23) No one touches my chocolates

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Kiara's POV

As my eyes snapped up, they locked with familiar black ones. I held his gaze for a few seconds but soon averted my eyes as Arjun entered, standing beside me while the lift closed and I stared ahead.

Don't look at him, don't look at him.

Trying to distract my mind from the hazardous human (for my heart) beside me, I recalled today's events.

"Wipe that smirk from your face." A hard voice reached my ears and I turned towards him, his face straight ahead wearing a bleak expression.

I didn't realize that I had zoned out thinking about his apology, all the while wearing a creepy smile on my face. Pressing my lips together, I took a deep breath, trying to control my cheek muscles but ended up giggling lightly.

"I said stop that." My shoulders deflated slightly at his voice.

Parry pooper. I jutted out my lower lip.

"And stop manhandling me." He announced as the lift opened and he got out, leaving me shell shocked with my mouth open wide enough to catch a hen, trying to decipher the meaning behind his words.

Quickly rushing behind him, I got out of the lift, staring at his back incredulously. "What do you mean?"

"As if you don't know." He scoffed.

What?

"Actually... I don't. Care to explain?" Falling in step with him, I scowled, my frown deepening.

"I said," He turned around when we reached the front door. "Stop trying to touch me every time you get a chance." He stated in a bored voice.

"I... I didn't do any such thing!" My cheeks flushed red as my voice cracked slightly.

"Oh really?" He arched his eyebrow. "So, you don't remember when you almost climbed on me on seeing that dog today?"

"I... I-" I shut my mouth.

"That's what I thought." He crossed arms over his chest and leaned back on the wall beside the door. "And what about yesterday? When you couldn't keep your hands to yourself."

I mean I could but why would I want to?

This was not the time to play Selena's song in your head, Kia.

Too late.

I was already twerking on the song in my mind.

"That was unintentional." My voice reached a few octaves higher as I desperately tried to prove my point.

I had no interest in clinging up to him.

Really?

Yes.

Are you sure?

Of course.

Too bad. Cause have you seen that body? Damn.

Shut up. Whose side are you on?

Was I actually fighting with my own conscience?

"Of course." He drawled, his lips curved into a lazy smirk. He straightened up when we heard a low buzz. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he answered it, leaving our conversation in between. I turned away from him, tapping my foot impatiently and waiting for his highness to complete his call so that he could open the door and we could go inside.

While talking heatedly on the phone, his eyes shifted to me and he gave me a weird look. Ignoring him, I looked forward. 7 seconds later and I remembered that I, too, had the copy of the key of the penthouse. Mentally smacking my head in the same wall repeatedly, I took out the keys from my pocket and inserted them in the lock. Meanwhile, Arjun had cut the call and was standing beside me.

Opening the door, I stepped inside only to be frightened to my death by the sudden scream in the house. I let out a horrified scream of my own in response, jumping backwards in shock. I lost my footing in the process but warm, large hands came around my waist and I found my back pressed against the devil's chest, my hands holding his arms for support. The scream soon morphed into laughter as I stood there baffled and petrified, my heart ready to come out of my rib cage.

Why did it sound familiar?

As my eyes focused on the scene in front of me, my jaw slackened in surprise. Two horrible creatures, the male and female version of Satan, stood there laughing hysterically.

What. The. Hell?

"I.. I told you it was a g-great idea." Maahi managed to say in between her fits of laughter as Sid reached for a high five.

"Oh my god, you guys!" I yelled, placing a hand against my rapidly beating heart. "Stop scaring me."

They still continued hooting like maniacs on crack when I realized the awkward position I was in and craned my head to look at Arjun. I was resting against him in a slanting position, with my legs in front of me.

"Who's manhandling whom now?" I spoke arching an eyebrow, referring to his hands on my waist.

His eyes met mine in a challenging look. "Well. If you say so." He moved away from me so abruptly that I didn't have a chance to balance myself and since he was supporting me, I ended up falling on my butt.

"Ouch."

Maahi, being the amazing supportive friend that she is, doubled over in laughter on seeing me sprawled on the floor but Sid sobered up when he saw me and quickly came to help me stand up.

Thanking him sullenly I stood up, my eyes boring holes in the devil's head as he ignored me.

"What are you doing here?" His gruff voice was directed at Sid while Sid just smiled cheekily in response.

"Since my friend didn't even bother to inform me that he has come back, I thought of giving him a surprise visit myself."

"And who told you that I have come back?" Arjun glanced at me briefly.

"I didn't tell him." I huffed.

