Khair, Tum Batao?

Chapter Four: "Hua Yun Saamna, Pada Dil Thaamna"

Aradhana Sehgal

Hosh dheere dheere kho rahi thi main. Behoshi main nahi toh kam se kam madahoshi main zaroor.

It was a total black out except a couple holographic stickers and neon laser beams from people's guns, all green and red, as the ship hits a shrilling wave, jerking the very soul out of my chest.

A couple steps ahead and I find a hide wall, looking through the peek hole to the the other side, watching a red laser light and aiming as well as I can towards the source of it. The beam from my gun stops at a pitch black spot, then the said spot blinks blue and my earpiece announces in a robotic voice
"Well done, you get 15 seconds of night vision starting now"

Suddenly my gear glasses have a certain filter to them and I can see a couple bodies around in a deep green hue. I move quickly and quietly trying to find another red team member before my remaining 7 seconds exhaust.

I find one, aim and quickly eliminate another person, as my breathe is ragged from the sheer thrill of it. Once again, blue blinks and I get another 15 seconds. I move swiftly, making sure that the dress doesn't make any noise while dragging against hide walls or the floor as I become face to face with a red team member. His tall silhouette oddly familiar, but I start to put an aim forward.

The grin however, wipes off the very second I see him facing his gun directly at me. Fuck, he must also have a night vision.

As quickly as I can, I duck behind the hide wall and look for the peekhole on the wall to hit him before my remaining 9 seconds end. With a shaky breathe and hyperactive mind, I look for him through the peek hole I just recognised, and I hear a click right behind me.

I turn around as a small blue light blinks, on my shoulder and my gear deactivates as the earpiece announces.

"Oops! You've been eliminated"
No shit Sherlock.

My gear gives me full vision as I take a look at the source of my elimination, his sharp and unmistakable set of crooked canines shine even amidst the small beams of lasers, his smirk only widens as he realises that I recognise him.

Of course it is-

Abhijay Narang

There's a glimmer of annoyance in her expression of defeat as I'm glad I recognised her exactly well, not like it was possible for me to mistake that perfume anyway, the very one that has made my mouth water since the cab carpool.

I can see it, that she knows, a frown set upon her face. All that heaving, all those shaky breathes and stealthy glances just to get hit right on the shoulder. I sense movement and subconsciously step closer to the hide wall, pinning her as she looks up at me with those big eyes, that would do anything to get another chance and eliminate me first.

"You lost" I whisper into the short channel of space between us. To my surprise, I feel her grab my collar and pull me down even closer.

"Did I?" Her voice, deep and sultry almost traps me for a minute, and before I can process her words, my gear deactivates and my earpiece announced my elimination.

"Motherfuc-" I breathe out a curse and turn around, my full vision allowing me to see none other than Nipun blow a kiss towards me. She must've seen and signalled him.

I groan and she giggles

"YOU lost, Mr Narang" she says, taking her leave and going towards the exit barricade for eliminated players.

I watch her green silhouette in the night vision, following her shortly towards the exit but not before I flash my middle finger towards Nipun, who could really care less and is busy finding his next target.

I make my way out and am helped out of my gear by a kind staff member, who later led me towards the formal ball.

The soft jazz music pours from behind the big double doors, I enter as the door opening simultaneously makes the music and clattering noises loude. In a stray corner beyond the dancing and swaying figures, I spot Dhruv.

But he's not alone, in his arms stands Aradhana, as they share a hug so close that one could only deduce one explanation behind it.

I look at them for a good minute, not realising how rudely and blatantly I was staring, her arms clasped his nape and shoulders, his hands firm yet respectfully on her lower waist. Close, so close, Aradhana seemed to be speaking something to him and I could see his head move behind hers.

I mindlessly pick a drink from the tray of a server, slowly dragging it up my lips, to only fool my own self in believing that I was occupied with doing anything but staring at the two.

As the cold glass reached my lips and I took a swig, I come out of my trance consequentially to a bubbly strong repulsive liquid coating my tongue.

Pulling it away, I examine the contents of the glass. Blue lagoon it is, of course. Unbearably artificial.

I discard the drink to a nearby dirty dish platform while groaning, turning around once again to see the duo, only that this time my eyes weren't lone in staring. Her head was turned around as they still locked in closely, she looked unabashed right at me, while whispering something to Dhruv as they pulled away and shared a pleasant smile.

On cue, I begin walking towards them as Aradhana straightens up and pats his arm, and he leaves in the direction of a bright sign saying 'washroom'.

I stop mid tracks, flashing a smile and nodding to Aradhana, before following Dhruv into the washroom. I sense her sight at me and turn around to find my speculation correct, only to recieve a faint, soft, sugary smile before I turn back around and enter the men's room.

Author's note

I hope that you like this chapter 💜.

Word count: 1030