. Strolling with the Stranger . I looked at the brightly lit two-storied house, where the party was held. A party that was meant to be mandatory for the students of our batch, I doubt why. It was a way to get the students interact and get along. But the most pointless thing was having such a party, which is mandatory and then another compulsion of 'couple entry.'
"Nandini!" I heard a cheerful scream and I knew exactly who it could be - my first friend at school, Shelly. I flashed a smile into her direction as she came running towards me, all the time waving at me.
"Oh My God!" She completely exaggerated the look of stunned. "You look ready to be taken." I eyed her murderously so as to make her zip that big mouth of hers. Sometimes she can speak too much for ones good.
"No but seriously, you are looking so beautiful." She praised me, though I wonder why. She looked far more absolutely sexy in that backless golden dress of hers that clung to her mid thighs, the V neck of her dress revealed a good amount of her cleavage and to top it all she had her hair curled. As compared to her, mine was a much simpler look with a halter neck green dress that landed a few inches above the knee and a pair of dazzling peep-toe shoes, I am crazy for shoes. She had my hair curled and a light touch of make up to do with my attire.
"You look gorgeous, Shelly." I told her with utmost honesty. I heard someone clearing his throat, as the two of us had been deeply engrossed in complementing each other. I looked at my side and found Leo, my date for tonight.
"I think, you girls have been ignoring me." I rolled my eyes at his comment. Too much for a popular guy. He is the soccer player at school and charming as well. Shelly had bugged me to approach him and ask him to be my partner for tonight's party, though he himself came upto me and asked me for the same. And with Shelly around she wouldn't let me turn him down. Apart from that he seemed good enough to me.
"Yeah right, ignoring the star." I mocked at him.
"Let's go." He motioned me, and we along with Shelly and her date, I forgot his name - too bad at names, ushered into the house.
"Every other guy out there tonight is going to burn with jealousy, today." Leo husked into my ears as we entered the party. "Because you are mine." I found Shelly move into the party, leaving me alone - with Leo.
I was enjoying the party, meeting new people, making friends and enjoying when Leo grabbed me and pulled me aside. I gasped at his strong pull.
"You scared me." I managed to tell him as I tried to breathe. When I looked back at him, I found his eyes intensely dark with, maybe, lust. I tried pushing him off me but he was strong for me. He was stinking of alcohol. His head dropped into the crook of my neck and his lips brushed across the length of my neck.
No! I had to get him off me. This has to stop. It wasn't that I was opposed to s*x but this was too early. I didn't pounce on a guy on the first date itself. I need to be sure of him before getting into this. He was good but I needed to know where this could go.
"Stop fighting this." He scolded as I was attempting to free myself.
"Leo, let me go." I pleaded as I realized he won't stop if I didn't tell him to.
"I didn't ask you to let you go, babe." He won't stop anyway. He continued to nibble at the hollow of my neck, I had to stop this. Taking a deep breath, I gathered all the strength I could and kneed him. He grabbed his stomach, letting me go and I rushed towards the only door I could see. I didn't have the time to talk to Shelly even.
Unfortunately I found a couple making out behind the bushes, What was this party about - S*x? I murmured a sorry and stepped back, trying to find a way out of this place, when I heard the girl moaned his name, "Manik!" Unique name, I must say.
I had just proceeded a few steps into the garden area trying to find the escape and I shook with fear as Leo marched towards me; his stance screaming wild frustration beneath the calm self he portrayed. Though it stunned me to have come to know this man so much within a short span of time, over a few hours. But then his mood swings were easy to detect especially when something angered him. And right now, it's me who has angered him.
A strong, large palm held me at the dip of my back, cold. I looked side-wards to find the guy I had bumped into minutes ago. He steadied me as he slid his other hand into the pocket while the other still rested on me. "Problem?" He asked, his eyes darted towards Leo.
"She is with me." Leo countered quickly, stopping a few steps from me.
"I didn't say that she isn't."
"She is my date." He declared furiously, heading towards me trying to get hold of me. But not before he was stopped by the guy who stood beside me. He turned his gaze to me. His eyes seemed to be black, though I am not sure for the lights were too dim to distinguish between the browns and blacks of one's eye.
"I don't care whether he is your date or not."
"What the hell are you getting upto?" Leo screamed from behind.
