Let the game begin.

“ Did you see him, Marcus?” I asked just as I bumped into him on my way to the house.It was almost ten-thirty in the night, and I was late by half an hour due to the breakdown of the car in the middle of nowhere. I had to walk the rest of the distant on my heels just because I was summoned by Nick for some urgent matter.

I hoped that the extortionist had been captured or, at least, anything leading to further clues had been found.

“No Ma’am. But I think he is at the library, at this time that’s where he generally is.”

 Mark had been staying in the house for a week now, and the last time I met him was when he first came to the house.He was an ex-military cop, who took an early retirement due to a major fracture on his right shoulder twenty years ago. A young man of twenty-five then was asked repeatedly by his superiors to return and he was offered an intelligence official post where he didn't need to go for any field trips again. A Man of action like him simply couldn’t accept the proposal since it made him feel unworthy and weak. After ten years of loyal service to the country, he was unprepared to take a sitting job at the office without actually doing any much work. He left the army with an honorary farewell and against the wishes of many of his colleagues.

He then set up his own ‘Private Investigation and Protection’ PIP agency in the city within a year recruiting his ex-colleagues who were on retirement and fresh new young Men capable of being bodyguards or secret service agents. He trained them himself and was initially supported with the start-up by Nick, his long time friend. At Six-feet-five, and with two-twenty pounds of solid muscles, he had an attractive personality. He had the most engrossing green eyes, strong square jaw and incredibly kissable lips. He was quite a sexy man I had ever seen, and it meant something when I said so cause I had seen a lot of sexier men my entire adult life.

Though I had heard about him a lot from Nick, we just met only a week ago, when he was appointed for the protection of Nick, after all, my persuasion and begging and hours of submission to Nick. He could be such tight and stubborn asshole at times.

After beating the shit out of me he had the audacity to laugh at me and say. “ Amy, Even if you had not allowed me to have you tonight I would have listened to you and appointed Marcus anyway. Your wish is my command, Angel. But having you submitting to me was an extra deserving.” He continued cleaning my cuts and welts and applying the lotion on my back. Aftercare from him was always the best part other than having him all by myself. “I haven’t met Marcus for years now. Last time, we saw each other at his wife’s funeral, he was pretty broke and damaged. That was nearly five years ago. I think it’s time to make him pay me a visit.”

I walked towards the library, but stopped and turned. “Mark.”

“Ma’am?” He blinked his eyes, I could see the trace of pain in his eyes. The first time we met he was all business, but tonight he seemed a bit distracted. I knew something was troubling him terribly.

“Is everything alright?”I asked hoping no more bad news tonight, I had had a long day, and the urgent call from Nick had already had me worried. I just don’t want anything depressing to hear anymore tonight. “Do you know why I am called tonight? Did you find who is behind all this?”

“No Ma’am.” I saw him struggling with his own emotions to distract himself. I never heard him using more than a few words with me. Maybe it’s a military thing. “Nothing to concern you.”

“Oh..okay!!” He turned to leave.” Mark?”

“Yes, Ma’am?” Such an honourable and patient man. Why was I feeling something different towards him tonight? Why was I itching to know what’s disturbing him so much? Nick had told me about their friendship, Mark’s past, marriage and his late wife, Ellie, how much Mark loved his wife and was a complete wreck after his wife passed away.Yet I felt like Nick hadn’t told me everything or rather the most important thing- how did she die?

“Are you okay, Mark?” I asked wanting to know whatever was troubling him, then I knew I won’t get the answer now. “You seem little...”

He stopped me in between “I am fine, Ma'am. Thank you.” He forced a smiled, ” It’s cold out here, You should go inside.”

Now, I was confirmed that he was anything but fine. I nodded before heading inside. I will get my answer tonight for any cost. Even if I had to re-sell my soul to Satan, or worse to Nick, for he was the only person other than Mark himself, to know everything.

                     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Nick! You bastard.” I shouted, my voice echoing through the hallway. I had been searching for him for twenty minutes now. I had gone towards his library first, because like Mark said, I knew he spent a couple of hours in there before sleeping. The library was empty, so were his bedroom, bathroom, study, gym, kitchen, even the garden. I couldn’t even find any staffs around the house, where had everyone gone? I called his number, but it went straight to his voice mail, I thought of calling Mark but decided against it when I remembered him heading out. That man was already in stress, and the way he worked all the time, he needed some time to himself.

The house, if not a palace, was nothing less than that.  It was a two-story Victorian villa, in an area where an entire soccer field could be fitted. And over twenty minutes I had been searching this huge mansion like a lunatic, cause a certain coldhearted bastard was in the mood for playing a game tonight. The only place left to look for him was the dungeon, where I am not allowed to enter without Nick accompanying me or his permission. I didn’t care what he would say after I break his rule, but I stormed towards the dungeon. Finding its door unlocked, I pushed in to find him sitting near the fireplace with all lights turned out. The only thing lighting up the room was the fading rays from the fireplace. He sat in the armchair, legs stretched out on the footrest and hands of his lap. It seemed like he had fallen asleep in there, but he never slept in his dungeon...at least not without me and definitely not on the chair.

I found a half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table nearby. He had been drinking, could this day turn any worse?

Walking towards him on my toes, I knelt beside him to remove the glass laid on his lap from his grip, without wanting to wake him. He looked so peaceful while sleeping. The golden light from the fireplace coloured one side of his face and the other half left in the shadow. His thick blond hair messed, lips parted a little. It had been years that I had seen him sleep so quietly and peacefully.

