FADING DARKNESS

CHAPTER 5: IT'S ALL A GAME

Piya nervously sat beside Abhay as he drove the car,his eyes fixed on the road ahead.He had uttered just a "Good Evening"so far when he had come to pick her up.He looked outrageously handsome in his mauve shirt and black suit and Piya tried hard not to steal glances at him.She was dressed in a velvety navy blue dress that clung to her body like second skin and hugged her curves perfectly,but beside him,she felt that she was nothing.Finally,when the silence was too much to take,she cleared her throat slightly."Er,Mr.Raichand..""Abhay."Piya blushed a deep red and cleared her throat again before speaking."Ab-Abhay."it felt so good to utter his name from her own lips,she thought,her ears turning red."Where are we going?"Abhay chanced a glance at her.She looked gorgeous in that dress,he thought,trying hard to remember that he couldn't start to admire how this girl looked.He was here for a different purpose.But that natural blush was absolutely not helping.He snapped his eyes back to the road."U'll see in a few minutes."They fell into silence again.Piya tried to make out where they were going but the road was a deserted one,and she was certain that no restaurants were located here.She was still trying to understand where they were when Abhay brought the car to a stop."We're here.""Here?"Piya looked around confused.She could only make out streetlights and empty streets."Where?" Abhay opened the passenger door and held out his hand for Piya to take."Come out and u will see."Piya put her hand in his,feeling a tingling sensation down her spine the moment their hands touched.Abhay led her towards a clump of trees,up a stony path till the trees thinned."Like it?"Abhay asked as they reached a clearing.Piya gasped,she couldn't help it.The clearing was beautifully decorated with candles and flower petals and right in the middle was a circular table,beautifully arranged for two.Piya could now hear soft music in the background,though she did not know where it was coming from.She could hear the trees swishing gently in the breeze and bells which seemed to have been attached to the trees twinkled gently too.She could hear the sound of a river nearby.Piya felt Abhay's breath near her ear."All for u.Hope this makes up for me being rude when we first met."Piya felt a lump form in her throat and tears prickle her eyelids.Nobody had done so much for her or apologized in such a beautiful manner.She acted on impulse and threw her arms tight around Abhay,hugging him fiercely."Thank u"she said in a voice heavy with emotion."Thank u so much Abhay.This means a lot.And it's all so beautiful."Abhay wasn't prepared for the hug,nor was he prepared for the warmth that spread through his body at her touch.A voice in his head reminded him that he was going to break this happiness as soon as morning came,but still he couldn't stop himself from touching her hair lightly."It's okay Piya"he said."Can we have dinner now?"Piya,realizing that she had just hugged Abhay jumped back and nodded with a shy smile,not meeting his eyes.Abhay led her towards the table and pulled out a chair for her to sit and then seated themselves.He himself served the food for them both.As they started eating,Piya began opening up a little.Abhay had never mixed like this with anyone in his life,and he found himself ,wondering what life would be like if Piya and he really were together.Abhay,pull yourself together,he told himself sternly.Remember,u have to hate this girl.This date is all a farce.Remember.Composing himself,he said"Dance with me,Piya"He pulled Piya up to her feet,gently swaying her to that soft music.Piya's face glowed with happiness as he twirled her round and pulled her towards himself,gently tracing her face,making her close her eyes at the beautiful feeling surging through her,making her heart beat faster.She herself did not realize when she had laid her head on Abhay's chest,as Abhay and she turned slowly round.Abhay held Piya gently by the waist,wondering how she would react when she would come to know everything tomorrow."Piya,it will get late if we don't start now."he spoke at last."Hm"Piya gently stepped back from Abhay,flashing him a happy smile.She felt her heart soaring with joy.Abhay was the best thing happening to her.She nodded."Let's go."On the way back however,she twisted her ankle on one of the stones and