Anika stared at her half emptied cupboard. She was still confused about what to wear. She was sure in a few minutes Shivaay would be knocking again to remind her that they were going that day not the next. She looked at the scattered clothes over her bed. She sat on the bed baffled.

Anika-"Kuch samjh nahi aa raha hai..Aur upar se ye tvs ki ads...music channel pe bhi ads...uff..!"

She got up to switched off the tv, that's when the next song started, "The break up song.!"

Anika-"Oh bete ki...mere paas toh aisi same to same kurti hai...wah kya timing hai baghwan...!"she said looking up at the ceiling.

She excitedly took out her red long high slit kurti and jeggings and disappeared into the washroom. She quickly wore matching accessories and applied a light red shade of lipstick complementing her dress. Left free her wild curls. She then wore her wedges. And quickly walked out of the room.

As she walked out, Shivaay looked up from his phone. "Wow " he whispered audible only to himself. To himself- "Ye itni lambi kyun lag rahi hai..!? He looks down at her three inch wedge.

Anika-"Chale..?"

Shivaay-"Tum aise chalogi..?"

Anika -"haan aap kyun pooch rahe hain ?" She said looking at her dress.

Shivaay-"Tum he nahi lagta wo heels disco ke liye kuch zyada high hai ?"

She hid her smile."Acha ?" She looked at the heel. "Yaan aapko lagta hai ki main aapse lambhi lag rahi hoon...jo main hoon." She said standing beside him shoulder to shoulder comparing using her palm like a kid.

Shivaay covered his face with his palm.-"Haan bas yahi bach gaya hai...chalo...but then don't tell me maine warn nahi kiya. Aur waise meri height..tum se zyada hai.FYI!"

Anika-"Haaw..ye ..

Shivaay cutting her off-"Humein aaj hi nikalna hai..chale?" deviating her from what she was about to say.

Anika controlling her giggles-"ek min main doosri sandal pehne ke aa rahi hoon"

At the disco :

As Anika walked beside Shivaay towards the entrance a strong smell of cologne mixed with that of alcohol hit her nostrils. Shivaay looked at Anika and nodded she nodded as well. Strange it was that now just expressions were enough to communicate.

Loud music rang their ears as the reached inside. They were greeted by Mallika dressed in a cute red knee-length frock. She hugged Anika spoke a greeting in her ear. She then hugged Shivaay in a similar fashion saying something in his ear, he shouted something in her ear as well. They spoke like that twice or thrice. And then Shivaay held Anika's hand and bent aside to her ear pointing to the other corner of the room, saying "Wahan baith te hai..!"

Anika nodded. That space was less noisy and they could talk normally. They ordered a few snacks Shivaay made sure he ordered vegetarian for Anika. Mallika ordered a cocktail and asked Anika and Anika nodded in a no to her saying she didn't drink. Mallika then looks at Shivaay for his choice.

Shivaay-"Need to drive back."

Mallika-"oh come on..acha theek hai breezer toh le hi sakte ho "she completed knowing there was no point persuading him.

They began speaking on general topics and topic shifted to their relationship status. That is when Mallik told that she was engaged to an NRI settled in London, Kunal.

Mallika-"Aur tumhara kya koi..pagli mili tumhe..?"

Shivaay looked up -"No.."

Anika was noticing him closely. After a gap of a minute he met her chocolate brown eyes.

Mallika-"Aur tum.. are you still single ?"

Anika nodded in yes-"Koi dhang ka mila hi nahi!" She chuckled. His eyes stare at her oddly. Things only were getting awkward.

The music changed. Mallika-"Shivaay chalo lets dance...its been so long tumhare saath dance kiye!"

Anika raised her eyebrow. She felt like a kabaab mein hadi between these two old friend or rather exs!

Shivaay protested and when he knew he couldn't say any further he looked at Anika and was about to ask her to join. When an irritated Mallika spoke up.

Mallika-"Woh khaa rahi hai Shivaay..she will come ..tum chaloo naa..jaldi.."

Shivaay confused -"Okay"

They go to the dance floor. Anika looked at them feeling like a fish out of water. Aimlessly poking the paneer tika on the plate.

"Excuse me..!If you don't mind main yahan baith jaaon actually koi doosri table khaali nahi hai..aur mere friends ab tak aaye nahi."

Anika puts forth her defence mode and blankly nods, studying the guy suspiciously.

The guy makes a call.."Yaar tum log kahan ho...you guys know mujhe aisi jagah pasand nahi hai..main sirf issliye yahan hon kyunki tera birthday hai...jaldi aao ..its odd in here..please. "

He spoke turning to the side but Anika heard it. She felt so sad for the guy. He was stuck just like her.

He smiled formally and drank water. Anika occasionally looked at the dance floor and saw them dancing away, laughing and giggling, speaking into one another's ears. She didn't like it. She felt left out, maybe.

After a good ten minutes, Anika spoke up.

"Aap ke friends late hain kya?"

"Jii haan..!"

Anika smiled.

He-"Aap bhi apne friends ke liye wait kar rahi hai kya..?"

Anika-"Nahi wo log wahan dance floor pe hain"

Guy-"oh toh aapko bhi ye sab pasand nahi.. finally koi toh hai jo mere jaisi soch rakh thaa hai.." he gave her a sweet smile.

