The Rules Of Pursuit

36. When All things fail, there is family

I walked back to the cabana, Avinash following behind. The alcohol I had gulped down moments back made my head spin and my legs stumble.

"Don't drink when you can't handle it." Avinash growled holding my arm to steady me.

"I am not drunk." I slurred indignantly.

"Yeah right!" He scoffed, "And I am Robert Downey Junior."

I giggled stupidly at his joke.

"Time to call it a night," he said dropping me on the couch in the cabana. The server handed him the cheque, which he cleared without wasting any time.

"Heyyyyy, I was supposed to Dutch in," I cried. He rolled his eyes without saying a word.

"Come one," he held my hand under my armpit and pulled me up. I faintly remembered him gathering my purse from the table before dragging me out of the lounge.

Avinash sat me down on his passenger seat and strapped on the seat belt, before going around the car and climbing onto the driver's seat.

"Did anyone tell you, you look beautiful?" I slurred while he drove us out. I don't remember much after that, until I felt his cool hands grazing my cheeks.

"Naxi wake up," he called tenderly.

My eyes fluttered open, the bright foyer light of The Rajwara hitting me. I shielded my eyes, rubbing them vigorously with my hand. I must have smudged the kohl since my fingers looked blackened. Brute was hunched in the back seat.

"When did he pick Brute up?" I wondered allowed.

Avinash gave his keys to the valet, before drawing me out of the car. I leaned against the car watching the demigod take Brute out.

He held my arm above my elbow and steered me inside, his other hand pulling Brute's leash. I stumbled and slurred all the way back to my room, commenting how huge the hotel was, and how snobbish the lady in the reception seemed. The other hotel guests threw me contemptuous looks but I made faces at them in return.

Avinash made me stand against the wall while he pulled out the key card and opened the door to my room. Brute ran in, once Avi removed his leash.

He walked me inside and placed the key card in the holder, immediately bringing the dim lights to life. I lurched straight to the bed and crashed. I could sense him shifting me to the middle of the bed, placing the pillow below my head and throwing the quilt over me.

"Good night Naxi." He whispered, I was too tired to open my eyes even when I felt the cold pad of his thumb caressing my cheek, before he retracted it back.

"Good night Avi," I murmured already half-asleep.

I heard his footsteps moving away from me.

"Take care of her tonight big guy." He told Brute before closing the door behind him.

*****
Brute's booming bark woke me up. The doorbell rang impatiently.

"COMING." I screamed, sleepily switching on the lights.

Stomping across the room, I opened the door to find a fully dressed Avinash waiting on the other side.

"You shouldn't have drunk so much." He said indignantly, "we are supposed to leave in ten minutes Naxi."

"I forgot to set my alarm," I groaned, rubbing my forehead."Give me fifteen minutes."

I rushed around the room, picking the clothes I had left strewn around. Thank god, for the list I made of all the things I carried when I traveled, it reduced chances of forgetting things. I opened the list in my phone and checked the items in the stroller-case against the items mentioned in the list.