Samskriti couldn't sleep that night. She was walking in the balcony thinking a lot. The moon was the only source of light and in someway she loves this darkness. She looked at the sky trying to figure out her mom in the form of a star. She heard a lot in her childhood days that dead people will appear as stars in night and come to see their favorite people. She believes it for the sake of her peace. She spotted a star which is standing alone and bringing light at her. She feels like it is shining only for her. A large smile crept on her lips assuming her mom's face hiding inside the star.

"There you are. Was searching for you for a long time"she was excited.

"Why are you looking at me as if I have grown a horn?"she giggled at her own thought.

"May be I have. Because I am so happy today. Dont know why my scares are getting fade away whenever he is with me. I feel secure. A feeling that no one can harm me when he is with me. Noone will snatch my family from me when he is there to save us. Why mom? Why?"she asked looking at the star.

She was stunned when she felt that the star winked at her.

"Are you making fun of me? You too mom. Already no one is hearing me here. Appa, akka and Anna all are thinking about that Vinayak more than me each day. And him. Mr. Devil. He is on a war with god. Stupid."She complained.

"But still I can't stop thinking about them. About him too. Laksh.."she bited her tongue realizing what she said.

"Why am I thinking so much about him? Why he is not getting out from my mind? Idiot he is. Oh god. What kind of a man he is?"

She felt her mom laughing at her seeing her daughter's mad behavior. She pouted.

"See mom. This is my problem. He is not listening to my words, not giving a damn to me. Then also I am trying to show him right and wrong. Am I mad? I am the real stupid."she said.

You are the best.
She heard a voice and looked around to find no one there.
"Mom, did you say something?"she rolled her eyes. She smacked her head.

"Didn't I tell you I am getting mad? He will make me mad soon." She scolded with a smile.
"But seriously what happened to me? Why I am taking such effort to change someone who is not ready to listen me? Any answer mom."she asked.

She didnt feel any response.
"Someone pls help me before I becomes completely mad."she shouted.

You are in love my angel.
She couldn't believe what she heard.
"What? Who said that? Did you say it? Love??? How?"she was shocked.

My angel is in love with her devil.
Once again she felt that voice. She freezes on the place. She couldn't realize what state she is going through. She looked at the star once again and she felt her mom smiling. She smiled back while tears flowing down her cheeks.
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Lakshya's state was not at all different from her. He was wandering around the room from one end to another while his friends were sleeping peacefully. He is trying to wash out the thoughts he is having about her. But it was difficult. Silence occupied the room except the snoring sound from his friends. He slowly opened the window to get some fresh air and peace. His eyes fell on the sight he saw below the big banyan tree. There he saw Samskriti sitting under the tree alone.

"What she is doing there?"he thought and next moment he walked out of the room to reach her.

Samskriti was busy in her thoughts. She didnt even notice Lakshya standing infront of her.
"What are you doing here at this time?"he asked but no response from her. He was worried for her.

He felt weird. He came close to her and shook her holding her shoulders. She was brought back to the world and shocked seeing him infront of her. She stood up stunning.
"You here?"she asked.
He also had the same question.

"Why didn't you sleep? Night is not safe. Especially for you. Go sleep."he said.

She stared at him without blinking her eyes. He didn't understand anything except the fact that she is upset.

"I am asking you." He repeated.
She shrugged away her thoughts and wrapped her arms across her chest. He understood that she is shivering due to cold. He immediately removed his jacket and made her cover with it. He is now in his vest. She looked at him in wonder.

"Go inside before you catches cold."he said with concern.
She had tears in her eyes. The only thing she wishes in this life is this care and protection from someone who is capable of it. She stared at him without moving her eyes from him.

"What happened to you? Why are you sad?"he asked.
"Why are you asking as you owns me? Can you remove all sorrows from my life and makes me happy?"she asked little rude.
"Dont know. May be. Only if you say what you wants."he said with doubt.
"Then love me and marry me."she said without thinking twice.

