14) Am I making you uncomfortable?

Kiara's POV

My first instinct was to run from here.

What the hell was he doing here?

Clad in a white t-shirt beneath a black leather jacket and dark jeans, Arjun was scrolling through his phone, unaware of his fan crowd that had gathered around him. Waving a hand through his tousled, dark hair, he shook his head a little and the girls swooned over him. They looked like they were ready to pounce on him any second.

Get some life.

"Oh my gosh! Just look at him." Someone gushed in the crowd.

"That explains why it's so hot here." A girl replied, fanning herself with her hands and staring at Arjun dreamily.

For real?

"Fuck." Maahi swore. "Is that.... is that Arjun by any chance?"

"I guess!?" Saumya replied.

Everyone was as shell shocked as me. Then, all of a sudden, all three of them snapped their heads towards me. What did I do?

"Why is he here?" Nandini questioned, curiosity evident on her face.

"How the hell would I know?" I protested in vain.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh. I get it. I get it. Mr. Hunk is here for Kia." Maahi exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands like a small kid and the other two imbeciles that I like to call friends started smiling creepily.

"But what does he want from me?" I chewed the inside of my cheek nervously as I pondered on the reason he would come here to see me. I already had enough drama in my life. And I didn't want to attract attention of the whole college. It wasn't like I was a wallflower or something. On the contrary, I loved meeting new people and interact with them. But if people got to know about our... relationship, it would be just too much. I don't think I am ready to handle all that psychologically with all that's going on in my life.

"Oh, I don't know but the fact that you're going to be engaged to him. And that too very soon." Maahi snapped. I could tell that she was getting frustrated. She hadn't eaten anything all day and we had a lot of homework today which made her more irritated.

"Marry me, Arjun!" Someone yelled in the crowd, followed by wolf whistles and cheering. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. I would gladly trade my position with that girl. The noise caught his attention as he looked up from his phone. His eyes roamed around as he seemed to be searching for something and then stopped when he looked at me.

"Fuck. He is looking at you." Maahi said.

He placed his phone in his pockets still staring but I couldn't tell properly as he was wearing sunglasses. I think I need to get my eyes checked because I saw a hint of a smile on his face.

"Fuck. I think he smiled at you."

And then, he started walking. Towards us.

Bloody hell!

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He is walking in our direction." Maahi squealed with joy.

No, shit Sherlock.

"I need to get this video-taped." She exclaimed and started fiddling with her phone. A harsh smack on the back of her head by Saumya made her stop with her moronic activity.

"We have eyes too and we can very well see what's happening." Saumya snapped. "Now, shush." She silenced Maahi and looked at the scene in front of her as she was watching Avengers- Infinity War.

I really need new friends.

Maybe if I would close my eyes, he wouldn't be able to see me? Maybe I could jump from the wall and then run away? Maybe I could pretend I don't know him?

While I was busy rambling in my own head, I didn't notice him walk towards us with a grace that is almost impossible to possess.

Strolling towards us, he removed his sunglasses, looked straight into my eyes and did something that made my heart beat a mile per minute. Something that made my mouth go dry. Something that I'll never forget and would love to see again and again. He smiled.

All the air left my lungs as I stood there, gawking at him.

I was dumbstruck.

Arjun Singhania, Mr. Grumpy, the rude, arrogant businessman actually smiled.

Two dimples appeared on each side of his cheeks making his smile more beautiful as he showed his perfect teeth. That stupid smile on his stupid handsome face created some funny feelings in my stomach as my heart skipped a beat.

"Hey." He greeted us. More like me.

But I was busy having a panic attack that I didn't reply him for a good 30 seconds. Then a sharp pain in my ribs caused me to snap back to reality. Looking down, I realized it was Nandini's elbow that had nudged me. She glared at me, widening her eyes and nodding towards Arjun, trying to get me to answer him.

"H-hi!" I squeaked out nervously, looking anywhere but him and realized that we were the sole attention of the whole college. Everyone looked astonished, some girls glared at me, while some looked at me in envy. The shock was apparent on everyone's face and it wasn't like 'the bad boy of the school talking to the nerd' but more like 'the hottest male species coming to a random college and conversing with a nobody'.

My hands were clammy as sweat beads formed on my forehead. I was nervous. I hate being in spotlight.

"Princess, are you okay?" He asked, frowning and I heard a loud pitched squeal causing me to jump a mile in the air. Horrified, I looked to my left only to find Maahi clutching a hand over her mouth. She snapped her head towards me, wide eyed and a Cheshire cat grin on her face.

Taking a deep breath, she attempted to calm down as she struggled to say something. "He...He... called you... Princess! Oh. My. God." She whisper-yelled in my ear, shaking my hand.

