Suddenly

Chapter 3

NEELAM's POV
I was tired from work, all I wanted to do was to stay alone. After informing Sukhi that I was going outside, I started heading towards the rooftop. There were many times that I used to feel low after work and the rooftop was my hideout, the fresh air used to comfort me and it felt good to watch the sea from that height. It was really beautiful and I was wondering why people were so amused by the entertainment they were getting inside the cruise while they were missing many things, such as the sunset. 

I was looking at the sky while thinking of many things including my family. I missed them, it was really hard for me to find time and stay with them like I used to do before working in the cruise. The last time when I went to meet them like every other times I found myself fighting with my parents, trying to explain that I loved this work, working on a cruise gave me enough money to satisfy all my needs and I didn't want to quit this job, it was my dream since I was a child. 

I loved how the wind was caressing my skin, I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened them I found myself smiling looking the sky painted in many different colours, I wish I was a good painter to capture them in a frame but unfortunately I was not. It felt somehow good to be alone, since all day I was stuck in the salon giving my clients a fake smile, most of the time I felt like being a photograph rather than a person.

As I always told myself "things can't go just so right" I saw a figure standing on the other side of the rooftop looking towards me. I avoided his gaze, feeling uncomfortable, the way he giving that curious look as if he was trying to read me was irritating me. "Why can't I have a peaceful moment?" I complained a little loudly enough for him to hear that, at that time I didn't care because somehow I hated his presence. 

I quickly came back in the room irritated, I just wanted some time for myself and from all the people why he was there? 

"Why people like him even exist?" I shouted as I closed the door and I was glad that Sukhi was drying her hair with the hairdryer on, otherwise she would have asked me what was wrong and I wasn't in the mood of talking. After giving her the goodnight hug I went straight to bed hoping that I won't see him again.

NEELAM's POV

*beep* *beep*

My eyes shut open because of that irritating sound of my alarm, I turned it off and looked around only to find that the curtains were opened and the room tidy, my eyes looked for Sukhi but she wasn't there. "I guess I slept for too long again and she cleaned the mess" I told myself picking up the phone and calling my friend. After a few rings she answered "Hello? Good morning Neelam! Oh my god, how much do you sleep? You even broke my record, for a moment I was starting to get worried" she said playfully and I rolled my eyes "I think I should start worrying since you got up early" I  said and I heard her laughing "Me too, by the way it's almost lunch time, come outside I am hungry. I will be waiting for you at the restaurant" Sukhi finally said and after telling her that I would be there in ten minutes I quickly got up to get ready. I was glad that today I didn't have to go to work in the morning, otherwise I would have been late. 

After getting ready I reached Sukhi in the restaurant where she was waiting, I found her next to the main door and I quickly went to her. "Hey, I am sorry I slept for too long, I hope you didn't get bored" I apologised "Oh don't worry, I went to the library because I needed to send some emails for my new work" she replied giving me a sweet smile "And books" she said showing me a book of almost more than two hundred pages "I somehow was feeling that I would have found you in the library" I rolled my eyes "Come on, let's eat. You get a table and I will go and order" I informed her and she nodded. As I was going back to our table I bumped into someone accidentally "I am sorry" the guy said picking up my bag that fell and I looked downonly to be greeted by the half naked boy of the day before "Oh don't worry, it was my fault too. Thanks for picking up the bag" I said giving him a small smile "No problem, I am Ahaan by the way" he introduced himself reaching out his hand  "I thought it's the second time we are meeting accidentally so it's better if we just at least know each other's name" Ahaan continued  "Yeah to avoid other accidents, I am Neelam. Nice to meet you" I said shaking his hand "I am really sorry for yesterday, I mean I am so embarrassed about what happened, Sukhi shouldn't have reacted that way. Oh, where is that girl that was with you? I think I should apologise to her too" I said concerned "Don't worry about yesterday, it's fine really you don't need to say sorry to anyone and about that girl..forget about her" Ahaan said giving me a reassuring smile "But-" I was about to continue when he interrupted me "No actually I will only forgive you if you join us for lunch" he said playfully and I opened my mouth to say something but he interrupted me again"Come on, it's just a lunch" he insisted "Alright, I will join you in two minutes, I will bring my friend if you don't mind" I said "No problem" he finally replied. 

And here we were, giving each other awkward smiles. I was already regretting of joining Ahaan, in fact when I noticed Aryan I wanted to turn the time back and refuse the invitation. I just hoped to digest my food after sitting with him. His eyes most of the time were on me, giving me the same intense look and I tried my best to ignore him and not say a word to him since he was Ahaan's friend and I didn't want to ruin the lunch time. On the other hand, Sukhi was glaring me and Ahaan at the same in fact when she got to know that we were going to have lunch with him, she wanted to leave the restaurant right away but somehow I managed to make her stay. Suddenly, me and Ahaan started talking about our love for Bollywood  that we discovered thanks to his ringtone, I was glad that we could find a good topic, it was easy to avoid someone's looks. I heard Sukhi sighing and at one point she left without saying anything, I didn't go after her because I knew when she used to get angry she needed some time to be on her own and calm down. A few minutes later even Mr. Arrogant decided to leave the table, he wasn't even talking anyway. "We have weird friends" suddenly Ahaan said and I laughed nodding "Yeah, you are right. I think, you are very brave to handle that arrogant friend of yours" I said and he laughed "You too, that friend of yours is really dangerous..I think we deserve an award, then" he finally said and I laughed.

SUKHI's POV
I couldn't understand why did Neelam made me sit next to that Jerk, when she knew I hated him but still she did. I was on the rooftop angry and upset playing a game on my phone when I felt someone behind. "Finally, someone who doesn't talk about Bollywood" Aryan said pointing a finger at my game "Well, I am a fan too but not that crazy like them" I said coldly concentrating on the game but ended loosing the match and I sighed in frustration "Why is it so hard?" I complained loudly and he smiled a little "Let me try" he said and I gave him my phone. I was amazed when he won at the first try "How?" I asked him surprised "You know, you have to double tap" He told me and I felt stupid "Holy Potato, that's why I couldn't win" I said and he laughed "Holy Potato?" he asked "Yeah, I am trying to don't cuss but I always find it hard so I made this type of cuss" I told him laughing and he followed me. 

I looked over Aryan, why I felt like I knew something about him? Just then, I remembered Neelam complaining about someone with the same name on the phone calls. He was a very famous businessman's son, people used to tell that he was a heartbreaker since he used to reject girls in a cold way. There were many rumours about him but looking at him, he seemed another person, he wasn't as cold as people used to describe him. In fact, when we were playing he was very supportive and kind enough to teach me some skills about the game. I know it was just a game, but still he was able to show his kindness over a random girl like me. 

"I think we are going to be good friends" I said when he gave me my phone back and putting it in the pocket of my cardigan and he nodded giving me a small smile "Yeah, even though I am not that friendly" Aryan said "No problem, I will try not to be so loud. You can count on me" I said with a big smile and he smiled "Are you angry with Ahaan? Did he do something yesterday?" he asked "I hate him. I discovered that he is a total jerk yesterday" I said only to realising that he was his friend "Oh, I am sorry" I apologised embarrassed and he laughed "Even your friend is a strange one. She ignores me" he told me while looking at the sky "You know, she's different she needs some time to catch up and trust the other person. But, I am sure she will trust you. She's the best" I told him while giving him thumbs up and he chuckled again and we continued watching watching the view.