FADING DARKNESS

CHAPTER 2:COLLIDING WITH YOU

Everybody sang and cheered as Piya cut the cake and then the party started in full swing. Piya stood,smiling as she saw everyone enjoying the party,and as people came up to her and wished her every now and then. "Enjoying?"her father asked.Piya flashed him a wide smile."Its lovely,"she said."But Papa."she continued pouting her lips."Bhai is late AGAIN!He is always late for my birthday parties.Not fair!I am not talking to him"Arnab smiled"I am sure he will be arriving any moment dear,don't worry,with a list of excuses"he said his eyes twinkling.Piya grinned back"I'm not forgiving him so easily!"Just then,someone called Arnab and he went away..Piya took out her cellphone and was just about to call up her brother when she felt a presence by her.It was Madhu.Piya's smile faltered seeing her look. "I see u r very happy seeing ur father's gift"Madhu began without preamble."And I know too that u r going to kep wearing it. But cover it when u r in front of me.I DONT want to see u with this-this thing.Get me?"Before giving her a chance to speak,Madhu shot her and the pendant a look of pure dislike before moving away from PiyaSuddenly Piya felt suffocated as tears came to her eyes,her vision blurring.She wondered what she had done to make Madhu dislike her so much.She looked around,trying to find her father but he was busy in a conversation with one of the business associates.She felt choked up as she dialled her brother's number,wanting to find someone ,somewhere who could comfort her.Otherwise she might fall apart at any moment.He picked up on the first ring."Hello?""B-Bhai"sh whispered,her voice shaking slightly,trying to control her tears."Where r u?When r u coming?" She heard the smile in his voice as he answered."I am just outside the house,my little sis.""Come fast"Piya whispered,forgetting that she was supposed to be angry with him for being late as she cut the call.She waited for a few minutes but he had still not entered.Feeling more tears come,she rushed out to meet her brother,unable to wait any longer.She saw a man standing with his back to her near his car,talking on the phone."So that's what's taking Bhai so long"she thought as she rushed to him and hugged him from the back,feeling comfort and warmth sweep through her."Bhai,I missed u"she murmured as tears slid down her cheek. *************Abhay watched as Arjun Dobriyal parked his car right beside his own and stepped outside.Anger rose in him,as he too stepped out.He had a sudden desire to torture this man to death.He watched as he received a phone call."I am just outside my house my little sis"she heard him say and he clenched his fists.Oh,Arjun Dobriyal had no second thoughts about taking someone else's sister's life and yet he found no second thoughts when it came to loving his own sister.Well,now that's going to change,he thought furiously.She saw him end the call and watched him start to walk towards the huge Dobriyal house.Just then,a servant ran up to him and told him something.Abhay saw Arjun frown and walk away with the servant.He turned towards Arjun's car.Black,majestic and expensive.Certainly something he doesn't deserve,he thought.He sighed.Time to go inside and set his plans in action.He was about to turn back when he heard the sound of running feet and before he could see who it was,a pair of slim arms huggedhim from behind by the waist."Bhai,I missed u"she heard a soft voice say.For a moment he froze.Who was this stranger,and how DARE she call him 'Bhai'?Only one person had ever had the right to call him that,He slowly turned around as the girl who was hugging him moved back slightly,to find himself face to face with apair of baby-brown eyes sparkling with tears,which now widened his shock.He found his own eyes widening.He knew who she was,of course.Everybody in Dehradoon did.Piya Dobriyal.His eyes turned colder as he realized who she had mistaken him for.Arjun Dobriyal.The murderer. ************Piya's eyes widened in shock,as she realized that those hynotic ice blue eyes were definitely not that of her brother's.Nor did that Greek-God like face resemble Arjun's.She quickly wiped her tears,embarrassment sweeping throughher as she realized that she had just hugged a man who was a stranger.His eyes suddenly turned colder,and Piya felt an involuntary shiver pass through her,but for some reason,she could not tear her eyes away from his magnetic blu ones."I-I"she stammered,not fully finding her voice."I am s-sorry""Do I look like ur brother?"the cold fury in his voice cut her short,and she gulped as she tried to apologize again."S-so"Abhay stepped forward and gripped one of her arms by the elbows."DO.Not.Think.That.I.Am.Ur.Brother.UNDERSTAND?"he whispered in a cold voice,shaking Piya between every word,before pushing her back.Piya felt fresh tears well up in her eyes.First Madhu and then this man she didn't even know.This surely wasn't the most pleasant birthday ever."N-No..I-I didn't mean"she murmured."Piya?"Arjun's voice reached them,and Piya quickly wiped her tears,turning to look at her brother with a smile."Oh Bhai,I m so glad u r here."she said,rushing to hug him.Abhay glared at the two of them,his lips in a thin straight line."Hey,slow down,sis"said Arjun laughing,pulling back from her gently."Sorry the guard called me,some boys were gatecrashing and I had to look into the matter" Henoticed Abhay then,and looked up to see him.Abhay met his eyes calmly,wondering if Arjun would recognize him from the past.But why would he.There was nothing left of that naive,innocent,carefree boy.That boy had died with his sister.This was an entirely new person,a different Abhay Raichand,now owner of the Raichand Empire."Its Abhay Raaichand,right?"Arjun's voice broke his chain of thoughts.Abhay merely nodded,his face as cold and unwelcoming as ever.rjun came towards him."Good to see u've already met my sister,Piya"Piya and Abhay's eyes met for a second,and Piya's mind flashed back to what had transpired between them a few moments ago.She bit down her lower lip to control her emotions."And I am""Arjun Dobriyal"Abhay completed for him,his eyes never leaving Arjun's face."I know."Arjun grinned."Come in come in"he said to Abhay,putting an arm around his sister."Papa is looking forward to meeting u""I am looking forward to it as well"Abh ay said,his voice still emotionless.Piya chanced a glance at him and found him looking straight at her,his eyes intense with an emotion she couldn't identify.There was something about Abhay Raichand,she thought with a shiver,as she averted her eyes from his.She had a feeling he didn't like her at al.