Sameera quickly added six ice cubes in a glass full of water and scrambled off to behind a pillar. Away from Shrithik's sight.
Leaning against the pillar she took a deep breath in.
They were so close! And it was so damn romantic!

Gulping down all the water in one go she peeked from behind the pillar to see what her old man was doing. But he was nowhere to be found.
"What a relief."
She whispered to herself and turned to find him just in front of her. She shreiked, totally shocked.

"What the hell are you-"
Her breath hitched when he lowered his head down and connected their cheeks. His beard tickeled her. He then took her hands in his and pinned them on the wall on her shoulder level.

"W-what are you doing old man? I'm telling yo-"

"Shhhhhhh."
He shushed her and pressed himself more to her and this time kept his head on her shoulder and sniffed her.
Sameera was feeling really out of breath and weird. What was that guy even trying to do? She was really feeling that at any moment he might turn into a vampire and then sunk his teeth inside her.

"It's really smelly here. Somebody used a very bad deo in a large quantity."

"Ooh."
She nodded and subconsciously titled her head to her side giving him more access. One thing that was intolerable for Shrithik was bad smelling things or a too strong smell. So he couldn't even stand near someone who used deo or perfume whether it was good or bad. It doesn't matter.

"Then you go outside. Why are you here? Invading my personal space."

"Because you smell nice. Like apples and second I wanted to tell you to come out after you tell that small guy and then we'll go to an ice cream parlor. They don't have black current here."

He said not making any move of going but shifting his head more comfortably in the crook of her neck, afterall she gave him more access.

Her eyes were wide open. First of all they were in a public place and second, that position in which they were in was really intimate and kind of romantic. And third, he tended to always sleep when he kept his head on her shoulder.
Don't blame him. It was a really comfortable pillow for him.

She used a little force and freed her wrist from his hold and keeping her hand on his chest, pushed him a little.

"What? I was just about to sleep."
He whined and she made an annoyed expression.

"Shut up and go out. I'll be there in five minutes."

Running a hand through his hair, he left without saying anything. Sameera, without wasting any time made her way towards Mayank and sat down beside him.

"Hey!"
She said and he looked at her.

"Wow! You are looking really pretty. Even more prettier than my English teacher."
He said and she smiled. Internally thinking that was she really looking that beautiful?

"Thankyou. But why are you looking so sad?"

"What should I tell you. There's one girl I like. I asked her to be my girlfriend and she refused."
He said and pouted, looking down.

She nodded and asked
"And now, what are you gonna do?"

He looked up at her and proudly said
"I'm not giving up. I'll bother her till she says yes."

She nodded and said
"Wait till she says yes. Don't annoy her by always asking her. If she was your friend before, continue to stay friends. Tease her, play with her, but don't annoy her by asking her out every time. If she told you to not to talk to her then don't talk to her. But this doesn't mean that you'll be rude to her because she refused your proposal. No. Always smile when she looks at you. Show her what she's missing. But, don't bug her. Okay?"

She said looking directly into the small guy's eyes and he nodded slowly. And then suddenly spoke

"I get it now! I'll be very nice to her and then she will feel bad for refusing me and start liking me. And then she will say yes and then afterwards when we grow up, we will marry each other and drink our bournvita together. That's good."
And then he ran off to somewhere. Sameera smiled to herself. It was not exactly what she was saying but he understood the main point and that's enough.

Smiling satisfactorily she stood up and made her way outside. She's gonna really teach him today to not sniff her and definitely not pin her on any surface.

She looked around as soon as she made it outside the hotel to find him sitting on the footpath with a dog on his lap. He was bandaging him.

She couldn't help but stop and admire him. Not his looks, but his expression. So soft, so sweet. He truly had a golden heart. That dog had his leg broken and was still panicking as he couldn't see the person bandaging his leg. But Shrithik was handeling him with care and she can swear she never saw him touch anything so gently.

She waited till he was done and let the dog free. Then slowly made her way towards him. Just in time he lifted his head up to see her walking towards him with a small smile gracing her lips. She was looking like an apsara who just came down from heaven. And that small, gentle smile was something that can capture just anyone. It felt so genuine.

"If you ever pin me to the wall or sniff me, remember I will definitely not hesitate to beat you to pulp."
She said leaning down to his level with an expression which is used when somebody talks to a child. Which took him totally off guard.

"It's not my fault you smell good. And wait a minute, how do you still smell good? Did you carry your soap and shampoo here?"
He asked, confused on a whole new level.

