Chapter 1

Athira Patel

Today I had a dream where I met this unknown person for the first time and instantly got attracted to him. It was weird because nothing happens like that in real life. And my dreams don't have any filter nowadays.

What kind of dream was it?

Rubbish right? said my brain. Even I thought so.

God Athira, what's happening to you these days.

Nothing new. It always happens to you. Mocked my brain making me get irritated.

You should not dream or think about any guys. All you have to focus is on your dream which is going to come true within the next few days. So, just concentrate on that and nothing else. I reminded myself sighing deeply.

And today my idiot friends want me to attend this stupid pub for celebrating our last day. And the worst part is that I cannot say no to this. For a moment I thought of denying it but then again, letting myself enjoy for a night won't be that bad I think.

In all my graduation, my only goal is to get into a good company which I have fulfilled it. So, now i think it's time for me to enjoy a little as Riya always says.

Making up my mind, I got into the bathroom and got freshened up within 20 minutes because i know they will be here soon.

I stood in front of my closet by going through my dresses and trying to find out the top which Riya gave me on my birthday. I never wore that top until now and i think that this is the right occasion to wear since I'm going to the pub for the first time in my life with my buddies. Of course, blackmailing me is the other part.

I thought back to my conversation with my best friend Riya.

"Hey babe, I know you haven't gone to the pub until now. But we are thinking to go today evening, to celebrate our last day together since tomorrow we all will be travelling to different places." She said with a tone 'i am not going to take no for an answer' and continued her ranting "So you will be coming along with us and don't even try to say no to me. I know that you are excited to go to a pub but nervous to try it out, so for once give yourself a chance and get ready by 6.30 PM." she said with a determined voice by making me sigh in return.

What should i say to that? She can be demanding when she wants to and there is no backing out at that time. They were commanding me from last few days and today they are hell-bent on taking me with them.

"Ok....." I said dragging the word with a tired tone of mine and jumped on the bed with a thud.

"Don't give me that tone girl. We will pick up you from your home. Tell uncle that you will be staying at Rishi's house. See you.." saying that she cut the call by without even listening to my side to see if I'm ready to go or not.

I sighed knowing well that i am definitely going to this pub now. All because of my stupid best friend Riya who thinks that i am not enjoying enough as i should do in my age.

Yes, that's my best friend Riya Agarwal who is of 23 years old and had been my best friend ever since 6th grade in school. She can be a handful at many times but i still love her a lot.

She is fair with black colour eyes which do match with her waist-length straight hair. She is 5'6 in height and slim with the right amount of fat at the right places. She is very fierce, bold, caring and short-tempered. She always does what she thinks and never look back to take any kind of suggestions from others and doesn't care what the world thinks about her. Of course, she can be very soft and caring when it's needed. But most of the time she is a happy and bubbly girl.

Everywhere we go, she can easily grab the attention of all the boys since she is very beautiful and good looking. Thank god, that she is the popular one among our gang and gets all the attention to herself even if she doesn't try to get it. I hate being noticed so I'm happy with the way it is.

She is the only daughter to her parents but when we were in degree 1st year her father got transferred to Mumbai since he is a government employee and both her parents got shifted. Since she wants to complete her studies in Hyderabad itself with us, she stayed back and was currently living in a college hostel.

It was very difficult for her at first to adjust with the hostel environment but with the help of Rishi, she overcame that stage and that is when she started liking him. Yup, he is her boyfriend.

Rishi is of 24 Years old with 5'9 Height and very masculine body since he workouts daily. He is fair and handsome with light brown colour eyes and black colour hair which is long with light curls and falls half of his face till it reaches his ears at back. Also, the most cutest thing about him is that he got a cute smile with those sexy dimples. Damn, girls die for that dimples all the time making Riya go jealous and wild all over them. He is basically a north Indian and younger one in his family. His parents died when he was 6 years old but his elder brother never let them feel like they were alone. They are of 4 members in his family with one elder sister and two elder brothers. All of them got married and settled in their hometown which is Nagpur.

