I leaned on the table, shutting my eyes close. Stop! Screaming on my head. Why do you keep troubling me? What wrong had I done? Pouting at the unbearable pain.

"Do you have any idea? How adorable you look when you're talking to yourselves?" I heard a voice and rolled my closed eyes. The sound felt familiar but I wasn't planning to open my eyes.

"Stop! Troubling me," I grumbled. "I am having enough torture," I complained as if he was the reason behind my pain but he was. Neither had he worked his charm on me nor I had been heartbroken by his acts. Yet he was determined to hide his past from me and still I wanted not to hurt him.

"I am not troubling you," he pulled my chair causing me to raise my head from the table. I glared at him, though my head was offering pain.

"Ehaan!" The blurry vision was making it difficult to glance at him. "I don't have any..." I whispered, faintly. I could hear him sigh, and lean towards me.

"Why are you forcing yourself to study in such a state?" He was trying to hold his anger back but it was getting difficult. Him gritting his teeth could display his fury on my carelessness.

"I am left with no option. I don't understand a word!" I expressed my agony, nervousness, fear. "I would lose it. I need to work hard. I can't afford to lose, my parent had huge expectations from me." New tears emerged on realising my helplessness. "I am engrossed in things that aren't important. I am not behaving as an ideal daughter." I wasn't sure where those words were hidden? I wasn't aware, I was so defeated from within.

"Shh!" He shushed me, his large hand cupping my cheek. "Haven't I promised, I won't let you fall. You won't be a loser but a warrior. I know it, angel. Please trust yourself and me for once..." his voice low, requesting.

I brushed off the tears, staring at him straight. His feature was clear, those dark brown orbs staring at me with concern. His lips had a slight smile, blinking his eyes in assurance. "I want to trust myself..." I choked, "I want to trust you..." My eyes brimming with fresh tears, "but my heart is scared. It fears of getting broken... it fears of shattering down into pieces."

"I might be the cruellest monster existing on the planet. But I can't ever hurt you." I could only see sincerity lying in those orbs. It was pleading me to believe him. He leaned forward pulling off any space left between us, pecking a kiss on my forehead. A drop of tear slowly slid down my cheek. Unknowingly I had longed for his touch, I was clueless about it until he made the move.

"Come," he raised on his feet. Extending his large arms for mine, small one. I knitted my brow in confusion yet allowed him to decide for me. We walked towards my bed. "Now, sleep..." he demanded. I shook my head in a negative manner. The pain had reached its height! It was impossible to have some sleep.

"I won't be offered any," I voice sounding helpless. His dark orbs lighten a little, his lip pulled together in a line. As if having a debate inside his mind or calming himself from getting furious. It was insane but I could feel him getting furious each time I massaged my forehead or neck due to pain. Each time I shut my eyes close gasping for pain, he groaned in displeasure. As if it wasn't only me who felt helpless but also him. As if he could experience the pain along with me. Ehaan Kashyap never had sympathise with others.

"Do you have painkillers?" He inquired, I rolled my eyes at his question.

"I do." Not at all interested in having any. I had heard from my teacher that some types of medicine were highly addictive. And some painkillers came into that category. So, I was never a fan of medicine. I would live the pain but won't take a tablet.

He stared at me in disbelief, "what are you waiting for?" He shook his head at my foolishness. "Where is it kept?" He inquired further. I kept quiet, "Ruhi!" My eyes widen in surprise, he had called my name. How such a miracle? "I am not in a mood of your stubbornness. Just tell me where it is?" I narrowed my eyes. Instead of taking care of me, he was shouting. What else could I expect from an arrogant monster? His intimidating orbs forced me to come in his words. I pointed at my wardrobe and he rushed towards it without waiting for a second.

I sat on the bed, closing my eyes. Trying to find some relief from the pain. Soon, Ehaan stood before me. His hands offered me the painkillers. "Here," wanting me to grab it from him.

"I am not taking it." I opposed acting my stubborn self.

