; they scatter our naïve souls in pieces.

As Philosophy Professor Jim Conlon at Mount Mary University said, "There's parts of ourselves that we don't want other people to know. We certainly like the power of knowing something other people don't know."

The tug-of-war in her mind was so exhausting that it left Priyasha in a daze. She had at some point asked Abhiraj to up the window glass, which he obliged immediately and she put her head on the glass watching the nightlife roll by. She dozed off at some point without realizing. But when the soft thud of the car's door opening and closing fell in her ear, she blinked open her eyes. Abhiraj had his car parked in front of a confectionery store. She sat up groggily and peered out the window. They were almost near their residential area, more or less it'd take twenty minutes till they reach home.

Priyasha leaned forward and pressed the button to let the window glass down to have some fresh air. The gloomy weather had the fabric of her shirt stick to her back. Droplets of sweat had gathered around her temples. She brought out her phone from her handbag and checked through the mailbox. Two new mails had arrived, one from Vikram and one from their client. Other notifications were either spam or unnecessary social media updates.

Priyasha felt the urge to call home, but resisted herself reminding Vikash's warning. She knew why Vishwa was taking pleasure in ruining her life. But why was he making her family go against her? She already had lost her original family when she was little. She didn't even know who were her real parents. She couldn't afford losing her family one more time.

Startling her all of a sudden, a few packs of sweets and snacks landed on her lap from outside her window.

"What the hell?" She looked up and noticed Abhiraj rounding the car from in front, came to the other side and climbed into the car. He had thrown the packets inside through the window.

Mannerless arrogant!

"What the hell, Abhiraj?" She said agitated.

"You haven't eaten since we left the office, so I thought..."

"So, you thought you can do me this favor by buying me food?" She snapped. "Oh! That's so thoughtful of you, however, first tell me, what am I to you? You keep favoring me out of your self-proclaimed superiority. Isn't it? Do you consider me unassertive, incapable of doing anything for myself and... oh! Do you consider me weak? Is that so? But I need neither your pity nor your compassion, Abhiraj!" She yelled out and threw all the packets at his direction.

But he was quick to react. He swiftly leaned in, grabbed her right arm and pulled her closer. "Calm down."

She tried pushing him away, placing her other palm on his chest but his heartbeat, even through his outfit, stopped her movement unexpectedly. She froze in her place and stared into his eyes. Those dark galaxy eyes and something familiar shifted inside her.

Same old! Same old!

It's one of those rare occurrences when you suddenly discover the subtle hints of their vulnerable secrets. In fact, the fundamental reason behind your reluctance in accepting their secrets has been your fear in accepting their truths. Because when you look in their eyes and see they are full of wonders, affection, admiration, fondness, you want to take the risk suddenly. The suddenness scares you. But still, you can sense the rhythm of their beating hearts, and realize, they are perfectly capable of connecting your vulnerable soul to theirs in a higher frequency level.

You finally understand what those small tremors of palpitations actually mean. No matter how broken you are, when you look at them, you can finally find ways to heal each of your heart aches.

Then you realize, their secrets are also a part of their truths you need to accept.

He asked, "Why do you always put me through a mean choice of actions?"

"I should instead ask you that question."

He groaned in frustration. "Don't make the situation difficult for me."

"You're the one who's making it harder for me."

"Why can't you trust me for once?" He whispered, almost pleaded. "Did I ever hurt you?"

She looked in his eyes, inhaled in a deep breath, then said quietly, "No, you didn't. Perhaps not completely, but to the point where it is difficult for me to differentiate it from the real hurt. And now it feels absolutely useless to protect myself from this inevitable. It has now become scary for me to deal with the similar issues I've dealt with before. I'm exhausted of wounding myself over and over, and whenever I'm considering you are getting too close to that position where I don't anymore intent to go over again, it's gradually breaking me down." She paused gazing down on his lips. "Like right now, you're closer than necessary that this close proximity will tear me apart. Not physically but at a deeper emotional level, until eventually I'll be left more hurt than ever."

