The Stranger✔

5

"Well, if it isn't my favourite bartender."  A smug voice belonging to a particular somebody said to me.

I was a bit angry on him so I took the classic road of ignorance.

"Nandini! Come on now! Are you still angry?" I could hear the urgency in his voice.

Serves him right for leaving me uninformed.

"Here's your order sir." I smiled sweetly at the old guy completely ignoring the irritating bitch. The old man smiled at me, his eyes dancing in amusement seeing the person literally beg for my attention.

"Don't forgive easy girl." He muttered looking at me, making my lips break into a smile.

I turned to the attention seeking child-man and said in an irritated tone, "You think you can leave without informing me and comeback just... like this....like nothing happened. No Mr. You are not on my friends list anymore." He pouted for a quick second before the smug look came back.

"Well if you remove me it just leaves you with Adam. So I don't think that is considered as a list." He 'tched' feigning sympathy, making me fume. I met him after so long and he is already getting on my nerves.

I'd be lying if I say I didn't miss this.

My lips threatened to break into a smile.

"There's the smile, I'd die for."

"I am still mad at you for leaving." I propped my elbows and just stared at him.

I had missed him.

"What are you staring at?" He said after catching my eye. He smiled my expression mirroring his.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"Aren't you two just adorable?" Adam said breaking our small reunion.

"Hey brother." Adam hugged him.

"You knew he was in town?"

"Nandini, Luke is my brother, ofcourse I knew." Two identical pair of blue eyes stared back at me. "And you didn't tell me?"

I picked up the cleaning cloth and threw it towards Adam, which he skillfully dodged.

Lucky bastard.

"He told me not to. He wanted to surprise you." Luke and Adam grinned, at my fury.

"You both are impossible." I said in a high pitched voice while they just shamelessly laughed.

"Aww, nandu common. You can't be angry at this for long?" Adam said motioning towards his face.

"Hey, hands off my girl!" Luke stood up before pulling me by his side.

Adam laughed, "Your girl? In which world, man. She is mine. Nandini you love me more nah?" There were the puppy eyes again.

Here we go again.

"Nandini tell him whom do you love more! I know its me!" Luke smirked looking at his brother. 

"You both are idiots!" I shook my head before walking away to get some ice, leaving the siblings to bicker.

***

"Nandini, I think this whiskey won't last long. Can you get me some from the inventory? Till then I'll cover up for you." Adam said motioning the whiskey bottle in his hand. The small amount of liquid stirred in the bottle.

I made my way towards the store room kinda thing we call inventory.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, surrounding myself with darkness.

I looked for the switch behind the stand. I played with the button for sometime praying it would somehow flood the room with light but it did not budge.

The familiar shelves caught my eyes after I switched on the flash in my phone.

I reached to the carton that had the booze i was looking for, only to find it empty.

We are out of that whiskey.
I think i'll need to go down
the street to buy it.

Adam.
You will do that for me? Gosh i love you so much.

I love you se kaam
nahi chalega. Tomorrow I
am taking a day off.
I need a break. You are
taking care of my double shift.

Adam.
Aww :( I'll miss you Tom.
No worries I am here for you.

That's exactly what I want to hear.
*grins*

Adam.
You are a dork

A cute dork?

Adam.
The cuttest ;)

I pocketed my phone before reaching for the door.

It wouldn't open. I kicked and pushed and tried to do something to make it open but to no avail.

Finally after giving up I took out my phone to message Adam or Luke to get me out of here only to find that the  battery had died.

Can this get any worse.

"I think we are locked here." A voice came from behind make me jump out of my skin.

I was terrified.

There were so many drunk people in the bar who could not be trusted. What if he is one of them?

I pressed my body to the door, squeezing my eyes shut in an attempt to save myself from whoever that was.

"Please don't come near me." I whispered continuously. The darkness wasn't helping either.

I heard footsteps, my heartbeat raced like anything.

"Nandini." I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped.

I opened my eyes but could not see anything clearly. I raised my fist and landed a punch on what i think was his face.

"Aaah! Nandini. It's me!" He cried in pain.

I smiled triumphantly.

"I don't know a me! And how do you know my name?" I yelled. "Tell me your name!" I bounced on my feet planning to land another punch on his face.

"You don't know my name!" He whisper- yelled.

Thwack!

"Will you stop hitting me. Ouch! I can barely see you. How are you doing this?" He cried.

I tried to hit him again but his hands caught mine.

Uh-oh

Suddenly he moved closer to me.

Very close.

His breath fanned my neck, making my heart skip a beat, "Listen to me carefully. It's me." He breathed, sending a shiver down my body.

Suddenly I recognized the voice.

The Stranger.

"It's you." Is all that left my lips.