I sat by him, with my head resting on his left thigh, eyes fixed on his angelic face and fingertips tracing his bare forearms slightly. It took every last strength of my self-control to not kiss him, fearing to disturb his sleep.

“I am scared Nick,”I whispered against his thigh, inhaling in the scent of him to fill my lungs. Tonight, even among the strong smell of the whiskey, I could smell him, the smell I had been bearing in my heart since the first day I met him fifteen years ago. The scent of love and home, I had missed his smell, his taste, I missed him every second, every moment of time we had been separated. It was I who left him, and then again it was me who came back...for whatever happens I would always return to him, he was my home, he was my love, he was my God.

“Angel.” He whispered in a sleeping tone placing his hand on head, the warmth of him immediately engulfed me, my body ready to respond to him anyway, anywhere, anytime he wanted. His voice was smooth yet stern at the same time, the voice that could make anyone do anything. “I will always be with you.”

With my eyes closed, I nodded at his words agreeing with him. I knew he meant it. He had promised me long before, to not leave me and he had always kept his promise. He stroke the strands of hair from my face, it was like a silent order for me to look at him. Yet I kept my eyes shut not wanting to look at him. For if I did, I won’t be able to control myself anymore tonight.

“Angel, look at me.” he ordered with his voice full of passion and desire in them.

I stayed at my place, not yet wanting to let him go. At his feet, was my actual place and my favorite. If needed, I would beg him to let me stay at his feet tonight and every night for eternity.

I could feel his growing irritation at me not obeying his order.

“Amy,” he said in his dominating voice which could terror even Satan himself. “Did you call me “bastard” before?” Time for the game.

Damn! I was in real trouble.

I sat straight kneeling in front of him, hands on my thighs  and eyes down- years of training had made me understand the situation when a submission position was expected.

“Yes, Sir. I did.” I spoke in a strong, fearless submissive voice. Ready for the consequences.

Let the game begin.  

And just like that they met.

*This is something I wrote as a Prologue to a novel after a few chapters of it were written.*

Seven years Ago

“Hurry up!!” I shouted to make my sister get dressed faster.” We are going to be late.” Only if she listened to me ever, moreover why should she? She was six years older than, the favorite and most pampered one in the family, not to forget the spoilt one..yet no one saw or found any fault and wrong in her.

She leisurely pulled up her trouser, while I gathered up our backpacks, no question I would be carrying them all the time.

“Can you please do a little faster?”

“Babe, I am on my fastest mode now, You don’t want me to break my limbs and spoil the whole trip today...right?” Huh.. as if. I had been running like a frantic to do everything while she hardly moved her ass off the couch. Mother would be so angry today.

Every year, on that particular day, we made a trip to our ancestral hometown, where a ceremonial worshipping of Goddess Kali was done. As the temple belonged to our family for more a hundred year, all the members of the family, however, distant they were, paid a visit. Since we were hardly related to the family anymore, we just visited there once a year out of responsibility and mother’s order. She was a great devotee of the Goddess and even, after all terrible incidents with the family, she never for once missed the occasion.

Once I asked her why did she go there when we could celebrate the day in the city at some other temple or better start a ceremony at our place separately.

But she answered, “It is not us who got separated from the family but was forced to leave. Now, on this day, when everyone is present and so are we...no one pays attention to us in particular, everything seems to be just like the earlier days. Moreover, that ceremony is an age-old one, we don’t wanna miss it for some old grudge still built-up in our hearts.”That's my mother, always kind and forgiving.

Whatever she said, if I knew my mother even the slightest she missed the place like anything. And why shouldn’t she, the house where she came after marriage. The place full of people and happy faces for only a few couples of years..and then few incidents turned all upside-down.

 Though not everything, yet ever since I heard the stories of my parent’s marriage, our old house and relatives whom we hardly knew anymore, a large family with people around, all full of life and happiness, always staying together, helping each other and standing by the other all the time—who wouldn’t want such a family unless they discovered all the nasty scars hidden underneath the pre-practiced joyous show. Till date, I dreamt of finding the Man of my dream, settling down and starting a new family, having tons of kids of our own but not leave behind my parents. Of course, it sounded so lame, that an adult staying with parents after a certain age leave aside after marriage, but I thought once there would come a person who would understand me and my point; and accept my parents no matter what. No doubt, my parents were capable enough to look after themselves even at their old age, that didn’t mean I had to let them go likewise. They were my parents and would always be, so it’s my responsibility and duty to look after them anytime and everytime.

“Hello?Earth to Amy.” My sister’s frivolous shaking brought me back to reality from the long gone wandering soul,” Now, where to?”

I blinked a few times before her strong perfume hit my nose. God, I hated that smell. She was finally all dressed up. Mira was beautiful, she always had been...wearing the traditional outfit and nicely applied makeup, she could easily be mistaken as a model from Page 3. At the age of twenty-one, freshly graduated from the college and a dating marathon machine, she always had to stay prepared, we never knew when the right person came along.

Her only aim in life had been to marry some rich guy and settle in some foreign country, and never return to India, to never look back in the past or take care of anyone else but her. She didn’t want to marry for love or family, she had always dreamt of travelling, seeing the world and experiencing everything at least for once in a lifetime. And she understood her situation and obstacles, that those dreams of hers would never come true in a conservative country like India and a middle-class family like ours. She was a good student, scored pretty good grades in all her exams to be able to add them in her tab to attract the attention of such rich easy targets.

“Holy Hell!! We will be late.” I panicked once again, remembering how pissed my mother would be if we didn’t meet them soon at the station. We would be taking the train today which would be some three hours journey. My parents left an hour early to get the tickets and pick up my cousin on the way.

