KIARA POV

9 DAYS LATER

I look around myself , controlling the growing urge to pinch myself .

" This exists... " I keep my face stoic , void on any excitement.

" Been existing for quite a long time now . I am not much into history; never have been but this place was inhabited by dutch , Portuguese uhhhhh some Europeans. " Arjun waves his hand dismissively.

" Portugese were in Goa , Frech stayed in puducheery and if I remember correctly Dutch people opened up a factory in far south and then expanded to Maharashtra, Gujrat .. I am not sure either. " I bump my shoulder to his well his elbows.

" You are not sure ! Given the confidence and explanation it might as well have been this . What I know of history is that British were greedy vultures hounding the resources in our country and eventually they did succeed until they were thrown out . I try my best to remember this while playing against them , keeps the zest going. " We both laugh at his answer .

" Before me move forward, I am utilizing 2 days of my holidays for this .

We have successfully wasted one whole day in travelling here so what awaits might better be good . " I throw a challenge through my eyes .

" I will try my best . No one can get bored in Alibaug , its beautiful. " There is no doubt about that . We walk into cottage facing the sea . There are a few hallways and a door at the end . We enter one of those doors welcomed by a spacious living area facing a big pool .

There are stairs for the 1 floor , a kitchen .

" We entered through a narrow passageway. " I say out loud and walk towards the open space where the pool lies .

" The main area was small house but then they converted their big farm land into more lucartive business. " Arjun says from somewhere behind me but all my attention in on the big plam trees .

I remove my slipper and slowly dip my foot into the pool , sensing the cold around my foot I draw it back . Arjun stands beside me looking at the pool with admiration. He turns to face me , giving me a dazzling smile .

" You look awfully pleased with yourself. " I ask him as a cloud or doubt surrounds me .

" I certainly am . " He nods his head but that smile still remains etched to his face .

" Now , this watch . Waterproof? " He asks holding up my wrist .

" Yes . Why ? " I ask suspiciously, wheels of my brain working.

" Ohh nothing just curious. Looks good . " He smile and goes back . I turn again facing the pool . Within seconds I hear heavy footsteps coming to me with great velocity. Before I could turn around to admonish him , I was hosted up in his arms and straight into the pool .

" ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh " My voice gets muffled due to water getting inside my mouth . My eyes widen as we both stay underwater, I fling my legs around to save myself because that is my main concern. Arjun lets me free and holds my wrist. I wrap arms around his neck . Arjun carries both of us to the surface , I gasp loudly breathing hard. I shake my head to clear clear the excess water from my eyes . I look at Arjun combing his hair back through his hands .

" Hold you breath huh . " He wraps his hands around me tightly as we go down once again. We resurface again and I gasp for air .

" Don't do that . " I reprimand.

" What ? This .... " He pulled us down again and this time I wrap my legs around his waist . This time when we resurface again , I push him back only to realise that I never learned swimming.

" No no no... " I start whining and whinging like a child , trying my best to move forward but the only motion that happens is me going downwards.

Arjun laughs and then comes near me . Within a second I wrap my whole body around him again.

" You are the worst. " I say hugging him tightly.

"Not something you should be saying to your saviour. " He says loosening his grip around my body and as a result I get sticked to his body like a leech .

" I also saved you and your career but did you find me behaving life a daft , condescending, conceited and an utter imbecile . " I shout , hitting a punch at his shoulder blade .

" Ommfff...you lost me at concaii... what was it again ? " I move my head away to face him .

" A proudy man , the one who thinks he is way too important. " I give him a wide smile .

" Point needs to be made , your vocabulary and adjectives are quite to look for . " I give him a playful smack on his arm .

" How come you never learned swimming? " Arjun asks as he swins to the edge with me . I hold onto him like a koala at his hip and he keeps big hand tightly around my waist .

" I did ... I mean you see when I was 17 my family suddenly realised that I am not growing a centimetre from 5 foot 3 inches so , I decided to join swimming classes but then my mother realised that I am not worth spending money . "

Arjun looks at me with guilt in his eyes .

" You have a hot instructor awaiting and I take payment in kind . " He mischievously plays with his eyebrows.

" Given the stunt you just pulled how about never . " I leap from his grip to the floor . The chairs have towels neatly folded on the . Taking one , I wrap it around my shoulders.

" This is what I call a refreshing welcome . " Arjun hops out of the pool way more gracefully than I did . In the heat of the moment ai forgot that he discarded his tshirt before chasing me down into the pool .

" I am shaking life a leaf right now. " I exclaim at him . Arjun grabs 2 - 3 towels to cover me .

" let us get you inside . " I hold onto his extended hand and get up . My hair are sticking to my arms , face but I do not dare to take my arms out in chilly evening breeze . As if reading my mind , Arjun removes the water striken hair from my face .

