Rivals

Chapter 29

" It was for a thing that is very important to me. " Akshit said. Slowly lifting his gaze he looked at Navya. " Now don't ask me what it is. " He turned towards Bhaeva. " I will tell about it later when I get it. "

" So he took a thing from you? " She asked pointing at Shrey who sat there quietly for he knew what Akshit was trying to do.

" More like it never had an owner in the first place. " He looked for the bandage which he purposefully and very discretly took off before putting it in his pocket. " We made a deal and it was to be mine but I think Shrey took a fancy to it and now has a hard time handing it over. " He subtly mocked him whilst taking a new bandage out. 

" It was in my possession for a long time. " Shrey said not being able to sit like a stone. " Who are you to claim it's ownership? Moreover the deal didn't specify any of the things you are talking about. "

" Oh yeah. Is that so? " Akshit's demeanour changed and so did Shrey's which Ishaan noticed and stepped in before they fought again like cats and dogs.

" Can you please stop I am trying to eat? " Ishaan placed the glass down. " It's so hard eating while sitting in between both of you. You both are ruining the whole taste. Get out if you want to fight. "

" Geez, he's so pissed. " Bhaeva commented looking at the two suddenly getting calm. " Well if you don't want to tell about the thing I won't pry further but I sure am so curious about something. And you will have to answer me Akshit. "

" ...And what is it? " He asked furrowing his eyebrows. " I heard you got engaged a year or two ago. Why didn't you tell any of us about it? " She questioned.

" Oh, that... " For the first time he didn't have an answer or a lie to spin as he never assume this topic to be worth talking about. So for the time being all the attention shifted towards him while he tried to answer the question.

The night drew dark. The stars started to appear complementing the moon. The sound of laughter and chatters could be heard outside where the cold breeze was blowing.

They were sitting in the living room after having dinner. While they were discussing about when to have the next gathering, Shrey got a call. He went outside, talking on the phone and the others took this as an excuse to stretch out their limbs.

Navya went out to take a stroll in the backyard. Bhaeva was with her for a moment before she was called in by Ishaan. She was standing alone by the flower pots, enjoying the cold breeze brushing past her cheeks.

She was looking at the various plants to see if she could identify one when Shivansh approached her. Not acknowledging his presence she continued to look at the plants.

" I am sorry. " He said, his voice a little over a whisper.

" You created such a scenario just to say a pathetic sorry? " She asked. " No. No it's not like that. " He urged. " I just— "

" You know, you were like a brother to me. " She faced him. " You were the only one I could rely on when the things got hard. But now... you are just another dead brother to me. "

His heart dropped hearing the words. " Navya... " He tried to grab her hand to stop her from leaving. Just as his fingers touched her wrists, she turned back.

" Don't stop me. " She pleaded. " It's better to end things now than to have more unpleasant memories. "

He lowered his hand and silently begged for her to stay. But his pleas never reached the destination and he was left alone wondering if things might've ended differently had he used some other way. 

One part of her wanted to go back and forgive him while the other was didn't. With conflict going in her mind, she stumbled across Askhit on her way to the front porch.

" What happened to you? " He asked extinguishing his lit cigarette. " Why do you seem so down? "

" Nothing. " She said forcing a smile on her lips. " No need to fake a smile. " He closed the distance between them. " I know something is bothering you. Tell me what is it? "

She wanted to say that everything's alright but the words stuck in her throat. She lowered her gaze not knowing how to answer him. What would she tell him? Should she tell him about how she lost all her work? How she was backstabbed? How hard her life is getting by each passing day?

What would happen if she were to tell him that? Isn't it a given that he would feel pity for and say that everything will be alright? What's the use of sharing her pain when no one cares? 

In the midst of the chaos he engulfed her in a hug. His embrace was tender as if she was fragile and would break at the slightest touch. She sure was startled by the sudden embrace and though reluctant at first she eventually got used to it. She felt the comfort she was seeking for so long in his arms. 

However comforting the hug may be for her but it wasn't as amusing as it was to Akshit. And the reason for that were the raised eyebrows and the wide eyes of Shrey. There are no words to describe the content he felt in the moment.

Seeing Shrey getting closer to them only increased his amusement. He smiled as Shrey stopped an inch behind her back.

" It's getting late. " Shrey said, controlling the anger from seeping into his words. " We should go. " 

Navya was alarmed hearing his voice and suddenly pulled away from Akshit. Looking at him she tried to find any sign of emotion and not finding the one she feared, she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding.

" Y-yeah. We should head home. " She stepped away from Akshit. " We should tell the others too. "

" Don't worry. I already told them. " He stated placing his arm around her waist. " See you next time, Akshit. " 

The hand on her waist irked Akshit but he was in no place to say anything. So he just smiled and said goodbye to them. This was just a fraction of the annoyance he was about to feel in a moment.

Shrey and Navya got inside the car while Akshit was looking at their every movement. Shrey knew this and using the seatbelt as a pretext, he closed the distance between them. The seatbelt clicked into the buckle and he looked at Navya who too was looking at him. 

He was just going to stop at this point but was unfortunately, for Akshit's peace of mind, bewitched by her eyes.

His head tilted a bit before he leaned in, narrowing the gap between them further. She froze in surprise as their lips made contact. He moved a little back, feeling her breath on his skin. 

" W-what are yo— " She was cut off in mid sentence as he leaned once again this time but not for a gentle brush on the lips but with the intention of devouring them. 

He would've stopped at just a simple peck but the bewilderment on her face was enough to ignite the dying urge in him. His right hand was on her nape, restricting her from moving away. He wanted something more than a kiss but this wasn't the place or the time for it.

Through the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Akshit, seeping in anger. Now it was his turn to be amused. He pulled away from the kiss leaving her flushed.

She lowered her head embarrassed thinking someone might've seen them. Surely someone did and that someone wasn't happy about it. Shrey passed a smile in Akshit's direction before driving away.

Once they were inside the walls of their house, where there was no spectator, he pulled her closer to him. The spark he had a few minutes ago was still there. He didn't want to continue in that place so he drove back home as fast as he could.

The heat was rising at the places their bodies touched. He kissed her again leisurely without the worrying about the audience. She was left breathless by the time they pulled apart.

He then proceeded to kiss her neck while his hands roamed her body. Just as his hand slithered inside her clothes, touching her skin, he felt her tense up which he didn't notice before for he had only one thing going in his mind.

Seeing the fright in her eyes, he cursed himself for being so hasty. He stepped back to show that he won't do anything which was more confusing to her than the fact he kissed her all of a sudden. He then whispered a sorry under his breath and headed upstairs while she was left questioning his actions.