He winced at her sudden choice of words, and let her hand go quickly. Then he receded back to his position and averted his eyes straight ahead. A frown had appeared on his chiseled face, darkening his expression. She personally was surprised at her own words, though she remained composed and chastised herself from tearing up. Eventually he picked up the food items and extended toward her. This time, she took them and he ignited the engine bringing back the car to life.

Abhiraj eyed the road quietly. It's always easier to keep silence when you know it's the best answer you can provide.

Priyasha found it difficult to accept the dangerous and unpredictable events involving the girl and why hadn't Abhiraj let her go away yet? What made him stop? What were the reasons? She dug her nails on her sweaty palms making it pain thoroughly.

The rest of the car ride was a torture. When Abhiraj turned off the engine in the underground parking lot of their building, she climbed off the car afflicted with many questions like those. Nonetheless, she waited for him to get out of the car in silence. He gazed at her way for a moment then went out of the building through the exit.

She watched his gradually receding frame silently, pondering on the conversation they had had a few minutes back, cursing her pretty mouth for whatever she said and taking pride on her harsh comeback simultaneously.

She sighed before walking over to the elevator and noticed Jai. He smiled at her. Jai was looking happier today than usual. She wiggled her brows at the amicable boy. "Hi, Jai. What's going on?"

"Hi ma'am, I have something to show you." He practically lit up seeing Priyasha. "If you don't mind, come along with me." His eyes shone under the parking lot lights.

She looked at him amused. "Okay."

They went straight up to the terrace where she hadn't yet visited since she came to live there. Jai lit the big white halogen light, and it instantly illuminated the whole terrace bright. The view up there immobilized all of her movements that she forgot to blink for a few seconds. She glanced around the terrace and the scenic beauty of the terrace garden was something she had never witnessed before in her life. Roses, Orchids, Night Queens, Tube Roses, Jasmines, colorful Cactuses, Chrysanthemums and many more seemed to have been enjoying a night party. Sweet fragrances were levitating on the air making the ambience even more attractive. She inhaled deeply and let the dream-filled ambience overtook her worry.

She glanced at Jai, who was standing beside her, putting both of his hands on his hips, smiling cheerfully, looking at the beauty.

"Wow Jai," she exclaimed. "This is breathtakingly beautiful."

He looked so proud.

"Did you create this?"

He nodded. "Sometimes, when I have nothing to do or Roy Sir spare me a holiday or something, I come up here and work with them." He grinned at her. "I have a soft spot for flowers."

"Yes, I can clearly see that." She returned his enthusiasm by smiling. "They all are looking celestial."

"Come here." He tugged at her hand. "I'll show you my favorite one!" Jai pulled her across the terrace and toward a corner. An herb like plant was in a rectangular-shaped pot with more or less fifteen to twenty very tiny blue colored blooming flowers.

"Wow! What are these?"

He was practically bent over the plant so Priyasha also had to lean forward to see what he was showing. "These are Clustered Summer Gentian. I especially have it brought from Kumaon. Very rare but very beautiful. Aren't they?" Jai exclaimed in excitement. "Come, look at them closely, these are typically 2-5 cm across and 1-2 cm long. They have 5 petals actually but these 5 lobules here make it seem like the flower has 10 petals. Their sepals are remarkably out-curved. These flowers are actually found on the open slopes in the Himalayas, at around altitudes of 2700-4300 meter. But I have somehow managed making them bloom here, in this unlikely atmosphere." His excitement was dripping from his enthusiastic voice.

Priyasha looked at him impressed. "You have a very good knowledge about flowers Jai."

He smiled and nodded without breaking his attention from the flowers. Priyasha reminded herself what Abhiraj told her about Jai. He's closer than just an assistant. That made it quite perceivable that Jai must know what conspiracy was going on here. She thought it might be the good time to ask, now that he was in a good mood.

She straightened up then asked, "Jai, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"I am extremely sorry for ruining your mood but I need to know, what exactly is going on here?"

He stiffened at the question then straightened up and walked over to the edge, overlooking the locality. "What do you mean, ma'am?"

She closed the distance between them and stood beside him.

"Jai, don't pretend you don't know anything, I know, you have a clear knowledge what is going on here."

He frowned. "I think I am not the right person to tell you everything."

"At least you can tell me the basics. Besides, I don't anymore feel like going down and staying under the same roof as Him. Please, Jai," she pleaded. "I promise, I won't tell it to anyone."

