I looked at the rugged jeans he was wearing and the white shirt informally tugged in at one end of the jeans. The familiar fragrance hit up my nostrils as he moved towards me. His chocolatey brown pupils dilated on seeing me, absorbing every bit of me. I was too shocked to utter a word and looked at him with dazzled vision.

"Hi", he extended his hand towards me in a formal way to shake it.

I was still in shock and extended my right hand. He took my hand with gentleness and gently squeezed it. Sometimes time doesn't change any thing. I forgot of my surroundings for a few seconds.

My voice shuttered when I decided to break the silence between us.

"Anshul, what are you doing here?"

"I might ask the same question. What are you doing here?"

"I am here with my husband. A small trip."

"You mean honeymoon?"

"Yeah... kind of", I said with a smile.

Sometimes I am surprised at my skill to mask my feelings so well.

"Then consider me as that ex lover who is stalking his lovE even though she is married to someone else", he said stressing a bit on the word love.

"You haven't changed. Nor has the way you can joke even in the most dire situations has changed."

"Yes but the bond that we shared has definitely change."

"I don't want to talk about those."

"So where's your husband?"

"Mmm..in.. in the hotel."

"You have come here all alone?"

"Y..yes". It was hard to conceal the dissapointment in my voice, my dissapointment in Rohan.

"Anything serious Anjali.."

"No..its fine.."

"Trust me Anjali..."

"Its.. its just a small fight. Nothing else. I just left the hotel in a hurry not thinking much about the consequences."

"You should not have left like that. He must be worried."

Worried? It was me who was getting worried and paranoid thinking what has happened to him. He is enjoying himself in room no 303.

"It's okay... I will return back.."

"No wait! I didn't mean that.. since you have come will you do something.. I mean will you dance with me?"

"What!", I asked in schock..

Memories kept flooding in my mind. How we were dance partners in high school, how we became friends after that and gradually turned into lovers, how our friendly dance moves changed into a love chemistry with time.. one dance with your ex boyfriend in a foreign country won't do any harm right?

"No, Anjali.. don't get me wrong. I am just asking for one dance. We were dance partners before. Besides it will help you to improve your mood", he said with a smile and extended his hand towards me..

"Okay... only one."

He held my hand gently and our feet moved in a synchronised manner to the music. The music was foreign yet felt good to the ears.

"You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?"

"I am here for a summer internship programme. It's an off campus internship. "

"That's a great news! How long are you staying."

"Three weeks to be exact."

His hands were gripped over my waist like the good old times. He is looking at me with adoration.

"Anjali-"

"Mmm?"

"I miss you."

I was taken aback for a moment. He never uttered those words when I wanted him to do.

"I know I screwed up everything. I know its all my fault. This makes me regret a lot of things. I was young and I thought committing at this age isn't a good idea. I... I have broken your heart, I have broken us... I..."

"Shh.. leave it Anshul. Its all in the past."

"When I realised what I am losing it was late.. too late. You were gone. You were married."

"I am married Anshul. Its better for us to live the remaining days as strangers."

"Yet, for this one night spend some moments with me. I won't cross my limit. I won't hurt you. "

"Okay...", I said in resignation.

I was mesmerized how perfectly he still synchronises his steps with me. Dance, it runs in my veins. My passion, the one thing that Rohan won't ever do with me. He isn't interested in dancing. We are two different people in matter of interest. I let out a sigh remembering him, the love, the pain and the betrayl.

We moved together in slow strides my mind occasionally drifting off to Rohan.

"Everything has changed yet nothing has changed, isn't it?", Rohan murmured near my ears.

"Everything has changed Anshul. Everything. "

Everything has changed.

I murmur to myself.

The lights kept on changing from green to blue to red. It was easier to mask my feelings when the lights changes to red. It helps me, helps me to hide my pain, helps me to hide my tears that are welling in my eyes at the thought of disloyalty.

"Hey are you sad?"

"No.. I am fine.."

"Anjali, just get lost in this music and in these lights and in this dance."

He was right. It's better to be lost in music than be lost in an unrequited love. I have lost myself in love but all of these seems to be a facade, an illusion which is a temporary escape from reality. In real love always hurts, it always does. I am just a forced liability in Rohan's life.

I cannot stop myself from feeling vulnerable and lost. My hours of makeup was slowly getting destroyed beneath my urge to cry out my heart.

My feet moved automatically in sync with Anshul just like old times. It's strange how he has been out of my life for a long time yet not out of my system.

"I can't forgive myself ever for losing you Anjali. I was wrong when I thought I can be friends with you. I can't. I am sorry for everything. I know you are sad, if you want I can talk with your husband."

"No its okay..."

Anshul placed his hands on my lower back making me shiver in his touch.

"Do you want a drink?"

"No... you can have if you want."

I noticed the number of missed calls from Rohan increasing but decided to ignore.

"One more dance?", Anshul asked. He was almost on the verge of being drunk.

"Hey don't drink so much!"

"Your wish is my command mam."

This time the dance wasn't friendly any more. There was tension in our moves.

"Anshul we are just friends and I am married."

He ignored what I said and continued holding me in a way he shouldn't.

"Stop it..."

"How badly I miss you..I miss your touch, your soft kisses..."

"Stop it Anshul... this isn't right.."

"If you give me one chance I won't let you down. I will love you like there's no tomorrow. I want to kiss-"

"Stop it Anshul. This is the alcohol in your system which is speaking. "

"Haven't you heard, alcohol makes a man confess the truth?"

Within the snap of a second he pulled me closer that I almost landed on his chest. I could feel his breaths on my cheeks. Fear and panic gripped me. How soon a man can change into stranger?

His right hand landed on my lower back.

"You look beautiful ", his voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Stop-"

"Your lips are so inviting in this bold red colour", he traced my lips with his fingers.

"Anshul I have asked you to stop. I am married."

I tried pushing him and removing myself from his grip but in vain.

He rested his head on the crook of my neck making me afraid of the consequences. I tried pushing him but he strengthed his grip on me.

At last I stamped his foot with all of my strength. "I hate you! How dare you touch me without my consent..."

I pushed him away with all my might.

"Don't come near me ever.."

Tears flowed down my eyes. It was too much to bear. I can't tolerate any more. Then my eyes fell on someone which made my heart stop for a moment. It was panic and relief, hurt and comfort, mistrust and love. When our eyes met it was the end of me.