A GIRL LIKE YOU

52

"SURPRISE!!!"
My eyes widened at the scene in front of me and my heart almost stopped at the sound of their voices. Aaliyah was totally anxious in the car because of this. OMG! They all planned for the party...for me. For me? When did everybody started loving me so much?
I laughed at everyone as I entered my apartment with Aaliyah beside me. There were a few people namely, Ansh, Vivaan, Preeti, a guy by her side that I don't recognize, Aanya, my work colleague Sophie and Rosa and the former owner of the apartment Dev.
"You planned this!" I couldn't help but squeak in excitement as Ansh walked towards me.
"Well I had help." He said and leaned in to givr me a lingering kiss on the cheek. His cologne hit me and suddenly I just wanted us to be alone.
"I did the decoration." Aanya chimed in. I noticed the pink balloons all over thr room and of course the cake on the center table which I don't own. It had be of Dev.
"I can't believe this, it's amazing." I gushed.
"I'm glad for you Kiara." Preeti walked up to me with her hand in the guy's hands.
Okay. That was fast. Only 10 days ago she was rooting for Ansh. And now she is definitely dating this handsome dude. You know what? Who am I to judge? When you let yourself flow, when you let yourself find that connection, you can acyually be happy like in a matter of seconds? Look how fast things happened for me and Ansh even after all the resolve I tried to make to stay away from him.

"Thanks Preeti." I smiled up to her.
"This is Siddhart Mathur." She said gesturing towards the guy.
"I'd like to thank you personally." Siddhart said and offered me his hand.
Thank me?
I shook hid hand but he must have noticed my confusion so he clarified, "this girl-" he said eyeing Preeti as he released my hand and Ansh moved beside me to hug me sideways. "She has friend zoned me for years." He finished.
"Okay?" What does that have to do with me?
"I think you know the reason why." He said.
Preeti looked at the ground and so did Ansh.
"I do." Oh I definitely do.
"Yeah. And you finally walk in Ansh's life and Preeti realises that she has to move on. "
Oh. That's awkward. I wonder what Ansh mist be thinking.
"I don't want this to be awkward. In fact I want us to be friends." Preeti suddenly chimed in.
I felt Ansh's gaze burning on the side of my face. I also want to be her friend. She is good people. But my insecurities are bitch. I don't want to doubt Ansh. I don't want to constantly worry that eventually Ansh and Preeti mighy get back together. I want to trust Ansh. But the way Ansh is looking at me, he definitely wants us yo be friends.
"I've known Ansh for long too. I have no problem to be friends." Siddhart said.
That's cause you're a secure guy.
"Kiara...I realise that I was actually kind of relieved when I found out that Ansh loves you. I thought that I wounded him for life by breaking his heart. I believed that and that is why I friend zoned Siddhart even after all the feelings I had for him. Because deep down I always felt guilty and I wanted him to move on. Now that he has, I am happy for you guys." Preeti clarified.
So she was half rooting for Ansh because she felt guilty? Wow. Feelings can be damn confusing.
"You trust me?" Ansh whispered in my ear. It was only meant for me.
I can't believe I'm having this conversation in front of an audience. But I have to say, they have ambushed me together. And I also trust Ansh. I would have to work hard to not get jealous whenever I see Ansh and Preeti together. But for once I have to be selfless and do this. I have to be friends with her. For Ansh.
"I thought we were already friends." I said and just like that the tension was gone.
Preeti laughed and hugged Siddhart who smiled adoringly at her. Oh they love each other. I felt Ansh place a small kiss on my head as a sign that he is proud of me. I'm definitely proud of myself. I am actually pushing myself to get over my insecurities by doing this and that has to mean something.
"Such a serious conversation!" Aaliyah came up rolling her eyes. I laughed.
"Come on. Let's cut the cake." Aanya said and walked to the cake.
It read, "Welcome to your new home."
I smiled and blew the candles.

The next hour was a blur of laughing and dancing. As soon as the came was murdered, the music was blasted and Aaliyah forced the drinks on everyone while she tried to sneak one for herself but Vivaan ended up chiding her. Sophie and Rosa cornered me for details, I gave them a run down of the last 3 weeks as they gasped amd oohhed and aaahed.
Dev left after a while when Sophie started hitying on him. Dev was married that was why he moved out of this amazing place  in the first place. Vivaan wanted to leave with his friend but Aaliyah didn't let him. Rosa got crazy drunk and begin dancing. Aanya jojned her. And then soon we were all there.
Meanwhile Ansh and I stuck together with an invisible glue joining us.
I had to say, I rrally liked it when Ansh touched me or kissed me in front of everybody. I loved it actually.
Aaliyah helped me set up the food I ordered. Then we sat and ate and talked about random stuff.
And after 2 rounds of truth and dare, a game suggested by Aaliyah- that girl is never going to grow up- they all finally left leaving Ansh and I alone in the naked apartment with boxes.

***

"Come to my place." Ansh said as we lay beside each other on the floor of my soon to be bed room, tired by the events of the day.
"I can't. I told my mom I'll be there for dinner." I said staring at the ceiling.
"Please. Lie to them. Call them and say that your bed got delivered."
"Don't be a child Ansh. My parents aren't that naive you know."
Suddenly, Ansh was on top of me, parting my legs with his hands and resting or might I say rubbing his lower part of the body between my legs.
I gasped by the sudden change in his mood. Just two minutes ago he broke our kisd because he wad tired and now he is trying to seduce me into staying back with him.
"What are you doing?" My voice came out husky and needy. Boy, does he know how to make me all hot and flustered.
"What do you think?" He raised his eyebrow giving me his sexiest smirk.
Then he was on me kissing me and touching me.
Mom dad who? I'll be okay sleeping on the floor tonight.

...