“Yeah. That we will be, and if you are done with you day dreams, we should hurry before Mom decides to come back and drag us by our ears. You know what? I will tell her about your occasional day-dreaming to her today, it will save us from the scolding part.” She grinned while picking up her purse.

What?? She took an hour to beautify herself and now she would put me forward as a scrape-goat to save her head. Bi*** Oh Gosh! Mother’s stupid rule, I can’t even curse or swear until I reach the age of eigtheen...who was she kidding? Seriously?

I opened my mouth to tell her it was entirely her fault but decide to save it for later.

“Listen, tell her whatever you want to save your own pretty ass, I don’t care. But to do that, you have to, at least, reach there.” I replied in a serious tone,” I am leaving now with the bags. You lock the door and don’t forget to pull the gate downstairs, I am taking the alley. Take whichever way you want but be there within five minutes, and if you don’t I will leave without you. Is that clear?”

"Wait," She called as I turned to leave.

“ What?” I snapped without turning back, please God don’t let her tell that she broke her nail or heels, we would never make it to the station even by the night then.

“I have to return this book” she stood in front of me waving a fashion magazine, "To Diya.We will be returning late tonight, and she needs it today. She texted me, she is downstairs waiting, I will go and give this to her, you can secure the house and we will leave together.”

Great!! She won’t even do this much. I should have known she feared to damage her expensive manicured nails while pulling the main gate. Could the day be any worse? I stood there dumbstruck while her heels clicked on the concrete floor while she walked way without even hearing my answer.

I fought harder to hold back my tears, 'I am strong, I am strong, I am strong.' I kept chanting it as a mantra to calm myself. At Five-feet-five, on the side of slim build and asymmetrically chopped hair, I looked more like an adolescent boy rather than a fifteen-year-old girl. My outfits helped even more, since childhood I had preferred plain T-shirts and baggy short or faded jeans.

Being closer to Samir, my cousin...I adapted his traits more than anyone else. He was not only my brother but everything, only a few years elder to me, he was everything I wanted in a brother. Once, I even believed us to be as twins with few physical differences.I thought even twins had some dissimilarities...right?

Since my childhood, I always wanted to stay with him and the thought was mutual, but as our houses were quite far from each other's, neither of our parents let us, apart from holidays. He knew everything about me, and never for once we kept secrets from each others..this year after he graduated from his high school, he took admission to a college in the city near our house and stayed in a hostel within the campus. My joy had no boundary, my parents loved him as their own son, and I was asked to promise not to leave behind all works and studies to be with him, then he would be allowed to stay with us for every weekend. I swore on my life for studying harder and not to compromise or put my education in danger, and since then my grades had rather improved.

 My parents were very strict about our education and always made us have the best for it, proper schooling and tutors. With Mira, being a top in the class and me with fair grades, they never had to worry much, yet always made sure to remind us that how much our education would be needed at the time of securing a job. With both my parents working for good governmental posts we were pretty sufficient, yet our parents never brought us up lavishly rather only the necessities, they feared us to be spoilt and not be independent and stable on our own feet. They made a little exception for Mira, as she always was the typical 'girly girl' and with being the eldest child in the family and a topper she was given a monthly allowance for her little 'beautifying things'. She never let her that side effect her studies, and with growing age, all girls in their twenties do spend time looking after themselves, so it was nothing unusual. We had been always closer until recently, when she according to me started behaving a bit different and was being alienated from me for some reasons, I don’t quite understand.

With the absence of her, my bonding with Sam had strengthened, and when we were together we're pretty inseparable.We were of same heights and build, with same hair cuts, strong jaw lines and choice of clothes we look close to twins, while he has jet black hair and fair complexion, mine is light brown thick curls with olive skin-tone. Our best features lay in his straight greek nose and my piercing hazel eyes. Maybe someday we would officially declare ourselves as twins, let our dream of taking an apartment together and staying as roomies would come true. We both were of similar kinds and maybe one day we would get a place of our own, and start our own families,...and stay just like once my mother had, big joined family, our spouses comfortable with each others, our kids growing up closely with all cousins. Oh! how a girl can, at least, dream of a happy ending!! Damn! What's wrong with me today? I was thinking about marriage and family all of a sudden which I promised never to consider.

I secured all the doors in the house before locking the main gate. I found Mira talking to her friends just across the road.

“I am leaving, follow me or not, your choice,” I left at once not even looking back to check whether she was coming or not. I took long steps down the alley just next to our building which was a short cut to the bus-stop. I checked my phone, there were already few missed calls from my parents and Sam, God they must be so angry. Just then the phone started ringing again, shit!! Mom. What should I do?Either pick it up and lie that I was almost there when I was not, or let it ring and she would tear my head off after I reach for not picking up the phone. She hated when the calls were let unanswered, she surely cared a lot about our safety, and she never called Mira when she was with me, cause her phone was always unreachable due the reasons still unknown to the whole mankind probably.

I decided to go with “pick up the phone and lie” because, at least, she won’t be worried all the time.

“Mom...I” and before I could say anything more, I slammed against a wall.  Ouch!!
I had been traveling through this alley since forever when did the municipal decide to put a wall in the middle of the road. I dropped my phone and our bags, and as I myself was about to stumble backward and fall on my ass, two long arms wrapped around to save me from embarrassing me in front of all the people.