Since the first day we met, he started liking Riya. It was no secret actually. Because we all can see it on his face like a day. the way he looks at her all the time and the way he gets lost in his own little dream world thinking about her is a clear indication that he has feelings for Riya but always chickens out to say it directly with her. He was unable to make a move on her until her parents got shifted to Mumbai and she became alone. It was like a golden chance for him which directly fell into his lap on a silver platter. So, he grabbed that opportunity and became closer to her since she doesn't want to stay at her hostel and used to spend most of her time in Rishi's room.

But what that idiot doesn't know is that Riya too likes him back with equal passion and made the first move by spending time with him more, because now she has a reason to do it. She realised that he won't make a move on her because of his fear of getting rejected, so she took it in her hands by allowing him to see her feelings. Then one day at the starting of the final year he asked her out and then she immediately said yes without even blinking an eyelash by scolding him that he took long enough to ask her out. And from then on they became inseparable.

I have finally picked up a light blue colour ankle-length jeans with a plain black colour sleeveless top and got dressed quickly because its already 6.00 PM and Riya said that she will pick me up at 6.30 PM. She hates if I'm late so I quickly moved to my dressing table and sat in front of my mirror by applying eyeliner and mascara when my mobile started ringing to the left side of the dressing table where the bed is located. Sighing I got up and answered the call seeing that it's Dev.

"Hey Wassup?" I said while applying nude colour lip balm to my lips since i am not in the mood of applying lipstick.

There was some shuffling from the other side of the line before he said, "Hey Choti, I hope you are ready?" Dev asked using his flirting voice indicating that he is ready to rock the party. I rolled my eyes to his flirting with a small smile on my face.

"Yup, I am almost done. Where are you by the way?" I asked him while searching for matching earrings and a watch to go with this dress.

"We have just started from our room and will reach there within 10min. So, be ready or else you are gonna face the devil herself" He said indicating Riya while laughing loudly. God, he and his filterless mouth. Now both of them will start fighting with each other. I sighed knowing that it is a daily routine for us.

Riya was shouting on the other line hearing dev's comment mentioning her as a devil.

As i thought. I smiled to myself thinking these two won't ever change when it comes to pulling each other legs at every given chance so i cut them off by replying.

"I got it, Playboy. Will be waiting for you outside. Come soon." I said using his nickname which I call him whenever he uses his nickname for me in return. After checking myself in the mirror one last time before getting ready to go downstairs.

"I hope you have packed your backpack for the night out. Because I swear if you forgot again this time, I'm not gonna travel all the way back to your home at midnight or early in the morning for your backpack." He said while sounding serious.

"Are you serious?" I asked with an unbelievable voice.

"Of course I am. I don't want to sacrifice my beauty sleep for your backpack darling," he said while laughing he said that.

"Ya Ya. I got it, idiot. I have already packed it and presently holding it in my hands to make sure that I won't forget it again. Happy? Now come soon you lazy idiots." I said while laughing with him. Holding my purse and backpack for the night out I slipped in my black widgets and closed my bedroom door while coming downstairs.

"Sure babe. See you" he said and disconnected the call. I think he is the destined driver today for the four of us.

And this is my other idiot friend Dev from Pune. He is a single child to his rich parents while his father is a businessman and mother is an interior designer. Dev is also of the same height as Rishi and handsome with gym body. He has dark brown colour eyes with chocolate brown colour hair.

Both Rishi and Dev stay together in a room from Degree first year onwards. Dev is a player and gets all the attention of the girls in our college and never backs down from a chance of flirting with a girl. He is not a committed type but true to his friends and family. He is very caring, jovial, flirting, and short-tempered. But he is the best person when it comes to listening and giving any suggestions at the time when it is needed. He knows how to handle the situation in the worst of the cases and I really like that about him.

Our gang consists of four members with Riya Agarwal, Rishi Ahuja, Dev Varma and myself. We met both Rishi and Dev in our Intermediate when we were given the same chemistry project to complete together.

From that day onwards we clicked and we are together till now. Of course, Rishi and Riya are together from the last 3 years.

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The sound of a TV running downstairs is an indication that my dad is in the hall and was watching cricket as usual after coming from the office. I noted that about him when i was a kid. He likes sports a lot and whenever there is a match, he definitely watches it after coming home.

I entered the hall while keeping my stuff on the table beside the entrance door and made my way to him. He was lazily seated on the couch holding a cold drink in one hand and eating chips with the other hand. He is wearing his usual shorts and T-shirt meaning that he is done for the day and was just relaxing by watching his favourite cricket.