We climb the stairs onto the above floor and there are two rooms.

" This is your's , change and come down . I am calling the room service for food . " I nod my head . We could have shared the same room but I was not ready yet and the fact that Arjun gets me without even saying brings a smile on my face . By the time I go down, Arjun is laid back on the living area sofa , legs on the table , tv turned on and some sporty attire whereas I am wearing a big night shirt and full pants with tom and Jerry on it . How does this man looks good in everything ? He does not even try with these basic black and white attire. I settle down on the sofa beside him , tucking my lege under my pelvic bone , planting my head on the sofa arm rest .

" Tom and Jerry was my favorite cartoon and do you know it is still world's nummer one cartoon since it started back in like what 1920s . " Arjun says , humor rich in his voice .

" Ha ha hahahahahahhahahahaha . " I do my best impression of a faux laughter , still looking at the floor as my head rests on the arm rest .

" Remind me to keep you away from pool , have this tea . " Arjun extends the cup to my face which I accept.

" This England tour of team India has been very successful . The team was in a great form with Arjun Malhotra chasing big targets with tremendous ease and a little bit of temper . " A sports channel is turned on and highlights of the last series are being played .

" Here is a clip of Arjun Malhotra killing it in England. " With that announced the screen cuts to a black and white montage of Arjun hitting shots , diving to catch a ball . The Clip moves onwards where there are few moments of Arjun butting heads with that of the opposite team player , shouting a string of colorful words while some other team member take him away by pushing his chest , him pointing his bat to the bowler and then pointing his bat to where the ball has gone , a six .

I have seen most of them on the television live . The Hindi cusses were quite easy to be made out from the movement of his mouth.

" This is an exciting telecast, don't you think Arjun . " I straighten myself and sit nicely on the sofa , savoring the tea which I believe has gone tastier for some reason .

" You of all the people should know why I was behaving like a dog who needs to be on a leash . " Arjun shyly scratches his neck .

" You are a dog " I say modding my head few times looking at Arjun .

" You have quite colorful vocabulary there yourself. " I point my cup towards the screen .

" Just mere euphemisms . " He shrugs his shoulders trying his best to look nonchalant but I know better that he is quite embarrassed.

" A person with such words knows fancy words like euphemism , wow ! " I shoot my eyebrows up .

" I .... " Arjun looks at me contemplating his next words .

" You..... " I encourage him to speak further .

" We should have food , it's getting cold . " A laugh comes out of me as I follow him to small eating table in the corner .

" You know you are taking alot of my first . You gave me my first date , now this gateway. " I say as I take a bite of fried rice and Arjun has some weird looking food .

" Ohh trust me , I plan to take all the firsts . " He says adamantly .

" And hopefully they do not end like your first date . " Arjun continues with his eyes wide in horror as he shakes his head in negation .

" I was so mean . " I exclaim scrunching my nose . I have thoroughly apologized to Arjun for my behavior and harsh words . Now that we are past that me and Arjun sometimes discuss how horrible it went fot a date , no one should have one like that .

" Point to be made , you really scared me when you got a hold of my collar and your eyes .... They were raging . " Arjun makes a fire gesture to further explain his point.

" You better be scared I have muscles too . " I fold my shirt to shoulder .

" Those are muscles okkkk . I'll stay clear of you . " Arjun says farcing horror .

" One of my friends is asking for your number . Aryan is a big fan apparently. " I roll my eyes remembering how he infuriated me when he got to know that me and Arjun have been in regular contact and according to them ' friends' .

" How are your friends taking the news ? " Arjun asks me .

" Their reaction was quite unexpected . There are 2 - 3 of them who do not have any interest in the sport or your existence but Arpit just jumped out of his seat and then I connected the dots , his father is a die hard cricket fan and he has been watching it since he can remember , he says you are the best player . " I raise my water glass to which Arjun holds out his glass as we clink it .

" This Aryan guy sounds nice do not let him go . "

" You are saying it just because he is your fan and someone from my circle of friends atleast knows you . "

" Aryan is my man . "

" Oh really. "

" I will meet him . "

" Then I can have him off my back . "

" What do they know about us ? " Arjun asks with curiosity. From the past week we have been having this discussion to let go of just being friends . We both know that it might be the foundation of our relationship but we certainly do not want just to be that , our feelings for each other are crystal clear .

" That we are friends . "

" Urghhhh "

This is how our dinner went . Arjun sulking and me enjoying every bit of it .

" I need to have a talk with my manger regarding work , I'll see you in a bit . " I dismiss him by the flick of my hand .

I am way to engrossed in a book to be able to respond.

" There is nothing amazing than the attention of your loved one . " Arjun taunts me but you see , still too much engrossed in my book .

