Chapter 1: The Glance.
Maitreyi Pov
I was sitting on the edge of the sofa when I was about to fall. I shut my eyes into the black abyss ready to face for what was next, but someone’s warm arms wrapped around my cold black and pulled me up. And when I opened my eyes, yes, it had to be a man.
Man: Are you okay? You should be careful! There’s plenty of space beside you. Why don’t you tense right there?
His face was proportional and jawline of a ridge although it’s not visible because of his beard but his beard perfectly shapes his face ratio. Mesmerizing dark brown eyes, nose bridge perfectly aligned, Dark spots around his nose, rosy lips. Glossy dark brown hair let loose. Might not be a perfect face yet a beautiful one. My shoulders were violently shaken, and I was pulled out of my thoughts when I saw the guy’s face growing closer to my face. Idk why but I had the urge to kiss? How much of a pervert could I be?
Me: Thanks!
And I think somebody called him and he ran back and “somebody” was hooting.
Me: Really? Over that guy? He’s not even special!
Nila: Really? Then what took you to answer him for 15 seconds? You were practically eyeing him.
Me: I wasn’t, ok?
That’s when the majestic bride of the night entered all of a sudden and we all hooted for her and cheered on her outfit.
Pratyusha: Did you do it?
I was shocked enough to look at her face and a huge question mark was probably projected on my face for what she asked. She gritted and pulled my ear near her mouth.
Pratyusha: The editing?
Me: Fikar not ree! Everything’s ready. You just have to spend the night with the love of your life.
Nila: Yup! And something extraordinary happened with Maitreyi and she did it.
Nila giggled and Pratyusha grinned in curiosity. Her eyes glinted in the lighting, but her pupils dilated in an interesting way
Pratyusha: What happened?
I pushed Pratyusha out of the scene to her mother and made her engage in a conversation she wasn’t supposed to.
Me: Guys look this is her day and so, let her have it.
And they all nodded in acceptance except for Nila. She didn’t seem to be convincing anyways so I pulled myself out of my thoughts and went back to rehearsal.
Praveen: Wow! That was such an amazing and energetic performance from the bride’s gang. Do we have something from the groom’s side or not?
Inaya: Why not? Did you think we would not be able to slay harder than the bride gang? Just wait and watch!
Praveen: Alright! Looks like a challenge to me though, Ladies and gentlemen. I ask you to place your bets now, because put your hands together and let’s invite our beautiful Inaya, the groom’s sister and her gang.
The music was blasting in the background, and girls started entering one by one on the song “Mehndi laga ke rakhna” and suddenly I don’t know what shifted my gaze, I saw the same man that I was “eyeing” before. The music behind me dulled down slowly somewhat. This time I could get his full portrait.
He was wearing a stunning black kurta along with off-white pants and wore a classic watch, on top of which sat a Rudraksh bracelet. Maybe he couldn’t control his anger. When I moved my gaze back onto his face he was already staring at me. Leaning onto the wall nearby, smiling playfully, folded hands and analyzing me perfectly as if he had caught a thief.
For a half a second or so, the music started banging in my ears all over again and I moved away from the speakers finally. Heat rushed across my cheekbones, flashing a rosy pigment.
“Come on Maitreyi, it is so mannerless. I can’t believe you legit eyed a person in such a public place. What will people think? When you’ve come to a place like these you’re supposed to be responsible enough to take care of you and your friends.”
When I looked back at the spot, he mysteriously disappeared. My gaze shifted from one place to another and there he was grooving to the moves of “peelings” with other girls on the dance floor. I’ll never understand why some women do this — when a man sincerely expresses discomfort with being touched, they deliberately repeat it, only to later blame him, saying all guys are like this and questioning why he isn’t. It’s utterly disgusting, and you can clearly see the discomfort written all over his face.
But then in the middle of the dance the gang gets down and I was standing beside Pratyusha and when I was cheering for the dance, this man looked at me and winked at me in the middle of the dance. I don’t know what my face looked like, but I kept my face cold.
My smile dropped and a blank of confusion appeared on my face. What could this mean? I brush off the thought “It’s okay Maitreyi it’s nothing. It might’ve been just a part of the choreography”
After returning from the venue, the house had finally quieted. Midnight wrapped the corridors in silence,
We all returned from the venue and its midnight. I changed into my PJ’s and took the bottle to the kitchen to fill it.
There he was standing pouring tea in his cup.
He was in his navy-blue PJ’s and navy-blue silk robe. And the water filter was right beside the stove, but why? I went beside him and started filling the water bottle but deep down my heart was throbbing out of my rib cage as if it was about to come out. I could really feel him smirking even if he’s inches away from me.
He comes closer to me and almost whispers near my ear
Him: Don’t you think too much, or is it just me?
I don’t respond and just keep my face straight and look at how much time it takes for my water bottle to fill. He’s so insanely close to me that it might be very visible to him that I’m a blushing mess and is looking like a clown.
Him: You are always this grumpy at night, or do I just bring out the best in you?
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. He was leaning onto the counter sipping his tea and my posture was so straight as if I was in a march past or a parade.
Me: I’d say worst, actually.
Him: Ouch. Was that a compliment or an insult?
Me: You decide.
Him: I like it when things keep me intimidated and guessing.
Me: I don’t care!
And with that I exit the Kitchen and hear his faint voice going “Damnnnnn” I smile at his word.
To be continued....
