We had entered Ehaan's mansion and had settled ourselves comfortably in the living room. The housekeeper I met on my previous visit had offered me a smile. Asking if we would like to have anything for which we had denied her offer. I was totally engrossed with the latest scenario. Zara was strolling around the mansion as if she owned it. Indicating she had visited it often. It was from Zara that I got to know Ehaan lived in this mansion, away from his real home. The beautiful palace I visited on reception night.

"Isn't it strange? Why would Aarav's parents lodge complain about his best friend?" Samaira questioned as she was informed about the incident. She was fuming in anger on learning Kunal voiced such words against me.

"Because they aren't fond of Aarav's friendship with us." Zara shrugged her shoulder, grabbing a remote and shuffling between different channels.

"Why so?" I inquired getting interested in the topic.

"Hmm..." She kept the remote on the table glancing at both of us. "They were never fond of Aarav's playful attitude. His least interest in academics and later more engrossment in girls. They feel this everything is due to his friendship with Ehaan who too has a spoilt attitude. Though both were involved in wrong practices in equal share Ehaan would escape from it due to his mother's influence while Aarav have to deal with the consequence. Even in the academic area, Ehaan scored well without attending any classes." She shook her head. "We still envy his that excellent skill." She giggled at the end.

"Understandable! Anyone would had reacted in the same manner." Voiced out Samaira and I agreed to her words.

"But Kunal was different. He is in the bad guy category but hadn't received any complaints from the school authorities. The smartness of Rudr could be given a point for it. He plays backfoot, in the corner not gaining anyone's attention. Just see! Kunal and Rudr both voiced rubbish but their action was easily subsided by Ehaan's loud reaction. His punches are visible but not those wounds what their words resulted into." A sad smile played on her lip.

She had gone through the circle of receiving hurtful words. Her past swiping in front of her and dealing with it for few weeks. But those words by them hadn't affected me in such a manner. For a minute, I was stunned. I hadn't anticipated Rudr could voice such words against me. But it didn't matter! I didn't dwell in pain. Maybe his opinion about me wasn't of value. Maybe the constant restriction I was offered around him. The frequent warning I received never to get close to Rudr had helped. I wasn't that affected by his cold behaviour. Maybe I had cut myself off from him the minute I had seen fulfilment in those hazel blue orbs on finding he was on verge of killing Ehaan.

"So, they adore Kunal but not Aarav? That's bad!" Mentioned Samaira bringing me out of the ocean of thoughts. Her opposition wasn't just her view but her feeling on the topic. She was against partiality and whenever found anyone receiving the same treatment as her, it upset her. She had faced it from childhood. Her brother was favoured more than her.

Zara stared at her keenly but nodded in agreement. "Aarav never received the love he longed from his family. He always felt as if he never belonged to it. That's the reason, he is hardly home. Much of his nights are spent either here or with Anuj." She smiled maybe remembering their hangout session. "You know what keeps us together?" She asked suddenly, a thought popping into her mind. "We all longed for home and found it in one another. That's the reason that even when we have arguments, disagreement we might leave for a few days but we often walk back into our home. It had become our lifeline and it scares me if we get separated we would shatter into pieces." She got sad remembering their last year in the school.

"It isn't like people lose friendship after their school. There are people who are still in contact even after receiving a job and getting settled." I was trying to provide her with hope.

"But very few!" She exclaimed having little hope for it.

"I have faith in your friendship, Zara." Samaira mentioned. "It's much beyond what the world describes friends. You are each other's family and people don't lose contact with their only home in the entire universe." I smiled at Samaira, seeing she was slowly getting used to and accepting them as they are.

"I must say, those idiots are very much lucky to have you both." She commented, pulling us into a tight hug. We were stunned but later got comfortable.

"Now, I think! Our girl's hangout plan was far better than a get-together." Samaira whispered making us giggle. Surely, it was! But my dad had some other plans, I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

___

Minutes had passed by there was no sign of Ehaan or anyone. Zara had contacted them and Varun had mentioned they were trying to manage it. Samaira glanced at the watch, she was getting late. I had lied to my parents that I was in Samaira's house. They hadn't opposed rather was glad that I was taking break from constant studies. It was time for Samaira to leave. I nodded in agreement knowing her problem.

"Please come up with any excuse if mom calls you up to check on me." She nodded seeing my nervousness. I wasn't great with lying but I was left with no opinion. I wasn't planning to leave without glancing at Ehaan. I won't be able to rest peacefully.

"Don't worry, I will handle it. But you take care and take the calls." I nodded, she blinked at me in assurance before leaving me along with Zara. Waiting for a few more minutes, Zara raised from the couch.

