I had come up with a brilliant excuse of picking up some keys from my work office and sent Navi with Jiya in the cab. Gaurav and Lata had left too. It was already past seven, the darkness had taken over the sky and the various lights in the surroundings lit up the place.

"Do you want me to drop you somewhere?" Advay asked.

"No, I have my two wheeler. But I would like to talk to you." I said and then added, "alone," as I noticed the other paranoid man look at me with curious eyes.

Advay turned to look at Aman, the latter nodded. I began walking down the slope that led into the parking space where my vehicle stood. Advay followed me, silently.

"Why did you say yes to this proposal?" I asked folding my arms, staring at him, after  we crossed a few four wheelers and reached my bike.

"Uh, I... is there a problem?" He asked with curiosity and bafflement reflecting in his eyes. 

"Advay, I don't want to beat around the bush. I have seen the way you look at me. It makes me uncomfortable. Do you have anything to say about that?" I was surprisingly being very civil. I wasn't threatening him with a scowl or throwing punches on his face. Maybe it had to do something with the fact that Navi liked him. 

"Uh, I am sorry, if I made you feel that way."

I hated the fact that his face showed genuine guilt. "What is it Advay?" I asked.

He looked away unable to keep the eye-contact. His hand massaged the back of his neck. He was nervous.

"Fine," I sighed. "I just want to be straightforward. I care for my sister, a lot. If you've even a zero point one percent doubt that you're not meant for this relationship, back out, now. If you're going ahead with a relationship with her then go with your hundred percent. Because she's going to go in with her hundred percent."

"You care for her a lot." He said the obvious. He had no clue how far I could go to protect her.

I nodded.

"Is that why you came along with her on our dates?" He asked, I sensed some disappointment in his tone. Or maybe it was just my brain trying to dramatize the whole conversation. 

"Yes." Not because I like you, idiot. I kept that part to myself adding, "she can be naive sometimes and sometimes people take her goodness for granted. I wanted to make sure nothing like that is happening."

"Aren't you a little over protective about her?" 

My gaze hardened, fixated on his face. What does he mean by that? "It's none of your business. She's my little sister and no one messes with her." My fingers curled into a fist.

"Noted."

"Good." I gave him a hard stare. "I am done with what I had to say." Saying that I turned to my two wheeler. Opening the storage space I brought out my helmet. 

"I like you."

I froze. I wasn't expecting him to say that in words. He was supposed to be a coward. But seemingly not as much as I took him to be. I looked up at him, as he stood on the other side of my vehicle looking at me. If that was hope in his eyes, I wish I could smack his face.

"That's the truth. I know this sounds ridiculous. Trust me when I saw Navi, I instantly liked her. After the first date I was almost sure that she's the one. Then you started showing up with her. And I don't know when I started liking you."

I simply stared at him. I hated the fact that his eyes looked honest. 

"Look, I--" He went on to further explain but I interrupted his justification.

"Why did you say a yes to her then?" I asked. My blood was boiling, again. 

"Because she said yes. I was confused and I decided to let things take their own course. Then Mom said Navi said yes. So, I said yes too."

I was tempted to knock some sense into his brain by hurling the helmet at him. "Do you hear yourself Mr. Advay Singh Gulati? Do you realize that telling me all of this can mean you won't ever get to see Navi again?"

"You won't do that to her. I know she likes me. And frankly, that's one of the reasons that draws me to her."

"Then why are you here saying all of this to me?" I almost shouted. Almost.

"Because you asked and I couldn't live with those feelings inside me."

"You're sick!" I snapped.

"Look, Avni, I know all this sounds weird. But I just wanted to..."

I didn't wait to hear his lame explanation. "I am not an option anyway, Advay. Hear me loud and clear, this is the last time we are talking about this. I am giving you just once chance... one chance to be with my sister. If at any point I feel that you're bluffing my sister or playing with her feelings... everyone will know about this conversation." 

He stared at me, giving me a long look, then turned to look away sighing.

"Get out," I muttered and he mumbled a 'bye', walking away. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. If it wasn't for my sister's growing feelings for him, I would have definitely given him a wound or two or more.

"I thought he might have to be taken to the hospital," a familiar voice said, making me close my eyes. I couldn't deal with one more idiot right now.

"You mustn't be listening to other's private conversation." I muttered not bothering to turn around. My fingers unlocked my phone as a message beeped. It was Navi telling me that she had dropped Jiya home and was on her way to our home.

"Look who is speaking." He said, walking around, standing at the spot where moments ago Advay stood.

"Mr. Aman Mehrotra," I said wearing a smile the kind that chefs force when some big shot picks out faults with their best dishes. "Is there something you are here to accuse me of? Seems like you have a habit."

"How long have you been stalking Advay?"

What does he think I am? An answering machine? Alexa? Siri? "None of your business. Now, if you'd excuse me." I said, raising the helmet to wear it.