I glared at the devil who seemed to enjoy the scene unfolding before him. This idiot thought it would be fun to call me 'princess' in front of the whole college? Scratch that! In front of Maahi!? I wouldn't hear the end of this. Why doesn't he a fly a plane across the sky saying 'I call Kiara Sharma princess'?

I wanted to confront him as to why he was doing all this but my brain seemed to had shut down as I couldn't conjure up with anything. So, I just settled with nodding my head.

"Well, won't you introduce me to your friends?" He asked.

Friends? What friends?

Do I have any friends?

Yes, you do.

Oh, the three human beings beside me. Well, okay.

"Y-yeah, sure." I whispered looking beside me. "Well, t-this is... umm...uh..." I cleared my throat nervously, looking at her and then blanched.

I forgot her name.

I just forgot the name of my friend!

I squinted my eyes at her, racking my brain cells as I desperately tried to remember her name. Goddamn it!

How the fudge can I forget my friend's name?

Saving me from further embarrassment, the girl introduced herself. "I am Saumya, this is Nandini and this is Maahi."

Oh, so she was Saumya. I remember it now.

"Hi, I am Arjun. Kiara's.... fiancé. She must have told you about me." He looked at me. I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. Something seemed... off. His eyes twinkled with something I couldn't put my hands on. And then it struck me. The same twinkle I had seen in Maahi's eyes many times before that clearly screamed trouble. It was mischief. He was teasing me. He knew I hated him as much as he did. He was just finding a way to get back at me. For what, I didn't know.

"Well, excuse me ladies but I would like to take my beautiful fiancé on a date." He said and we were again rewarded with his charming smile.

Wait, what?

A date?

With him?

When did this happen?

"Come. Else we'll get late. I have something special in store for you." He winked and forwarded his right hand to me.

I stared at his hand, then at him and again at his hand and came to only one conclusion.

He has nice hands.

Oh god. What should I do? I couldn't create a scene in public but I still didn't get what game he was playing at. This wasn't him. Either this was his long-lost twin brother or he had lost his memory. I looked at my friends, seeking for some help but it seemed they were having the time of their life. Maahi was smiling so hard that her face threatened to split into two as she kept a hand on her cheek. She was ready to burst into tears due to happiness. Jeez. Saumya and Nandini looked giddy. It looked like if I didn't go myself, they would surely push me. Risking my chances, I placed my small hand in his larger one as he pulled me towards him, immediate warmth seeping into my arm. Avoiding eye contact, I hesitantly went close to him and nearly choked to death, feeling a soft pair of lips pressed against my cheek.

Did he...

Did he just...?

Oh my god!

HE DID NOT!

He just kissed me.

He just kissed me!

HE JUST KISSED ME!

On the cheek. My subconscious rolled its eyes.

That didn't matter. A kiss is a kiss. No boy had ever kissed me even on the cheek as pathetic as it sounds.

He pulled back and I stared at him wide-eyed, suppressing a shiver that ran down my spine. My cheeks were still burning and tingling where his lips were present earlier. He stared back at me, his lips quirked upwards. He knew what he was doing. He was going to pay for it. I just needed to plan a funeral.

Our intense staring was cut off by a loud, dramatic gasp. I whipped my head just in time to see Maahi looking at us as if she had seen Harry naked and suddenly she turned pale and swayed a bit, her eyes closing as she tried to stay awake. Thankfully, Saumya caught her in time and lowered her to a bench nearby. I rushed towards them, Maahi's face was pale and her eyes closed.

"Oh my god! You killed her!" I screamed at Arjun, completely mortified.

"No, I didn't. She just fainted."He replied with a roll of eyes. I had a sudden urge to poke him in the eyes but I decided to be a better friend and tend to Maahi first. Saumya was already sprinkling some water on her face while Nandini shook her and I rubbed her hands. Maahi coughed and opened her eyes slowly as I sighed in relief.

Thank god.

"Maahi, are you okay?"

She blinked and then smiled dreamily. "Oh, I'm more than fine. I just need to eat something." There was a pause. And then-

"He kissed you on the cheek." She giggled.

Was she being dramatic or was she actually sick?

I face palmed. Who would believe that this girl fainted a second before? I was under the impression that if someone would have shot her, she would have still woken up just to say that and then would have died again.

Before I could give her a piece of mind, a deep voice interrupted, "Here, take this." Arjun was standing behind us as he gave her a water bottle. How did a bottle appear in his hands out of nowhere?

She took it, thanking him and drank some water.

"Are you okay?" He asked. He looked a little concerned but I couldn't tell if he was faking it or not.

"Yeah." Maahi bobbed her head a little over-enthusiastically.

I turned to Arjun, "Well, you see, Maahi is not well. I...I don't think I would go to the date today. Maybe some other time?"

Arjun was about to reply something but was cut off by Maahi. "Hell, no. Bitch, you are totally going on a date with Mr. Hunk here and don't you dare argue with me. If you don't haul your ass in the car this instant then so help me god, I would strap you myself on its hood."

