Falling For The Enemy

Chapter 12: Feelings

This week ended sooner than anticipated, the whole group was outside of the office building chatting about the things they will do on their weekends.

"Guys, let's go out to eat?" Saya suggested.

"Okay. That would be great." Ronit agreed.

"I'm in!" Riya and Sangeeta said in unison.

"I'm feeling hungry so why not." Yash said shrugging his shoulder. "Shiv will join too." He pulled Shiv by putting his arm around his shoulder.

"Nah, I'm too tired." Shiv denied.

"Hell nah bro. You're coming with us." Jeet insisted.

"Whatever." Shiv said 'yes' in his own language.

"I'll pass. My father will be waiting for me." Lyla said lowly.

"Just call him and tell him you will be late." Riya suggested.

"No.."

"No! You're coming or I won't go either." Riya held her hands and said in a childish tone.

"Let's leave them here then." Yash jokingly said.

"So mean Yash. You want some beating?" Riya glared at him.

"Okay I'll come. Let me inform him." Lyla finally agreed.

Lyla opened her open to call her father then decided to text him instead. Opening whatsapp she saw how he hasn't replied to her texts she had sent before. Feeling empty from inside, she decided against it.

"He wouldn't care." Lyla muttered under her breath and closed her phone.  She looked up and realised Yash heard it and he suddenly looked away.

It made Lyla feel awkward as she previously declared how her father would be waiting for her and then she found Yash listening to something exact opposite.

"We got four bikes. Two people on each scooty. Cool?" Yash suggested.

"I'll sit with Ronit." Saya reserved instantly. Everyone else decided on their respective bike partners too.

"Lyla you can sit with me." Jeet invited her. "I don't wanna ride with this crazy head." He said pointing towards Riya.

"Who are you calling crazy head? Now I'll sit with you. Is that alright Lyla?" Riya announced and asked Lyla.

"Oh he's all yours. I'll sit with Shiv." Lyla responded.

"I think Sangeeta will sit with Shiv. You can join me instead." Yash chimed it.

Was it her mind playing tricks or she saw Shiv agreeing to her offer but before he could affirm anything, Yash barged in?

"I'm overthinking. It's normal." Lyla thought.

The starry night blurred as masked by the polluted dark clouds. The city lights taking over and the street lights emitting the yellow lights. People at the footpath walking and eating near stalls of pani puri and sandwich. Lyla looked before her, Yash's broad back which stood so firmly and powerfully. She didn't dare touch him, in a way thinking she will spoil him. She could see the back of the neck which she found particularly attractive. She didn't realise how long she was staring at it as she didn't hear him asking a question few times.

"Do you have any hobbies Lyla?" He repeated again, him looking at Lyla through the mirror, saw her staring at his nape.

Lyla's eyes roamed to the mirror and felt embarrassed immediately seeing herself getting caught. "What? What did you ask?" Lyla looked away, up at the sky. "The sky looks majestic."

"Yeah it does. I was asking if you have any hobbies?" He seemed to ignore, still looking at her in the mirror.

"I... I like cooking. I... I.." She forgot all she was thinking about. "What are your hobbies?" She asked, glancing on the scooter's mirror.

"I like playing volleyball. Yeah. It's my favorite sport. And you're cooking is marvelous."

"Really? Thanks. Well, I don’t know anything about volleyball." She responded, feeling the awkwardness evaporating as she spoke more.

"You haven't played any sport?" He sounded rather slightly surprised.

"Why? Should I play any sport?"

"No. No. I just thought you like sports." He said through the strong air as he sped up a little as the road got emptier.

"You live in Goregaon right?" Lyla initiated another topic.

"Yess. Why?"

"I live there too. I was just asking." Lyla said, her eyes falling onto his broad shoulder again. She couldn't ignore the fact that even from the back, Yash looked insanely attractive.

"Why must he look so good?" Lyla questioned on her mind.

"Isn't that cool?... well.. maybe we should hangout sometimes?" He tried sounding casual. Lyla, just thought about them hanging out together and her heart skipped a beat.

"Is he serious?" She thought. Yash joked a lot and she came to conclusion that he was just saying it for the sake of formality.

"Oh sure. Why not?" Lyla chuckled slowly.

They arrived at the destination where everyone has already reached. "Aren't you slow Yash?" Lyla teased lightly as she stepped out of the scooty.

"Ooh. That's not what she said." He winked at her and she could just feel her heart beating loudly.

It was as if Lyla had entered a dreamland this whole week. So many expected things happening into her favour but on the back of her mind, she knew it won't last long. Hence, she should enjoy every bit of the moment.

The restaurant manager gave them the largest table so that all four people could fit. "Lyla you must sit with me." Riya claimed her and sat beside her. The three musketeers were united as Jeet and Riya sat at the either side of Lyla. Lyla looked at Yash who had gone to the washroom and hasn't come at the table yet. She wanted to sit with him, but the only table unoccupied was the one on the far right.

Yash came out, still brushing his hair with his finger and he glanced at Lyla. He saw the only empty seat and sat there. "Bro this seat is too small. Sangeeta switch seats with me." He asked Sangeeta who sat right opposite of Lyla.

Lyla looked at the table intensely. She was giving herself a way too much of a high hope. As Yash said, the seat was small and that is why he's changing the seat. Lyla being in the middle was just a mere coincidence. She tried giving herself millions of reasons instead thinking that one reason, which felt too far fetched and out of her league. That perhaps, he wanted to sit closer to her.