In a distant marriage with her brooding husband, Ayan, Adira Khanna has resigned herself to a mundane life. However, fate has different plans when Ayan's childhood friends plan a week-long trip to Goa. Little did Adira know that this vacation would...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Chapter 7 ...READY FOR IT?
ADIRA
"Well, well, watch out! Need a ride, ladies?", I heard Arjun's deep voice, tinted with amusement.
Arjun, Ayan, and Viraj arrived at the bustling street on their Vespa scooters just as Kavya, Esha and I stood there, laden with our shopping bags. Their arrival drawing curious glances from passersby.
The hues of yellow, orange, and blue scooters looked quite vibrant in the summer.
To everyone's surprise, Esha confidently hopped onto Ayan's scooter, claiming her spot as his riding companion. Kavya and Viraj quickly followed suit, forming their own duo on another scooter. Left with no other option, I found myself standing besides, none other than Arjun.
"Arjun, how about I drive this time, and you can scoot behind?" I proposed with a mischievous smile, determined to take the wheel.
Arjun chuckled, playfully accepting the offer. "Are you sure, Hazelnut? If you can ride in that dress, then be my guest."
"Challenge accepted." I buckled my helmet and settled on the seat. With that we set off, the wind tousling our hair and the promise of adventure in the air. The sight of Esha and Ayan, laughing and sitting closely on Vespa, made my mood sour. I decided to handle the matter in old Adira style.
I smirked, revving the scooter's engine in response, taking the reins in my hands. With a playful grin, I took off in a zip zap manner, leaving Ayan and Viraj trailing behind in the wake. I relished in the thrill of outpacing them, surging up my freshly gained confidence.
"Whoa, Hazelnut! Slow down there, Speed Racer. You're trying to give me a heart attack or something?", I heard Arjun laugh near my ears.
"Where's your sense of adventure? You know I have everything under control.", I replied mockingly.
He raised his brow, a bit of fear lacing his voice "Everything under control, huh? I'm not sure I'm ready to be your sidekick in a high-speed chase."
"Well, I thought you were the fearless ladies' man. Are you telling me you can't handle a little adrenaline rush?", I couldn't control my grin, increasing my speed a bit more, zooming in Goan streets.
"Whoa, who said anything about not handling it? I'm just concerned for our safety. ", he said with a mock indignation. I didn't miss the way his eyes flickered at my hint of the skin of my bare thigh, revealed by the slit of the sundress.
"Oh, don't worry. Just hold on, relax, and be the passenger princess!" I teased him.
Arjun chuckled and shook his head. "I'm hoping to emerge with all my parts intact. I don't even have a wedding ring on my finger yet!"
I grinned, "Oh come on, Arjun. You're quite the catch. I'm sure there's someone out there just waiting to join you in the passenger seat."
He smirked, shaking his head. "You think so, huh? Well, if you weren't already married, maybe I'd consider that option." My eyes widened in response and he just laughed out loud.
In the midst of our laughter, I couldn't help but notice the subtle tightening of Arjun's hands around my waist. A spark of electricity coursed through me, feeling the weight of his hand on my body. I could sense my cheeks warming, my heartbeat quickening. I felt an adrenaline rush, both by my speed and his touch. Our eyes met in the rearview mirror, sharing a secret understanding beneath the playful façade. In those stolen glances, several emotions were passed. I have never gelled up with someone so quickly as I have with Arjun. Despite being selective and a bit introverted myself, everything feels so easy and natural with him.
But I couldn't allow myself to imagine something more significant, to entertain thoughts that were not meant to be. Furthermore, he wasn't interested in girls like me. Even though I was married to Ayan, I had to compete even for his attention. It was likely that Arjun would show interest in someone with a supermodel-like image rather than me.
Along the Parra road, we cruised through the scenic landscapes, stopping occasionally to capture the picturesque views with our cameras. Laughter echoed through the streets as we snapped photos, playfully posing and immortalizing the memories we were creating.
The Vespa scooters became our trusted companions, carrying us through narrow alleys and wide boulevards, allowing us to explore the city at our own pace. With every twist and turn, we uncovered a new facet of Goa's charm.
As the sun began its descent, we reluctantly made our way back to the villa.
_______________《 ◇ 》________________
I tossed and turned, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. Ayan was sleeping like a baby, beside me in the comfy bed. As I lay in bed, the image of Ayan and Esha's interactions kept replaying in my mind like an endless loop. His sharp features relaxed with peaceful slumber. I looked at him one more time, enjoying the stolen moments with him in this loud trip.
In the stillness of the midnight hour, I stumbled my way towards the kitchen, seeking solace in a glass of cold water. As I entered, the soft glow of a laptop screen caught my attention, revealing Arjun, engrossed in his work.
Arjun sat before me, looking simple yet effortlessly attractive. He donned a black vest, accentuating his well-defined physique, while the soft fabric of his grey sweatpants clung comfortably to his thick legs. The veins of his forearms were subtly visible, and his dark hair tousled in a straight-out-of-sex way, adding to his rakish charm. I approached him, my voice breaking the silence.
"Arjun, what are you doing here? Can't sleep either?", I said softy.
His eyes shifted from the screen to my body. "Just tying up some loose ends before the day ends. What about you, Hazelnut? What brings you to the kitchen at this hour?"
"Just water." I took a glass from slab and filled from the bottle. I took a slow slip and kept it on the table. I chuckled at his use of the nickname, feeling a sense of familiarity and comfort settle between us.
Curiosity beckoned me closer, and I found myself leaning in, unintentionally my breasts grazing against his arm as I tried to catch a glimpse of his screen. But I lost my balance, and in that moment of vulnerability, I instinctively reached out, grabbing onto Arjun's arm for support.
Our bodies pressed together, a rush of warmth spreading through me. I felt my heart skip a beat, a surge of emotions swirling within me. I was lost in his charcoal dark eyes. He stiffened underneath my touch.
"Careful there, Hazelnut. Seems like you have a habit of fumbling. Interesting choice of pyjamas, I must say." He whispered teasingly in my ears, making me regret at my SpongeBob SquarePants printed bottom wear and thin tank top.
His words, spoken in a hushed tone, sent a shiver down my spine. The proximity between us grew.
"Stop calling me hazelnut," I whispered sharply, trying to suppress the shivers in my voice. He used the nickname to tease me deliberately when were alone, and it was getting on my nerves. His eyes briefly glancing at my lips, and I couldn't help but feel a tingle of anticipation. Certain thoughts of him, me and the kitchen countertop came to mind, but I pushed them away to the farthest corners of my head.
But before anything more could happen, the sudden flip of a light switch shattered the intimate moment.
I stepped back, momentarily flushed and embarrassed.
Viraj's sleepy voice cut through the awkward silence, laced with a hint of sarcasm. "What do guys are doing here? Should I remind you both that it's 3'o clock at night?"
Arjun and I exchanged sheepish glances, a mix of amusement and slight discomfort evident in our eyes." Just sleep already", he switched off lights and went to his room.
We retreated to our respective rooms. In that moment, I thought about what the future held, but I was sure this late-night encounter was not going to let me sleep the rest of the night. ..........