He was shocked and his face changed. Soon it became a serious expression and he glared at her. He held her shoulders and pinned her to the tree. She closed her eyes feeling his hot breathe on her face.

"What are you saying? Have you lost your brain?"he asked angrily.
She didnt respond. But her tears made him weak. He left the grip on her and turned his face away.

"Why can't you love me Laksh?"she asked.

"You are out of your mind. Go sleep. It will be ok at morning"he said moving his fingers through his hairs frustratedly. Still he couldn't believe what she asked him. He didn't look back at her.

"It will not be ok till you accept me. I love you Laksh. I really love you."she said faintly. She was relieved after letting him know about her feelings.

He clenched his fist. He wanted to leave before anger takes over him. But he cant just leave her alone here in this state.
"Samskriti.."he shouted.
She smiled hearing her name from his mouth. It feels heaven for her.

"You are misunderstanding me. This love, marriage, relationships and all won't work for me. I can't love anyone especially you. Go away before I loose my control."he said sternly.

She made him face her.
"You are trying to escape from me, from your own feelings. You can't say that you don't love me. Ask your heart what it is craving for. You are trying to fool your heart Laksh" before she completes he held her shoulders tightly.

"Who told you this? From where you got this rubbish feelings suddenly? Or is this your next attempt to change me? By ruining your own life."he yelled at her.

"I love being ruined with your love"she said and he raised his hand on her. But he stopped abruptly seeing her innocent face.

"Didn't I tell you that you loves me?"she had a new glow on her face. As if she found answers for her questions. He was wondered realizing her effect on him.

"You loves me Laksh. You can't afford anyone touching me. You won't tolerate anyone troubling me. My tears making you weak. You are worrying for me. This is love Laksh."she said.

He was trying to register her words. Is this love? He asked this question a million times to himself.

"May be your love may ruin me. But it has the same power to rejuvenate me. Only you can make me complete."she added and he was staring at her with a blank mind and face.

"You are mistaken. I don't love you and I won't. I saved you several times as part of my duty. That's why you are over thinking."he said moving away from her. She lost the sudden ray of happiness.

"Feed this in your little brain that I don't love you. Understand?"he asked maintaining a serious expression.

"You are right. You are not a human. You are just a devil Laksh." She stated while crying.

He felt bad seeing her crying.
"Hey dont cry. Let me say"he was about to touch her when she jerked his hand away. He was confused.
"Dont touch me. And don't protect me anymore. Let me die. I hate this world of blood and tears. No one knows to love. Everyone knows to kill only. I don't want to live in this world. Let me die." she ran away while crying.

He stood like a statue. He felt a pain in his heart. He used to kill people and injure them. They always beg infront of him to not hurt them. But it didn't have any effect on him till now. But when she cried today, he felt an unknown pain. Her tears stabbed his heart and almost killed him. Or may be the devil in him. His guilty mind started working and he lost his peace. He sat under the tree. He wished that she will be ok soon. But on the other side her questions are still hunting him. He tried to find answers. But failed. He was helpless to realize his own feelings and accept it. He is afraid of it. He is afraid of everything that makes him remember that he is also a human. Because he only wanted to be that devil who is not bothered about anyone and anything in this world. He leaned to the tree and for the first time a tear drop fell down from his cheeks. It gave the answer to all his questions. Still he was not ready to accept it.
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Next Morning
The night didn't allow Lakshya to sleep. He couldn't close his eyes for once. Whenever he tries, her tears that he have seen last night disturbed him until he decides to not sleep. He took a shower at early morning 4 am and came out of the room. He assumed that no one would wave wake up now. But it was wrong.

He heard voices and immediately he reached downstairs. He saw a crowd infront of Samskriti's room. Sooryamoorthi, Sreeram, Shivani, Veera, everyone was there. That was enough for him to get worried. He remembered how she cried yesterday. The thought that something would have happen to her made him curse himself.