"Don't test my patience." He warned, I raised my eyes to glance at him. His dark brown orbs changed to a darker version, his gritted teeth were offering me his furious state. He was trying his level best to calm himself down and my action was further triggering him.

"I am not testing you!" I groaned his loud shout was triggering my pain as well. "I can't take those painkillers." I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

"I am not offering you to smoke," he glared at me. I offered him the same look not giving into it. My hands rubbed my forehead trying to provide any relief I could be offered but I won't consume that horrible tablet. His eyes softly a minute later on listening to my frequent gasp of pain. "Why do you want to torture yourself?" He shook his head at my stubborn self, rubbing his forehead as well. Maybe dealing with me was offering him a headache.

"I am not torturing myself just helping myself from getting into a bigger mess. I don't want to get addicted to it." I cried in pain, why did he have to trouble me so much? Why can't he leave me on my own? He stared at me as if he couldn't believe my words.

"Wait for a second, addictive?" He shook his head, "have you by any chance mistaken it for alcohol or cigarettes?" His sarcastic self was back, I scowled.

"You just leave! I am will be fine on my own." I was getting infuriated by his actions. "And you better stop coming in my room like a thief. If you had forgotten let me remind you that we have a door in our house." I averted my gaze from him. I had gotten a clue that he might have walked into my room from the balcony but I had brushed it away. But his arrival again from the same path had confirmed my doubt.

He muttered some curses under his breath. "Fine!" He put the tablets beside me on the bed. "I had nothing to do with your pain. I am here just to act as your tutor." He walked away from my bed, "let's start with the study." I widen my eyes, what the hell? I glimpsed at him walking towards my study table, scattering the books around.

"If you don't want to take tablets, that means you are fresh enough to carry on with our syllabus." He was blabbering, my brain was shouting in pain. His arrogant behaviour was triggering me more. I felt like my mind was on verge of exploding. The continuous rain flowing from my eye was further complicating my situation. Not having a second thought, I grabbed the tablet from my side. Poured water from the jar to the glass and gulped the tablet in one sip.

I grabbed my forehead tightly. The pain hadn't subsided only increased. "Ahh!" I moan loudly, within a few seconds I felt those warm, large hands on my shoulder. Without exchanging a word he compelled me to lay on the bed. "I can't..." I raised my head. The pain has passed from the neck to the shoulder, making my condition worse. I couldn't keep my head on the pillow. "It's paining..." I was crying sitting on the bed. It was impossible to lay down.

"Shh!" He took a seat next to me on the bed. "Calm down, stop crying it would further increase your pain." He whispered, calmly. I leaned into him, wanting to find some peace. He allowed me, pulling me closer by my waist. I kept my head on his chest, his fingers massaging my forehead. "Close your eyes, ignore the pain... allow yourself to rest." He whispered in my ears.

I obeyed his words, shutting my eyes close. "Sweet dreams little kid..." he whispered, chuckled escaping at the end. As his lip touched my head, pressing a kiss. My mind showed a familiarity, he had called me kid before but those words affected me differently. Little kid... Kiddo... And suddenly it made sense but my brain had to rest, it turned foggy pulling me into the world of darkness and peace for a few hours.

___

The ray of light spreading in my room pulled me out of my dreamland. I rubbed my eyes, the events playing back in my mind. As my mind was back at work. I got no clue of Ehaan as my head was resting on the pillow. He might have gone. I glanced at the opened window and shook my head. Even after I had mentioned our house having a door but I was glad he chose the window. Because I wasn't wishing him to keep the main door open.

I sat on the bed, a yawn escaping from my mouth. "Kid..." I frowned, he called me kid. The same thing Mr Stalker call me with. His earlier teasing session in school. Though I wasn't able to pinpoint it at that moment it was Mr Stalker, he had the same playful attitude around him. Why does my mind believe they were the same? I didn't have Ehaan's number so he could easily trick me. But what if I was wrong? Another coincidence! When Ehaan was offered a punishment, Mr Stalker, too message me telling the same. It wasn't just once but I had overlooked many of it. He too was in football, too labelled a bad boy. But he never seemed arrogant, how?

