Obsessive Flames of Love

09:00 AM, 04th August, M City

The sultry day cooled slightly beneath the salt tanged sea air. Rudra opened the glass door with bloodshot eyes, and the cool breeze off his private beach beckoned him for a swim. He stood in front of the rising waves, "savoring the stunning view of the downtown skyline."

While Rudra was mesmerized by the beauty of nature, he drifted when he and his mother were running, and the high tide drenched them. A slight chuckle appeared on his lips.

"Mamma... Don't go." He yelled his heart out, but she disappeared in front of his eyes. His inability to stop her haunted him. The vulnerability was driving him nuts while his fists became clenched instinctively.

Meanwhile, Maahir came rushing to the mansion and toppled his files in haste. With the sound, Rudra snapped to reality. Eyeing his actions, Rudra inwardly felt a bad vibe. With furrowed brows, his thoughts fleeted to the unfavorable events created by Diana and Ashley.

"This duo was making me feel helpless by getting on my nerves." Rudra resented their every attempt, which stung only fueling the fire that burned inside of him. His sharp jawline rooted while anger seethed through his veins.

By the time Maahir stood in front of him with an unsteady breath, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, Rudra was squelching it down and overcompensating by being back to his distant look.

Fiddled with his fingers while averting his gaze, Maahir stuttered, "Boss, all our tender quotes related to major projects... were... leaked."

Hearing that, rage churned inside of him, and the serene look faded, his expression becoming inhuman. Maahir's face turned pale. With a gulp, he stepped back, and stammered, "The shareholders are... sus... suspecting your presence... behind it."

In an instant, the stifled fury overwhelmed Rudra. He became menacing, turning into a ferocious lion searching out its prey.

Rudra was developing mechanisms to cover the losses, while his competitor's attack advanced and gained vigor. Diana and Ashley were striving to jeopardize his influence and wanted to snatch his authority. He's not the one to give up a fight.

Rudra smirked as he slid into his Bentley Continental GT, thinking, "now the game is more exciting." Maahir roared the accelerator, but traffic looked awful, and the powerful engine did no good, becoming stuck along with the rest.

...

The investors and board of directors waited in the conference room, tapping their feet with impatience evident on their faces. The room was in chaos. The members were losing patience with the enormous financial losses, and the internal battle's in the company.

Meanwhile, a tall, sleekly muscled man dressed in a meticulously crafted white shirt and an inky black William Westmacott bespoke suit strode in. He was handsome in the cold way of a marble statue, and his hands tucked nonchalantly into his trouser pockets.

In an Instant, the atmosphere quieted. Every member in the hall greeted Rudra with the utmost respect. Rudra gave them a nod and settled himself into the President's chair. With his obsidian brown eyes, his powerful gaze emanated an intimidating aura while scrutinizing them.

"How did you plan to get away with this scene?" The board of directors questioned him.

"We'll not listen to you anymore, Rudra. The situation is out of control, and our stock prices are dropping. Either you back off, or you find a way to clean up this mess. If that's not going to happen, then we can't allow you to be the President." Nishanth Chandra provoked him. With his pushing, other members had begun to question his abilities.

"I'm a major shareholder with 60% shares. You're threatening to push me aside? It's my empire!" Rudra scoffed. "I built this with my bare hands, with my blood and sweat. No one will ruin it." Rudra stood up from the chair with hands crossed over his chest.

A domineering glare from him sent shivers down their spine. The temperature dropped, giving people chills despite the summer heat. With a single instruction from him, their entire family could be ruined. He carries that influence and is the ultimate monarch!!!

"But Rudra, The information got leaked from your mail. How do you prove your innocence?" Nishant objected in a sharp tone. Hearing the allegation, a sly scowl danced across Rudra's face.

"Do you think we'll believe your....." Maahir interrupted Nishant saying, "You dare to suspect him? He's Ishaan Rudra Chauhan, President of Chauhan Group of Companies and is the youngest person ranked under the top 100 billionaires in the world by Forbes."