"Ma'am," He eyed her ruefully. "I'm afraid whether you can even tell people these things. Besides, if I tell you, you'll know why it was a secret meant to be kept away from... especially you."

She looked at him curiously, unable to comprehend what he was trying to say. Her heartbeat was rising with every second, anticipating the revelation of the ongoing events.

"From these past few days, you must have heard of a girl from Roy Sir."

She nodded, trying hard to convince herself maybe she had been over-analyzing things and it was not so in reality. She suddenly felt self-conscious. What-if it was the contrary to what she was thinking? What-if this was... Her thought process got restricted by Jai's sudden revelation. "It's none other than you."

She stopped breathing for a moment. "What?" She asked flabbergasted. "What do you mean? Do not pull any prank on me Jai," she warned.

"I am not." He paused looking away. "Last night, when Roy sir asked me those questions, I, then and there realized, what you two have been discussing about. Though, Roy sir, strictly instructed me not to disclose anything to you and I know after this conversation he might chastise me from doing many things, I can't help myself from telling you. In fact, he is in charge of all of this planning and execution. I assist him whenever and wherever he needed my help." He paused again to give her time to process. "I don't know why am I telling you all these. I am surprised as well. Why am I even telling you this? I don't know what made me do this, but... I think you deserve..." he trailed off looking at her way.

Priyasha exhaled a shaky breath, then sat down silently leaning on the boundary wall.

She felt... broken. Every hope she had left, every trust she had put on—all went down the abyss.

She knew now, what exactly was going on here.

"It was a plan from the beginning. Roy Sir, along with me, Vijay Sir, Ravi da, everyone was engaged in this. Even the accident was entirely planned."

She inhaled a shaky breath and let it out. Her eyes stung and skin burned all over. She was fighting hard to process the burden of the situation. But she kept quiet and let Jai continue.

"I warned you that day because I thought what he is doing by dragging you in to this... is wrong. Even if there's a possibility that this could secure the position of Permabell and its employees, I disliked the idea since the beginning. In fact, it was Roy sir himself who taught me to never compromise with self-virtues. I do not know why am I willing to tell you all these from the very beginning and whether you'll be benefitted at all from this, but last night when Aslam bhai came to meet Roy sir, I realized, this secrecy cannot be suppressed anymore. Aslam was still unaware of your engagement with Roy sir. Until last night. He didn't know you are staying here. But he saw you yesterday. Actually, Aslam is... well, he's a tout. He knows everything about the deal between Roy sir and this infamous person, whoever he is, I haven't met him yet. Perhaps, Roy sir wanted a little more secrecy and wanted to safeguard you, I don't really know. But he never wanted to disclose it to Aslam that you're here with him. Yesterday, the power cut wasn't by chance. When I saw Aslam, I realized this was no good. If he gets to know about you, he'd right away go to the other party and things wouldn't work how Roy sir wants. So, I went downstairs and switched off the main line, so that, Aslam wouldn't notice you beforehand. But he did and later he even warned me he can go against us and disclose about you."

Priyasha dug her nails on her thighs and kept quiet. She felt tears welling up in her eyes until she wiped them off. She could easily comprehend now, who exactly this infamous person was. It was Vishwa! She knew it already he'd go to any expense for his brother. He even warned her that day in front of the courtroom, he would always find his ways to get to her. Perhaps, it was now the time she should accept the inevitable.

"The day Roy sir brought you here," Jai continued, "I thought he'd give you away, and I absolutely disliked the idea then." He finally sat down beside her. "Ma'am, I never wanted you to get hurt in any way, trust me. This is why, I told you to be careful. I never even wanted you to stay here. Whatever activities Roy sir has been involved in lately... aren't usual, they're dangerous." He frowned. "Very dangerous. I don't want you to get caught in them as well."

Priyasha turned to him, placed her hand on his, stroked lightly. Jai met her gaze and received a weak smile from her. "I appreciate your concerns. I... well, thank you, but... do you really think I can escape all these? This is not easy, Jai. Besides, I know who this infamous person is."

Jai looked at her surprised.