Wow! A wall with arms! Most fascinating wonder in the world. Shit!! I must have hit my head hard, maybe I was dreaming or about to faint. Yet the warm embrace from the wall was so comforting and most surprisingly I felt safe in here. The arms were secured to my back, my face buried in against the wall, oh!! I could feel the wall rising up and down, and the arms tightening their grip on me, as if unwilling to let go. and to be honest I didn’t want to let go either. For some reason I felt safe, I liked the painfully tightened embrace and all I could smell was a mixture of warmth and love..which felt like Home.

“Amy!?” an alarming tone of Mira, brought me back from my reverie and I pushed against my captivator to free myself.

“Are you alright?” A stern male voice, cold as winter sent a shiver down my spine and I stopped my struggling immediately with my eyes still closed and head down. Even behind the beautiful, strong strange masculine voice, I could feel the genuine concern.

That wasn’t a wall...Holy shit!! I bumped against a man’s chest and mistaken it to be a wall. Who was he? With such firm and strong ripped chest and those alluring and captivating arms, and now the nerve-wracking voice. Did God decide to pay me a visit all by himself?

I opened my eyes, still not looking up, I saw a pair of dress shoes, Damn!!It had to be those?! How much I wanted them for myself? But unfortunately, they didn’t make these for girls. And there was, this strange man standing in front of me, in the fine pairs of shoes I had ever seen and even before understanding all, I could feel the twitch in my knickers and sudden moan escaped my throat even before I could stop myself.

“Oh!”

I heard a dark chuckle from my savior as if he could read me mind or feel the wetness pooling between my legs. When did all this started happening to a girl of fifteen who prefer being like a boy her entire life? I had sex-education classes and read a lot of adult stuff already, to know what a girl or rather a woman feels when...well you know. I shook my head to stop fantasizing about stuff that came naturally to me, even though I didn’t want them to. For me, those were gross and never before today I understood or felt anything so like it. So those things were not Myths? I asked myself.

“No.” The voice replied. What ? Did he just...He just read my mind or OH my god...did I say all those loudly in front of a stranger and my...Mira. Sweet Jesus!

I sprung me head up immediately to look at ...And the time stopped.

Those were the most captivating blue eyes I had ever seen, And I lost myself in them,  for literally I had no slightest idea how long we stood staring at each other before Mira pulled me away by my arms. And at once, I felt lost, with the distance between us, a sudden emptiness eclipsed upon me, the warmth lost, the feeling of safe and homely was all blurred.

Somehow I couldn’t remember exactly where but I'd read, Christ had blue eyes. If I didn’t believe it back then, now I do. He indeed, had.. towering over a foot taller than me, lean yet well built with broad and firm shoulders, strong chest and narrow waist. Even the plain white shirt couldn’t hide all the well-defined muscles beneath. He had a straight sharp nose and most a perfectly carved face. His eyebrows frowned and thin lips were pressed together to hide something or as if he was brooding over something or simply bit disgusted by me. I could see a disbelief in his eyes as if he had seen a ghost or someone he loathed.

His expression struck me hard on my face like a slap, OMG!! He must think I intentionally bumped against him, of course, he thought that. Wasn’t that what any Indian did, seeing some handsome foreigner? Becoming overexcited, trying to make conversation or seduce them, no doubt in that, I have seen my sister to do that a number of times. It was not that foreign tourists were rare in Kolkata, and some shallow people did try to seize every opportunity for their own selfish needs. No matter what, after all this time of independence, foreigners, all the white skins, did look down upon Indian just the same- as greedy, opportunist and bragging minors.

 The realization was an eye opener for me, the feeling with which I was intoxicated only a few minutes ago was lost immediately. I decided to apologize and leave as soon as possible.

But for some reason, I couldn’t move, as if I was glued to the ground..and the adhesive was not a simple one.

“Hey!! I am Mira.” Mira came forward to make acquaintance with the stranger. Not again, I had to drag her from here before, she decided to do something stupid. He didn’t even bother looking away from me to notice at her. His gaze was piercing through as if he could see my soul.

“I..” I cleared my throat before continuing bravely” I am so sorry.” Then I bent down to pick up my phone and bags, lying near his feet. Huh!! What a douche!! Didn’t even offer his help for picking the items...rather stood there watching a lady struggling to gather up the things. Even Mira didn’t help me, and of course, I didn’t expect her to.

Then it hit me...Lady?? when did I start considering myself as a lady? Okay, the Man was totally messing with my mind and conscious. I rose without even looking at him again, “Let’s go.” I pulled her by her arm “Excuse us.” I walked passed him while He stood like a statue without even moving an inch from his place.

We took only a few steps when..

“Wait,” He called out. His voice simply sounded cold and clearly it was an order, not any request. Even with his rudeness still lingering around, I couldn’t help myself from stopping at an instant.Mira stopped beside me as well. I felt a bit afraid to turn and face him for the reason I didn’t quite understand. I felt him taking steps towards me, his steps weren't loud, they were rather silent but something in me told he wanted my...

“Help” He came and stood in front of us. I forced myself to look up at his face and to not be surprised as I found his expression softened. The frowned face just a few time back was put forward with a heart-warming and sexy smile. Huh!! Such an actor.

He immediately shifted his gaze from me to Mira.” Hello! My name is Nick.”

“Hello, Nick. Nice to meet you.” I could hear the amusement in Mira’s tone, God she was hitting on him already.
"I am Mira." Not him, Please. But what was it to me? Why did it bother me? He was a nobody. Nick’s eyes flickered towards me once more before returning to Mira as she continued, “And this is Amy, my sister.”

