The pool party

It's been a week since Vedika came to Aditya's practice and in between they have called each other about 20 times with weird stories each time. Sometime a funny patient of Vedika made it to highlights of the story sometimes a funny incident in the men's dressing room.

They all decided to have pool party in a grand hotel and invite all their friends with family, Aditya decided to invite Vedika in person. Invite was just an excuse and he couldn't deny the fact that he missed her and wanted to see her.

On the other side Vedika was also struggling with her feeling for Aditya. She told Asad and her parents about him but all of their suggestions just got mixed up in her head and she decided to think it over herself.

"Ready?" Aditya beamed as Vedika emerged out of her room.

He was sitting with her parents chatting about their health and his work while Vedika was inside changing into one piece summer dress.

Vedika took a day off for the beach party which was unusual of her but she wanted to spend time with him as much as he wanted to spend with her.

"Ma pa I'll be back in couple of hours." Vedika said to her parents.

"Have fun baby." Hema said and they both waved as Aditya and Vedika made their way out of the house towards Aditya's car.

"Are you excited?" Aditya asked as he pulled the passenger door open to let her in.

"More nervous I'd say." Vedika said and climbed in the car, Aditya bend down to the seat level and gave the most reassuring smile ever.

"This is not an exam Vedika. I just want you to have a good time and if you feel uncomfortable at any point there, tell me and we will come back. Okay?" Aditya asked.

"Okay." Vedika replied and Aditya closed the door.

——

"This place is awesome Aditya." Vedika said knowing too well that places like these always make her feel nervous and laid back.

"It is. We often have parties here." Aditya said not realizing how uncomfortable Vedika was feeling there.

She had that feeling of paranoia and nervousness which was making her restless to stay there.

Aditya held her hand and pulled her to the area beside the pool where everyone was sitting sipping juice and drinks.

"Guys some of you know but some of you don't, this is Vedika a friend of mine." Aditya said introducing her to everyone.

"Vedika we all heard about you. I am Heer come sit with us." Heer who was also cricketer Naseer's wife turned out to be very sweet and bubbly woman. There were many other players, some actors and their wifes and husbands who introduced themselves to Vedika as she did to them.

All of them were treating her well and trying to make her comfortable there. Rocky, one of Aditya's best friends always kept her company whenever she was left alone. He even called her Sis-in-law by mistake at one point but cleared it very fast. He looked humiliated but not apologetic and that's why was constantly counting Aditya's good personality points.

"Aditya hey how long we have to stay here?" Vedika whispered to Aditya by the drinks stall when most of the people were in the pool or had their legs dipped in it.

"Are you ok?" Aditya asked concerned.

"I am fine I just don't," "Hey Vedika what are you doing here come have a swim." One of Aditya's friends came up to them. Vedika felt guilty for not remembering his name but let it pass.

"I don't have my swim suit, didn't thought I'd stay so long." Vedika said giving and apologetic smile to the person.

"Don't bother about that you can buy one from here. Come on it will be fun." He said and went away cheered.

"I don't remember his name." Vedika leaned in to Aditya.

"That's Subham. Do you want to stay? We can go right now if you don't want to." Aditya asked concern evident in his voice.

"Aditya I think I should go but I want you to stay."

"No I am coming with you." Aditya urged.

"Aditya I don't want you to leave this party and your friends just because I don't want to stay. So please stay, for me."

"Aditya? How are you?" A woman's voice disturbed them both.

Aditya turned with a shocked expression while Vedika smiled politely at the woman in blue bikini.

"Subha what are you doing here?" Aditya asked.

"Thought I might surprise you but you gave me a surprise here. Your girlfriend?" Subha asked.

"Subha this is Vedika, Vedika Subha." Aditya introduced them casually.

"That doesn't answer me Adi." Is she your girlfriend? I know we dated for less than a month but I thought we ended things as friends." This shocked Vedika but she composed herself.

"What you want Subha?" Aditya asked.

"No we are just friends." Vedika said finally.

"I don't care honey." With these last words Subha left them gaping.

"What was that?" Vedika asked.

"That was my ex girlfriend Subha. Can we go now?" Aditya asked.

"Do you really don't want to stay." Vedika asked with amusement in her voice.

"No madam I don't want to, not now at least. Let me tell Naseer that we are leaving." Aditya left to inform about his departure and Vedika approached the exit doors when suddenly her eyes caught a pair of another eyes staring right at her.

Aman.

He approached her slowly and she froze there unable to go back or yell.

"Come with me. I have gun." He said making sure nobody notice.

"No you don't. Go away Aman." Vedika said sternly.

A solid thing was pushed into her waist and she looked down at a black small revolver. She stopped breathing.

"Move towards the exit and keep smiling anyone get suspicious and I will shoot that hot shot boyfriend of yours in front of you." Listening to this Vedika just wanted to throw a punch at him right there but instead she said, " he's not my boyfriend Aman."

"I can see the way you two look at each other, the way you two are around each other. Don't lie to me and keep quiet. And if anyone ask shake them off fast or I will kill that person too. Call me crazy but I am crazy for you." He said as they made their way to the exit. Vedika tried to look for Aditya or someone else but everyone was scattered around the pool and Aditya was no where in sight.

"Vedika you are leaving so early. Who is he?" Mohit came upto her. Vedika was relieved but worried about him as well. Aman had a gun, she understood that she can't talk to him for longer and risk his life.

"Mohit can you tell Aditya that I had some emergency and I left."

"Ok everything alright?" Mohit asked looking confused between Aman and Vedika.

"Everything's fine Mohit, just tell Aditya." And they move forward.

Tears threatened to leave but she kept smiling and soon they exited the hotel.

"Why are you doing this Aman? And how did you got gun inside the hotel?" Vedika asked as Aman pushed her inside the car in the empty parking lot and threw the gun inside.

She took the gun hurriedly. It was strange. It was a rubber gun that's why he was able to sneak it inside.

Vedika panicked and tried to open the door but it was locked. Aman got in beside her.

"Aman let me out or you will regret it for life." Vedika said having anger bubbling up inside her.

"No you are coming with me." Aman said and started the car.

Vedika suddenly shifted close to Aman, lifted her dress up and kicked the glass as hard as she could shattering it from slightly above the bottom centre.

"Vedika," Aditya's voice came from end of the parking lot. Vedika looked through the window and saw a disshelved Aditya looking around.

"Aditya." Vedika's voice dissolved in the tires screeching as Aman drove away leaving behind a confused Aditya.