Chapter 2

Athira Patel

Finally, i have shared everything about my dream with my best friends which is bothering me from today morning and they too think that it's ridiculous and has no meaning to it. At least i am not the only one who thinks like that. But somewhere at the bottom of my heart, i feel like something related to that dream is going to happen and i don't know why.

Sighing i shook my head to clear my thoughts. Get a grip Athira, just stop thinking about that damn dream and enjoy yourself with your friends.

Yes, that's right. I need to enjoy and leave the rest at the back of my mind. So huffing the air out, i cleared my mind when e reached the destination.

After everyone got down from the car, Dev went to park the car while we stood in front of the pub waiting for him and glancing around us. I should agree that the exterior of the pub is good with so many lights and big space to roam. The area is covered by the trees around the pub from where the slightly cool breeze is coming. Instantly i felt a little relaxed from my tensed nerves and was looking forward to today's night wholeheartedly.

Most of the teenagers are either coming with their partners or in a group with their friends to enjoy themselves. Even from then outside, anyone can clearly hear the loud music from inside the pub. Looks like the weekend party mode has already been started here.

I really wonder how does it look inside. Will it be same as shown in the movies and any other series or it will be any different? Guess will know it only after getting inside.

I was in my own thoughts when Dev caught me from behind by startling me.

I got so scared that I screamed out loud in fear and punched him in the gut with both of my hands repeatedly until i calmed down from my beating heart. Turning around in his arms I started slapping him on the shoulders for scaring me like that. I can still feel the heartbeat that is beating against my chest loudly.

"Hey hey hey..!!! Stop! Ok fine I'm sorry Babe. Will not scare you again like that" He said while laughing at my reaction and capturing both of my hands in his by stopping me from slapping him any more than i have already done. I glared at him with my eyes by silently warning to never do it again.

"Never do that again Dev. You scared the hell out of me" I said while resting my head on his shoulder and placing a hand on my heart that was beating faster. I took deep breaths to calm myself down from Dev's sudden attack when he placed his right hand on my shoulder by watching me in concern.

"Hey, are you ok?" Both Rishi and Riya asked at the same time and started coming towards us and stood beside us with concern expressions on their faces.

"Ya, I'm ok. Just caught off-guard. Nothing to worry." I said retrieving myself from Dev's arms and smiled at both of them to assure that i am ok. When they are satisfied that i am really ok, they nodded their head in agreement by making Dev relax a little beside me. Because, for sure Riya would pull his hair if she thought that i got hurt and i saved his ass from getting beaten by the devil.

"Let's go inside," Dev said by taking hold of my hand and started walking inside with me beside him while Rishi and Riya started following us.

At the entrance, I suddenly stopped walking due to the nervousness that is building inside and making my stomach ache. All my friends stopped with me and turned towards me to check what happened but immediately realised my situation and came closer to me with an encouraging smile on their faces.

Dev took my left hand in his slowly "Nothing will happen choti. Just relax and enjoy this night by leaving all of your fears outside." he said while smiling kindly at me and tugging my hand to walk towards the entrance by indicating with his head.

Riya came and stood beside me by taking hold of my other hand and squeezing it lightly to assure me that everything will be fine. She faced me with a smile and nodded her head in the direction of the pub by encouraging me to take the first step with her. I relaxed a little with the support of my friends and returned the smile by walking inside with them.

Inside, there are disco lights which are flashing with many different colours by making it look completely colourful and also indicating that the party is in a full swing. At the left side of the entrance, the bar is placed where a huge amount of bottles are present with the collection of different kind of drinks that I can't even recognize most of them. And to the right side, booths are situated where everyone is sitting and chatting leisurely. On the other side of the entrance, you can see the spacious dance floor with most of the teenagers dancing without a care in the world. The pub is totally packed today because of the weekend vibes and most of them are with their gangs.

Me and Riya went to one of the booths and occupied the place at the corner round table while Dev and Rishi went to bring some drinks. Silently we both started taking in the sight of the dance floor where some pop music was playing by the DJ and many teenagers are dancing and swaying their bodies according to that music. It was interesting to see some of the best dancers while some of them are really poor at it. But it's good to see them enjoying themselves in spite of their worst dancing steps. Some of them are making out, some are touching each other and some of them are casually dancing. It's only 7.30pm but looks like everyone are in the mood of the party.

I was casually looking through the pub until someone caught my eye at the other end of the booth making me look in the direction of him only to catch on to my breath for a second.

Suddenly there was this feeling of something nagging at the back of my mind but i ignored that feeling a concentrated on him because let's just say that my eyes are unable to move away from the sight that is present in front of me.

