Intertwined

Chapter 6 : Hostage Of Those Eyes

“Woah!” - Disha exclaimed looking at Sneha.

Rithik, Divya, Drish, Shreya and Kabir all turned around at Disha's exclamation but Sneha was busy searching for Mahir and her heart sank when he was nowhere to be seen in the living room.

‘Has he changed his mind at the last minute ?’ - Sneha thought, coming to stand with the group.

“You are one lucky guy Kabir.” - Shreya teased, bumping her shoulder with him.

Kabir smiled. “We should get going now.” - he said, looking mainly at Sneha to ask if she was ready.

Sneha nodded with a feeble smile,  already lost interest in the outing due to a certain someone's absence. They all moved out of the house and towards the driveway and Sneha suddenly forgot to breath.

Wearing a plain black t-shirt over cargo pants, Mahir was leaned against the bonet of the car, his feet crossed that had the boots on. His hair was blowing lightly due to the wind and she found those few strands coming on his forehead every now and then highly distracting. If that was not enough, his bulging biceps in open view were enough to make her weak in the knees. And to top it all, his annoyed look as he rolled the keys in his finger while looking the other side just went for the kill.

“Finally you guys showed up. I thought we are to reach by breakfast.” - Mahir scoffed as he heard footsteps and straightening up, turned towards them. “Now let's-”

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes landing on Sneha. And she experienced that sensation again. Her skin tingling and burning by a mere look of him. A swarm of butterflies fluttering in the pit of her stomach. How was it possible that without even touching, having quite a distance between them, she felt like he was the closest to her — both emotionally and physically.

“Mahir, keys.”

She started at Kabir's voice. Realizing that there were other people around as well. Mahir seemed to be contemplating something as if weighing the pros and cons before she saw decisiveness in his eyes.

“I'll drive.” - Mahir told Kabir.

Kabir shook his head with a smile. “It's okay. I will.” - he said and took the keys from Mahir.

Sneha thought that was the moment to quickly take a seat with the others before she had to sit beside Kabir on the passenger seat. She settled in the first row with Shreya. Divya and Disha seated in the second and Rithik and Drish took the last row. As Kabir took the driving seat and Mahir sat on the passenger's, she realized that she was straight in Mahir's sight through the rear-view mirror. Her breathing quickened. He kept looking at her for a long moment then broke their eye-lock and looked ahead.

“Kabir Bhai, we are not really going on dinner, are we ?” - Disha inquired from behind Sneha, her tone way too innocent to be deemed innocent.

Kabir frowned. “Of course we are. I have booked us a table at The Earth Plate as well.”

Sneha was surprised to hear the chorus groans from Shreya, Divya, Disha and even Rithik and Drish.

“Com'on Bhai, don't spoil the fun. Let's head to Drizzle.” - it was Drish's suggestion.

“Drizzle ?” - Kabir asked, sounding genuinely confused.

“It's a new club opened in Bandra. Have heard through friends that they serve the best food and wine there!”

“Seriously Drish, a club ?” - Kabir's tone was reproaching like an elder brother that he was.

“Bhai please please pretty please with a cherry on top!” - the siblings pleaded cutely in unison.

Kabir sighed. “Okay fine. Let's head to this... Drizzle of yours.” - he said making the rows behind Sneha squeal happily.

Her eyes flashed to the rear-view mirror again but Mahir was looking straight ahead. Her heart tugged sharply and she looked out the window, absently taking in the blurring cityscapes. What she didn't see was, as soon as her eyes shifted, Mahir looked at her again. Throughout the ride it continued. They kept stealing glances when the other was not looking.

“Here we are.” - Kabir announced, stopping the car outside a club lit up with dazzling lights. ‘Drizzle’ written in neon lights on the board.

Sneha stepped down along with others but Kabir didn't, making his siblings look at him questioningly.

“I just remembered something. You guys go ahead, I'll join you shortly.” - he said, reversing the car.

Shreya threw her hands in the air. “He's probably avoiding the club.” - she joked making everyone laugh. “Anyways let's get going.”

Shreya, Divya and Disha went inside followed by Drish and Rithik. Sneha found herself once again with...

Mahir.

He raised a brow at her questioningly, tilting his head towards the club. “Don't want to head inside ?”

No.

She was not surprised at her inner voice's clear call. She actually didn't want to go. Inside, there would be crowd, noise, blasting music. But she liked it outside just the two of them stood facing each other. Light wind blowing around them while the vehicles passed by on the road. She deemed gazing into those pools of brown was the best way to spend the evening.

Or even life ?

Her breath caught in her throat at her own question. Life ? She was ready to stare at him for a... lifetime ? Without any care of the world ?

He snapped his fingers sharply before her eyes, and her trance broke. Her cheeks pinked and she pulled herself together. “Yeah... let's go.” - she said breaking eye contact with him and practically sprinted towards the entrance.

Her trance might have been broken but she had become aware that those eyes hold her hostage. The matter was far more serious and dangerous than she actually deemed it to be.