I shook my head. I needed to find an answer. Already so many things were kept hidden from me. I grabbed my phone wanting to dial Samaira, she could help me with it. But my phone had popped with a message half an hour ago. I checked it was from the stalker.

"Hey, little kid... You left me in mid..." I saw the timing, he hadn't messaged me within a minute. I shook my head it was further confirming my doubt. He hadn't messaged me before because he was with me. He couldn't let me know he was the one, I was chatting with.

I was furious, I wanted to yell at him but also needed to confirm it. I couldn't just go by my gut feeling. I called Samaira, but she seemed busy. Maybe talking with Varun. I huffed in annoyance, she had no time for me. What if she knew it as well? If Varun knew it, Samaira might as well. They had hidden enough things from me.

"Go to hell!" I shouted at them. "All of you're an idiot!" Screaming my lungs out. Do hell with them! I was fuming in anger, frustration and sadness. I hated that they were playing with me. Ehaan an hour back asked me to trust him. How would I? If he kept on cheating me, hiding things from me.

My cell rang a minute later. Mr Stalker popped on the screen, I wanted to ignore it. My emerging fury wasn't in a condition to deal with anyone. Not even Ehaan as he was the cause of my frustration. But, the annoying ring forced me to answer it. "Hello," the voice from the other side spoke. He wasn't Ehaan, I could sense it. "Hey, Ruhi there?" He inquired, I knitted my brow in confusion. It sounded familiar but I couldn't recognise the person.

"Yes..." I hesitated.

"Damn! You had forgotten me," I could sense him smirking at the other hand. Smirk! Oh no!

"Viraj?" Unsure of my random guess and I heard a laugh from the other side.

"Glad, you haven't forgotten me." I giggled listening to him but soon got alarmed.

"Wait! Is this your cell?" I interrogated, so he was the stalker? Ehaan hadn't tricked me?

"Oh!" He hesitated for a second, covering it with his nervous chuckle. "I was just curious to know, who was an angel in Ehaan's contact list. The message session was an interesting one." He was surely having that smirk, unknown to the fact he wasn't teasing rather triggering my anger. Ehaan had played it well! I had known, he could be an award-winning actor. Our film industry needed his skill. I rolled my eyes at his compliment.

"Don't you know, it's crime to steal someone's cell and top of it read it."

"Yeah! Especially messages of love birds." He chuckled, "so you were aware that he was your stalker?" He inquired, I wanted to open my mouth to blurt the truth but I couldn't trust him. Though I was mad at Ehaan but Viraj was his rival he could use any of my statements against him.

"Hmm... how did you get his cell?" Rather than answering him, I changed the topic.

"Smart move!" He laughed, understanding I had purposely not answered him. "We are playing a cricket match. It's always fun, competing with Ehaan. Maybe his attention is engrossed in you as he is frequently checking his phone and going mad upon discovering not finding it." He chuckled and shook my head.

"You love to annoy him, right?"

"He looks adorable when he is mad." I smiled listening to him. Surely he had cracked his head or none would mention those words about Ehaan's anger.

"So, when are you going to offer it to him?"

"Yeah, Ruhi... it was me... Your Mr Stalker..." I raised my brow in confusion, how come he suddenly changed the topic?

"But how did you decode it?" He continued with his act, was Ehaan near him? What was Viraj's brain up with? "Man! Give my phone." He yelled and a shuffling sound followed as if he was trying to grab hold of his phone from someone.

"Viraj are you there?" I inquired getting concerned as I could hear nothing from the other side. And I was scared that Ehaan might knock the blood out of him as he was trying to trigger him. "Viraj! Hello!" I tried once again, a rugged breathing got into my ears. "Viraj, why aren't you replying? Are you fine, is everything fine?" Concern lapping from my tone.

"Fuck!" It wasn't Viraj but Ehaan. Oh no! And soon the call was hung. He might have grabbed it from Viraj to confirm it was me. Damn! He might be going mad and Viraj was going to be gifted with his fury. 

___

Poor Ehaan...