THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ROMANCE

Chapter 14

Chapter – 14

            Aryan was standing in front of the main door of the pub. He wanted to kill her sister. What was taking them so long? He had repeatedly asked Tina to bring her sharp at 8pm. It was 8:45 and yet they had not arrived. He was about to stridden down to the reception when he saw Tina and Pakhi coming towards him. The idea of giving his sister a mouthful of curses went out of his head as he stood mesmerised by Pakhi. “Big brother, here is your girl. Have fun.” Tina pushed Pakhi in his arms and went inside the pub. He stared at her for some moment and then kissed her lips. “ARYAN!” Pakhi drew herself out of his arms. “Sorry, but your lips are too inviting.”  Aryan shrugged and dragged her inside Toxic.

The pub was completely dark. Aryan whistled and the lights dazzled Pakhi’s eyes. “SURPRISE!” the crowd screamed. Pakhi’s eyes widened seeing all her friends from Romantic Veil, and a large cake in the middle. Everyone congratulated her and Aryan for their respective success. Aryan offered her the knife to cut the cake and she asked him to join her. Their friends rubbed the strawberry cream all over Aryan’s and Pakhi’s face. The party was in its full swing. Aryan went on dancing with Pakhi, even kissed her openly and everyone cheered. When Raghav and Gourav asked for their turn to dance with Pakhi, Eshaan dragged Aryan towards the bar. “Listen I need to talk to you” Eshaan was looking tensed. “What happened?”

“Aryan –“

Suddenly Tina came and wrapped her arms around Eshaan’s neck from the back before he could say anything and said, “There you are! Forget your friend; your attention should be only on me. Let Pakhi have his attention.” Aryan laughed, “Get a room you two!” and went to find Pakhi.

Pakhi was sitting with Aastha and Sruti. Her smile made his heart ache but he was still confused about what he was feeling. Pakhi went to him and kissed his cheek, “Thank you Aryan!” He took her arm, “Let’s go out,” and dragged her out of the pub. “Aryan I need to tell you something. Can we go somewhere, where we could be alone?”

“I have a room in this hotel.”

“Tell me the number. I’ll be there.”

“Why? You are coming with me,” saying he scooped her in his arms.

“Put me down. Aryan I need to say goodbye to my friends. You go I’ll join you” Pakhi protested.

“Fine but don’t be late.” He put her down, gave her the number and went towards the reception.

Pakhi called Tina and asked her to bring the parcel. Tina gave it to her, “tell him to use strawberry flavour, which is your favourite!” “Tina, you bitch! Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself woman! BYE!” Pakhi blushed and quickly rushed towards the lobby. She heard Tina laughing at her back.

Aran International Hotel was an enormous and a magnificent building. Aryan’s room was a presidential suite situated in the 16th floor of the hotel. Pakhi knocked at his door and he opened. “My god! Don’t you catch a cold” Pakhi entered and shivered from the coldness of the AC. He locked the door and wrapped his arms around her. He sucked at her nape, “NO. After all you are there to make me warm.” Pakhi looked at him. “Hey, what is that you are holding?” Aryan frowned at the parcel in her hand. “Oh! This for you.” Pakhi gave it to him and held her breathe, “Open it.” He looked at her once and opened the parcel. “How do you know I love cakes and that too chocolate?”

“I am psychic. I know everything!” Pakhi mimicked those fortunetellers.

“Really! Then you must know what are the thoughts playing in my mind and also what I am going to do with you?” Aryan said in a husky tone.