Kriti's POV~

"I'll kill her soon"

It elicits a harsh pain in my chest as I read these texts. Uneasiness rushed over me as I thought of my sister.

Her face flashes in front of me and her memories cause an imperceptible restlessness in my veins.

"You should've told me about it papa" I blurted out.

"Did you let me know about it?" Papa reciprocated.

"I was about--"

He cut me off in between. "It's okay, Do not worry about it"

"He threatened you before me. Right?? That's why you called me here back?? Am I right papa??" These words burst out of my mouth as I heard him. Why didn't he tell me the reason?

"We'll talk about it later" Papa stated as he walked out.

"Please. do. Not." I replied with a heavy heart.

I do not want to talk about it. Never...

Seeing your sister getting shot in front of your eyes, constant medications for 2 years, scars, nightmares, hallucinations of dying, insomnia for a year and anxiety, delusions of extreme danger and paranoia.

What could probably be worse than this for a 12 year old? Still a perfect smile adorns my face and I am proud of it.

I hate getting flashbacks from things that I do not want to remember, it makes my heart drop.

I took a look at the broken vase and made my way towards my room.

I threw myself on the bed, too tired to be awake but couldn't get away with my overthinking.

I wasn't able to sleep because of the threat I received. Fear was evident on my face. I didn't realize until how late I wasn't able to sleep.

.

.

"Kriti, get up" I was awake by my mumma's voice.

I got up only to realize that it was 12:00 PM. Fuck. It's too late...

I freshened up and got down for breakfast.

I was moving down the stairs going through my phone but then I suddenly felt a chill, making me shiver. I just went back and slipped a shirt on top of my tank top to ward off the cold

As I ventured back down, I noticed a familiar figure sitting on the couch.

What the fuck is he doing here?

Aayansh's POV~

"I am here to get a file"

I let Amit Uncle know about the file that I needed. He invited me in and I sat there until he was looking for the file.

Their house caretaker offered me a glass of juice which I gladly accepted.

I was looking around when I caught sight of an identical figure walking down the stairs.

Kriti.

She was wearing a tank top that displayed her alluring collar bones with a pair of shorts while her open hair flowing freely, adorning her face. Fuck.

Looks like she just woke up and her eyes are swollen but still she looks like an enchantress.

She was engrossed in her phone and then suddenly she went back and came wearing a shirt. A shirt??

Did I make her feel uncomfortable? She might be thinking of me as a creep.

She came towards me and sat on the couch in front of me while I still stared at her.

"Mr. Malhotra, I would really appreciate it if you stop checking me out"

She decided to break the silence. What? I mean she is pretty but I am not checking her out.

"I was not checking you out and I would too appreciate it if you stop putting false allegations on me every time we meet." These words just blurted out of my mouth.

"Fine, why are you here this early in the morning?" She questioned.

"It's not early in the morning it's already afternoon" I reminded her.

"Why are you here this afternoon?" She again questioned.

"None of your business" I remarked. She gave me a thin-lipped smile and got up.

"Here is the file"

Amit Uncle watched over her disappearing figure as he gave me the file.

"I'll leave now" I muttered.

"At least have breakfast" He remarked.

"I already had it" I apprised it.

"Have it once again"

Sure.

He took me with him and I sat on the dining table.

Seeing me Kriti gave an annoyed expression and had a conversation with her father through eye contact while he reassured her ny saying

"He'll just have breakfast"

Great Bonding.

"What'll you have?" The cook asked me.

"Aloo ke parathe" Kriti spoke with enthusiasm. I guess she asked me but it's alright.

"And you?" She again asked.

"Just a Salad" I replied.

"Ghaas phus hi khao" Kriti mocked me. Ohk...I can't deal with her.

She got her food and started eating while I looked at her. She looks cute while eating.

"I'm going to Mumbai" I imparted Amit Uncle about this.

"Why?" He questions making a confused face.

"Meeting" I answered.

"Take Kriti with you" He enjoined.

"Let me go somewhere in peace" I spoke and he chuckled hearing me.

"Mr. peace, mai vaise bhi nhi aane vali hu" She spoke in between.

(Mr. Peace, I am not going to come anyway)

That's Great. "And why are you not going?" Her father asked her.

"Because tomorrow is Holi, and I love Holi" She declared.

I am really not interested in these father-daughter arguments so I hope they stop it soon.

"Play Holi there" He remarked making her go all silent.

"But--" She was about to speak but Amit Uncle cut her off in between "Kriti"

He spoke and then I witnessed a staring competition among the two which ended on Kriti when she shouted "Fineeee!"

"Get ready by 7"

I exclaimed but she can't get away with it without an argument.

"I'll get ready by 9, because I have friends and I visit them" Is she saying I don't have friends.

"7" I said

"9" She responded.