I have no idea how much or how little time has passed before Arjun suddenly drops into my lap with my book ; my book under his head . I snatch the book from below his head .

" Can you not drop like that out of thin air . " I whisper yell at him .

" I was trying to come into the light of your attention as I have been standing there from last 10 minutes and you were way to engrossed in your book to pay attention. " He says over dramatically .

" How about you read a book too ? " I use a softer tone to persuade him .

" Nice try . " He scoffs at my failed attempt .

" How were you as a student? " My curiosity gets better of me .

" Not going to lie , quite average actually but I scored full in physical education. " He flicks his tshirt .

" That is not that of a big deal hope you know . " I give him a tight smile .

" You might find this exciting because when everyone was busy burning their night oil for marks I waa actually representing India at the under 19 world cup . " We are just oily kids with pimples and he was doing that.

" Don't worry kiara I know you are a nerd. " Arjun taps my cheek 2 times .

" What did you just say ? You are one of those people who thinks the studious ones are nerds or book worms . " I scoff at his statement.

" Tell me this ok . Were you active in any extra curriculum ? "

" That is a preposterous question. I always won debates, speech giving activities. " I say as my cheat puffs with pride.

Arjun barks out a response as if I said the most hysterical stuff . He gets up from my lap, bending on his knees and slapping them as tears rolls down his eyes .

" That was not funny... " I admonish him for his reaction .

" kiiii.....ohh.....ahhahahahahah... " He tries to say something but fails miserably.

" Arjun , this is not funny..I uhh I hate you ." I thorw a cushion at him and he makes no attempt to dodge it . I pass him to take the stairs for my room .

" Kiara... I am sorry but god that was...hahahah " He starts to laugh again at my room door.

" As I said earlier, I hate you now leave me alone. " I flick my hands to motion get out .

" I am sorry , I swear that I won't do it again .. " I say but there is still a smile plastered on his lips. He walks to my bed and settles down .

" I hate you . " He leans closer to me but I make no move to back away as there is this confidence in me that soars. Wrapping my arms around his neck I kiss him brielfly .

" I you are being mean.. " I kiss him again briefly as he plants his hands on my waist , his eyes hold that shock for my Bipolar behaviour .

" I . Am . Confused. " He finally says in between .

" How about you shut up . " I growl at him to which he obliges. I push him hard so that he falls on his back as I claim onto his waist . Arjun looks at me shocked, so am I but I know I won't regret anything later .

" I was thinking how about we stop the charade of being friends. " I say massaging his scalp . Arjun's eyes lit up like some Christmas tree as he leaps forward to kiss me .

" I love you so much woman . " He says breathlessly in between our kisses as we both devour each other.

" Am I a nerd ? " I ask . Arjun goes back from my face and looks at the length of my body sitting at top of him .

" Yes you are but a beautiful one and right know hell sexy . You are my nerd , always had a thing for glasses. " He kissing my eyes . I left my glasses and opted for lenses for the trip .

" I see no problem with that sentence. "

I plant my head on his shoulder. Keeping his hand on my back Arjun leans down again .

" I want to sleep . " I mumble.

" You can no one is stopping you but you have to leave me first. " He says delighted. I give him a playful push as I move off his body to the centre of my bed . " Arjun grabs the comforter and lays it on me . We wish each other good night and I scummb to the fatigue of travel .

__________________

" When are you free next ? " Arjun asks me as we load our luagge into a ferry.

" I do not know when I am having 2 days consecutively off . "

" Here I alwaya thought that it would be hard for me to arrange my schedule and make time . " Arjun laughs .

" Oh the tables have turned . " I flip my hair and we both laugh at my antics.

" Mind me , the moment you have chutti ( holidays) we are going somewhere. " He points at both of us .

" As long as you are paying. " I step into the ferry and turn around to look at Arjun.

" Would you ever let me pay. " Arjun asks sternly. We argued for almost 30 minutes before the shoved cash into his hands .

" I am you boyfriend now . " He too steps into the ferry giving me a beautiful smile .

" That you are . "

" So just let me spoil you. " He opens his plams flay out pleading.

" Now that you are my boyfriend I might as well spend your money freely. "

" You do that please . "

The ferry ride from Alibaug to Mumbai was aroud 50 minutes and it was serene and full of solitude which did not survive longer . We step out the ferry as the guards from his security team come forward to carry our bags .

We just walked some distance before Arjun shoves my face into his chest , his large hand covering my face completely and the other one goes around my shoulder to help me gain my balance which shook from the sudden stunt.

" Don't look up baby . " He says guiding me . A deja vu hits me as this is what happened when we came to Delhi last time . But this time it was different, I was his judge back then but now....

" Just the day after we decided not being friends. " I say as soon as the car leaves the area .

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