"I did." Maahi piped in, still chuckling. "We met them near the petrol station. And that's when we decided to surprise you."

Surprise? More like a cardiac arrest.

"Them?" To my question, Maahi just pointed in the direction of the living room.

Dusting my clothes, I walked inside and found Anushka and Rohan sitting on the sofa with no worry in the world and eating...

My chocolates?

My chocolates?

My chocolates!

My mouth dropped open in shock.

How dare she?

Oh, she's so dead.

No one touches my chocolates!

Rohan waved at me but my eyes were solely focused on the traitor. He didn't know about it so I would let that slide. But Anushka...

I'm going to disown her.

Anushka caught my eye and her eyes widened drastically as she quickly lowered the chocolate in her hand. "Uh-oh."

"Rohan, if you care for your life, then run." She whispered conspirationally, quickly standing up and moving behind the sofa.

So, she thought that this sofa could save her from my wrath?

Rohan just sat there, his face reflecting confusion.

Cracking my knuckles, I stalked like a predator towards her.

"This is going to be interesting." I could hear Maahi talking in the background but my sole focus was the excuse of my best friend.

"Hey, Kia." She chuckled nervously, gulping harshly. "How a-are you? Long time man."

"We just met an hour before." My eyes narrowed into slits as my lips pressed into a thin line.

"Oh. Did we?" She pretended to be surprised. "Haha. I think I'm suffering from short term memory loss. Yeah, that must be it."

"Don't change the topic." I spoke in a warning tone which made her shut up and gauge my reaction cautiously.

"I would like to say that I'm really sorry and I woul- Aaaaggghh." I didn't let her complete her sentence as I pounced on her and she ran off, screaming.

"Come back here." I shouted, following her.

"I said I'm sorry." She shrieked, not looking back.

"And would that bring my chocolate back?" I rushed after her.

"I would buy you 3 more."

I stopped for a second, contemplating and so did she.

"Make it 10."

"5"

"7"

"Deal."

I nodded my head solemnly and that was the peace sign between us. But that didn't mean I had forgiven her so easily.

I looked around and found 3 pairs of eyes set on me. Sid looked thoroughly entertained with the show we just put up while Rohan was watching us with amusement and a little bit of awe. Maahi didn't even spare a glance in our direction as she furiously scrolled down on her phone, munching popcorns. Probably another update on Harry.

And Arjun, he just did what he loves doing. Glared at me.

Ah, such a sweet person, isn't he?

"Why are we standing? Let's sit down. Come on." Sid announced as he plopped down on the couch between Anushka and Rohan.

I sat on the adjacent couch while Maahi was seated opposite to me.

"Hey, where do you think you are going? Sid called out after Arjun, catching my attention.

"Work." Arjun replied, walking up the stairs.

"Oh no, no, no." Sid went after him. Holding Arjun's wrist, he brought him to the living room while Arjun made no sign of protest, just rolled his eyes with such perfection that I was astonished they still hadn't come out of his sockets. "You don't get to do this. It's almost been two weeks since you left and now, you're going to sit with us." Pushing Arjun's shoulders, Sid made him sit beside me on the couch, a frustrated breath leaving Arjun's lips.

Wow. Arjun still hasn't punched Sid in the face. Progress.

Sid went back to his seat while I turned away from the egoistical maniac, trying to start a talk with my friends.

But seems like they were already having a good time without me.

Sid and Anushka were chatting with Rohan, who was sneaking a glance at Maahi every now and then. Maahi, too, would look up occasionally and blush slightly, going back to her phone. Not to forget her evergreen pedophilic, a chimpanzee-on-weed smile that she gives whenever she encounters a hot guy.

What was happening?

Wait, wait, wait.

Go back, go back.

Maahi blushing?

Oh, my god.

Was I hallucinating?

Was this the end of the world?

She even looked up from her phone during her 'Harry ogling session'. And not once. Many times.

This is a huge thing coming from her.

Cause she never, ever disrupts her Harry ogling session.

A dinosaur could be eating you alive near her and she still wouldn't give a damn unless you were Harry Styles. Or unless Harry and Louis have come out and finally confessed their undying love for each other. And if you disturb her during her session, she might set a dead dinosaur after you.

I never thought I would live to see this day.

Woah.

This day was turning out to be weirder and weirder.

Might just mark this day in the calendar.

But, how did they come inside?

"How did you even manage to enter the penthouse?"

"We have an extra key." Rohan said.

Oh.

"Then why did you lock it again? You could have left the door open." I asked.

