Falling For The Enemy

Chapter 9: New Friends

After a fun day at office, Lyla arrived home with ease as she won't be witnessing that disapproving look of her father regarding dinner. She wandered around the apartment but she couldn't find her father. She tried opening the door to his room but it was locked. Confused, she walked to the kitchen, finding the dishes in the sink-- indicating he has already eaten and had gone to sleep.

As if all the joy she felt was pulled out of her body as she blankly stared at the dishes. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and walked towards the fridge to take out her share of food. She ate in utter silence while thoughts colliding against her sanity.

Did he have to make it so apparent that he would go to this length to avoid looking at me?

"He's acting as if I'm the reason why he's so miserable." Lyla took a mouthful of roti. She felt a heavy sensation on her chest that spread throughtout her body and it made her feel tight.

The silence was deafening. She could hear the barking of the dogs, the blaring noise of siren-- probably from the fire truck or ambulance, the noises of neighbours and people talking indistinctively. However, the screams of her thoughts, wanting to go ask her father, "What is so wrong with me?" Was louder than anything.

She stood up taking the plate to drop it on the sink. She troaded towards the washbasin to wash her hands and met her reflection on the mirror. The person standing there, in the verge of tears. Suddenly, an image flashed on her mind, of Yash patting her head.

"No way--" She abruptly stopped her thoughts.

She started washing the dishes and cleaning the whole apartment, organizing it in perfect order. She was done too soon, still seeing 9pm on her phone lockscreen.

"What should I do now?"

She decided to sleep early but found herself tossing and turning around the bed. Her hands found its way to the phone in the darkness of the room. On Instagram, her fake profile opened but she decided not to torture herself further and use her main profile to see what her old friends-- not friends anymore, merely existing virtually-- were doing.

Some pursuing their Masters in UK or US and some moving cities. Others drowning themselves into modeling and social media influencers. Lyla wanted to move out from here too but she felt indebted to her father. Leaving her old father to himself would be a punishment too cruel.

A part of her wanted to give him that punishment but she never entertained the thought so impossible. She had accpeted her fate, paying back to her father, doing everything she could while he is alive.

She thought about her colleagues at her office and tried guessing their profiles. She couldn't remember their surname to guess it quite right. She couldn't find anyone's profile as she wasn't following any single person from her new workplace.

She decided to get up and have a small walk around her area. She threw on her oversized hoodle and pair of yoga pants, grabbing keys on the way to door. The heat had extinguished as calm cold air engulfed the night. The creasent moon smiling over the top, looked as if it was mocking her.

She could hardly see any woman outside, just one or two, all looking equally skeptical, but lots of men-- walking around as if owning the land. She wondered if it was her paranoid mind that couldn't help but think why all scary looking men could be found in majority at night. It wasn't even too late- half past nine, around the main city, the life has just started, here it has ended for the half of the population.

As she walked, observing everyone in her surrounding, she saw group of youngsters, around same age as her walking towards her. As they approached nearer, Lyla's eyes widened as she saw Riya in the group. Their face automatically lightened up seeing each other-- she coming forward to hug her. Lyla was still not comfortable with physical show affection tried her best to act normal and easy going.

"Fancy running into you Riya."

"Bro what you doing alone at night? Come join us!" She invited.

"Oh no. You guys seem to be occupied. Have fun!"

"Not at all. Riya's friend must join us at all costs." A boy in the group, his frame standing at medium stature. His face appeared chiselled and defined but it could be the lack of lighting around the locality.

Lyla decided to join them. "I didn't know you stay so nearby." Lyla said as she walked with the group of five people. Three boys and two girls and now with Lyla, three girls.

"Oh I don't stay here. I live in Dahisar. I came here to just chill with my friends."

"Would you be fine travelling so far at night?" She asked out of concern.

"When will this guy come to any use? He will drop me." She locked her arms with the guy with chiselled jaw.

"I'm Raj by the way. Nice to meet you Lyla."

"I'm simran." Said the chubby girl with round face. She had a beautiful light brown eyes that complimented her dyed red hair.

"I'm Deepak." The guy was only an inch or two taller than Raj. His distinct feature being his broad shoulder which meant he frequented gym quite often.

"I'm Hasan." He was the tallest in the group and had an air of introversion. His skin tone was brown yet he had a beautifully shaped cupid lips and an overall handsome appearance.

"I'm Akansha." The tallest girl in the group. Just like Riya, her appearance looked straight out of magazine, just a lot taller than Riya-- same height as Raj. Akanksha's cheek formed a deep dimple whenever she smiled, a quite captivating view at the serene night.

"Nice to meet you all. Where are we heading?"

"We will be sitting at my building's club house." Said Hasan, that mean he's the one who stayed nearby.

Lyla wasn't surprised to see that Hasan lived at the most stunning apartment of this quite neighborhood. The club house was bigger than her entire apartment. There were bunch of bean bags and sofas and chairs where they can make themselves comfortable.

"So, Riya, feeling better now?" Hasan asked with a sweet smile. With a good amount of lightings, she can now finally see everyone's face. Lyla sitting on the cusioned chair along with the boys and Riya half cuddled up with Simran in the  bean bag and Akansha on a phone call with  someone, now outside the club house.

"I'll feel better if you can dance for me." Riya winked at him.

"And I will only dance with you." Hasan continued.

"Go away. She's mine for now." Simran held Riya tightly in her embrace.

"How about Lyla and I dance to make you feel better?" Hasan, in a gentlemanly manner, offered me his hand.

"I'm not good at dancing at all." Lyla resisted, feeling awkward to dance in front of complete strangers.

"I would love that. Let me play a good song."

Lyla resisted multiple times but Hasand had held her hands and pulled her up with him. Riya played the most romantic song she could think of "Pee Loon", which started playing in the room in a low volume.

"Just breathe and let me take the lead." Hasan looked straight in her eyes.

The room boomed with loud cheers and soon Akansha joined after ending the call. Akansha too crashed in the bean bag along with Riya and Simran, Riya being in between.

Lyla didn't even believe if this was really happening to her. Her finding herself surrounded by so many people and now dancing with a pretty looking guy her age. Hasan gently placed his hand around her waist and she followed his lead. The dance looked swift and easy from others perspective, only because Hasan was a great dancer, making Lyla move in synch like a professional.

"You dance quite well." She said while moving along with him slowly now.

"Turn around." He made her turn around in his arms, "You're just natural at this Lyla. Nothing else."

Was she dreaming? Was it really happening?

The dance ended with huge around applause. Riya got up and embraced her into another hug. "You're just brilliant!"

Lyla now felt a little comfortable with her touch, still a bit stiff. "You've made me a completely different person Riya." Lyla smiled wholeheartedly.