"I will just have something, do you need?" I shook my head. Though my stomach was groaning in hunger my soul wasn't in a condition to even take a sip of water. "Fine, I will bring you a glass of juice." She spoke without paying heed to my denial.

Soon, I was left alone to glance at the entrance with a hopeful gaze. My mind made up all the worse scenarios and again blamed myself for all the events taking place. Ehaan had spent his entire day in the police station due to me. His care, concern towards me had led him to such trouble. As my eyes were getting moist with those thoughts, I tried to blink and wash that moistness away.

At that exact moment, I glimpsed a soul entering the mansion. My heart growing with anticipation but instead of Ehaan. My eyes were offered to a familiar figure, the upright posture. Those chestnut hair wrapped in a bun along with those hazel stern orbs eyeing the mansion. She seemed in a very mad mood, anger radiating in the air.

Was she informed about Ehaan's state? Had she any clue about what was happening with Ehaan? Those piercing orbs came and halted on me. I stood from the couch. Her calm figure vanished into the air on finding my presence in the mansion. She was more intimidating than Ehaan. I gulped backing but only be blocked by the couch behind me.

"Hadn't I warned you to stay away from Ehaan?" She took a furious step toward me. Her eyes planning for my murder. "Just due to you, his reputation was at stake. I had sensed it on glancing at you for the first time. You will only destroy my son further. Hadn't you got enough! Walk off from the mansion so from his life." She growled, an angry animal emerging from her spirit.

I pulled myself together. Not letting myself get affected by her words yet guilt was slowly having hold of my senses. "Is he fine?" Where was he? My concern for him was overpowering the humiliation I was receiving from his mother. I never knew I could care for someone above my pride.

"You still have the courage to ask about him. After becoming the sole reason behind his..."

"Shut the fuck up!" His deadly voice echoed the mansion. My eyes wandered from the figure towering over me to the furious lion standing at the entrance. Zara was standing beside him as if rushed to call him inside. Maybe only he could deal with his mother. His eyes emigrated from his mom to me. That darkness slowly washed off as he took into my figure. Surely, I was looking like a fragile doll who was on the verge to end up into tears. It wasn't due to her blame rather because I was getting anxious about him.

I observed him keenly, his exterior least affected by the police procedure. It seemed as if he was much stronger than I expected. But the minute my eyes fell on those dark brown orbs I was incorrect. His tough exterior overpowered his inner-self. It was defeated as he found me inside his mansion in front of his mother on the verge of breaking apart.

"Hadn't I warned you to fucking stay away from my life and my people." His eyes averting from me, shooting daggers at his mother. For the last few months, I had listened to the hate he had towards his mother but for the first time I was witnessing it from my eyes. I had never seen him such furious not even Rudr could trigger him to such an extent. He took ignited steps towards us, his eyes planted on his mother.

"Why don't you understand? This girl will only pull you down. She isn't..." she halted upon seeing Ehaan was on the verge of losing his calm.

"I don't need your advice!" He growled, rushing his step towards us. Standing between me and his mother. In such a manner that he wanted to protect me from her intense, dangerous, piercing gaze. As if her mere glance could harm me. "You had destroyed my life enough! Planning my life on your terms. You can't torture me with your selection of friends." He was groaning in frustration. His jaw clenched in fury, the underlying rage overpowering his senses.

"Those friends will provide you with better life..."

"I don't want a better life! Your better life had only dragged me into darkness. I fucking won't allow you to pull only the ray of sunshine I am offered. And for that, if I have to fight against you, I won't mind." He was determined with his choice but his words made his mom yell in fury.

"Fight! Don't forget that I am your mother the person who had..."

"Brought me into the world, not the one allowed to dictate my world." He gritted his teeth together. I inhaled slowly, sensing the rage was making him shiver.

"Ehaan..." I whispered slowly planting my hand on his shoulder. He was going to yell further but my touch halted him in mid-sentence. "Calm down..." It came as slight murmur and I couldn't trust myself that it could reached his ear while his rugged breathing and raced heart noise was surrounding him. But it did! His tense muscles loosen yet fury was radiating from his feature.

"Just fucking get out of my house."

"It isn't your..." his mother wasn't going to back off. Triggering him further, his jaw clenched and unclenched.

"It would be legally mine after a week. Don't forget I am turning eighteen, a few weeks later." He growled, taking a step forward. "Don't you dare to enter the mansion ever?" He roared, fisting his hand in fury. Soon, turned to face me. His orbs burning in rage but soften on glancing at me. His fist broke free and grabbed my hands in his. Slowly pulling me towards the upstairs.

"You will regret, treating me in such a manner." Her mother yelled from distance.