"So...?" Nishant gave a questioning look by knitting his brows together without realizing his limits.

Maahir ridiculed his guts with a scornful smile, "With his vision, abilities, and skills, he took the Chauhan Group of Companies from its lowest point to the peak within eight years. He's not a lenient man, and you're in no position to question him." Maahir warned.

"He'll have whatever he wants. If anyone threatens his power and authority, he'll crush them without a second thought." A gray-haired shareholder mumbled.

"Yes, Yes, No one should disrespect him, and he won't accept no for an answer." The shareholders debated among themselves quietly while Rudra left. They heaved after seeing his disappearing silhouette.

...

Inside his sophisticated cabin, painted in a light shade of gray, which was well-designed with impeccable interiors. An in-built closet with a bedroom on one side, a sofa on the other side enveloped in glasses, a television at the center in the spacious room, and piles of files settled in the racks.

Rudra sat in the chair with a puckered forehead while Maahir and Tamaz were exchanging questioning glares. "I can't confine it any further. Diana and Ashley need to learn their lesson." Rudra asserted sternly when his hands slammed on the glossy wooden table. They snapped back with widened eyes.

"Watch Diana Industry. I want them to bleed money, poach their major team to our side." He directed Maahir and Tamaz.

"It won't be simple. They've been loyal to Diana Industries for years." Tamaz objected uncertainly.

"Everything in this world has a price. Give them whatever they want." Rudra declared with authority. "I expect Diana and Ashley to withdraw, or else this situation will end up as a disaster." He analyzed and walked away to the sprawling glass and leaned his back with a cold glare when his phone beeped.

"Boss! We captured Ashley." His men reported.

"Stash him in our warehouse. I don't want the information to get out."

"Okay! But hiding him might create chaos in the city."

"Do whatever I say." Rudra imposed and hung up.

"I gave you a chance to change your mind, Ashley. Despite being my financial advisor for years, you sided with Diana and sold out the major information." Rudra reckoned aloud in his office.

"You even leaked them from my mail? You sure got the guts to go against me, and the company? It's your turn to face the consequences." His lips pressed into a thin line.

"I'm not going to allow those bastards to succeed. I know Ashley is the key to your plans. Without Ashley, you're nothing, Diana." A smirk lingered on his devilish lips.

"No wonder you are known for being quick, efficient, and ruthless." His assistant, Maahir reminisced by staring at Rudra in admiral for his effectiveness.

...

Next morning.

Maahir hurried into the exquisitely designed mansion painted in beige and grey combination. A huge chandelier welcomed him.

Passing through the artistic paintings on the walls, he climbed the marble stairs and handed Rudra a report. Rudra flipped through it, his lips twitched slightly upwards, seeing Diana Industries' heavy overnight losses.

"You want to destroy me so badly, Diana? Wait and watch how things will turn out. I'll make you regret connecting with Ashley." Rudra speculated with unyielding determination in his gaze.

"Diana is going crazy. She can't figure out how her flawless plan turned out to be a failure," Maahir informed Rudra.

A vindictive sneer crossed Rudra's otherwise handsome face. Though his opponents started this war, the tables were turned. He'd give them some rope, let them climb all the way to the top, let them taste the satisfaction. And then he'd kick them straight to rock bottom.

...

A week later.

Rudra stood addressing a large crowd of conference-goers in Delhi. Diana hadn't made a sound since his men took Ashley. While speaking, he looked over the carefully gelled hair of India's most successful men to watch a woman enter the hall.

Her deep black eyes met his obsidian-amber eyes, and she gaped in awe. "Mr. Chauhan?" Her eyes gleamed in anticipation, observing him from tip to toe, "wow, he's more dazzling than in pictures." Cleared her throat, composed herself, and strode in, while peeping at her surroundings.

"Who is she? Why is she occupying the position of Mr. Henry, the CEO of Umbro Technologies." The members of the conference glanced at her from top to bottom with scrutinizing glares.