But his eyes stayed on mine, "Do you want to go with him? If not, I assure you to be dropped home safely." His eyes, his voice seemed genuine for a moment. And maybe I did believe him.
"What do you mean safely? I am capable of dropping a girl home, safely. And you aren't really known for dropping girls safely but hard and badly." Leo seemed to be trying his level best to get me off the clutches of this guy, though the fact remained I wasn't.
"Stop it, Leo." I seemed to have found my voice. "Whatever it is, I am not going anywhere with you, not after what happened or after what you did." I tried my level best to keep my voice determined. "What I do is none of your business. I call off the night." I declare to him as much as to me.
After some glaring and eye-talking with the other guy Leo withdrew, walking away from me.
"Relax." I heard him say into my ears as his mouth hovering right above the curve of my ear. I suddenly felt alarmed and Leo's word rang into my head. But how do I trust Leo after what he had done a few minutes ago. For now, I just wanted to shut all thoughts that included Leo or else I would probably burst out like a volcano.
"Do you want something?" I shook my head instantly and realized that he hadn't budged even an inch from his place, not even his hand that rested on my back.
"You want to stay back for some more time?" I shifted under his hold but he didn't seem to bother. He ignored my attempts and still had his hand on me.
"I just want to go home." I tried to take a step and move ahead, away from his hold, yet again he had his palm stuck to me, firmly.
"Fine!" He paused for a moment, maybe trying to evaluate his option and then started again, "I will get the car." What was it with him, didn't he understand that I wasn't willing to go with him.
"Oh! No. I will be fine. You don't need to bother, I stay nearby. I will walk -" and that's when he snapped his fingers in front of me and cut in between.
"I will walk along." He declared, didn't even bother to ask for my permission whether I wanted him to accompany him or not, just declared.
"But," I tried coming up with an excuse and suddenly it clicked me, "Your date, don't you need to drop her? She doesn't seem to be in a condition to go back home alone."
"Who said she will be alone?" He smirked. I just wanted to wipe that smirk off his face. "She will be taken care of and she will dropped home safely. Wait a minute, let me just make a call." And he dished out his cell phone from his pocket and moved a few steps away directing someone to drop the girl safely home. Within moments the girl was ushered into a car by some girls and the car zoomed off.
He turned his gaze at me, "The matter is been taken care of, now shall we." But I was glad he didn't have his hand on me.
I was still confused whether to walk down the streets with him or not. I had terrible experience a few minutes back for trusting a guy, I wouldn't repeat the same mistake. But then he seemed so concerned and - maybe safe," I assure you that you will be safe."
"Are you known for dropping girls home safely?" I folded my arms and looked suspiciously at him.
"No." He whispered, "But that's when they don't want me drop them home, at least not safely." And the very next moment the guy shamelessly winked at me. The nerve of him.
"But then you want me to," my eyes went wide at his selection of words, "drop you home, safely." he had imitated the innocent look and continued, "So rest assured you will be safe." This time his voice seemed genuine, the last part felt like a promise that he meant to keep and I willingly wanted to believe. So did I. I believed him and gave a gentle nod leading him into the streets.
"Well, I am Manik." He forwarded his hand and a smile adorned his beautiful features. He indeed have a good and appealing look to make the girls fall head over heels for him, though I was determined to not be one of them.
"I know that." I retorted back whilst my eyes grazed over the street.
"Oh! I am famous." His attempts of displaying self-pride makes me roll my eyes. How can someone be so self-accustomed? He is full of himself.
"But hasn't anyone taught you to share your name when someone greets you this sweetly." He retorted and silenced hoping that I would answer him.
"Yeah! Absolutely, as sweet as sugar." I didn't try to hide the sarcasm.
The muscles of my body stiffened as his palm settled at the small of my back, yet again. "Stop pulling those tricks and tell me your name." He threw back his head and laughed.
"Why should I? I don't even know you." I defended.
"Still you are walking down with me." He dipped his head into my curls and I froze. What was he trying to do? "It's not like I will be a Millionaire if you tell me your name."
"Because probably you already are one." He looked expensive, head to toe. His presence screamed expense. Right from his attire to his look, everything about him illuminated money and power.
"I am not, my dad is though." He shrugged giving me a view to his broad shoulders. His muscles filled the suit rightly in places though not the hulk. He might not be the fittest men but he surely justified the formal shirt and blazer, unlike other boys at the school.