He looked at me and smiled. I could clearly see him struggling to fake that smile at me. What’s wrong with him? Was I some kind of a monster to him? He didn’t even know me or maybe the tom-boyish look of mine made him disgusted and uninterested in me. Why did I even care what he thought of me?

“Amy.”  He took my name. Just my name and I were about to melt. I could give up all to hear him say my name over and over again..even if that was the last thing happening before I die or the ground opened up then and there and swallowed me whole. Just to hear him take my name at least for once...I could surrender at his feet and serve him all my life.

I faked a smile “I think we should leave now. It’s getting....” and before I could finish my sentence.

“Will you help me find this address? I am new in the neighborhood.” Then he shoved his hands into his black slack’s pocket and brought out a folded paper, motioning it towards me. Mira snatched the paper before I could even register what was actually happening.

“ Oh! Of course. It’s on our way. You can come with us, I will show you the place.” Her voice was full of enthusiasm as if she found her life’s goal finally. He still didn’t look away from me.

“Listen, Mira, we are already late, please let’s leave now. Sorry, Sir..”I stopped myself immediately, did I just call him Sir..? His lips curved up into a sexier grin after hearing me address him as Sir. Well, of course, clearly he was elder than me...at least, by ten years was what I guessed...that didn’t mean I had to call him as Sir...it sounded just so old and odd.

“Don’t be silly, Amy. This house is just near the bus stop, and we are on our way there.” She scolded me a bit and turned to Nick,” C’mon Nick. It’s only a couple of minutes walk. By then we can talk a little more. So what’s bring you here?” She asked him as they walk away from me.

 I stood dumbstruck until he looked back over his shoulder to see whether I was following. Mira was continuously jabbering something to him. He saved me today, now it was my turn to return the favor, and save him from the greedy glare of my sister before she could force herself to him. We had always been taught to treat our guest well, and of course, Nick was new in here, and a guest not only to my city but the whole country. I walked hurriedly to catch up with them, I followed them like a stray puppy, as my sister continued with her nonstop talking. I hardly found Nick to answer her questions...and even if he did..it was never more than a few words. A few minutes with her, I, her own blood relation got irritated so I could totally understand his condition, yet he said nothing nor did he stop her.

The man was so complicated, at one time cold, rude and heartless, then again such sweet and concerning, patient yet in control and not flirty at all. I had seen many boys and men talking nonsense and tolerating Mira to get a chance with her. Her beauty and boldness always attracted people to a great extent. But not Nick. It seemed He was different.

“Guys? Could we walk a little faster or race probably..we are going to be real late.”I said with an intention that it would stop Mira.of course, she hated to walk fast or jog...and it would shut her up as she was terrified of even hearing about it.

“Amy!?” her voice clearly sounded scared. My plan worked.

“Sure, why not?” Nick took the hint. I was quite surprised at first as I was only half-serious about it. Why would he take me up a race? It was clear enough that he would win no matter what. With those long legs and god-like strength, there’s no way I would be able to compete him even for a minute.
”Let me take those bags for you. It would be easier for you.” He took the bags from my grip and hung them over his shoulder.Huh...where did this new version of him come from?

“ I am...You are...I mean we are just closer by...we can ...walk.” I swallowed hard and paused a number of times before finishing the line.

“That’s okay, tough girl. Let’s race. One...two..” his voice alarmed.

“No..i mean..”

“Three..” he raced away...well actually slowly jogging, giving me a chance to catch him up.

“ Hey!! You...”I ran after him” cheated.” I had to put up all my strength and energy to compete. As I struggle with my breaths, he casually jogged beside me without any difficulty at all. I tried not to glance at him, through the corner of my eye, he was such a distraction, even wearing dress shoes he could run like a pro. He had rolled up his sleeves which showed the perfectly toned muscle of his forearms.
 We raced on the road, through several turns and alleys, and I finally stopped a few yards ahead the main road, and so did he.

My breathings had already thickened, and I was all drenched in sweat as if I am freshly out of the shower. I bent down placing my palms on my thighs and taking in as much as oxygen as possible, my lungs were already on fire. Oh, I always tried to stay fit, and running a few miles every day and taking yoga classes. Yet running with him was something else. It was like I was running for my life, I could have easily stopped earlier if I wanted yet I didn’t, that would have made me look weak in front of him. He had clearly won the race, as I quitted earlier than him and much before reaching the main road.

“You've got skills.” he asked standing beside me, there was not even the slightest break in his voice after running ”Are you a runner?”

“I...yeah!...No. Actually, I run everyday for a couple of miles” I paused in between to take my breaths” I like being fit.”
 I looked up, hands on my waist to stretch a bit. He had already opened the top two buttons of his skirt, the collar around his neck was bit damped with his own perspiration, with the sleeves rolled up, our bags hanging on his shoulders he looked divine. How did a man like him even exist? I tried to take my eyes off him, when I found him looking straight into mine, I failed. His eyes dropped to my breast and stopped. Sweating like that my bra must be clearly visible under my white t-shirt, more awkward when I could feel my nipples hardening against  it, could he...Oh no!! My shirt was clinging to my skin like a second layer, of course, he could see my arousal through...I pulled the shirt front clutching it at its base to separate it from my skin.

He chuckled seeing me do such a silly thing, my cheeks immediately were heated. I needed something to cover me, I asked him for our bags, he returned them. I had one on my back and one in front, it might seem funny but it was then the right thing to do. I hated being caught up in awkward and uncomfortable situations.

“Thanks,” I said, “We should leave...” Then it hit me ...we had left Mira behind, I turned to find her nowhere around.” Christ! She is gonna be so pissed.” I pushed the hair from my face with both my palms in frustration.

