As we reached near the Ehaan's jeep, we caught a glimpse of Rudr standing opposite accompanied by many of his friends. "Where were you all?" He asked, looking at me.

"In cafeteria..." He made a disappointed face.

"Rudr left only that session in your search," Kunal muttered from beside him.

"What do you mean?" inquired, curious Samaira.

"Actually..." Kunal was going to blurt it out, but Rudr elbowed him, shutting him in the way.

"Nothing important!" He dared Kunal to open his mouth. A smile spread across my face as I observed nervousness in those hazel blue orbs. He seemed adorable when his arrogant figure was masked into nervousness. He stroked his hair, smiling at me sheepishly on finding me staring at him with a smile.

"I still don't like shipping you both." Muttered Anuj in my ears, I glared at him.

"He had to spoil the moment." Muttered Samaira who was on another side of me.

Rudr was staring from Samaira to Anuj, unknown why they were offering each other those wonderful glares. Soon heard loud strikes of someone walking towards us. I glanced at the source, his stern cold eyes darting from Rudr to me. His thick brows raised in question yet his face expressionless.

"We are ready to go?" Inquired Anuj, though Ehaan's eyes were fixed on me.

"Mia isn't accompanying us?" Aarav asked, catching Rudr attention.

"Mia?" His expression was loud. "She won't ever change..." he sounded disappointed. His earlier glow went missing with a hint of displeasure. I stared at him confused, what was happening among them? And why I was so interested in them? Maybe a feeling that I could help or sort things between them was showering me.

"No..." Ehaan groaned.

"Let's move..." Anuj grabbed my wrist pulling towards Ehaan's jeep and soon Rudr walked towards his followed by his friend.

"What is it with Mia?" I questioned Anuj in a hope that he would at least bring some words out. "And why do Rudr and Ehaan hate each other?" Looking at the tension between the two. As they both got into the jeep, though they were overlooking each other yet the hostility between the two wasn't hidden.

"Hmm... it's complicated." He voiced out, looking at Samaira staring at us in suspiciousness. Due to the jeep starting and music blasting on the speaker she wasn't able to listen to our conversation. "Rudr and Ehaan never got along, one reason could be overprotective brother Rudr is." He shook his head, "Mia had shown interest towards Ehaan from the very beginning." I gave a nod, the interest had shaped into everlasting love. I smiled at the thought.

But frowned a minute later, "why is Ehaan so mad at her?" I inquired further, she was so heartbroken.

"Ehaan isn't a person to pacify people." He chuckled at his words. "Mia had some disputes with Rudr. They often had Ehaan a reason behind their disagreement and one more member is added." I looked at him surprised, prompting him to continue. "What don't act so innocent?" His eyes danced in amusement. "It hadn't gone unnoticed by you, the frequent support you are offered by him. And huge disliking of Mia towards you," I lowered my head. I was becoming a reason between a sibling fight. It made me guilty I never wanted to be a reason behind someone dispute. I loved to spread happiness, harmony not arguments, rage.

"So maybe on knowing Mia helping Ehaan to humiliate you even deciding to cut you off from the competition didn't go well with him." He paused as if trailed in his thoughts. I kept silent as well anticipating he wasn't going to continue. "Those arguments surely had a troll over Mia. Though Mia is interested in Ehaan, her brother owns a special place in her heart. I don't like her but couldn't deny that both hold a very special place in her heart. She can't lose either of them. At moments when either of them seems to part away, she confronts the person ignoring the other one." He continued and some flashes got into my mind.

Mia convinces Rudr in the cafeteria, Ehaan's those heart-breaking words. Rudr gets furious with Mia and repeats those same words. It seemed the same pattern. The trio was insecure about losing each other, that was the cause of all their problems. Maybe if Rudr and Ehaan got together whole Mia's problem would be solved but it seemed an impossible task.

"Ehaan isn't fond of ignorance. He yells for attention and when it isn't met he move on... to be frank, he isn't so much involved in her. He wasn't involved with anyone ever..." He rolled his eyes keeping some words concealed within.  I gave a slight nod not understanding what to respond as unfortunately, I could understand everyone in the matter. I couldn't claim if anyone was sane because everyone had done their part. Everyone was correct in their part as well.