"Do you want me to ask the guard to shove you out of my mansion?" His warning made the environment go silent. While his hand and long strikes were not allowing me to glance behind. We soon made to the familiar corridor but unlike before it wasn't engulfed with darkness but rather a slight rays oozing from the ceiling. I raised my eyes, searching for the change. The walls had a rather lighter shade, had he painted the walls? But why?

Soon he halted in front of a familiar door. Pulling the knob and dragging me inside his room. The interior had changed a lot from my previous visit. The wall hadn't changed its colour but a glimpse of life was added to the lifeless wall. Different pictures hung on it and in the corner, a number of artificial flowers were kept in the beautiful vase. I was scanning it, a grin playing on my lip. I could feel his intense gaze on me. His thumbs caressing pattern on my knuckles. My eyes slowly gazed at him, his orbs yelling venom but holding his feature under control.

"It was Anuj's choice. Fucking! Destroyed my room." Groaning, slowly leaving hold over me and walking towards his bed. He made his place on the bed, nuzzling his face in his palm. Pure exhaustion showered his spirit. Letting me have a slight glimpse of his devasted day.

I sighed not letting the overpowering guilt have control over my spirit. Glancing at the new interior, he was complaining about. "But I am liking his choice. Much different from the previous dull room." I commented making his drained eyes to glance at me from his palm. It stunned me as he was easily allowing me to glance at his raw emotion. Though he seemed collected in front of the crowd, but when we were together his completely different version would be visible.

"Are you indirectly claiming I have a dull taste?" Though exhausted his cocky figure was back. I shook my head; he won't ever change.

"Do you have any doubt about it?" I played along. Making my way towards him, the playful grin plastered on his face. I adored his mischievous attitude. And admired it whenever he showcased it before me, my Mr Stalker. I was missing my chat session with him after my school. Though I was ignited on knowing it was him but deep down I was glad that he had intentionally kept me sane when I was planning to run from him.

He grabbed my wrist in his hand as I stood an inches away from him. "Fuck! I don't even want to argue on the matter. Maybe even my life was as dull as those walls in my room." His eyes stared straight into my soul, voicing his sincerity. "It was only after your arrival, I understood the real meaning of life." The truth his orbs held was making it unbearable for me to stand in his intense gaze. Those things which his tongue choose to conceal, his orbs yelled out.

As a saving grace, my cell rang at the moment. I bit my lip in nervousness, battling whether to receive it or not. Finding a safe option, I answered the call. "Where are you Ruhi?" Dad questioned sounding worried.

"Hmm... with Samaira. I had informed mom about it." I muttered, hesitating a little.

"What about your new..." Dad was going to voice it out but the cell was pulled from him.

"How is Ehaan?" Mom sounded worried. I could sense a motherly love in her tone. "Is the rumours correct? How did it happen, Ru?" She was in her interrogated avatar. I widened my eyes at her those words. How come the news got her ears? Had it spread so wide? Oh no! I glanced at Ehaan, getting tense about him. How would he deal with the half-truth? It would further worsen his reputation. He was staring at me with concern, narrowing his eyes at the cell. He stood up from the bed to his real height. Not voicing a word but those piercing, interrogative eyes did not calm for a minute.

"Mom... how come you...?" I was interrupted by her.

"So, the news was correct!" She yelled in my ears and I had to distance the cell from me so my ears could be in better condition.

"What!" I heard an appalling voice from beside her. The anxiety overpowered my sense. The thought of dad further disliking Ehaan taking control over my mind. I needed to lessen one judging eye toward him.

"It's nothing like that mom." I voiced in his defence. I could feel Ehaan's eyes on me but I looked away from him. "They had trapped him. They had took advantage of his temper. He had harmed them because they were humiliating me, mom...." I paused trying to collect my sense. I wasn't planning to break down in front of them. "It all happened due to me, he ended up in the police station. His name is going to be trashed only due to me..." I choked at the end no longer able to control my sob.

"Fuck..." Ehaan groaned, cupping my face in his large hand. Forcing me to stare into those dark brown orbs. "Don't you dare to blame yourself! You weren't at fault. Those morons were," he shook his head trying to manage his anger. His eyes soften a minute later, brushing the tears off my cheek. Suddenly smirk lapped his spirit. "Anyhow... That unknowingly annoyed shit out of my lovely mother." He muttered to himself.

"Selfish, arrogant monster." I shoot daggers at him, tossing the cell on the bed least bothered my parents would be listening to our conversation. And turned my face from that dominant figure. I was furious he cared least about his action and was rather pleased spending a day in the police station. Just because it could annoy his mother. What was he even?