She paused, set her hair with her slender fingers, and kept her head high with an inevitable charm. "Is she representing on behalf of her Boss?" Rudra gazed at her movements with a questioning look.

While not stunningly beautiful, there was something about the way she dressed, her looks. Her pride gave her elegance. The way she took command of the situation got his attention. She's not conventionally beautiful, but her self-esteem and her demeanor made her special to him. The picture of her became printed in his subconscious mind.

Stared at him while intently listening, a satisfied smile settled across her rosy lips. "His voice is so alluring," she mumbled to herself while his gaze fixated on her, and she gulped as heat rushed up to her cheeks.

...

25th August, At Oberoi hotels

Rudra was going to meet one of his clients and halted near the elevator. Hearing the laughter from behind in the secluded area, he turned around and found the same girl from the conference.

The way she presented herself, and her simple, yet sophisticated attire drew his focus. The way she maintained control intrigued him. Rudra ruminated with a wink and averted his gaze.

Meanwhile, her widened eyes glued onto him. Peeped at him from the side, "Is he, Mr. Chauhan?" Her eyes shone as realization dawned on her by noticing the powerful man.

"Who else can have that aura?" Tanvi mumbled to herself in admiration for the domineering man and the image of him popped into her head. She couldn't help but exclaim to herself, "How can he be this handsome and overbearing?"

Sighing at herself in disbelief for dreaming of such a high and mighty man, "He's just perfect!" She quoted in her mind with a smile and shifted her focus onto her discussion.

...

27th August, Umbro Technologies

Dressed in a white high neck sleeveless top paired up with tan wide-legged pants and a blazer with matching block heels, her hair flowing freely reaching her swaying hips hugged her curves, and her deep black eyes with dimpled cheeks and sharp nose gave an exquisite glow of confidence.

Seated at the round black table surrounded by empty chairs in the brown-colored chamber set with the classic ambiance, she sifted through her notes. "Where were they?" Tanvi looked around, there was no trace of them.

Her twirling fingers brushed across the nameplate and a contented smile settled on her face as she gazed at her designation, Program Analyst and Design Engineer.

With the delay, she got bored and opened her drafts to work on her designs. Soon she's styling and sketching them on the blue chart absorbed in ink and movement while losing herself in the world of her passion.

"If I proceed at this pace, I'll soon establish my fashion brand. Woah!!!" She dabbed her shoulder with a proud smile.

Soon enough, her colleague Marina came into the room, "Come on, Tanvi. It's already 05:00 PM."

Tanvi stared at her and her deep black eyes rolled onto her fossil watch. "Oops. I didn't check it." She tapped her forehead while giving her usual dazzling smile.

Another voice from behind said, "Ms. Workaholic. Wrap it up." Tanvi gave a helpless smile, and the three started going out.

On the way down the office, viewing the empty floor, "Everybody left?" Tanvi arched one brow questioningly.

"It's happy hour today, so they all left." She nodded.

"Let's have a mocha?" Catherine asked while involved on her phone.

"Yeah. I need it the most."

"Um. I need to wave goodbye, my boyfriend is waiting," said Marina while waving to her faraway boyfriend dramatically making them giggle at her antics.

Glancing at each other, they added, "enjoy."

Their tracks stopped nearby Starbucks, which was full of customers. The chattering and laughter, in addition to the caffeine, eased her. They occupied an open two-seater table and began sipping their mocha.

While keeping her hands on her cheeks, glancing at the beautiful sky with the orange-red shade, Tanvi stated, "The climate looks good today."

"Yeah. You look a little, umm... distracted maybe?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line and an irritated look occupied her once cheery face, "Mm. The same old marriage story."

"Ugh. Are they still pressuring you?"

"Uh-huh. I'm in my late twenties, and all my relatives were pestering my parents about this marriage thing."

"I can imagine. Before I got married, it's the same situation in my home as well." Catherine drifted to those days, and an annoying grunt escaped her lips.