Soon we reached the nearest mall, I messaged mom on reaching the place as she had asked. Dad was less concerned as Samaira was accompanying me. They had more trust in her than they ever had in me. Weren't we both of the same age? Yet they considered Samaira more mature than me only if they knew about those foolish talks she often had with me. I rolled my eyes at those thoughts, diverting my gaze at people walking towards desired shops.

Other dancers had joined us directly in the mall. The group of students roaming in the hall were the centre of attention of the crowd many might be considering we had bunk our classes. As we got into one very huge looking dress store, covered with fancy-looking clothes. The most beautiful part was, we hadn't decided about the costume styles and we had entered the mall.

"Hi!" Samaira greeted Rudr and passed a smile at him. His mood had saddened on listening about Mia's action. He pressed a smile not offending Samaira and moved his eyes back on the clothes planted beside us.

"What would you like to have?" One of their saleswomen inquired about seeing us roaming around.

"We will have a glance at it," Ehaan informed and soon we separated in different directions. Moving our eyes to every corner to find a beautiful costume for us.

"Hope Mia was present, she had good knowledge about brands and..." he left it incomplete upon glimpsing at the glare that was offered. Samaira diverted her eyes and pulled me along with her towards the girls' session.

I pressed my lip together not to burst into laughter. My friend was very adorable when she was jealous. "Stop smiling!" She glared at me.

"Stop acting jealous!" I jumped back. "He has no interest in Mia other than a friend." I attempted to convince her, she nodded offering a pout.

"I can't help it. You know I have those insecurities. It's difficult to believe he has an interest in me often it feels like dream, Ru." I nodded in understanding. "I feel scared what if he leaves me wounded? He was a crush of mine, I had wished to only talk to him. On knowing he holds feeling is forcing me to raise my expectation, I am afraid of it breaking apart." I pulled her in a hug.

"Nothing like that would happen! These insecurities, this fear is common in any relationship we invest our emotions in. But we can't pull ourselves from it, right? We have to take the risk only then a bond will be developed. Only then you will enjoy the fruits of togetherness, happiness, fulfilments." I pulled from her staring into her eyes, she provided a small smile.

"Now let's choose a wonderful dress for you." I giggled at her sudden change of mood. As Samaira got engrossed in keenly observing the clothes before us, I got a glimpse of Ehaan standing on the other side from the racks of clothes before us. His eyes trained on me, his face seemed as if revealed. I looked at him confused, what was he thinking?

Though I was an introvert yet I loved people. That could raise a question but it was true! I never seemed friendly on the first meet and won't open up much about myself but humans always made me curious. I wasn't fond of shallow talks, about the weather, gossips about towns or new trends. But much beyond it, why does the person at the store seem so cruel to the salesman? Why is the lady often talkative never voiced a word about her brother? I would notice a small detail that was overlooked and being an observer, I could define a character the person blabbering next to me was.

With Ehaan it was different, he wasn't that vocal about himself. He gave me a feeling that he wore two personalities. The cold, arrogant monster who the world described him as and the other was underlaying deep within him, that wasn't allowed to be glimpsed at. He was hidden from the world around him, maybe he was protected from the world. The cruel world, we label it as!

He intrigued me! Curious to know about the person hidden deep inside yet I was scared to make a move. To step towards that concealed creature. I was scared about the result, about the scar that creature was offered. About the pain, the damage he went through. I had glimpsed at him on many occasions during our dance session, the layer of his mask was removed. I had glimpsed at the fragile human, he wasn't as tough as Ehaan the arrogant one. He was soft, his eyes radiated so many emotions. He never masked it from the world.

A voice clearing the throat was heard, I diverted my gaze from Ehaan. He was staring at me too! I felt embarrassed and distracted myself with the clothes before me. I could feel the shocked eyes of Samaira on us, I ignored her. "Nothing over here is appealing, let's move towards the other session." I walked away as I could feel his intense gaze fixed on me.

I heard slow footsteps follow me. I appreciated Samaira's silence. I knew about my growing interest in Ehaan and it was scary as I couldn't lead myself to have any feelings towards him. I wasn't of his type; he had mentioned it clearly on many occasions. Much over, he was taken. The realisation crossed some feeling inside me but I suspended it there. Not allowing myself to engross in it more. There were a few minutes when none of us spoke when finally Varun interrupted us and pulled Samaira along with him, offering me an excuse. I shook my head, sighing in relief as I was bothered what would I answer Samaira if she asked me about Ehaan? It wasn't like she hadn't teased me about him before but it seemed different now! But why? I brushed the thoughts away, I wasn't planning to damage my cognitive system.