“That she’s going to be.” He laughed. How dare he? I gave him a cold look.

“This is all your fault” I blamed him at once” we shouldn’t have been running like that. She hates running and moreover she was wearing heels. I left her behind for your stupid race.”

“My race?” He said still laughing” It was your idea.”

“I just said it to save...” you from my sister’s greedy and annoying torture. I wanted to say it over his face but decided not to.” I just did it to stop her nonsense talks.” 

“I should thank you for that then, I don’t wanna sound rude, but no doubt your sister is a great talker.”

“Oh! That she is” I laughed. Then I stopped. What was he doing to me? I was making fun of my own sister, with a stranger.”But we really didn’t need to race, of course, it was known you would win.” My anger had lessened a little.

“But if we didn’t, you would have never come with me.” His voice suddenly serious again. The word just hit my mind and I stared at him. I hoped he meant it in the obvious sense. “ You are tougher than you look, You should hold onto this habit.” He continued as if he just ordered me to do it.

“Well...I plan to.”I managed to say” Show me the address. I didn’t get a chance before to look at it.” I said putting forward my right hand towards him. 

‘Oh, that’s with your sister. I forgot to take it back before racing you.”

“Do you, at least, remember it? I can show it to you.” I struggled to turn to my side to grab the water bottle from the backup behind me.

As if knowingly, he grabbed it and passed it to me
”Thanks.” I said before opening and drinking straight from it. I was so exhausted that I almost finished the water. Once I am done, he grabbed it from my grip and finished the remaining.

 Did he just do that or am I dreaming?

“What?” He asked when he found me staring at him in shock with my mouth hanging open.

“You just had water from my bottle.”

“I did,” He said returning the empty bottle to me” Well, I was thirsty too.”

“ But....I had...I drank from it.”

“Yeah! I saw that.”

“ No, I mean..we shared the same bottle.” I couldn’t exactly find the right words to say” Does that mean we indirectly kissed?” Even before I could stop the words darted out of my mouth. Oops!! ” I mean...I didn’t..mean it...like that..” I stuttered.

 He stared at me in amusement, his sexy grin on his lips” Maybe. Does it bother you?”

He didn’t just ask me that? Or did he?

“ No” I stopped” I mean..yes.” I shook my head to find my self-control. He was totally messing with me.

“So did I,” He said lowering his eyes.” I wished it was on those pretty lips instead” he murmured to himself as if not wanting me to listen.

I froze. As if I forgot how to breathe.He wanted to kiss me. So did I? Then why didn’t he?

“Amy,you’re biting your lip” his eyes flickered to my lips and then back to my eyes. I didn’t even know I was doing that until he mentioned it.

I stopped. “ I didn’t know...I was doing it.” Oh! Kiss me already..will you? I wondered if he could read my mind or see the desperation on my face, but at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to kiss him. Tasting those lips, feeling his breaths on my skin, his strong arms around my waist or anywhere on my body, I didn’t care. I could sell my soul to have him for once.

Nick closed the distance between us, tilting up my chin, he lowered his head. He was going to kiss me. I closed my eyes, my lips trembling.

“Amy, open your eyes,” He said. Voluntarily my eyes opened to find his lips only a few inches than mine, his eyes locked with mine.He smells like mint and lime from close, his breaths warm against me, his voice like a drug to me and to hear him call my name, again and again, was like a dream come true.

“Amy!” A known male voice called me from behind and Nick stopped in his action, I turned to find Sam standing.

“Sam?”I cleared my throat removing every trace of ecstasy from my voice” You’re in here!”

“ You were late. You weren’t even picking up your phone. I was worried. I came to find what happened.” Sam said his eyes moving from me to Nick and then back.

Nick stood behind me, almost touching my back with his front. God!! What was he thinking? I moved away immediately  before Sam could say anything inappropriate, it struck me that I was about to kiss a stranger I just met that morning in the middle of the road, giving a public show for all. There were already few people gather around and staring at us.

“I...my phone” oh I didn’t even know where my phone was.”I think i..”

“Here it is” Nick handed me my phone, how did he have it?  Is he frowning at me? What's his problem? He stared at Sam with an angry glare.

“Thank you, Nick.” I took it from him. “ Nick this is my cousin, Samir. Sam, Nick.” I introduced them, I knew nothing more about Nick, what else could I say...

Sam, this is Nick, a stranger I just met and was about to kiss him. Or meet my new friend, Nick...we just met this morning. Or He is just new in the neighborhood I was helping him find an address.

Where was Mira when she was needed most. She could have made up a thing and Sam wouldn't have given any shit about what she thought and probably would forget this whole awkward meeting.

“Hello! I am Nicholas Bennett” Nick offered his hand toward Sam smiling. See he had definitely got something going on in his head.

“Nice to meet you. I am Samir Roy. Amy’s brother.”There was a certain protective and brotherly tone in Sam's voice. They shook their hands. Something felt awkward, seeing two of them acquainting as if a hidden cold-war was in action. Men!!

They let go each other's hands. Nick turned towards me. “Amy, Have a safe journey. I will call you later.” He took my right hand and placed a small kiss on the back of the palm. Ah!! His lips. So desirable. So soft. So beautiful.

Then he turned and walked away, where I stood to stare at his back. 

Sam cleared his throat, and I turned to face the music.

“Sam. I can explain..” He stopped me in between with a wicked smile.

“Who was that?”

