Taken

Chapter - 1

Tick. Tick. Tick.

5:57

He was late.

Amyra tapped her fingers on her thighs impatiently as she waited for Dhroov to come. Why did I agree to let him receive me, again? Oh yes, because he said he'll be on time and I wouldn't need to take a cab. Sitting on the sofa, she grabbed a magazine for time pass. Should've taken a cab instead. Two pages in it, her cell phone rang. She glared suspiciously at the phone screen displaying an unknown number for a few seconds before finally deciding to take the call. She picked up the phone, putting it to her ear, but before she could even say hello, the line went dead. She groaned in frustration, "Not again!" This had been happening a lot lately. Well, to be precise, this had happened just twice before, but that didn't make it any less irritating - not under current circumstances. This new addition of blank phonecalls over everything else was just making her feel even more fretful. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get back to a normal mood. I'm just assuming things maybe. Should stop overthinking.

She stood up and stretched, then turned around sharply when she realised that someone was right behind her. Her eyes fell on Riya - her best friend and flatmate- as she stood there wearing a casual white shirt and blue jeans, completely focused on putting on the bracelet on her left hand. Amyra sighed in relief when she saw her. Stupid me, that was just her, she thought. "What, were you trying to sneak up on me?"

Riya looked up from her defective bracelet and frowned, confused for a moment. "Huh?" Then as if realising what Amyra meant, looking at her startled expression, she rolled her eyes. "Really, you need to relax a bit. Loosen up. What's making you so jumpy these days?"

Amyra stared at her for a second, then shook her head."Nothing. You all set?" She asked her, trying to divert the way this conversation was headed. She wasn't in a mood to discuss the reasons why was she being 'a tad jumpy' these days. Not right now, anyway. Maybe later on.

"Yup! Dhruv is late again it seems. You sure you don't want me to drop you over to Sakshi's on my way? Let him come and find you gone. Maybe he'll learn his lesson then." She asked, running her hand through her hair and grinning mischievously. She definitely found the idea amusing. And of course, she would, she had her own share of experience with his timing several times before. Amyra couldn't control the chuckle that escaped her lips. The idea wasn't so bad, really. But Riya had to go to meet her aunt right now.

"Yeah, I'm sure, I'll wait. He'll be here shortly. So no worries. Let's give him the last chance. And I don't really have a choice at the moment. I'd ask you to drop me if you really wanted to come along. But you have to meet your Auntie." Amyra couldn't keep the emphasis out of her words. She had a fleeting doubt about Riya's frequent visits to her 'auntie' these days.

Riya's cheeks tinged with the slightest hint of pink. "Uh, yeah. I have to meet her. Say sorry to Sakshi for me."

"Okay."

"But if you want, I can receive you. Just call me. If I'm free..." Her cheeks turned redder as she said that.

"I got a ride, you don't worry about me," Amyra reassured her. "Enjoy yourself."

"Okay," she said, grabbing her car keys, cell phone and purse, "but if you need a ride back, just call me. I'll pick you up."

"Okay," Amyra told her as they walked to the front door, "I'll call you if needed. Bye."

"Enjoy yourself, bye." She said before walking out of the door to her car. Once she drove away, Amyra got back inside the house and locked the door from inside. She was pretty sure Riya wasn't exactly going to meet her Aunt. She had wanted to ask her about it for some time now, but both of them had been preoccupied. They were best friends but often kept some things to themselves. Not everything was supposed to be shared. And Amyra chose to respect that space. Riya would talk when she wanted to talk. And I too will talk when I think it's necessary.