Chapter 11 - First Talk

The library air felt heavier all of a sudden, thickened by the weight of something unseen, something Anaya couldn’t name. She wasn’t sure if it was the way her heart had decided to start hammering in her chest, or if it was the intensity in those onyx eyes, unreadable yet searing. The moment stretched into infinity, as if time itself had momentarily paused to witness something important, although she couldn’t name what it was.

She should sit. She should pretend to be engrossed in a book. She should walk away. She should do anything but stand there like an idiot, awaiting whatever storm this moment was about to unleash.

But she remained still, rooted to the spot, as if those dark eyes had spun invisible threads around her, holding her captive. The stranger’s gaze was piercing, unwavering, and it made her feel as though he was reading her very soul, that there was something ancient in those darkest black eyes. Something like a black hole, consuming every knowledge within its shadow.

When he moved, it was swift and effortless. There was no hesitation in his steps as he crossed the distance between them, and with each step, Anaya felt something tighten inside her chest.

She wanted to look away. She should have looked away.

But she didn’t.

Without breaking the eye contact, the man walked to her, their eyes locked in a conversation that none of them seemed to be aware of.

He stopped in front of her, so close that she could smell the expensive cologne on him.

Arohi had fallen silent, her usual dramatic self momentarily subdued as she followed the exchange with a mixture of intrigue and disbelief. Kavya, on the other hand, had lowered her gaze, her fingers curling around the pages of her novel, as though bracing herself.

He wasn’t just looking at her now.

He was studying her with an intensity strong enough to touch her very soul.

And suddenly, Anaya became excruciatingly aware of everything; the erratic beat of her heart, the warmth creeping up her neck, the sharpness of her own breath as she struggled to maintain composure. Hyperaware enough to realise they were standing too close. Close enough to notice the way his hair fell on the forehead and the clean line of rising tissue, a scar most probably from a cut of something slim and sharp, peeking out of the black turtle-neck just below his chiselled jaw.

"Is this how you talk about people you know nothing about?" He murmured, and in the silence of the library, his words echoed in her very soul.

There was something about that voice; deep and smooth, it felt like a melting chocolate, carrying the weight of something unspoken yet soft.

Anaya blinked, snapping out of the trance-like state she’d fallen into. Her fingers tightened around the books she were carrying and her eyes widened at realization.

Shit! He did hear something. No, not something. Everything.

“I...” Anaya started, only for her voice to fail her completely when the stranger tilted his head slightly, as if contemplating something but there was something endearing about it.

And then he spoke again, in a soft and thoughtful way, holding a spark of amusement. “You talk too much.”

It wasn’t a mere observation. It was a statement delivered with quiet finality, as though he had already decided exactly what kind of person she was.

Anaya’s eyes widened, cheeks flaming up with heat. Her gaze lowered and she resisted the urge to bite her lower lip.

But her shock quickly morphed into indignation.

What the heck?

Who was he to judge her like that?

She had planned to apologize for sounding judgmental and rude, but here he was, acting all-knowing and being an even bigger judgmental arrogant brat.

How could she forget that was how rich people worked? If only she could smack her head for own naivety!

Glaring angrily, she stepped forward, forgetting to keep the distance, and before she could stop herself, words tumbled out of her mouth. “And is this how you talk to people you know nothing about? Is it a superiority complex? Or are you simply that heartless?”

In the pressing silence that enveloped them, Arohi gasped dramatically behind her, while Kavya tensed so visibly that Anaya could feel it. But she didn't dare look at anyone.

She couldn't even look away from those captivating eyes and hence decided to keep her gaze on his forehead right over his perfectly arched eyebrow where a small mole was visible.

A flicker of something passed through his expression, as if she surprised him. Amusement? Annoyance? She couldn’t tell. She didn't want to decipher either. Although what she knew, very acutely, was that she didn't feel that inexplicable hatred reserved for every single male on this planet. And she did talk too much right there too.

What about Arnav? Her mind reminded her mid-thought, inciting the desire to either sigh or cry her heart out. What was she doing?

The men of this city seemed to have dulled that particular feeling of hate for some odd reason. And she didn't like the development. Her feelings might forget to be rational but her mind was completely sane. And the change in her clenched her heart with fear.

