A Pretty Lie

00.

He was looking forward to retire to bed early today when his eyes strayed to the figure sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

Teal dress——his eyebrows arched. Trivedi?

What is she doing out here?

"Alright there, Trivedi?" He asked as he walked down the stairs, she was sitting at the bottom most one.

He stopped a few steps up.

She didn't turn. But he knew she heard him, he saw the small jerk of her hand when he spoke up.

"Yes." She spoke without turning to look at him. She remained seated on the spot--he wondered what could have happened that she was sitting there when everyone was in the hallway enjoying their night.

He quirked an eyebrow, he didn't expect an honest answer, and then she turned to look at him before averting her gaze.

He blinked, this was the first time he wasn't faced with anything witty from her side. She may even not have paid attention to what he had said.

He stepped down the rest before taking a seat beside her.

He noticed the continuous tapping of her foot and her fingers scratching onto her other. Her eyes were glassy and her bottom lip looked swollen, possibly of her biting into it——he winced.

"What's the matter?" He asked.

Annika turned to look at him, a frown visible on her features.

"Since when did you start being nice to the people?" She asked with an arched eyebrow.

"I am not that of a jerk to ignore someone who is on the verge of having a breakdown." He spoke looking ahead, the dull music from the hall reaching their ears as they sat on the stairs in silence.

"Must you be so forward?" She asked with a sigh.

"Take it or leave it." He spoke turning to look at her pointedly.

She sighed, "I guess I will take it." She spoke and she turned back to stare ahead. Had she turned around she would have noticed the gentle smile on his face as he observed her under the faint moonlight that filtered in the corridor through the gaps.

The lingering smile on his lips faltered, as he stared back at the news, his eyes scanning the fine print of the papers.

She did it, and the paper was crumpled into his hands.

~^~

Shivaay placed the hand on the wall, stopping her from moving away. She looked up her doe eyes shining with fresh tears. He frowned.

"Back off Oberoi." She spoke through gritted teeth. He looked at her tearful face carefully before turning towards the doorway she came running through, his eyebrows arched.

"What's wrong?" He asked. She looked at him with a look of distrust. "Why do you care?" She snapped, he looked around and shrugged.

"I don't." he backed away a step. Another lie.

His life has transpired into a mess of beautiful lies ever since he has met her.

She was a tempest to a seeker like him.