"Yes, I do." She looked up at the sky. "You know what Jai, when someone breaks your trust, it also breaks a little piece of you which deals with the subtleties of your feelings. And it hurts the most when you know your broken trust, your crumpled feelings and the tormenting pain will never let you change back to the old you. The pain never goes away, Jai. It never get finished. They say, time heals everything. But it doesn't. You just become used to the pain and learn to deal with it anyway." She glanced back at him. "Whom would I trust Jai? People all around me are faking themselves. I can't trust Abhiraj." She receded her hand. "I don't even know whether to trust you."

He sighed. "I know, Di. It's difficult. Wait," He glanced at her sideways. "Can I call you Di (big sister)?"

She nodded, but said nothing.

"Di, I'll always be there to help, you can at least try to trust me. Let me show you something." He pulled out a small money purse, opened it and showed her. She saw a family picture in his purse. Five children with their parents.

"These are my sisters, and this is my brother Raja, eight years older than me. He might have done all the wrong things when he was alive, but he always used to tell me, 'Never harm a woman, because you were born from one of them'."

Priyasha glanced at Jai then back at the picture in wonderment. Jai was fondly looking at his family picture.

"I know it's weird, hard-to-believe words from a criminal mouth, but aren't we human as well? Don't we deserve respect from so-called literates?"

Priyasha reached out, placed her hand on his shoulder, but kept quiet.

Jai continued, "Most of my family fell apart after he died. Rita and Rima got married and their husbands wouldn't let them meet us. My father is a pure alcoholic. He works throughout the day and drown himself in alcohol throughout the night. We actually never expected much from him. It is my mother I feel sorry for. She and Riya now lives separately. I sometimes visit them and intend to bring them here." Jai's emotions were dripping from his fondness toward his family. He paused when he realized he had been closely observed by Priyasha, he closed the purse and tucked it inside his pocket.

The gloomy weather by now was on the brink of a storm. Black clouds hovered over and several lightning splitting the sky consecutively.

"It's going to storm," she remarked.

"Di, I think you should leave this place as soon as possible."

"Yes, let's go downstairs, I'll make you some pakodas (fritters)."

"No." He shook his head. "I mean by this place is, leave this city. Go elsewhere, but stay safe."

"Jai," she said quietly. "Even if I run away, do you really think I can escape them. You know your Roy sir, I know this other person who's in search of me. We both know, it won't work that way."

"But, Di..."

Abhiraj's menacing voice interrupted Jai in between all of a sudden. They hadn't realized when had he come up and how much of their conversation he listened. "Jai, I think you've had enough talk for today. Go to my room, I left a packet there. Aslam will come any time now. You'll give the packet to him then straight go to your room. Okay?"

Jai stiffly stood up and nodded.

"Okay then, please leave now," Abhiraj said. "And, please take Ma'am's bag with you."

Jai stiffly picked up the bag then his eyes roamed over Priyasha's face. His terrified, apologetic and guilty eyes were giving out much more than it was verbally possible.

"Jai," Abhiraj called again. "Go."

Jai walked over to the exit where Abhiraj was standing. He made room for him to walk out and Jai left without turning back again. When Jai left, Abhiraj turned forward and probed his intimidating gaze at Priyasha. She held his gaze with equal intensity. In fact, she wanted him to see all the emotions swimming in there. There was disgust, hatred, distrust and a different kind of sadness. She couldn't quite figure out what it was. A serious shift of tension surrounded them but no one tried to break the silence.

A wild breeze blew across her neck sending shivers down her spine, that only the cold raindrops and his explanation could shake out of her. Abhiraj walked over to the place where she was sitting and stood beside her, then placed his elbows on the boundary wall and leaned on it overlooking the area. She averted her eyes in disgust and hatred at the other side of the terrace. A broken flower pot, sitting lonely at one corner, a dry rose plant in it caught her eyes. The wild breeze mercilessly had her hair disorganized.

After tolerating several moments of silence but only the sound of rumbling clouds, she gave in first. "Why?"

He didn't answer at first, then said, "Because it was the only choice."

"Kidnapping me was a choice to you?"

He kept shut.

"Answer me!" She yelled out in frustration.