For the first time since the moment he walked in, his lips twitched; just slightly, barely there, but enough for Anaya to catch it and made something clench in her stomach.

"So, you do bite too," he murmured, tilting his head. "Interesting." A smirk curled on his lips.

Then, just like that, he turned and walked away. No words. No bye and absolutely not waiting for an answer.

Just the subtle brush of his shoulders as he walked past her, heading towards the deeper aisles of the library. Anaya felt that touch somewhere deep in her. Almost as mystifying as those eyes.

Her eyes followed him until the moment he disappeared behind the shelves, and that's when Anaya finally realized what she had done. Her heart sank and she fell down heavily on the chair she had emptied minutes ago.

Damn it.

She shouldn't have done that. She couldn't afford to make enemies out of rich people. Not in this place where she was all alone. And certainly not when she was struggling to better her life. She had no idea how that man would react next.

Slumping back, she stared at her trembling hands miserably. Talking so brazenly was not so her, but for some odd reason she forgot she wanted to be invisible in men's eyes. She could've simply apologised and walked away.

Arohi was the first to break the silence, and of course, she did it in the most Arohish way possible.

“Well,” she drawled, resting her elbow on the table, “that was quite something.”

“What?” she snapped, confused yet upset and irritated. Her eyes found Arohi's.

Arohi smirked. “You tell me. First, you claim to know nothing about him, and then you two were having a moment, getting lost in each other's eyes like you both were communicating through telepathy?”

Anaya blinked, her mind forgetting the regrets and self-pity that she had drowned in. Her stomach dropped when she finally processed the words.

No. No, no, no.

That was not a moment. That was just… just... whatever that was...

A frown appeared on her face. But those eyes... And why did she get so lost in them? Why couldn't she look away?

Arohi, of course, wasted no time. "Sure. Sure. No eye contact. No talk." Then a wicked grin. "Did you just talk back to the hottest guy in the university?"

Anaya shot her a look, absolutely turning defensive. “What, was I supposed to bow or something? After the way he talked to me?”

Well, she was not wrong even if she had said those things just to cover up. Her back straightened immediately.

Forget about making enemies. That man had deserved the shut up call. Otherwise, he would've thought she was some meek girl he could cause problems for.

Although, in reality, Anaya would rather flee than fight, in any given situation.

A grin appeared on Arohi's face, she placed her hand over her heart in a mock swoon and leaned back with closed eyes as if she was in heaven. "Ah, my heart."

What...

Anaya made a face. Arohi was crazy. Certified crazy. What was the purpose of accusing her when she was going to act so proud later? It made no sense.

Just like your reactions with that mystery guy, her inner self rolled its eyes at her. Anaya dutifully ignored it.

Kavya was still staring at the spot where the stranger had stood moments ago, her fingers trembling slightly where they rested on her book. There was something unsettling about her silence, about the way her eyes had darkened with an emotion Anaya couldn’t quite place. Kavya had a story that Anaya was not able to read. Although, she admitted she was not that good at reading people either. They were just too messy and complicated than anything written.

And then, just when Anaya thought the tension was finally dissipating, Kavya whispered, voice barely audible. "You shouldn’t have done that."

Anaya frowned. "What?"

Kavya finally looked up, and there was something in her eyes.

“Talk back.” Kavya swallowed, as though forcing the words out. As though waiting for a blow for saying something that she shouldn't have said. “You shouldn’t have talked to him like that.”

Arohi raised a brow, after a quick glance at Anaya, she leaned forward with interest, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial one. "Do you know him?"

Kavya's eyes widened. Immediately, she shook her head with a desperate need to prove. "I just... We shouldn't talk to people like that. Even if they are bad." Kavya gave a careless shrug avoiding eye contact.

Arohi muttered 'whatever' losing her interest instantly.

Anaya stared at Kavya who was back to reading however her mind seemed to be somewhere else, once again. There was something about her, something Anaya was unable to understand. Of course, she met him just now so it was fine. But she knew one thing for sure, Kavya was not fine.

Arohi, who was tapping on the table, suddenly turned back to Anaya, absolutely excited, which made Anaya fear that it wouldn't end well for her. Before she could back away, Arohi grabbed her, pulling her out of the chair.

