~Ishaan Malhotra POV~
The music throbbed like a heartbeat - loud, rhythmic, relentless. Lights flickered across the smoky air, bathing the upscale club in deep reds and electric blues. It was exactly my kind of place. But something felt off. Very. Very. Off.
That's when somebody had the audacity to interrupt me. Of course that somebody had to be Aayush Shekawat, he was one of the few people who could ever get away with that. "Where have you hit your head dude ?", Aayush screamed over the music. "Yeah, you are distant tonight.", Rian joined in, while Dev nodded in agreement. "Nothing", the words came out. There were a lot of sighs and scoffs from my bestfriends, but I wasn't paying attention anymore.
My eyes flickered to someone else on their own as if they knew she was there at the exact place, even though I tried to look away but my eyes had their own minds stopping them from looking away. Slowly I could feel anger making it's way through. The guys followed my gaze to her. "Fucking Hell". "Shit".
I didn't look to see who screamed the words, I was too busy staring at her.
Seven years. Seven damn years, and she still had the power to stop time. I shouldn't have come to this club. But I had. Dragged here by Dev, Rian and Aayush after a long week. I had told myself it was just another night out. Drinks. Music. Maybe a distraction or two.
I didn't know she would be here.
Kiara Simha.
The name alone used to light my world on fire. Now it lit a fuse under my temper.
She stood by the bar, laughing at something one of her friends said - the kind of laugh that used to be just for me. The kind of laugh that used to come after I whispered something stupid in her ears during late-night study sessions. Back in college. Back when she still trusted me.
Back before she found me in that room. Before she walked out of my life without looking back.
Suddenly she looked up and her eyes met my, her smile dropped, her posture straightened. The tension spiked. She quickly looked away and excused herself to the restroom.
I could've stayed where I was. I should have let her walk away. But my feet had other plans.
"Bro", Aayush called me,"Don't do this".
I didn't answer. Their voices already fading as I walked toward the ladies restroom.
I pushed the door open with unnecessary force.
Each slow step towards her felt like walking into a storm I'd never escape and probably never want to. My fists clenched, my jaw locked as I stared at her back. I wasn't ready. But I would never be ready. So I stopped pretending.
Her eyes met my in the mirror, fire blazing through them. Understanding the tension the girls standing nearby left.
She turned slowly as if any faster would explode a grenade. She looked me in the eye, and I swear my heart forgot how to beat.
"Malhotra", she said, her voice like silk over steel.
"Simha", I replied, pretending I wasn't shaking inside. "Still dramatic as ever."
She raised an eyebrow. "Still crashing parties you're not invited to?"
I almost smiled. Almost.
"You always assume the world revolves around you", she added
"It used to revolve around us", I shot back letting the words sting
Wrong move.
Her eyes narrowed, and I saw it - the flicker of pain, buried beneath layers of bitterness - even if it was for a second, I still saw it loud and clear. Good. Atleast I wasn't the only one haunted by the past.
"You've memory loss", she said stepping closer."Should I remind you how we ended?"
"No need", I replied coldly.
"you've have reminded me enough times.", I said it in my mind.
I don’t know what possessed me. The alcohol, the tension, the way her perfume hit me like a sucker punch to the chest. Maybe it was just the fact that no matter how much I hated her — I never stopped wanting her.
So I said it.
"You came here looking to be noticed. Consider it done."
Her lips parted, furious. "You’re disgusting."
"And you're still lying to yourself."
Then — before I could process what I said fully, she slaped me. She raised her other hand to slap me again but I caught it and pulled her toward me. Before I could regret it I leaned and kissed her.
She didn’t move at first. Her hands were frozen against my chest. For a second, I was ready for her to shove me, hit me, scream.
But she kissed me back.
I felt it.
The hunger. The fire. The history.
I still loved her
But I didn't say it out loud. Because if I did, that would ruin everything.
___
Write a comment ...