I have lived substantial years of my life in Delhi yet there is no way around its weather. The heat evaporates all the water from your body, in monsoon the Yamuna level goes beyond the safe level and the chilly winters can shake your bones. Moreover, not one season sits well with me.

I am at last in a small queue to the billing counter yet it looks far away. This was supposed to be a new showroom with good air conditioning and yet I am feeling the heat. The line clears out slowly and painfully.

"All the customers are requested to clear the billing area. Our special guest is arriving. The counter will open again in an hour ."

The speakers resonated just as I picked up the first item out of my trolly.

"Ahh.. excuse me." I begin to say to the man standing behind the counter, a welcoming smile plastered on his face.

"I apologize for the inconvenience ma'am. You could park the trolly here and come back after some time." He says in a monotone.

"I have just a few clothes and a watch here. I would be a great help please." I plant my hands on the counter as I speak.

"It is not in hands ma'am. Our special guest is due any minute now." He says again in the professional monotone.

"I am a consumer, I should be prioritized over a ' special guest '." I do not want to come across one of those customers who create an upheaval but the situation demands so.

"Ma'am consumers are the foremost priority but it's a promotional event as it's the first shop of the brand in the country. Even entry is now prohibited." I turn around to look at the glass sliding doors where security has covered the entry and mass. When did all these people come in?

"Ma'am he is here, please park the trolly." His professional demeanor seems to slip for a second. I am despondent as I push the cart away from the counter.

" Who is this guest? " I speak more to myself but it was loud enough given the parted mouths, eyes filled with the shock of the store team around me. They look at me and then something rather someone behind me. Then I feel a presence right behind me. I could feel the heat radiating from his body as a very familiar scent evolves. A dejected sigh escapes me. 5 days back he is was an unknown, non-existent person to me and now he is around every day. Today we were not even having a meeting. Just my luck.

A hand passes over my left shoulder as the cuffs brush against my cheek and then it holds the trolly to bring it back to me.

"It is me." His face right beside mi e as he whispers into my ear and I close my eyes to get a grip over my speeding heart and the warmth that has spread through my body.

I could see his face in my periphery but my body betrays me to move away even though my mind is screaming against it. I turn my neck a bit to look at his piercing pitch-black eyes which were electrifying and as usual, a smile on his lips. His smile was captivating, a silent affection. He corrects his posture as I remain trapped between the trolly and his chest which was tight and muscular yet firm ( I should not be thinking that way ).

"Welcome Sir, out the team is honored to have you here." A man dressed in a suit comes forward with an extended hand.

"My pleasure. Thank you for having me." Another hand comes through my right as he shakes his hand trapping me completely.

"Could you please give me a minute? " He says to the manager ( I presume) who nods looking at me confusingly.

"What happened? " This time he comes forward as he looks at the contents of the trolly and then at me.

"I was about to get all these billed and then an announcement was made that a ' special guest ' was coming," I say emphasizing over the title that he was given. I could see his smile turn awkward but he masks it up again.

This should not come as a shock to be given his popularity but what's unsettling is his miraculous appearance where he is least expected. Was he around me even before we met and I never paid any heed?

"I am sorry for the inconvenience that was caused to you. Don't worry, let me help you." He gives me one of his full toothed, charming smiles as he pushes the trolly towards the counter.

I look around to see the questionable gaze of those who are in here but mostly carrying an expression of awe while watching him. Fans.

"Could you please bill all these items? She is my known and I would be grateful if you help her out." He says to the man behind the counter whose professional mask has completely slipped off as he stares at him, not believing he is talking to him.

"Yes..yes sir." He stutters as he clumsily presses the mouse. Arjun Malhotra ( because we are not on a first-name basis, nor we will ever be ) bends down and scoops all the contents and places them on the counter. I walk up to the counter, covering the small heap with my hands because he was about to start sorting them.

"You don't have to do that." I speak softly as to not gain more unwanted attention.

"I am the one responsible for the delay and now that I am here, the least I could do is this." He leans against the billing counter. His whole body facing me.

"I am not liking this unwanted attention." I turn to look at the bill man as he extends his hand towards me. Against my better judgment, I do pass him all of it.

"Ahh... I don't want you to feel uncomfortable." He scratches his neck as he looks around to watch the eyes that are gawking at us.

"I am used to all this ... I just did it without giving it a much thought." He speaks sincerely looking me in the eyes.

"Let it be. I am pretty sure that was not your intention." I give him a half-smile as 2 bags are placed on the counter.

"Thank you so much." I dive my hand into my handbag to look for the wallet.

