Beating Hearts : A PaNi FF

Chapter 2

Niti

I continued staring at the weathered boat that slowly moved towards the opposite shore, shaking slightly as the gentle waves crashed against it. How I wanted to be on that boat, on my way home where I could just crash on my bed and sleep peacefully. But that was not to be.

I sighed heavily and mentally cursed at the heavens above as the reason for that stood beside me, gloating arrogantly. My lips automatically pressed into a hard angry line and I gritted my teeth in frustration, lest I said something I would regret later. He could not make me lose my cool or control. I could feel his intense gaze on me, and I hated the unwanted blush that crept up my cheeks covering it with red hue giving me away. Ignoring him completely, I quickly turned around making my way to the vanity van parked across the ground, fully intending to catch up on my sleeping time. I had not even taken two steps away from him when his deep voice rang clear in the quiet atmosphere making my heart rate go a little faster than usual, "Where are you going?"

I stopped instantly, as if my legs were under his control and took a deep breath before turning around. His face was creased with slight worry lines, his eyes intent on my face. I drawled in the most tired voice possible, "To the vanity."

I didn't wait for his response and started walking again. I could hear him grumble something in irritation as I turned back and could hear the sound of his muffled steps as he followed me and soon reached me, matching his giant steps to my small ones.

"But why?" I looked up at the sound of his voice and found his eyes trained on my face with an expectant expression on his face.

I looked at him with a tired expression and responded in a dejected voice, "To sleep." I didn't break my stride and continued on my way. He again muttered something unintelligible under his breath in irritation.

"Do you mind speaking in full sentences? Or is too much to ask?" he said through his teeth, his suppressed irritation creeping into his voice. His eyes had a hard glint in them as he stared me down, his lips turned down in a grimace.

I turned my face away from him replying simultaneously as I climbed into the vanity, "Yes I do mind very much."

He stood frozen at his place, his face a mask of shock. I couldn't care less at the moment

There was only one vanity on the sets today since only Parth and I were shooting and it was the biggest one, separated by a revolving door and was more often used by Parth. I moved towards my half, glad that I wouldn't have to tolerate his presence anymore and crashed on the sofa, closing my eyes.

"What do you mean you mind?"

I had fully expected him to retire into his half of the vanity, leaving me in peace but his presence in the confined space of the vanity further increased my unease and irritation. My eyes flew open at his sharp voice and I looked up startled to see his angry face, his lips pressed into a hard line. His stance was rigid, his hands at his waist and his face adorned with a scowl.

I groaned inwardly and sat up straight, in no mood to talk to him. I let out a slow breath looking up at him with irritated eyes and said in a steely voice, "It means that all I wanted to do was get back home and catch some sound sleep after a long tiring day, but thanks to you that's not happening. So forgive me if I am not in a particularly chit-chatty mood!"

His expression changed from shock to amazement to finally anger at my words and his eyes took on a hard glint.

"There was no way you would have reached your home on that piece of junk. So forgive me for being sane enough to realize that." His scowl deepened further and his eyes were literally spitting fire at me as he matched his tone to my defiant one.