In other words It's his way of forgetting mom or even trying to not remember her. It has been almost 5 years since mom died due to a sudden heart attack leaving a devasted dad behind. I'm the only daughter to them and dad cherishes me like a princess.

After mom died, it has been very difficult for both of us to get on track with our daily life since we both were depressed and dad had become alone and isolated himself from that day onwards. He used to love her a lot and no doubt that still loves her to the core. But for my sake, he is acting strongly in front of me. I can clearly see it in his eyes even if he won't share with me or tries to act as if everything is fine. I tried talking to him but he just smiles and says to leave it by waving it off. He is a very strong person and I love him a lot for that so i stopped pestering him to share his sorrow and gave the privacy he needed. I just hope that one day he shares his pain with me and smiles with all of his heart.

I sat next to him on the couch to the left side of him and placed my head on his shoulder by sighing comfortably.

"Dad, I'm going to the pub with my friends and will be staying the night at Rishi's house. Is that fine?" I asked him while looking into his eyes by lifting my head slightly.

He looked down at me gently and smiled while taking my right hand into his both palms "You are a big girl Athi. I know you can take care of yourself and you know what is right and what is wrong. And most importantly I believe in my daughter. She is too good and never once crossed her limits. So now, my baby just live a little and enjoy before joining for the first day of your work." He said smiling and continued "I'm proud of you beta. Go, enjoy yourself and take care. Whatever you do, please be safe and inform me from time to time." He said and kissed me on the forehead lovingly. I closed my eyes by relishing the moment with a smile on my face.

The sound of the ringing the doorbell in the house indicated that my friends are here so I stood up with my dad and both of them walked towards the entrance door.

I opened the door while taking my backpack and purse when Dev entered inside and hugged me while whispering into my ear "you look hot today choti. Damn, you are my friend. Otherwise, I would have made a move on you up to now" saying that he backed away and winked at me while going further inside to greet my dad. I rolled my eyes in return. He is wearing black jeans and a white casual T-shirt but still, he was looking handsome. No doubt girls fall for him.

Then Rishi and Riya came inside holding each other hands like they always do. Rishi is wearing dark blue torn jeans and light ash colour full sleeve T-shirt which is folded half up to his elbows in a messy way but suited him. He smiled and hugged me in a friendly way before entering inside.

Then Riya came and stood in front of me by observing me from head to toe for a full minute before speaking.

"Babe, you look sexy in this top. Why didn't you wear it until now?" She asked shaking her head in disapproval. "It's good that I knew you would be looking good in this and bought it for you when I went to Mumbai." She said while hugging me and kissing my cheek. I just smiled and hugged her back.

Riya is wearing blue jeans shorts with a red colour top which has some cuts on both sides of her shoulders and the top just reached till her navel area. She looked really hot in that though.

All of them hugged and greeted my dad before making their way out with my dad on their backside.

After getting outside, everyone got inside the car when dad said "Drive safe guys and enjoy the night. Good night princess" saying he hugged me and kissed my forehead. I smiled and kissed back his cheek and said bye before entering into the front seat of the car because Rishi and Riya occupied back seat. I closed the door after entering inside and gave my backpack to Rishi to place it in the back seat of the car. I waved my hand to my dad who is standing at the porch smiling at us and waving his hand.

Dev started the car and Riya squealed excitedly making us to look at her weirdly.

"At last Athi is going to come to the pub with us. I'm so excited. We are going to rock the party and you will enjoy each and every second of it babe." She said with an excited tone and I can see how excited she is in her eyes itself.

God, she is more excited than me. She is jumping on Rishi with excitement while the poor guy is trying to control his overexcited girlfriend.

I laughed and said "Ya I know I will. Because you won't leave me until I do." I shook my head with a laugh "Calm down Riya, you are going to ruin Rishi's dress" I said to which Dev laughed while driving and Rishi nodded his head in agreement.

We are going to be in this car for the next 15 to 20 Minutes until we reach the pub. I hope Riya is true about enjoying this otherwise I will kill her. To say frankly, even I want to enjoy for once leaving all my worries at the back of my mind and I'm looking forward to today's night. But I am getting this wierd feeling that something interesting is going to happen today. Let's see What happens.

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