To Love Again !!!

Chapter - 45

Abhay had understood Amrit's game even before she had linked her arm with his as she had met his colleagues again this time with proper introductions. The way she had been smiling up at him when he had brought her drink. It was a cocktail. But as she had sipped he had seen she had liked the flavors. It was very mild but rich in its texture and he knew she didn't like drinking so something like the mint refresher as it was called was the best for her. He had watched the play of how she felt about her drink on her face with fascination. Sometimes it was so easy to read her and sometimes every emotion on her face seemed to be a mystery. Then as his friends came up to greet them he had felt her square her shoulders a little as if she was going in for a battle. Something was up with her and he had known it instinctually. And then she had linked her arm with his. He had been surprised but he had kept it right there. It felt nice as if it belonged just where it was.

And then she had had a ball. There were no other words to describe her actions. She had made some of his friends turn red and it had been a long time since he had seen them doing something like that. With her sharp wit and dry humor she had immediately put a stop to speculations around her. A few times some of them had brought up Natasha's name but while he had stiffened not sure how to react she had remained unfazed shutting them up. As he had looked on she had seemed happy. He couldn't help but smile. He had seen how everyone had been staring at her when they had walked in. Only he wasn't sure if she had known it but after what she had done it seemed she had noticed and decided to give it back. A little later Harpreet had intervened and there had been an announcement for a dance.

So here they were. On the floor. The band played on. And other officers danced with their respective partners. Amrit was still stumbling and mumbling.

"I don't know how to dance," she complained.

Abhay smiled.

"Relax," he said, "you are thinking too much. Just follow the lead," he said patiently after Amrit stepped on his foot for the tenth time.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"Amrit," Abhay said seriously, "look at me," he told her but she was busy looking at where her foot was going, "Amrit," he said again and she looked up. And Abhay forgot how to breathe. Her eyes looked so innocent, her face so near, he saw her puzzlement at not being able to figure out the steps. Her forehead wrinkled in concentration. "Stop looking at your feet," he said gently, huskily, "just move with me okay," he told her and she nodded.

It became much better. He tightened his hold on her waist and noticed the slight flaring of her nostrils and quick breathing but apart from that her face remained normal. This was the first time he had held her in a manner where he could see her face at such near distance. Her every reaction and emotion mirrored in her eyes. She was affected by this closeness he could see that, the awareness was very much evident. He smiled and she smiled back tentatively.

"You are already doing better," he told her.

"I am sorry," she said but didn't avert her face, "you will have to teach me how to dance so I don't make a fool of you next time," she said.

"No matter what you do Amrit you could never make me look the fool, ever," he said firmly, "don't ever think that," he told her.

"What would your friends think?" she said a bit upset. After all the smartness she had shown she had failed here miserably.

"They wouldn't dare think anything bad of you after the round they have just had," he said amused at how she was reacting, "even if they did they wouldn't open their mouths in front of you the next time," he told her.

"They deserved it," she told him stubbornly.

"How do you know that?" he asked casually.

Amrit looked alarmed. He watched as her eyes grew big in her face. So she knew a bit about them or who they were. He looked at Jassi where she sat with Harpreet standing next to her. Then he looked back at Amrit. She couldn't lie for the life of her. She seemed upset. Maybe she had slipped when she had made that comment about how they deserved it.

"Jassi told me," Amrit replied reluctantly, "but you cannot be angry with her," she said hurriedly, "she didn't do it intentionally. I had seen the speculative glances I had received when we had come in and so I had asked Jassi and she told me who was who or how they were," she said.

"And you took it on yourself to avenge me," he stated.

Amrit looked away at that. He was humbled she felt that way. She had taken the insults he had faced personally. He wanted to hug her for that. The girl hadn't realized that by unsheathing her claws she had once again found her infamous name attached to her. But not even once did she bother about that.

"They deserved it," she told him stubbornly.

"And what of your reputation?" he asked.

"What of it," she replied unapologetically, "I don't care what they think about me," she said with a tilt to her chin, "they had already judged me when they had compared me with Natasha. At least now they know I am different, unlike anyone they have met and they cannot match me where words are concerned," she said proudly.

Abhay looked at her for a second. How easily had she accepted others' judgment? It didn't bother her that they might think her as a shrew or as someone who was sharp tongued. Maybe because she was already used to it. But he didn't like it. He knew who she was and he wanted the world to see the real her. Could it be that this was the real her? She was caring, generous, loving to those who she cared for or who were close to her but for others she was this brash, sharp tongued, ill-mannered girl. He was a little confused but he didn't like the fact of anyone thinking bad of her. She was a wonderful human being with her own faults and weaknesses but she was perfect just the way she was.

"You didn't have to Amrit," Abhay said quietly, "what they had once said had bothered me, then but now it doesn't matter. I have moved on," he told her.

"Well I am not as forgiving," Amrit said firmly, "and since you are my husband I have every right to stand up for you when the mood suits me," she told him lest he thinks otherwise.

"Okay," Abhay said with a smile, "so you had fun while you did that," he said.

"Of course," Amrit said with her own smile, "I just love making others feel uncomfortable. Just a taste of their own medicine," she said and shrugged, that made her stumble and Abhay righted her.

"To tell you the truth, I had fun too," he said, "to see some of them turn red was kind of satisfying," he admitted with a broad smile.

"See," Amrit said cheekily, "it is good to give some of the shit back every once in a while," she told him, "and nobody messes with people I like," she said.

"So, you like me," he asked her.

For a second Amrit seemed at a loss for an answer. She hadn't meant to say that. Then she recovered.

"Of course I like you," she answered, "I wouldn't have married you otherwise, besides we are friends, right, so we stand for each other," she told him nonchalantly.

At least she tried to pretend nonchalance. Abhay could feel the slight trembling of her body as she gave him an answer. Since he held her so close he could feel every little emotion that was passed through her. Though she tried very hard to keep her expression neutral. She was a passionate woman and so it was hard for her to keep herself contained. It had been hard for her to admit she liked him too at least to his face. Abhay smiled.

"I like you too Amrit," he said and when she stared at him in shock he bent close to her ears and taking in a deep breath inhaled her light scent along with the air he sucked, "a lot more than I should," he whispered, "and thanks for being my wife," he told her.

When he straightened he couldn't help but laugh at the comical expression on her face. She looked as if she would faint. And knowing Amrit he knew she was the types to cause fainting to others. Life was just so interesting around her one never knew what she would throw at you next.

Only this time life was gearing up to throw Amrit into a spiral and see if Abhay could make her come out in one piece.

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