He is sitting with two of his friends while their backs are faced to me except for him which is also fine because I can only see him and not the others. I think his friends are saying some jokes because he was laughing repeatedly in between their conversation but I can't hear anything through the music about what it is even if i tried to listen. But looks like he was enjoying a lot about what their friends are saying with the look on his face.

God, his laugh is like an addiction that i want to see it throughout the day and even then i won't be getting tired for a minute. I'm unable to move my eyes away from his handsome face and attractive smile. He is looking attractive with light colour chocolate brown eyes where his hair is covering half of his eyes and it looks so silky that I want to run my fingers along with it. His skin is so fair that i want to run my tongue on that silky skin and the light beard on his jaw is making him look even more ruff but still sexy. His full pink lips are very attractive and tempting that i want to have a taste of them but god, that smile is breathtaking. All in my life I haven't seen a man like this up to now in my life, he is definitely from North India i think. I can say it by just looking at him.

No man has ever made me feel this way in my life and it is making me scared and excited at the same time.

God, what is happening with me? How can i think all those dirty things about this stranger?

Handsome stranger. Said my brain by making me groan internally but agree with her.

I was in my own debate when suddenly he raised his face to look straight at me and fuck, I lost my breath. His stare is very intense and addictive that my whole body shivered arising goosebumps all over my skin. He was looking intently at me without blinking an eye and i think even my situation is the same as him. I know that I should look away from him but hell that I'm unable to do it. His eyes captured mine in an intense gaze and there is something in the way he is looking at me that my body is having these strange tingles and I have the sudden urge to touch him and kiss those delicious attractive lips.

God, what is happening to me? Again i am thinking about all these dirty things about him. Cursing myself I turned away from his intense gaze even if it was hard to do so because I saw Dev and Rishi at his back returning with the drinks in their hands. I don't want them to suspect anything even though i was just seeing that stranger.

More like eye raping and gawking at him. Stated my brain to which i sort of blushed.

Shutup! I said composing myself before anyone can see me. But what i forgot is that Riya was sitting beside me and was watching my every move.

I can feel his stare on me even after turning away from him but I'm scared to turn back and see him again because of my wild thoughts running in my mind. I don't know why my body is responding like that and why my heart is beating faster for this unknown handsome stranger but i am afraid to find out. As crazy as it sounds I really have an urge to kiss him right at this moment. I shook my head to clear my thoughts when they both came near to our table with drinks in their hands and a smile on their faces.

Both of them took the seats where Dev sat beside me and Rishi took the seat opposite of me beside Riya placing the tray of shots and four beer bottles on the table making me look at them with questioning eyes. I instantly got the hint that they want me to get drunk today.

"Babe vodka shots are for you both. I know it's your favourite and thought Athi will also try them with us" Rishi said looking at me and showing the shots in front of us by answering my unasked question.

"You are awesome darling," said Riya by kissing the side of his cheek and smirking at my way.

"I don't think I want to drink today?" I said trying to convince them but probably it sounded more like a question than an answer.

Dev shook his said before saying "No way, it's our last day and you're not going to say no to drink. You have to drink today." I shook my head in denial when he continued, "I know you are excited to drink. So stop acting innocent and take the shot" he completed with a commanding tone by taking the shot from the tray and placing it in front of me.

I was staring at that shot like it would suddenly disappear from in front of me and Dev was watching me like he would take the matter into his hands if I won't drink. I gulped thinking that today i will probably end up drinking which is not a bad idea though.

I released the breath in defeat and took the shot in my hands and saw my friends faces closely to see if they will change their minds but found none making me lose that shimmer hope too. Dev is smirking in my way as he won the lottery while Riya is giggling in her seat and trying to stop her laugh by covering it with her palm by making me roll my eyes at them. I thought that Rishi would be on my side at least but him being the silent killer bought the drinks in the first place and was smiling at me in an encouraging form. What a friends i got here...

Huffing I took the shot glass in my hands by bringing it up to my mouth and closed my eyes by taking a breath before swallowing it in one big gulp. Immediately I started coughing and gagging because of the bitter and spicy taste of vodka that it is burning my throat. Hell, I don't know how all these people will drink this. It's very hard and burning.

"God how you guys drink this. It's horrible and my throat is burning. I need water Dev. It's so bitter" I complained like a small child looking at Dev and my other friends.

"It tastes like that at first but it will get better after 2nd one," Riya said and I glared at her in return.

Then she continued "trust me Athi. It will get better. Try one more" saying that she gave another shot for me to hold. All the while glaring at her I took another shot. This one is also bitter and it's burning, but a little bit better compared to the first one. Riya is right.

"It's better right?" she asked excitedly. I accepted while nodding my head in approval.

"I said you that it will get better and I'm always right," She said giving her most charming smile.