"I would let you watch me for as long as you wish, if you give me your name." I was snapped out of my thoughts. I was caught staring at him. The heat rushed to the cheeks and I trailed my gaze back to the streets, too embarrassed to look back at him.
"Oh! No. I enjoyed the attention." Of course, he is used to the attention. "The only thing is I wanted the name."
"Manik." I tried to warn him. But seriously I don't think he has ever heard of a word called 'serious'.
"Not mine, yours." He spoke irritating me further.
"After you drop me home," I paused to look at his expressions and I felt content, "safely."
"Trying to grab attention, aren't you?" He gave a thoughtful look and questioned, more like teased me which definitely irked me. "You have it, My attention!"
"Nandini." I tried to maintain my calm as I spoke, "My name. My name is Nandini." I had lost it. I wasn't an attention seeker and he dare not call me one. I am not one of those bimbos who would throw themselves on him to grab his attention, and surely not one of those who would pull a seductress act to grab his attention. I am fine as I am. I don't need his attention; I don't need anyone's attention. I am far better without their attention.
I realized we had stopped walking and he slightly turns on his heels, averting his gaze on me. His mouth lowered to my ear and I could feel his hot breath across my skin, mingled with the cold breeze. "I didn't know you would give up so easily but you did."I could imagine his lips curving into a lopsided smile. "It isn't that difficult to make you talk, as much as you make it seem like."
I pulled back, not much though, his strong and firm hand didn't make me put enough distance between the two of us. I studied him, "You tricked me into this." Unfortunately I was surprised, though I should have known this.
"Zip your mouth because I need to keep my word." To say I didn't get a word of what he said would be an understatement. Everything just bounced off my head.
And maybe realizing my confusion he spoke further, "How am I suppose to drop you home safely? If you have those delectable lips of yours curved into that 'O' I would be pretty much tempted to taste the flavor of your gloss," he paused as his lush tongue swiped across his lower lip, "and the nectar of your mouth and lips."
I gasped at his blunt warning and clamped my mouth shut, shielding it with my hands. My eyes went wide as horror consumed me and I shook my head.
"Now that is good." His palms flatly pressed across my back but then I was too horrified to move. "Calm down. I won't bite you, not now at least." He gestured towards the path ahead. I couldn't move.
"Promise." The words were a mere whisper yet a hint of assurance. "I promise I won't do anything to terrify you or make you run as the guy did." At the slightest mention of Leo I shivered. How much ever unknown Manik might be his presence didn't scare me rather I felt more at ease. He definitely did pass some indigestible comments that did scare me but apart from that there seemed nothing wrong about him. As far as I can reach home safely, nothing would bother me.
I padded onto the streets and withdrew my hands, keeping them by my sides.
The chilling breeze squashed across my skin, my bare arms felt the wrath of the chilly night. My palms slid across the length of the arm and went rubbing it. I was cold. I hadn't realized that I was leaning into his warmth, until his palm slid along my back and grabbed my waist. Unfortunately when I tried to pull away from him, his hold tightened. His eyes concentrated on the way and maintained his stance as though my attempts to pull away went unnoticed by him.
The moment I started thinking of his advances and his stubborn hold, I felt the warmth of his touch withdrawn. A sudden coldness hit me as his hands slid back and away from me. Maybe the night has just got into my head and the incidents seem to be completely dramatic. I think I am over-analyzing things.
A soothing touch enveloped me and I found myself wrapped with a heavy cloth material. My eyes wandered to my side as I saw him adjusting his blazer on my shoulders. I shrugged, hesitantly but even before I could oppose he peered his eyes into mine and gave a stern look, "I am just trying to keep my word - to drop you home, safely. Wear it or you will be cold." I think the 'dropping home safely' thing has become too important for him.
I wore the blazer but it was so huge to fit me in and so was he. His shirt filled the expanse of his shoulder and gave a better view to his broad shoulders. I hugged the blazer, pulling it at sides. It faintly smelled of the cologne he had worn. I had a fair chance to sniff him when I unintentionally leaned into him, not that I wanted to.
"Though I know better ways to do so." I snapped my head into his direction at his sudden confession. I was puzzled. As though realizing my confusion he spoke again, this time too soft for my good. "To prevent you from getting cold." His husky voice purred into my ears. It was after a good moment or two that I realized what he meant. But again he stated, "though I won't do any such thing." Better for him. I decided not to look at him, he was too much of a trouble to ask for.