"Ma'am, you don't have to pay. Please consider it a gift from us." The man in a suit appears in front of me and pushes the bag further in my direction. Too much for not gaining unwanted attention.

"Huh. Why a gift? You didn't generously gift any other person from the queue?" Though, I am pretty sure it has something to do with the man who is leaning against the counter on my right, drumming his fingers as the scene unfolds. At least he is quiet not to further exasperate me.

"Ma'am, you are a friend of Arjun sir and we would like to treat you. He is our ambassador in the country." Is his popularity even getting a setback because of the case? It does not seem so.

"I do not have time to discuss you on how I am an acquaintance with him. All I know is that I am not accepting these free of cost ." I slide the card towards him as the manager moves his eyes from me to their ' special guest ' who gives a nod and goes back to his off-track drumming.

"Thank you," I say as I swipe the card. I was about to gather the bags in my hand when a certain someone beats me to it. This is not turning out to a recreational outing.

"Let me help you with these." He says in beat after seeing my disinterested face.

"Mr. Malhotra. " I begin and he smiles. I might come across as cold and distant but I cannot be rude to someone who has been nothing but a gentleman to me and always sporting a gracious smile.

"Yes." He prompts.

"I am thankful for your help, I truly am. The wedding and today ... " I stop as he interrupts me.

"I think as a woman you should never be of all praises of a man for doing something normal, a moral duty. "

Arjun Malhotra is not failing in surprising me with each passing day. Right now, I am in respect of his parents for their upbringing and this man who now has the prime spot of respect in my eyes.

" I understand... you are here for a meet and greet and I don't want you to delay your plans." I point my thumb towards the crowd which seems eager awaiting him but still completely oblivious of his presence.

" Yeah! I know. I still do not think there is the harm in helping someone out but that certain someone is an ' acquaintance '." He air quotes the last word with distaste quite evident on his face.

" We are acquaintances, we sort of work together in proving whether you are guilty or not," I speak casually, in a more friendly manner.

" Kind of a guest here ... they like me.... ahh let's not talk about that work." He says unnerved but the comical look on his face makes a small giggle leak out of me.

" You should always keep smiling and laughing. You look beautiful while doing that .... ... ah not that you look bad or anything normally. You are really beautiful .... all the time." He finally stops when he sees the blank look on my face. I could see him gulp as he tries to force smile. I reach my threshold of controlling the laughter bubbling inside me and it comes out.

" You should have seen your face .. as if I would slap you." I say looking at a bashful Arjun Malhotra.

" I thought you mistook my genuine compliment as... I don't know. I don't say this is to everyone and no it's not one of my impressing techniques ." He plants the freehand on his chest. I have known this man for how long, about a week, and yet I can see past him, his eyes, and just know. Why? How? I do not get further into these questions for my own sake.

Arjun Malhotra's presence is overwhelming. When he is in front of me, everything else is subdued. I see myself opening up to him, laughing, and reading him like an open book. His faze penetrates my walls, makes my heart go on haywire. The way warmth and chills spread through my body, a sensation in my stomach. This all has happened to me for the very first time.

" Sir, it's time." The manager appears by his side as he graciously extends his hand towards the main glass doors.

" I have to make an entry from the inside right?" Arjun Malhotra asks pointing his thumb at the same door to which the manager nods. He absentmindedly places the bags on the counter, smiles over at me, and breezes past me with a wave. About 5 seconds later I hear glass shattering voices, myriad movements, and his name being chanted as a sage.

I move to stand by the door overlooking the stage at the center of the mall. He is standing tall, smiling and waving to everyone around.

"I want to thank you all for taking out your precious time to meet me here."And the crowd goes in haywire.

"The love I have got from all of you from my first match has been pure and fulfilling. I am grateful for all your support throughout these years."

His name was chanted throughout making him smile wider.

"I had a scabbed knee when selectors were coming to my academy. I was not able to run but my mother told me that you should believe in yourself and the hard work you have done thus far. So what you can't run? You can always hit big shots. Never stop believing in yourself, your hard work. All of you can excel in your field, hustle just hustle.

It should never stop."

His eyes move towards my direction as if looking for someone then they meet mine.

"If you want something that stops at nothing. Be dedicated. Never lose hope no matter how mammoth and impossible it may appear. I never have and never will!"

The mass of people vanishes as soon as his fervent eyes and words submerge into me.

I take tentative steps sideways to escape the sensation his words did to me.

One step,

Two-step,

By the third one, I am escaping.

I do not what was it, what he meant but what it did to me was alien and screamed danger, Lethal to me and my already fragile heart.