"Aunt Sheila! Finally!" I shouted, waving her over with all the enthusiasm I could muster from the neighbor's house.
After being unceremoniously kicked out by Mr. Hot-and-Moody, I'd found refuge next door. The old lady there was pretty chill and had even given me some cookies that were, to be honest, a little piece of heaven.
"Ariha? What the hell are you doing over there?" she exclaimed, her surprise evident as I jogged over, practically leaping over the fence that separated the two properties.
"There's this total asshole and some chick who I accidentally socked in the face at your place," I said, panting from the effort. "They kicked me out and wouldn't let me in, either." I pointed to my bruised knuckles, the result of my desperate knocking.
"Sourabh," Aunt Sheila muttered under her breath, clearly irritated.
"Did you just say Sourabh?" I perked up, my curiosity piqued at the mention of my old best friend's name.
"Yes," she sighed as if it were a name that brought her nothing but trouble.
"Where the hell is he?" I wondered aloud, confused. "And what's with the random people raiding your place?" I glanced back at the neighbor's house, where I'd been left in the cold.
She opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off. "And what's with the no-doorbell situation? I pounded on your door like a lunatic." I glanced at my swollen knuckles, regretting the force I'd used.
"Too many questions, sweetheart!" Aunt Sheila said, fanning herself as though she was melting from the heat. "I'll explain everything when we get inside."
"Is India treating you well?" she asked with genuine curiosity.
Oh, absolutely! It's just fantastic to be kicked out and stranded because some hot guy decided he didn't like me. Loving every moment!
I bit my tongue to stop myself from unleashing a rant. "It's great," I said, plastering a forced smile on my face..
Aunt Sheila was a simple woman with a grace that belied her age, though the white streaks in her hair spoke of years gone by.
We headed to the front door. Instead of knocking, she pulled out a key from her purse and unlocked it. The moment we stepped inside, a cool blast of air hit me, washing over my overheated, sticky body like a refreshing wave.
"Sourabh! Get your ass downstairs, now!" Aunt Sheila's command was immediate and firm. I heard shuffling, then the thud of heavy footsteps.
Sourabh was actually home? I looked up the stairs, eager to see him. My excitement was tempered by a flicker of anxiety—what if he didn't remember me?
As I waited, I saw legs first, then more of his body coming into view. My anticipation quickly turned to shock as his face emerged.
"No fucking way!" I blurted out as I recognised him. The same hot guy—the asshole who had just kicked me out.
"Sourabh, you better explain why you didn't let Ariha in!" Aunt Sheila scolded, her voice cutting through the tension. Sourabh's eyes shifted from her to me, and recognition slowly dawned in his eyes. But instead of a welcoming grin, he met me with a scowl that could curdle milk.
Was he seriously pissed off at me? Didn't he remember me, his childhood best friend 'Ariha The Great'?
"Mom, she's lying. I never saw her," Sourabh said, playing the innocent card.
I gasped at his audacity. How the hell could he lie so effortlessly?
"No, Aunt! I swear he didn't let me in! I was banging on the door and he—" I pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Enough, Sourabh!" Aunt Sheila cut him off sharply. "Don't lie. And is there another girl in the house?"
Sourabh shook his head so quickly it looked like he was trying to break his neck, lying through his teeth. Aunt Sheila turned her gaze to me, as if seeking confirmation.
I could see the anger in Sourabh's eyes. It was like he was daring me to speak up against him. I swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down my spine as I nodded, affirming Aunt Sheila's concerns. Sourabh's gaze turned icy, filled with a murderous glint that made me shiver.
"Bring her downstairs right now!" Aunt Sheila's voice was a roar, making me wince. Her wrath was something to be reckoned with.
Sourabh grunted, his gaze locking onto me. For a brief, uncomfortable moment, he scrutinized me, his eyes roaming over my figure. I shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze. But before he turned to head upstairs, a wicked smirk curled his lips. That smile wasn't friendly; it was the kind that promised trouble.
Why did I feel like I'd just walked straight into a lion's den?
"Puberty hit him hard," I muttered under my breath, throwing a forced smile at Aunt Sheila.
As Sourabh stomped up the stairs, I felt a chill run down my spine. He was no longer the carefree friend I remembered; he was angrier, colder and no doubt way hotter than he used to be.
Aunt Sheila's face was a mix of frustration and concern as she watched her son retreat. "I'll get to the bottom of this," she said, her voice low but determined. "In the meantime, why don't you make yourself comfortable? We need to sort this out."
As I settled into an armchair, the coolness of the room did little to ease the unease swirling inside me.
This is going to be an interesting summer.
______________________
Hey there, gorgeous!
Sourabh's back in the picture, and let's just say, he's not exactly the knight in shining armor we all hoped for. Stay tuned, because things are about to get even more intense, and you won't want to miss a second of it. 😉💋 Follow me here, FastAndDeep!
Catch you in the comments, and remember, keep it hot and wild! 🔥
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OUT OF CONTROL (18+)
RomanceIn all my life, I'd never felt anything like this. Lust didn't even begin to cover it. It was a primal, almost savage need that scared the shit out of me. You weren't supposed to have those kinds of feelings for your best friend, but there I was, dr...