I have known Maahi since a year and half. Believe me when I say this - she is capable of doing what she said.

"But what about yo-"

"I am fine. I am completely fine. See." She stood up and jumped thrice and then twirled. "As fine as Harry's booty. Now, come on, off you go. Shoo. Shoo."

"B-but y-"

"Saumya, find me a rope, will you?"

That was enough for me to agree.

"Okay, fine! I am going." I sighed exasperatedly. "But eat something first please and don't die on me." She just beamed in response as I turned towards Arjun.

He gestured with his hands as we walked towards his car. He opened the door of the passenger seat and gave me a million-dollar smile that made my knees buckle.

Oh god. Was I in a parallel universe?

Arjun and chivalry don't fit in the same sentence.

Just as I was about to sit, Maahi yelled loud enough for the whole college to hear, "Just don't forget to use protection, ok? Babies are not good for my beauty sleep."

Heat crawled up my neck and the tip of my ears burned in embarrassment as I whipped my head towards her. She waved her hand towards me and smiled a proud smile as if she had achieved something great.

"Enjoy, but not too much." Someone else called out and I recognized that voice to be of Nandini. I didn't dare to look back and ducked inside as fast as I could.

Can someone please dig a hole for me so that I can bury myself and die?

This was so embarrassing. Why did they have to say something like this? Idiots.

Arjun came and sat in the driver's seat as I continued to mentally stab my friends but I didn't miss the smirk playing on his lips.

"So, that's what you've been telling everyone, huh?" He teased.

Oh god. I wished that the earth would swallow me and save me from embarrassing myself further.

"No. They just like to assume stupid things. Anyways, where are we going?" I asked, partially because I wanted to change the topic and partially because I was really curious. I mean it isn't daily when you find yourself sitting in a drool worthy car beside a drool worthy owner which also happens to be your fiancé. I was also a little paranoid that he would take me to a forest and then kill me so that he can live his life in peace.

"Nowhere." He replied, looking straight ahead and started the car.

Huh? "What?"

"I said nowhere. I am going to drop you home."

"But I thought... we were going on a date?" My face probably resembled that of a confused puppy.

"Who said that?"

"You!" I almost yelled.

He blew an irritated breath as he glanced at me. His face clearly showed that he was annoyed, quite contrary to how he behaved back there.

"So...?" I pressed.

"Honestly, you ask a lot of questions."

"And you don't answer them." I snapped.

"Do you really think I would go on a date with you?"

"Then why act like... " I stopped mid-way as I realized something.

Oh.

Of course. How could I forget? It was all an act. A part of the deal to convince everyone that we were actually a couple.

I sat back in my seat silently for a few seconds. And then, I remembered.

"You kissed me!?" I hollered.

"Well, glad to know that you do not suffer from any memory loss."

"I am serious here."

"Well, hello Sirius. I am Arjun." He replied still not looking at me but a smug expression crossed his face.

"Hahaha." I laughed sarcastically while I was actually shocked. Who knew the arrogant CEO could joke? "Try finding a new joke next time. Plus, you can't go around kissing me like that anywhere you want."

"It was a peck. On the cheeks." He rolled his eyes.

"Still! You didn't even ask for my permission."

"From next time, I'll send you a mail asking for your consent. Does that work for you?" The car came to a halt as a red light came into view.

I leaned forward towards him and spoke slowly so that he could get this through his thick skull. "You cannot kiss me like that."

"Why, am I making you uncomfortable?" He mocked, leaning forward so that we were a few inches apart and a cocky smile spread across his face. For a second, my eyes fell on his lips and then back to his eyes.

Snapping out of my trance, I became aware of the distance, or more like, the lack of it between us and backed up swiftly. Avoiding his eyes, I looked outside the window and kept my mouth shut before it got me into any more trouble.

"Guessed so." He chuckled to himself as the signal turned green while I clutched my hands into tight fists, refraining from choking him to death. I didn't know how to drive a car and I needed to get home safely. So, choking could wait as for now.

See, that's what the problem was. I couldn't stay in the same place as him without having the urge to kill him.

The rest of the ride went in silence except from me giving him the instructions to my house.

"You really did all that just to prove that we are actually a thing?" I asked when we reached my home. Truth to be told, I was a little surprised.

"Well, what else makes you think that I would have acted like that?" He countered back, a sudden harshness in his tone.

"Don't know." I shrugged. "I thought maybe you had been bitten by a mad dog."

I pursed my lips, trying to hide my giggle as he clenched his jaw and looked at me with cold, hard eyes. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white.

Serves him right.

He was about to say something but I cut him off, "Bye, Arjun." Smiling extra sweetly, I rushed out of the car with an imaginary hair flip and a proud expression on my face.