Gleaming under the antique chandelier, the rectangle room was a sight of order and cleanliness. The whispers from old times floating in its every corner. The shelves neatly aligned and labelled. The newspapers kept with care.
To say Archie was not impressed would be a lie. This place was art in itself. The arrangements in perfect timeline made the arduous job all the more appealing. He could imagine the research students enjoying their time in this sanctuary of old newspapers.
Moving around effortlessly, he checked the newspapers randomly yet particularly from the timeline of 2010-2020. With a hope to find something useful.
He stopped when his eyes fell on the corner most shelf labelled with Breaking News. He walked to the shelf and found every square with newspapers having its own timeline pasted. A smile came on his face when he found some newspapers from the timeline he wanted.
This can't get better.
He might kiss the hands who sorted the newspapers in such a fantastic arrangement, saving his thousands of seconds. He decided to start from the folder of year 2020. It had quite a few newspapers. Five maximum.
First two newspapers were of no interest to Archie. The third one had a huge collage of elites of Dehradun with an interesting headline. His eyes widened in surprise and he quickly clicked the picture of front page containing a whole article on Azaad family.
Placing back the newspaper on its place, Archie hastily checked other newspapers for any significant news. Spending fifteen minutes in his quest, he finally abandoned his search and rushed for hotel.
._____.
The weather was still white. Snow and clouds and whatever. It wasn't that bad though. Ashley grunted at his mixed feelings. Why did he even come at this place giving weird vibes?
His eyes trailed back to Amelia. Walking to and fro, she was avoiding looking at him as if he was some contagious disease she could contract with a simple gaze.
If only he could change her hatred into positive emotion, or at least mellow down her hatred that had no reason in his perspective.
What was wrong if he feared the forest due to its alluring attractiveness? It was his personal issue not a reason to base off hatred.
Something was wrong with this girl and somehow that was the reason he was not able to pull her off from his head. After those pictures and little story of past, it had not been easier than before.
"Have you seen her anywhere?" Snapping him out of his thoughts, Amelia spoke at last.
Disoriented Ashley tried to cover his less than acceptable attention and shook his head, roaming his eyes around the pool of people. People rushing in and out of mall. T no where to be seen.
"If you'll be more attentive only." Amelia rolled her eyes.
"Why didn't you find her then?" Ashley countered annoyed of her remark.
Can't she talk properly with him for a change?
Amelia shot him angry look and before he could listen her answer, someone called her from behind gaining her undivided attention.
"Amelia." Dhruv called.
Ashley fisted his hand. Her face lightened and she walked to him completely forgetting he existed. His veins bulged. If only he could kill that guy.
He had to be calm, closing his eyes he reminded himself.
Amelia seemed happiest to see her so called friends and she met both Dhruv and Honey with same enthusiast she would capture nature.
Ashley gave a curt greeting to both and avoided their blabbering and questions of what they were doing around this area again.
The answer was in question but neither Ashley nor Amelia dared to voice it. They walked to the secluded area around forest as Amelia talked with two without brakes. Ashley was just deciding to leave them alone when he heard Dhruv speaking.
"Amelia, if you don't mind, I want to tell you something." Hesitation clear in his voice.
Something in his voice rang warning bells in Ashley head. Leaning on a tree, he gazed the two, a clear view of their faces providing enough answers.
"Go on." Amelia shrugged.
"Will you... Ah..." Dhruv sneaked a glance to Honey who nodded encouragingly, confusing Amelia but scaring Ashley.
"Amelia, I really like you. Will you be my girlfriend?" Dhruv spoke in one breath.
Ashley straightened, eyes widening as his gaze desperately tried to analyze Amelia reaction and influence her answer.
"Dhruv... Are you serious?" Amelia asked, uncertainty clear in her voice.
Ashley eyes begged for her one look, as if to reach to her and answer instead of her, but Amelia did not turn to him. His heart sinking in his chest.
"I am, Amelia. I really want to be with you."
Amelia pursued her lips and hung her head. Ashley took a step forward but stayed back feeling a strange heaviness.
Don't agree, Amelia. Don't.
"Dhruv..." She raised her head.
Please, Amelia, no.
"You must know I don't have any feeling for you..."
Yeah say no, Amelia. No, please.
"...as of now."
No...
"But I'll be glad to be your girlfriend." Amelia completed.
Taking a step back, he hit the tree but couldn't feel anything other than sinking feeling in his chest that started to transform into anger as Dhruv hugged Amelia and she too responded with happiness.
What the hell is her problem? Who agree to be girlfriend to a stupid local who isn't even as charming as him?
Groaning at his thoughts, Ashley took some steps away from the damnly-new-found couples. To hell with them.
"Are you okay?" A meek voice reached his ears and he turned to look at Honey.
His eyes followed back to Amelia and Dhruv who were now out of his hearing but seemed to be talking something romantic, if their serene faces were anything to go by. Heat passed his body and he barely kept himself under control.
What the hell did happen?
"Ashley?" Honey called again, her voice dipping in sweetness as her name.
Why can't Amelia call him in same manner?
._____.
Shredded paper was clear among rubbish, its every piece slicing Ava heart. She had thought it to be one of those anonymous notes, she was receiving from quite some time now. It had same ink and same paper. Just different handwriting.
It turned out to be of Archie's first message to her. The broken look on his face was evident for her when he had confronted her. If it wasn't for confrontation, she might've never knew Archie did it for her.
A fear was rearing in her heart. How would she identify Archie message next time if this continued in same manner? That was the part of reason she had mildly put forward the need to message her directly instead of such old fashioned method. Archie didn't take it lightly, it seemed.
Sighing, Ava stepped out of boy's suite to her own. The little decoration was completed. A smile tipped her lips.
Archie would surely love it. And maybe things will just get better between them.
Voice of footsteps reached her ears and smile lightened her face. She should've gone with him but she had to back off at last minute to mend their relationship that had just gone a bit awkward.
Drumming her foot on floor, she counted seconds in her mind. He must be coming there in any minute after finding the other suite empty and unlocked.
The door opened and Archie entered with a worried expressions. His gaze wandered frantically and finally halted on observing the hall. Jaws dropped, he stood rooted to the spot.
"Surprise," Ava said, looking in his eyes to read his feelings.
"This is really a surprise, I didn't expect." Archie smiled.
Ava walked up to him and placed her arms on his shoulders.
"What did you expect then?" Ava asked raising her eyebrow in challenge.
"Maybe something more exciting?" Archie said playing around.
As their lips came closer, a shadow passed from the periphery startling Ava out of her mood.
"Archie." Her eyes frantically searching for the shadow.
"What's wrong?" Archie asked, worry clear on his face despite the disappointment.
"There's someone."
Looking around Archie tried to find what Ava was talking about.
"Let us check around." Archie said.
Nodding, they moved in opposite direction trying to search the person who were threatening their existence.
The place, however, seemed untouched of any malevolence. Their search fruitless, they returned to hall and looked at each other in disappointment and worry.
"There's no one." Archie announced.
"But there was someone." Ava ran a desperate hand in her hair.
How could someone enter without her notice, move around and then escape without gaining their attention? Was she getting paranoid now?
The decoration stared sadly as the mood suddenly shifted in the hall. The shadow casted over their minds as they stared the empty hall with no result.