"Why do you think the treatment you're getting is called kidnapping? Have I ever laid a finger on you? Have I ever forced myself on you? Have I restricted your any activity by locking you up or restraining you against your will? Did I do any of it?" His voice sounded heated. "Dammit Priyasha, all of it was to protect you."

She pointed out, "But you killed someone to force me relocate here?"

"What?" He looked down at her.

"Don't act innocent, didn't you kill Vrinda aunty's son?"

"Oh! Hell NO!" He straightened and put his hands on his trousers pockets. "He's absolutely healthy. We managed his wife to call Mrs. Vrinda and to convince her of the news."

"How did you do that?"

"I have my own ways."

"You play with people's emotions just to get your crooked work done."

"Don't put it like that."

Priyasha gazed up at him. "I don't believe in anything you say."

"Why is it you always categorize me as the worst specimen of corruption?"

"That's what you are. Aren't you?"

"Can you listen to me first?"

Priyasha's voice broke by then. "Was it really necessary to misuse with my trust? Was it?"

"Would you have come along with me if you knew the truth?"

This question of his made her silence for she didn't know how to answer that. Her throat ached and unfortunately, she couldn't even gulp it down. Her eyes stinging from the burning sensation and tears threatened to stream down her face. She sniffled.

He sighed after a long time of staring down at her. "I know, whatever I did was entirely professional at the beginning. Every plan we made was because we didn't want to attract attention for of an apparent kidnapping scene. But it was the best way to keep you safe."

She snorted through tears which were now falling freely. "Keep me safe? In what sense? You even forced me going to the police station, a place I hate the most."

"It was because I wanted some extra security and protection for you. If anything, even if our plan fails, you'll at least be under the police watch."

"Those miscreants were your allies? Even that constable who let our cab go?"

"Yes."

"Abhiraj, they stole things away! I had so many data on my phone. Even Sonya's gold chain was stolen. Is that also a part of your plan?"

"Priyasha, we're not criminals, you'll get them back once the time's right. Can't you really understand your old number could have given out your whereabouts even faster."

"Why would you even have to agree on this matter?" She felt as if her throat was burning. He ran a hand through his hair, by then it had started raining.

"Priyasha, I know what I am doing is wrong. I knew this even when I agreed with Mr. Senapati. I agreed because I had to solve some issues beforehand." He paused momentarily before adding, "Before I met you. But that doesn't mean I intend to harm you. I never can." He paused again and gazed at her longingly, apologetically. "I don't even know why he wants you but I won't let any harm to you, I promise. These plans, all of them was just to buy time from him, so that without much damage we can get our work done."

She hoped everything he said was true. She wanted to believe in everything he said, but maybe she was putting her trust blindly on him again. She couldn't risk it.

"It isn't that easy Abhiraj." She slowly raised her eyes at him. "You don't know Vishwa the way I do. If he wants something..." she winced at what she was about to say, but stopped mid-sentence remembering the reason. Before it could have left her mouth she resisted. "He'll surely get it."

Abhiraj looked down at her surprised. "You... know Vishwa Senapati? How?"

"Apparently, we know nothing about each other. If you had at least done your research, you wouldn't have given so much efforts in planning on my safety."

"What do you mean?"

She sighed. The rain started pouring furiously by now and their dresses were drenched. She covered her face and somehow succeeded in stopping her tears. She was glad it had rained.

"I am tired Abhiraj. I can't talk anymore. Leave me alone."

"Let's go downstairs. We'll figure out something." He leaned down, grabbed her arm to lift her up. She snatched it away from him. "Don't. Stay away."

She helped herself to stand up and anchored her sad gaze at him. Abhiraj returned her stare with clenched jaws but didn't say anything.

Although it was difficult to look straight unblinkingly, she noticed him staring at her the same way he did at times. It was a chilling stare. It was surprisingly confusing to her that she still cannot feel in danger with him while every affair relating him screamed of danger. They stood facing each other a mere two feet away that she could naturally inhale his cologne. His white shirt was glued to his muscled chest and his vest inside was visible through the wet fabric, leaving very little show to her imagination. His wet hair had his forehead covered until he ran a hand through them, brushing them back. She suddenly felt self-conscious and wrapped her hands around herself.