"7, and that's final"

"9, and that's final"

She stared in my eyes while we were cut off by a smart person among us..."8, and that' final"

Thank you, Amit Uncle. Best idea.

"Come to pick me up" She smiled. Sure.

This is the only task left for me now: I'll become your driver. I don't have any other business.

"Fix your swollen eyes, I don't want to look at your red eyes all over" I spoke, getting up from the dining table.

"I also looked at a cartoon this early in the morning, did I complain?" She reciprocated back.

She called me a cartoon?

"It's afternoon" I reminded her and left.

Author's POV~

Aayansh left her house and Kriti sighed a relief as now she was having her breakfast in peace. She didn't want to go to Mumbai with Aayansh.

She just agreed to it maybe because she wanted to divert her mind and didn't want to think about yesterday's incidents.

"Go somewhere Kriti, it'll help you feel better" Her father told her that to which she just nodded.

"No issues in going somewhere, issues with the person you're sending me with" She thought to herself.

"He's not that bad" Her father whispered.

Kriti's breakfast was already finished.

She kept her plate in the sink and got up to leave. She moved towards the living room and turned on the TV to watch cartoons.

As usual she watched "Oggy and the cockroaches" her favourite cartoon.

Time went by and she didn't realise that it was already 3 in the afternoon.

She made her way towards her room, got ready for the day and got herself engrossed in a phone call with Meesha.

.

.

It was already evening and Kriti was feeling sad about not being able to play holi with her parents.

An idea popped in her head as she was getting ready for Holika Dahan.

She wore a beautiful blue kurta with her dupatta and got ready.

She stepped outside among the people of her residential society, gathered around the holika dahan, feeling excited and happy.

Kriti stood watching everyone celebrating while the sparks lit up the sky.

After the Holika dahan she picked a handful of gulal and applied it to her father making him shocked.

"I won't be here tomorrow" She giggled.

Kriti did the same with her mother and her friends.

At last being entirely covered with colours, she didn't wrap her mind around the fact that she had to leave for Mumbai today.

While Aayansh, who was meticulous about time was already there to pick her up. He got out of the car and called her.

Kriti didn't receive his call as she was busy playing Holi with her father.

He went in and caught a glimpse of her while she was enjoying the  Holi festivities. Kriti noticed him and realized that she was late and decided to play a little trick on Aayansh.

She went behind him and applied an ample amount of red gulal on his face making him gasp. "Happy Holi"

She whispered and giggled.

Aayansh being completely shocked by her antics pulled her towards his front asking her "What the fuck was that?"

"Bura na mano holi h"

Kriti whispered and got herself free from his grip.

Aayansh looked at his messed up white shirt and caught a glance of Kriti smiling at him.

"You can use the washroom to clean it, It's not that messed up" Kriti told him and directed him towards the washroom.

She herself went to her room to get changed and pack her stuff to leave.

She got herself clean and changed into a crop top and wide leg jeans with her sneakers and tied her hair in a ponytail and went to her living room.

Aayansh cleaned his shirt and waited for her in the living room.

He looked at her while she descended the stairs with a small luggage bag in her hands and went to her living room.

"Let's go" She stated.

Kriti bid her goodbye to her parents while Aayansh already got out.

She made her way towards his car while Aayansh already settled inside.

"At least help me with this" She ordered Aayansh pointing towards the luggage bag.

"Do it yourself"

He declared and Kriti gave him an annoyed expression.

She opened the door of the backseat and kept it inside still struggling with it.

She adjusted it inside and sat inside.

"Come in the front, driver nhi hu" Aayansh ordered.

(I'm not a driver)

She got up and sat in the front beside Aayansh.

"Gaadi thok kr mera accident toh nhi karoge na?" (You won't cause an accident to me by hitting your car, right?)

She questioned him.

"Pagal ho kya tum?" Aayansh mocked her. (Are you crazy?)

The rest of the ride went silent except an argument where Kriti played a song which Aayansh sadly turned off and he had to bear Kriti's talks for a minute.

Kriti scorned him by saying "Bekaar ho tum"

(You're useless)

Kriti couldn't help but stare at his well-built veiny arms while he was driving the car.

She enjoyed the view in front of her while Aayansh was engrossed in driving, completely unaware of the attention he was getting.

They both reached the airport and checked in.

Thankfully, Aayansh helped Kriti with her luggage this time. "Ek din ke lie ja rhe hai" He reminded Kriti.

(We're just going for a day)

They both settled in his private jet and the jet took off.

Kriti was engrossed in her phone the whole time while Aayansh worked on his laptop.

Not very soon, Kriti kept her phone aside and slept.

.

.

.

Upon reaching Mumbai so late, Kriti was tired. Thankfully, they had their hotel booked.

They both reached the hotel and Kriti rushed towards her room and threw herself on the bed.

She slept like a baby throughout the night.

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