"I need an apology." He demanded like I was some fairy godmother who'd make his wish come true. 

My hands paused mid-air. I stared at him with my eyes reducing reducing narrow slits. "What did you say?" I tried my best to sound intimidating. I could only hope it worked.

"I said, I need an apology." He said with a straight face. His eyes challenging mine. 

"Okay, go home, go to bed, fall asleep, and you'll probably get one in your dreams, only if you're lucky enough." I said, staring back at him. 

His jaw muscles twitched and his expression grew intense. Like that would scare me. It may work on criminals not me. 

"You stalked me, assaulted me and now you're throwing that stinking attitude on me." He replied.

"Let's revise," I said, lowering the helmet to the seat. "I never stalked you, you touched me without permission and I happen to know how to defend my self against unwelcome touch and you are wasting my time right now."

He grinned his teeth. Oh how I hope they break in the process. 

"I am telling Advay that you were stalking him." He declared.

"Go ahead by all means. Tell the world. It will make things easier for me." I replied. How was this dude a lawyer? Empty warnings, poor interrogation skills and a ticking temper.

"So you don't deny." 

So you hear! "I didn't accept your charges either." I threw him a smile. I wonder how many cases he has lost. Must be bringing disgrace to a man like Mahesh Mehrotra, his uncle who won every other case he took in his hands.

He gave me a hard glare. "You're obnoxious!"

I glared at him. The audacity of this donkey face. "You're infuriating, so shoo."

His lips scrunched into a dirty expression before he raised his finger to point it at me. I looked aside rolling my eyes. I had a good comeback, but I was distracted by the man who immediately hid behind the brown vehicle that stood across the parking lot. 

"You,"

"Are being followed. " I completed for him, in an almost whisper. 

"What?" He muttered baffled.

"You're being stalked. There's a man behind the brown Renault duster," I spoke in a hushed voice, looking at him with serious expression.

He let out a dry chuckle. "Like I am going to fall into that trap again. You know what a fool I made out of myself that day? The man was ready to sue me for assault. All because of you. You are..."

"You're a big Fuddu." I muttered, placing my helmet on the seat walking towards the car. "Whoever you are, come out, I saw you. You were also the one who took the table beside us and ordered French fries. That grey hat is difficult to miss." I said aloud.

"I am not falling for this trap!" Aman exclaimed walking up to me. "You think I am a fool?"

This dude was a disappointing lawyer. How was he Uncle Mehrotra's son?

"Yes," I answered before taking hurried steps towards the car. Then there were loud steps and a man ran from the other side of the car. Great! 

 I turned to follow him, but collided with the brainless lawyer who was looking at the man shocked, like he had seen a ghost. 

I sprinted behind the man but thanks to the collision with that idiot, I had wasted time and he was gone. I sighed.

"Did you catch him?" He asked catching up with me, standing a little distance away at the bottom of the slope.

I glared at him, approaching him. "Congratulations, I think you're actually being stalked."

I was about to walk past him but he held my wrist. Looks like he's not big on learning from the past. I turned around swiftly ready to hurl my fist at him but he was already anticipating it. His plam captured my fist and he stared at me, his eyes appearing dark and focused. 

Frustrated with my failed attempt I decided to launch my knee towards his groin but before I could, he used his height to an advantage and turned me around easily, caging me with arms, making the movement of my hands or torso impossible.

"Listen, Miss Know-It-All, I am perfectly capable of fending for myself. You need to stop underestimating your opponent. Don't even think of launching your leg backward at me, you'll be on the floor with your face down. And trust me I won't excuse you for being a woman. I have had enough of your nonsense." He hissed into my ears.

I hated how he knew I was planning to kick his knee. But now that I knew, he was anticipating it, I didn't try it. His warning didn't sound like empty words this time.

"Leave me." I hissed.

"Gladly!" He answered before releasing me, with a slight push. 

I turned to him with an anger raging inside me. My finger pointing at his face. "Don't you dare try that again."

He had the guts to throw a freaking wide smile at me. "Easy Volcano, you'll burst."

Volcano. He called me a volcano! How dare he! 

"See you around, hopefully when you're done dealing with all the pent up anger inside you, tomato."

Tomato. He called me a tomato! How dare he!

I was seething in anger but I couldn't give him a comeback or punch. He was Uncle Mehrotra's son my probable to be senior at work, the one who had given me an interesting opportunity and Advay's best friend.

"Bye!" He smiled, running his fingers around his collar, before walking out. 

I stomped my feet walking back to my bike. I should have said something, anything. But I was taken by surprise by his quick thinking and defense. Stupid lawyer with a donkey face. He called me a freaking volcano. And tomato. How dare he!

Dammit. 

• • • • • • • •

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Looking forward to read your thoughts.

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-Anami! ♡