“Don’t even ask. “ I said before turning back in the direction Nick went. I realized then the man with whom I felt a strange connection, was gone...and I was probably never gonna see him ever again.

“You like him..don’t you?” There was no anger or disgust in Sam’s voice. I thought him to be mad at me for the public stunt I...we..pulled but instead, he seemed genuinely interested to know the answer and no trace of judgment in his tone to be found.

“ That’s an understatement.” I swallowed hard. I'd never ever lied to Sam. So better the truth to be unveiled ” I think I am in love with him.”

One Last Time

“Please, I would never ask you for anything again.” All I had been doing for last few hours was begging. Begging Varun to accompany me to somewhere he didn't want to and somewhere I shouldn't have.

I was about to meet him. After the last time, I screwed up, he had agreed to give me five of his minutes. Well even though I had been persistent as usual he stood strong on his ground ignoring my request. But now I would finally meet him. 

I thought maybe he would stop acting weird and finally everything between us would be normal. 

Maybe...such a venomous word it is. Giving hope all along to finally snatch the happiness within a blink of eyes.

“Varun, get your ass off that couch and get dressed. We’re leaving right now, right this moment.” My brother shot me a deadly glare at the sudden change of my tone and language. For hours, I had been pleading him and just then I lost control.

“Do you realise young lady that sentence you used was very offensive?” 

Whenever he dislike something, sarcasm becomes his weapon- only because he knows how much I hate when he talks like that.

Varun is the most irritating and fabulous brother anyone can ever have. I am lucky at least in this regard. The way he had been supporting and helping me for these last few days was more than a sister can even ask her own brother. Varun is my cousin and we are closer than any blood-siblings. We are everything for each other, or at least, he is for me. I kinda drag him everywhere I go or every problem I face along my course of life. And he had been that constant support of mine. A few years older to me, yet he understands me best and sometimes I wonder what would I have been if he wasn't there for me?

“Then you fucking shouldn’t be ignoring me like this when I am fucking drunk,” I shouted."Now you face the consequences."

 My drinking had increased and even after repeated warnings from literary everyone I still hadn’t changed. I just couldn't. I needed it. The courage and confident alcohol gave me I needed that. Because the person who provided me that was no longer available for me, and this liquor-substitution of him was even better. It didn’t even get irritated hearing my non-stop prattles. Seriously, with the numb brain of mine all the time, I feel a bottle of alcohol is better than any other human. Supportive, patient and consoling...the only harm it does is to my health. Well after all the goods it does for me, a tiny fault can be pardoned I think.

Varun rose up and grabbed his jacket, replying to my loud statement in a very calm tone," If you hadn’t been this stubborn and stupid, You might still have had him.”

That’s another thing about Varun, he knows exactly what to say and when to say. To suppress my outburst he kept his voice down but the words were sharp enough to sting my mind and pierce through my conscious. A few hours of drinking and continuous pleading, he ignored and I stayed calm...but then the alcohol did show its true nature. How much pleasant it seem, at first, the endings are always with sufferings and overthinking. Damn you, Alc!!

My mind went into the flashbacks when all this started, how I ended up being an official alcoholic. One after another- mistakes of mine, confirming my state even more every day. That’s who I am. I'm an incurably and hopelessly romantic fool- who just loves to love. I cling to the last person I love until the very moment until someone else attracts my attention. And I am drawn towards that being- thinking “This is the one.” Finally, my search has been completed. Now I can slow down and settle. And then when it turns out to be incorrect, my search for another healer begins. Maybe it is completely my fault that I always need someone to love and care.. to hold onto and say “He is mine. And I am His.”

And then again there’s the real bitch 'reality', who's the archenemy of fantasy, my drug for survival.

Diagnosed with a complex level of bipolarity, and series of pathetic incidents and dramas for the last twenty years, I had given up on caring about anything. Another reason was that I thought I was in love. I thought ‘third time it’s the charm.’ It took me only a look and a book to fall in love with Him—as much as it may sound ridiculous more it will be if you all know I have only known him for two months. Funny and laughable, I know...and you have my permission to laugh but for me "when it’s right it’s right.”

“You’re coming or did you change your mind?” Varun’s serious tone jerked me off my thoughts, and I realized once again I had entered that zone of overthinking and was stoned.

“ Yea...mmhm yes” I stammered and cleared my throat. “Let’s get over with it.” 
As I was about to grab my purse I stumbled against the sofa. Mentally I tried to gear up my confidence but I knew well enough the meeting's gonna be a....

“Disaster” Varun completed it for me. That’s the level of bonding between us. One look and we can finish each other's sentences.

“You don’t have to do it. You're a strong, smart and independent woman, Anwesha. Just let it go.” Varun placed he hands over my shoulders. I didn’t look into his eyes because I feared he would see through it that what he thought of me was not true. I was not that strong enough to protect myself from crushing, I was not smart enough to not repeat same mistakes over and over, not that independent or that I absolutely feared of being alone. All alone when I would be eighty-year-old still waiting for the death to take over me. Die alone, not being loved or cared for.

I gave out a small laugh at my thought. 
“I swear if you are thinking about that dying all-alone-at-80 crap, I am not coming with you.” Damn, bro!! He knew everything. No doubt he's the best brother, my hero.

On our way to the cafe, Varun and I fought again over the fact that I shouldn’t take him with me everytime I go to meet my boyfriends- ex-boyfriends to be precise. Well, technically Dhruv was not exactly my boyfriend. We both hate labels, and after a month’s acquaintance when we met, we connected instantly. One first look and I was damned.

