Chapter 8

Naina sat cross-legged on her bed, flipping through her notes half-heartedly as the chaos around her grew louder. Ananya was rummaging through her wardrobe, tossing clothes onto the floor, while Meera was busy trying on different pairs of earrings.

"You're wasting time, Naina," Meera said, turning to her with an exaggerated sigh. "You're coming to this party whether you like it or not."

Naina shook her head, her voice firm. "You know I don't do parties. Too loud, too crowded, too...not me."

Ananya huffed dramatically, holding up a glittery black dress. "Do you ever stop being a grandma? Come on, live a little! You don't have to love it, just come and stay for a while. It's better than staying here and memorizing medical terms all night."

"I really don't care about this party," Naina replied, looking back at her notes in an attempt to seem more convincing than she felt.

"You will care when you see yourself in this." Meera held up a white full-sleeve crop top and a pair of jeans she'd plucked from Naina's own closet.

Naina groaned. "Why are you going through my stuff?"

"Because you have good taste, even if you refuse to admit it," Meera said, grinning as she threw the clothes onto Naina's bed.

---

An hour later, Naina stood in front of the mirror, fidgeting with her hair. She'd tied it into a loose braid at first, but Ananya had insisted on leaving it open. Now her black hair, streaked with caramel highlights, framed her face and fell just below her chest. The white top hugged her figure, just showing off her flat stomach, and the jeans fit perfectly, covering her legs but still giving a perfect view of her hourglass figure. She had her signature necklace and did minimal makeup, as she always did, which highlighted her eyes and her lips.

"You look gorgeous," Meera said, leaning over her shoulder.

"I look overdressed," Naina muttered.

"You're perfect," Ananya said with a smirk. "Now come on. We're going to be late."

---

The party was already in full swing by the time they arrived. Music blared from the speakers, and the crowd was thick with people laughing, dancing, and shouting over the noise. Naina instantly regretted her decision to come.

She lingered behind her friends as they made their way toward the drinks table. Ananya and Meera blended into the crowd effortlessly, while Naina felt like she stood out in the worst way.

Her eyes scanned the room, hoping to find a quiet corner where she could disappear for the night. Instead, they landed on him.

Ayaan.

He was leaning casually against the bar, laughing at something one of his friends had said. His light pink shirt was rolled up to his elbows, revealing his toned forearms, and his smile was so effortless it made her chest tighten.

And then, his eyes met hers.

Naina's heart skipped a beat.

The room seemed to shrink, the noise fading into the background as his dark gaze locked onto hers. For a moment, she couldn't look away. The intensity of his stare made her feel vulnerable, like he could see every thought running through her mind.

She turned away quickly, her cheeks burning as she grabbed a glass of something off the nearest table. She didn't even know what it was, but she took a sip, hoping the alcohol would calm her nerves.

---

After a conversation with him, she felt the need to get something to get through the night. So, after weaving through the crowd aimlessly, Naina found herself back at the bar. She hadn't drunk much, but it was enough to make her feel a little less self-conscious. She tapped her fingers against the countertop, staring at the half-empty glass in front of her.

"Enjoying yourself?"

The voice was deep, smooth, and undeniably familiar.

She looked up to see Ayaan standing beside her, his eyes studying her intently. He was even closer than she'd realized, his presence commanding and impossible to ignore.

"I...uh..." Naina's throat went dry.

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Is that a yes or a no?"

"It's...not as bad as I thought it would be," she managed, feeling her cheeks heat up.

His smirk widened. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Naina's fingers tightened around her glass as she tried to focus on something—anything—other than how close he was. "Why are you here?" she asked, surprising herself with the question.

"I could ask you the same thing." His voice was low, teasing.

"My friends, I told you," she replied quickly.

"Same here," he said, taking a sip from his drink and leaning slightly closer. "Though right now, I'm glad they dragged me here."

Her stomach flipped at his words.

She looked up at him, her nerves making it hard to hold his gaze for too long. "You...don't usually come to the bar?"

"Not usually." He set his drink down and tilted his head, watching her with an intensity that made her feel like the only person in the room. "But tonight seems different."

Naina opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. The alcohol was making her bolder, but not bold enough to match the way he was looking at her.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping just enough to send shivers down her spine. "You know, I've noticed something about you, Naina."

She blinked, surprised by the sound of her name on his lips. "What?"

Naina's heart pounded as she looked at Ayaan, standing so close that the space between them felt like a fragile thread. His gaze was unrelenting, his eyes locked onto hers with a mixture of curiosity and something deeper—something she couldn't name but felt pull her in.

She tried to look away, but the weight of his presence made it impossible. Her fingers tightened around her glass, the coolness of it doing little to calm the warmth spreading through her body.

"You're not like everyone else here," he murmured, his voice low and intimate, as if he wasn't speaking to her but to her soul.

The intensity in his tone sent a shiver down her spine, leaving her rooted to the spot. Every rational thought told her to step away, to put some distance between them, but instead, she took a shaky breath and looked up at him.

Something shifted in the air between them.

His eyes flicked to her lips, and the heat in his gaze was undeniable.

She didn't know what was getting into her. The alcohol was giving her a sense of courage and boldness which she knew she didn't have. Her eyes flickered minutely to his lips, quick enough that he didn't notice it. She felt like all the emotions from bottling her crush on him first year was now surfacing openly.

Her heart thudded wildly, and before she could stop herself, before the moment could slip away, she leaned forward and kissed him.

Her lips brushed against his softly at first, tentative and unsure yet quick enough for her to quickly kiss and leave; it was enough to set her nerves alight.

Ayaan froze for a fraction of a second, as if caught off guard, but the surprise melted away almost instantly. Before she could pull away as planned, his hand found her waist, firm and possessive, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

And then he kissed her back.

It was slow at first, deliberate, like he wanted to savor the moment, but the heat between them was impossible to ignore. His other hand slid up to cradle her jaw, tilting her head just enough for him to deepen the kiss.

Naina felt like the ground beneath her had vanished. His lips were warm and demanding, moving against hers with a confidence that left her breathless. The world around them faded away—no music, no crowd, no noise. Just him.

Her hands, unsure at first, found their way to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palms. He pressed closer, his thumb brushing lightly against her waist, igniting sparks wherever he touched.

The kiss grew more heated, more consuming, as if they were both losing themselves in it. His teeth grazed her lower lip, gentle yet teasing, and it sent a thrill through her that she didn't know she could feel.

When she finally pulled back, gasping for air, her eyes fluttered open to find his already staring at her. His expression was a mix of awe and something possessive, something that made her pulse race.

"Naina," he breathed, his voice rough and low, like her name was the only thing that mattered in the world. His hand was still on her jaw whilst the other had held her waist.

Her heart hammered against her ribs as reality crashed down around her. Panic surged, and before he could say anything else, she shook her head and stepped back.

"I... I have to go," she whispered, turning away and disappearing into the crowd, leaving him standing there, eyes still on her, and the taste of her kiss lingering on his lips.

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