Ishq Junooniyat (Book 3)

14. Post-Clubbing Scenes

TARGET: 45 VOTES & 20 COMMENTS

The group spent some time at the club where Aarchi put on the mask of fake enthusiasm and conversed with everyone after which they all went to Lavanya's farmhouse to chill. They all sat in the garden having barbeque paneer tikka and pizza made on coal stove. 

"Vihaan please" Aarchi held his hand and squeezed it lightly. Vihaan looked at her confused.

"So Princess Ranawat why don't you drink?" Rizwaan with whom Aarchi had warmed up asked playfully with no evil intentions.

"I don't like losing control over my senses" She said holding her Coke can and sipping from it.

"But we all have seen you holding champagne glasses and Vihaan says that you have a good knowledge on alcohol" Shreya asked curiously. Shreya being a reporter had snapped pictures of many royals at the balls hosted every month and recognized Aarchi from there.

"Holding a glass doesn't indicate that you are drinking and yeah I do have quite some idea about alcohol because my friends used to drink. I used to take one sip from their glass to taste it. One sip doesn't make you high" She said with a smile which brought a smile on everyone's face except Vihaan's.

"Did Gautam drink?" Aarchi stiffened at the name and looked at him, gulping down her saliva.

"Did he?" Vihaan repeated the question.

"Bro take a chill pill. This isn't the discussion we called her here for" Neel said placing a hand on Vihaan's shoulder.

"You don't like drunkards either" Vihaan whispered making her nod her head.

"But you don't seem to have a problem right now" Vihaan asked locking her gaze with his.

"I don't. I hate it when someone surpasses their limits and starts with their sad story. I don't like that. I don't like it because what's the point of acknowledging the hurt if you are going to forget it the other day, it is either way going to be in your heart so might as well try the sober way to talk it out" She said playing with her fingers as a way of being calm when she was anxious.

"Not everyone is strong enough to do it when sober. They need to lose little control of life to navigate back. Some aren't as strong as they let others believe" Vihaan argued with her, wanting to know what her reaction was on it.

"Is it worth it though? Is a few hours of intoxication worth damaged organs, strained relations, worried friends and wrong judgements that will affect everyone for whom you matter? Sometimes it isn't about being strong or weak, it is about making the right choice. You aren't wrong Vihaan, but neither am I" Aarchi said with a smile that reached her eyes. Everyone in the group remained silent even after seeing the electrifying chemistry between the two.

"What's the story you are hiding behind the facts everyone knows?" Vihaan asked looking at her deeply. Aarchi looked at him shocked at how he managed to read between the lines.

"When I confronted Surya about him cheating on me, he blamed it on alcohol intoxication" She said lowering her gaze feeling embarrassed at her reasoning.

"He was a prick Aarchi" Manav stood up and hugged her making her smile slightly as Vihaan simply stared at her without blinking. Everyone who was sitting in the circle could sense the sparks between them except the two. 

"She's Arya's and Avi's sister, tone it down" Manav slapped Vihaan's shoulder as he stood up to get more food.

"I know who she is Manav" Vihaan looked at Manav confused.

"They will rip your head apart so don't do anything stupid" Manav warned him before disappearing leaving Vihaan to ponder on his words. Shaking his head, Vihaan sat beside Aarchi and asked her if she needed any more food. She refused and got busy in talking with Divya as they discussed about various fashion brands.