Chapter 32

Naina froze. Her eyes shut as Ayaan's hand circled around her waist any tightened itself while his lips slammed onto hers.

He kissed her like someone finally finding peace. It was gentle, yet showed the eagerness and desperation in it. It wasn't bold, but bold enough to convey his message.

He needed her.

As she felt him working magic on her lips, she couldn't help but give in. Her hands wrapped themselves around his neck as she kissed him back—not being able to match his level of force.

Ayaan smiled against the kiss as his thumb cradled her jaw. He tiled her face a little so he could deepen the kiss. Once set, he continued to kiss her—him winning the domination round.

After what seemed like ages, she let go, out of breath. He slowly let go and smiled against her forehead as he watched her smitten face. It was red and she wouldn't meet eye contact. His hand came and lifted her chin up slowly, so she'd look at him. "And you say you don't feel it."

She didn't reply—she had given in. She had gone against her own words in a span of 5 minutes. "I... I need to go." Before he could reply, she had run off.

Ayaan smiled, staying his ground. Their kiss was as good as the first one. Infact better. His finger slowly touched his lips—where moments ago her lips were, as he smiled to himself.

Running a hand through his hair, he leaned against the wall and muttered, "Naina Mehra, aapki permanent booking hogyi hai."

Meanwhile Naina ran to the main room, where she could go back to being invisible. She kissed him back? Why would she do that? She hadn't expected herself to give in, but how couldn't she. He was working magic. And she had been wanting to kiss him since they last kissed. But this kiss wasn't an accident like the other one.

What was she going to tell him now?

"Naina? Where were you?" Meera asked.

Naina, pulled back into reality, replied, "Huh, I was just getting fresh air. All good?"

"Yep. All good! Come, we're sitting for dinner. We can sit together."

"Aren't you all—"

Meera gently interrupted her, "Don't worry. We drank and sobered up. Now we all gotta eat. Come. Let's go." She guided the direction and Naina followed her.

At the table, Ananya spoke, "Where is Ayaan?"

Naina felt a sudden knot in her stomach. She could sense her cheeks reddening so she kept her head down as she ate, or drank a little water to try cover it up.

Meera looked around, unaware of what had happened. Then, she saw him, "There he is." Everyone's eyes followed to Meera, all except Naina. She was too shy to meet his eyes.

"Ayaan!" Ananya said, "Come we're eating!"

She didn't know what he said, but she felt his presence behind him. And, much to her dismay, she felt him taking a seat next to her. "So," his deep, husky voice echoed in her ears, "what we doing?"

"We were just eating. Thought we'll ask you also. Where were you?"

Ayaan stayed silent for a minute, analyzing the body language of the woman next to him. It was clear she didn't want to be here. He chuckled, "I was meeting everyone. The party spiraled."

Everyone nodded, unaware of the truth, and continued to eat as they spoke. Meera, excited, exclaimed, "Guys! I really wanna see Lonavala. When would be a good time to go?"

"It's October end right now. Now is good." Rohan answered, "When are you thinking of going? And with who?"

Meera looked at him, her eyes mischievous, "Why? You'll take me?"

Rohan, who smirked internally, "If you say so, Ma'am!"

"Okay!" Ayaan chuckled, "Get a room."

"Aisa kuch nahi hai!" Meera quickly said, "and to answer the questions—we all were planning to go this weekend. Naina, Ananya and I."

"Omg!" Ananya exclaimed suddenly, "You all should come along too! We are going there anyway and it's the weekend. Why don't you all also join?"

Naina saw this coming from a mile away. This is why she regretted the topic as soon as it came up. But she didn't want to talk—or draw attention to herself. She wanted to stay silent. Because she was able to feel piercing eyes on her, from the man sitting next to her.

Before she could react, she heard his voice next to her, coming slowly, only for her ears, "Why aren't you eating? Do you want something else?"

She didn't look at him, but she shook her head in no to answer his question. Then she stood a bite of her food again, to avoid his questions.

Ayaan smiled and muttered under his breath, "Adorable."

He was pulled out of this when he heard Meera calling him, "Ayaan?"

He looked up, "Yeah?"

"What do you think? Lonavala?" She repeated.

"I'm down. No worries." He said and everyone went back to conversations.

"I'm thinking," Ananya said, "We'll leave around 8am. It's a 2 hour drive. If we reach by 10/10:30, then we can do boating and have fun there. And we can head back by 4, so we're back by 7."

"That's perfect, but only question is—how are we going to go?" Meera said. "We don't have our cars. We need to hire. Anyone know any good car hiring companies?"

"No need." Rohan said, "We have our cars. We'll go together. We have 3 cars and 6 people, we can go 2 each."

"That works. Or we can just take 2 cars and split within 3, that works as well." Ananya said.

Everyone agreed. Naina, who was listening to all this, didn't want to give an opinion. She knew it's happening. So she continued eating. When asked if she was fine with it, she simply nodded.

Soon, it was time to go home. Naina was more than happy—but her happiness was short lived when Rohan suggested an after party, to which Ananya and Meera instantly said yes.

"Naina? How will you manage?" Meera asked, out of genuine concern.

Naina didn't want to ruin the fun for her friends, so she smiled, "Uber. Don't worry." She was going to add more but she got a call, so she excused herself.

"No need for her to take a cab." Ayaan's deep voice from behind them, "I'll drop her. I'm going home as well."

"Why are you going home?" Arjun asked.

"Bhai, I've got swimming first thing tomorrow. Can't be late or drunk." He said. Arjun nodded.

"Okay then. Sorted." Ananya said, "Naina and Ayaan can go home together. Everyone coming for after party, I'm booking an Uber."

"Ananya," Arjun smiled, "Why Uber when we are here? I'll drive you." They smiled.

Rohan spoke, "Okay all those who are coming for the party, get into my or Arjun's car."

Everyone walked outside and Naina joined. She looked around to seeing everyone disperse. She was looking confused, "What's going on?"

"Oh Naina," Ananya said, "You and Ayaan are going together—we all are going for the after party. You wanna come with us?"

"No... I'm good." She said, "But why am I going back with Ayaan?" She asked, curiously.

"Because he's not coming for the after party either." Ayaan's voice said from behind, smiling at her, "he has swimming tomorrow."

Naina was getting confused. And why is him talking about himself in third person so cute for her? She thought, Get yourself together!

"Okay. Let's go guys!" Rohan said. They all followed Rohan and walked ahead till they were out of sight—leaving only Ayaan and her.

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