Dev and Rishi rolled their eyes while taking each shot and Riya also did the same after seeing them. They were laughing and making jokes while i watched them silently.

Again I felt like that stranger is watching me so I turned around and looked in his direction to see that he was watching me intently so I quickly averted my eyes from him and brought back to our table because again my heart started beating faster.

Riya got up, taking one beer in her left hand and pulling Rishi with her other hand to the dance floor.

"come on guys, will go to the dance floor. I wanna dance now." saying she started dragging him "Come Babe I wanna dance with you," She said giving mischievous look to Rishi and nodding towards our side to come along with her.

All of them stood with both Rishi and Dev taking each bear in their hands and placing the last one in my hands and dragging me towards the dance floor to where Riya went.

The dance floor is crowded and most of their bodies are touching each other but still, everyone is dancing like they don't have any care in the world.

It's a bit uncomfortable due to all the touchings but Dev brought us to a somewhat less crowded area where I cannot see Riya and Rishi with us, so I turned around to look for them thinking they might be lost in the crowd.

But I think I'm wrong because they are in the middle of the crowd eating each other faces like animals making me gag a little.

I immediately turned my face towards dev "They won't change right. They don't care about the place and if they want to have some romance then they will start anywhere. Idiots" I said placing both my hands around Dev's neck while He placed both of his hands around my waist by pulling me closer to him.

"You know that they won't change. And you even know that it's kind of romantic. You are just jealous because you are unable to kiss anyone and your hormones are getting the better of you" He said while swaying to the beat and smirking at me.

"What? Noo.." I slapped his shoulder playfully "I'm not jealous of them you idiot" i said laughing while he caught my hand and placed them back on his neck.

"It's just that I don't think there is a need to show PDA. We all know that they are a couple" I explained what I'm thinking. But even then I'm not sure why I was not comfortable with their PDA. Maybe Dev is right but I am not going to accept it in front of him because his big ego will get satisfied that he is correct and he won't stop teasing me. So it's better this way.

"Ok ok. As you think choti." He said laughing and taking a sip from his bottle when a girl came and stood in front of us.

"Hey Dev, what a surprise. It's been very long since we met last time" She said while looking in between us like calculating whether I am his girlfriend or just a friend. I can immediately grasp that she is having feelings on Dev.

She is wearing a one piece of the red colour cocktail dress with black and silver colour belt which hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair is very long and black which reached until her waist and she wore heavy makeup. You can easily say that she takes care of her appearance very much.

Dev let go of my waist and turned around with an expression of surprise. and went near her by hugging "Hey Preethi, indeed it is a surprise. How are you?" he asked after releasing her from the hug.

"I am good. How about you? And how come you are here? I thought you are leaving to Mumbai for your new job." she asked giving a glance towards my side. Yup, she definitely has feelings for Dev. Poor girl, she didn't know that Dev won't do relationships.

"I'm Awesome as usual. Yes, I will be leaving tomorrow. So today I came with my friends to celebrate the last day in Hyderabad." He said smiling and nodding towards me "This is my best friend Athira. Choti this is my family friend Preethi." Dev said introducing us.

"Hey it's nice to meet you," I said while extending my hand towards her.

"Same here Athira," She said smiling while shaking her hand with mine. You can see the relief in her eyes when Dev mentioned that I am his friend. Dev is so oblivious about her feelings. Such an idiot.

"Do you wanna have a drink?" Dev asked her to which she nodded in yes.

He turned towards me "Excuse me for a few moments, Babe. I will catch up with her for some time. It's been very long since I met her last time" he said giving me a sorry glance.

"Hey, it's fine. I can understand. No problem you both go and have a drink for a while. I will go to Riya." I said bye and started walking away from them in search of my other two friends.

They left saying thank you and I turned around to look after my friends when suddenly I bumped into someone and they immediately caught me from falling by placing their hands around my waist and holding me tightly.

I closed my eyes due to the impact and caught my saviour's shoulder from falling. I can say that he is male because of his muscles and his strong grip on my waist. He pulled me up towards him and instinctively I placed both my palms on his chest. Oh God, he is having a very good body. I can feel his chest beneath my palms and thought of running my hands to feel his perfect body.

I suddenly stopped my train of thoughts thinking of what is happening to me today for the nth time. First that stranger and now this unknown person who saved me. Why my hormones are going out of control today I don't know.

"Are you ok?" The person asked who saved me from falling and getting me out of my thoughts. Even his voice is so manly but you can see the concern in his voice.

I opened my eyes to come face to face with his chest. He is wearing a plain white colour T-shirt. I nodded saying "I am fine" and lifted my face upwards to look at his face.

I froze on the spot because he is none other than the one whom I was watching a while ago.

Is my dream getting real or what?

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