"It is very confusing Abhiraj and scary too," she whispered. "I still cannot feel in danger around you. Why is your manipulation working on me? What are you doing to me?"

They held each other's gaze until hers wavered and she looked down. The shivering cold made her wrap herself even closer.

Abhiraj looked away. "Why is it, our conversation always ends in a serious tone?"

"You can explain it better."

He shook his head, then eyed her expectantly. "I cannot predict future Priyasha. We can at least talk like two ordinary people for once. Maybe, at least for tonight. Can we try?"

She shrugged, anxious over what would happen next, pondered on the idea for a minute then agreed. "Okay."

"Good. So, tell me something about you I don't know already."

"I love rain."

"That's a given." He took a step forward.

She turned away from him overlooking the locality. "I.... love mountains."

"Oh? And?" His proximity sent sensation over her she actually liked. She wondered whether he was aware of the fact at all.

"And Rabindra sangeet."

He smiled impressed and turned to her. She looked at him, then said, "Are we going to talk all of it in this pouring?"

"Why? Aren't you liking it?"

"I am." She wasn't sure she truly did though. "Okay, now, it's your turn."

"I love foods."

"I know that already." She smiled.

"Really? And... I... I love watching old Bengali movies."

"Oh?"

"And I can sing."

"And I can't dance."

"No way." He watched her.

"No, really." She let out an airy laugh nervously. "I can't."

"Okay, let me see it for myself." He extended his arm to her unexpectedly. "Dance with me."

"No."

"Come on." He insisted quietly.

"No way Abhiraj. No."

"Why? I promise, no one's going to laugh at your bad moves."

"Except you." She pointed out, then bit on her lower lips when he persisted and didn't withdraw his arm.

She looked up and saw him staring at her already. His eye lashes wet from the rain, and they were tempting her.

After a moment of an inner turmoil, her shoulder drooped as she placed her hand on his before her insecurities could force her to change her mind. He instinctively pulled her closer in a dancing position. She looked into his eyes and he returned her gaze. Then her eyes dropped realizing how close they actually were. His expression changed from casual to intense. "Follow my lead," he whispered, and she understood it was a request both for their current and other significant situation. His hold on her lower back tightened making her hesitate.

She glanced up at him, his probing gaze never leaving hers, left her out of breath. She stopped breathing for an instance.

"Breathe."

She slightly looked mortified. "Why are you doing all these?"

"I had a dream lately, and I want to make it happen."

She blinked and cast her gaze down on his lips, both because of the rain and the intensity his eyes held. Then she blinked again, trying to step back when he tightened his grip, holding her close, unwilling to let her go.

"Dreams change with time, Priyasha. You either let go of your comfort zone and embrace them or you die little by little every day watching your dreams from distance. I don't want to be the latter to let my dreams go away."

She stared in his eyes and something beautiful and intense shifted inside her.

"Abhiraj, let me go," she whispered.

"I can't," he whispered back. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you."

"You don't know anything about me, and neither I do about you."

"We can try."

"It's already too late."

"It's never late, if you have the desire."

She searched his eyes and got scared instantly.

Eyes do not tell lies. Eyes are actually the mirror to our soul. Whatever we feel inside, eyes reveal that. If you closely look into some random people's eyes, you'll notice how uniquely beautiful they all are. Each one of them held unique stories and interesting mysteries. But you must be careful if you're drawn to someone's eyes and get attached to them. Because, no matter how beautiful they are, they have the potential to drown you in them, and that's dangerous.

She pushed him away. "I think Vishwa has another plan for me."

"I'll take care of it."

"You can't. I've known him before you and I know what he's capable of."

"You don't know what I am capable of."

She eyed him, almost believing in him.

Almost.

Until she reminded herself 'belief' is not something she could rely on entirely. Ever.

~~~

Author's note: Hi all, it's me again. I hope you're liking this story. Abhiraj must have broken into your heart. :) Let me know your opinion on the characters or the story or anything in general in the comments. Or you can post on my wall as well. I'd love to interact with you. :) Give this story and the author some love by voting. Also, one follow from you can help me immensely. That's the only incentive that keeps me writing. I promise, you won't be disappointed. :)