"Yeah. I did. Now get up and stop saying things like that. It's annoying."
She mumbled, getting a slight shade of pink on her cheeks.

Shrithik nodded and got up, controlling his laughter because he didn't want to embaress her in front of everyone. Already some people were thinking she was crazy.

He led her to an ice cream parlor nearby and brought her an ice cream. Then they started walking in random direction.

"Tell me one thing old man, how are you so familiar with this city?"

He looked at her and replied casually
"Because I lived here two years ago."

"Wow! That's cool."
She said and they talked about random things. Soon their ice cream was over and they made their way to the Singhal's hotel. But this time Shrithik didn't enter. He left leaving her alone.

She then made her way towards her friends to find them talking to Jay. Going towards them she greeted them

"Hey!"

"What a great timing."
Jay spoke and she made a confused expression.

"There's a party tonight at our club right next to this hotel. So as it is 6:00 p.m. these girls wanted to go home to dress up. So we are going home. You coming with us?"

"Sure."
She said and they left to the Singhal's mansion. Sameera wore a nice black crop top and a pair of dark blue jeans. It was 8:00 pm when they arrived at the club.

Jay, Shivam, Raj and Aditya were left behind as all the girls ran inside the club.

"Woah! Aren't they a little too excited?"
Aditya mused and Shivam nodded.

"A little too much."

"But I never thought Sameera to be so excited. She seemed like those though girls who don't like parties."

Shivam snorted at Jay who was looking very confused.

"That's why they say to not judge a book by cover. She was the one who got Raj and Shrishti to party. She's not a party pooper but she likes partiying. Now let us go. I really can't let Maaya drunk. She's scary."
Shivam shuddered and the boys laughed and made their way inside to find the girls dancing sexily.

Aditya went towards Madhu, Raj went towards Pihu, Shivam went towards Shrishti. He likes her secretly.
And Maaya, Jay and Sameera danced sperately.

Sameera had never had alcohol and for the first time she was wanting to try it. So she went towards the bartender and ordered a beer.

Jay was already there gulping down his shots.

"Doesn't that burn?"
Sameera asked and Jay nodded.

"It does. Wanna try?" He asked in a really hot manner and she nodded without thinking anything. Jay was tipsy at the time. He trapped her between his hands and the bar table.
Sameera was not actually aware of this as he was still standing with space between them. He then picked up small glass and brought it to her lips.

"Try it."
She felt a little awkward so she took the glass from his hands and gulped it's content in one go.
Slamming it down she coughed

"Yuck! It's bitter."
She said and he laughed.

"It'll be better afterwards."
Saying this he took a glass and gulped it in one go. Then leaving her, he stood beside her and then drank one more shot. Sameera watched as he drank shot after shot. Getting motivated herself she joined him and did the same.

Jay stopped at his 15th shot after getting extremely drunk. Sameera was now also extremely drunk with 11 shots and three beers. It was a lot!

"Let's dance."
She asked and he gladly agreed. Holding each other's hands they stumbled on the dance floor.

He turned her around so her back was touching his chest and held her waist. She locked her hands around his neck and started dancing really intimately.

Jay groaned and bit her earlobe. She moaned and shifted her palm from his neck to his cheek.

"You know I like you a lot?"
He asked and she giggled.

"I know."
She said and took both his hands and tightened them around her waist. A sober Sameera would never do that.

Jay brushed his nose with her cheek and went towards her neck. Slowly he pecked her neck. Going from her neck to her shoulder he kissed it. He licked the place and once again kissed it open mouthed. Leaving an hickey.

Sameera who was still new to this gasped loudly and turned around. Smiling innocently and beaming she said

"That felt good."

Jay who himself was extremely drunk found her adorable. Leaning a little towards her he said

"It will feel better if I kiss you on the lips. Can I?"
He asked. Though he was drunk, he still was a gentleman.

She thought tapping her chin dramatically and nodded. She was looking so fucking adorable that his eyes darkened as he leaned closer.

Both's eyes on each other's lips.
Just as they were about to touch somebody snatched Sameera away from him.

Sameera giggled on being twirled. It was fun. She looked up at the face of culprit when her back slammed into a hard chest.

It was none other than Shrithik with an extremely calm expression looking down at her.

"Old man."
She breathed out and he smiled softly in return

"Hey sweetheart."

_______________________________

Apsara: Nymph