"Yeah, cause then you would have presumed that there were burglars in the house and then tried to attack us with a spoon. Right?" A smug smile spread on Sid's face.

The tip of my ears turned hot and I cleared my throat awkwardly, not answering him.

Seems like all my brain cells have stopped working.

"I am getting bored." Anushka whined.

"We could watch a movie or something." Rohan suggested.

"Fine by me." Sid shrugged and Maahi nodded too.

We all turned towards Arjun who was typing something on his phone. "I'm not interested." He muttered distractedly and I rolled my eyes.

Mr. Grumpy.

What if I ask Sid to help me kill Arjun and then dispose his dead body? He probably knows this place well, too.

I'll not let Arjun ruin my mood.

Before any of them could say anything further, I rushed towards the TV, squealing loudly. "I'll choose the movie."

Arjun's POV

"Arjun?" I looked up from my table to see Ritu standing at the door of my office room at home with a small smile on her face. "The food's ready."

It's been almost an hour since Sid and everyone went back after watching Thor: Ragnarok. And they made me watch it too. Why the fuck would I care if a blue-eyed blonde jock and a green-eyed shape shifter were having daddy problems and their psychotic big sister decided to join them too?

"Okay, I'll come in a minute." I nodded, collecting a few papers from my desk and stacking them together.

"Do me a favour. Call Kia on your way please." she said.

I looked at her questioningly. "And why can't you do that?"

"Because...uh...food...yeah. The food will get cold. Yes, I have to check on the food." She said and left hurriedly but I didn't miss the mischievous look in her eyes.

Great!

Sighing and shaking my head at her childishness, I stood up fixing my hair.

I turned around to leave but the ringing of my phone stopped me and I picked it up.

"Hey, honey poo." I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes in frustration. Trying to restrain my anger, I took deep breaths.

"How many times have I told you not to call me that?" I growled as he chuckled. Clutching my hand in a fist, I controlled the urge to throw something.

"Man, it's so fun seeing you all riled up."

"Shut up. Why did you call me?" I asked, getting straight to business. I had no time for his nonsense.

"Well, I had just called to check if my BFF is okay."

I sat down rubbing my temple, a dull pain starting to form at the back of my head.

"You just saw me an hour ago. And stop saying the word BFF. You are 23, not 7."

"I wasn't talking about you."

"Rohan isn't here." I told him.

"I wasn't talking about him either."

My brows knitted in confusion. "Then?"

"I was talking about Kia." He chirped happily while I groaned.

"I just called to say that you need to behave. She doesn't deserve such treatment. You're being too harsh on her."

"Yeah, of course." I replied, sarcasm dripping from my tone.

"I really mean it, Arjun." I could sense the seriousness in his voice. It was quite rare when he was serious.

"I know." I sighed, closing my eyes.

"No, listen to me- Wait, wait, wait! Did you just agree with me?" He yelled.

Rolling my eyes, I leaned back in the chair. "Shut up."

"I know I was wrong. I... I shouldn't have done that. And I apologized for that."

"You WHAT!?" He screeched so loud that I cringed when his voice hit my ears.

"Has the Sun risen from West today? Have I died and gone to heaven? You said sorry? The mighty Arjun Singhania said sorry?"

I pursed my lips together.

"No. I didn't say sorry, I apologized."

"What's the difference?"

"I didn't say that word."

"Really?" I could already imagine his deadpanned expression.

"Yes."

He sighed heavily. "Why the hell are you so stubborn?"

"Says the guy who loses a snake and ladder game with his 8-year-old nephew every time he plays and still won't back down."

He huffed loudly. "Okay, you can stop now."

"Who started it?"

"Fine. I won't say anything. Look, I have to go for a meeting now. I'll talk to you later. And behave." He ended the call in a warning tone without even giving me a chance to reply. Idiot.

I'll do whatever I want.

Striding out of the office, I made my way to Kiara's bedroom.

What was dad even thinking when he arranged my marriage with her?

That girl is a mess!

Always stumbling here and there, and if not that, then rambling continuously.

And what the hell does she even talk about?

Mafia and guns.

Half of the time, I can't even fathom what she's saying.

And when the hell did she become friends with Sid and Rohan?

As if Sid wasn't enough to cause havoc in my life.

And that girl is complete nuts. She talked to Sid about Thor for 30 minutes straight. I mean, what the actual heck?