Lost in thoughts strolling from one dress to other, nothing seemed appealing. We had a storyline in our choreography, and I was finding a dress that would suit my character. Something attractive yet simple, something that radiated innocence yet maturity. Wasn't I describing myself? The character in the dance had way beyond similarities with me. Often I wondered it was designed keeping me in mind. I smiled at my thought, the character was designed for Mia, not me!

I turned upon getting disappointed not finding anything worthy for my eyes. And there stood the dress, I was craving from the very beginning. The one that fits my description without a blink. I was awe-stricken with the amazing piece of beauty. The view that could suffice any heart, the dress that could describe me as a person. There wasn't anything extra-ordinary yet it felt eye rewarding.

The selves to the elbow, having heavy embroidery of black till the length of the waist. A coral pink waistband was wrapped around it. At the centre was the bow, it shined with the lights reflecting on it. A smile appeared on my lips on seeing it. The lower part was of rouge red, a plain cloth without any heavy work. It suited my taste, attractive yet not that bold!

"It's beautiful..." I was stunned by the choice, and I raised my eyes from the dress towards the source. My eyes widen in amazement! Dark brown orbs were staring at me. His face was stern as usual, but a small hint of relief crossed his solid cold expression.

"I had something like it in mind for your costume." He spoked, I kept myself from widening my eyes any further. He usually never uttered a word if it wasn't in a sarcastic, mocked, teasing manner. I perceived him as a man of few talks yet my heart convinced me another way around. I gave a slight nod, there was silence prevailing between us for a few minutes.

"Why don't you try it?" He raised his brow again glancing at me. I offered another nod not moving from my position. His presence had some mysterious effects on me. It dazed me, losing my sense to act. His intense stare wasn't helping in any manner. He took a step forward, my breath hitched. I wanted to move away but it seemed like my legs weren't in a condition to obey.

Suddenly that blank look was brushed off with a smirk. That look was far better than the emotionless one. Though I was well aware the smirk was planted on his face when something devilish was happening in his stupid mind. He erased the gap in such a manner that I was trapped between the racks of the clothes behind and his hard, solid rock chest in front. The dress was still in his hand, I concentrated on the dress. My breath was raising at an abnormal pace. What was wrong with me?

I felt his cold fingers below my chin and soon I met with his dark brown orbs that were radiating amusement. It often had that look, on glimpsing at me. I frowned, did he find me as a joke. His face-harden, brows raised in question. I looked away from him, he groaned at my action.

"Look at me..." his rough, deep voice spread goosebumps. I intake a large amount of oxygen. Slowly moving my eyes back to him, his face lightened a degree. Though others would claim, he was burning in fury. Maybe I could understand why Mia wasn't bothered by his anger? Maybe she trusted him enough that he won't harm her. Did I have faith in him as well? Because his furious gaze wasn't scaring me like our first encounter.

"What was that?" I stared at him confused with his sudden question. His hands travelled from my chin towards my frowned brown, his fingers straightening it. A smirk reached back his lip, "this..." He whispered leaning close to my ears and whispering there. I closed my eyes unknowingly. I heard him chuckle and I jerked open my eyes in surprise. The melody seemed too incredible to be real! His eyes glittering in delight as it was fixed on me. Those rough tones had a softer version of himself when they reached my ears. The face was no longer concealed with a lack of emotions. It seemed as if he was an open book to read, the adoration clearly visible in his those larger than life eyes. He seemed a completely different version of himself.

"You're such an adorable, cute little kid." He confessed that smile not leaving his face for even a minute. I was on the verge to smile when the words registered in my brain.

"Kid?" Sounding annoyed, that only increased his laughter.

"Yes!" Vigorously nodding his head like a kid, himself. "Sweet, innocent, adorable, cute, little kid." He muttered, the admiration overlapping each word. He was trying to annoy me and I was faking a glare yet I couldn't miss the hint of affection he held towards me.

"What on the earth!" Came a loud infuriated voice, stunning us as well.