It was eleven at night when we exited Natasha's house. With a whirlwind of an evening, I was done for. The party was still in full swing, the evening just begun for them. But I was tired. Mentally and physically. My heels in my hand, I strutted out of the house, the cold gravel biting into my bare feet. It was a welcome feeling in comparison to the hellish heels.

"Wait here, I'll get the bike," Abeer said beside me and moved forward to open the gate for the both of us. I didn't even bother to argue with him. Because I knew, in the end, I would give up, slide on in his backseat, and try my very best not to move my hands further down from his shoulders.

I needed space, breath and a good night's sleep. With him so close, it was a difficult feat to achieve either of the things. And it wasn't any good that I had donned heels the entire time, making my feet ache like hell. They were platform heels, but didn't make my feet hurt any less. It was universally known that handling pencil heels wasn't my cup of tea, considering all the times I had been the clumsy me and stumbled on things even in my boots. To imagine what would happen to the world around me if I ever dared to wear those daintily-long things. Abeer slowed down before me, handing me another helmet to wear. In my sleepy state, I didn't realise when I had thrust my heels towards him. "Hold," I heard myself mutter, before all so stupidly forcing them in his hands. He raised his eyebrows, surprised at my actions, but held them nonetheless.

"Why did you remove them?" He asked, his voice holding an edge of amusement.

I twisted my face in an unpleasant way, making my dislike apparent. "I don't like them. They make my feet hurt." By that time I had manage to wear the oversized helmet, and had moved to slide into the backseat of the bike.

"Then why did you wear it in the first place?" He asked, chuckling.

I paused midstep, my eyes thoughtful. "You do want to look like a runway model from time to time. Even if you're far from one." I grimaced at my tone, the wistfulness apparent in my voice.

I shook my head and climbed up, gesturing Abeer to hand me the shoes. The laugh in his face had vanished, a seriousness taking over his handsome features. "You're beautiful the way you are, Aashi, the most attractive woman I have ever met. You don't need to wear anything you don't like to appear attractive. You already are."

I ignored the way my stomach flipped at his words. I also didn't make much of his words. He was simply being polite. He didn't really mean.

Did he?

I simply shrugged in response, making myself comfortable on the bike. "Let's go," I said slowly. He handed me my heels and started the bike.

"You might want to wear them. It's cold and how will you hold me if you have them in your hand?"

I transferred both the shoes in one hand and swung them on Abeer's shoulder, just the way my hand rested on his shoulder, and so did my shoes. He looked at the offending shoes, then at me through the mirror, thoroughly unamused. I dashed him a sheepish smile, to which he only shook his head, a small smile already playing on his face. 

"Enjoyed the party?" Abeer asked out of the blue while riding home.

"Yup, did." I had good company. He nodded and we again lapsed into silence. Comfortable, warm silence.

Natasha's house wasn't a lot far from my apartment, just a half an hour ride. We reached at the gate of my society in record time, owing to the traffic-less road at nights.

"You know, I asked you an extra question so you can ask me one more, just to settle the score," Abeer said as I removed the helmet from my head.

I was tired and didn't wanna think much. I asked the first thing that came to mind while getting down from his bike. "Favourite singer?"

"Arijit Singh." I whipped my head to face him, an excited smile plastered on my face.

"Seriously! He is my favourite too," I squealed in a very feminine fashion.

He laughed at my obvious delight. "That's awesome!" He paused for a moment, his demeanor thoughtful. "In fact, there's a concert in Sector 10 grounds, Dwarka next weekend and he's performing. I have a close friend working with the organization team and he can arrange for the passes even in this short notice. Would you like to come with me?"

My eyes widened as I took in his words. I had never been to a concert in my entire life. To have the chance to go to one, especially of my favourite singer, along with Abeer - the opportunity was too tempting to let it slip away. I literally jumped up in joy, my heart bursting with excitement.

"Definitely! But I will pay for my own pass," I replied in mock-seriousness.

He lifted his hands defensively. "If that's what you want." I giggled giddily. He was beaming at me, my happiness somehow contagious.

"Bye then, goodnight!" I waved at him, ready to go and indulge in a hour-long call with Taira.

His eyes grew intense somehow, the smile still on his face. "I am excited for the date," he said in the same happy tone as I had waved him farewell in.

Too excited to actually register his words, I blurted, "I'm excited too."

His grin turned positively glowing as he nodded at me and zoomed away on his bike, his speed faster than usual.

I turned around to walk in through the gate when a sudden thought struck me. Wait.

Did he say 'for the date' and I replied with 'I am excited too'? The smile vanished from my face, my mind realising the horror of my deed. How could have I agreed to this? What have I done?

I walked in through the gate with determined steps, my hand fishing into my purse for my mobile. I had to call Abeer and clear the air. Nobody should be in the dark in a matter like this. He needed to know that I...that I...

Goddammit! I didn't know what. But I knew I had to remedy what I had done. I couldn't possibly do what he...what I...

The limits...Oh, the limits!

Opening the lock on my phone, I went to dial Abeer's number when a sudden thought struck me.

What do I truly want? Follow the limits I had so detested...so live a little? According to my terms.

I kept walking towards my building, my phone clutched in my hand, my head abuzz with a million thoughts.

And trust me when I say blood isn't the only thing that my heart pumps, it even pumps wildness in my veins.

-----------------------

---------------------