"These relatives... except focusing on them, they keep on gossiping about other family issues."

"I agree." They exchanged hi-fi while laughing.

...

"Today was exhausting!" Tanvi mumbled as she reached home, relaxing as she shoved open the weathered door of her apartment. The wide hallway welcomed her, painted in blue, gave her a familiar warmth.

Dragged herself onto the couch, her eyes closed involuntarily. After resting for a while, she remembered her mother, Radha's text and dialed her.

"Hi Mom, How're you doing?" Tanvi asked in her chirpy tone.

"I'm good, sweetie. You know what I heard today?" Her mother queried as excitement danced in her voice.

Curiosity kicked in her mind and she blurted almost immediately, "What?"

"Your cousin, Neethu's engagement got fixed." Her mother added in a happy yet dejected tone and she couldn't help but frown, yet pushed it aside and muttered, "Wow!! That's great news, mom."

"Hm. They all are asking about your marriage because you are the oldest?" Her mother pouted dramatically making her cringe by just thinking of marriage, "Please, not again, mom." Tanvi sighed.

"Listen to me, sweetie. You are already 27, and we were becoming old too. We want you to get settled, so we can be at peace." Her mother's trembled voice made her realize the seriousness of the issue and she remained numb for a second and added with a smirk, "I'm well-settled, and my paycheck is pretty high too. You can relax."

"Don't divert it, I know how you managed to spoil all your blind dates previously." Her mother said with disappointment and she hung her head low in shame, "Ahem..." She fake coughed to hide her embarrassment.

"You know that your dad is a heart patient, and he is always stressing about your marriage. I'm feeling bad about it, sweetie."

"I know mom." She bit her lips while her head went down.

"How many more years you're going to avoid it? I'm not forcing you, but try to understand, honey." A tired huff escaped Radha's lips as she couldn't make her stubborn daughter agree to get married over the years.

"Hmm..." Tanvi trailed off as she didn't have anything to retort and thought of avoiding it would do her some good.

"We love you, honey."

"I love you too..." Tanvi mumbled, disappointed at herself for the situation she was in.

"Why are you always trying to dodge getting married?" Her mother hit her right on the spot and the walls she created invisibly cracked in her heart.

Hearing that, her mood dampened, "What else would be? I didn't feel like doing it. That's it."

"Can't you agree to our last wish and stop making us worry?"

Silence danced on her rosy lips and she punched the pillow.

"We're doing this for your own good."

"Ugh! I'm a little busy, mom. Bye." Frustration filled in, and she stomped her foot.

...

"Huh! These days, whenever I speak with Mom and Dad, they're always asking me to marry. How do you marry someone without love? Never mind. Forget about love! I didn't even know the man." Tanvi ruminated while settling on the couch.

She switched on the television, while the earthy smell occupied her house, and a warm feeling surged in her. Tanvi strode to the window, slid it open, and leaned her hands and face out, playing with the raindrops as they slipped through her fingers. It's an old childhood habit she still enjoys.

Meanwhile, a delicious aroma wafted over from her neighbor's kitchen, and her stomach started to growl. Deep in thought, she almost missed a Beep, Beep!

Tanvi looked down at her mobile. A smiling picture of her and Ameera in a hug posing as the dumbest girls. She burst into laughter remembering that day, their convocation six years ago. They'd been best friends ever since.

"Hey, Babe! Let's play a prank on Advik about Stella??" Ameera screamed with joy while imagining the scene.

"What? With Stella!!!" exclaimed Tanvi, "He might die of a heart attack." They both erupt with laughter holding their stomach.

"He's bugging me to set him up."

"If you set him up with Stella, he'll ditch us. Poor Advik, I never forgot that day he proposed to her, and she took Advik to her boyfriend." Tanvi tried to hold her laugh, but they burst out giggling hard.

"Haha! Advik's face! He was horrified. It was worth it."

"You know babe, my mom and dad are nagging me to get married. This thing is really getting on my nerve."

"Um... What are you planning to do then?"