"What's wrong?"he asked
"Samskriti is not well. Doctor is checking her." Sreeram told.
"What happened to her?" He asked worried which didn't fail notice by Sooryamoorthi.
"You don't need to worry Lakshya. No one attacked her again. She is having a bad fever. We had to call doctor early morning itself. She will be fine soon" Sooryamoorthi said patting his shoulder.
"You can sleep if you wants. I mean no need to skip your sleep standing here. We are here to take care of her." Sreeram said.
"It's ok" he can't go when he is damn worried for her.

"Appa, I am really getting scared. Yesterday she didn't sleep. She was muttering something during unconscious state too. I didn't get it. But I am sure she have been hurted very much."Shivani said and Lakshya was shocked. Sreeram consoled Shivani.

Just then doctor came out.
"I will give some medicines. Dont make her tense. She will be ok within a day. Let her rest."doctor made them relax. But he was not alright.

Everyone entered into the room to see her. But he didn't have courage to face her. He left the house without telling anyone. He knows that he won't get peace. But still he is in search for it.
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At Evening
He came back and his friends immediately started questioning him.

"Where the hell were you man? Do you know how much we were scared when you suddenly disappeared without informing anyone?" Guna asked.

"I am not a kid" came his reply.
"You are not a kid. But you have a lot of enemies. You should remember it always. Why did you go without informing anyone?" Vinay was angry.

Lakshya was not in the condition to answer anyone, he dont have that plan too. He sat on a chair and leaned back closing his eyes.

"Samskriti have enquired about you."Guna said and he opened his eyes widely.
"When? Is she ok?"he asked standing up.
"Why do you care for her? Tell me that she is not the reason why you are behaving strangely."Guna made him speechless.

"You are cruel Lakshya. Why are you showing your devil side to an innocent girl? If you want peace, don't try to escape from all this. Go and talk with her. "Vinay left.

"Dont be so confused man. She is a good girl. Talking with her will help you relax your mind." Guna too left.

He thought for a moment and then decided to talk with her. He walked towards her room.

For his luck there was no one in her room. She was laying on bed tiredly. He felt sad seeing it. He went towards the bed and dragged a chair for him to sit. The noise made her wake up from sleep. For a moment she couldn't believe that it's him only. She looked at him in wonder.

"Where were you till now?"she asked trying to sit on bed.
He helped her to sit and she looked at him angrily.
"Didn't you hear my question? Why did you go without informing anyone? How much long will you avoid me Laksh?"she spoke from heart.

"I am not caring for you. Then what's the need to avoid you when you are not in my thoughts too"

"Lie.."she said making him shock.
"How long will you lie to me Laksh? How long will you suppress your own feelings?"she asked.

"Listen. I don't love you. You have to believe it because it's the truth and not a lie." He said sternly.

"I can see the love for me in your eyes when you are even saying that you don't love me. Stop trying to escape from reality."she said.

"Are you mad? What made you think this stupidities? I am a devil and falling in love with a girl is not meant for me. I might have cared for you, I might have worried for you, I saved you many times. But that doesn't mean I love you. You are the first one who looked at me thankfully. May be I tries to not get you into a danger. But love??? I don't know what is love and I don't know it's meaning. Because I didn't experience such a thing in my entire life."he stood up.

"Just give a chance. I will make you realize what is love."she said determinantly.

"Shut up. You are out of your mind. Tell me what do I have that can make a girl fall for me? Anything?? No... Nothing. Just shut up and give some rest to your brain. Let it think logically."he snarled at her.

He glared at her and with that he turned back to go. But he stopped at the door and turned to see her.

"Take care and get well soon"
With that he left making her sad.
She leaned back to the bed thinking about him. Her mind was continously advising her to  forget him. She doubted whether she is over thinking. May be he is not loving her. But her heart told the opposite. He is hiding his love. In between both she is stucked. Badly stucked!!!
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