Monsoon

New Year

New Year Parties suck.

If you say this to someone on 31st December, they would try to contradict you.

Try again on 1st January and they would agree with you.

New year parties do suck. And if you are the host, your night is going to be a long and miserable one. While everyone is getting drunk over their failures in passing year, you would be loathing the moment you invited these losers in your home.

You would have an invasion on your kitchen. Some strangers would be using your bedroom and bathroom (let's not even wonder if they flushed!) and you will find all kinds of bottles anywhere you try to sit, which would justify all that vomit in your trash.

No one, literally no one would be interested in a serious talk at such parties. Except maybe, for the cops that may crash your party because your old neighbour lady thought music was crossing the decibel limit.

At such time all the host can do is grab a beer, find a corner and sit quietly, hoping for the sun to rise in sky and set on the wretched party.

That is exactly what Shardul was doing when a pair of girls walked in. The first girl was looking around for someone. Average height, slim athlete body, dressed in blue, the girl would have caught anyone's attention, if only, the other girl had not entered with her.

Tall and slightly curved, the second girl was dressed casually in black leggings and a long burgundy cowl sweater. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun on her crown. She had striking dark eyes which were roaming over the crowd emotionlessly. The tightness in her body language made it clear that she was not a party person.

Everything about her screamed, she did not want to be here. The way she moved around reminded Shardul of a lioness prowling amidst bunch of hyenas. That's what all these people were - opportunistic hyenas.

Shardul took a swing from his beer bottle and leaned back as the two girls slipped into the crowd to meet someone. They made their first stop near Adhira. Introductions were made.

The cold smile that the tall girl gave Adhira must have made her shiver. Shardul could think of just one word: Regal. There was a predator's grace in her movements. He tried to keep an eye over her but every now and then someone would come and try to talk to him.

The party was getting on his nerves now, a bit too loud and vulgar for his taste. Shardul closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, acting like a passed-out jerk. May be this will stop people from approaching him.

A soft cough next to him made him jump and disoriented, he turned around to find the tall girl next to him. Up close, he realised, she was not exactly beautiful. Her features were like any girl next door but it was the confidence that made her stand out. Within her eyes was an absolute stillness, like the calm before the storm, silence before a hunt or glowing embers before a forest fire.

"Sorry," she said not sounding sorry at all. "Did I wake you up?"

"No," Shardul said. "Who are you? Never saw you before."

"Naina," she said through her set jaw and pressed her lips in grimace, like she hated the name. Her nostrils flared in frustration and a fine vein pulsed on her forehead. Her dark eyes lacked warmth as they fixed on the wall clock. She was impatient, Shardul thought. Eager to leave, most probably.

"Shardul," he informed, offering his hand. "Tagged along with the other girl?" Naina narrowed her eyes at him. Yeah, he didn't care admitting that he was stalking her since she came in.

"I came here with Raksha," she said cold-heartedly shaking his hand.

"I don't know her," said Shardul.