I remained silent for the rest of walk since I knew we were hardly a couple blocks away from my house. When I could see my house, clearly, I turned to him, "I can walk from here on."
"I didn't say you couldn't. But I need to make sure you get in safely." His voice firm enough for me to know he wouldn't leave me stranded even if it was a matter of a few steps. I sighed, defeated.
"Better." He stared into the space while we marched across the sidewalk. I was seriously not in a mood to retort back to his comments anymore, no matter how badly pissed I was. I opted for a silence for the rest of the walk and not an argument for nothing, especially when I have my stomach growling with hunger. The first thing I need to after I get home is to grab something edible from the refrigerator, in case there is anything left there.
I turned to the right, stalking towards the front door as he tailed me. My hands sank into the clutch that I was holding so dearly to me moments ago, throughout the walk and I didn't realize it until I was to search for the keys now. Ruffling across the clutch, I managed to grab the cold metal of the key-set and pulled it out. All this while, he stood right besides me, watching me, patiently. I was cautious enough to unlock the door in a swift move, I was nervous enough to have him access my moves.
The doorway lit as I immediately reached for the switches and turned completely to face him. The light spread across and a brief view to his white crisp shirt was in view. It then struck me that I still had his blazer on. I shrugged the blazer out and gave it neat, quick fold as I forwarded it to him. His eyes traveled between me and then the blazer, his nose wrinkled and he narrowed his eyes at me. But, well, I decided to ignore his looks.
Be polite, I reminded myself as I looked at him. I had to thank him, after all. "Thank You." I mumbled, my arms stretched out, still holding his blazer.
"Keep that with you." He ordered. I glared back at him, the hell, if he thinks he can keep ordering me or that I would follow his orders.
"Why do you think I would do that?" I almost yelled at him.
"Because you wouldn't want me to be wrapped with your fragrance that is now clinging onto that fabric that you were so dearly holding across you a few moments ago, would you?" My mouth fell open. I really wonder, where did he get to think of such wicked comments from?
"Though I wouldn't mind to be sniff some of it." He winked at me. My jaws dropped lower, if there was the possibility of it happening.
"Get it dry cleaned," He passed another order this time with a brief explanation though, "If you don't want to wash me with your tempting fragrance." If shooting daggers could kill, he would have been dead by now.
"Listen," I took a deep breath, "It's useless. We wouldn't even be meeting each other. The hell, if I know I would be able to return this to you, if not now."
"It was a coincidence, tonight." My tone was low enough for me to doubt that he could even hear me, "Just tonight. And co-incidence happens once. Just Once" I was surprised as my voice seemed cracked to my own ears. It's just the growling stomach, I assured myself.
"Simply say that you want to meet me again and we will, I will make sure of that." Did he not listen to me, carefully?
"Let me rephrase it for you, I think, in fact, I am sure we won't have to face each other any time soon. So it's better you take this right away. And just so that you know, it won't smell anything of me, not much since it posses more of you."
"Sniffed enough to know that, didn't you?" I rolled my eyes at his self-concentrated comment. He has a way with his comments to make the person regret every word that's been uttered, though, not that I would admit it to him. I think I would prefer silence more than words to tackle him.
"Anyways, thanks." I shoved the blazer into his hands and waited for him to leave. But maybe he never makes an expected, predictable move. He didn't bother to budge even an inch from where he stood. What was it? Was he glued to the floor? Or even worse, Planning to tuck me to bed now? The last time I knew, I was been told, or more precisely taught that - Thank you was always an indication that the other person needs leave.
He shook his head, disapprovingly as he took the blazer, but thankfully didn't shove it back on my face. He sighed and dipped his head closer to mine, I could feel the heat rush across my body and my face burn, not with anxiety but fear. He was slowly taking in my stunned expression as his eyes grazed through me and dipping through my eyes to my lips which were not parted and shivering. He steadied me with a gentle grip on my cheek as he dipped lower and planted his lips on the other one.
"You need to start thanking properly." I shivered as his husky voice seeped into my ears. And with that he reached for the knob of the door and pulled it. The door softly clicked close and I heard his footsteps faint into the night. It was then that I realized my breathing had picked up pace and was heavy. My fingers trailed to the cheek where he had planted a kiss moments before. I realized what he had got as I remained numb and baffled by his move.
Edited by -shenz- - 7 years ago
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