"I had already managed to escape all these years, but I guess it's high time to agree now." Tanvi hugged her knees in defeat.

"Are you serious?"

"Uh-huh. I need to, at least for my parent's sake."

"Then did you try matrimony sites? These days they are becoming popular in arranging marriages."

"Nope."

"Check it once. Even my elder cousin, Divyanka got married like that. They are in love now."

"Oh, seriously?"

"Yep. You might find your dream man there." Ameera teased.

"Screw you."

...

Tanvi opened her laptop and googled, "How am I supposed to answer all this?" She exclaimed as she scrolled through.

She sighed before accepting the sites were a necessary evil? "Why not? I've already tried everything else. I might as well try my luck. Who knows? It could work." Excitement shot through her at the idea.

"It's asking about my entire bio-data, Huh!!!! What do I say? I'm a sluggish person. How to provide this many details?" She bit her lower lip in disappointment.

After giving it a second thought, "This is my last shot. I should make an effort." In an hour, she submitted her details in almost ten different matrimony sites. At last, she left with only one.

"Finally," She sighed with a sense of accomplishment and hit the Submit button.

"Uh, No! My Wifi! Shit!! I lost power." Tanvi shouted with frustration when her hand threw a punch onto the couch.

Snatching her phone, she began using her mobile hotspot. There she saw an ad saying, click it to get your details. "Please don't be lost, please don't be lost!"

She bit her nails while her forehead creased, making her breath pause. Tanvi clicked the link and got all the details she entered. She hit the submit button and received two confirmation emails.

"Why did they send me two emails? Whatever, I'm going to sleep," she muttered as she tossed her phone on the nightstand. Happy that she registered with these matrimony sites. She slowly gets into her dreamy la la land.

...

28th August

Sun kissed her cheeks as she lay beneath the quilt. Her alarm began echoing around the room, but she curled under the covers until, on the last ring, she gave up and got ready.

"I'm not late, and today is Friday. Yay!!" Tanvi smiled. On the way to her office, she took out her mobile to check on her two duffers. In all the time from their university days onward, they'd never been separated.

"Hi, Guys!!!!" Her screen instantly lit in response to Advik's reply. "Hey, How are you guys doing?"

"Hey, Dude!!! I'm doing great." Ameera replied with a joyful emoji.

"I'm on my way to the office. Any plans tonight?"

"Not yet! What about you?" Ameera inquired.

"Nope!! Let's hang out tonight. What do you guys say??" Advik asked with enthusiasm.

"Sure, Dude!!" Tanvi said excitedly.

"Sure, guys. I'm just at work. Catch you guys later tonight. Let's meet at our favorite spot? Bye!!!!" Ameera left the chat.

"Yes, babe, carry on."

"Sure, babe. I'm going to work. Bye, Tanvi." Advik replied.

"Bye!!!"

...

Arriving at the office, Tanvi greeted her colleagues and went to her cabin with a dazzling smile. Expectedly, It's a long and busy day. She became immersed in a new project, which is quite challenging and needed high attention.

While analyzing the reports, a mail popped on her screen, "Tanvi, send the design to 'Digi Software' ASAP." She sighed out of frustration with scrunched eyebrows, "Piles of work waiting for me, this included." With that, she took a deep breath and shifted her focus.

She didn't notice how the time flew and skipped her lunch. When her stomach growled with a twinge, she hugged her belly with a tight grasp, a short squeal escaped her lips, "Ouch!! It hurts," and peeped at her watch, "07. 00 PM." A gasp spread over her soft lips, and she stepped out to grab a snicker.

Seeing the chocolate, Ameera popped in her head, "When was the last time we hang out?" Her slender fingers shifted onto her chin with this thought, "Damn!! It's been two weeks since we met," She pouted. Meanwhile, her phone buzzed. It's Advik.

"Hey, where are you?" Advik asked.

"Just came out of my office. What about You?"

"I'm passing by. I'll pick you up."

"Okay, duffer!"