Reaching her room, I was about to knock on the door but found it slightly ajar and my hand froze on the doorknob as I heard her voice. "Everything was going on smoothly. I had a simple life - drooling over my fictional boyfriends, reading books and eating chocolates. But no! Kiara Sharma wants fun. Kiara Sharma wants some adventure in her life. So, there you go. 6 foot, 3 inches of fun and adventure with the body of a Calvin Klein model and dark laser eyes glaring at everyone, all rolled in a Greek God. How does that sound?"

Whom was she talking to?

Pushing the door a little open, I sneaked a look inside and found her moving around the room, arranging her books. Neither she was on phone, nor there was anyone else in the room.

"And not only that. His ego is bigger than the Jupiter itself."

"Who does he think he is? Just because he is Arjun Singhania doesn't mean he can do and say as he wants. Always bossing around people."

My eyebrows raised in surprise. She was talking about me? And that too, to herself?

Excellent.

"And why the hell is that guy so hot?" She dropped a book on the study table and breathed out.

My lips tilted up in amusement as I heard her ranting to herself.

So, she thought I was hot?

"He makes me switch my moods so fast. Sometimes I'm so tempted to slap him across his handsome goblin face and sometimes I wish I could just go and tear his shirt to see those abs beneath it. Oh my god, Kia. What are you even saying?" She hid her face in her hands.

"Stupid, egoistic jerk. Messing with my mind." She muttered angrily, her button nose scrunching up. "And as a bonus, he never smiles. And have you seen how expressive he is. As expressive as a dead snail. Even a sleeping baby shows more emotions than him. Freaking rock."

Turning around, she picked a book from her bed.

"And h-" She winced as the book accidentally touched her wrist. Keeping the book aside, she held her left wrist in her right hand as she inspected it delicately.

Shit.

Did I do that to her?

Nah, nah. An alien came and did this.

Fuck. I didn't hold her hand this tight.

Yeah, it's not like you train with professional boxers, right?

I pushed the door open in a sudden motion, causing Kiara to whirl around in shock and shriek loudly, falling on the bed in the process. Stifling a laugh at her antics, I leaned against the door, crossing arms over my chest.

"W-what are you doing here?"

"The food is ready. Come on." I told her.

"What?"

Was she hard of hearing?

"Ritu asked me to call you for dinner."

Instead of standing up, she just narrowed her eyes at me, her lips parting a little. And as if a bulb lighted in her head, her eyes widened as she stared at me.

"You have poisoned the food, haven't you?"

What?

"No way you can be so nice as to call me for dinner. So, either you have poisoned the food or you're Arjun's twin."

Controlling the urge to slam my head in a wall, I rubbed my face.

"How do you even come up with such theories?"

"I know what happens in such situations. I have read enough no-"

"Novels. Yeah, I know. Now get up and come to eat or you can starve and die. Whatever you prefer."

Saying this, I went to the dining room, sat down and served myself. As I was eating, Kiara came and sat beside me, helping herself with food. My eyes kept darting to her wrist while she watched me suspiciously.

Can you stop creeping her out?

"Sorry." I spoke suddenly causing Kiara to almost fall from her seat in shock.

"Huh?" Holding the ends of the table, she gave me a horrified look.

I clicked my tongue. "I won't repeat that again."

She gawked at me.

"You just said sorry." She whispered. "You just said sorry. Oh my gosh. Am I dreaming?"

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, princess." I muttered.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." I cleared my throat, pointing towards her wrist.

I didn't know apologizing was so hard.

"Uh." She looked at her wrist, noticing my gaze and then back at me. "Oh no, no. You didn't do it."

And then, she sniffled.

Did someone else did that to her?

Why did I care?

"What happened?" Why the hell was I even asking that?

Wiping a tear with her left sleeve, she looked up, her lips jutting out in a pout.

"I fell and twisted my wrist."

"Does it hurt?"

What the fuck was wrong with me?

"No."

"Then why are you crying?" My tone edging on irritation.

"Cause when I fell, I accidentally dropped my chocolate too. It got wasted and I couldn't eat it."

I stared at her blankly. Blinking once and then twice, I kept staring in hopes of getting a further explanation. But none came.

So, she was crying over a damn chocolate?

"You have a whole fridge full of chocolates. You could simply eat another one."

"But the wasted chocolate won't come back." Her voice tinged with sadness.

Okay, something was really wrong with her.

"You need therapy." I finally said.

"I know." She chuckled. "My friends keep telling me that." She shrugged moodily.

I shook my head.

Either she was going to a mental asylum or she was planning to send me there.

And here you go with another chapter. Hope you guys liked it.

Quick A/N- Did any of you find a boyfriend since the book was completed or are you still delulu about Arjun? Please tell me at least some of you found love 🥲