Whispers of desires

chapter 2 -Beneath the Surface

The next evening, Yuvika arrived at The Bistro, her heart hammering in her chest. She was early, of course, her nerves getting the better of her. The place was quaint, with dim lights casting a soft glow on the wooden tables. It was the kind of place people went to for quiet conversations, not confrontations with arrogant strangers.

As she sat there, waiting, she glanced at the door every time it opened. Half of her expected him not to show up. But then, just as the clock hit 8, the door swung open, and there he was.

Advik walked in with the same nonchalance he had before, but this time, there was a calculated coldness in his expression. His eyes locked onto hers the moment he entered, and he strode toward her with the confidence of someone who was used to commanding attention, even if he didn’t care for it.

He sat down across from her, not bothering with pleasantries. For a long moment, he simply stared, as if assessing her, trying to decide whether she was worth his time.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low but firm. “I don’t waste time on games, so let me make this clear. Stay away from me.”

Yuvika blinked, taken aback by his bluntness. “What?”

He leaned in slightly, his dark eyes holding a warning. “I don’t talk to girls. I don’t entertain their questions, and I don’t care about their opinions. Whatever you’re curious about, forget it.”

She narrowed her eyes, her initial shock fading into annoyance. “Excuse me, but you’re the one who texted me. I didn’t ask for this meeting.”

He smirked, a cold, humorless smile. “I needed to make sure you understood that clearly. You got in my way once. Don’t do it again.”

Yuvika clenched her fists under the table, her pride flaring up. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? You didn’t have to drag me here just to give me a warning. I’m not interested in your games either.”

Advik’s gaze flickered for a brief second, something unreadable crossing his expression. But then it was gone, replaced by his usual stoic mask. Without another word, he stood up and walked out, leaving Yuvika sitting there, her heart pounding in both anger and confusion.

What just happened?

The days after her strange encounter with Advik were filled with an uneasy calm for Yuvika. She tried to push thoughts of him out of her mind, but it was as if he had settled in, lingering at the edge of her thoughts. She couldn’t understand why his warning had left such an impression on her.

That morning, as Yuvika sat in her room sketching aimlessly in her journal, Meera barged in, flopping down on the bed next to her.

“Spill it,” Meera demanded, grabbing the journal and peeking at Yuvika's doodles. “What happened at The Bistro?”

Yuvika groaned, pulling the journal back. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing, which is exactly why I can’t get it out of my head.”

“Yuvika,” Meera raised an eyebrow, “You don’t seem like someone who gets hung up on nothing.”

“He just…” Yuvika paused, searching for the right words. “He’s strange, Meera. One minute, he doesn’t care, and the next, he’s practically dragging me out to warn me to stay away from him.”

Meera’s eyes widened. “Wait, he warned you off?”

“Yeah! It’s like he doesn’t want anyone near him. He’s completely closed off. Cold.”

“Okay, but why? Why you, of all people? He could’ve just ignored you like he does with everyone else.”

“I don’t know!” Yuvika sighed, frustration creeping into her voice. “And that’s what’s bothering me. What is he hiding?”