A few moments later, Advik arrived in his sexy black Honda city, and they headed over to Inorbit Mall at west Malad. Though it's very near to her office, it took them half an hour.

Surprisingly, Ameera was already waiting for them. They started chilling and wiping off their stress.

...

"I need to get through all of this today." Rudra figured. Since it is Friday, it took him some more time to complete all his business in the office. Realization dawned on him, "It's been weeks since I had a good time with Tamaz." With that, he dialed Tamaz.

"Hey, Tamaz."

"Hey Bro, anything happened?" Tamaz asked.

"Nope! Just need to relax. I'm making a reservation at the Irish house Private room at 09. 00 PM, meet me there. Bye!!!"

"Ok, bro!"

"Do I have a choice? I need to go if I went to get done in time, otherwise, he'll kill me." Tamaz chuckled.

Rudra's lips curved upwards with the thought of Tamaz. "You even went against your family for my sake." A proud feeling seeped through his nerves. "Without you, how terrible would I be?" He wondered and made a call to Maahir.

"Yes, Boss!!"

"Make an appointment at The Irish house Private reservation at 09. 00 PM tonight under my name."

"Okay!"

Rudra leaned on his chair with legs crossed and messed up hair with his racking. His eyes shifted to the blue file lying on his table, which demanded his attention. He flipped through the papers with his eyes boring through the contract. Then, a knock sounded at the office door. Rudra glanced up.

"Come in!!"

"Boss! The reservations are done under your name." Rudra nodded.

"Here is the schedule and meetings for Monday. Take a look at them once." Maahir said and took his leave.

In the meanwhile, The trio wandered across the shops in Inorbit Mall, "Babe, that dress looks stunning know?" Ameera clasped Tanvi's hand and dragged her.

Advik looked at her craziness and rendered speechless, "What should I do over there?"

They both gave a dirty look, "Be our audience," and giggled while giving a punch on his shoulder.

"Huh!!" Advik didn't know whether he should laugh or cry.

Ameera went into the square-shaped trial room, while Tanvi sat on the black couch outside holding other pairs of garments. With bright illuminations surrounding her, she glimpsed at her reflection in the mirror. "Ugh!! I'm looking disheveled."

She is fixing her hair with her fingers when she heard other people babbling beside her, "Hey, Let's go to The Irish house. I found a musical concert happening there." The other girls screamed in excitement. "I overheard this singer comes only on Friday. He has pretty good demand too." With that, they left Tanvi in a craze to go there.

Tanvi went to Advik and patted his back, "Let's go to The Irish House." She pleaded with glistened eyes.

"No way!" Advik blurted with a straight face.

"What the heck? I want to go there, and you are taking me. That's it!"

"It's noisy man, I just hate such loud noises." Advik sulked with a long face while Ameera eavesdropped their bantering, "No excuses!! We're heading to the Irish House." She hooked her hands with her two duffers and reached the awaited Irish House.

"When did you snatch Ms. Possessive title from Tanvi?" Advik asked Ameera with a puzzled look on his face.

Ameera chuckled, "she's more possessive than me. I can't snag it from her." She raised her hands in surrender while Tanvi giggled aloud.

"Cut off your show, Ms. Drama queen!" Tanvi added sarcastically.

...

The trio was astounded by the wooden ambiance, "Woahh! This is indeed awesome, man!" They exclaimed in unison. With the rock band, They jumped onto the dance floor with a shout, which was sparkling with disco lights in the darkroom.

It was 8:15 PM when Rudra finally made it out of the office, so he told his chauffeur to leave. He took his Porsche Boxster and geared up with full speed.

On his way to his private room, he noticed the woman from the conference in a black shirt with straight white stripes on full sleeves. Her bouncy hair swaggered with the rhythm in coordination with her hips. He watched unobserved while she and three others laughed and danced together.

"Maybe her friends?" He wondered. For the first time, he found he couldn't move. His eyes glued to her, he watched every tiny movement.