The waiter comes and asks for order.

After a little bit thinking "mere liye fruit punch..!" Looking towards Anika.."aap kya ?"

Anika-"Kuch nahi.." fixing her gaze on the stage.

Guy-"Are you sure...I saw many people having fruit punch I think acha hoga."

Anika -"okay." Formally.

Guy-"Waise hello I am Karan.!"

Anika halfheartedly does a quick hand shake. "Anika!"

She simply gazed at her mobile screen to avoid conversation to this new found person.

He answers a call again. "Yaar main yahi hoon...jaldi aao...I will be out by eleven!"

He looks oddly here and there. Anika senses his discomfort and pities him he was in the same boat as her.

Shivaay glanced towards Anika and notived a guy next to her ordering something for her. He looked on suspiciously. He was about to walk up to her when Maliika stopped him. Shivaay explained, why he was going to her.

Mallika-"tum paagal ho kya...mujhe lag raha hai wahan scene chal raha hai.."

Shivaay-"wrong...Anika ko jahan tak main jaanta hoon wo aise ...I mean its not her style."

Mallika-" Come-on Shivaay Anika bacchi nahi hai...jawan hai single hai..let her be yaar. I know tum bahut protective type ho when it comes to any woman in your life chaahe wo tumhaari dost ho...par I think...wahan jo ho raha hai, could be love at first sight. Younnever know! Banda bura nahi hai infact handsome hain, maine single hoti toh ek coffee jaruru piti." she ended winking. She dragged Shivaay back.

Shivaay agreed still unsure. His heart was still not at peace. But what Mallika had said was also right, may be that guy was Mr.Perfect for Anika. So who was he to interfere? His own thoughts burned him but he didn't understand why.? Why was he being over-protective about her or was he just being protective.

The drinks were served. Anika wasn't sure whether to drink it. She saw him drinking from his glass, waited a while and took a sip. Karan's phone rang yet again. This time she couldn't hear what he said. Her gaze was yet again shifted to Shivaay and his ex. Who seemed to be more like a couple than just friends.

"Yaar..abhi kaise..main nahi...yaar ache khaase plan pe paani pher diya...chal aa raha hoon. " He looked at Anika.

Karan-"Got to go ...change in plan...phir kabhi milenge..!"

Anika smiled, and sipped the remaining drink. She felt better after the liquid went down her throat. She walked up to dance floor carelessly and started dancing.

Shivaay who stood on other side happened to look at the table, she wasn't there.

He got worried. Mallika came inside again."Shivaay I need to leave..wo actually kal ki flight cancel ho gayi hai so I have to fly to Delhi from here and then take the morning flight to London." Looking across "Anika kahan hai?"

Shivaay -"pata nahi.."

Mallika-"lagta hai setting ho gayi. Anyway mujhe late ho raha hai toh convey regards to her...bahut acha laga itne time baad tumse milke...jaldi se apne liye Mrs. Perfect dhoondlo...samjhe..so good to see you...take care." She hugged him, he hugged her back. She left.

His attention was back on Anika, where was she..! With quick strides he looked around for her. He turned, scanning the crowd. He saw a group of guys staring at the stage, he turned his gaze there and found her. There she was dancing away jauntily. He rubbed his forehead in relief. He didn't like the way those guys stared at her. He stood blocking their view, looking at her. She was beautiful! His feet took him to where she was. He held her hand indicating her to move to the other side of the floor. She nodded in a no.

"Damn ye ladki kuch samjhti kyun nahi hai!"

He joined her dancing. But he noticed that she barely acknowledged his presence, it annoyed him. Music changed.

(French Lyrics Translation)

Your smile enchants me

I am crazy about you

The desire in my veins

Guided by your voice.

He looked at her as she graciously executed some of her disco moves. Her hair playing around. She was totally herself didn't seem to care about anything. He folds up the sleeves of his shirt with attitude, and starts dancing.

She now noticed him, his moves were perfect. He moved perfectly, his body in tune with the music. There was an attitude in his manner that said he was someone who shouldn't be underestimated. She matched his moves.

He moved closer as they swayed in sync. They were looked on by others with envy. Their chemistry was scorching hot. But none knew the heat arose due to a raging war, a war of the confused hearts.

She moved sensually, increasing his heartbeat. His eyes shone with lust, the atmosphere adding the fuel to the fire. He placed his hands on her waist, his fingers in contact with her skin, burning him more. Pulling her closer they swayed, their eyes-locked.

She looked into his eyes, moving yet closer, still moving to and fro with the music. Smirking she pushed him away and turned dancing away in her rhythm. He stared at her, never a lady had so turned him on with doing absolutely nothing. He saw her dancing away, but there was something not right. The way she moved, she wasn't herself. He burned seeing the other men dancing around her.

He went in through the sweat crowd close to her. Encircling his arm around her waist."Chalo" he spoke in her ears. She nodded in a no "Mujhe dance karna hai...nashe si chad gayi hoye.."

He had had enough now, his suspicions were replaced by surety, she sure was not herself, something was definitely wrong. He pulled her close enough and carried her in his arms, the crowd hushed, sighed, & cooed and he left with her in his arms. The music fading as he walked away.

P.S

Now do you wnat another today or shall I stop here.😂