Along the course of our budding time, I just didn’t realize when I fell for him. If asked why I could give a list but to think wisely I actually didn’t have any unique answer to it. Or maybe just the fact that He makes me feel happy, all the freaking time. His words, his memories, all made me smile and the mundane tensions were always relaxed, heart lightened and a blanket of awesomeness wrapped me up in a cozy comfort. All with him, even when he was not physically present with me, his memories were enough to calm me. 
As they say, it’s common to be poetic in love...but was this actually any love?

It was four in the afternoon when we reached the cafe where Dhruv asked to me to meet. Varun excused himself to go and stand across the street. The only reason I brought him was I wanted his opinion about Dhruv when he'd  first see him. I always turned up for a second opinion to Varun, he had an amazing skill of reading a person’s character. Most of the time it matched, which was why since childhood days it was game to observe and read random people's characters. Though by reading random people’s personality, we never got to know whether we were correct or not. But it was fun anyway. And when it'd come to acquainting people, in the long run, he always won, because my very bad habit of judging a person from just one look was of terrible, maybe I was more shallow than I thought myself to be.

I was sitting outside the cafe and smoking while I waited for Dhruv to turn up. There was a strange intuition that he will not ditch me today. Two more minutes, he didn’t except he wasn’t alone. I saw him crossing the street with Samir, one of his best friends and a girl I never saw before clinging by his side. The way his arm  was wrapped around her waist, nothing needed further explanation.

I knew from the very first time what kind of a person he was, how he saw and enjoyed life, which was one of the many reasons I was attracted to him but I never felt possessive or insecure by seeing new girls every other day in his arms. And I didn’t that tmoment either. Some consider a girl’s possessive over her man to be a trait of romantic involvement. And in the past, I felt it as well, but, with him all was different. Maybe I knew no girl mattered to him that much, he always moved on, or maybe that’s what I wanted to believe. Whatever the way, I was never threatened by his lifestyle, he never promised me anything or kept me longing. He had been frank about himself from the very first moment. He's a man who doesn’t change himself for anyone and a man whom you can never change.

He told me the same once, to never change myself for anyone. If I was being hated by others then I was right on my rack. He cured me of my past, without even knowing and had shown me the right way to live my life. And everything was alright until I foolishly opened my big mouth and had messed everything up. When I ripped out my heart and declared my love for him, he handled the situation quite impressively, and to some extent, I did too. He said "Whenever I do, I dive deep. So I like taking time.' And he was right, one month, a few meetings and regular 'texts' might not be enough to fall in love. But I did, or at least, I thought so.

I sent a quick text to Varun to came and join us. My brows frowned as I felt a bit mad at Dhruv, five minutes that’s all he had given and now he'd showed up with his friends. Seriously? What is he trying to prove anyway?

“Hey,” he said as soon as he came over, the girl still sticking to him. “How long have you been here?”

Odd! That’s his line, what’d happened the old Dhruv I knew. That one looked different, talked differently. I felt my temper rising, for a moment I thought of separately him from the girl just as the two straps pieces of velcro...it never happened to me before, but today a sudden urge to snatch him away from the girl’s touch crossed my mind. I shook off the thought and rose from my seat.

“Hi..five mins top,” I turned to face Samir " Hey Sam.”

Sam gave me a weak smile. Something’s odd. I eyed Dhruv and then to the girl hoping he might introduce us. But when he didn’t I decided to let it go.

“C'mon then. Let sit down and talk. You only gave me five minutes of your precious time.” I put on my best confident look and motioned them to sit while I took my own. With him in front of my eyes, I had to put on the best guard I'd got or else I might have lost my cards again.

Meanwhile, Varun had come but stood by our table rather than joining us. Maybe he wanted to watch Dhruv from afar or didn't want me to introduce Dhruv to him. I understood what he felt towards Dhruv or guessed. First time I told Varun about Dhruv he had warned me to protect my heart, there’s very large possibility to have it broken by Dhruv as if my heart wasn’t scratched before. But Dhruv had fixed it, and for my own stupidity, I had it all bruised.

“We can’t ...we have to be somewhere else.” Dhruv started, I found his voice just same, smooth and stern. Damn!! For a moment I feel like slapping him hard across his face and then the very next moment to pull him down with me, claiming his mouth like he had never been before. 

“I wanted to tell you that...” My phone started ringing interrupting his words. He gave me a curious stare and a known smirk, as one of my favourite songs which he had once sung for me played along. As if it wasn’t awkward enough already that the destiny again poked her nose to pull a stunt like that. As the ambience filled with his beautiful notes, it took everything in me to take off my eyes from his beautiful face and receive the call.

“Excuse me.” I grabbed my phone up from the table and hit the 'accept' button.

“Hello, this is Anwesha...”

And just when the word’s from the other side of the phone hit my ears, the phone dropped. Varun, who was standing right next to the place where I was sitting, came round and had me in his arms.

“Hey, what happened? Who was it?” His voice all husky and worried. I looked up at him and then at Dhruv. Everything happened so quickly that Dhruv looked perplexed from the sudden intervention of Varun I guess. For the first time, I saw a little tinge of concern on Dhruv's face. Only that time It didn’t matter. I felt a different level of confident and suddenly everything around me was wonderful, exactly like how I feel whenever I fall for someone. And just like that once again I was in love, but that time, it wasn’t just me, 'soon-to-be' we both need each other.

I slowly turned to face Varun with a smile carved on my face. “ Congratulation, I am finally giving up on drinking and smoking. I am going to be a mom.” The words came out of my lips felt simply wonderful and perfect.