"I had seen a lot of models, but never ones I spare a glance at them. What happened now?" He was puzzled when his curved lips went wide.

Many tried to seduce him and flaunted themselves hoping to catch his attention, but they all flopped miserably. Most just wanted fame, power, looks, and wealth. Maybe, that's why he never gave that chance to anyone.

If he dated any model, she would be an overnight rising star, but he is a man with dignity. He is the hottest bachelor in Mumbai. His looks were no less than a celebrity. He is a man of fewer words, and to be noticed by him means, "she seems to be exceptional to him."

"Something within her is attractive to me, like some sort of a spell," Rudra exclaimed.

"I don't know what exactly it is, but I know I want her. Only She can fill the void in me, which no one knows." He surmised with a nod when his hands tucked into his trousers.

"He said he is in the pub. Then, where is he?" Tamaz looked around and scratched his head. "It would be better If I get him." Tamaz decided and came down to the open pub where Rudra stood there rooted. Tamaz pinched his hand, then Rudra shifted his focus onto Tamaz.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Tamaz asked while raising his arched brow.

Rudra took a deep breath, "Nothing, Let's get in." He opened his mobile and took a snap of her smiling face before leaving. Tamaz turned around, "You are behaving weirdly?"

Rudra shook his head and sent the picture to Maahir. "Investigate about her. I want her complete report."

They sat near a round table in their private room, which was lit dimly. The room was well-decorated in all red, including cushiony couches, tables, and designed walls. They swallowed red wine while conferring on some private matters regarding a builder who is causing trouble for his new building construction. But for some reason, his brain is still visualizing her. The illusion of her laughter, her charming eyes, and her boldness is driving him crazy.

Tamaz went to the bartender, "Play the Jazz here." The loud music got Rudra back on track, and Tamaz chuckled hard. "You are daydreaming, bro? What's the matter?" He teased.

Rudra gave a smug look, and the delicious aroma tempted him. They had a feast of Indian cuisine. Though they consumed a good amount of wine, they both had great control over alcohol.

After the trio ran out of energy, they sat in the wooden chairs with hitched breath and drank vodka while eating. Since this pub is famous for Indian cuisine, they ordered their favorite dishes and discussed how things were going on.

Finally, at around midnight, they started to go back to their homes when their eyes became drowsy, and their heads are spinning with the effect of alcohol.

Tanvi opened her apartment, dragged her body to her bedroom, and collapsed. "Huh!! Why did I drink so much? I'm such a stupid." She tapped her head and threw her sandals to the corner while curling up on the bed.

A buzz sound in her pocket bothered her, "Ugh!!!" She tossed her mobile on the nightstand and covered herself in the soft duvet, which hugged her and drifted to sleep.

...

Rudra switched on the plasma with a coke in his hand. He sat on the king-sized bed while flipping the channels since sleep isn't his friend. At last, he settled on a music channel. The pleasant lyrics reminded her innocent eyes, which she tried to cover up, but he had seen directly through her. Thoughts of her raised his heartbeat. A sense of longing occupied him.

"Huh!!! she is disturbing me terribly." He chuckled and stared at her snap for a while and fell asleep.

29th August

Tanvi opened her half eyes with the hot sunshine hitting her room. She groaned and covered herself with the pillow while rolling off the bed. "Ahh!!!!" She yelled in annoyance and gave up.

Struggling to get down since her hangover was hurting her pretty bad. With the ticking sound of the clock, she glanced at the wall, and her eyes grew wide in shock. "No!!!" A scream danced in the room.

"How did I sleep till 02:00 PM?" She was bewildered and then realized, "Oops! I drank a little much more than usual."

She gets down holding her head and went into the kitchen with stumbled steps. Her mind is a mess due to the headache. She searched for the milk to prepare a strong coffee to get over it.

In the meanwhile, a loud echo filled her house, she ran towards her bedroom. Grabbed her mobile, which is banging in her ears. Looking at the screen, Tanvi frowned.

...