pain shot up her right leg.Piya let out an involuntary hiss of pain as her teeth clenched together."Piya!"shouted Abhay at once."What happened?"Piya closed her eyes,trying her best not to cry out in pain."Abhay,I-I think I have twisted my ankle,the right one."Abhay bent down,and gently touched her ankle,which was now swelling slightly,makingPiy let out a whimper."Hm,U need to put ice bags and a bandage"he murmured."I'm sorry,I don't have those in my car,Piya.Come,I'll drive u homeand u can attend to it properly.Ur parents do know where u r right?"Piya nodded.Abhay gently picked Piya up as she winced slightly in pain.She wrapped her arms around him to hold herself steady as Abhay carried her to the car and carefully placed her on the seat.As he moved back,their eyes met,and Piya felt her breath catch.He was so,so handsome.They sat silently on their way back too,but this time,for Piya,the silence was different.Not even the pain shooting up her ankle would help her forget that she was sitting so close to Abhay.Her heartbeats were so loud,she was sure he would hear them.When they reached her home,Piya had mixed feelings.She felt partially relieved that she would soon be in her home without Abhay,because if she stayed with him a moment longer,she was sure that her heart would burst out from her ribcage.But,she was sad to be away from Abhay too,as that meant that the best evening of her life was coming to an end.Abhay helped her limp slowly till the front door and then Piya smiled up at him."I'll manage from here,don't worry.""Sure?"Abhay asked.Piya nodded."I'll see u tomorrow right?For the interview?"she added quickly.Abhay stared at her for a long time before giving a nod."Yes,u will.Goodnight.""Goodnight"said Piya and just as he was about to turn,she touched his arm gently so that he looked back at her."Abhay,thanks a lot once again for this wonderful evening.U have no idea how much it means to me." **************"Yes,yes,I loved every moment"said Piya hugging a pillow to herself with one hand as she held her cellphone to her ear with the other.She had bandaged her sprained ankle and the pain was much less now,as she leaned against the headboard,talking to her best friend."OMG,wow!"Misha squealed excitedlyat the other end."I still can't believe it.Wow!My best friend went on a date!With Abhay Raichand!Wow!Oh,my little friend is little no longer.""Shut up,Mish"said Piya,but the smile was still on her face."I'm just a year younger than u.Don't act like I'm a baby.""That U aren't"Misha's voice held a laugh in it."U are in love.""Mish!"said Piya,blushing."Shut up.I'm going to sleep.""Okay!"Misha shouted at the other end."Have sweet dreams of your Prince Charming.""GOOD NIGHT"Piya said grinning as she cut the call,thinking over what Misha had said.Was she in love?Was it possible to fall in love so fast?She didn't know that.But there definitely was something.There had to be,she thought,as she felt her heartbeat increase at the very thought of the evening she had spent with him.it had been so,so special.She had loved every bit of it.Piya lay her head on the pillow,and closed her eyes,as a small smile played on her lips at the thought of meeting Abhay Raichand tomorrow. ************Piya knocked on the door to Abhay's cabin."Come in"said the usual rude voice.Piya pushed open the door and limped in,taking care not to put too much weight on her injured leg.She put up a bright smile and looked up at him."Good morning,Abhay."Abhay merely gave her a nod,his face expressionless as he watched her limp carefully towards the table behind which he sat.Why is he looking sadu again,Piya wondered as she looked at him,feeling a little dissapointed to see that he didn't even ask how her leg was.However,Abhay did speak then,in his monotonous voice,and his question threw her off guard."Why are u here?"Piya felt her smile fading a little as she looked at him."W-what do u mean?I'm here to take that interview"she said confused.Did Abhay suffer from memory loss?And why was he so cold and aloof today?Abhay watched her happy expressions change to shock and confusion.He remembered how happy she had looked last night,how carefree and innocent.Then he remembered his sister and clenched his fists.No.Piya was NOT innocent.She was the sister of a murderer.He took a deep breath and looked straight into her eyes as he spoke."I am not going to give any interview."