"Let's go, Ani, I want you to meet someone." Arohi started dragging her out of the library. Anaya could barely excuse herself to Kavya over her shoulder.

Anaya wanted to groan in frustration at her mannerisms. But she knew what battles to pick so instead trudged behind excited Arohi.

There was light in her heart though. No one gave her a nickname before. Not before Arohi. Not even Tina. And whenever Arohi used it Anaya melted like a snow under sunlight, even when she pretended to be upset over it.

After the hushed conversations of the library, the noises and laughter courtyard was deeply unsettling. The cold air bit her nose but Arohi kept on dragging her.

Past the courtyard, they finally stopped near the football court where Rohit emerged with a smile. The guy that Arohi happened to introduce her a few days back only. The casanova of the university, if Anaya was not wrong. The girls swoon over his messy brown curls and average height, as if he was some type of hero.

Anaya didn't see the appeal. Maybe, because he happened to flirt with everyone he saw? Or more precisely tried to flirt with her. She hated boys when they did that. As if it was some kind of honorable thing to flirt with when you have no relationship.

"There he is," Arohi declared in a loud and dramatic voice. "Rohit Khanna, the fiancé of my sister."

"You have already introduced us, Arohi," Anaya muttered with a roll of eyes.

While Rohit sputtered at the same time. "I'm not anyone's fiancé, Ro. And you don't have a sister."

Arohi crossed her arm. "You're the fiancé of the ghost of my sister who should've existed if she had not known about you. Because, of course, only Rohit Khanna can be that unique." Arohi paused, thinking for a moment. "And don't call me Ro, that's more of your nickname. Ro for Rohit not Arohi."

That was complete nonsense. Arohi's nonsense. Such nonsense was only Arohi speciality, and as Anaya had noticed it seemed to worsen in Rohit's presence.

Anaya rubbed her forehead, feeling absolutely uncomfortable.

It took Arohi and Rohit ten minutes of talking complete nonsense, where Rohit acted to be cool but seemed no different to Arohi, before Anaya finally decided to intervene. She couldn't stand like a fool anymore. "Arohi, is there any reason you brought me, or shall I leave?'"

The answers came from both at the same time.

"Why leave?" Rohit shrieked as if personally offended. For what, Anaya did not care to know.

"Yes, there is." Arohi nodded vigorously.

Anaya didn't turn to Rohit, instead looked at Arohi for an explanation, an eyebrow raised in a question.

"I have planned a trip... More like an outing, you know," Arohi declared, waving her hand enthusiastically. Anaya blinked. "We are going to a club."

"Club." Anaya repeated, disbelief coloring her voice and her face paled.

How could Arohi even think that was a good idea?

Her... And club? No way.

Rohit glowed beside Arohi as if it was somehow a really good plan.

For a moment she hesitated, not wanting to ruin their happiness but she realized there was no way out of this stupid planning without saying the damn truth. She would never go to a club in her life. Never.

"Am not going to a club." Anaya stated, clearly and loudly. "I hate clubs. So no and never."

Arohi's smile faded and Rohit frowned.

"But—" Arohi started but Rohit cut her off.

"Okay, we can go to a clearing near the forest. It has a small park with a wonderful café that sells the type of coffee you wouldn't want to miss. Now, you cannot step back." Rohit grinned proud of himself.

Anaya didn't like his grin. She didn't like coffee. She didn't like his plan. And she absolutely didn't want to go with him.

But Arohi was already planning while muttering. "Yea, okay, not bad..." She turned to Anaya fully and reached for her cold hand with another overexcited grin. "You will come, right? We will go crazy and I'll show you around too."

Before Anaya could speak, Arohi’s grin widened into her signature evil one. "And there's a mountain near that one. We can go hiking. It will be absolutely fun. We're going to rock it."

Now that was something that made Anaya hesitate. Not because she didn't want to. But, because suddenly, she was intrigued. The idea, with the visuals of dark forest and serene mountains in a windy evening, was too fascinating to ignore.

Cooped up in her place for so long, she didn't mind a trip to the mountains. The free evening with Arohi sounded fun. She missed Tina and Arohi might make her feel confused and overwhelmed but she could admit Arohi was a nice friend.

She had off from the café, too. So it was a plus.

It would be fine.

More than fine, if it started snowing.

And just like that the plan was made and an outing was decided.